tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63593898219829786942024-03-05T00:16:59.522-05:00 Sheila's Sentimental JourneyA blog of mostly sentimental stories of my childhood & family, sprinkled with tales of my grandchildren, & my day to day life, along with my love of gardening & decorating thrown in for good measure. Come walk with me. . .Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17324850294489701187noreply@blogger.comBlogger367125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6359389821982978694.post-20420656344365909142014-04-20T21:13:00.000-04:002017-10-24T18:42:13.670-04:00An Easter Birthday Story. . . <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6FRiWDLOVj3jLsYVPaHIfarFmMpy-9M3WBhFSOTSEq5s19tQPOd2ao6l0Tugpv2DE20hGb7bG9FcpEv63i8vUzbWIdR-V_YlQ-cxFkGReHGvRk0MSw5PwGJ_w4_wEPJ6FTvYERoBLmsvZ/s1600/easter_clip_art__image_1_sjpg1824.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6FRiWDLOVj3jLsYVPaHIfarFmMpy-9M3WBhFSOTSEq5s19tQPOd2ao6l0Tugpv2DE20hGb7bG9FcpEv63i8vUzbWIdR-V_YlQ-cxFkGReHGvRk0MSw5PwGJ_w4_wEPJ6FTvYERoBLmsvZ/s1600/easter_clip_art__image_1_sjpg1824.jpg" width="226" /></a></div>
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Life wasn't easy back in the early 1920's.</div>
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Opportunity to work in the sawmills had come along,</div>
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so the Brown family had loaded up to make the move</div>
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from central Missouri to Oklahoma.</div>
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The influenza epidemic had hit the family hard</div>
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and two little girls had been taken from them.</div>
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Hardship was a familiar visitor.</div>
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But they were building a new life in that sawmill camp.</div>
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Fern, the teen aged daughter noticed a change in her mother.</div>
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She told of asking her mom..."are you in the family way?",</div>
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to which Mom replied..."we don't talk about those things".</div>
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It was Easter, April 20th , 1924.<br />
There in the tent where the family lived,<br />
a blonde haired baby boy was born,<br />
giving reason for the family to rejoice<br />
on that Sunday in Oklahoma.<br />
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Years passed.<br />
The family returned to Missouri.<br />
Baby Duane grew up with his Mom seeing that<br />
he attended Sunday School.<br />
He left school after the 8th grade to work on the farmlands<br />
in the Missouri River bottoms near New Franklin,<br />
helping support his parents during the hard times of the depression.<br />
Time went on & he went to serve his country,<br />
becoming a military policeman in the Army/Air Force.<br />
WWII ended & he returned home,<br />
met & married the love of his life,<br />
& moved to the little town of Hallsville.<br />
I was born to them in 1949,<br />
along with two more children later on.<br />
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There was a group of people wanting to start a new church<br />
in that little town, so they rented an old bank building<br />
and scheduled revival services.<br />
Mom had started attending earlier & wanted Dad to go with her.<br />
It was Easter Sunday, 1952<br />
and Dad had no excuse to stay home.<br />
So they dressed in their finest & went to the services<br />
where Dad's heart was greatly touched<br />
and he surrendered that day to Jesus.<br />
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We faithfully attended the little white block building<br />
that housed the Church of God (Holiness).<br />
I was 3 years old when Dad & Mom were saved<br />
so my memories have always been of going to church.<br />
It was never questioned.<br />
If the church doors were open, we went.<br />
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And I vividly remember, when the opportunity for testimonies was given,<br />
Dad would stand to his feet & tell of his two Easter births.<br />
The first on that Easter Sunday morning,<br />
in a camp tent in the Oklahoma sawmills.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF7iYxqBuqxQWSidjtmkj6oek4GNZlwKs6kdvoXjvsARzQ1kNkSJjp11u55ibGo9TF-THym1TZ5QEmfvRV7w0FC7CMNVBxVt-7c7p15d-gtp_2zr7N9yMMQdqEf_hR39OY2ffQi4tV9f-z/s1600/Joe,Rose,George,Fern,Duane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF7iYxqBuqxQWSidjtmkj6oek4GNZlwKs6kdvoXjvsARzQ1kNkSJjp11u55ibGo9TF-THym1TZ5QEmfvRV7w0FC7CMNVBxVt-7c7p15d-gtp_2zr7N9yMMQdqEf_hR39OY2ffQi4tV9f-z/s1600/Joe,Rose,George,Fern,Duane.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
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The second his "re-birth" in Christ on the Easter Sunday morning<br />
so very long ago.<br />
I can still hear his baritone voice bellowing out<br />
"Up From the Grave He Arose",<br />
and can still imagine the tears of joy trickling down his cheek<br />
as we joined in song, singing those special Easter hymns,<br />
"I Serve A Risen Savior<br />
...He Lives"!!!<br />
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This would have been Dad's 90th birthday.<br />
If he would have been sitting beside me at church this morning,<br />
he would have no doubt stood to his feet<br />
and told of his two Easter birthdays.<br />
No matter where we were, I knew he would tell of<br />
how he was born twice on Easter...<br />
one by his birth mother,<br />
the other by his Heavenly Father.<br />
Given the opportunity,<br />
he always testified of his salvation<br />
on Easter Sunday.<br />
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Happy birthday, dear Dad!</div>
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Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17324850294489701187noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6359389821982978694.post-21139145212537764612013-06-06T16:29:00.000-04:002013-06-06T16:29:15.871-04:00Trailing Violet . . .<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXfZXZ93qDp5so9KgAZu51xcPiTuwsfvX8wE-QvoJHUCIPNs1Qz3B-AdO9K8KWWc7ci6ObvtdLBXTM3eSisd_NgdnwryNVqB_ysouRdkCrq4xL08x5eB8TkEzthNY3SVEGl-yL22O2Qh8k/s1600/collage+violets.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXfZXZ93qDp5so9KgAZu51xcPiTuwsfvX8wE-QvoJHUCIPNs1Qz3B-AdO9K8KWWc7ci6ObvtdLBXTM3eSisd_NgdnwryNVqB_ysouRdkCrq4xL08x5eB8TkEzthNY3SVEGl-yL22O2Qh8k/s640/collage+violets.jpg" width="640" yya="true" /></span></a></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">While strolling down our garden center</span></em></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: large;">greenhouse aisles,</span></em></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: large;">I kept coming back to this pretty little thing.</span></em></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: large;">She was marked "trailing violet"</span></em></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: large;">and the only one in sight</span></em></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: large;">so I grabbed her.</span></em></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDJSCVAsglaroCh3VVYyxb_mRp9h3aXIULyy4v9SbZHIuJYpIUehwX30cY4cifQ6ZwWs0ibFgeTJS4Tu5TT0NmEKCaEAOZcnVIkOcXniMXdgbDVHOxRCKmXbltCp1kEgrj1f9jGCkjbrfg/s1600/DSC08608.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDJSCVAsglaroCh3VVYyxb_mRp9h3aXIULyy4v9SbZHIuJYpIUehwX30cY4cifQ6ZwWs0ibFgeTJS4Tu5TT0NmEKCaEAOZcnVIkOcXniMXdgbDVHOxRCKmXbltCp1kEgrj1f9jGCkjbrfg/s400/DSC08608.JPG" width="300" yya="true" /></span></a></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">She fit perfectly in my rusty, decorative lantern</span></em></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: large;">that I had waiting for her on my front porch.</span></em></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: large;">I had already removed the glass from it, </span></em></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: large;">anticipating something vining down its sides.</span></em></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjktBVS3QhFEw01T8fZj3BIndO4E7gMTKNvo6mcJPbOT0xS4qIOPhuBmk4vgmFioPfD7MLVpSt7cKWHhNM-zh-c8J46gSqy1tR-aY_vPwttvTYt-JV780P4EBZgIibga5Jd08sVbmdTL1qt/s1600/DSC08609.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjktBVS3QhFEw01T8fZj3BIndO4E7gMTKNvo6mcJPbOT0xS4qIOPhuBmk4vgmFioPfD7MLVpSt7cKWHhNM-zh-c8J46gSqy1tR-aY_vPwttvTYt-JV780P4EBZgIibga5Jd08sVbmdTL1qt/s400/DSC08609.JPG" width="300" yya="true" /></span></a></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So far she is thriving, no thanks to me.</span></em></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: large;">On a couple of our steamy days</span></em></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: large;">I neglected to water her until late in the day</span></em></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: large;">and she was not very happy,</span></em></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: large;">being completely wilted down.</span></em></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-QsgS4Nq2mT7ubce_Hjqrz-Ph3K85kix5UospVIwZfvmbr1RApcJCCIclPkEmB3WnTqLjSqgTUQYTDPLoychz6aKrlzQx0Ix6mwlOVTwRmqCGL23whkx0A7vahBBNvYRPUUVafmZ4qVqy/s1600/DSC08610.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-QsgS4Nq2mT7ubce_Hjqrz-Ph3K85kix5UospVIwZfvmbr1RApcJCCIclPkEmB3WnTqLjSqgTUQYTDPLoychz6aKrlzQx0Ix6mwlOVTwRmqCGL23whkx0A7vahBBNvYRPUUVafmZ4qVqy/s400/DSC08610.JPG" width="300" yya="true" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><em>Thankfully,with a big gulp of cool water,</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><em>she perked up.</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><em>Looking closer, I think she looks like a tiny pansy.</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><em>But what do it know...</em></span></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: large;">Anyone out there know what she is?</span></em></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><em>For now, she makes me smile</em></span></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: large;">and that's all that matters.</span></em></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>Just because . . .</em></span></span></div>
Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17324850294489701187noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6359389821982978694.post-17753301507085459082012-12-18T11:16:00.000-05:002017-10-24T18:27:02.510-04:00Christmas Cards<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2NcqhQXXkcc17iCJKMHOBQ0vWq4bFzdpvgrdiFGUf-u8l5mo7wmKjCc3aMFi7AzQhxW6rTBVKheaqCqljh6s_7KjxYHCOXezE3zEcXZogbc-I092MeozkDQ6YJLVT7OYczw9VXv-Cv_lu/s1600/cards-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2NcqhQXXkcc17iCJKMHOBQ0vWq4bFzdpvgrdiFGUf-u8l5mo7wmKjCc3aMFi7AzQhxW6rTBVKheaqCqljh6s_7KjxYHCOXezE3zEcXZogbc-I092MeozkDQ6YJLVT7OYczw9VXv-Cv_lu/s400/cards-2.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">A few days ago, I sat down at my desk</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> with my faithful address book</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">and sent out Christmas greetings</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> to family & friends.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It is a tradition that I have always enjoyed..</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">despite what my daughter thinks!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">(Love ya, Karen!)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizz_oXfwzkwFM5h6Fju0ag-IWpG9asOpYZXvTC5ppc-3K28YQtYN5tshnRonsL3xtcWHj5V-ARwl-kRvkq9gku4K_0Os7CWaTmCav50IrmuenuhOBTk0U1I4xk_-T2rfQmgWSjB5ufBqYR/s1600/cards-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizz_oXfwzkwFM5h6Fju0ag-IWpG9asOpYZXvTC5ppc-3K28YQtYN5tshnRonsL3xtcWHj5V-ARwl-kRvkq9gku4K_0Os7CWaTmCav50IrmuenuhOBTk0U1I4xk_-T2rfQmgWSjB5ufBqYR/s400/cards-4.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It is a running family joke that I love</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> to "X" off names on my list</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">IF I don't receive a card from ones I sent.<br />Not true!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4mksAaYWHWjlVMijP4j6GN2hgEGeSBLtcExfe7A_vaJYHAki_m-vP6isb31z6uaZiv8lP7Qk5Ur-qXBmksAG3KzDtifIpbZ6uyfOVwpvWA1GQysPfWnXL-UlUvdogMe8i1Z0hLW3os9j4/s1600/cards-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4mksAaYWHWjlVMijP4j6GN2hgEGeSBLtcExfe7A_vaJYHAki_m-vP6isb31z6uaZiv8lP7Qk5Ur-qXBmksAG3KzDtifIpbZ6uyfOVwpvWA1GQysPfWnXL-UlUvdogMe8i1Z0hLW3os9j4/s320/cards-5.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Well...maybe a little bit true.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Evidently at some point I got carried away</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> with my red "x-ing" pen!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuLhwKM1EqYBanA2a6422opA_Z8iEwFVMv414097eDlRa0_0Ng82xcS3_fcDQnl68NvNPg9nb5JAJ_OEJ5RO6nVLY6MOvyPDBpYFqvvweIIu7goz1RPKYQvl_MgZyK25QHYYwL6YDLExvP/s1600/cards-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuLhwKM1EqYBanA2a6422opA_Z8iEwFVMv414097eDlRa0_0Ng82xcS3_fcDQnl68NvNPg9nb5JAJ_OEJ5RO6nVLY6MOvyPDBpYFqvvweIIu7goz1RPKYQvl_MgZyK25QHYYwL6YDLExvP/s400/cards-3.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I've kept this Christmas list book since 1988.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Throughout the pages are lots of address changes,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">notes of loved ones no longer on this earth,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">and some names of friends we have lost track of.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">It has sort of become a history book</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">of family & friends.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVyFDlz0rnH_GpOcLuhVp0WskN-YdUw7leaZfduS3Y3SrIgou-lmIe3lBVcLiBkSp-_fCrCnvBd1R4CEAFCCIetNv_igH0r1jlDPECjNiRJ_ycchKBHLGPB2uukM-ncB0sooyeXxDQy3mE/s1600/cards+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVyFDlz0rnH_GpOcLuhVp0WskN-YdUw7leaZfduS3Y3SrIgou-lmIe3lBVcLiBkSp-_fCrCnvBd1R4CEAFCCIetNv_igH0r1jlDPECjNiRJ_ycchKBHLGPB2uukM-ncB0sooyeXxDQy3mE/s400/cards+1.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">But it is also a tradition I am seeing fade away.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I don't receive as many cards in the mail these days.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">No doubt the Internet has something to do with it...</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">making contact through the keyboard a convenience,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">plus a way to cut back on money spent.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ0UryE-PKtCx-hTrw4oChQafFijM87qJmVLZ6NP-YpL3uOXYlCY_3sT2fSUgbD94IZeEaZou7OQGHL7Vu_5HvLBn9mkukV_LCKRjMAHfMx-OhkGLBTVCJJZh5m6yGwP3FH2hWjmr_r8no/s1600/cards-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ0UryE-PKtCx-hTrw4oChQafFijM87qJmVLZ6NP-YpL3uOXYlCY_3sT2fSUgbD94IZeEaZou7OQGHL7Vu_5HvLBn9mkukV_LCKRjMAHfMx-OhkGLBTVCJJZh5m6yGwP3FH2hWjmr_r8no/s400/cards-6.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I'll store my little old red address book away</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> for another year.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I just hope I can remember where I put it!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Merry Christmas to you...</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">if I didn't get a card in the mail to you!</span></div>
Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17324850294489701187noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6359389821982978694.post-26943894997422293482012-12-10T22:41:00.000-05:002017-10-24T18:20:17.616-04:00The Village<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL-TOdNuF3s6lXRCoXL24im5Zqrq8JQC-XEtLXANU_-DR-CvpCYf1chN_QAhvIxb9NE1vxG9vG2RXXt6HIlCYdYttPcZETF7smGXJOHUSGHgieSdNEg7RU3cFRVULA5jPMJ3PzJUdbdLnA/s1600/village+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL-TOdNuF3s6lXRCoXL24im5Zqrq8JQC-XEtLXANU_-DR-CvpCYf1chN_QAhvIxb9NE1vxG9vG2RXXt6HIlCYdYttPcZETF7smGXJOHUSGHgieSdNEg7RU3cFRVULA5jPMJ3PzJUdbdLnA/s400/village+6.jpg" width="336" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>It was just a little over a week ago</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>when my daughter told Paige,</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>"Isn't there something you need to ask Grandma?"</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>"Yes"</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>she replied.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>"Grandma, do you have a Village?",</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>she asked excitedly.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Well...I knew where that was going . . .</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpTskPlyPg1TQulGkzQ-AHFpzCC_7rL7I4k8GTX7Nk9ZDCUeuamJMmItUV4qcJdxioBiSS90-1i4UKGFXmE8mlF-If9ztJpiJJuKK26tGwxwsbSNRCM3yv2PWsD_6U9A-EmO_pMV-qtoWG/s1600/village+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><img border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpTskPlyPg1TQulGkzQ-AHFpzCC_7rL7I4k8GTX7Nk9ZDCUeuamJMmItUV4qcJdxioBiSS90-1i4UKGFXmE8mlF-If9ztJpiJJuKK26tGwxwsbSNRCM3yv2PWsD_6U9A-EmO_pMV-qtoWG/s400/village+1.jpg" width="400" /></i></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>I don't even remember the last time I dragged my Dickens Village pieces out;</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>evidently a lot longer than I imagined</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>as the grandchildren have no memory of seeing this.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Paige has seen a village set up in some store</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>& thought it was amazing.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>And that is when Karen came up with the bright idea to have her ask me about it.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>She knew I couldn't turn down that snaggle toothed smile!</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQD5xSBcZXtBXyLc7otUACTE2fgznehtXa-3hdvB8wwYJjpw5eElJNirRYTNoyVwaF_lZLXNj-TGL8Ad7hfeh06yZ0APsKmZooVprIN8IbSHw4mP0MjewoFOWUKka9N5_Oi46mHSB93IbD/s1600/village+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><img border="0" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQD5xSBcZXtBXyLc7otUACTE2fgznehtXa-3hdvB8wwYJjpw5eElJNirRYTNoyVwaF_lZLXNj-TGL8Ad7hfeh06yZ0APsKmZooVprIN8IbSHw4mP0MjewoFOWUKka9N5_Oi46mHSB93IbD/s400/village+2.jpg" width="400" /></i></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>For several years, pieces to this set was what I requested for Christmas.</i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>I remember going to our local gift shop & trying to decide which piece I would ask for.</i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>I loved them all!</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfZ845rUbwzajyCVbkNp5y5s-yK-AzpBHaxy_2vVNu93wbgNiWdB9fVIAMyDX7KIZw5O1tCYFVA6CKJJ_9JIzu0iKKWXne7bx5hlro9v3dfbL7TNElqJfkYoZ9j2UnWPOhvWbIZ7czFx9_/s1600/village+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><img border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfZ845rUbwzajyCVbkNp5y5s-yK-AzpBHaxy_2vVNu93wbgNiWdB9fVIAMyDX7KIZw5O1tCYFVA6CKJJ_9JIzu0iKKWXne7bx5hlro9v3dfbL7TNElqJfkYoZ9j2UnWPOhvWbIZ7czFx9_/s400/village+4.jpg" width="400" /></i></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>I've never had a good display area, so over the years, I just left them packed away</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>in their boxes, thinking I would "gift" them away someday.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Finally, I figured out how to hide their cords & place them on different levels.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Hubby actually even got involved in setting it up, helping me figure out how to get it all plugged in.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz3haAh7eeasXuPnd08dDwlq9eukaK0Kv-80aXWLbljEybqGe_itE2JWUKj0wLVXhNc2nV7IxZUEIPDg26QrrtAkzIELxLXrvC4BhzO-lNHu5IOb6pX1L8K5VzkI5wQXGt_RFua6oQTPWa/s1600/village+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz3haAh7eeasXuPnd08dDwlq9eukaK0Kv-80aXWLbljEybqGe_itE2JWUKj0wLVXhNc2nV7IxZUEIPDg26QrrtAkzIELxLXrvC4BhzO-lNHu5IOb6pX1L8K5VzkI5wQXGt_RFua6oQTPWa/s400/village+3.jpg" width="400" /></i></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>The Whittlesbourne Church</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>is one of my favorite pieces.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>It's so old England...& I can imagine attending</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Christmas services in this grand building.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7hmOV6XBGfmnyd0XABmgBWKg0cCOi-qtVZR5IyPyXr6di7H-qrOIQdzQEmF_fWqSDbWZnJ2nCIDS_F2H0macgvZ4WKeBEtYDy5MCq6HwiHLO3TCY_O31WpzeVgCCN-sn1gYQoY6SUx86I/s1600/village+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><img border="0" height="345" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7hmOV6XBGfmnyd0XABmgBWKg0cCOi-qtVZR5IyPyXr6di7H-qrOIQdzQEmF_fWqSDbWZnJ2nCIDS_F2H0macgvZ4WKeBEtYDy5MCq6HwiHLO3TCY_O31WpzeVgCCN-sn1gYQoY6SUx86I/s400/village+5.jpg" width="400" /></i></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Hidden behind the tree is "Fagen's Hideaway".</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It makes me want to belt out in song . . .</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">(only if no one else is around)</span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>~</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"I'm reviewing the situation!</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Can a fella be a villain all his life?</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">All the trials and tribulations...</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">better settle down and get myself a wife!"</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">And a wife would cook and sew for me,</span></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">And come for me, and go for me,</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">The fingers, she will wag at me.</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">The money she will take me.</span></span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">A misery, she'll make from me...</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></span> </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>I think I"d better think it out again!"</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>(Anyone else an "Oliver" fan?)</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Now we may have a new tradition</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>until I tire of packing & unpacking these pieces.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>What the kids don't know is...</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Grandpa has a Snow Village that he used </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>to display in his car shop.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>It has a 50's diner, a Coca Cola Building,</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>a hospital, and several other piece.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Wouldn't the grandkids love that?</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Maybe another year. . .</i></span></div>
Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17324850294489701187noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6359389821982978694.post-78404885276976391572012-12-03T23:00:00.000-05:002017-10-24T18:16:38.429-04:00It's beginning to look like Christmas . . .<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDWKbjtAlUTQ7f-ahzo_h6YFG48u_W_kiM2czf59H93NFpiIrj1w2ZjZs2D-tatuk8wYHyuFe57jROkcH1pAYbNpdth1No9C2Nv4XLQapLUvhQ7meptg5C3AdJD-4BHFabhwdxlikEO2wW/s1600/DSC08215-a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDWKbjtAlUTQ7f-ahzo_h6YFG48u_W_kiM2czf59H93NFpiIrj1w2ZjZs2D-tatuk8wYHyuFe57jROkcH1pAYbNpdth1No9C2Nv4XLQapLUvhQ7meptg5C3AdJD-4BHFabhwdxlikEO2wW/s320/DSC08215-a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">In the midst of all of the mess of storage totes & boxes,</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">bit by bit I am beginning to find Christmas.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Years of never throwing anything away...</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">because one of these days I will use it...</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">has finally overwhelmed me.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Slowly, I am going through my "stuff"'</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">and choosing carefully</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">what I want to keep.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsERWRaAOWogSMQlBhx_ZkL4uc7UP9ehus-FtXyyap0VuNDK2RitHHCD_9SK2ZaaQGGXek992VhconRG3i63fWjqNfz3fh82HL7McQiHaXNDuDyftulIEVP6WOjUL850qhHsET4IZQeO9r/s1600/DSC08217-a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsERWRaAOWogSMQlBhx_ZkL4uc7UP9ehus-FtXyyap0VuNDK2RitHHCD_9SK2ZaaQGGXek992VhconRG3i63fWjqNfz3fh82HL7McQiHaXNDuDyftulIEVP6WOjUL850qhHsET4IZQeO9r/s400/DSC08217-a.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">For the first time that I remember,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I decorated the tree</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">for me-</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">the way I wanted it-</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">pretty & sparkly-</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">without red!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">just whites & greens</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">silver & mercury glass</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">glass & glitter-</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">different that ever before.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC_XNA6JT33lHtELCdyuv7fE9r0MGzoPg4UgwkC5jXJsnzhpmS5lGToHNIpHiccS3_sbjRdrB9ZXMBLlIbGzmlzNXVjG03l8XmT3Pau1J_3ZThYZrwOQSRP4WxIsfw75zdRUVNMCezq51I/s1600/DSC08211-a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC_XNA6JT33lHtELCdyuv7fE9r0MGzoPg4UgwkC5jXJsnzhpmS5lGToHNIpHiccS3_sbjRdrB9ZXMBLlIbGzmlzNXVjG03l8XmT3Pau1J_3ZThYZrwOQSRP4WxIsfw75zdRUVNMCezq51I/s400/DSC08211-a.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">In the morning I plan on decorating a little tree </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">just for the grandchildren-</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">with their special Disney ornaments and</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">my cute ornaments with all of the kids names of them,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">gifts given to me most years from my children.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">There will be snowmen</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">& gingerbread men,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Santa</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">& an angel or two.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Who knows what else is waiting in the mountain of totes</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">now sitting in our garage.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I'm just too sentimental to get rid of my treasures.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Happy decorating!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Hopefully you have more done than I do!</span></div>
