tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62766482012-02-02T13:40:24.535-06:00Vignettes of my life's journey. estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.comBlogger12791100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-27796682404512876882012-02-02T13:37:00.001-06:002012-02-02T13:40:24.547-06:00

How long has it been since you met a car and no one was talking on a cell-phone? When first introduced, cell-phones were helpful in many ways to those in need of them. They seldom found their way to those who didn’t see them as necessary. I am one who doesn’t like a lot of gadgets. Therefore, cell-phones didn’t interest me at the time. How many hours a day are you free of sound contamination

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-6054465887794330102012-01-26T16:02:00.002-06:002012-01-26T16:09:51.635-06:00

Winter seems reluctant to come to us. In December we had some flurries but not enough to cover the ground. We had a couple of cold snaps but nothing sustained as a winter normally has. The common talk around is that we’ll get winter in February and March…..just right for freezing ice and sleet. We are in an area where it’s too warm for snow but rain coming down hangs onto the upper reaches

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-55815049974108967092012-01-05T14:19:00.003-06:002012-01-05T14:26:01.470-06:00

It is so sad. One of my best friends died this past week and I have been in seclusion to bereave my loss. I took the best care of her and we had daily visits together….I checked in on her twice a day many times but with all the love and devotion I gave her she has died. Some things are meant to be and others not at all. We’ve had this relationship for years but she was expected to last longer

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-82134884274076380362011-12-30T13:01:00.002-06:002011-12-30T13:02:13.895-06:00

The end of a very eventful year is upon us. Each day had a meaning at the time but then they slip away to minutes, hours, months and soon it is gone.With a new year ahead that we can open in two days it brings about much reflecting. Ways we want to do it better and ways we don’t want to do it at all. Since it’s an open page at this point, we want to face it squarely and with much

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-90717972553795241582011-12-09T16:26:00.002-06:002011-12-09T17:11:53.940-06:00

………..felt invisible? It’s something new that’s coming soon. On television they showed how heavy armored equipment could be hid right in plain sight in the desert. It was quite impressive although I don’t remember how they did it. And if it was shown on television, wouldn’t everyone see it and make ways to “see” it??As a kid, my brother used to write letters with invisible ink. It was secret

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-3913060176619392232011-12-05T23:28:00.002-06:002011-12-05T23:32:12.288-06:00

The Christmas Spirit hit me hard today. I was well into my usual routine of morning chores when I looked out the window and it was snowing. I was surprised as the weather report sounded like we’d be on the edge. For a while I watched the pig puffy flakes come down but they eventually became smaller and then quit.It put me in mind of the chorus I would hear back in the 50’s and 60’s when the

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-65981261606886432142011-11-17T17:44:00.002-06:002011-11-17T17:47:06.275-06:00

Today would have been Rocky’s eightieth birthday. It seems strange to think of him at that age for he was always young at heart and liked young people. He amazed men in the sport of weight-lifting with his strength and achievements. Had he lived without cancer it’s hard telling what he would have accomplished.He had a big sister and brother who looked out for him and knew all the answers to

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-54526364313993246602011-11-13T17:36:00.002-06:002011-11-13T17:40:02.549-06:00

……an unusual thing happened. Becky was watching the cats while I was at the wedding of John and Erin. She called a few days after George and I arrived and had some unsettling news about the cats.She came down to feed and water but when she opened the door she was hit with heat like a blast furnace. She went to the thermostat to check the temperature and it was 102* and then she saw my three

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-38285002042436518442011-11-06T14:20:00.000-06:002011-11-06T14:21:44.367-06:00

The last time I blogged was October 20th. Since then I’ve been on a whirlwind in several different directions. The flower beds needed weeding and mulched before leaving on the 27th. It’s always easier to leave when the work has been done.George (oldest son) came down on Tuesday (Oct. 26) and we left the next morning, putting us in Covington by 7:00pm. It has been almost 2-years since I’d been

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-10656077904481484572011-10-20T15:22:00.005-05:002011-10-22T16:01:52.856-05:00

How many of you have received something “free” and later realized you had been given a Money Pit? (By the way…it was one of my favorite movies.) Mandy came as a free dog, with papers to register her, which we never did. She was 2 ½ years old when she was given to us in 2005. She is now somewhere in the neighborhood of 6 ½ years. She had been in a house with young children, another dog (

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-7439095700610453562011-10-12T16:27:00.003-05:002011-10-12T16:36:57.651-05:00

We have a dark rainy day here. It wasn’t predicted so came as a surprise. We live 100-miles from the weather station and quite often the report doesn’t follow our weather conditions. Mandy is recuperating and having difficulty eating. She didn’t eat for 3-days and only gets excited over the “treats” thing. She feels entitled to have some special care right now.I drove a friend to a doctor’s

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-71857656422462897252011-10-05T18:41:00.003-05:002011-10-05T18:45:36.209-05:00

…….what a day will bring. This week has been the yearly shots for my six cats. I was able to catch two of them on Monday and put them in their pet taxi. It went pretty good and today was time for two more to go. Trouble being, it was not their time to “want” to go. I caught the first two unawares but today was not so good. The rattle of the cages put them on high alert and while I got one

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-47520865445653593742011-09-28T17:51:00.003-05:002011-09-28T18:44:39.271-05:00

