MONDAY ... MONDAY

 Monday ... Monday ... 

I do hope everyone had a nice weekend.  I know Mother's Day is difficult for some and I pray that you still found peace and calm in the day.

We are still hunkered down at home.  Hopefully Dave is getting his "sea legs " back again so he can be mobile and going about his business.

We stayed home and did our celebrating for Mother's Day with phone calls and texts from family and friends. I even ordered pizza for our dinner.  We haven't done that in months.  I sure didn't want to cook !!!  Especially after the Mother's Day Gift I got.

Yesterday afternoon I put a load of clothes in my washer and went about my business.

When the cycle was finished I went into our laundry room to put said clothes in the dryer.

Here's what greeted me ... 

I had bought a brand new 4 gallon jug of Oxi Clean detergent just the day before.

How the jug fell off the washer and onto the floor I can't quite figure out.

I lost 3/4 of the very thick and slippery soap and the lid to the container.

Got out some old beach towels and mopped it up.  What a job !  First I had to remove clothes I had hanging on the rack which the soap was covering the bottom rack.  Ugh what a mess.  It took me a very long time to clean it up and I didn't want to use any water or our whole house would have been under siege.  I guess we could have said we really Live in a Bubble ... 😏

It was so frustrating for Dave too because he couldn't help me.

An hour and a half later here was the finished project...

That sure was the hard way to have a clean floor.  

The soap was so strong smelling.  Thank goodness we have a ceiling fan in there.

Now all the towels I used are out draped over the garbage cans and rungs of the outside ladder.  I don't know if I will ever get all the concentrated soap out of them.

Here's the "Bad Guy" .

What a way to celebrate Mother's Day !!!

At least it gave me some Blog Fodder 😁

Always be Grateful

Always be Kind

CATCHING UP

 Catching Up.

Thank you dear friends for all of your love and concern.

I do believe we are on the Finishing Line of Falling Accidents.

Sometimes deep muscle bruises can be more daunting than outright broken things.

Of course age does have a factor too.  We are getting through this but it is taking longer than Dave or I ever thought.  So ... Onward and Upward...

Just a bit about my last Wordless Wednesday.  Its a description of our lives at the moment.  We can't quite see around the bend and the "track of life" does have some problems.  The sepia tones denote age ... guilty ...   

Probably each of you can weave your own story from that photo.  That pretty much is the meaning for the shot.

On an different subject.  Yesterday I was sitting in my recliner looking out the slider to the backyard.  All of a sudden these darling quail came parading by and stopped to pose for me.  I didn't dare get up and go to the window for fear of scaring them off.  So I grabbed m cel and zoomed in through the window screen.  Certainly not the greatest photos but I love seeing these creatures and our California State Bird in our yard.

Something startled them and they ran so fast out of my sight.  I was hoping they would stick around.  I certainly look forward to their return.

Here's wishing you a wonderful weekend.

Always be Grateful

Always be Kind

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

 Wordless Wednesday

Always be Grateful

Always be Kind

WHERE HAVE WE BEEN?

 The last few days have been not so fun...

Thursday Dave and I were working out in our backyard.  Pulling weeds ... as usual ... 

Long story short, Dave tripped over something and took a very hard fall.

Thank the Lord nothing was broken but oh boy is he bruised.

I couldn't get him up and after dealing with the stubborn man syndrome , I was able to call my son and he came right over.  One look at Dad, Steve made the decision to call 911.  The EMTs felt he should go to ER and get checked out.  Trip by ambulance and Steve and I going by car.  I don't know if was the Full Moon then but there were a gazillion people all there with issues.We were there for 9 hours before being released.  

SO the last few days have been spent in the recliner and taking meds...being miserable  and so sore.  The meds yesterday made him loopy and so it was another difficulty on my shoulders.  So many prayers going up.  Finally he came out of that and now we have got to get him back on his feet.  Getting old isn't for the faint of heart.

Prayers appreciated,   I will get back into blogging in a day or two.  I know this isn't as hard as many of you are going through but this is my world for a while.

See that turtle on the rock?

Yup, that's us right now ... moving slowly  and just plugging along.