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Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17324850294489701187noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6359389821982978694.post-1015738882281121012012-09-19T16:19:00.001-04:002012-09-19T16:34:36.485-04:00A Decade for Parker<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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You have probably heard this story before...</div>
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but it happened 10 years ago today</div>
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so I think I'll tell it again!</div>
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This may take a minute. . .</div>
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There was a time in our lives when there was much sadness</div>
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because Mom was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer</div>
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and we were more than convinced that Dad needed heart surgery.</div>
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Living over 500 miles from my parents, I wasn't quite sure how I would deal with it,</div>
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but thanks to Southwest Airlines & trips with my hubby,</div>
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I made it back & forth to Kansas almost every 4 weeks.</div>
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And then one day, Karen surprised me with the news that I was going to be grandma!</div>
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Sunshine began to come back into my life.</div>
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It also brought joy to my Mom to know that she had another great-grandchild coming</div>
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and I think it gave her the drive to fight to live just a little longer to get to see him,</div>
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along with enjoying those she already had.</div>
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I needed to see her in September.</div>
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Karen's doctors assured me that there was noooooo way she would deliver early.</div>
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I traveled out on the 17th to find Mom not doing well with her chemotherapy.</div>
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To top it off, Dad did a little too much fishing the next afternoon</div>
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and came home with chest pains,</div>
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stretched out on the couch</div>
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and asked for a nitroglycerin!</div>
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My sister, being a nurse, tried to convince him to go get checked out</div>
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but he wouldn't hear to it.</div>
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And then early on the morning of the 19th,</div>
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the phone rang.</div>
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Immediately I saw it was my daughter calling</div>
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and alarm bells when screeching through my head.</div>
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Yep!</div>
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She had just finished her 12 hour shift at our local hospital,</div>
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when she felt a sudden signal that Baby W was on his way...</div>
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TWO WEEKS EARLY!</div>
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Uniform still on, they plopped her in a wheelchair</div>
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and took her on a fast ride to the OB floor.</div>
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I'll never forget that feeling of helplessness...</div>
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feeling torn about whether to stay with my Mom who really needed special attention,</div>
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not wanting all of the responsibility to be left with my sister</div>
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who worked full time and had 3 kids of her own;</div>
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about my Dad who was still popping nitros under his tongue every little bit,</div>
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and my daughter, who was over 500 miles from me</div>
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with signs that I wasn't going to be there for my firstborn grandchild.</div>
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Phone calls were made & a little after lunch time, I was on a plane,</div>
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headed for Indy, via Chicago, where there was a line of severe weather</div>
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causing chaos that I didn't even know about.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJm2y8Zsy-m9zr7Py9YTWO0hUzCs1oa8SXnVz460J_OwUTovlak10LDfJJWqi24w-CvPcz7jb2aTmg0gp9d2WTEg-Z5fT-ChWNVfcHcGxxHt3pTfdxJoY9pOVjtg0MxJO57ecQFNiN8-Zv/s1600/Parker+David+027+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJm2y8Zsy-m9zr7Py9YTWO0hUzCs1oa8SXnVz460J_OwUTovlak10LDfJJWqi24w-CvPcz7jb2aTmg0gp9d2WTEg-Z5fT-ChWNVfcHcGxxHt3pTfdxJoY9pOVjtg0MxJO57ecQFNiN8-Zv/s400/Parker+David+027+(2).jpg" width="331" /></a></div>
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She wanted to wait, but Parker decided to enter this world while I was standing</div>
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in Kansas City International Airport,</div>
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waiting to board a plane.</div>
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It was 2002 & security was tight.</div>
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I had my bag thoroughly gone through at check-in</div>
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because I was a last minute flyer.</div>
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I even got frisked!</div>
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I remember standing there listening to Bob telling me via my cell phone</div>
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that Parker was here, healthy & beautiful,</div>
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and I wanted to shout it to the world...</div>
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and there was no one I could tell.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-R5q6aDsAz6TCQS4ugtnoVARF497fg9ETq1KXGpU9uYKGg0zgbnCtDL9ZbPJCL5Szhb_XoLNWF7E2aXBI_yjHwCtIBQACEflWbzw7NU8rQ7-_wQwtopbfZpnq2VPYtMbBnLsy0mvUBcxl/s1600/Parker+David+028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-R5q6aDsAz6TCQS4ugtnoVARF497fg9ETq1KXGpU9uYKGg0zgbnCtDL9ZbPJCL5Szhb_XoLNWF7E2aXBI_yjHwCtIBQACEflWbzw7NU8rQ7-_wQwtopbfZpnq2VPYtMbBnLsy0mvUBcxl/s400/Parker+David+028.jpg" width="288" /></a></div>
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Much to my aggravation, I couldn't get a direct flight,</div>
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so had to land in Chicago & change planes.</div>
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It was storming like crazy & announcements kept being made of delays.</div>
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Finally, we were allowed to board, but for some reason</div>
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they had to change airplanes.</div>
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I finally arrived in Indianapolis,</div>
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over seven hours since Parker had been born,</div>
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only to find out all of our luggage was missing!</div>
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So we headed 40 miles south, homeward, storms all around,</div>
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me stressed to the limit, and starved to pieces!</div>
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(A quick trip through McD's solved that dilemma.)</div>
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...and in the wee hours of the morning,</div>
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the airline did deliver my missing luggage!...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPwqra3vrI97fcBpXCiWwwQplqijrHTPl6Nxksc1serzhgrewBl1NRbeCLppyaH1a1DnmShh1ucyBPTFsRAVMBo2maGyYHtvKlzYY0zEFkGRoEMHhExcHlEeNN11SqGNR-OCRDON54XqDR/s1600/Parker+David+034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPwqra3vrI97fcBpXCiWwwQplqijrHTPl6Nxksc1serzhgrewBl1NRbeCLppyaH1a1DnmShh1ucyBPTFsRAVMBo2maGyYHtvKlzYY0zEFkGRoEMHhExcHlEeNN11SqGNR-OCRDON54XqDR/s400/Parker+David+034.jpg" width="340" /></a></div>
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We finally pulled in to our local hospital & I was so anxious to finally</div>
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get to see our new grandson.</div>
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I had thought of it all day long...</div>
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thought about how sweet it would be...</div>
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how it would just be our little family getting to know each other for a while...</div>
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when with the opening of the door to Karen's room</div>
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revealed a room overflowing with people!</div>
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They were all waiting to see my reaction at my first glimpse of Parker!</div>
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There were new aunts, uncles, cousins, friends and more friends,</div>
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people I didn't even know</div>
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and some I wondered where they came from.</div>
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I'm not kidding.</div>
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There were a minimum of 20 people.</div>
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But I survived.</div>
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And I got there before the other Grandma!</div>
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They too went out of state...</div>
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since we still had two weeks to wait!</div>
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and they were out of cell phone range and didn't find out until</div>
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the following morning that they were grandparents again.</div>
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That was the time that the tornadoes ripped through our area</div>
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and the highways were a mess.</div>
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Grandma W has a story of her own to tell.</div>
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Karen was chomping at the bit to go home,</div>
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(being the patient nurse that she is!)</div>
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and had it all arranged that she would be out the door ASAP.</div>
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Bags were packed, newborn photos were taken,</div>
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and when the other grandparents arrived...late that afternoon,</div>
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we loaded up and took new Mommy & Baby Parker home!</div>
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I'll never forget it.</div>
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At least I don't think I will, but now I have it in written form</div>
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to remind me and the rest of my family.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOcXTpuCMVIaCmVzbj032CbvJSw1DeUckKI50HWQno2eUlrsim-rIQYbIBUwkRooxBbXIr4GvVKJdn9cOuQ8M6AGKwXd1SDfqFHvsZnsE8wDZvIsplDRKTv2q3O_qKk8fXQTOWyqLHqmzO/s1600/Parker+David+035+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOcXTpuCMVIaCmVzbj032CbvJSw1DeUckKI50HWQno2eUlrsim-rIQYbIBUwkRooxBbXIr4GvVKJdn9cOuQ8M6AGKwXd1SDfqFHvsZnsE8wDZvIsplDRKTv2q3O_qKk8fXQTOWyqLHqmzO/s400/Parker+David+035+(2).jpg" width="342" /></a></div>
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You can believe that we made a trip to Kansas for Mom to see her new</div>
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great-grandson as soon as we could.</div>
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Of course she thought he was as sweet as could be.</div>
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One of her last requests was to see Parker again.</div>
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When he was seven months old,</div>
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I traveled back to Kansas with Parker & his Mommy & Daddy.</div>
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She held him a little, smiled as she watched him play at her feet the night that we got there,</div>
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and later that night she took a turn for the worse</div>
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and was gone the next evening.</div>
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She was waiting for us. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbEUsU5FCVjF-rZd7Hb8q8QLlbRVh7ozDrUFR9k0avI8OeekdaAUu3Npq0JS8_nAiGn4V_VdTTnRg5tjPpICFmSenI3zWBvN_XsVBqukQFFwyV9Leve3Baru_5TEd_vrRM0vFDfO5FQT0Q/s1600/Parker+David+035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbEUsU5FCVjF-rZd7Hb8q8QLlbRVh7ozDrUFR9k0avI8OeekdaAUu3Npq0JS8_nAiGn4V_VdTTnRg5tjPpICFmSenI3zWBvN_XsVBqukQFFwyV9Leve3Baru_5TEd_vrRM0vFDfO5FQT0Q/s400/Parker+David+035.jpg" width="336" /></a></div>
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Dad got to enjoy him too, along with Carter, Jeff's son.</div>
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Parker says that he remembers his Grandpa Brown</div>
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but I'm not sure if it is that</div>
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or memory of us talking about him.</div>
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Dad loved to rock those babies!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSyx5S0Jj2FxyNYJVMN8dSFd8XAMmI3atLUuO-_A5LJU6SRIG_laWFSwJubxvuf_1qNk86GBtMMfU5f-FfQK8EH2E7-ama721IgrzugvitzoudxBdy5lmPt7oZAcPoQJHxnF92H7PaazGK/s1600/DSC00208+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSyx5S0Jj2FxyNYJVMN8dSFd8XAMmI3atLUuO-_A5LJU6SRIG_laWFSwJubxvuf_1qNk86GBtMMfU5f-FfQK8EH2E7-ama721IgrzugvitzoudxBdy5lmPt7oZAcPoQJHxnF92H7PaazGK/s400/DSC00208+(2).JPG" width="316" /></a></div>
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Another Grandpa has been made happy with his little buddy.</div>
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He loves his grandchildren.</div>
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Parker has brought lots of laughs into our lives.</div>
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He loves life and isn't afraid to express his love to</div>
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his family. We all love his hugs!</div>
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He makes a great "big brother"!</div>
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Peyton is always in his shadow<br />
and Parker is Paige's hero & protector.</div>
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Parker is quite the gentleman.</div>
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He is polite and always gentle to older people...including me! Hehe...</div>
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He is his Daddy's son in his love of sports.</div>
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They have spent long hours together listening to their favorite teams</div>
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via the radio or Internet.</div>
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And Daddy has spent many long summer hours taking his boys to Little League games.</div>
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Happy 10th birthday Parker Man!!!</div>
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I cannot believe how quickly this decade has gone</div>
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and am so proud of the young guy you are becoming.</div>
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Someday you will be able to tell a family of your own</div>
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how you caused such so much comotion when you were born!</div>
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We sure have made a bunch of good memories together.</div>
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And I expect many more to come.</div>
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We love you ...a bushel and a peck! </div>
Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17324850294489701187noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6359389821982978694.post-45258955569919467452012-09-06T20:54:00.000-04:002012-09-06T20:54:04.690-04:00Part of the family. . .<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">While rummaging around through some old photos,</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">I found this one of Bob,</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">taken quite a few years ago</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">for a photo shoot for Late Great Chevy magazine.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">I had forgotten we even had it.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">Anyway...it took me back a few years.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">We dated in this car.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">I remember Bob racing it down a dragstrip</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">on one of our dates...</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">me waiting on the sidelines </span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>as he didn't want the extra weight!</i></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">We took it on our honeymoon...to Branson!</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">Bob used to drive it down to the railroad yards</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">where he worked for Rock Island.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">I even took it to the Milgram's to get groceries once in a while.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">For several years, it was our "family car".</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd8VGkM3gS5FuPH3ZS4i_ywUgwwqQS3fEv6T4GXYXSj5T-xmrkSCOED5WeTahic5TaTLyG-MfpJSgqKaNm1uAiqxxTMC-HbtVY3hwHJ-h-Z6iGW_u915wt29YbrH8QsFcUrG1ZPIQrI6nM/s1600/Bob+in+his+62.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="443" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd8VGkM3gS5FuPH3ZS4i_ywUgwwqQS3fEv6T4GXYXSj5T-xmrkSCOED5WeTahic5TaTLyG-MfpJSgqKaNm1uAiqxxTMC-HbtVY3hwHJ-h-Z6iGW_u915wt29YbrH8QsFcUrG1ZPIQrI6nM/s640/Bob+in+his+62.jpg" width="640" /></span></i></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">Little by little, Bob began doing things to the car</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">to improve it.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">The time came when the car was deemed too nice to drive to work.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">It was put on the far side of the garage </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">& only driven once in a while </span></i><i><span style="font-size: large;">to church---</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">IF the sun was shining.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">It's dark "candy apple red" paint now gleams in the sunshine</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">and the diamond tufted interior still smells of new leather.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">Just getting inside it & sitting next to Bob</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">takes me back to our "cruising" years.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">When it is driven to church on Sunday,</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">the grand kids all want a ride home with Grandpa.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">And if he takes the back road, behind Walmart,</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">the road less traveled,</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">Grandpa thrills the kids when he stomps the gas pedal</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">& roars down the road to the stop sign.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">They love it!</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">I'm thinking if anything would ever happen to this old car,</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">we would all be heart broken.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">After all of these years,</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">the '62 Impala </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">has become part of the family.</span></i> </div>
Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17324850294489701187noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6359389821982978694.post-9658520122587198552012-08-29T23:06:00.001-04:002012-08-29T23:10:22.682-04:00Friends. . .<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Do you have a life long friend...</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>a friend from your childhood?</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>My husband does.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>And even though they now live miles apart,</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Bob & Frank have somehow kept in touch.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirdoZ48M-gFMtQPefd_uN0EVcP-jqfS9Jv-t0x5m8R5xSYQTZHaH-yVD8D4DSmB0LR7Q7HiFi6WlQVzRbR5CG60PzHVAs-lCjU-PALE9Y99FI0sbugieiQ8R7OPlhcfPMkTkoMs6J1iT3z/s1600/Frank+&+Bob-a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirdoZ48M-gFMtQPefd_uN0EVcP-jqfS9Jv-t0x5m8R5xSYQTZHaH-yVD8D4DSmB0LR7Q7HiFi6WlQVzRbR5CG60PzHVAs-lCjU-PALE9Y99FI0sbugieiQ8R7OPlhcfPMkTkoMs6J1iT3z/s320/Frank+&+Bob-a.jpg" width="271" /></i></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Their friendship started when Bob's family</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>moved from Indiana to the mountains</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>of West Virginia to pastor a church.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>It just happened that Frank's family lived</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>next door to the parsonage.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Soon after moving in,</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Bob & Frank became friends.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRvHl4E82wekkp2lVeBzqiu1ElcmvSRF2BlUFa5mqcUb1APlj6jaQPYr1cz8DSI8F3c5-e9NMgMVkb2WhvHNxwyXSdIGf7-wtVDTrijZOCLgVMVnh1RndmxZERZ1Bv5aEW_t8mnNEmY49Z/s1600/Frank.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRvHl4E82wekkp2lVeBzqiu1ElcmvSRF2BlUFa5mqcUb1APlj6jaQPYr1cz8DSI8F3c5-e9NMgMVkb2WhvHNxwyXSdIGf7-wtVDTrijZOCLgVMVnh1RndmxZERZ1Bv5aEW_t8mnNEmY49Z/s400/Frank.jpg" width="400" /></i></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Bob attended his first 8 years of school</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>in Beckley. The summer before his</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>high school years, the family moved</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>to Kansas so the Thompson kids</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>could attend the Bible School,</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>leaving behind all of those childhood friendships.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Bob & Frank became pen pals.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Frank was always part of Bob's childhood memories.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>I learned of Frank while we were dating</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>and heard the stories of riding the</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>West Virginia turnpike in Frank's GTO</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>at 130 mph!</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>I remember Bob getting a letter from Frank</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>after we were married,</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>telling that he was being discharged from the Army</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>as they found he had diabetes.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Bob worried about him.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>After a few years,</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>we went out East to see him</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>while he was living in the Washington D.C. area.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>During the past 45 years, </i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>we have seen Frank 3 or 4 </i><i>times.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And it always seems as if it has just been a short while</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">& they take off with their friendship</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">like they still lived next door.</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Bob can rattle off their childhood antics</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">and Frank laughs like he has never heard them before.</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Last fall we traveled to Virginia to visit with</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Frank & Donita.</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It was the peak of autumn colors & a</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">trip I will never forget.</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Last week they came to see us!</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKwbzFkI-xCuoMWWe40FxIN8NSJ7WEM8cx441skF7ByeUatkoiKbe6d_VVq0BoOfYKP-5XQHZvO4kNWL2YM8qt1gNZ1vrEv9DRK9n5oNN0eKs6ZiwyMe0U_BQjaVIWaxNWZGjS3ZrVljSY/s1600/DSC04271.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKwbzFkI-xCuoMWWe40FxIN8NSJ7WEM8cx441skF7ByeUatkoiKbe6d_VVq0BoOfYKP-5XQHZvO4kNWL2YM8qt1gNZ1vrEv9DRK9n5oNN0eKs6ZiwyMe0U_BQjaVIWaxNWZGjS3ZrVljSY/s400/DSC04271.JPG" width="400" /></i></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Frank's first new car was a '65 GTO.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>He went crazy when he saw Bob's car collection</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>& fell in love with Bob's GTO, also a '65.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>I think the guys would have spent the weekend</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>in the car shop if we would have let them!</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i> I realized this time the reason that they </i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>have always been such good friends.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Both guys are car nuts!</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKg3YFkxF0htxY2UD9nakJPJIxxqCW8mtW6_pGrmeGOBx2XGwW2bJD51PdHShu5hQW1bv5C7oo7VU_Tml6rwvCEpaZ16mUKUUuAAhgno3HmkPpn2bu-O-gxr5IwoUhj6fpY7I8h_F-5Dyl/s1600/DSC04273.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKg3YFkxF0htxY2UD9nakJPJIxxqCW8mtW6_pGrmeGOBx2XGwW2bJD51PdHShu5hQW1bv5C7oo7VU_Tml6rwvCEpaZ16mUKUUuAAhgno3HmkPpn2bu-O-gxr5IwoUhj6fpY7I8h_F-5Dyl/s400/DSC04273.JPG" width="400" /></i></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i> Donita &I found plenty to talk about!</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>We had more in common than we imagined</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>& enjoyed our time together.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Besides that...we both love to shop!</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Before the weekend was over</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>we had shared family stories of good times & bad,</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i> & decided </i></span><i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">we were "kindred spirits".</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZJm2VzyGOsLLcIafAv7FKtTxbDVlYeRdCq9Avw-r2Dnk9IsQVH-RvRtmd3X1yhGW3xwrEBEixHnmIkCXnFFR2cUq4ZP8jdk1XAHYwtif6uwh05gMBAo0QwPCkj4JrdopIsPFbCc4tHBg_/s1600/DSC04276.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZJm2VzyGOsLLcIafAv7FKtTxbDVlYeRdCq9Avw-r2Dnk9IsQVH-RvRtmd3X1yhGW3xwrEBEixHnmIkCXnFFR2cUq4ZP8jdk1XAHYwtif6uwh05gMBAo0QwPCkj4JrdopIsPFbCc4tHBg_/s400/DSC04276.JPG" width="400" /></i></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>We let the guys go their separate way</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>for a day of car gazing.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>I gladly took Donita to Hobby Lobby,</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>which, unbelievably, they do not have</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>in Roanoke, VA.!</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZRl_B5uoQYLIX9qmwMCPhw-22iV7hJF0T-A4UkCTw3zJQ7UPdLcUe_nP4nhlv5AK2BhF13DYZ5Zq_3lF6e6xNfVj1AepIYqR5EwuN1sEwKzVYRNTzLVh4Ui4oIOzcJ9Xt2E_WBQkuzNeX/s1600/DSC04275.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZRl_B5uoQYLIX9qmwMCPhw-22iV7hJF0T-A4UkCTw3zJQ7UPdLcUe_nP4nhlv5AK2BhF13DYZ5Zq_3lF6e6xNfVj1AepIYqR5EwuN1sEwKzVYRNTzLVh4Ui4oIOzcJ9Xt2E_WBQkuzNeX/s400/DSC04275.JPG" width="400" /></i></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>The years have been good to them.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>And now, in our ever so shrinking world,</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>thanks to the Internet,</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Bob & Frank can still be pen pals...</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>or email friends.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>I think I even caught them texting!</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Friends are priceless.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>It would take a gold mine to keep these guys apart!</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Who knows when we will see them again.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>But I am pretty sure one or the other will</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>get online one of these days & work something out.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Ya'll come back now, ya hear?</i></span></div>
Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17324850294489701187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6359389821982978694.post-26045185933548528712012-07-30T10:38:00.000-04:002019-03-02T16:08:37.498-05:00Cheesecake!<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i> My ears perked up early this morning when I heard my local DJ say</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>"It's National Cheesecake Day"!</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Yuuummmm!</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Good thing I had already had my breakfast</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>or I might have had to raid the freezer for slice of heaven.</i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPi_ZiVQAAExbc2cuuq3mpICaAK6-Apqoi2-kKsp52512toReY2j9ynlYQWSg75ywPOOVGsYpNugmFQS4LNJdOQQGxsTvgAzNqou8ivwK35QzkYQvVah8R9AfYfDCPb0LQWh5jPZRAKem_/s1600/cheesecake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><img border="0" height="391" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPi_ZiVQAAExbc2cuuq3mpICaAK6-Apqoi2-kKsp52512toReY2j9ynlYQWSg75ywPOOVGsYpNugmFQS4LNJdOQQGxsTvgAzNqou8ivwK35QzkYQvVah8R9AfYfDCPb0LQWh5jPZRAKem_/s400/cheesecake.jpg" width="400" /></i></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>I'll never forget my first taste of cheesecake.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>It was on one of those Sunday afternoons </i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>when my cousin Olga & I begged her Mom</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>to let me go home with them for Sunday dinner.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Well, maybe we didn't have to beg.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>We loved taking turns going home </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>with each other on Sunday's</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>&</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i> it must have been my time to go to her house.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>What we had for Sunday dinner is not a memory for me.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Except the dessert.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Cousin Carlene asked if I had ever had "cheesecake".</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Noooo...I answered, with apprehension as I am not a big cheese lover,</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>thinking it might be some kind of pie </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>with grated cheese baked in it.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>I wasn't too thrilled with the idea.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Being too bashful (oh, I've outgrown that phase!),</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>I accepted the slice of cheese/pie</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>which happened to be topped with sugared strawberries.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Well, you can imagine my delight at my first taste of "real" cheesecake.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>This was the authentic, the kind you</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i> bake in the oven </i></span><i style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">in a waterbath cheesecake,</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>not the cheesecake in a mix.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>And it was heaven.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikVOgYepbJ_A0wPtloGzN047SSq4AMX3FMefVN4xH-EV9Bkp2xUJK6-ak4AqUoUV3OmtvUXj6feIkfZkUMtut05hiQMioZxlqgqdlxIuBO3qAt320tKKxE_qhm1LjRm_qfYIdPncu05Qsb/s1600/cheesecake+factory.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikVOgYepbJ_A0wPtloGzN047SSq4AMX3FMefVN4xH-EV9Bkp2xUJK6-ak4AqUoUV3OmtvUXj6feIkfZkUMtut05hiQMioZxlqgqdlxIuBO3qAt320tKKxE_qhm1LjRm_qfYIdPncu05Qsb/s400/cheesecake+factory.jpg" width="400" /></i></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>My daughter and two granddaughters have developed a love for the dessert too.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Karen prefers hers plain or the "creme brulee" flavor from our favorite place to have a slice. The rest of us don't seem to care, just so it's cheesecake.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>It is probably a good thing the nearest Cheesecake Factory is over 33 miles from here.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>I seldom go there, but if I am in the area </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>& it's a special occasion,</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Cheescake Factory is my choice for lunch.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>But I have discovered that I can race down the hill,</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>just a mile away,</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>&</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>in the freezer case at our local Sam's Club</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>is a variety of cheesecakes.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>There are usually ate least one or two</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>in my deep freezer waiting for company.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Or me.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>No wonder I waddle!</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Have I made you hungry yet?</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>It's mid-morning &</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i> I'm already thinking of reasons I need</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>to check my freezer to see what I'm having for dessert tonight.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Join me for a slice &</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i> let's celebrate</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>National Cheesecake Day!</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Yum!</i></span></div>
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<br />Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17324850294489701187noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6359389821982978694.post-14164522210526894792012-07-10T16:56:00.002-04:002018-02-26T14:30:18.515-05:00The Ugly Truth About Gardening<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXeIk1K7ziCB3YQKwQMiIrf6fgiwNgEyXXmwWnilRYIO0wOVo_ZhIcpU6y-N40b_VV3qM9gosv8L-5PlvdQ5SB1fZoQ_AHUG5BbBWSzK0PFGJJK_yDnjXrG3mNLUOOF7f3mKtSq4GZM9aM/s1600/DSC08027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ca="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXeIk1K7ziCB3YQKwQMiIrf6fgiwNgEyXXmwWnilRYIO0wOVo_ZhIcpU6y-N40b_VV3qM9gosv8L-5PlvdQ5SB1fZoQ_AHUG5BbBWSzK0PFGJJK_yDnjXrG3mNLUOOF7f3mKtSq4GZM9aM/s400/DSC08027.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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This is a summer of record breaking heat & almost no rain.</div>
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The last few days have brought a little relief-but it is still hot!</div>
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This is not the actual temperature,</div>
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but shows how hot it gets outside my kitchen window late in the afternoon.</div>
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I made a trip in town and on my way home saw a reading of 99 degrees</div>
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when the weather man only predicted no higher than 91.</div>
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Does it really make much difference?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAqYQn8xInzzeIhyphenhyphenjgqj3uNh41ZbtPLMvFpC6pvW-citBWw9SmZfmd7fJX1q1Acc1tEivtqh8KLkI3GsLnr8UMSJNOFWLl4vX3esuZzZOd60UkWV-KosLnFcOOd18OBqimqI9NvXgbiZ6Z/s1600/DSC08028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ca="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAqYQn8xInzzeIhyphenhyphenjgqj3uNh41ZbtPLMvFpC6pvW-citBWw9SmZfmd7fJX1q1Acc1tEivtqh8KLkI3GsLnr8UMSJNOFWLl4vX3esuZzZOd60UkWV-KosLnFcOOd18OBqimqI9NvXgbiZ6Z/s400/DSC08028.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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Anyhooo....</div>
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I had to drop something off this afternoon</div>
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and this dear, sweet lady was apologizing for the condition</div>
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of her flowers.</div>
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I just wanted her to know...</div>
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she doesn't win the prize for flowers that are droopy & in</div>
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need of a haircut!</div>
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Talk about deadheading!</div>
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I just cleaned these daylilies out 2 weeks ago</div>
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& they are an absolute mess.</div>
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Everything is overgrown, thanks to our irrigation system.</div>
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And most things are finished blooming for the summer.</div>
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Then there is that baptisia that some insect is having a feast on!</div>
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(Where's my bottle of "Sevin"?)</div>
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And the Japanese beetles haven't even appeared yet.</div>
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Something is getting in my pots behind the fountain at night</div>
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& digging for all he is worth & making the biggest mess!</div>
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I am almost positive that it's a chipmunk doing the damage.</div>
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He has even tunneled in the sand between the stones.</div>
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He will soon get to go for a joy ride down the hill!</div>
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Our neighbors tulip poplar is in distress & dropping leaves like crazy.</div>
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We benefit from this tree & I really hate to see the drought affect it.</div>
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I have been watering a trees in my back yard,</div>
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hoping that we don't lose anymore of them.</div>
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When I went to move the sprinkle head this afternoon,</div>
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I saw something moving under the mulch...in a slithering motion...</div>
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& I headed to the house!</div>
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Lawns are turning brown.</div>
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Thankfully, we do get to water & ours is looking good compared</div>
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to the ones who can't water.</div>
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Of course we always leave town at the hottest time of the year.</div>
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And of course, we are heading south!</div>
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I have a few things that I hope survive while I'm gone for just a few days.</div>
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Tonight, I will pull my wagons near a sprinkler head & hope for the best.</div>
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When I drive down our county roads & see the conditions of some of the crops,</div>
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I realize that many of our farmers are hurting.</div>
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I can buy more flowers later in the season to replace the ones I loose.</div>
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Or I can just let it all go until next year.</div>
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But the farmers need their crops to survive.</div>
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So we will be praying for cooler temperatures...</div>
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and rain -</div>
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just not torrents of it!</div>
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It looks like I win the prize for needing to do the most work in my gardens!</div>
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And I didn't even let you see some of the worst of it....no way!</div>
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Whenever the cooler weather comes our way, I'll be waiting with my weeder.</div>
Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17324850294489701187noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6359389821982978694.post-17247939164408431782012-07-07T16:11:00.002-04:002019-03-02T16:45:31.656-05:00Blessings of a Shower!<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>I don't know why in the world it took so long . . .</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>but after years of arm twisting, begging, whimpering, </em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>and maybe even some foot stomping . . .</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>I now have a shower in my bathroom!</em></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnEYvq_QBcBaiVXJgXlbO3wUGKyUt3djNE1XWMmJJk_Pr-hOLV4CR3xD42mr7guQpe6tI8cGhd8bpUUpdnMCjR1U59LhXYhYP3LaMf9ftHDs5Lan6kKrO4UYYmGbB-yYI-wQMYk7wAqp3w/s1600/bath+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em><img border="0" height="300" sca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnEYvq_QBcBaiVXJgXlbO3wUGKyUt3djNE1XWMmJJk_Pr-hOLV4CR3xD42mr7guQpe6tI8cGhd8bpUUpdnMCjR1U59LhXYhYP3LaMf9ftHDs5Lan6kKrO4UYYmGbB-yYI-wQMYk7wAqp3w/s400/bath+1.jpg" width="400" /></em></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>Our home was built in 1979.</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>After fighting a leaky shower in our other house,</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>and with 2 small children,</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>I opted to <u>not</u> have a shower put</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em> in our main bathroom.</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>Big mistake!!!</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>At the time, garden tubs were the big thing</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>and I thought my bathroom was beautiful with the step in tub.</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>(No whirlpool jets in this one.)</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>The kids grew up splishing and splashing</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em> in this big tank</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>and loved every minute of it.</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>In the past few years, I've even thrown a few dirty grandkids </em></span><em style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">in for a good sudsing up,</em></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>and they too swam like little fish </em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>in my wall to wall bath.</em></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPV6hTQfm5xBzEnXDjQAPt3nTVkwuyybDBWXerxsmNNWxSWJTl988l8RistVI6Wig7OGoZSJu6latbmDGsGWdr7jYabTAXI-5BuBRjuqWff5zSE-3rfC9laxABLymtWzP9qTlMAslbqESS/s1600/bath+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em><img border="0" height="400" sca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPV6hTQfm5xBzEnXDjQAPt3nTVkwuyybDBWXerxsmNNWxSWJTl988l8RistVI6Wig7OGoZSJu6latbmDGsGWdr7jYabTAXI-5BuBRjuqWff5zSE-3rfC9laxABLymtWzP9qTlMAslbqESS/s400/bath+3.jpg" width="300" /></em></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>Finally, something clicked.</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>(Maybe something about me not being a spring chicken anymore</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>might have had a little to do with Hubby's decision to tackle the job.)</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>All he had to do was say the word and I was off to the tile store!</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>Good grief...</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>that is ugly paint</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>and we found uglier than that vinyl floor</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>when he took up our ceramic tile.</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>I thought that was pretty?</em></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><em></em></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjevXuvEGUCH_dAmJxasBOkdywVF5cBKCkuoXzYyCiQXMmHORR4odgI__Z1xFLgqm8Dk4PPPUvKf0qF_2jFOIp5W1UmTWpga6UUGy1YiAIDv8NGRO9O4oXY0k9eiFp9xjC_KJKbhM7BiY2L/s1600/bath+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em><img border="0" height="400" sca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjevXuvEGUCH_dAmJxasBOkdywVF5cBKCkuoXzYyCiQXMmHORR4odgI__Z1xFLgqm8Dk4PPPUvKf0qF_2jFOIp5W1UmTWpga6UUGy1YiAIDv8NGRO9O4oXY0k9eiFp9xjC_KJKbhM7BiY2L/s400/bath+2.jpg" width="300" /></em></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>Out went the tub--the cultured marble counter top--</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>the very distressed because we used it </em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>for 33 years vanity</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>and the not too old ceramic tile </em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>that was never very pretty.</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>And no more wallpaper or border in here!</em></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz-S9u6zRY9eHdl4j_4i0ZuXPWKSxncC-ux5iyHmB1DZbr4GTMZ6jLvaoEXe_vfkQhAqpsExo9dsTU4ZkdKKu3_5puRczneUwi9KYbFynpf69kk86b5Im0-g8pUX_VkUyqHJWnQapDcCbM/s1600/bath+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em><img border="0" height="240" sca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz-S9u6zRY9eHdl4j_4i0ZuXPWKSxncC-ux5iyHmB1DZbr4GTMZ6jLvaoEXe_vfkQhAqpsExo9dsTU4ZkdKKu3_5puRczneUwi9KYbFynpf69kk86b5Im0-g8pUX_VkUyqHJWnQapDcCbM/s320/bath+4.jpg" width="320" /></em></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>For some reason, we never sealed the grout</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>and I would have to get on my hands and knees</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>every few months and clean the grout lines</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>with a "Magic Eraser" sponge.</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>Yuck! And Ouch!</em></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdwbI_Tx39JVHPa91EcXaZLy6_7lXu5LImuOisonkm3mBhE9gC_ZKSnYtm7UEyw_LT6eYZ3RixcoQPdTkNcM6JtNAjw8e3wJkwrVRttxR0UhzmvFgXm-Lb4Jh6IkX_gyqbWfjHJYnq1mmG/s1600/bath+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em><img border="0" height="300" sca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdwbI_Tx39JVHPa91EcXaZLy6_7lXu5LImuOisonkm3mBhE9gC_ZKSnYtm7UEyw_LT6eYZ3RixcoQPdTkNcM6JtNAjw8e3wJkwrVRttxR0UhzmvFgXm-Lb4Jh6IkX_gyqbWfjHJYnq1mmG/s400/bath+5.jpg" width="400" /></em></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>Plans were to begin this project before Christmas.</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>It didn't happen.</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>I agreed to wait until after the Holidays</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>but had no idea we would be delayed by 6 months.</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>But Bob knew he wanted only this tile installer,</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>so patiently (aHem...) we waited.</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>BTW...those blocks in the back wall </em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>are for our grab bar.</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>No way will I be able to yank it off that wall!</em></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWdD6U-8XLbMzSBeUvrKnBDFgL3gMtSJ9OKqJv5Bj4xWfcAZaAUqSo3Hl8ACfW8ZC-502Zqxl_RU4zI3ku7l1MysG47mZwOVvf_pnXPm37XV6bkvSsZugDCzK6vQEr8YsSv2ApUMzGdqAj/s1600/bath+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em><img border="0" height="300" sca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWdD6U-8XLbMzSBeUvrKnBDFgL3gMtSJ9OKqJv5Bj4xWfcAZaAUqSo3Hl8ACfW8ZC-502Zqxl_RU4zI3ku7l1MysG47mZwOVvf_pnXPm37XV6bkvSsZugDCzK6vQEr8YsSv2ApUMzGdqAj/s400/bath+7.jpg" width="400" /></em></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>Tracey showed up and worked hard for 4 days.</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>He installed the Durock, squared up the walls,</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>bedded in the cement base for the shower floor,</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>did a beautiful job on laying the floor tile,</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>and the shower walls and floor.</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>I'm so glad we waited for him.</em></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAHR9E9xdVLEZ6IoBcLYww3bOftqEnmEPBkM7uNLBMTJcsYZzAIY3WpZBy6g2c1VdpttY5a5C9PScqWfEvmXsibC2njSNjqZiW5cDH7PJlWN6C9t1TlfguYEmGaXbU5-kqVNYGH0KtrHif/s1600/bath+13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em><img border="0" height="400" sca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAHR9E9xdVLEZ6IoBcLYww3bOftqEnmEPBkM7uNLBMTJcsYZzAIY3WpZBy6g2c1VdpttY5a5C9PScqWfEvmXsibC2njSNjqZiW5cDH7PJlWN6C9t1TlfguYEmGaXbU5-kqVNYGH0KtrHif/s400/bath+13.jpg" width="300" /></em></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>Margie, my tile designer, convinced me to have the</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>floor tiles layed on the diagonal.</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>I wasn't too sure about the idea but was very pleased</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>with how it turned out.</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>Margie also recommended a very dark brown for the walls.</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>We ended up using "Cobble Brown" from Sherwin Williams.</em></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiakbWX0FWNBWgue_trJR5SFrjtLqpcvDIRS2EbJTqcv4KlRHYGOXkKXoSU0zmUh6SX6g3DcprBhyYgSyxuNMTsT0dsLBoZtiPqQVyGutLH5u2Hbm9ddhtkCaI-vkEAx55vr3SOUaP1m-8K/s1600/DSC07993.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em><img border="0" height="400" sca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiakbWX0FWNBWgue_trJR5SFrjtLqpcvDIRS2EbJTqcv4KlRHYGOXkKXoSU0zmUh6SX6g3DcprBhyYgSyxuNMTsT0dsLBoZtiPqQVyGutLH5u2Hbm9ddhtkCaI-vkEAx55vr3SOUaP1m-8K/s400/DSC07993.JPG" width="300" /></em></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>This room is long and narrow</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em> but the shower is much roomier</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>(is that a word?)</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>than it appears.</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>It actually is 4 feet by 5 feet</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>and is very comfortable!</em></span></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: "verdana";">(I know...I couldn't wait and </span></em><em><span style="font-family: "verdana";">tried it out before the shower doors got here!)</span></em></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>On the left is the water valves and </em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>a hand held attachment.</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>On the right end is the shower head and</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em> 2 cubbies for soaps and shampoo.