Becky and I drove over to Cape Girardeau last Saturday to a Powerlifting Meet which the Don Rockenbach (AKA Rocky) Foundation helped with funding. There were three young people participating who are Special Olympics lifters and some from our West Plains Gym as well as some from the Cape area. Rocky’s trophy was presented to Brianne Chavez as the winning lifter for the State of Missouri in her

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-21403702846770461722011-09-20T14:00:00.002-05:002011-09-20T14:15:47.602-05:00

Napoleon has had a good summer. He was more beautiful than ever and has a larger territory to enjoy. With the new houses across the road and another under construction he made the rounds and checked in every day. He is a nosey old guy and likes to know what’s going on.He didn’t spend as much time calling for a mate in the spring. My guess is he’s getting older and figures it’s never going to

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-74031438460142668902011-09-15T12:38:00.002-05:002011-09-16T10:03:58.158-05:00

Hard to believe I’ve not written a blog since August 30th. It isn’t only me but everyone is wondering where time goes. I wonder who started the counting of time? Day-time, night-time, bed-time, Fall time, Spring time, Winter time, Summer-time, time to eat, to go, to do, to have. Our lives are run by time but where has it been and where does it go?One doesn’t feel any difference from the last

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-26183387277781778492011-08-30T21:17:00.006-05:002011-08-30T21:30:19.341-05:00

I was hypnotized by Irene for several days. First was the tracking and since Irene moved slow it took a while to hit the east coast. Then the poor reporters were standing in the wind and rain while they did their best to bring it to us as they were seeing and feeling it. Just when everyone was thinking it wasn’t going to be so bad….even complaining the media made too much out of it with the

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-1142040678207212682011-08-24T13:18:00.002-05:002011-08-24T13:20:45.974-05:00

Do you know what a “slippery slide” is? I was talking to Brady, my ‘ GG-son about his day at school. He said, “Well, I got in trouble today.” Surprised, I asked why and he went on……. “because I threw rocks on the slide.” Humm….. “I asked if it was the slippery slide” and he, my grandson and wife and Becky all looked at me like one looks at elders who have no clue what they’re talking about.

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-81835520475063659742011-08-18T16:28:00.001-05:002011-08-18T16:41:05.772-05:00

This picture is Brady Cunningham, my great-grandson. His first day at school was Wednesday and of course GG had to take a picture. He came to visit with his dad and everything was going well until dad started talking about all the things he had to do the next day. Since Brady was born, he has been daddy’s little shadow but now he will miss all of those times to be in school. He hasn’t

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-22429611026593205422011-08-14T22:47:00.001-05:002011-08-14T22:51:30.419-05:00

I am woman……..therefore I am strong. Childhood, marriage, children prepare us for the years we will lose it all. We grow old, sometimes in the same marriage, sometimes not. The children have been well cared for…….sacrifices made with a smile as we watched them learn to fly. Then one day, they flew away, never to return the same. One by one the years come and go. The hands that used to hold

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-51014651550024026092011-08-12T14:33:00.002-05:002011-08-12T14:34:58.224-05:00

My good friend, Rosalie, and I have kept in touch over the years when we were no longer neighbors. We lived across the street from one another since the late 50’s or early 60’s. (Rosalie, put a comment on for the correct time.) They moved in across the street and an older couple came and went whenever the car left the driveway. The weather wasn’t giving an inch with the cold hanging on.

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-52359940174876642502011-08-10T17:15:00.001-05:002011-08-10T17:17:09.703-05:00

The grandchildren brought home a little starved kitty. They found it at a place they intend renting and the little kitten followed after them as they were leaving. As weak and starved as it was he tried to keep up with them. When they noticed him they couldn’t leave him out of pity. When I saw him my heart ached. How could anyone not take care of a poor desperate kitten? He was only skin,

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-83728977038095316012011-08-05T16:38:00.003-05:002011-08-05T16:41:25.292-05:00

Gardening, and especially flower gardening, brings beauty to the soul. All of the old masters who painted could never equal the colors God put Nature in charge of. Have we seen all of the colors heaven has to offer? I think not. There are ones who have been clinically dead for a period of time and the stories they tell are amazing. I remember one, in particular, that told of colors never

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-4190036665112650082011-08-03T17:47:00.002-05:002011-08-03T17:53:49.786-05:00

Today is Jennifer’s 39th birthday. She was born in Sacramento, CA and 10 days later came back to Missouri. I guess she was meant to travel because she has left a lot of tracks behind.Jennifer, for those of you who don’t know, is my only grand-daughter and is Becky’s only daughter. We’ve had a lot of fun over the years and she has quite a story to tell. Maybe when she’s older she could be

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-55450696642261233202011-08-03T14:30:00.002-05:002011-08-03T14:31:56.539-05:00

Richard took our picture on yesterday’s blog so today I’m putting him and Marie (sister) on the post. Don’t want to leave anyone out!!! Our weather is the same…..three digits and still climbing. The AC runs constantly and is keeping us nice and cool. I see no reason to go out and suffer so I’m doing indoor things like I do in the winter when it’s too cold to go out. That means about sundown

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-62958100106538711242011-08-02T15:35:00.006-05:002011-08-02T16:02:52.099-05:00

It is hard to imagine the impact plant and animal life is suffering because of our drought. The yard has turned mostly brown and the flowers are hanging on with the water I give them sometimes twice a day. The lush foliage and blooms are now struggling to live out their purpose and it is sad to see.The damage will be costly to me but nothing like the farmers who saw their crops under water or