Always be Grateful

Always be Kind

THANKFUL THURSDAY

 Thankful Thursday

I thought I would share a few thoughts about my Wordless Wednesday post from yesterday.

It could perhaps be titled ... "The Light at the End of the Tunnel".

Tomorrow is the first of May.  Will it be a full speed ahead month?  How are we ... am I ... going to approach it?

Is this tunnel making you feel like the issues of the day are pressing in on you and the resolve is a long way off?

Or is it one of "Thank Goodness April is done" Now on to other things?

There are so many ways to look at my photo.  I'm just curious what your reactions are.

About the tunnel.  Its called the Tom Lantos Tunnels (there are 2, one for each direction.)  They were finally completed in 2013 and are the longest tunnels in our state of California, over 4000 feet of rock quarried road to get people through a mountain and a difficult part of Highway 1 along the Pacific Coast Highway.

It is located 15 miles from San Francisco and between my hometown of Pacifica and Half Moon Bay.  The area is called Devil's Slide and that highway was closed often due to huge rock landslides and very unstable ground..  The scenery was gorgeous but the highway was always a bit sketchy.  I drove that route often to go to places along the coast but truthfully I'm glad I don't have to do that anymore.  I do miss the ocean scenery though.

My photo archives are so jumbled up that I can't find the photos of the Devils Slide coastline.  Here are a few photos of our views of the Pacific Ocean just a mile and a half from our home.  The coastline is so rugged and beautiful.  Enjoy.

Here is the view right after leaving the tunnel, looking down onto Half Moon Bay.

I am so thankful for all of these memories.

Thankful for those who built the tunnels to make traveling faster and safer.

Thankful for the gorgeous scenery that God created.

Always be Grateful

Always be Kind

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

 Wordless Wednesday ... 

Always be Grateful

Always be Kind

MONDAY MEANDERINGS

 Good Morning ... 

I would like to share a blessing we received this weekend.

As the saying goes... We had more month left than we had money ... 

We are always trying to sell things on eBay and some things on FB Marketplace too.

Market place is usually for big things that are difficult and very expensive to ship.

We had put two pair of antique slalom skis up on Marketplace months ago.  No takers or even any interest.  Fast forward to last Friday.  We get a message that if the skis were still for sale this guy would like to buy them.

Yes !!! Turns out Don is local and had just bought a rental property up at Lake Tahoe.  He was anxious to furnish it with mountain type decor.  He came Saturday afternoon when he was done coaching at a wrestling tournament, Cash in Hand !  We gladly helped load them in his truck.  Don was thrilled with them and thought they would be perfect for the cabin.

Yay ... they are out of our garage ! So Happy !

To answer that burning question ... NO we don't ski.  These weren't ours.  Dave bought them at a garage sale 25-30 years ago for $1.00 !!!! ... thats $

$.50 a pair !!  Apparently this was a family estate sale and the "kids" wanted to just get rid of them.  Win / Win for all of us.

So to make a long story "short" .  We got a great profit and bills got paid.  We can end our month on a much happier note.

On another note:

Our faith-based Zoom Call Photography Club has started up again on a more limited time frame.  Our photo challenge for the meeting was to use our cell phones and take a Self Portrait.  A photo of how we see ourselves and what describes who we are.  NOW that was a real challenge !  I don't like to take pictures of myself.  Well, I got brave and shot a few "selfies".

The one I submitted I called "What You See is What You Get".

I didn't photo shop or perfect the blemishes or wrinkles.  This is me in the "raw" as a 82 year old soon to be Great Grandma. 😊 Life is good.  I woke up this morning, have breath in my lungs and have loving family and friends to see me through.

What could be better??

This is Me ...  What You See is What you Get ...

God says He will supply our Needs if we have the faith of a mustard seed.  Sometimes I fuss and fume and certainly don't trust the way I should but I praise Him for his Care and the chance to give a testimony to His Goodness.

Always be Grateful

Always be Kind 

THE REST OF THE STORY

 The Rest of the Story ... 

I loved reading all of your comments on my Wordless Wednesday.  It was really fun to see how I peaked your imagination.