</em></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ODW77VEVZjzYbGTjCeffS7YfZ5U21q7ou54X8-wiPLHUdjimwO1dXT0kdID0jgZ56ZWL9Ib855OTUKQrRY76RR-YeLoUA5AJKY0OwwePMlBXdlI5xNnSNddlaMB-V_RWyM0LHRyv77I8/s1600/DSC07996.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em><img border="0" height="300" sca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ODW77VEVZjzYbGTjCeffS7YfZ5U21q7ou54X8-wiPLHUdjimwO1dXT0kdID0jgZ56ZWL9Ib855OTUKQrRY76RR-YeLoUA5AJKY0OwwePMlBXdlI5xNnSNddlaMB-V_RWyM0LHRyv77I8/s400/DSC07996.JPG" width="400" /></em></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>Shower floor tiles are 2 inch squares.</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>The grout is stain resistant, and mildew resistant.</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>Our installer said we will be so glad we paid the extra</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>money for the best grout!</em></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ6VF5K7PK1DAEPuhx1o003kjnYmv06nYblhbhhhJ8MTMDuBgNzvPj4TUMUaoSnS0gc-3_jDyZnM69SZL7RE622MqK84L-5uV4EuauwHGcCQb-o-Dyjjl_QqOg5hSUw1n9F2F_I1P0c45F/s1600/bath+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em><img border="0" height="300" sca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ6VF5K7PK1DAEPuhx1o003kjnYmv06nYblhbhhhJ8MTMDuBgNzvPj4TUMUaoSnS0gc-3_jDyZnM69SZL7RE622MqK84L-5uV4EuauwHGcCQb-o-Dyjjl_QqOg5hSUw1n9F2F_I1P0c45F/s400/bath+10.jpg" width="400" /></em></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>One row of Venetian bronze accent medallions</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em> were added for accent.</em></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBSA-jZ8lzqMTQBEcv_f1M9p0YjyTuSU90GK7S1-sWWG9xLbgjkggE98NAuQV2-9Sfp8a6053feiz2egJuYl-gwQAJu1RsEP2X-yLYjjQmBBT8khnMC-IQNXMNh9xHhLR8JPT9DOmKLquF/s1600/bath+11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em><img border="0" height="300" sca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBSA-jZ8lzqMTQBEcv_f1M9p0YjyTuSU90GK7S1-sWWG9xLbgjkggE98NAuQV2-9Sfp8a6053feiz2egJuYl-gwQAJu1RsEP2X-yLYjjQmBBT8khnMC-IQNXMNh9xHhLR8JPT9DOmKLquF/s400/bath+11.jpg" width="400" /></em></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>Our installer used an artist brush to detail the grout around </em></span><em style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">these accent tiles.</em></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>It made it look 3 demensional!</em></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiezv2a94Ol9kCSJdFH1mYGUJODBbseFhNS99AZWGlwjFFX_SJQiVfeHnzgaQnTIiZ86qD74tNYz1WjLGh2l8BQJ4SVBzqvncp4QLAYT8vyBHo2rV2wyg9a5_G8uZnJk6BrYK9PEN_vvhHj/s1600/bath+12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em><img border="0" height="300" sca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiezv2a94Ol9kCSJdFH1mYGUJODBbseFhNS99AZWGlwjFFX_SJQiVfeHnzgaQnTIiZ86qD74tNYz1WjLGh2l8BQJ4SVBzqvncp4QLAYT8vyBHo2rV2wyg9a5_G8uZnJk6BrYK9PEN_vvhHj/s400/bath+12.jpg" width="400" /></em></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>And I was so happy with the way </em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>my new vanity turned out!</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>With a print out of a picture from a Pottery Barn ad,</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>Andy our cabinet man custom built the vanity.</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>I wanted a single bowl so I could have </em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>more counter top space</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>and also wanted a couple of drawers.</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>It's beautiful!</em></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhben-8iTwJCbuzA0JcilyhE5_YMhhi17iyCJQ_ryRhaPjwv-psiEOp3Wsd20cmOok2CV9Xr99mOv_r1bDK5W4yAlHlQiHzR8Zj-cKXnpO6Lo8uhxyPzKTdungAlqRRdaubuib7D2XvXY7m/s1600/bath+23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em><img border="0" height="400" sca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhben-8iTwJCbuzA0JcilyhE5_YMhhi17iyCJQ_ryRhaPjwv-psiEOp3Wsd20cmOok2CV9Xr99mOv_r1bDK5W4yAlHlQiHzR8Zj-cKXnpO6Lo8uhxyPzKTdungAlqRRdaubuib7D2XvXY7m/s400/bath+23.jpg" width="300" /></em></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>The drawers are perfect for what little primping I do.</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>Andy used Sherwin Williams "Snowbound"</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em> for the paint </em></span><em style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">and at my request,</em></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>he slightly distressed the drawers and cabinet legs.</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>We used the Venetian bronze faucet </em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>that we already had.</em></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3wNtwKM8alO3XyCZ1B7nWZhxc3G-dE3-WLt8HE4KJvw5mAsFY6ungTBOB6Ftb98ntVYyJTv5Zqz4jg6ramJM1xqlrazYkpcE7rEda8fxXLj3FB-o7AWjT_f0psjvfH1vfxAYBJI6yzRFd/s1600/bath+17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em><img border="0" height="400" sca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3wNtwKM8alO3XyCZ1B7nWZhxc3G-dE3-WLt8HE4KJvw5mAsFY6ungTBOB6Ftb98ntVYyJTv5Zqz4jg6ramJM1xqlrazYkpcE7rEda8fxXLj3FB-o7AWjT_f0psjvfH1vfxAYBJI6yzRFd/s400/bath+17.jpg" width="300" /></em></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>I ordered the large baskets from Pottery Barn </em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>and they are fastened to the slide out shelf.</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>Left basket is for towels and right basket </em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>is for wash clothes, hand towels, and necessities!</em></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhja2c0Odt6-0hrAxkKrwQ55L1LiZ1k36Q8k28PGiifee0kuP5VhwEfPx8K0N_qX5fiu7GZ3xg7QNyObIsgmPn0MhfYWhE452e2Ox4nWXxGpZKHMjVNW74nJe0VRzAey6Z3JJqebMCXDrkf/s1600/bath+16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em><img border="0" height="240" sca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhja2c0Odt6-0hrAxkKrwQ55L1LiZ1k36Q8k28PGiifee0kuP5VhwEfPx8K0N_qX5fiu7GZ3xg7QNyObIsgmPn0MhfYWhE452e2Ox4nWXxGpZKHMjVNW74nJe0VRzAey6Z3JJqebMCXDrkf/s320/bath+16.jpg" width="320" /></em></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>The counter top is Corian "Bisque"</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>with an ogee edge</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>and the largest sink they make!</em></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJIb_7pZDvIFoKp6pxIacrvA_cGUCNHbNOcw5FBKTNP1NNo5jzOU4J8chB9kmXPxUV1zFVGm3aVWly8q8LuvNWjKhoFsLgG_Qk1sIan7QSi9_OfxyPrHts-vofqfIa9v2ziL4pqs2Yd6iR/s1600/bath+19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em><img border="0" height="300" sca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJIb_7pZDvIFoKp6pxIacrvA_cGUCNHbNOcw5FBKTNP1NNo5jzOU4J8chB9kmXPxUV1zFVGm3aVWly8q8LuvNWjKhoFsLgG_Qk1sIan7QSi9_OfxyPrHts-vofqfIa9v2ziL4pqs2Yd6iR/s400/bath+19.jpg" width="400" /></em></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>Yesterday, the glass doors were installed.</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>Early this morning, Tracey came by</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>to install the grab bar</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>and hanger for the hand held sprayer.</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>Thanks for such a beautiful job, Mr. Gibson!</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>On a side note...</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>Bob has used Tracey for several of his houses</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>and had no idea that he is our</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>daughter-in-laws uncle!</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>Small world!!!</em></span></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: "verdana";">Shower doors are "frameless"</span></em></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: "verdana";">with only a header railing and door handle.</span></em></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: "verdana";">It also has a water resistant coat on</span></em></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: "verdana";">the inside of the doors to repell water spots.</span></em></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: "verdana";">Hope that cuts down on the cleaning!</span></em></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: "verdana";">(Coating by "Cardinal Showers" out of Louisville)</span></em></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXIuptIhHb3rMsV5LXYNcMdPadBOuIgGjOrbPEMW4CltXoNNaDTHgILSB8ESszISR80sFk09bUpXw_kAaSLfmPPcPKF3uctc5EoI1xXJjiSrtLSMtDqY4jk_lii_JH5zdKwlmULvKD-lJd/s1600/bath+20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em><img border="0" height="300" sca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXIuptIhHb3rMsV5LXYNcMdPadBOuIgGjOrbPEMW4CltXoNNaDTHgILSB8ESszISR80sFk09bUpXw_kAaSLfmPPcPKF3uctc5EoI1xXJjiSrtLSMtDqY4jk_lii_JH5zdKwlmULvKD-lJd/s400/bath+20.jpg" width="400" /></em></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>We also used our framless plate glass mirror </em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>that is original with the house.</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>It was cut down a few inches</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>and Andy made a beautiful frame for it!</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>He also custom made baseboard for this room</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>and painted it to match the vanity.</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>Makes the wall color pop!</em></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTz2HbOoo3XL3RoafcZt003wkWItxM5qtog-U00iEiUdkInlmT8iNlhzNpgXvpoitNY9iFRkaFuB7KKhdGtuTT7lBLdffrhoSnj65-sYjwYUrEs0xpLk3EtOExbOt2bkdkNYnMuWiUNyS8/s1600/bath+21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em><img border="0" height="400" sca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTz2HbOoo3XL3RoafcZt003wkWItxM5qtog-U00iEiUdkInlmT8iNlhzNpgXvpoitNY9iFRkaFuB7KKhdGtuTT7lBLdffrhoSnj65-sYjwYUrEs0xpLk3EtOExbOt2bkdkNYnMuWiUNyS8/s400/bath+21.jpg" width="300" /></em></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>I found a Nancy Noel print in the closet</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>and decided to use it in here.</em></span></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: "verdana";">There are no windows in this bathroom ~</span></em></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: "verdana";">Only a skylight which brings in plenty of light,</span></em></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: "verdana";">but makes for poor lighting for photography.</span></em></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZEic-Uj1aEFKvJ4mgQSblwvYGHQIpJM59ox_2P_XhZVLEQuRrpCHK6O-XdAsoixwOTK34nfihj0xhErqlFarX0SWqU6-VL6fzkClkNv8i_MlzA4Klxj0n3I7Fhe4e7WBtMF-zKbFki_kU/s1600/bath+24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em><img border="0" height="300" sca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZEic-Uj1aEFKvJ4mgQSblwvYGHQIpJM59ox_2P_XhZVLEQuRrpCHK6O-XdAsoixwOTK34nfihj0xhErqlFarX0SWqU6-VL6fzkClkNv8i_MlzA4Klxj0n3I7Fhe4e7WBtMF-zKbFki_kU/s400/bath+24.jpg" width="400" /></em></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>I also was able to use the canvas floral print </em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>that I already had</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em> It looks so much better on this wall color!</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>(Taken from reflection in mirror...)</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>Purchased with gift card from April and Jef</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em> and I loved it </em></span><em style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">and wanted to keep using it.</em></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>(Hobby Lobby)</em></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2cObtWSHJDEvopU21nH28z0Y7Dsgw-gAETN9gcxQONcViKTF6rK7IzdKVUf2iXXFtbKXT1SfmHoV0wpnZDuJvrHeBLwi6hBbueo0cE5rgqE4nlr__-LJv_zbK5XxVDa74xSqwauUMM3bD/s1600/bath+22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em><img border="0" height="300" sca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2cObtWSHJDEvopU21nH28z0Y7Dsgw-gAETN9gcxQONcViKTF6rK7IzdKVUf2iXXFtbKXT1SfmHoV0wpnZDuJvrHeBLwi6hBbueo0cE5rgqE4nlr__-LJv_zbK5XxVDa74xSqwauUMM3bD/s400/bath+22.jpg" width="400" /></em></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>I am jumping up and down happy about how our project turned out!!!</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>Now, when we have a house full of company,</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>we won't all have to be taking a number and wait on the only shower in the house...which is dinky & off our master bedroom! Horrors!</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><em>This is my new "shower of blessing"!</em></span></div>
<em></em>Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17324850294489701187noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6359389821982978694.post-31636661091650342582012-06-08T21:57:00.000-04:002012-06-08T21:57:06.482-04:00Summer Nights. . .<div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: large;">Some of the best things about</span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: large;">Indiana summer nights . . .</span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: large;">An early supper meal at our local</span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: large;">Cracker Barrel</span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: large;">~</span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: large;">A slow ride around our old neighborhood</span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: large;">~</span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ooY8y8b6NVEGL9vIswtvR9ocljLAVPordat23bcxLlPZ69NfGe7LD1EOZ6s4IOrxRf5iXKvDxZbPueskmtc1eqpAkiAhR0MZ4ugXfGX8p3zonjnhuIOs8J54dXw-d8-9VJQRcsUNLxTZ/s1600/DSC07927-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="502" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ooY8y8b6NVEGL9vIswtvR9ocljLAVPordat23bcxLlPZ69NfGe7LD1EOZ6s4IOrxRf5iXKvDxZbPueskmtc1eqpAkiAhR0MZ4ugXfGX8p3zonjnhuIOs8J54dXw-d8-9VJQRcsUNLxTZ/s640/DSC07927-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Freshly mowed lawn</span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">~</span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Flowers watered</span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">~</span></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjbs-FgOKPXuNanrCIqydClAif0pQutXB86uy_zq_qZLZb5AMt9SME4BZ5Mw0hi4Nyma2LxBwBQud6m3v2hzYGzwR4bY4nBqaTJBYRejF87GweiXeAldoH84uaFy00GWespEbQ6UL9KT-6/s1600/DSC07931-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="504" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjbs-FgOKPXuNanrCIqydClAif0pQutXB86uy_zq_qZLZb5AMt9SME4BZ5Mw0hi4Nyma2LxBwBQud6m3v2hzYGzwR4bY4nBqaTJBYRejF87GweiXeAldoH84uaFy00GWespEbQ6UL9KT-6/s640/DSC07931-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">and a bouquet of roses & hydrangeas</span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">to enjoy at the kitchen sink.</span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">~</span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Now I'm ready for the weekend.</span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">I am looking forward to </span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">"A Country Gathering"</span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">in a nearby little town</span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">and a visit to our</span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Farmer's Market.</span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Enjoy your weekend!</span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><u><em>To follow my blog, please add your link below!</em></u></div>Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17324850294489701187noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6359389821982978694.post-37422273295752001652012-06-04T15:13:00.000-04:002012-06-04T15:13:05.511-04:00Did you hear me screamin'?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiir3Q1VJdxVfzevCABHmya7Eudp7fIilUhQErq2g0avfSE7IGjwsvj3SqtEiS8Sl-xS8KrApda-ecEYYIjYgu31DUZVN2HShfv1ISv5xQXm22ynN4aV0nrmwTN_5XVLSkOPGRdEOMAT61G/s1600/DSC07903-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiir3Q1VJdxVfzevCABHmya7Eudp7fIilUhQErq2g0avfSE7IGjwsvj3SqtEiS8Sl-xS8KrApda-ecEYYIjYgu31DUZVN2HShfv1ISv5xQXm22ynN4aV0nrmwTN_5XVLSkOPGRdEOMAT61G/s400/DSC07903-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A couple of weeks ago I found two orange daylilies at our local nursery.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I grabbed both of them & planted one at each light fixture in our front yard.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRW8je1LOvgf_0XLwG-QkcNnCsfAIAx2IRYRhmmHvn5zEKq28sz5MPmsQ_-4_Leg9Ihp3zISbtNsCcFWSBYtrtsw9UsA_wmgZGxVJp07Lrbu-sC-scIdN5TeO-TD-3smzupxH64guNEy7h/s1600/DSC07904-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRW8je1LOvgf_0XLwG-QkcNnCsfAIAx2IRYRhmmHvn5zEKq28sz5MPmsQ_-4_Leg9Ihp3zISbtNsCcFWSBYtrtsw9UsA_wmgZGxVJp07Lrbu-sC-scIdN5TeO-TD-3smzupxH64guNEy7h/s400/DSC07904-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"Primal Scream"</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXJDsD-Z4rIlHnq8EoxPdxJDvQE5I-t1xWzmYXmuyGFOBFMGPwgcjbmzx59UaIwvvGGa9CCNrIKi06ELWi0-5eOJZS79EzDkNmmbtQaAOeKfUJje8JgWKHvbRwLX56ukAl8ygQ7g-pIkQx/s1600/DSC07905-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXJDsD-Z4rIlHnq8EoxPdxJDvQE5I-t1xWzmYXmuyGFOBFMGPwgcjbmzx59UaIwvvGGa9CCNrIKi06ELWi0-5eOJZS79EzDkNmmbtQaAOeKfUJje8JgWKHvbRwLX56ukAl8ygQ7g-pIkQx/s400/DSC07905-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Yep...that's me, screaming for joy at their brilliant color.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And life.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sometimes it gets so busy</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I feel like doing a little screaming myself!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Did you hear me?</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEDw50HWBG_JLx_jnNDzD0lQ1sh8GJmZ2Q7gniIpWvWa_cySUjySB8dSR1nUytwcbHTK-kHpTIrdenj8ZYTg29W6NSYHBTuLlLAnw-lFjuD_PHI45x_jSEqvE4FW-uK8SDM9SVvaV0AR1L/s1600/DSC07912-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEDw50HWBG_JLx_jnNDzD0lQ1sh8GJmZ2Q7gniIpWvWa_cySUjySB8dSR1nUytwcbHTK-kHpTIrdenj8ZYTg29W6NSYHBTuLlLAnw-lFjuD_PHI45x_jSEqvE4FW-uK8SDM9SVvaV0AR1L/s400/DSC07912-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It was hotter than July around here on Memorial Day weekend</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and I chose to stay indoors.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But since then, we have had gorgeous weather</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and my flowers have been showing off!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtYblEZT6-DHtZwv_xS3oUfbY4y8V8jyBirb87xmv7UMZfnmidEfE-W3jqP3Rg9DDxWal0Wsv5p4NmEc2s2H3gLNa0XvO2WClmxkDWkEjpFeS8UbnDgrXUZdh0bgfEzm5oJNIabgPBhaVr/s1600/DSC07913-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtYblEZT6-DHtZwv_xS3oUfbY4y8V8jyBirb87xmv7UMZfnmidEfE-W3jqP3Rg9DDxWal0Wsv5p4NmEc2s2H3gLNa0XvO2WClmxkDWkEjpFeS8UbnDgrXUZdh0bgfEzm5oJNIabgPBhaVr/s400/DSC07913-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Without much tender loving care,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">my hydrangeas are in full bloom.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I never know for sure just how to prune them,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">so I let them go until Spring</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and then just clip off the tips that look like they are lifeless.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCPO87mbFvHBMjgrnl5Fmua-6IidbQBRvq-s9pIMIg48y8L_mRcSAc6wLvpdvTh5mDeFnsiJ3CX3fmYlN8CFofyP4gTw9VTSNs9M5D5VloMYpDc29x1qUtHmf0UCeL81f1GVLdW9CtYSdg/s1600/DSC07919-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCPO87mbFvHBMjgrnl5Fmua-6IidbQBRvq-s9pIMIg48y8L_mRcSAc6wLvpdvTh5mDeFnsiJ3CX3fmYlN8CFofyP4gTw9VTSNs9M5D5VloMYpDc29x1qUtHmf0UCeL81f1GVLdW9CtYSdg/s400/DSC07919-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Today I have been washing windows...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">one of my least favorite jobs.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I have one done & 10 to go!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(I told you I didn't like to do it!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjELECg3KI4BqizVJ2CvA6897f5Gi_aKRPiaqBRJtNhpvJ8STrkMKCmJ3HEXlhZ_6eJ58cs70aeta3HyS7xFrp_gUX7HH84Q_auMfXgqAk9lYZ_nzb1Dm5CjNnfSJiArGM-l_63_ky8pRrn/s1600/DSC07918-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjELECg3KI4BqizVJ2CvA6897f5Gi_aKRPiaqBRJtNhpvJ8STrkMKCmJ3HEXlhZ_6eJ58cs70aeta3HyS7xFrp_gUX7HH84Q_auMfXgqAk9lYZ_nzb1Dm5CjNnfSJiArGM-l_63_ky8pRrn/s400/DSC07918-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div align="center">I have never liked it so much when bloggers apologize for their lack of posts.</div><div align="center">Life happens...and believe me, it's happened a lot around here lately,</div><div align="center">so here I am, not apologizing </div><div align="center">but letting you know that I still have a little "blog" left in me.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">So if you miss me, I'll be out dead-heading, pulling weeds, watering,</div><div align="center">doing laundry, fixing Mr. T. something to eat,</div><div align="center">babysitting</div><div align="center">(well, the grandkids aren't really babies anymore)</div><div align="center">making too many visits to the garden centers</div><div align="center">cooking some more...</div><div align="center">or maybe washing another window!</div><div align="center"></div>Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17324850294489701187noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6359389821982978694.post-64117302186345351372012-05-01T19:08:00.002-04:002012-05-01T19:18:23.483-04:00May Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjouns6S-3w_9h-zKMkWyG9EeOt0N89EnqYrg3sHwm7PY9VZNngEK8u0uThD9X6CTtlZyHuZB2xPItBKSxEo5ovDPkscRrjZPgiw74a9mfyfP760YD1G6v9QWCUWrDyY9uUBSs6n8czxx_S/s1600/blogger+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="496" mea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjouns6S-3w_9h-zKMkWyG9EeOt0N89EnqYrg3sHwm7PY9VZNngEK8u0uThD9X6CTtlZyHuZB2xPItBKSxEo5ovDPkscRrjZPgiw74a9mfyfP760YD1G6v9QWCUWrDyY9uUBSs6n8czxx_S/s640/blogger+1.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div align="center"> Lyrics: Frances Towle Rath</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: large;">Did you ever talk to God above?</span></em><em><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: large;">Tell Him that you need a friend to love.</span></em><em><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: large;">Pray in Jesus’ name believing</span></em><em><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: large;">that God answers prayer.</span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3G3gQr0wynGcCumetO15C_hcO4DTCzgJBJCMIraIk6oVxLe7kGVrkUMsCD5JNxI6mHbmRja__1hyhCXqBsI59hGgk4yfvIGiv45kRApbM0t5N3NNpZuel_0V3d9MZCsML_4nFkn3AUmVW/s1600/blogger+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="496" mea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3G3gQr0wynGcCumetO15C_hcO4DTCzgJBJCMIraIk6oVxLe7kGVrkUMsCD5JNxI6mHbmRja__1hyhCXqBsI59hGgk4yfvIGiv45kRApbM0t5N3NNpZuel_0V3d9MZCsML_4nFkn3AUmVW/s640/blogger+2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: large;">Have you told Him all your cares and woes?</span></em><em><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: large;">Ev’ry tiny little fear He knows.</span></em><em><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: large;">You can know He’ll always hear</span></em><em><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: large;">And He will answer prayer.</span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigFPxMNL5r4an_ytl_so8JDhIANlK2HIxSUCm3Si5kL3MFj65DADizi7mKRCTegBRANqFMq8iFPUWXwsrHBFRgQTklalVeeVVzJ3auB-ieD_gW6T1kip2avqGRiwJ9olLhlWNiOw7JLpjL/s1600/blogger+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" mea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigFPxMNL5r4an_ytl_so8JDhIANlK2HIxSUCm3Si5kL3MFj65DADizi7mKRCTegBRANqFMq8iFPUWXwsrHBFRgQTklalVeeVVzJ3auB-ieD_gW6T1kip2avqGRiwJ9olLhlWNiOw7JLpjL/s640/blogger+3.JPG" width="472" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: large;">You can whisper in a crowd to Him.</span></em><em><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: large;">You can cry when you’re alone to Him.</span></em><em><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: large;">You don’t have to pray out loud to Him;</span></em><em><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: large;">He knows your thoughts.</span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2mFNXQ9ZW0sG_8OctLbf4F3fsH1DFD9lMPjPH5UAWDFObPy9xxitR1d46Kw2j2XgjyV0YoJXcSUkxVuSs5Z815612Ng8_C7Sqo4dbQcYgrskeDjtXUDaw7m6-DNsOnbEbRbx0dYXMy__c/s1600/blogger+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="496" mea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2mFNXQ9ZW0sG_8OctLbf4F3fsH1DFD9lMPjPH5UAWDFObPy9xxitR1d46Kw2j2XgjyV0YoJXcSUkxVuSs5Z815612Ng8_C7Sqo4dbQcYgrskeDjtXUDaw7m6-DNsOnbEbRbx0dYXMy__c/s640/blogger+5.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: large;">On a lofty mountain peak, He’s there.</span></em><em></em><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: large;">In a meadow by a stream, He’s there.</span></em><em><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: large;">Anywhere on earth you go,</span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: large;">He’s been there from the start.</span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZhsF0HB3OnyOHCaMRWI1VqLQ_H08qjC19Vf65XXpe1engNuMomEMoQXEnKUQEzUfRt20o-gf9GAe3Wv5I61-QQtWEaPITLGgWVQr8gfJZGZYhu3JxAKXmHLljny_gbbIk17loTch7DLF-/s1600/DSC07678.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" mea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZhsF0HB3OnyOHCaMRWI1VqLQ_H08qjC19Vf65XXpe1engNuMomEMoQXEnKUQEzUfRt20o-gf9GAe3Wv5I61-QQtWEaPITLGgWVQr8gfJZGZYhu3JxAKXmHLljny_gbbIk17loTch7DLF-/s640/DSC07678.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: large;">Find the answer in His Word; it’s true.</span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: large;">You’ll be strong because He walks with you.</span></em><em><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: large;">By His faithfulness He’ll change you, too.</span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: large;">God answers prayer.</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size: large;">~</span></em></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size: large;">Since I can't come hang a May Day basket on your door,</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size: large;">I thought I would share a little of my garden</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size: large;">in bloom with you.</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size: large;">It has been a day of storms, rumblings</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size: large;">and tornado sirens.</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size: large;">But the sun is shining & all is well!</span></em></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size: large;">Happy May Day!</span></em><br />
<br />
<br />