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-30954821152582861492011-07-27T15:47:00.001-05:002011-07-27T15:51:51.060-05:00

Yesterday I wrote a blog. When finished tweaking and ready to post, here came a disaster with the question, “Do you want to save the changes?” Like a big dummy I clicked on “no.” Zippo Zappo……..there went the blog. I would have written another but the dinner bell was ringing so it was tabled for the time being. I don’t know how you, the readers are, but some days there is not much air in my

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-52516659590666294622011-07-06T14:06:00.001-05:002011-07-06T14:18:42.616-05:00

For some reason Helen Keller has always fascinated me. To be blind is bad but how do you reach someone who is not only blind but deaf? Her teacher and Helen made a journey through time and space that has never been equaled. Who earns the most praise of their accomplishments?I read a short piece from one of the books I periodically go over and one of the bookmarks was on a page of Helen Keller’

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-62724554788469916492011-06-27T16:40:00.001-05:002011-06-27T16:41:54.738-05:00

I was visiting a friend last Friday for the purpose of making cards. A heavy rain had fallen mid-morning and we were at the table, cutting and pasting. My back was to her double glass doors, but she noticed a movement outside and then we saw a doe with twins standing about twenty yards or so stepping out of heavy foliage. What a treat! We kept our eyes on them and the doe was taking every

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-55657839210704099612011-06-21T12:18:00.012-05:002011-06-21T12:46:55.081-05:00

As I sat drinking my coffee this morning, for some reason, my dad came to mind and I had a mental picture of him drinking his coffee. In an instant we were back at the old kitchen table where I always sat across from him. One of the “changes” in polite society hit me square in the face. Why? For one reason my dad always poured his coffee into a saucer and then blew on it to cool and then,

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-25345202974155286312011-06-08T17:07:00.004-05:002011-06-08T17:16:26.118-05:00

A good thing about writing a blog is the surprise that happens occasionally. I heard from a cousin this week which was nice….. normally we only connect at Christmas each year. I had mentioned my mother’s quote in the last blog and it brought a memory back to her. She emailed to say my mother had written the verse in her Autograph Book many years ago.She wrote about her family and her recent

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-17443956773820637502011-06-02T16:36:00.002-05:002011-06-02T16:41:31.527-05:00

Time to connect with the blog world. Things have been busy around here. The kitchen floor is finished but I’m waiting on the carpenter to make a cabinet around the dishwasher. I’m not a “gadget” person and looked upon the dishwasher as one thing I could do without. That idea was while it was still hooked up. After it was unplugged I realized the usefulness and how much time it took to wash

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-7250727378901714562011-05-25T15:23:00.003-05:002011-05-25T16:10:24.483-05:00

What a week this has been. We’ve been ducking tornadoes night and day with more on the way. That fact has manifested itself by cutting through the heart of Joplin, Missouri. For every home or business lost, there is a story. In the Mid-West we are used to tornadoes. What we aren’t used to is the number and ferocity they have come this Spring.One of the puzzling things left behind in the

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-26570515520462861162011-05-13T16:23:00.001-05:002011-05-13T16:26:34.973-05:00

(Written on May 12th)Today is my Mother’s birthday. No matter how long she has been gone or how old I become, she is with me every day. She is with me because she put the time in for my brother and me. We were part of her life. Not scheduled in because she had a career she couldn’t give up.She taught the little things, like “please and thank you.” “May I” instead of “I want” and all those

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-16421927340910963042011-05-06T10:55:00.001-05:002011-05-06T10:57:02.034-05:00

Well, I wrote a blog, tried to post it and it went off into the great beyond. Although I titled it….it showed untitled document and I’m tired of searching the folders to see where it might be. So life in a nutshell here, is looking up and we’ve seen blue sky for two days with a little breeze. I’m not threatened by high water here but there are some low spots around town that are definitely

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-5017341663022140822011-04-24T12:51:00.001-05:002011-04-24T12:53:52.319-05:00

Today is Easter Sunday. Over two thousand years ago to the astonishment of Christ’s disciples He rose from the dead. Their faith in what He taught them came tumbling down as they saw Him hanging on the cross and taking His last breath. Shouldn’t they have expected He’d rise again? How many times did He tell them? He had raised Lazarus from the grave in their presence so they should have had

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-72162466078628129532011-04-17T16:59:00.006-05:002011-04-17T17:29:08.111-05:00

Today is Palm Sunday. Jesus rode into the city of Jerusalem on the back of a colt. He was coming to worship in the Holy Temple of God. Since He was God and also man I wonder what His thoughts were. As God’s Son He clearly knew the outcome that lay ahead. As a man He knew the torture would be the worst ever imposed on a human.It’s bad enough to suffer for crimes we’re guilty of but even if we

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-72749983744475676832011-04-06T13:50:00.003-05:002011-04-06T14:00:48.208-05:00

One of the joys of Spring is to watch the color come back into my world. The signs of Spring come to city and town alike. I have lived in both and there are always ways of seeing Spring’s return.In the cities manicured yards with blooms surrounding or in the Ozarks we see green creeping in from all corners of our yards. The first to signal winter’s grip is weakening are the daffodils and