Well, here goes ...

Some time ago Dave and I were at the Golden Gate Bridge (again).  Its one of our favorite memory places to visit.

I saw this "Spiderman" standing in such a strange pose that I went a bit closer.

There was another man crouched down taking Spidey's photo.  I wanted so badly to crouch down too, to see what he was shooting but thought that would be intrusive.  I Think the way the guys hands are up, (through the camera lens), it looks as if he is holding up the bridge ...   You know this is San Francisco and lots of different things happen there !

That's my story and I'm sticking to it ...

On another note ...

Our granddaughter Maddie went to her Prom last weekend.  She had a ball and sent us her pictures of how lovely she looked.

She had her hair done so beautifully I just have to share that too.

These kiddos grow up so fast.  I'm glad and so very Thankful we can be in their lives, even when we are many miles apart.

Always be Grateful 

Always be Kind ...

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

 Wordless Wednesday

Always be Grateful

Always be Kind ... 

MONDAY MOMENTS

 The weeks seem to be zipping by and here it is again at Monday ... the beginning of a new week.

That's what this post is about ... 

New Beginnings ... New Growth ... 

Our Grape Vines are starting to produce all kinds of Tiny, Tiny little grape clusters.

Its been such a long time since we have seen so many popping out on the vines.

I love the thought of new fruit and the blessings it will bring to us.

Another New Beginning ... 

Four years ago our lovely granddaughter Amanda married a wonderful man named Billy.

AND

Yesterday she had some exciting news for us.  After church she showed us some sonogram photos.  As soon as I held the paper in my hand I knew what it was ...

We are going to be Great Grandparents in November !!!!

Can you say ... We are beyond ecstatic ... 

Amanda and Billy  gonna be the best parents ever 💗

New Life and New Beginnings  !!!

Always be Grateful

Always be Kind

THE REST OF THE STORY

 Congratulations Great Granny Grandma ! You were right on the money !

Yes the Wordless Wednesday photo is one I took several years ago.  It was in Auburn, California outside a small local Railroad museum.

The shadow is of a 22 foot sculpture of a grizzled man in a conical hat pushing a wheelbarrow.  It was created in 1972  and called "The Chinese Coolie."

The Coolie is made from 1 mile of reinforced steel rebar and 35 cubic yards of concrete.  Including his wheelbarrow, the Coolie is 33 feet long and weighs 35 tons.

Politically incorrect, or historically accurate?  While the term "coolie" may be denigrating today, it was used to describe the unskilled Asian laborers pouring into California in the second half of the 19th century.

The statue was created as a tribute to the historical significance of the Chinese worker in the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad through the Sierra Mountains of California.

To get some idea of the actual size , if you look down to the statue's leg you can see my friend Ed standing beside it.

Strength and Power

Amazing Fortitude

The afternoon shadow against the old Railroad Car 

Grateful for the men that gave us their all to create the Transcontinental Railroad, with only picks and shovels and that famous wheelbarrow.

Always be Grateful

Always be Kind

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

 Wordless Wednesday ... 

Always be Grateful

Always be Kind ... 

MONDAY MUMBLINGS

 Monday Mumbling and Meanderings,

I haven't got a lot of things to share today.  The weekend was full of rain and chilliness.

We ended up working on eBay things and I continued to go through some old photos.

I saw this photo of my Daddy and me and was struck by how much our oldest granddaughter Lauren looked like me at that age.

I believe I was about 4 in this photo.  This was one of my favorite places to be ... 

In my Daddy's lap ... being deep in conversation.

On a different train of thought ... I think the Blue Jays are building a nest in some of our trees.  When I came out of the garage this Guy dive bombed me.  Perhaps I was getting too close to his "home".

Our neighbor's rose has survived the wild weather we had over the weekend.

I just love the color of this one, and I especially like the picture when enlarged.

Well I guess I have mumbled and meandered long enough.

Enjoy your day and remember:

Always be Grateful

Always be Kind.

FRIDAY FLASHBACK

 Friday Flashback

I sure don't know where this week has gone.  Here it is ... Friday again ... 