<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">The little chorus above is one our children sing at our church</span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">and one of my favorites.</span></em><br />
<br />
<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">The first photo is the view from my kitchen window.</span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">The iris just opened up in the last couple of days.</span></em><br />
<br />
<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">My knock our roses are in full bloom!</span></em><br />
<br />
<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">The lily of the valley come from starts that Dad brought me</span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">and he got his from Uncle Jim.</span></em></div></div>Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17324850294489701187noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6359389821982978694.post-42306865644435928522012-03-19T23:00:00.002-04:002012-03-19T23:05:06.794-04:00A piece of pie or a slice of cake...to celebrate<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCkhA66eklAynz0pECkUV-7hoLhXEtMCESHZKa3Ln9lhy8knXf5O1HbgT2guO6yYSEOP9lrncrvZ9tXB47POSVg5Yz5RnDbrFmEeqKP3E4oTkar3GNpNcypKJ2XRFVb8hbBFXOxJbUhcFC/s1600/cake.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img aea="true" border="0" height="400px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCkhA66eklAynz0pECkUV-7hoLhXEtMCESHZKa3Ln9lhy8knXf5O1HbgT2guO6yYSEOP9lrncrvZ9tXB47POSVg5Yz5RnDbrFmEeqKP3E4oTkar3GNpNcypKJ2XRFVb8hbBFXOxJbUhcFC/s400/cake.bmp" width="382px" /></a></div><br />
<div align="center">The first day of Spring is my day to celebrate...</div><div align="center">my birthday!</div><div align="center">The years seem to be passing faster than I can count these days,</div><div align="center">the years adding up quickly.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">. This little story is to explain to my kids</div><div align="center">why I never get too excited about birthdays.</div><div align="center">I wasn't one to go for lavish birthday decorations<br />
or large parties of my children.<br />
Mostly, we celebrated with family<br />
and a home made cake.<br />
Maybe I should have done better...<br />
but I just wasn't brought up that way.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXJ1SoqbvWoBkcj6MAMA30pvr7mfA0X4B8FnFloQehjio0tIig4wwNNzteXtfvcdBaoLsdY4iKTSO8DaHIVItNomG-gg_7FvxoxTveyTcP27-z4wOxxUkTpX_0vXr3pXzpZUuOhmtmIaY0/s1600/choc_pie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img aea="true" border="0" height="235px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXJ1SoqbvWoBkcj6MAMA30pvr7mfA0X4B8FnFloQehjio0tIig4wwNNzteXtfvcdBaoLsdY4iKTSO8DaHIVItNomG-gg_7FvxoxTveyTcP27-z4wOxxUkTpX_0vXr3pXzpZUuOhmtmIaY0/s400/choc_pie.jpg" width="400px" /></a></div><br />
<div align="center">I am sure I had one,</div><div align="center">but I don't remember having a birthday cake </div><div align="center">until I was at least a teenager.</div><div align="center">My first birthday party was when I was 18!</div><div align="center">For our birthday, Mom would make our favorite dessert,</div><div align="center">whether it be cake or pie.</div><div align="center">My choice was always chocolate pie!</div><div align="center">And I don't remember ever having anything else</div><div align="center">until Mom one day decided that I needed to celebrate with</div><div align="center">angel food cake!</div><div align="center">(Something to do with counting calories?)</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdfCLA_IT45BzG2wVe6lihZWTPukfo1Vr1jT3NjIwzFUSsHnUPnc0J-AM35LUnP5dahhxhrxavAOIxoZ1o80QJy1jQiVSqIJOpl0DibQO0a3bvmmQZZqAoVmPAxGaE9-cvR1huMZbweaNk/s1600/angel+food+cake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img aea="true" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdfCLA_IT45BzG2wVe6lihZWTPukfo1Vr1jT3NjIwzFUSsHnUPnc0J-AM35LUnP5dahhxhrxavAOIxoZ1o80QJy1jQiVSqIJOpl0DibQO0a3bvmmQZZqAoVmPAxGaE9-cvR1huMZbweaNk/s1600/angel+food+cake.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<div align="center">From then on it was angel food cake,</div><div align="center">which I do love,</div><div align="center">but eating it always reminds me of Mom & my birthday.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtL5jKd-2p2n88BiMDygwE1j4gHjg_jiFJ35JNkaawpkHIVWX_7OOPZaIkWomVoMdHoZy_0HG8muH-EKE7okOZBZRowm2320VIvrErq5-w8FpAkTzT6X4jLB27zPkB2FEq1QOBRg094wiu/s1600/fried_chicken.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img aea="true" border="0" height="278px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtL5jKd-2p2n88BiMDygwE1j4gHjg_jiFJ35JNkaawpkHIVWX_7OOPZaIkWomVoMdHoZy_0HG8muH-EKE7okOZBZRowm2320VIvrErq5-w8FpAkTzT6X4jLB27zPkB2FEq1QOBRg094wiu/s400/fried_chicken.jpg" width="400px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Another special thing Mom did was make our favorite meal</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">for our special day.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You guessed it....my favorite was fried chicken,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and preferably the chicken leg!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I do believe Mom made the best melt in your mouth</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">fried chicken ever. She knew how to season it just right,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">flour it up, and fry it until it was golden brown, yet still juicy!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Mmmmmmm.....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">As I have gone through old photographs</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I found that there are no birthday pictures of my brother & I</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">in any albums. We didn't even think about snapping a shot</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">of me & my pie...or angel food cake, </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">until later years.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Things changed when our little sister came along </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">as there are some photographs of her with her birthday cakes.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Maybe Mom & Dad got a new camera!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL0gqaSIswKL2ePgkxDBNoc17ATt3pkDD90Xx43Ln6NX0NFo9f5ho5M0nQ9KysVdP2dnUEwPdwYFuh0cJXX0OGVf8VzqmaoW_K4USBbhwN3wUiaFqwWamI6gM1zv7SEdborKrcr9T6KjUX/s1600/camera.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img aea="true" border="0" height="250px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL0gqaSIswKL2ePgkxDBNoc17ATt3pkDD90Xx43Ln6NX0NFo9f5ho5M0nQ9KysVdP2dnUEwPdwYFuh0cJXX0OGVf8VzqmaoW_K4USBbhwN3wUiaFqwWamI6gM1zv7SEdborKrcr9T6KjUX/s320/camera.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So tomorrow won't be a big celebration.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I just want my family around me</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">for an easy meal</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and a time of being together.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We don't have to go out to a fancy restaurant to celebrate.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But I may have to run to the bakery & buy myself a chocolate pie...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">just for old times sake.</div>Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17324850294489701187noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6359389821982978694.post-66198299323813941812012-03-15T12:04:00.003-04:002012-03-15T12:10:53.672-04:00Daffodils!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVRzMTBHrV9pLkI4dNJg0acigc0TQMw74kGMYwID39xZG5rSYyQEaK5C1rRSfzjJ0wW-hK8iYAAYPssCRaVq8MClHHqo7fR9KOXElzE-9LTVN5vjolGpJ4bAX-6d18IcS3R5rRXUytaNkL/s1600/Kids+&+Flowers+2005+081.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img aea="true" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVRzMTBHrV9pLkI4dNJg0acigc0TQMw74kGMYwID39xZG5rSYyQEaK5C1rRSfzjJ0wW-hK8iYAAYPssCRaVq8MClHHqo7fR9KOXElzE-9LTVN5vjolGpJ4bAX-6d18IcS3R5rRXUytaNkL/s640/Kids+&+Flowers+2005+081.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">When you enter our beautiful little All American City </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">by the way of Highway 31,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">you will pass by North Christian Church.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our city is blessed with beautiful architecture,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">thanks to the Miller Family & Cummins Foundation,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and is a travel destination for many architectural students.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-swRt8qM_m0zlimwDV5HzOgYNLTMpdrY12-BMFhSzSCPBi6ITHlBT0LrTfCeGVJR9lA5dBCtwPAFX2m2FbUKn_KdxDIf6kSZSoGgGB1WJyWVh1nZ6AdcGc-TYNKV_C9vaQl1lNgR-ecuN/s1600/Kids+&+Flowers+2005+082.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img aea="true" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-swRt8qM_m0zlimwDV5HzOgYNLTMpdrY12-BMFhSzSCPBi6ITHlBT0LrTfCeGVJR9lA5dBCtwPAFX2m2FbUKn_KdxDIf6kSZSoGgGB1WJyWVh1nZ6AdcGc-TYNKV_C9vaQl1lNgR-ecuN/s400/Kids+&+Flowers+2005+082.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The grounds are always beautiful, especially in the spring.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Yesterday was my daughter's birthday, and after our lunch time celebration,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I dragged her over for a little photo opportunity...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">much to her dismay!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I just knew that the daffodils would be popping up all over!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQIXMo0wDmNggo5yMgwM0lj9Vcb6GpqZq0M2esITQwOug6jF_re2BDer2Mrr_10t35ChljSyVB-mtGPxLGyHbWDalpu30zawoWEm5STO5_-wqCOuM9GAp4Ska19uNEH6nCJ0985eZcWph5/s1600/Kids+&+Flowers+2005+080.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img aea="true" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQIXMo0wDmNggo5yMgwM0lj9Vcb6GpqZq0M2esITQwOug6jF_re2BDer2Mrr_10t35ChljSyVB-mtGPxLGyHbWDalpu30zawoWEm5STO5_-wqCOuM9GAp4Ska19uNEH6nCJ0985eZcWph5/s400/Kids+&+Flowers+2005+080.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The daffodils were in full bloom.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There must be a ground cover ground among them</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">as the beds weren't quite as awesome as in the past.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">If you look past the daffodils, you will see the rows</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">of tulip trees, just ready to burst open.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Would you believe these trees were declared protected</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and could not be disturbed during our highway renovation?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2WmPMO-dG7eI9s2EDW6-7pYEEoqUcjQYI1Kef-2XVGkeMw34hYNyVvLtweheLKjx5vox0kHyi7UPyfOUwROYq0Cycd22sT_3nd81OssIWs7pRue6w2GSrQx-GbBmjiJh9zuAsLvFo3nDw/s1600/Kids+&+Flowers+2005+084.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img aea="true" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2WmPMO-dG7eI9s2EDW6-7pYEEoqUcjQYI1Kef-2XVGkeMw34hYNyVvLtweheLKjx5vox0kHyi7UPyfOUwROYq0Cycd22sT_3nd81OssIWs7pRue6w2GSrQx-GbBmjiJh9zuAsLvFo3nDw/s400/Kids+&+Flowers+2005+084.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Karen, willingly posing for her Momma!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje9ZpXGvAOnj7U2hYcWFP7S50h7T4kh-ep8JT0xM88Q-0NL0OxR_sQ6QrS5YZOKyT7t6MoU6-oLquezpNfYkfxpipwvHdyrabrqPFjwc1XlNNjrfWh9QYeZS70xNHxPHrfajGp-5Dm469R/s1600/Kids+&+Flowers+2005+085.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img aea="true" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje9ZpXGvAOnj7U2hYcWFP7S50h7T4kh-ep8JT0xM88Q-0NL0OxR_sQ6QrS5YZOKyT7t6MoU6-oLquezpNfYkfxpipwvHdyrabrqPFjwc1XlNNjrfWh9QYeZS70xNHxPHrfajGp-5Dm469R/s400/Kids+&+Flowers+2005+085.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This mornings local newspaper declared that yesterday was a record breaker,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">with a high temperature of 81 degrees--2 degrees warmer than ever recorded</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">for March 14th.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Spring is my favorite time of year...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">but it's a wee bit early this time</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and I keep holding my breath...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">hoping that the frosty mornings</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and sometimes springtime snowstorms</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">don't rain on our parade!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'm just wondering what is in store for us </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">weather wise this coming summer.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I had better go grab my camera and see how those</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">tulip trees are doing!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">~</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A little side note about Eero Saarinen...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">He was a Finnish-American architect/designer-</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">designed many beautiful buildings</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">some furniture-including the tulip chair</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">designed The Archway in St. Louis!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Google him.</div>Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17324850294489701187noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6359389821982978694.post-48859748724517597802012-02-18T11:20:00.000-05:002012-02-18T11:20:05.162-05:00Trying out new photo editing programs. . .<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTDRHj6SvTCUZBBy0l7txpwxlvE-Dx_lfJErLFL4MPPJfsqGXTm5ymK6zEk11CVTgOuQnVGEi2OtBGk-ymXhburnJH-6PCj9zAHU470rw0R0ZxS7RP4Mo2I66Clitm9jdNK8oBhYxJiL3j/s1600/hydrangea-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTDRHj6SvTCUZBBy0l7txpwxlvE-Dx_lfJErLFL4MPPJfsqGXTm5ymK6zEk11CVTgOuQnVGEi2OtBGk-ymXhburnJH-6PCj9zAHU470rw0R0ZxS7RP4Mo2I66Clitm9jdNK8oBhYxJiL3j/s400/hydrangea-2.jpg" width="400" yda="true" /></i></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>I have boxes & boxes of old family photos that still need to be scanned & enhanced.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>In the past few days I have been experimenting with a couple of editing programs</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>that I have downloaded on my computer.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Someone suggested "Pixlr-o-matic".</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>I used it on both of the floral photos & had fun messing around with them.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>It isn't something that I would use for enhancements,</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>but I love what can be done with it.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Makes my not so perfect photography a little more interesting.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsngHW7RUeya9UWoJrmoSuUJYkUmtkkhs2dkSR74wzjiG5-0Vya2d2gK8tMJW4f72D9KArx3yS35P-o6xYTlLUcpgWVrRoj7h5A5_EL0MUm-jawrXSdp4jiwwrpjBvjMUaqEhXNFpPkqMd/s1600/Sheila+%2526+Grundy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsngHW7RUeya9UWoJrmoSuUJYkUmtkkhs2dkSR74wzjiG5-0Vya2d2gK8tMJW4f72D9KArx3yS35P-o6xYTlLUcpgWVrRoj7h5A5_EL0MUm-jawrXSdp4jiwwrpjBvjMUaqEhXNFpPkqMd/s400/Sheila+%2526+Grundy.jpg" width="308" yda="true" /></i></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>At some point, I had already download "Photoscape"</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>and it seems to be more what I am looking for to replace "Picnik".</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>There are tools to crop, enhance, brighten, darken, intensify color,</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>several filters, and also frames.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>I haven't conquered all of the features</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvIMdN6enD-A-VNRoPQCpkms-yc1-Yzo8zjO93PA2I2FOHbEU9PwihY9_3BujUrVo4Dzb6v5AdYjO2P_WMa7eol6SclkVU-keHtUoO9sHZV0UgDLSIQvdToQPFhN2vVTyjclg2P1GpSJw1/s1600/daylilies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvIMdN6enD-A-VNRoPQCpkms-yc1-Yzo8zjO93PA2I2FOHbEU9PwihY9_3BujUrVo4Dzb6v5AdYjO2P_WMa7eol6SclkVU-keHtUoO9sHZV0UgDLSIQvdToQPFhN2vVTyjclg2P1GpSJw1/s400/daylilies.jpg" width="400" yda="true" /></i></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Below is a family newspaper clipping that I grabbed from a Facebook post</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>(thank you very much, Kathy!).</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>I was able to crop, lighten & enhance the photo</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>and now can use it in my genealogy notebook.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>What did we ever do before the Internet?</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhNV708jEs6TVqyait5yJp7mEiU3-ERxK7axt5tpAXNVIV0J5WNH2YF25fI_kud4rktLxmSNZt_2UQAsi96pujoP7WSfbN5X8B4lFoUSgGRZEyLjhaglg3syoMeff79l1CvwMf4T1Gkt3N/s1600/5+generations.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhNV708jEs6TVqyait5yJp7mEiU3-ERxK7axt5tpAXNVIV0J5WNH2YF25fI_kud4rktLxmSNZt_2UQAsi96pujoP7WSfbN5X8B4lFoUSgGRZEyLjhaglg3syoMeff79l1CvwMf4T1Gkt3N/s400/5+generations.jpg" width="255" yda="true" /></i></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>I also purchased a scanner that will scan negatives, old slides,</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>and up to 4x6 photographs.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>My previous one bit the dust.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>If you are interested, I found one one sale at Kohls.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Good luck to all who enjoy playing around with their old pictures.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>It just takes a little practice...and quite a bit of patience,</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>plus a whole lot of time!</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Downloads I use:</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><www.pixlr.com></www.pixlr.com></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>www.pixlr.com</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Photoscape download:</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>www.softonic.com</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>or</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>www.photoscape.en.softonic.com</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>And a quick question...</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>I am having trouble posting comments on some blogs.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Some posts go through fine.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Others show that I have posted,</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>but if I go back the comment is not there.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Also, I'm not sure that comments are showing up</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>that are made on my blog.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Through my blog editing, I have seen that I have missed</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>a few comments.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>I have installed Google Chrome but the problem is not resolved.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>And I no longer can got to my blog without signing in to </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Google Chrome.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Very frustrating...</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>when I am at a point where I am thinking about </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>giving it up anyway.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Any suggestions will be appreciated!</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><http: photoscape.en.softonic.com=""></http:></i></span></div>
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</div>Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17324850294489701187noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6359389821982978694.post-56344396061758405012012-02-14T00:01:00.000-05:002012-02-14T00:01:01.569-05:00A Touch of Silver<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5C9Voep2uwcuZRqVi1_GsqGv-3F7J93Z5k_fZG6t05vf9M6IVyFm3JLHktAsSBe1cTXqGVym5ly3Xsw3uRSZSZXG9hP6Smj3vdyiNYAgGIKqYDnJ6ntxVkv1hR1gP9IyS3EaqMFd_cscX/s1600/anniversary-silver-wedding-.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="288" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5C9Voep2uwcuZRqVi1_GsqGv-3F7J93Z5k_fZG6t05vf9M6IVyFm3JLHktAsSBe1cTXqGVym5ly3Xsw3uRSZSZXG9hP6Smj3vdyiNYAgGIKqYDnJ6ntxVkv1hR1gP9IyS3EaqMFd_cscX/s320/anniversary-silver-wedding-.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>Today is the 25th wedding anniversary</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>for my "baby" sister & her hubby!</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>Twenty five years already?</em></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4WFujFSGkRycjMVjgioOJx_uc_zSvfWR45p5qm9hyphenhyphenfKjgaoZ4uFZOoimoFOsmViwwqFHx9YH_1geV904iOZy8CyZNOs-o-VhX5zDV7XlvHvDzGD01q3SK3IH75orHz9zAOpksjO9N-RuM/s1600/Garry+&+Carol+engagement.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em><img border="0" height="400" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4WFujFSGkRycjMVjgioOJx_uc_zSvfWR45p5qm9hyphenhyphenfKjgaoZ4uFZOoimoFOsmViwwqFHx9YH_1geV904iOZy8CyZNOs-o-VhX5zDV7XlvHvDzGD01q3SK3IH75orHz9zAOpksjO9N-RuM/s400/Garry+&+Carol+engagement.jpg" width="293" /></em></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Carol & Garry's engagement photo</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>Just a couple of weeks ago, Carol mentioned in one of our frequent</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>telephone conversations, that this would be their 25th anniversary!</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>It had slipped up on me.</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>Of course, I thought we should have a big party & celebrate</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>the occasion with all the trimmings,</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>but Carol opted for a quite day with just her little family.</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>I think Garry may have something up his sleeve for later on.</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>But that's their secret.</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>I didn't want to let the day slip away without letting you see</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>what a romantic Carol really is.</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>She got married on Valentine's Day!</em></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimlDaJqXxeOdp12CxfBFOcxMxpbQeGUXdVDaNx5UGgsikF8brjmHzC2vsbsZIwyh3w83h4uGuoqe8oRfye2wVIGsse8nFJCjFPTZUQy5llELgp9POj8viwWTSaY7lE4Aukc1aOShzzkgwS/s1600/Wheeler's+003-a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em><img border="0" height="392" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimlDaJqXxeOdp12CxfBFOcxMxpbQeGUXdVDaNx5UGgsikF8brjmHzC2vsbsZIwyh3w83h4uGuoqe8oRfye2wVIGsse8nFJCjFPTZUQy5llELgp9POj8viwWTSaY7lE4Aukc1aOShzzkgwS/s400/Wheeler's+003-a.jpg" width="400" /></em></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>February 14, 1987</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>The Love Birds!</em></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh__F_ktwUhz_HUrdAAEJ1H5pNQZncUyMq1OmUHctkFbKITyM-j6I38svjnUaKcLtcQ-JawqK4T2bU1w2LmNxNZF7fCq2hwzU5oh62wkEHdXBF4CEzALwMq_XkAH9s7TjTP3ozcKFFLekFv/s1600/Wheeler's+001-a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em><img border="0" height="400" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh__F_ktwUhz_HUrdAAEJ1H5pNQZncUyMq1OmUHctkFbKITyM-j6I38svjnUaKcLtcQ-JawqK4T2bU1w2LmNxNZF7fCq2hwzU5oh62wkEHdXBF4CEzALwMq_XkAH9s7TjTP3ozcKFFLekFv/s400/Wheeler's+001-a.jpg" width="397" /></em></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>My beautiful sister!</em></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYOyMbHyZLr8pCvREg1VmmbZabIf_1zuAkZU0qF9Ba8f4sRXtg3uZYmnmkii3ZHYu9xX3u7Gw499ZTulSSKPgBnFmT64wbROhDtQcz0kF1zPtQoTigIW6RXEWsXyAvhneFwKx0dU8fHgiG/s1600/Wheeler's+009-a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em><img border="0" height="330" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYOyMbHyZLr8pCvREg1VmmbZabIf_1zuAkZU0qF9Ba8f4sRXtg3uZYmnmkii3ZHYu9xX3u7Gw499ZTulSSKPgBnFmT64wbROhDtQcz0kF1zPtQoTigIW6RXEWsXyAvhneFwKx0dU8fHgiG/s400/Wheeler's+009-a.jpg" width="400" /></em></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>The Bridesmaids</em></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipTN3T6cBFSQ2GQTWDxNE1PwAPSLhe_9LSsqyUEy4GaGj4JZctRXH8bB7qkFj5jaVfP4Fpcaxbhvjr19OBVDgCBNlaJROtolfhKQqLEmUeh6XWYD3YWbQsEL8WN1AL_UI3IU7a7gv9WNQ5/s1600/Wheeler's+010-a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em><img border="0" height="311" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipTN3T6cBFSQ2GQTWDxNE1PwAPSLhe_9LSsqyUEy4GaGj4JZctRXH8bB7qkFj5jaVfP4Fpcaxbhvjr19OBVDgCBNlaJROtolfhKQqLEmUeh6XWYD3YWbQsEL8WN1AL_UI3IU7a7gv9WNQ5/s400/Wheeler's+010-a.jpg" width="400" /></em></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>Garry & his groomsmen</em></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA5sdMqtrwsTjQTnWBLv79DpQRh7OXxWR8e8dV7jD2DjMOVr91twOhYa7aLqxSKiDzaIzK_ztvxSgaDdHK1fNfwpp4VcDnMv_p0PL7g-PzS3RNfkHlzvncRyOHHSRm0k0ylQ3FW5QOFj62/s1600/Wheeler's+011-a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em><img border="0" height="364" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA5sdMqtrwsTjQTnWBLv79DpQRh7OXxWR8e8dV7jD2DjMOVr91twOhYa7aLqxSKiDzaIzK_ztvxSgaDdHK1fNfwpp4VcDnMv_p0PL7g-PzS3RNfkHlzvncRyOHHSRm0k0ylQ3FW5QOFj62/s640/Wheeler's+011-a.jpg" width="640" /></em></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>They were married at the Church of God (Holiness)</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>Overland Park, Kansas</em></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6iTu7i1cTJeD9WfUwFVEB48-35rGjZjapR7ORzOq4ylcjlkMfNMUcAw9e3AuCG0EZkhTtQsqtJBRerppXXHCsFxExjqlBu_AM-fusnsA4CV8YRVyaYurxmURSuz-oFOjEdm1h2MTwyehy/s1600/Wheeler's+012-a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em><img border="0" height="392" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6iTu7i1cTJeD9WfUwFVEB48-35rGjZjapR7ORzOq4ylcjlkMfNMUcAw9e3AuCG0EZkhTtQsqtJBRerppXXHCsFxExjqlBu_AM-fusnsA4CV8YRVyaYurxmURSuz-oFOjEdm1h2MTwyehy/s400/Wheeler's+012-a.jpg" width="400" /></em></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>Mr. & Mrs. Garry Wheeler</em></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxmPkhEQkiZDtRRhwsVAFv138jxYuKWW2XWiZUT2YRf0b5ve8kFmlnU_KaHY6ylCD1d8Qi1iLagXuMwpqYcfBtsEwxWTglaUa9_fEu45SzcV-lkpAHptOBy3x2HpyW4XjAjPHxwz5wG7xM/s1600/Wheeler's-a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em><img border="0" height="400" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxmPkhEQkiZDtRRhwsVAFv138jxYuKWW2XWiZUT2YRf0b5ve8kFmlnU_KaHY6ylCD1d8Qi1iLagXuMwpqYcfBtsEwxWTglaUa9_fEu45SzcV-lkpAHptOBy3x2HpyW4XjAjPHxwz5wG7xM/s400/Wheeler's-a.jpg" width="275" /></em></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>And then they were off on a honeymoon to Austria!