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-23242502874011751422011-03-27T13:50:00.002-05:002011-03-27T14:04:47.576-05:00

Becky was born in St. Mary’s Hospital in Kansas City, MO. It was an eventful year for everyone in the area……the summer of 1954 was one of the hottest summers on record. The temperatures were over 100* for something like 13 days, peaking at 112* to 113* in the worst of it. This was in the days when home air-conditioners were rare. Becky had a problem of sleeping and the only relief for all of

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-89620213803231847762011-03-24T00:45:00.001-05:002011-03-24T00:48:35.060-05:00

Elizabeth Taylor died today. I was sorry to learn she is no longer with us. You can say a lot about Elizabeth Taylor but you can never say she was boring. I felt a certain kinship with her since she and I shared the same birth year and her birthday was three months before mine. She was a star at such a young age she never had a normal childhood but she certainly had a lot of opportunities not

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-47189728381645293502011-03-14T14:59:00.001-05:002011-03-14T15:02:26.874-05:00

The USPA had a Meet in The Firm Gym in West Plaines Saturday. Rodney Wood was the organizer and did a great job of getting it all together. Lifters came from around the State as well as some from near our borders.The participants were in good number and three women also made up the roster. Many broke their own personal records and it was a good day of lifting. The young man we are sponsoring

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-32096380922152469092011-03-06T15:56:00.002-06:002011-03-06T15:58:03.982-06:00

What does it take to make you happy? Is happiness something we take in and keep or does it ebb and flow? What is the definition of happiness? Abe Lincoln once said people are as happy as they make up their minds to be. If that is so do some of us consciously decide we don’t want to be happy? We know that isn’t so.I can’t speak for anyone else. I only know what makes me happy. It seems to

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-82353424002698773292011-03-02T14:58:00.004-06:002011-03-02T15:06:31.674-06:00

Fifty-four years ago, precisely at 9:15 PM John was born. I suppose at birthday time every year, for the person celebrating, is a memory known only by the mother and father. At least in most cases. As a mother I’m thinking back to the first time I saw you. But today you can only go back to the first memories of your childhood. There is a time-warp which you can never reclaim.Boys have to

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-15628570297801184462011-02-20T13:05:00.003-06:002011-02-22T21:31:02.589-06:00

Who and where we are is a matter of choice. Choices we’ve made all the way to where we are now. Some of us aren’t where we’d like to be or where we thought we’d be. In looking back over the years I can see the results of my choices and actions that followed. As kids we grow up doing what we’re told. Choices were made by our parents rather than ourselves. Sooner or later we are free to make

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-92089851914713439682011-02-08T20:42:00.003-06:002011-02-08T20:50:45.405-06:00

It seems I’ve had many distractions to draw me away from getting back to my blog. My longtime friend, Rosalie, asked if I would let the blog go after getting on face book and I said “no.” So Rosalie, this is for you. Granted a little late but I’ll explain why if I can. I hesitate to lay blame on the weather for most of my family and friends have had much worse to endure. However, once feet

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-49851689057703213122011-01-28T12:38:00.001-06:002011-01-28T12:43:04.114-06:00

I mentioned a while back that Napoleon was growing his tail back. He is and he has a change this year in his eating habits that is actually beneficial. He has always come to the front walk for me to feed him but as he noticed the cats eating out by the garage he decided he’d dine with them. I have watched him appear when the cats are happily munching away on their tuna and dry food. He

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-78524694067828819102011-01-18T18:29:00.002-06:002011-01-19T13:45:53.385-06:00

After several attempts I finally got on face book. The first time they didn’t like the passwords I tried to use so I gave up and deleted the effort. Stopped in mid-stream as they say. The next day I received an email congratulating me for being on face book. I decided to give it another try. This time they liked my password but were convinced someone had attempted to access my account. I

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-10178051540971410502011-01-09T12:43:00.005-06:002011-01-09T22:40:10.899-06:00

“I open windows to see out, open doors to go out, and read books to find out.” (Anonymous quotation.)Some days I know what I’m going to write in my blog. Some days my mind is blank and I’m waiting for a “vision” it seems. However, once I get to the keyboard I begin to have thoughts race through my mind. With the holidays behind us and the midst of

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-56011244152575763092011-01-06T12:51:00.008-06:002011-01-06T15:12:33.633-06:00

Two days ago, January 4th was the seventh year of blogging for me. In those seven years there has been a lot of changes. Changes from my family to the world at large. Just over the past few years we have seen weather pummel the earth with all but a death blow. Raging water, snow accumulations, earthquakes, run-a-way fires, devastating tornados……..the list is endless. Human suffering on all

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-35749721450534715302011-01-03T15:47:00.003-06:002011-01-03T15:58:05.885-06:00

The remnants of the past year are being scooped up and cast aside. We are beginning the third day of a new year. Resolutions are not for the geriatric crowd. We’ve lived long enough to know we won’t even get through the first day. Besides that we know all the good intentions are just that…….good intentions. We cut through unrealistic ideas and keep on doing all those things doctors said

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-69855939295311303522011-01-01T14:00:00.002-06:002011-01-01T14:03:53.404-06:00

I stepped out on the deck to shake a rug this morning and I heard geese overhead flying south. I stayed there until I couldn’t hear them anymore. Something about that sound touches me and I don’t even know why. How do they know when to go? How do they know the way? How do they know how to stay in their customary V and then change off with the lead goose? I read an article in the Reader’s