I have spent the good part of this week plowing through old snapshots of family and memories.  I have to "blame" Red Rose Alley-Sheri for putting the bug in my brain... 😉😏

She had shared photos of her granddaughter's Pioneer Days outfit and it brought back memories of my son's Colonial Days school project.  I knew I had 3 or 4 pictures of our older son Steve in his costume and also one of younger son Mark and I in our "1776" celebrating the Centennial.  Steve was in 5th grade and 8yrs.

Of course I went down many rabbit holes looking through all of the Memories.  Time sure marches on ...and on ... and on ...

I could only find 1 photo and it is rather hard to see.  The old processing techniques make everything fade and turn colors but here it is Any Hoo...

I made Steve's outfit ...  Which I am rather proud of, since I really don't like to sew and didn't have a pattern.  I made the "blouse" and added sleeve ruffles and the ruffled ascot type neck tie piece.  I made the vest and the knickers (knickers from an old PJ pattern)  I bought the hat and he wore white tights.  Dave and I created shoe buckles to complete the ensemble.

Mark's outfit was just the same but in a different color.  I sure wish I could find the photos.  Mark was 3 years old.

On another note:

Last night we had a humdinger of a Thunderstorm.  This is quite unusual for us in the Greater Sacramento Valley.

Dave and I opened up the curtains and turned off the lights and watched a fantastic Light Show !!  No photos but Wow, it went on for 30 minutes, then the storm cell moved on.  We are suppose to have downpours and steady rain for the next 3 days.

The weeds are thrilled , but I am grateful for the wet.  It will help fill the reservoirs and keep the fire danger at bay.

Got the flashlights and candles at the ready ... just in case ... 

Have a great weekend

Always be Grateful

Always be Kind

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

 Wordless Wednesday

Always be Grateful

Always be Kind

Happy Easter Monday

 I hope you all had a wonderful Easter weekend.

We did ... very low keyed and just what the doctor ordered ... 

Dave and I were again invited to our friends home for a great afternoon at their "Ranch-ette".

Beth and Wes were among the best friends of our son and daughter in law when we attended Bethel Christian Church in San Francisco.  This was when they were in High School.  Dave and I were close friends with their parents too.  That goes back to more than 40++ years.  Many of us moved up here to the Greater Sacramento area and have kept in close contact throughout these many years.

Now its the "kids" inviting us oldies plus their friends to enjoy time together.  Marriages, new babies and the chance to renew friendships are the memory makers for all of us.

I took NO photos this year.  The way we were scattered around their property just didn't make it feasible.  But, we ate GOOD !  Planned potlucks are the best.  It makes it easier for all of us.

The weather was perfect .  In the mid 70'sF.  No bugs and plenty of birds twittering and their horses, goats and chickens added to the delicious sounds of nature.  I loved sitting outside and just drinking it all in.

No one did much moving except for our mouths 😊....

All I can say is AHhhhh ... 

The  next few photos are from 2 years ago, same place and same activities ... 

Chatting and Eating !!

This is Beth and Wes's property.   It is magical being so close to suburbia.

Sitting out under their big trees was delightful.

Now this baby is 3 years old and full of spunk !

I thank God for Friends and the heartfelt moments we shared together.

Always be Grateful

Always be Kind.

IT'S FRIDAY BUT SUNDAY'S COMING !

 Jesus Paid IT All

All to Him I Owe ...

It's Friday

But

Sunday's Coming ... 

THANKFUL THURSDAY

 Thankful Thursday

I was reading Shug's blog post this morning.  She was talking about April Showers and that made me think about a figurine that I have and cherish so much.

It is titled "April Showers".  The figurine is the very First of the Walt Disney Classics Collection.  

" Until a character becomes a personality, it cannot be believed, " Walt Disney once said. "And without personality, a story cannot ring true to an audience"

The whole Classics Collection was created to capture the beloved characters and timeless moments from The Classic Disney films in beautifully crafted sculptures.

My sweet little mouse is from "Bambi" and the movie scene "April Showers".  Suzanne Lee created this sculpture way back in the early 1990's.  It was the first of many challenges to sculpt something so delicate  like the rain drop starting to fall into the mouses' hands but not touching. 