</em></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5pG2c7Ygw2YVZYXOySBg1pZhxh4uWlYImdw4-zH4FZcerfdbAYRSdrieHnCY-vFm2C7An2hTXHtHIcTq4CnQJk9UV1XWGMafySFJNHymj2LuSg1eLzsyYty4nta4Z46yqs2Dy3luD7CrT/s1600/Wheeler%2527s+018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em><img border="0" height="230" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5pG2c7Ygw2YVZYXOySBg1pZhxh4uWlYImdw4-zH4FZcerfdbAYRSdrieHnCY-vFm2C7An2hTXHtHIcTq4CnQJk9UV1XWGMafySFJNHymj2LuSg1eLzsyYty4nta4Z46yqs2Dy3luD7CrT/s400/Wheeler%2527s+018.jpg" width="400" /></em></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>The newlyweds came to visit us in Indiana in the springtime...</em></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwC28K1r594f8zR7xOHs-A0VVSIRW4ALABscgTrKqC5ZW3PtW2m-T4wR2_WMfZICEGrP1KQ_zBwajSFNpWAHiLcVJNQBKaf7LcfWABFUnrPQDVsQXoJbul1Bd3DpoinLWa0uh6ZBTrroyd/s1600/1989-a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em><img border="0" height="400" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwC28K1r594f8zR7xOHs-A0VVSIRW4ALABscgTrKqC5ZW3PtW2m-T4wR2_WMfZICEGrP1KQ_zBwajSFNpWAHiLcVJNQBKaf7LcfWABFUnrPQDVsQXoJbul1Bd3DpoinLWa0uh6ZBTrroyd/s400/1989-a.jpg" width="263" /></em></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>...and a few springtime's later, they were waiting for little Wheeler!</em></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUMHlgG1faLwUPa0mJ5NzqGgYwrrENMXEqf9miM3EWH5qCeTrYr4F6FdziWLtrJ0SIoTCDks7NUHFy5GhRBoTnuy3KFEcATWL4SZx04qxBD3MdE0jCilLDMMLJF_OSPOy-jV5R0pO-hm24/s1600/Wheeler's+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em><img border="0" height="400" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUMHlgG1faLwUPa0mJ5NzqGgYwrrENMXEqf9miM3EWH5qCeTrYr4F6FdziWLtrJ0SIoTCDks7NUHFy5GhRBoTnuy3KFEcATWL4SZx04qxBD3MdE0jCilLDMMLJF_OSPOy-jV5R0pO-hm24/s400/Wheeler's+002.jpg" width="311" /></em></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>I came to town for a family reunion & Carol surprised me</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>with my first sweet niece, Kelcie Lynn</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>Ahem....she just happens to have my middle name, </em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>along with another auntie's!</em></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6iwxhjXI9h9QYpwcC6-PvYqOjlA-8q502KXlPfLDahzrIWBtbBujLnEs_gsROvGG3tPMsBjRSfZpo__LP8usNdhQtcTS3tHGt1OQotM2OdtK0iLHYU7Z8KPguOIucEfdz7DymWnZCJZlL/s1600/Wheelers+Dec+1990.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em><img border="0" height="400" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6iwxhjXI9h9QYpwcC6-PvYqOjlA-8q502KXlPfLDahzrIWBtbBujLnEs_gsROvGG3tPMsBjRSfZpo__LP8usNdhQtcTS3tHGt1OQotM2OdtK0iLHYU7Z8KPguOIucEfdz7DymWnZCJZlL/s400/Wheelers+Dec+1990.jpg" width="288" /></em></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>The Wheeler family of three...</em></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnP9OcJOS6dZHhHj-D9kCnmfWzKwJ01qzUaxWzXbvqcTSsQXA1s6SfPv1QR_jZ9-s_GKH7IQsVJiXQuvc7DIqKmD3XrwRfJ2X7r9Ufstqjpe9NRjp7Z0j258N7vmzlDwOQ16X9Nd4av3AI/s1600/My+Pictures+027-a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em><img border="0" height="333" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnP9OcJOS6dZHhHj-D9kCnmfWzKwJ01qzUaxWzXbvqcTSsQXA1s6SfPv1QR_jZ9-s_GKH7IQsVJiXQuvc7DIqKmD3XrwRfJ2X7r9Ufstqjpe9NRjp7Z0j258N7vmzlDwOQ16X9Nd4av3AI/s400/My+Pictures+027-a.jpg" width="400" /></em></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>Baby Kylie made her appearance a few days before Thanksgiving,</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>and boy, did we make memories that weekend!</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>Now they are a family of four...</em></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj34fnRgBzN0uK29UnBpeU3TVF_rEwPY7-yNeMMy7XC_2zGgHuUn2F2hnxNQ1hyphenhyphentj5uY4VxmS7yVAm4UQJ9LvdmFhtsX_MF2AYOo5FeBmiKE7Iyn4T8fU3B5TztEDdY47uW5y9FnwQUrCa7/s1600/Sisters-1994.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em><img border="0" height="285" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj34fnRgBzN0uK29UnBpeU3TVF_rEwPY7-yNeMMy7XC_2zGgHuUn2F2hnxNQ1hyphenhyphentj5uY4VxmS7yVAm4UQJ9LvdmFhtsX_MF2AYOo5FeBmiKE7Iyn4T8fU3B5TztEDdY47uW5y9FnwQUrCa7/s400/Sisters-1994.jpg" width="400" /></em></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>Sweet baby girls</em></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2kk_b6uoWEPHnSi_UJe99mWJd6fcF7m67qGXZo12KwzTLnuT_Z6m3H0i0OaBaO7YswtvsGFe6BhBEuSXgvHQRg2IwkeyEFanq9kPCtdg93DBEuFigEHrwJyNdUBBk9opS-IXDVn8Z6UgY/s1600/Summere+1996.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em><img border="0" height="412" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2kk_b6uoWEPHnSi_UJe99mWJd6fcF7m67qGXZo12KwzTLnuT_Z6m3H0i0OaBaO7YswtvsGFe6BhBEuSXgvHQRg2IwkeyEFanq9kPCtdg93DBEuFigEHrwJyNdUBBk9opS-IXDVn8Z6UgY/s640/Summere+1996.jpg" width="640" /></em></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>and then Jacob came along to complete the family.</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>(Carol will kill me for this picture, but it's one of my favorites!)</em></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXDKwkbqYRKZbFx1rJjHsO84QChXBrHc53dCCGRFmgG50UqU2OBOPG-6tN3u4cZO9oeTQqiPfsBvKMPPlX2I0JuPNaFmLJG65Mv1HHQ5zt0Ufv6Z4kOIClf6F4eEC5oawl5mAlIEmSpJ72/s1600/Wheelers+1997.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em><img border="0" height="280" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXDKwkbqYRKZbFx1rJjHsO84QChXBrHc53dCCGRFmgG50UqU2OBOPG-6tN3u4cZO9oeTQqiPfsBvKMPPlX2I0JuPNaFmLJG65Mv1HHQ5zt0Ufv6Z4kOIClf6F4eEC5oawl5mAlIEmSpJ72/s400/Wheelers+1997.jpg" width="400" /></em></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7IyPXDpABSRh-4zzf8aydgIQnUiDg8tYp9CZZldVdHQtJXT24fVFDrIpwp8Ce7Bt5n2NDe6CcQeFNaNkDKOv68ggZkCO_LAJjd87HuSnCaSYZoyplZDxK9MOKrIfamBn95VRYokqjX2P-/s1600/Wheelers+2002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em><img border="0" height="270" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7IyPXDpABSRh-4zzf8aydgIQnUiDg8tYp9CZZldVdHQtJXT24fVFDrIpwp8Ce7Bt5n2NDe6CcQeFNaNkDKOv68ggZkCO_LAJjd87HuSnCaSYZoyplZDxK9MOKrIfamBn95VRYokqjX2P-/s400/Wheelers+2002.jpg" width="400" /></em></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>The years are passing by & the little Wheelers are growing up...</em></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2kbnw2BHRqFHbogrxb6mQEHFR31WwJT5ajGcR8PbvGtprobyX9HtvML_0KQOCrp_NMwvzQCP_O_psPrLwJA29xkutXvfsTgsdAt1VZoQjv3xspUOOxc_LIbM1jOA8h9NwzitWlh-9yoiV/s1600/DSC05613.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em><img border="0" height="300" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2kbnw2BHRqFHbogrxb6mQEHFR31WwJT5ajGcR8PbvGtprobyX9HtvML_0KQOCrp_NMwvzQCP_O_psPrLwJA29xkutXvfsTgsdAt1VZoQjv3xspUOOxc_LIbM1jOA8h9NwzitWlh-9yoiV/s400/DSC05613.JPG" width="400" /></em></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>Graduations happen, girls grow up . . .</em></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRtLhOAqDbMLiJ2zzTDlwy7IpcFhWWvchTImwXcJ8m14sjZVHWmFP9IPCx0mU-i5ogu4K4985Vh3qHY_4l_ZcvXeqpaEcwqsdDVsy7VGHLrnOvjvJz-xZu5V6n97jBc3fWQ9mOWPl_1Ssi/s1600/DSC05911.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em><img border="0" height="400" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRtLhOAqDbMLiJ2zzTDlwy7IpcFhWWvchTImwXcJ8m14sjZVHWmFP9IPCx0mU-i5ogu4K4985Vh3qHY_4l_ZcvXeqpaEcwqsdDVsy7VGHLrnOvjvJz-xZu5V6n97jBc3fWQ9mOWPl_1Ssi/s400/DSC05911.JPG" width="300" /></em></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>Jake & his Dad . . .</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>looking more alike all of the time!</em></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQdqoGR6yMtYijEEfp1ieGcnV3gAa_NOtbdr7hJhVH1Gw8GGl0duOd6ZDCen3DBlaOYv1F0CuQZ4njgzbz9HJO54wlz2yTQ3snK_rifUx2jRaQtpb_t_0qbw278R0nRiNV99_6IC68qfST/s1600/Garry+&+Carol.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em><img border="0" height="300" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQdqoGR6yMtYijEEfp1ieGcnV3gAa_NOtbdr7hJhVH1Gw8GGl0duOd6ZDCen3DBlaOYv1F0CuQZ4njgzbz9HJO54wlz2yTQ3snK_rifUx2jRaQtpb_t_0qbw278R0nRiNV99_6IC68qfST/s400/Garry+&+Carol.bmp" width="400" /></em></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>Still loving each other after all these years</em></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZJ1t4lpccslA6UVRRB3ww_sryH3s0vNAA5bRmGOLP6Le_2MgJmH7KhFC6sxDu6vbXAv3QKElUWLu03AGEhy5PWxNVMGWccqMjy8dppWpcdX0UZP0Q69M1iaRO2iPC_N71uQHQwM6ifUW7/s1600/Wheelers+2011+Tgiving.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em><img border="0" height="640" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZJ1t4lpccslA6UVRRB3ww_sryH3s0vNAA5bRmGOLP6Le_2MgJmH7KhFC6sxDu6vbXAv3QKElUWLu03AGEhy5PWxNVMGWccqMjy8dppWpcdX0UZP0Q69M1iaRO2iPC_N71uQHQwM6ifUW7/s640/Wheelers+2011+Tgiving.jpg" width="504" /></em></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>The Wheelers in Indiana...</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>with a few touches of silver in somebodies hair! : )</em></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdhq19opRtVlWXBlVXpeqZq7rssA-oLi6naN-T0uTB5YAVvafXQDEFVF04pyXMtsYw6qT2DE9xYvR4ohcy0GHwvxzL9LJp5qlae8w2Vi3v0DQlLueYRu0C5dl9FbkUByANfeKhiVUH0DdE/s1600/2009+anniversary-a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em><img border="0" height="488" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdhq19opRtVlWXBlVXpeqZq7rssA-oLi6naN-T0uTB5YAVvafXQDEFVF04pyXMtsYw6qT2DE9xYvR4ohcy0GHwvxzL9LJp5qlae8w2Vi3v0DQlLueYRu0C5dl9FbkUByANfeKhiVUH0DdE/s640/2009+anniversary-a.jpg" width="640" /></em></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>Happy 25th anniversary to my favorite brother-in-law</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>(and not just because he is the only one!)</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>and my dear, sweet, little sis!</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>We love you dearly & wish you many, many more happy years together.</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>Happy Valentine's Day!</em></span></div>
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</div>Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17324850294489701187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6359389821982978694.post-29428756073829473462012-01-23T11:41:00.000-05:002018-02-26T15:02:14.596-05:00Winter Picnik in Indiana<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUVrSIEFwjsp_QDU-b6foLP7AiOKC1EFocF4aGl8mlkyXUg3nC3wGfSGZxWI1cIkAtK6DbOJKzdTFPgmD-ZyLfIiPyef6c6Xqxv1QvRnPIGWQeiVfQ1KXYPo8jnSjFavaIzmIlI-2CGbH8/s1600/DSC07320-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" nfa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUVrSIEFwjsp_QDU-b6foLP7AiOKC1EFocF4aGl8mlkyXUg3nC3wGfSGZxWI1cIkAtK6DbOJKzdTFPgmD-ZyLfIiPyef6c6Xqxv1QvRnPIGWQeiVfQ1KXYPo8jnSjFavaIzmIlI-2CGbH8/s400/DSC07320-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<em>Winter came to our southern part of Indiana this past weekend.</em></div>
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<em>Overnight our streets and parking lots turned into ice rinks.</em></div>
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<em>Thankfully, it hasn't lasted long, due to rising temperatures,</em></div>
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<em>and now we are back to our normal gloomy January days.</em></div>
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<em>(Remind me why we cancelled that Florida trip???)</em></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2c9DbctmHHerKUS8GB2vRf3MJlcpko6S4SgVtVYma2l5SWJj4Q3cnVdY0sEvt3wN-HWzZR3uCj_9RtfJlFCojIUmIRSeCFAoOxLjTsyJLlB_FR8vH37Hhi4aKrcYJBpWEGtpRCRLDNCzT/s1600/DSC07395-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><em><img border="0" height="400" nfa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2c9DbctmHHerKUS8GB2vRf3MJlcpko6S4SgVtVYma2l5SWJj4Q3cnVdY0sEvt3wN-HWzZR3uCj_9RtfJlFCojIUmIRSeCFAoOxLjTsyJLlB_FR8vH37Hhi4aKrcYJBpWEGtpRCRLDNCzT/s400/DSC07395-2.jpg" width="306" /></em></a></div>
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<em>I opened an email on Saturday telling me that the photo enhancing website</em></div>
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<em>that I use will be shutting down come April.</em></div>
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<em>At first I thought it was a hoax, but as the day wore on, I saw other postings</em></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<em>and knew that change was coming.</em></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<em>I don't do "change" very well.</em></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<em>I get stuck in a rut & it's hard for me to climb out.</em></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCp7AX-bpaVuR0pr-4GLAZW6PrnklLAcLmvM2M8VC5T_77mNlpBGdEIN270UGmMtxzZn37hJuW9tTCIPTYJGAQbsEkO3GddHanUCkVhEa0d2mcK_uvrC7-G7NkM953JgfRnu-95SoZ-zEN/s1600/DSC07397-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><em><img border="0" height="400" nfa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCp7AX-bpaVuR0pr-4GLAZW6PrnklLAcLmvM2M8VC5T_77mNlpBGdEIN270UGmMtxzZn37hJuW9tTCIPTYJGAQbsEkO3GddHanUCkVhEa0d2mcK_uvrC7-G7NkM953JgfRnu-95SoZ-zEN/s400/DSC07397-1.jpg" width="308" /></em></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<em>At least we have a few weeks to still play around with it & find other options.</em></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<em>Meanwhile....I'm having a Picnik!</em></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<em>(If you want to find me, I'll be at my computer enhancing </em></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<em>a thousand or so snapshots!)</em></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQEeFb9ztQXdfhXbU9kQZPDOYab5BKqBqVPDcHnrUCjNKLXInOJ-Z_ELmSDhUyJXzogSYyue3k6AOz_ZQ3S77DcBG5nO4hrTuZWZpp1IVf677SoSaGKfFV4GWKP0XM0hASFbr8OHTM71k0/s1600/DSC07396-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><em><img border="0" height="400" nfa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQEeFb9ztQXdfhXbU9kQZPDOYab5BKqBqVPDcHnrUCjNKLXInOJ-Z_ELmSDhUyJXzogSYyue3k6AOz_ZQ3S77DcBG5nO4hrTuZWZpp1IVf677SoSaGKfFV4GWKP0XM0hASFbr8OHTM71k0/s400/DSC07396-1.jpg" width="306" /></em></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<em>And I've read the warnings that Google will be changing, </em></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<em>meaning Blogger we will no longer be able to link up with other blogs</em></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<em>as we do now. (Can you tell that I don't know what I'm talking about?)</em></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<em>So...I spent Saturday evening saving all of my favorite blog links</em></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<em>to my "favorites".</em></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMAL_Y5Exna3pbIZnG780rzMAxjS-8bxMLPfLSTjSLe64ueW902hc6TCKlQzN-l19l_Lf__wpbbNsV-tZWjOUKkX7SDTDJCl0G6y93iMs3QC08FocCuB8sp8oL9QQO2gGKGwFKbVocyT-f/s1600/DSC07398-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><em><img border="0" height="337" nfa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMAL_Y5Exna3pbIZnG780rzMAxjS-8bxMLPfLSTjSLe64ueW902hc6TCKlQzN-l19l_Lf__wpbbNsV-tZWjOUKkX7SDTDJCl0G6y93iMs3QC08FocCuB8sp8oL9QQO2gGKGwFKbVocyT-f/s400/DSC07398-1.jpg" width="400" /></em></a></div>
<br />
<div align="center">
<em>My own interests have changed over the last few months</em></div>
<div align="center">
<em>and I find myself not being online as much...</em></div>
<div align="center">
<em>and that's a good thing.</em></div>
<div align="center">
<em>Blogging ideas don't come as quickly.</em></div>
<div align="center">
<em>Maybe it's the winter weather that makes me growl like a hibernating bear.</em></div>
<div align="center">
<em>I'm thinking those icicles need to melt a little so I can get my "blog" back!</em></div>
<div align="center">
<br /></div>
<div align="center">
<br /></div>
<div align="center">
<em>How is your winter affecting you?</em></div>
<div align="center">
<em>I think I'll go grab one of my new gardening catalogs & do</em><br />
<em> a little </em><em>summer dreaming.</em></div>
<div align="center">
<br /></div>
<div align="center">
For you that are interested in other photoshop websites</div>
<div align="center">
check out <a href="http://www.betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/">http://www.betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/</a></div>
<div align="center">
for links to other options.</div>
<div align="center">
Happy Picniking .... while it lasts!</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17324850294489701187noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6359389821982978694.post-70627351062898407812012-01-13T14:43:00.002-05:002019-03-02T16:13:10.951-05:00My Hide-away<div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<em>We don't have a basement.</em></div>
<div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<em>But we have the next best thing to it...</em></div>
<div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<em>an upstairs playroom/turned Mom's hide out.</em></div>
<div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<em>For all of the years that our 2 children were home,</em></div>
<div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<em>this upstairs area was their "playroom"</em></div>
<div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<em>and that is still how we refer to it.</em></div>
<div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<em>But after they sprouted their wings & left my nest...</em></div>
<div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<em>I took over their space.</em></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Hnd3J1K9oNmYGc2zAxr5Lm0MJOlfA6NyUOHrEa0Yk7GHuyABtnEXJXgndtujICxZ-bxaeqQkXk0qcf9-x_b7TRRHTb3YJi3zojo_OGdFRiy0BQCQrd9mfEq8WL7eaFNEBFga_qLcmWO9/s1600/DSC07385.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="303" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Hnd3J1K9oNmYGc2zAxr5Lm0MJOlfA6NyUOHrEa0Yk7GHuyABtnEXJXgndtujICxZ-bxaeqQkXk0qcf9-x_b7TRRHTb3YJi3zojo_OGdFRiy0BQCQrd9mfEq8WL7eaFNEBFga_qLcmWO9/s400/DSC07385.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<em>This is where we spend our evenings or free time.</em></div>
<div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<em>Even though we both have our own desktop computers</em></div>
<div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<em>just around the corner in the office, I usually end up on the sofa</em></div>
<div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<em>with my laptop, my Kindle, and a stack of magazine.</em></div>
<div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<em>Why sit at a desk when I can recline & do the same thing?</em></div>
<div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<em>The playroom is "L" shaped,</em></div>
<div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<em>the walls being shorter than standard</em></div>
<div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<em>with sloped ceilings.</em></div>
<div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<em>You wouldn't believe how much "stuff" I have crammed into it!</em></div>
<div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJNBv6dkTaC59J61ZxVLLTs0u6k8nVURbsEb4yPD8JBDoDI0O1WWK6KD3bJErqLkuFkl9TC9G6JEpTW_wH9aD2EDFjArmLR8yrIGbBhG4UGI90SaQcJuBaVJmC97i4rx0mfSKIMMJVZJ8z/s1600/DSC07379.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJNBv6dkTaC59J61ZxVLLTs0u6k8nVURbsEb4yPD8JBDoDI0O1WWK6KD3bJErqLkuFkl9TC9G6JEpTW_wH9aD2EDFjArmLR8yrIGbBhG4UGI90SaQcJuBaVJmC97i4rx0mfSKIMMJVZJ8z/s400/DSC07379.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<em>Normally, I never let anyone other than close family members</em></div>
<div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<em>or friends that won't squeal about how we live "upstairs"!</em></div>
<div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<em>This area is sort of off limits.</em></div>
<div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<em>Not too many years ago, this area was decorated </em><br />
<em>in the "retro" look.</em></div>
<div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<em>There was a Coke border around the room,</em></div>
<div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<em>a Coke pop machine that had been converted into a bar,</em></div>
<div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<em>lots of '50's &'60's memorabilia, etc., etc.</em></div>
<div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<em>I finally tired of it, moved the Coke bar to Bob's car shop,</em></div>
<div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<em>bought cube style shelving from Archivers,</em></div>
<div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<em>slapped on a coat </em><br />
<em>of taupey-gray (I don't remember the name) paint,</em></div>
<div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<em>and took ownership.</em></div>
<div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<em>Here is a peak or two at my clutter . . .</em></div>
<div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGcG2OzRZlrV9XDVPZkrNyBg6mIf8DKhZljZXBEEzRwAbhLrzKoUXHbispV7mxCabFMqxbEW13mEtsqsEBRo1MEB7RK2NbP_rFQaC2qoPYnZ5bV7Bw-RX7cjlWcU4EE1pUNJ4m8jMETWdF/s1600/DSC07361.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGcG2OzRZlrV9XDVPZkrNyBg6mIf8DKhZljZXBEEzRwAbhLrzKoUXHbispV7mxCabFMqxbEW13mEtsqsEBRo1MEB7RK2NbP_rFQaC2qoPYnZ5bV7Bw-RX7cjlWcU4EE1pUNJ4m8jMETWdF/s400/DSC07361.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<em>In reality, I am probably a hoarder.</em></div>
<div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<em>I think I'm going to clear out closets, </em></div>
<div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<em>but mostly can't bear to get rid of things</em><br />
<em>with any sentimental attachment.</em></div>
<div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<em>These shelves are full of photos from years gone by.</em></div>
<div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<em>Peaking out of the left corner is the rocker </em></div>
<div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<em>that we bought when Jeff was a baby,</em></div>
<div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<em>my little dresser-vanity that is almost 60 years old,</em></div>
<div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<em>and my rocking chair that is from my childhood.</em></div>
<div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
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</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX30linhPM_cpwUepAXCDgaUKcMsYke1BiV0JtOktSTbPEyiWLuZxSgKRn8G8dIyu-pLty8PKPBx0OaPAf668unFPp-MW-6le_UbcHjYmqbFUYpeuNkkiR-lQBB-aiF294Y15s0Ht6CXn-/s1600/DSC07363.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX30linhPM_cpwUepAXCDgaUKcMsYke1BiV0JtOktSTbPEyiWLuZxSgKRn8G8dIyu-pLty8PKPBx0OaPAf668unFPp-MW-6le_UbcHjYmqbFUYpeuNkkiR-lQBB-aiF294Y15s0Ht6CXn-/s400/DSC07363.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div align="center">
<em>There are Longaberger baskets, Boyds Bears,</em></div>
<div align="center">
<em>and boxes that hold family treasures.</em></div>
<div align="center">
<em>I have found the decorative boxes a good way</em></div>
<div align="center">
<em>to store things I want to keep</em></div>
<div align="center">
<em>but don't want to necessarily display.</em></div>
<div align="center">
<em>Sometimes I take a peak inside these boxes</em></div>
<div align="center">
<em>and surprise myself at what I have hidden away!</em></div>
<div align="center">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitlGMyjP0vW7hHUowCXgKZKkrPKBjWa4ixg3p_OeVm7lzeBegFcS_8MdYHa2ZN-a-AqqGxTzCSCSZWIZfM6P2v4G1mLWjilfRfs6-_7LS7JrmkL3P3zYK8_669Cc2K1NtdF_427-Sc8N7o/s1600/DSC07391.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitlGMyjP0vW7hHUowCXgKZKkrPKBjWa4ixg3p_OeVm7lzeBegFcS_8MdYHa2ZN-a-AqqGxTzCSCSZWIZfM6P2v4G1mLWjilfRfs6-_7LS7JrmkL3P3zYK8_669Cc2K1NtdF_427-Sc8N7o/s400/DSC07391.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
<em>In the past few years, I have learned with the loss of my parents</em></div>
<div align="center">
<em>and all of their siblings, that I have lost</em><br />
<em> a great source of family history.</em></div>
<div align="center">
<em>I no longer have someone that will answer questions </em></div>
<div align="center">
<em>of things that happened long ago.</em></div>
<div align="center">
<em>So . . . as I go through old photographs, I am trying to remember</em></div>
<div align="center">
<em>to write on the back of each picture, identifying those</em></div>
<div align="center">
<em>that my own children will not know.</em></div>
<div align="center">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_6azWgIg4TU3p3eUli49U9NGwcz-ozzjabXSD3qbCasPSLswUK3mCL_QJLWW-pnqriiq3ROgL5LulY05LT6HaG8VUCcbQzRw3zuyvLxbRtMbnKtwiTMcYzMM4gGW9B8FGJXxGRVHHWbm1/s1600/DSC07392.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_6azWgIg4TU3p3eUli49U9NGwcz-ozzjabXSD3qbCasPSLswUK3mCL_QJLWW-pnqriiq3ROgL5LulY05LT6HaG8VUCcbQzRw3zuyvLxbRtMbnKtwiTMcYzMM4gGW9B8FGJXxGRVHHWbm1/s400/DSC07392.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div align="center">
<em>For a while, I spent most of my free time </em><br />
<em>working on family genealogy.</em></div>
<div align="center">
<em>I still love it and work on it when I can.</em></div>
<div align="center">
<em>I have notebooks of information on our family,</em></div>
<div align="center">
<em>mostly files that were shared with me from someone else</em></div>
<div align="center">
<em>that had done the research and hard work.</em></div>
<div align="center">
<em>Just last week, I received an email from someone who had</em></div>
<div align="center">
<em>seen data I had posted to Ancestry.com.</em></div>
<div align="center">
<em>That person is a very distant cousin and he happily shared</em></div>
<div align="center">
<em>his files and sent me photos of my great-great-grandparents!</em></div>
<div align="center">
<em>Hopefully, my children will someday want to look through these notebooks.</em></div>
<div align="center">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr1YzvaqinYnGMlQvNT1Ft1HFv8VBhHgirVoC1J1s00nptVyZAGsJeBq9Nnc50CITli26-fGXbh_9VisLRNz51Nex2a-ftU-4an4XK9QfbcT5EC6DaQTt5w70XzcJEiWCUOZLWRGw24Nh_/s1600/DSC07384.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="302" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr1YzvaqinYnGMlQvNT1Ft1HFv8VBhHgirVoC1J1s00nptVyZAGsJeBq9Nnc50CITli26-fGXbh_9VisLRNz51Nex2a-ftU-4an4XK9QfbcT5EC6DaQTt5w70XzcJEiWCUOZLWRGw24Nh_/s400/DSC07384.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<em>There are drawers full of old family VHS videos</em></div>
<div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<em>that need to be converted to DVD.</em></div>
<div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<em>There is a cabinet full of old slides, both ours and my fathers,</em></div>
<div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<em>that need to be scanned and converted to digital files.</em></div>
<div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<em>There is an ironing board that never seems to be put away,</em></div>
<div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<em>always a line of shirts waiting to be be ironed.</em></div>
<div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<em>There are drawers full of scrapbooking papers, embellishments, </em></div>
<div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<em>punches, stamps, inks & scissors...</em></div>
<div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<em>waiting to decorate albums that are stacked along the wall...</em></div>
<div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<em>also waiting to be filled with photos.</em></div>