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-86197494038777964562010-12-20T12:36:00.001-06:002010-12-20T12:40:30.768-06:00

Christmas is always a good time to remember friends who live too far away to see very often. I had a close friend in high-school and after graduation she worked at the local Bank and I worked at the Drug Store. We later roomed together to help on expenses. I have to laugh when I think of our wages. We would work and be paid at the end of each week. Thankfully everything was pretty much in

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-17147120986652603512010-12-10T17:24:00.005-06:002010-12-10T17:36:21.263-06:00

We are due for a big weather change so I saved today to decorate for Christmas. I surprised myself and did a little cleaning and re-arranging in the garage. I found many things I’d forgotten about……most of which have lost any hope of usefulness and have been relegated for a stop-over in the garage before being dumped. I found old decorations and items which have been favorites over the years

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-39309727185510629352010-12-05T17:20:00.004-06:002010-12-05T20:05:51.105-06:00

Yesterday was a Power-Meet at The Firm where Rocky did his weight-training. His coach plans a Team Rockstar once a year as well as other occasions where Rocky is the object of the Meet. There were men from Rolla, Springfield, Mountain Home, and others I didn’t get around to meet and greet. Rocky’s daughter, Holly, and her family traveled from the Western edge of our State. After the men

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-83983538703516277302010-11-30T16:47:00.004-06:002010-11-30T17:08:23.417-06:00

This is not a good day for cats. They don’t like wind and they don’t like cold. My outside cats are always anxious to come out of the garage in the mornings but on days like today, they get a blast of the cold wind and they make a U-turn at the door.We had Jennifer home for a visit since I last wrote. We really enjoyed the time spent together as it doesn’t happen too often. George came part

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-61891568483176466582010-11-17T16:15:00.003-06:002010-11-17T21:20:55.829-06:00

Seventy-nine years ago a little boy was born to a family of farmers in Northern Illinois. Aside from farming many of the relatives were teachers. Education was considered to be a tool for all the choices life would bring.Rocky grew up with an older sister and brother. Their life on the farm and with lots of family around the area, he prospered in rich relationships that would follow into

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-45606619019035931472010-11-03T20:40:00.002-05:002010-11-03T21:01:05.056-05:00

What a busy time of year. There are so many things to captivate my focus on anything but what I should be doing. I am always surprised when I look at the date of my former blog and realize it’s been 9-days since I wrote last. Shame on me. Logically I don’t understand why that many days passed without finding time to write. I’m busy all the time and the good intentions evaporate with the

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-36564960664998532902010-10-25T16:32:00.002-05:002010-10-25T17:10:35.159-05:00

I have been busy doing yard work in this stellar weather we are having. I can hardly stay inside because I know this is a short thing and won’t be this way much longer. We’ve enjoyed the most wonderful fall we’ve had in years. I’ve trimmed back a lot of my bushes to reclaim some of the yard. I’ve missed writing and I’ve had pictures to share so I came in to do a little posting. This picture

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-39336768181999530452010-10-15T15:53:00.004-05:002010-10-15T16:50:38.468-05:00

Wednesday was “girls day” and we decided to put down our projects and drive to a place we’d talked about seeing for some time. It’s probably a 50-mile trip, just perfect for a little outing. This time of year is so pretty in the Ozarks…….not like any other place which I agree there are a lot of beautiful places. But the difference is, this is “home” and has been for 39-years now. The weather

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-25886800955411720782010-10-06T11:21:00.005-05:002010-10-06T11:31:11.404-05:00

October didn’t disappoint me. We finally had relief from the continuous heat endured through September. I have clematis and crape myrtles still blooming and most of the pot flowers. The leaves are beginning to fall so it won’t be long until we have a killing frost. Mid-October is usually the best time for color. I will soon go from picking and drying flowers to leaf picking. The dogwood is

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-23732571360436593942010-09-22T18:05:00.003-05:002010-09-22T18:18:52.961-05:00

Two or three of you will remember I received a surprise from John and Barb sometime back and said I would share with you. Then I got to thinking…….maybe I should not reveal it until Favre returns in the fall. John said it was some kind of commemorative shirt they were selling of the guys who had played long time with one organization. That explains why he’s in the green and yellow for the

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-19064527657874148022010-09-13T11:12:00.001-05:002010-09-13T11:15:24.049-05:00

Well, good morning to all. I’m going to try and get the week started off with a blog. Some of you have inquired with your concerns so I will let you know my health is good and I have no problems. Just good friends who care about me.I have been taking Becky to our dentist in Springfield for a tooth that has caused her a lot of trouble in the past and present. She was referred to an oral

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-6362300830119365902010-08-31T11:45:00.002-05:002010-08-31T11:50:04.632-05:00

It’s Tuesday. What does that mean to you? For me it’s trash day. Tuesdays can mean a lot of things to different people. Part of my day I can control but chances are before the day is over I will have some surprises……and so will you. Tuesday’s in my working years meant I would be at a certain town with a certain crew. I knew where I was going and why. I have several yearbooks that have

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-31363630839162926372010-08-25T17:36:00.004-05:002010-08-25T17:45:56.639-05:00

