Getting older

Spending time with family

           makes being  75 a party !

Flowers and Coffee in bed

Flowers and Card at breakfast 

The Grands 

What would have been a picnic,,, but

Happy Birthday to me

Ready to make a wish   

Worth every calorie

The Greatest gift...family  

Time to relax....   Wait...maybe tomorrow 

I live an exciting life  

at the end of a good day

Yes, there is always something good in every day

but today,,,'well

Breakfast was homemade granola ( Tiffany's homemade granola )

Brunch was homemade Ice cream  ( Christian's homemade ice cream )

lunch at The Burg ( their great fish and chips )

afternoon snack homemade cookie ( Anita's homemade cookie )

Dinner might have been leftovers, but Anita had made the dish ( don't ask the recipe, just saying , it was good )

Can you detect a sweet thread?

I live an exciting life

Tea Party number two

It started out like the first time...social distancing...getting acquainted with new neighbors.. hubby doing some of the grunt work.

And the party can begin...

 

Since our last tea party, I had noticed that whenever I slipped over to say hello, the girls would run to greet me, and both Mom and Dad would come and say hello too.   Mr and Mrs very social.   So this time I decided to add an extra chair so they both could join the party.  It was the right thing to do.

As I told my friend Martha,  it was a very refreshing two hours.  Yes, we sat together and visited 

Oldest daughter, age 5 ( in 10 days she will be 6) came in a sweet sundress
Little one  came with two different shoes.

Dressed for the occasion, for sure.

Dad, left his seat briefly for a conference call

Mom, left briefly to change a diaper  

I never left my chair 

We talked about the special places to visit here and where they had been so far ( last year their home was Japan )  Since they arrived in December, they had very little time to explore before we entered the new normal.

They shared some things about their family, both come from large Irish families. 

I shared some things about my family...not just my grandchildren.

I listened to them... we were in no hurry... they listened to me...I did not have to talk fast.  There were a couple pauses when older daughter decided to change out of her dress ( daddy offered to help unfasten that tough button ) soon she was on roller blades.  Little one slipped off her chair and mom just scooped her up and hugged her and planted her back on her chair.  

    They helped themselves to treats.  Little one loved the sprinkles more than the cupcakes. Everyone seemed to be very comfortable and happy

Then, it was time to go home.   The whole family helped carry the chairs, tables and umbrellas over to our garage.   

Everyone said a genuine thank you and goodbye

Yes, I will never forget our first tea party but

this is a day I will always remember because I will always remember this family. 

I live an exciting life.

Mother's Day

This year, May 10th is Mother's Day

  In 2006  May 14th was Mother's Day 

It was my first celebration as a Grandma and my first year without my mother

I have many pictures of my mother but this is a favorite and it is on my kitchen windowsill

I see it everyday, but I do not need to see her face to remember her.

I think of her every day 

God chose her to be my mother

He knew what He was doing

My Mother was no respecter of persons, she liked everyone. And everyone liked my Mother. ( not just her cookies that she baked to share on a regular basis ) 

Yes, we had challenges and some hard things, pretty sure most families do.  But, she worked hard. there were some things she had no control over.  She did what she thought was right. An example for me to follow  

And that is something that is part of my parenting too.
Reflecting on our years of raising our family there are things I wish I could erase, but we did what we thought was right, at the time. Sometimes what we were advised as the right things to do. 

Then came the grandchildren.  The role is different but always responsibility and privilege. 

So many memories 

That is another story

Today I am remembering my Mother 
I will always miss her 

Honor your father and your mother which is the first commanded with  a promise
Ephesians 6:2 

May 1

May 1.... May Day !

From the time I was a little girl
            ( over a 1/2 century ago ) I have celebrated May Day.   At school, there was a May Pole on the play ground.  

I am not sure when the "may basket to the door" started for us, but, I know my children and my grand children have participated.


Here is a little  "May Days" past...

And one year, an extra surprise for Lady Z

And now 2020... 

Starting with the same green cones.... candy kisses in the bottom 

Then lilacs... in perfect bloom and fragrance

 And we are ready...  two little cuties next door are my helpers..

A

To the door, ring the bell, run and hide.  Watch the surprise on neighbors faces.    And this year, neighbors were actually home. 

And  in the end,  little one said she wanted to  leave one at my door

And she did...

Love your neighbor as yourself
              Jesus said:  Mark 12:33
              

     Happy May Day

I live an exciting life