<div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYjg_VzhhHVBt9Z3N_2AHUmFnbU_CrUvsLStW8k2Va9WKyb5wdr_OFqEGdP_1ZhZj428VyCTX0kRqhc1EssK4csuM7PIzCFMeeVe7F_JK0KE0nH_a3fqb-QgzDefbaAFfz8gG8NKh9lQkr/s1600/DSC07393.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYjg_VzhhHVBt9Z3N_2AHUmFnbU_CrUvsLStW8k2Va9WKyb5wdr_OFqEGdP_1ZhZj428VyCTX0kRqhc1EssK4csuM7PIzCFMeeVe7F_JK0KE0nH_a3fqb-QgzDefbaAFfz8gG8NKh9lQkr/s400/DSC07393.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
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<em>My goal for these cold winter months</em></div>
<div align="center">
<em>is to clear out some of this clutter</em></div>
<div align="center">
<em>and get rid of the excess.</em></div>
<div align="center">
<em>So far, I have only gathered up about one bag...</em></div>
<div align="center">
<em>and that was just clothing that we no longer wear.</em></div>
<div align="center">
<br /></div>
<div align="center">
<em>So if you wonder where I am,</em></div>
<div align="center">
<em>I'll be upstairs...</em></div>
<div align="center">
<em>in my hideaway...</em></div>
<div align="center">
<em>the one you aren't allowed to see!</em></div>
<div align="center">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ubjMXrAWCsyo2hPELQ-RNFqihVo1i_0c3zdgCSzGMpTzIUvDesg7DCBDezKYJq4tC_EoLwjW-Jo1H7iIOPtiH84ER0ggpNisRdI7Gs0rLtqaglUG25EAHbN6td4XKLnGnNa0Y1QShsuq/s1600/DSC07380.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ubjMXrAWCsyo2hPELQ-RNFqihVo1i_0c3zdgCSzGMpTzIUvDesg7DCBDezKYJq4tC_EoLwjW-Jo1H7iIOPtiH84ER0ggpNisRdI7Gs0rLtqaglUG25EAHbN6td4XKLnGnNa0Y1QShsuq/s400/DSC07380.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
<em>I spiffed it up a bit for this post! </em></div>
<div align="center">
<br /></div>
<div align="center">
Decorating Disclaimer:</div>
<div align="center">
I know the sofas are navy blue and the rug is black...</div>
<div align="center">
but the sofas won't wear out<br />
& are just too comfy to discard.</div>
<div align="center">
Besides, this is a hodge podge room</div>
<div align="center">
and definitely doesn't qualify for any beauty ribbons!</div>
<div align="center">
We just love it and live in it.</div>
Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17324850294489701187noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6359389821982978694.post-25847716817363566682012-01-08T23:23:00.001-05:002012-01-08T23:26:25.980-05:00Life Happened . . .<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">I think I left you stranded on a mountain ~</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">and with the intentions of taking you to Virginia.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">But that didn't happen</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">and without apology or explanation for my non-blogging period,</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">I will just say that life happened...</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">a lot of it!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">and now we will go on.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">To catch you up with our life happenings . . .</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipqnRXLvVE1daaM5o04sLe87UM7OE9-ZroJv7yy295FV6u2bov8SX1Jsat9vN1veYHOMKMNJ4hxU8KAUZI5tSZqqPYO1Nd8fUnEn9DyMh-fDJEGaZvZ4ufDm9oNH58xaiqHsxSCcYGo4Zc/s1600/DSC07087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipqnRXLvVE1daaM5o04sLe87UM7OE9-ZroJv7yy295FV6u2bov8SX1Jsat9vN1veYHOMKMNJ4hxU8KAUZI5tSZqqPYO1Nd8fUnEn9DyMh-fDJEGaZvZ4ufDm9oNH58xaiqHsxSCcYGo4Zc/s400/DSC07087.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">After 3 years of being part of our lives, due to health issues,</div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">my brother packed up and headed back to California</div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">for an adventure of his own.</div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Steve is in the process of getting his bride here from across the seas</div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">and we wish them the best.</div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Maybe some day I will tell you about it . . .</div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii3lz356-0UlaccInuLXZLtpjz7Sl6x1YjOwHsWMM-GofaKoKiQNja88IDVWCTfU9xscmy5QJmaxKMevZkEh_Mpa6SPVlkID4RMX9XkpJcax_Zw2uNtwTMbNXOSgFkzyT75JPtN4Q0unKN/s1600/tgiving+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii3lz356-0UlaccInuLXZLtpjz7Sl6x1YjOwHsWMM-GofaKoKiQNja88IDVWCTfU9xscmy5QJmaxKMevZkEh_Mpa6SPVlkID4RMX9XkpJcax_Zw2uNtwTMbNXOSgFkzyT75JPtN4Q0unKN/s400/tgiving+5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">We celebrated Thanksgiving with all of our family here</div><div align="center">along with my sister & her family from Kansas,</div><div align="center">plus a friend of Kylie's from New Zealand.</div><div align="center">It was 5 days of food & fun,</div><div align="center">with 18 here from turkey dinner!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAmCBpIMPthW15h_bp3s15gyr8siaMRDJuULfisZLtUEt7jFwhoLh67VbcYcbuMT1VVE3lMnFgmrRAHWjskUR8suwq_6ugXtO8ogcfy68oV6KpcQRDpHR_U4eBB__P644a4dioCdD_BlEZ/s1600/DSC07179.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAmCBpIMPthW15h_bp3s15gyr8siaMRDJuULfisZLtUEt7jFwhoLh67VbcYcbuMT1VVE3lMnFgmrRAHWjskUR8suwq_6ugXtO8ogcfy68oV6KpcQRDpHR_U4eBB__P644a4dioCdD_BlEZ/s400/DSC07179.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div align="center">The end of November brought birthday celebrating for Jeff.</div><div align="center">(I can't believe that my baby is 35 years old!)</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaKF194xRqW_csIjOM_b7V1Ht153zm5oq4wp7dqYx29WZrUEXKiXyOTdz3a1FRC2lFidoptIq6TTpgv-Q6w9-YOZ-qfCkmcMdLjfePA-DknQEFMXBLMjqa-0h6E3ozSMrj-ybQFKYVAuj_/s1600/DSC07168.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaKF194xRqW_csIjOM_b7V1Ht153zm5oq4wp7dqYx29WZrUEXKiXyOTdz3a1FRC2lFidoptIq6TTpgv-Q6w9-YOZ-qfCkmcMdLjfePA-DknQEFMXBLMjqa-0h6E3ozSMrj-ybQFKYVAuj_/s400/DSC07168.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div align="center">Carol...my sister</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">We did some Black Friday shopping,</div><div align="center">went to a Decorator's Showcase</div><div align="center">and made a quick trip to our scenic little village of Nashville.</div><div align="center">Quality sister time!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFNwHRt7nF4zG_pDbJDha127QFu-KalJhJYRCzItnX8t5-tcTPNX8wxqegOBdsiIQYaXFvhIF8usr8DxmzB132r5goZeBZJPQlial3Kbvc44jzJnM9UJAZscgxJdX62_kNAhdYySSPKQ4m/s1600/379978_2895031413579_1194144443_3357501_1348837526_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFNwHRt7nF4zG_pDbJDha127QFu-KalJhJYRCzItnX8t5-tcTPNX8wxqegOBdsiIQYaXFvhIF8usr8DxmzB132r5goZeBZJPQlial3Kbvc44jzJnM9UJAZscgxJdX62_kNAhdYySSPKQ4m/s400/379978_2895031413579_1194144443_3357501_1348837526_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There were Christmas programs to attend -</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-VShwBpdp6XuQxEZPeOaDE41Dkxhvds2YogHoCSEBZHN61O0ff6wroG3cEPWHT-6UzXLcdr72BC-norbmzNEtPAQeReLkLc2g_Rd-MGBhWNLdm2CTnb7hvFAQbfS-5u04gmILkfE1NMU9/s1600/396908_2895036773713_1194144443_3357515_1530767459_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-VShwBpdp6XuQxEZPeOaDE41Dkxhvds2YogHoCSEBZHN61O0ff6wroG3cEPWHT-6UzXLcdr72BC-norbmzNEtPAQeReLkLc2g_Rd-MGBhWNLdm2CTnb7hvFAQbfS-5u04gmILkfE1NMU9/s400/396908_2895036773713_1194144443_3357515_1530767459_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div align="center">Family time with the Thompson Clan</div><div align="center">Rebekah & Kevin (Bob's brother) with Jeff</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ybLYu5tdvKZCUMwMjxTPYU1TIzPW4MV6sQrfy7ubJIH3V8C5AMzt5XdywtBNlGsJp0AMfoZo8yhkroqHTIja4z-cABtjap7uvKaEqK3fFBshlvev1U2t5b4kzAiRN7gs9IForD6tOG-s/s1600/Dad%252C+Vickie%252C+%2526+Rosemary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ybLYu5tdvKZCUMwMjxTPYU1TIzPW4MV6sQrfy7ubJIH3V8C5AMzt5XdywtBNlGsJp0AMfoZo8yhkroqHTIja4z-cABtjap7uvKaEqK3fFBshlvev1U2t5b4kzAiRN7gs9IForD6tOG-s/s400/Dad%252C+Vickie%252C+%2526+Rosemary.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Dad Thompson & Rosemary</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">with Vickie (Bob's sister)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic6JYVx6GOJSeylUy6ZEcQYmeMw_9B6DDWEZScFADJ-6K6o2t4MlyPmqcloffh5e0mogYEKrjm9Wdp7g7I-52qyAmtZq9rc9AbkxvYX-wDlF2OGhgdBJw4cMHsVLRLtLNcpH1mtzg8x1JU/s1600/Jonathan%252C+Karen%252C+%2526+Sheila.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic6JYVx6GOJSeylUy6ZEcQYmeMw_9B6DDWEZScFADJ-6K6o2t4MlyPmqcloffh5e0mogYEKrjm9Wdp7g7I-52qyAmtZq9rc9AbkxvYX-wDlF2OGhgdBJw4cMHsVLRLtLNcpH1mtzg8x1JU/s400/Jonathan%252C+Karen%252C+%2526+Sheila.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div align="center">The festive looking Walden's, Jonathan & Karen (our daughter)</div><div align="center">...and me</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlj4i6WXi0ZB8eIa58ucjKll7NXS6vI0dwTmI0cDso0F0QFLgPLax5L5r7pxG7UAI5o_BUuOcMYBTYhKBF03uq7gOZcPYNTufcJodHVpqv4WDe7CGsK8YWzzgc2YGCli9N8Ct9B6arYVQE/s1600/DSC07200.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlj4i6WXi0ZB8eIa58ucjKll7NXS6vI0dwTmI0cDso0F0QFLgPLax5L5r7pxG7UAI5o_BUuOcMYBTYhKBF03uq7gOZcPYNTufcJodHVpqv4WDe7CGsK8YWzzgc2YGCli9N8Ct9B6arYVQE/s400/DSC07200.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">A lunch outing at Elsbury's Nursery with some church lady friends</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjImdbCQkPM_cqN-Dz_ByYfJpaNGyv2Cqw6NepA5dSEelzkn2ybJKFrhA8HCe1pujXx5xUQz6Aozr8wd21H-L9XrfEICDKRBaFNVg4-E6Ih6_J5oSHrpoRnhCZKcPg_gW7urdS16P5EkPTC/s1600/DSC07245.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjImdbCQkPM_cqN-Dz_ByYfJpaNGyv2Cqw6NepA5dSEelzkn2ybJKFrhA8HCe1pujXx5xUQz6Aozr8wd21H-L9XrfEICDKRBaFNVg4-E6Ih6_J5oSHrpoRnhCZKcPg_gW7urdS16P5EkPTC/s400/DSC07245.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div align="center">A little decorating . . .</div><br />
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</div><div align="center">Then we had a surprise visit from my cousin from Kansas</div><div align="center">and I just had to take her to Elsbury's</div><div align="center">(I have tons of Christmas pics that I won't bore you with)</div><div align="center"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO7kfQBev7QpAhvazmJ7pKWbjtF4dawXWBcqScDn-fIHJiHQ8b1pk-Q3hPDO4t6M8FVUfOEcSHDkTjsvWQT5oTDJP66EQAm4u7wT-u_Wu18sUKIK1-ez8zIUggYP7WZU1Xo7xmAh_d5MwL/s1600/DSC07254.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO7kfQBev7QpAhvazmJ7pKWbjtF4dawXWBcqScDn-fIHJiHQ8b1pk-Q3hPDO4t6M8FVUfOEcSHDkTjsvWQT5oTDJP66EQAm4u7wT-u_Wu18sUKIK1-ez8zIUggYP7WZU1Xo7xmAh_d5MwL/s400/DSC07254.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">Dinner with Duane & Luana</div><div align="center">at Zaharakos</div><div align="center">our local ice cream shop from 1900 that has been refurbished . . .</div><div align="center">a local treasure!</div><br />
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<div align="center">a trip to Bloomington for lunch with Aunt Donna</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">and lots and lots of shopping!</div><br />
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<div align="center">sugar cookies were baked...at the last minute!</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><br />
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</div><div align="center">Christmas was celebrated</div><div align="center">with the little people</div><div align="center">who make it worth all of the stress & work!</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh72HkIJOVfkQqJmM-p5eTTmiYObOqPfImQsvkqJABQUmmZahnJ4oLDYxuK_XIm2uoGLp9wLfxBTQp-wO5axjLvD5-rXCwYEFOUVNQ1yG83s4A6eD_M7-kYUCenjnBV0qOjP4_Tf0mqs1R6/s1600/DSC07309.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh72HkIJOVfkQqJmM-p5eTTmiYObOqPfImQsvkqJABQUmmZahnJ4oLDYxuK_XIm2uoGLp9wLfxBTQp-wO5axjLvD5-rXCwYEFOUVNQ1yG83s4A6eD_M7-kYUCenjnBV0qOjP4_Tf0mqs1R6/s400/DSC07309.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">The week after Christmas I left my tree & decorations up</div><div align="center">and we did some entertaining. </div><div align="center">One night we had Bob's sister & her hubby out for dinner,</div><div align="center">something we seldom take time to do.</div><div align="center">Another night we went out to dinner with friends whom we had neglected</div><div align="center">way too long. Dessert was back at our house</div><div align="center">with a great night of catching up.</div><div align="center">And to top the week off...</div><div align="center">all 6 grandkids came & spent the night!</div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Paige helped with the dishes</div><br />
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<div align="center">Brycen & Peyton had a little DS challenge going</div><br />
<div align="center"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyAwCIYrq1l5FRlh6dpy3Em6PoiC0OD0hjUbhLAvCEFbSAt-oJkxEOl7-HFyvxP02iOZV3Zdz721rYaAlFr_hrr3hkc9iDefS3t9xufZuMYzv0CLuHKCC29aOhmXIVag6YU1VZ1MUHNHY1/s1600/DSC07313.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyAwCIYrq1l5FRlh6dpy3Em6PoiC0OD0hjUbhLAvCEFbSAt-oJkxEOl7-HFyvxP02iOZV3Zdz721rYaAlFr_hrr3hkc9iDefS3t9xufZuMYzv0CLuHKCC29aOhmXIVag6YU1VZ1MUHNHY1/s400/DSC07313.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div align="center">Carter relaxed in the recliner</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNK5U3__X_1uo8nwdChmXscwSA5oHvEUYEA_fy_Q-hQZx18B4MrpXbPWO8AU-L1jMjIG3E61PzfZxpxycmO2dRus87zYmVVoUfj4fK4hn8HMePXGO3-x_bY645trN87tuUl71ryppMLhav/s1600/DSC07316.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNK5U3__X_1uo8nwdChmXscwSA5oHvEUYEA_fy_Q-hQZx18B4MrpXbPWO8AU-L1jMjIG3E61PzfZxpxycmO2dRus87zYmVVoUfj4fK4hn8HMePXGO3-x_bY645trN87tuUl71ryppMLhav/s400/DSC07316.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div align="center">while Kerrigan & Parker figured out new games & their Ipods.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">If was a fun, noisy night & one they hopefully will remember.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD5QIWec4gTDHpkvKlGR7BOevFIyWXfP7w5ihu8otbyhTOgz4iEyMRzpTAOkAFu909ePRlmdq6SzXaKS0_GpY1vjpjVV-nQTzZ6ezVoZu0RAT2jfQLCIwY02AAVtOUS4OkWcVkzVlc9xVr/s1600/DSC07240.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD5QIWec4gTDHpkvKlGR7BOevFIyWXfP7w5ihu8otbyhTOgz4iEyMRzpTAOkAFu909ePRlmdq6SzXaKS0_GpY1vjpjVV-nQTzZ6ezVoZu0RAT2jfQLCIwY02AAVtOUS4OkWcVkzVlc9xVr/s400/DSC07240.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">Since the New Year,</div><div align="center">we have celebrated our son-in-laws birthday,</div><div align="center">along with the twins 6th birthday.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">So you can see,</div><div align="center">life really has happened around here</div><div align="center">and I don't see it slowing down for a while.</div><div align="center">There were several sentimental moments along the way</div><div align="center">that I just couldn't find time to write about,</div><div align="center">but I have missed it.</div><div align="center">Hopefully, I won't leave you on any more mountains!</div>Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17324850294489701187noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6359389821982978694.post-18641395074621273742011-10-24T22:20:00.001-04:002011-10-24T22:22:23.320-04:00Autumn Road Trip...Part Two<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG5GZlORNtM-gDczAmoAd_ttWYaRgfssP_N8GjEgTG0QdOI_UyBULlNPglgJZ3TkW9e9rEpDN8jKYQEtJtZms8DxERguTIBXf2rW6vtqCtpKChgpxqxlAWcHbzQPy65o3C5dKnuVAKblVL/s1600/blog+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG5GZlORNtM-gDczAmoAd_ttWYaRgfssP_N8GjEgTG0QdOI_UyBULlNPglgJZ3TkW9e9rEpDN8jKYQEtJtZms8DxERguTIBXf2rW6vtqCtpKChgpxqxlAWcHbzQPy65o3C5dKnuVAKblVL/s400/blog+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We woke to rain & fog for our second day in West Virginia.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Before we left the area we wanted to go to the viewing area</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">for the New River Bridge.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Years ago we had seen this bridge under construction,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">crossing the valley, saving drivers treacherous miles</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">on Route 19.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I remember the road as being full of "S" curves, </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">descending steeply into the deep ravine.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9sHdIPZdYcUzz-5FZcLkMHriPuWjxTtaniUMijeCdabHcSeFpm4mYFJac4bCbQ-th_OnUPJUcBpbKtBFUciGPocnzSU_6oqt-axaK8CvsrfZ66VvilsZj6yXYp6eaM14gkdiTgrCencL5/s1600/blog+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9sHdIPZdYcUzz-5FZcLkMHriPuWjxTtaniUMijeCdabHcSeFpm4mYFJac4bCbQ-th_OnUPJUcBpbKtBFUciGPocnzSU_6oqt-axaK8CvsrfZ66VvilsZj6yXYp6eaM14gkdiTgrCencL5/s400/blog+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here we are driving across the bridge,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">unable to see much below because of the fog.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCmvuxbKcb7II9XRw2uX6roFFcW12q-he0J664Tid6wHiB5_MGO7yM_90FEgydGhFmZmMK9WTuVTEhAh7gblDAtqjEes0KdFXcLVFal67qGM_MCh9DzyhHPrNuE-A24fh1_SxyUT9F4cjV/s1600/blog+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCmvuxbKcb7II9XRw2uX6roFFcW12q-he0J664Tid6wHiB5_MGO7yM_90FEgydGhFmZmMK9WTuVTEhAh7gblDAtqjEes0KdFXcLVFal67qGM_MCh9DzyhHPrNuE-A24fh1_SxyUT9F4cjV/s400/blog+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We drove down the side road to the Visitors Center</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">& viewing area,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">only able to barely make out the bridge from this point,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">dimly spotting a few car headlights.</div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But the walk was worth the trip.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And I thought that the rain made the colors more brilliant.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyQhPUC8WqDi2d0qsW5jS1PZEJnXn0TsyStfmEs7LGGpiuvjX0Yl46PP4PB9PlS2BMTKgJwBlwRB07W0sa3W3Uexu9h2QkaY55QAJQ97iTftBjex6wH3dk-asCOxyxkqmWQVmxar9XF67x/s1600/blog+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyQhPUC8WqDi2d0qsW5jS1PZEJnXn0TsyStfmEs7LGGpiuvjX0Yl46PP4PB9PlS2BMTKgJwBlwRB07W0sa3W3Uexu9h2QkaY55QAJQ97iTftBjex6wH3dk-asCOxyxkqmWQVmxar9XF67x/s400/blog+5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We found Route 60 & drove a few miles to Hawks Nest,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">another viewing point for the New River.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Indians called this the "River of Death"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">because of the white water rapids.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It is known for its excellent white watering rafting.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'll take their word about it!</div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The horseshoe bend in the New River</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRQ0VM_M7jKU3ybriU2AlHWic6RtOcgBPjrmvVrvZSujwXpubW7nnlN6CSpBwHP5JQcREP5GiPr9K7tu4HZkFKuoWljfip9vZPRLhBV9urC9wAaxjOBGVa9g14Utif7Fj80ouzE3Fc6aOV/s1600/blog+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRQ0VM_M7jKU3ybriU2AlHWic6RtOcgBPjrmvVrvZSujwXpubW7nnlN6CSpBwHP5JQcREP5GiPr9K7tu4HZkFKuoWljfip9vZPRLhBV9urC9wAaxjOBGVa9g14Utif7Fj80ouzE3Fc6aOV/s400/blog+7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A train track running along the mountain</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and a train trestle crossing the river</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-1TudvUMqbAFGFUQSzSsfKzRr09ChmlWDJ0kEQzpv1X8RgxX3K7ik-e7OnvQEapIOFOJZQI7VhYmgjeCHwvXYdjnNHHRBOkoip5XYRI6ZV92c-jL28m2MKrbS9aoVE-CajyGiKk-dOYp9/s1600/blog+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-1TudvUMqbAFGFUQSzSsfKzRr09ChmlWDJ0kEQzpv1X8RgxX3K7ik-e7OnvQEapIOFOJZQI7VhYmgjeCHwvXYdjnNHHRBOkoip5XYRI6ZV92c-jL28m2MKrbS9aoVE-CajyGiKk-dOYp9/s400/blog+8.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Being in no hurry, and me wanting to watch the leaves,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">we took the scenic route towards Virginia.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We drove over 200 miles on roads like this.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It was beautiful!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqRY8s-R3_8dl-O5QtNxKifD2C4qXxror76Fw66zlVpAe11kXiqjOcgid6By-v_ztOiDPXougAC9f6JG8xAQGV-mue6lSzsAfr1vWka5eQhiz4GuofPp7p447XwERqN08VH4lOQWV0uYpb/s1600/blog+9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqRY8s-R3_8dl-O5QtNxKifD2C4qXxror76Fw66zlVpAe11kXiqjOcgid6By-v_ztOiDPXougAC9f6JG8xAQGV-mue6lSzsAfr1vWka5eQhiz4GuofPp7p447XwERqN08VH4lOQWV0uYpb/s400/blog+9.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Along the way, we spotted this entrance </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and made a spur of the moment side trip.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Bob didn't think he had ever been here,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">then decided maybe he had come on a school trip.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJps6imNt6wLwkKB_msUIek5GZB8oVKa1YAe8OJgCsE0VSthnGWnMEiWPqSKyYeF1wJGVsd9sSZ59vLBE3ucMmbrxcMyWDoWU-Elo3bRl-faWOAx4wilLgQ1yYYEcFk6DWJZ1UsDCdI1R_/s1600/blog+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJps6imNt6wLwkKB_msUIek5GZB8oVKa1YAe8OJgCsE0VSthnGWnMEiWPqSKyYeF1wJGVsd9sSZ59vLBE3ucMmbrxcMyWDoWU-Elo3bRl-faWOAx4wilLgQ1yYYEcFk6DWJZ1UsDCdI1R_/s400/blog+10.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This was our view as we entered the State Park.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It seemed as if there was a golden glow!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVzdWgm-yvONWgBqGrU-_J1W558HyIldMvDoobPlQg-2Oin2L1I4EGUpp5w-qNHsE2yY-AiK_ri-w0OtqOtdUuC2MF8FgIpYgncBRS2urSfDsnHZ0CIGJ3X7FNRAB8UAmPtWBgelVVIlet/s1600/blog+11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVzdWgm-yvONWgBqGrU-_J1W558HyIldMvDoobPlQg-2Oin2L1I4EGUpp5w-qNHsE2yY-AiK_ri-w0OtqOtdUuC2MF8FgIpYgncBRS2urSfDsnHZ0CIGJ3X7FNRAB8UAmPtWBgelVVIlet/s400/blog+11.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Color was everywhere!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEWfzpnXVpP8pqXLq1CElAhhP0s94iVKYM0il2buO-FMQPhntP4qPv34qLOMafyJVvsZHmnNKYS9qFOB6v2fSoXFTGAVuGU8lRyp2AgaKxWbkbYFEmXffKVUVwSATr8i5Ivg9DgAzLx6Tv/s1600/blog+12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEWfzpnXVpP8pqXLq1CElAhhP0s94iVKYM0il2buO-FMQPhntP4qPv34qLOMafyJVvsZHmnNKYS9qFOB6v2fSoXFTGAVuGU8lRyp2AgaKxWbkbYFEmXffKVUVwSATr8i5Ivg9DgAzLx6Tv/s400/blog+12.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And we found this mill!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"Park the car, Bob....I'm getting out!"</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9bPq8phgyNcgW6xAInKL1ZARqOXHf_Pp-NvaDaFLfnc6-csnyyEL0T3ClgwqoZlnT3jJ-7SmZOeTwEihQwO-s_Yf83s-A9XMbWPj1vV3qf6vlXLjADITg2IsDAmOTF7IfoynIVJppcyPQ/s1600/blog+13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9bPq8phgyNcgW6xAInKL1ZARqOXHf_Pp-NvaDaFLfnc6-csnyyEL0T3ClgwqoZlnT3jJ-7SmZOeTwEihQwO-s_Yf83s-A9XMbWPj1vV3qf6vlXLjADITg2IsDAmOTF7IfoynIVJppcyPQ/s400/blog+13.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is where Bob began to remember being here before.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">He remembered this rock...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and said that somewhere there is a photograph</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">of his Dad standing in the same spot...</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7_-dVgKwn5NOXVUon1q31jj7c0Y7UWsvtHsw8rkHTOck7Pc6mLCOobTwqy8QZqxtttWnBGYc1iC4VIcBvWZWz6NN-l0M9vlpuFa2Zi5Wvah2jkJXiFl3yD-fAOh-tMsoiz6vxZnPJsv92/s1600/blog+14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7_-dVgKwn5NOXVUon1q31jj7c0Y7UWsvtHsw8rkHTOck7Pc6mLCOobTwqy8QZqxtttWnBGYc1iC4VIcBvWZWz6NN-l0M9vlpuFa2Zi5Wvah2jkJXiFl3yD-fAOh-tMsoiz6vxZnPJsv92/s400/blog+14.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">which is a lot farther than it looks when not zoomed in!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I had no idea he would even think about climbing out there,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">but he began climbing the rock as soon as he realized</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">that I wanted a picture.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4QpimGwaYQYRltzSTYKZuHO2umahgHOG8Mppd90ZNno95ZKcclZQi4rdu1lOrtS28Shag6xiDR0Ayc3g0MOQbAHZRFFYr2eHFwx0vkMUEIvi8VMKstDIr6oIP-Oc4qsUHysCNF_sBEjNM/s1600/blog+15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4QpimGwaYQYRltzSTYKZuHO2umahgHOG8Mppd90ZNno95ZKcclZQi4rdu1lOrtS28Shag6xiDR0Ayc3g0MOQbAHZRFFYr2eHFwx0vkMUEIvi8VMKstDIr6oIP-Oc4qsUHysCNF_sBEjNM/s400/blog+15.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">What a beautiful area...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and we almost missed it! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilmOtzhcC8jSU6FOuyg57lyHZd2mCY2VaUSFLtibxs7ROuXC2g3ph6RfqE55WxgBe8PkEJjM2v1SxO0jIZCrmkmB359pvQ0JNIHhtamDFXo-3OPsLsvkrV-jKczz5W9XNZOupTbftOWuw0/s1600/blog+17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilmOtzhcC8jSU6FOuyg57lyHZd2mCY2VaUSFLtibxs7ROuXC2g3ph6RfqE55WxgBe8PkEJjM2v1SxO0jIZCrmkmB359pvQ0JNIHhtamDFXo-3OPsLsvkrV-jKczz5W9XNZOupTbftOWuw0/s400/blog+17.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Thankful that we had made this spur of the moment side trip,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">we decided to head on to our destination.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiorHK8VPGIcAao1nYwFdkspIR2K8nfKu0E6m1vpb4E2WWqz84dz77OJA4NKv_Lg2i_LzZsvNvXt2R-t84gCNqn233pzvb9-omsIB2v85_3wfNTIVxMK6UJ3guIXebQKXesaX0HLeBm6p1R/s1600/blog+18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiorHK8VPGIcAao1nYwFdkspIR2K8nfKu0E6m1vpb4E2WWqz84dz77OJA4NKv_Lg2i_LzZsvNvXt2R-t84gCNqn233pzvb9-omsIB2v85_3wfNTIVxMK6UJ3guIXebQKXesaX0HLeBm6p1R/s400/blog+18.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">More miles to go to reach Roakoke.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A lovely drive, even in the rain!</div><ol><li></li>