I have had several people mention Napoleon lately so I’ll bring you up to date on him. After crying his heart out every night for a female to come to him he finally became silent and gave up. The time had passed.Shortly after, he began losing his beautiful feathers and spent most of his time every day picking and grooming…….leaving them wherever he happened to be. It was so terribly hot and

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-86553417762495090652010-08-20T22:06:00.007-05:002010-08-21T13:28:14.865-05:00

Lovey was the cat who ran into the lobby of the Troop G Headquarters and ended up in a box by the door. Becky, ever the one to find a solution to a problem, called me, told me the poor cat had come to work in the back of a pick-up and was scared half to death. (No wonder with everyone trying to catch her to put her in a box.) I’d be scared too. Long story short……I brought her home and put her

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-25118964707872423372010-08-17T12:15:00.002-05:002010-08-17T12:17:22.812-05:00

Chevy was the youngest kitty we adopted. We were driving up Main Street and Becky noticed a small kitten sitting under a car at the Chevrolet Dealership. He was just a tiny thing and cute as could be. He was sitting under one of the new cars and Rocky whirled around and parked as close as he could. We both got out and slowly walked towards him but he would run from one side of the car to the

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-55494764088019594532010-08-14T15:39:00.002-05:002010-08-14T16:10:13.944-05:00

In order to keep reasonable order to the cat stories I’ll begin with each one and move on. I know people who love cats will read about them so this is just for you. And to the ones who find themselves here by mistake, as Curtis used to say, “Useless matter that doesn’t really matter.” Speaking of Curtis, I still can’t come to the realization that he and Ellen are both gone. They were without

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-87897879944658720222010-08-11T16:48:00.004-05:002010-08-11T17:00:38.387-05:00

There are a lot of cat people around……and there are a lot of dog people around. However, if you’ve never had or wanted a cat you’ve missed a lot of fun. First off, Cat People don’t like to hear a person say, “I don’t like cats because they are too independent and aloof. Dogs, however, are friendly, loving and show lots of personality.” Yah, but…….you have to walk a dog in good or bad weather.

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-27306917540447492072010-08-09T15:36:00.002-05:002010-08-09T16:08:35.639-05:00

I’m posting a picture of my first-pick Cosmos. My “card friend” encouraged me to plant some seed so I did. Our rain quit soon after planting but they survived with watering and TLC. I got excited when the first buds appeared and finally the first blossoms were popping out all over. They are absolutely beautiful in person. They scream summer and sunlight in an explosion of orange, yellow and

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-2739754928779436172010-08-01T18:33:00.003-05:002010-08-01T18:51:26.579-05:00

I was thumbing through my file cabinet and found an old yellowed tablet in which my mother kept dates important to her. I was fascinated with the wealth of history saved from notes, newspaper clippings, photo’s obituary’s, locks of hair and things too numerous to mention.I spent a while looking at some of it and decided I wouldn’t be able to get clear through so decided to add one photo that is

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-67227857738805072322010-07-31T15:52:00.003-05:002010-07-31T15:56:41.382-05:00

This has been a busy week for me. I have worked every day on the berm and have it almost finished. The weeds have been pulled, the invasive sea oats and wild violets are gone. It all starts so slow, a little weed here and there until it’s overgrown. Not just overgrown as we normally think but wound into each other until it’s hard to find a starting place. I kept working in the back and

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-77441805953864917212010-07-26T14:32:00.003-05:002010-07-26T15:05:11.982-05:00

Gardening is something that may not interest some but even with my limited capabilities now I find it fascinating. In fact, now that I’m not able to care for it as I once could, I find it even more fascinating. I wondered, the past few years, why this was so. I did many other things that held my interest at the time but now in my days of “winter” I’m beginning to see the “why.” At the time

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-70531211490903376362010-07-20T13:33:00.004-05:002010-07-20T14:09:27.953-05:00

Last Thursday was quite a day. I was cleaning in the garage when out of no-where, Becky appeared. She should have been at work but here she was, not in uniform and acting in a way that made me wonder what was going on. She looked like the cat that swallowed the canary and said she just thought I’d like to have a pizza with her for lunch.I left what I was doing….no makeup, hot and sweaty from

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-81795611472966607742010-07-13T19:46:00.001-05:002010-07-13T19:48:31.590-05:00

………..is it we learn the most from our mistakes or when life turns on us like a viper? Those good days we enjoyed so much are soon forgotten. Being King of the Hill only lasts a few hours, then it is someone else’s hill. As children we loved everyone and friendship didn’t seem like a big deal. The older we grew and the people who have passed in and out of our lives left some footprints. The

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-3329945314870517162010-07-08T16:52:00.002-05:002010-07-08T16:53:58.503-05:00

The long weekend got me off guard as far as getting to the blog-site. Becky was home those three days and we worked in our yards but had our suppers together. I am still working on the tangled mess down in the “hole” and love the progress along with the results. I could be wrong but several of the oak trees are looking like they have an infestation. The bark looks like it’s been burned…..and

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-26947113545470665732010-07-01T18:58:00.003-05:002010-07-01T19:19:59.557-05:00

.......... is hot, unending and a time-stealer. For some reason I am married to my flowers this year and spend much of my time outside. The one picture is the garden in May……the other is today, July, and it’s in transition. You really find out who the wimps are and those hardy enough to keep going. Spring flowers are delicate and need to be enjoyed early because any little weather change can

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-87647987689177512452010-06-25T16:33:00.002-05:002010-06-25T16:38:21.943-05:00