When I look at this piece I can hear in my mind the song from the movie about the dripping of the rain showers.  "Little April Showers" ...

This figure sits proudly in our curio cabinet for me to enjoy.

I am thankful for our Treasures and for the April Showers we experienced over the last 2 days.

Everything is bright and shiny after the rain and now the sun is adding to the sparkle of Thankful Thursday.

Always be Grateful

Always be Kind

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

 Wordless Wednesday

Always be Grateful

Always be Kind

MONDAY MEANDERINGS

 Here we are at the start of another week.

I haven't got a lot to share but ... I'm up and breathing... 

The world seems to be tilting at a crazy angle.

The only thing that I can do is put my Trust in the Living God.

I am just doing the same things that I have been doing for weeks, weeding and trying to sell on eBay.

I really like how the morning sunlight kissed our flag this morning.

Have a wonderful day.

Always be Grateful

Always be Kind.

FRIDAY THOUGHTS

 Awww ... thank you all so much for your concern for my Dr. appointment.

It was for my annual check up and things went so well.  My doctor came to the conclusion that I no longer have diabetes.  Which I haven't had for a long time.  All of my stats are in line and since I lost over 80 pounds quite a few years ago.  I am living the good life now.  Its taken years but I am forever grateful.  

We had a wonderful time with our Small Group get together last night too.

We laughed so much and got caught up on Life that has happened in the last 4-6 months.  So glad we can still be on contact through social media ...  But there is Nothing like in person hugs and talking face to face.  We have met for the past 14-15 years so we are truly like Family.  Distance has never kept us apart for long.

Well, I guess I had better get off the computer and get busy doing "Stuff"... there's always "Stuff".

Do You Know Your Hymns?

Always be Grateful

Always be Kind

THANKFUL THURSDAY

 Thankful Thursday

I have to say that I absolutely loved all of your comments for my Wordless Wednesday.

You really seemed to enjoy the "what was this all about".

I especially liked MadSnapper aka, Sandra's comment.  

The photo was taken several years ago at Fort Point which was built under the Golden Gate Bridge in the late 1800's.  We visit it often and there is always a sense of mystery about it.

I have a busy day today, a doctor appointment and company coming this evening, so I had better get busy.

Thankful for doctors helping us keep healthy.

Thankful for the beauty I see in our neighbor's yard.

Thankful for all of you.

Always be Grateful

Always be Kind

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

 

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

Always be Grateful

Always be Kind

MONDAY MUMBLINGS

 There is not too much to chat about on this Monday, just a few Mumblings to say hello to a new week.

There was a gorgeous sunrise yesterday and the air was fresh and warm.

Dave and I ended up having a rather lazy day after church ...  After all isn't Sunday suppose to be the Day of Rest?

And that we did !  That recliner of mine seems to be set on automatic sleep mode!

No yard work and that was just fine with me. 😃

Saturday we finally got our new iPhones 17e.  It was time to have something bigger than our mini iPhones with more of everything.  We are so grateful to be on our younger son's plan and he did all the ordering etc.  The cost is staying the same for bigger and better.  Our other son Steve and his wife came over and helped set the whole thing up for us.  These old brains Needed... and ... Need all the help they can get!

Forever grateful for our sons and their families.  They are so kind, generous and very patient with us.  Love them with all of our hearts.

So now we need to get used to the phones and will probably be asking the kids questions galore ... but we are thankful that we can feel free to ask them.

That photo of the sunrise is the first one taken with the new phone.  I think I am going to like using it.

Now on to trying to sell some things on eBay and doing a few errands.

Happy week

Always be Grateful

Always be Kind

PROGRESS !!!

 We are finally making some visible Progress around our backyard.

Lots of hard work for us Oldies but Goodies.

There is so much more to be done but I am happy with the progress being made.  

Our poor weed whacker got a workout and finally gave up the ghost.  There will be a pause until we can get the part needed.  

But it is Onward and Upward.

Here's photos of where things seem to stand now.

Always be Grateful

Always be Kind