</ol>Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17324850294489701187noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6359389821982978694.post-33665703352062330182011-10-19T15:40:00.001-04:002011-10-19T15:45:58.354-04:00Autumn Road Trip ~ Part One ~ Beckley<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9J-C8xdaKP333ZwlbjE29I8sHzdZ-g_EfYlaYuaP_C9Ld4GmTiecpupFmtydMDKDGSkyRwUEVsByCYpHqhmX2CKpe__1Kl2vb9xMeVN9PUbjysmlvPpGMR2gaM3prSnLIQcY9Y6IjdoUD/s1600/DSC06995a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="303" rda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9J-C8xdaKP333ZwlbjE29I8sHzdZ-g_EfYlaYuaP_C9Ld4GmTiecpupFmtydMDKDGSkyRwUEVsByCYpHqhmX2CKpe__1Kl2vb9xMeVN9PUbjysmlvPpGMR2gaM3prSnLIQcY9Y6IjdoUD/s400/DSC06995a.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Last week Bob & I loaded up in the SUV & headed out</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">on another one of those sentimental journeys.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Most of his childhood memories are from the years</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">that his family spent in the mountains of West Virginia,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">moving there just in time for him to start 1st grade,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and moving away right before his Freshman year.</span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvlJIMTn-aXZZ9Q5maLiKHrMA7_wUCG55o_Q0kjWtThoLqOc6RqfHiFwRFYFcYY4Ke5CXTf-tSfG9iQ6oJWiLBYolQdTFNWWNj4eVhN3VwK2bFaLDmQgE8g-VsA5yJnOAfkz7wtVRrNdXf/s1600/DSC06996.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" rda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvlJIMTn-aXZZ9Q5maLiKHrMA7_wUCG55o_Q0kjWtThoLqOc6RqfHiFwRFYFcYY4Ke5CXTf-tSfG9iQ6oJWiLBYolQdTFNWWNj4eVhN3VwK2bFaLDmQgE8g-VsA5yJnOAfkz7wtVRrNdXf/s320/DSC06996.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was a beautiful trip...here viewed through</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">our bug spattered windshield!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The hills of Kentucky were tinted with autumn's colors.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And as we crossed the West Virginia state line,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">the colors became more vibrant.</span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieURaU-4lC9-YoExiqo62HsO-cUPAmEAqp79GNIExIRneiOmQ12vFP6dGVlXM9SU3VvjwNGCFVeUtGuioxN896dKt6d73HSSwi-4xkpwBFQds_e29tGk6jsZTEE7xvU7McIWOsAe4LHEzx/s1600/DSC06998a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="257" rda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieURaU-4lC9-YoExiqo62HsO-cUPAmEAqp79GNIExIRneiOmQ12vFP6dGVlXM9SU3VvjwNGCFVeUtGuioxN896dKt6d73HSSwi-4xkpwBFQds_e29tGk6jsZTEE7xvU7McIWOsAe4LHEzx/s400/DSC06998a.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I snapped pictures furiously through our tinted window</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">as we buzzed down the West Virginia Turnpike,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">while Bob began telling me stories.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Usually sort of quiet, these hills brought the memories</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">flooding to his mind & although I had heard them before,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">it was good to hear them again.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One particular tale is told about being in his best friends 1965 GTO.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was after they had moved away but were back at Huntington</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">for a church camp & Bob went home with Frank for a few days.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On the ride home, Frank's dad sat in the back seat,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">holding an old 8 millimeter movie camera</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">& gave Frank permission to bury the speedometer!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bob remembers seeing the needle pointing straight down--</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">which would have been at least 130 mph!!!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And at that time, although the highway was a turnpike,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">it was anything but straight.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thankfully, they survived the ride to tell the tale!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8nNeqACu00KcMJz_y54XKDIrvxjMNsV-dBKDI0TFJAd8P6BVmOZSUJ7kbbvndBulyG4hPh4OuDBjrynA79r0qm4jtxq434LIsKLrpzrZPJC351dD4Qw3R8D7jcFxGgYs4c1G7G5ET56Cu/s1600/DSC07002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="300" rda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8nNeqACu00KcMJz_y54XKDIrvxjMNsV-dBKDI0TFJAd8P6BVmOZSUJ7kbbvndBulyG4hPh4OuDBjrynA79r0qm4jtxq434LIsKLrpzrZPJC351dD4Qw3R8D7jcFxGgYs4c1G7G5ET56Cu/s400/DSC07002.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bob's dad was a preacher man...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">& for that matter, still is.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He moved his family of 5 (Vickie wasn't here yet)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">from the hills of southern Indiana</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">to the mountains of West Virginia.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I asked Bob on this trip if at the time he realized that he </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">was living in the Appalachian Mountains.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He said no...he just knew they were mountains,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and remembers the cold winters & piles of snow.</span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYy5T3se4KeHmn7DunBEdYPNodMYF4datTDKo-e_LBOk2qI_ZHpsqX51xUPPKN2XhLU2aKxzvTgWJq4WUYKcccrlie8e6RjRmJDSFQ4efbwLGg6Ty4GYToRUHJnYO1ifcNLP8cd1v9Eh7C/s1600/va+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="286" rda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYy5T3se4KeHmn7DunBEdYPNodMYF4datTDKo-e_LBOk2qI_ZHpsqX51xUPPKN2XhLU2aKxzvTgWJq4WUYKcccrlie8e6RjRmJDSFQ4efbwLGg6Ty4GYToRUHJnYO1ifcNLP8cd1v9Eh7C/s400/va+blog.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Harper Road,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">leading into Beckley.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Nothing is flat there--</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">you are either on a hillside, </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">going around a curve,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">or traveling down a steep incline.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I must say, it's beautiful country!</span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd6psy8aWnKoN9fXnNB8qVHN2jfQ6AyDcJpDccgpgzYXUVFFS8wBK7UMjKlGMJc6xK3pq7rMz3fUo3nI69ayL3Ion-QefJ34era_zotXAxH8g8cLIloKvo2PE8t_3-UXfYlsk9Uwzs8sIE/s1600/va+blog+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" rda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd6psy8aWnKoN9fXnNB8qVHN2jfQ6AyDcJpDccgpgzYXUVFFS8wBK7UMjKlGMJc6xK3pq7rMz3fUo3nI69ayL3Ion-QefJ34era_zotXAxH8g8cLIloKvo2PE8t_3-UXfYlsk9Uwzs8sIE/s320/va+blog+2.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Landmarks.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The city streets hadn't changed much </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and Bob found his way to his memories.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This one lead downtown & to another highway.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgBvYkq2XxdMBjsMJ1yxWMiIse5zkU__rJBZgEA9CFt-IjrWDDCCXHMqEbmbaylR6RhqUueKbUcv2ttbhFihEha9kLFctti7gz3Jzc3WJgjI1oiyHfay9j6roCe8uDYtG2yB5I9qXh4BHV/s1600/va+blog+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" rda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgBvYkq2XxdMBjsMJ1yxWMiIse5zkU__rJBZgEA9CFt-IjrWDDCCXHMqEbmbaylR6RhqUueKbUcv2ttbhFihEha9kLFctti7gz3Jzc3WJgjI1oiyHfay9j6roCe8uDYtG2yB5I9qXh4BHV/s320/va+blog+3.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This familiar intersection lead us to the church...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQPquBcIiIJL2QH7ZwQ12PzPyw9RJO2N8xCSREfxE55hPNDwiu7UHqZgZZkwvxSukynQ9mYtyr6gHyFDeSQlh6z_gyr1Cw0TI3y0_iBvAmnAeyxdJG_8v89jzCy5EfmHziytuY5g-0KSRd/s1600/va+blog+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="300" rda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQPquBcIiIJL2QH7ZwQ12PzPyw9RJO2N8xCSREfxE55hPNDwiu7UHqZgZZkwvxSukynQ9mYtyr6gHyFDeSQlh6z_gyr1Cw0TI3y0_iBvAmnAeyxdJG_8v89jzCy5EfmHziytuY5g-0KSRd/s400/va+blog+4.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">where Bob's dad pastored his people,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">earning $50. a week...which probably wasn't all that bad for the time,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and where the kids grew up.</span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH7kjMjXgLmSd7t9vVnCacVLA7CYF7TwBkF_Qyz0Sr3pyRZhyphenhyphenEWo_XNrLEywhpyxYe9M-xVRFrm_iSEN-mMSjX9rAcX-SH5_f2g6PiGlQBUiCBUGx-DQdEln-KPYsj1QpuiQANM8NogvGK/s1600/va+blog+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="250" rda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH7kjMjXgLmSd7t9vVnCacVLA7CYF7TwBkF_Qyz0Sr3pyRZhyphenhyphenEWo_XNrLEywhpyxYe9M-xVRFrm_iSEN-mMSjX9rAcX-SH5_f2g6PiGlQBUiCBUGx-DQdEln-KPYsj1QpuiQANM8NogvGK/s400/va+blog+5.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">During their years, the building was white blocks.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Just passed the parking lot is the parsonage.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvPEaAhVcGTNKFVbFpaisep5Z1z_gfOONv1zWZ1FP-QPwLl8MWzFdMuNgh1g-ajRgWhDcws06_ovDf_Io1owTMEKjyJXbSQTQnj0Yy3sapL6T6Iqz_yULXZUI6l8fkBkyUmMOncorTD9Ii/s1600/va+blog+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="311" rda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvPEaAhVcGTNKFVbFpaisep5Z1z_gfOONv1zWZ1FP-QPwLl8MWzFdMuNgh1g-ajRgWhDcws06_ovDf_Io1owTMEKjyJXbSQTQnj0Yy3sapL6T6Iqz_yULXZUI6l8fkBkyUmMOncorTD9Ii/s400/va+blog+6.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Home for the Thompson's</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">while living in Beckley</span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjepjx5V4v6j5JUOjTnc4bYcVcGDfOg0W5Kpstgf2HQtJkvRCQuZofNxoKkqd_emS64rKpRPlTBixyjtyp9QYKXa1zhuSKk8-Rgfb0_dlM_qrLScwQw3Px4vY2DvovDxsTVLT2QVN9HjXY0/s1600/va+blog+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="300" rda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjepjx5V4v6j5JUOjTnc4bYcVcGDfOg0W5Kpstgf2HQtJkvRCQuZofNxoKkqd_emS64rKpRPlTBixyjtyp9QYKXa1zhuSKk8-Rgfb0_dlM_qrLScwQw3Px4vY2DvovDxsTVLT2QVN9HjXY0/s400/va+blog+7.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bob was full of stories of when they were kids...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">telling about racing from tree to tree with Sherry...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">about Steve breaking Mom's dogwood and blaming "Barry Joe"</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and Mom baking chocolate cake & them eating it</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">while it was still warm, with butter on top...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">of Frank & Eddie being their neighbors...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">riding bikes up & down the hills...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">suppers of fried potatoes & beans</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">or homemade chili with donuts for dessert...</span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgr6kr-o8yH3j08smhON01Ys24LEZpcwBJgPyHk3AYaIoXllZ43xvmF6nHEpZlpBv-Q4KsfaYH-flLA0Ddjb4oTTEoeEp0duTJvzvDcWxtbuJ9Gv17W4gsDYfrtLYkifFwclUJ87F74uOD/s1600/va+blog+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" rda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgr6kr-o8yH3j08smhON01Ys24LEZpcwBJgPyHk3AYaIoXllZ43xvmF6nHEpZlpBv-Q4KsfaYH-flLA0Ddjb4oTTEoeEp0duTJvzvDcWxtbuJ9Gv17W4gsDYfrtLYkifFwclUJ87F74uOD/s400/va+blog+8.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">tales of running & jumping out that tall church door</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">BEFORE there was a stairway! ...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lots of memories</span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBVqCbAOgr1Fcs-1HKQEgf-nuAbVSfqScQImYg5_IYYj5SYCAClWJPkjwZhP-OG83qKnUQ5jF0BC46QDd3v-ZF_zLfFvuVJS6I68syvwoPcRmUfNZXHw6biJVeoXZQWCDP6Qa_Y51h66Ww/s1600/va+blog+9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="300" rda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBVqCbAOgr1Fcs-1HKQEgf-nuAbVSfqScQImYg5_IYYj5SYCAClWJPkjwZhP-OG83qKnUQ5jF0BC46QDd3v-ZF_zLfFvuVJS6I68syvwoPcRmUfNZXHw6biJVeoXZQWCDP6Qa_Y51h66Ww/s400/va+blog+9.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bob began his piano lessons when he was 6 years old.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He remembers his Mom being diligent about making him practice.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Later he could play well enough that he had to play for the church services.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And he remembers going to a few funerals & having to play the organ</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">before his Dad preached.</span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqkbBs2OrLfKdRfuf8ImiN0GyHN0ssYgnUGmvi97Uq7oLIOsOcTfTK7eN_mCjfnZMCFmDePg1GIWjOxQhddSU-mN6ldlSxIjUMK78mSo3s3BN_ONjXLTj8zFuOldi0hhzTOjJ8lwyMezJ4/s1600/va+blog+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="301" rda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqkbBs2OrLfKdRfuf8ImiN0GyHN0ssYgnUGmvi97Uq7oLIOsOcTfTK7eN_mCjfnZMCFmDePg1GIWjOxQhddSU-mN6ldlSxIjUMK78mSo3s3BN_ONjXLTj8zFuOldi0hhzTOjJ8lwyMezJ4/s400/va+blog+10.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Temple Street...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">where they lived for a few months</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">while the new parsonage was being completed.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Vickie was born while they lived here.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have pictures of Sherry & Bob, ready for their first day of school,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">leaving from this house.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The years have taken their tole on the little house.</span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiXoCqQbCxy4JCiGChxcK5SuBl4ysPUPrqRenwBe3EbzOWyq1k1o4NzgVHpK5k-NJQUW5p0xwYID-_PNte-HTpA-zWoIAdT2YImhnqN-K36Am6PO1kmW28YkCuWfT34UTr_pHcM8ob7ZXq/s1600/va+blog+11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="252" rda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiXoCqQbCxy4JCiGChxcK5SuBl4ysPUPrqRenwBe3EbzOWyq1k1o4NzgVHpK5k-NJQUW5p0xwYID-_PNte-HTpA-zWoIAdT2YImhnqN-K36Am6PO1kmW28YkCuWfT34UTr_pHcM8ob7ZXq/s400/va+blog+11.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lincoln Grade School...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">a few hills away from home.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bob remembers being late almost every day.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mom wanted to let them sleep until the last minute</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and then it was a rush to get there on time.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn6za-CJmqEmCKf7fM4kAePQpcdK-G6kEgUKkwsi6_A2Ja9xBq_1D6b3HqATq3XQQOHeJQhfIBh43E7D0cQ1yZ8SWd4bKN3yJij_Lq_XTmAIBbsHbcYHZqs5ZM-S8VB8Wns9194fFBHGu_/s1600/va+blog+12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="300" rda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn6za-CJmqEmCKf7fM4kAePQpcdK-G6kEgUKkwsi6_A2Ja9xBq_1D6b3HqATq3XQQOHeJQhfIBh43E7D0cQ1yZ8SWd4bKN3yJij_Lq_XTmAIBbsHbcYHZqs5ZM-S8VB8Wns9194fFBHGu_/s400/va+blog+12.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Beckley Junior High...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">now part of Mountain State University</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">where Bob & Sherry went to Junior High.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvebXEd_Yzy6lbTKv1et0Iih94mZw2v7nBVhbVIEx0FfZs9XQIpP5nGvao08IUGcR2TetFrWCQaaVzwLrkvNIVlZEejyTQLNaYVosue_z4h00IWbAIe8a21WZOdwAj1D_IFwycuOCxC3ge/s1600/va+blog+13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="275" rda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvebXEd_Yzy6lbTKv1et0Iih94mZw2v7nBVhbVIEx0FfZs9XQIpP5nGvao08IUGcR2TetFrWCQaaVzwLrkvNIVlZEejyTQLNaYVosue_z4h00IWbAIe8a21WZOdwAj1D_IFwycuOCxC3ge/s400/va+blog+13.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">First Baptist Church...downtown</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">where the family went to see Stuart Hamblen</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">in 1959</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">to hear him sing "It Is No Secret"</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and his new release,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Until Then"</span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikbJYu-YYtyYKR7frg0AAd2pa8U-8cLGerRwacRKP21MgLTWFej4CaEOhikTAS_hccnVy0TRchPhl5rU10HU3vpeO0APAHDvOt2EE7UKG64F-5KprOe2FSHNFPJTQfix3aXCTtbQBQ_aZp/s1600/va+blog+14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="287" rda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikbJYu-YYtyYKR7frg0AAd2pa8U-8cLGerRwacRKP21MgLTWFej4CaEOhikTAS_hccnVy0TRchPhl5rU10HU3vpeO0APAHDvOt2EE7UKG64F-5KprOe2FSHNFPJTQfix3aXCTtbQBQ_aZp/s400/va+blog+14.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Neville Street,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">downtown in Beckley</span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9RC9hwFA400-4ZcBsWOsPSdXwLkR4rnbVT9n5-3wxNUn6a8YpRJMRD7SVunD_PAjJ_4EnzGKtpqJCxJJkvAQxEYIVQefH6xj2YPfiw4MNO1vivruMvKsbiBrojAiKKo8-JtrEbUJ70Bqt/s1600/va+blog+15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="303" rda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9RC9hwFA400-4ZcBsWOsPSdXwLkR4rnbVT9n5-3wxNUn6a8YpRJMRD7SVunD_PAjJ_4EnzGKtpqJCxJJkvAQxEYIVQefH6xj2YPfiw4MNO1vivruMvKsbiBrojAiKKo8-JtrEbUJ70Bqt/s400/va+blog+15.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and this picture is for our kids!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Formerly "Charles House Hotel"...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">where we stayed in 1991...for one night!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We made our own memories there.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It wasn't quite as nice as Bob remembered!</span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj33jCG0OjryS9K52rU5siNBs4icvf0KRUpv1n7HwsN9NyBNeX7e3N0hAXJBudNBhJIXKEoJyvWIEakL2hs5A25XxyO_IXGLLRdYuRKIZZ1rk6s1zzHdCXs7o2Vf4pCYak3dtTk-pJNPoOa/s1600/va+blog+16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" rda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj33jCG0OjryS9K52rU5siNBs4icvf0KRUpv1n7HwsN9NyBNeX7e3N0hAXJBudNBhJIXKEoJyvWIEakL2hs5A25XxyO_IXGLLRdYuRKIZZ1rk6s1zzHdCXs7o2Vf4pCYak3dtTk-pJNPoOa/s400/va+blog+16.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bob remembers pushing wheel barrels full of dirt</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">along this wall of the church</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and got paid a penney & a half per load!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He says it took 100 loads to buy a model car!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They were digging the dirt out from under the parsonage</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">to make a basement. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What a way to earn a penney!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It had been 20 years since we visited Beckley for</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">a church Homecoming.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was good to go back home again...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">to "Almost Heaven ~ West Virginia"!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">or</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">is it "Wild & Wonderful"?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17324850294489701187noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6359389821982978694.post-42787971214305809562011-10-10T22:32:00.000-04:002011-10-10T22:32:31.796-04:00Time Out...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8DR9VfpE4OmiyI-RybFQJrWNH65lpO-7hjUTBebPErNO6mqPA60HGSwjjqmLMN8d2aQWbOqP4D7szTrUjuStkYQqmjETMHFb0pz7WF1QGaiPME6H0qKbKSjvL1DzqxrnNlex_idVfkWPE/s1600/pumpkins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8DR9VfpE4OmiyI-RybFQJrWNH65lpO-7hjUTBebPErNO6mqPA60HGSwjjqmLMN8d2aQWbOqP4D7szTrUjuStkYQqmjETMHFb0pz7WF1QGaiPME6H0qKbKSjvL1DzqxrnNlex_idVfkWPE/s400/pumpkins.jpg" width="302" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">In the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia,</div><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">On the trail of the lonesome pine—</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">In the pale moonshine our hearts entwine,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Where she carved her name and I carved mine;</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYCIaE-VnYOG1s3BPqKyq-xmlhSWbi_7LY4HZociWS1rK104-zdSD-wkzCJdXyx3TwoLUuCpP3XIB7LLilJYsE7Kz6cfZTfBtSgGVIrKRL20tZsLEgdHMPWIAfDFYGRxPfgI0rBJ8NTX_1/s1600/pumpkins+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYCIaE-VnYOG1s3BPqKyq-xmlhSWbi_7LY4HZociWS1rK104-zdSD-wkzCJdXyx3TwoLUuCpP3XIB7LLilJYsE7Kz6cfZTfBtSgGVIrKRL20tZsLEgdHMPWIAfDFYGRxPfgI0rBJ8NTX_1/s400/pumpkins+2.jpg" width="302" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We are going to take a little time out for ourselves the next few days.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Can you guess where we are going from the above lyrics?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our plan is to do a little wandering,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">stopping by Beckley, West Virgina</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">where my hubby spent some of his childhood years.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Then we will travel on to Roakoke, Virginia</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">to see some friends of long ago.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhEAqSPk50ehDuiQGF25BBbMqhYyjtN71BNQ0TnMyYMAFlk0dy3NbCXFP27u3sMU0Ari7Luc6iHifGDWAgWcbyrZ_gvk19Tns4kDNaQPD6Beg8u61xXw1PvJV9J0xGh4r1TWkogUmwoYu0/s1600/pumpkins+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhEAqSPk50ehDuiQGF25BBbMqhYyjtN71BNQ0TnMyYMAFlk0dy3NbCXFP27u3sMU0Ari7Luc6iHifGDWAgWcbyrZ_gvk19Tns4kDNaQPD6Beg8u61xXw1PvJV9J0xGh4r1TWkogUmwoYu0/s400/pumpkins+3.jpg" width="303" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And the Blue Ridge Parkway </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">runs close to Roakoke.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Weather permitting, we hope to take a mountain ridge drive.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Did you ever see that old Laurel & Hardy movie where they sang this song?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'm sure we will be humming it as we do some sight seeing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">See you soon!</div>Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17324850294489701187noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6359389821982978694.post-56124323000009792522011-10-03T19:11:00.003-04:002011-10-03T19:21:39.578-04:00Dining Room Memories. . .<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifZhZMPbUaZIe0OgL8G9r1OuZ2HKipIgFwg9mHzUU_1ZWt3r8VPNK7bCfg0sTSQrEfAPIuzxs-GKw7S7Qpo1pKnDv6jBUYG6I29w-kOy8u7cCMx4i95Qwz12xtDVfgznZCilpBtF69TNi7/s1600/DSC06903.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480px" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifZhZMPbUaZIe0OgL8G9r1OuZ2HKipIgFwg9mHzUU_1ZWt3r8VPNK7bCfg0sTSQrEfAPIuzxs-GKw7S7Qpo1pKnDv6jBUYG6I29w-kOy8u7cCMx4i95Qwz12xtDVfgznZCilpBtF69TNi7/s640/DSC06903.JPG" width="640px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There were large family gatherings at Grandma's house</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">when we would crowd around her dining room table,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">all four daughter's having helped prepare a delicious meal.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I remember heaping bowls of buttered mashed potatoes</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and a platter of fried chicken, along with all of the trimmings.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">What was Grandma's dining room, possibly was meant to be a bedroom.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It wasn't large, situated just off the kitchen in the back corner of the house.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A larger table took up most of the room.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Chairs were all around the table </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and once you were seated, </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">you were there until someone moved</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">to let you out.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">In the corner was a china cabinet </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">filled with what I thought was the most beautiful dishes,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">probably mostly depression glass.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The plate on the easel belonged to Grandma also,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">a remaining piece of her "everyday dishes".</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMa1K1IBKPbzKptu4gVA7KNaImz9xvrM_aSYuFKTtbILolnAmxJPmwfN6d8lCjIXz8ZhGZYYdDMfKTR9zaRK7OzkFnQrTY5Qyswhdet3QcKcWqVE0JJpNF-yIQ9tO-WudJw6jQX0TR3dOx/s1600/DSC06902.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480px" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMa1K1IBKPbzKptu4gVA7KNaImz9xvrM_aSYuFKTtbILolnAmxJPmwfN6d8lCjIXz8ZhGZYYdDMfKTR9zaRK7OzkFnQrTY5Qyswhdet3QcKcWqVE0JJpNF-yIQ9tO-WudJw6jQX0TR3dOx/s640/DSC06902.JPG" width="640px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">On the wall was one of my favorite pictures.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It was always there...back as far as I remember.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">When the time came that Grandma's belongings were divided</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">among her family, my Mom took "The Gleaners" home with her.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">For several years it hung on our dining room wall.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Some other piece of art caught Mom's eye & this picture </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">was covered up...thankfully not tossed in the trash.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">At some point I found it, brought it home with me,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">used it for a while & put it away.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I recently had it re-framed & it is now displayed in my kitchen. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBjk6DryvSXHZjA0EXld76PVsE0NoIKD3N07Oxb9EPcy3PVU_sHDsuKbfwHjXsVoA80-FMZ5ib_rvgYbfc1BvInDW7Y2_U4M2mr9ftkixKC1k49Uz6ahbTRNaYtb0B2kz_d2R-nHTF8OYT/s1600/DSC06904.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480px" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBjk6DryvSXHZjA0EXld76PVsE0NoIKD3N07Oxb9EPcy3PVU_sHDsuKbfwHjXsVoA80-FMZ5ib_rvgYbfc1BvInDW7Y2_U4M2mr9ftkixKC1k49Uz6ahbTRNaYtb0B2kz_d2R-nHTF8OYT/s640/DSC06904.JPG" width="640px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I am trying to let my children know about some of my</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"favorite things"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and why I hang on to them.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This picture has always reminded me of the story of Ruth,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">one of my favorite Bible stories,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and it has special meaning since it belonged to my</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">beloved Grandma Fulkerson.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It also brings back memories of the times that</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">the aunts, uncles, & cousins</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">would come to Grandma's</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and although Grandma's house was small,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">we made enough room to share meals around</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">the family table.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sometimes the younger ones would end up at the kitchen table.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We wouldn't have wanted it any other way.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Maybe someday it will hang on someone elses wall</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and there will be more dining room memories.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17324850294489701187noreply@blogger.com2