The week has flown by. Even though the temperatures were mid-90’s most days I managed to get more done outside. If I plan my work right I’m in the shade much of the time. I suppose it’s good the heat drives me in for I would stay out and keep working all day, otherwise. Wednesday was girl’s day and it was my turn to be hostess. Our third lady went back to work so it is just the two of us now

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-86005144835773276352010-06-22T16:25:00.003-05:002010-06-22T16:43:26.275-05:00

Our part of Missouri is cooking. I’ve been spending time watering my flowers and putting mulch around the plants that are fragile or need cool roots. I’m amazed at some of them that just keep on going with no help at all. Our temps have been in the mid-90’s for most of a week so we’re all griping like I knew we would when we said we wouldn’t…….last winter. We’re so bad!I continue to work on

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-77507417096121522182010-06-19T14:12:00.009-05:002010-06-19T15:01:36.687-05:00

My yard work is dependent on our heat index. I’m working now to reclaim some of the yard lost to a couple years of not being able to cut the underbrush. This Spring and Summer I have the ability to work outside again and once I got the flower beds taken care of, I decided to work a little each day on the new growth at the timberline. Our lot is an acre with the back half in timber. With

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-61800000030274064422010-06-14T23:15:00.003-05:002010-06-15T20:39:08.558-05:00

Life as I have always known it is like a spot on the rear-view mirror as I speed away into each tomorrow. I see and hear sounds and words that were foreign in the 30’s. Debt was something my parents didn’t worry about because if they didn’t have the money, they didn’t buy. Debt today has almost ruined our country.As each decade came and went the intensity of change was everywhere. Women

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-52379007671311785262010-06-04T21:02:00.003-05:002010-06-04T21:04:54.831-05:00

It has been a long time since I’ve gone to a nursery for new plants but this week provided a perfect opportunity. My friend knew of a McVicker Nursery which was about a 45-minute drive from here. Since retirement, 13-years ago, I have had most of the common varieties in shrubs and flowers but I was ready for something different. I have a cousin whose surname is McVicker and runs a Nursery in

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-40367890702080423272010-05-28T20:07:00.004-05:002010-05-28T21:05:23.965-05:00

I lost a good friend last Sunday. Death came at 11:55 AM to a woman who had battled many health issues and whose heart just finally quit. Her many surgeries, her cancer along with diabetes and finally congestive heart complications took her life. Her last few years have been spent in an assisted living complex in another town. For many years she and I would visit once a week which I kept up

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-40107636194602181202010-05-20T22:17:00.001-05:002010-05-20T22:24:59.659-05:00

We have had a fantastic week here……and I’ve spent my time in the yard with the exception of “girls day.” Everything is blooming at once and I have been picking flowers to press and put on cards. This is the first year I’ve had pansies and I am amazed how resilient they are. My friend, Dode, gave me two different kinds and I planted them in container pots where they would be free of the cats

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-70405716855034916732010-05-10T14:32:00.001-05:002010-05-10T14:34:50.452-05:00

Just after a weather-perfect week we woke to rain which has everything soaked up and the forecast is to be rainy all week. I don’t mind because there will be a few times I can get out and finish weeding my flowers. Last year I had to sit and watch the weeds grow because of my fractured pelvis. Like an old horse going by the fire-house I was at the starting line with an arsenal of products to

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-12338222708761016122010-05-02T19:32:00.005-05:002010-05-02T19:39:27.469-05:00

My friend emailed these pictures to me and I thought you would like to see them. The area shown is a half-mile from us. The news cast said the tornado was a half-mile wide with winds @ 105mph. That’s a little too close for comfort and we were fortunate to be on the outer edge of it. I have great respect for weather because at any time any one can be involved in a life and death situation. We

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-793349178317805242010-05-01T21:05:00.004-05:002010-05-01T21:43:31.237-05:00

Yesterday we had ample warnings of severe weather approaching. Around the dinner hour we had terrible winds, torrents of rain and a tornado in that order. Very little hail.It struck about a mile from us and in the dark we didn’t know how bad the damage was. Becky drove down later after it was safe and said some buildings at our Junction were damaged leaving a rubble behind. We were glad the

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-22348566727246956192010-04-27T17:49:00.002-05:002010-04-27T18:44:15.846-05:00

I have good news to report. Napoleon is doing well. He is beginning to use his injured foot gingerly but it looks like some of the swelling might be down. I went out with his plate of assorted things he likes and he ate with more interest than at the beginning.In fact, I came in the house and later heard him yelling close to the front door. He was looking straight at me and I knew what he

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-21941134242115920282010-04-24T13:35:00.001-05:002010-04-24T13:37:56.121-05:00

This day, three years ago, Rocky’s journey ended. A man who had great strength and a big heart. After fifty-one years since high-school we found one another and were married. We were living our dream when a simple check-up showed Rocky had colon cancer. Our doctor gave Rocky about 4-months but we determined to beat the odds and make it as long as we could. (He did live two years after the

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-6531316424672985962010-04-22T21:07:00.008-05:002010-04-22T21:56:29.823-05:00

Things stayed pretty much the same until yesterday. When I woke up and checked the tree he roosts in, he was grooming himself, and I forgot about him until later in the morning. When I did go out to see about him he wasn’t in front of the garage where he usually enjoys the sun until it gets too warm, which sends him to the berm for the day.It was eerie. No sound, nothing, no where. The more I

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-83794968813226678972010-04-19T11:36:00.002-05:002010-04-19T11:38:04.508-05:00

A week ago today Napoleon encountered some sort of accident which is effecting his right leg. I noticed he stayed under the ornamental grass in the berm most of Monday. It’s one of his favorite places to doze yet see what’s going on. He flew up in the tree that night and I didn’t notice anything different.The next morning he was already down from the tree and standing on the left leg with the

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-45505329422313384932010-04-12T15:26:00.003-05:002010-04-12T15:29:58.867-05:00

I came into the Rockenbach family late. I had been a widow four years. A strange twist of fate brought Rocky into my life again at a school reunion and long story short, we were both widowed and the rest is history. High school sweetheart’s, still.Rocky was the baby of the family with a big brother Richard and big sister, Marie. The Rockenbach “kids” made a habit to get together somewhere for

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-18381338898132606882010-04-08T17:03:00.003-05:002010-04-08T17:12:32.569-05:00

I have lived in the Ozarks for most of my adult life and am never prepared for the beauty Spring brings. It’s an over-night event…..the blooms materialize as the next sun comes up and all about the yard are splashes of gorgeous color.Each year I take pictures of the bushes, trees and flowers……each year thinking they are prettier than ever. Many of them are looking like me……kind of grown out of

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-45863897978133617192010-03-31T15:15:00.002-05:002010-03-31T15:17:02.971-05:00

Medications love me! As I wrote some time ago, I had my left eye laser-treated and a week later had the right eye done. As expected, it only took a few minutes, wasn’t painful and I left, a happy woman.Fast speed forward a few days when I woke up with terrible sores in my mouth. My tongue was swollen and anytime I moved it to talk, eat, swallow…..or even remotely make it move…..OUCH!!!! OK….I

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-56174016283903365012010-03-24T19:16:00.002-05:002010-03-24T19:34:57.425-05:00

Today was one of those perfectly ordinary days where two friends meet and make cards together. It was a day where the windows could be opened and the furnace turned off. We worked and visited until lunch time and then back to our card making. It is a passion to make each one better than the last. Why card making? It doesn’t seem worthwhile in the present world that has gone mad as far as I’m

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-906297213440689862010-03-19T17:05:00.001-05:002010-03-19T17:06:37.032-05:00

It has been near 70* here the past two days. However……it is not the end of the story. The temperatures will fall tomorrow with moisture headed our way and that is the general making of snow. The weatherman doesn’t think there will be any accumulation but I get nervous when they say that. Weather is fickle and March is fickle so I’m from Missouri….you’ve got to show me.Tuesday I had the laser

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-8276910117861310582010-03-13T14:49:00.002-06:002010-03-13T14:52:46.986-06:00

With Spring approaching, all of a sudden there are many things to either do now or forget. We are in the last stages of Winter and everyone around here is anxious for some nice weather. It’s been a tough year all across the country.We had three wonderfully warm days last week and while I wanted to go out and rake up all the pinecones I was too busy inside. I have intended to upgrade our

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-89081502542121882752010-03-02T16:52:00.004-06:002010-03-02T17:01:00.435-06:00

At 9:15 pm tonight, John will be 53. As a little guy he not only couldn’t fathom being that old, it just wasn’t in his realm of knowing. John was the final link in our family chain. He was a happy kid with a sense of humor and an “I can do” attitude.He tried doing everything his big brother, George, did. Unfortunately with brother George’s stuff while he was away at school. The boys were six

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-17362152375269004112010-02-22T15:36:00.003-06:002010-02-22T21:50:47.219-06:00

I have watched the Olympics and ignored all else. Now I’m beginning to feel the heat from all the things I should have been doing. Why?? ?? I keep reading Maxine and was interested some time back to read about her creator and how “she” got started. A school friend from Germany sent the information of how it all began. I used to think she was silly, a bad example and someone I wouldn’t want

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-30890627322244783802010-02-17T10:12:00.001-06:002010-02-17T10:14:55.735-06:00

I can’t even remember the last sunny day we’ve had. Just when I was getting used to it I woke this morning with sun coming in my window. It was then I realized how much I had missed it.Normally I’m not a gloomy person in cloudy weather as some. When we visited Seattle in the days my brother and sister-in-law lived there it was always sunny. My brother couldn’t figure why it happened that way

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-79255111411286375622010-02-14T11:48:00.001-06:002010-02-14T11:50:33.784-06:00

Today is Valentine’s Day !! A day to be loved and to show your love. In the happiest of observations it is more or less expected but the thought behind the gift is the most important factor. How do we showcase the love we have inside for someone?? No matter the choice of gift, the giver is the most important ingredient. I’ve written before about “the Valentine’s Box” in our classroom as a

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6276648.post-29595424009850796392010-02-09T10:59:00.002-06:002010-02-09T11:02:29.534-06:00

You’ve heard the old phrase “from bad to worse”……well, that’s what we have going here. We are having the coldest, snowiest winter we’ve had for years. I mean like 15 to 20 years.I know the folks west, north and east of us have had tons of snow. When I see people scooping driveways to get their cars out……and the snow is shoulder high I feel great compassion. Scooping snow is not a hobby or

estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09609548880281352831noreply@blogger.com0