Belated anniversary wishes to

Kayla, Josh and their little family of plants. 6 great years, life changes, and moving forward. They continue to accomplish, grow and fulfill themselves, both individually and as a couple. I am very proud of both of them and love them very much. It is a pleasure to be with them, to see them enjoying each other, their adopted city and the challenges of life. Best wishes for continued happiness, success and many more anniversaries. Love, Mom

Wonderful visit with Pat, Cheryl & Carlye

Today my friend Pat, her daughter Carlye and another friend of Pat's, Cheryl came to visit. Pat and Carlye live in Manassas, VA. and they were in College Station for the marriage of Cheryl's son. We had such a good time, talking and remembering days gone past. Although Cheryl and I had never met, because of Pat being a mutual friend to both of us, it was an instant new friendship. I am so glad we were able to have lunch together and desert at the condo. Except for the heat, it was a grand day...

From Alfred Lord Tennyson today's thought "Knowledge comes, but wisdom lingers".

My goodness....

So much in the news, sadly the passing of Farrah Fawcett, Michael Jackson, Ed McMahon, and now, the pitch-man, Billy Mays. Last night he was doing a commercial for some product or another. If you see him enough, you have a tendency to forget the product. Whoops, that's not good.

On a personal note, my friend Andrea's father passed away last evening. I received a note on my cell phone from Grace, a mutual friend of both of us. My sympathy to Andrea, her mom Mary Ann and the rest of the family.

On another personal note, my friend Pat and her daughter are in College Station and tomorrow we plan to see each other. BF and I visited Pat in Manassas, VA. several years ago. Pat and I have worked together and been part of "Dinner Group" for years, off and on. It will be great to see she and Carlye. A pleasant unexpected visit but certainly welcome.

My friend, Gail (Savannah trip) sent me a great quote, so thanx Gail -

Keep putting one foot in front of the
other, and taking your life day by day. There's a brighter tomorrow that's just down the road; don't look back--you're not going that way!

Stay cool - it is another blistering day in Montgomery. whew.....

ASLA Pics continued....

American Idol Sundance Head entertains.....

Today was ASLA Ladies Luncheon, honouring grandmothers, mothers, sisters, grandchildren, etc. My friend Sheri joined me as "bonus sister" and we had a great time. Sundance Head, one of the American Idol folks entertained. He has a terrific voice and his personality was fun, cute and sharp. The food was good, once again Chef Paul is doing a fine job improving on the food service and everyone was dressed very casually for the heat and summertime. I really look forward to the luncheon each month and I believe Sheri is going to join the group.

99 very hot degrees today, even the gents manning the golf carts for transportation from the parking lots to the club were sweating it out. They are good sports tho and show up every month to do the delivery service. Plus they get to wink at all the pretty ladies.

More pics following. Enjoy :-)

Work still in progress

Loew's calling again. This time to install new floors in both bathrooms. Small panic attack when they first unrolled the product, outside it definitely looked different than it did in the store when I purchased it. Installed in the guest bath, it definitely looks good and is certainly an improvement. In my smaller master bath area, it will probably look a little large, but will be o.k. So glad to have this underway. Only one more Loew's project (vanity for guest bath) and I am retiring my connection at Loew's. at least for a little while.

Today's thought from Regina Brett : "When in doubt, just take the next small step". I like that thought alot, although mostly in my life and experience it has always been a hugh leap of faith and somehow always worked out. Life is soooo interesting, live it well.

June 22, 1966..........Happy Birthday to

my son, Jonathan. Travelin' man, attorney, uncle to Ryan and Abby, brother to Stephen and brother-in-law to Lisa, great one-liners that can crack you up, memory like an elephant and strong as a brick with a soft heart. He marches to his own drum and has an independent way of thinking. Jonathan has always had varied and interesting ideas - never dull with Jon around.

My wish for you dear son is that you have good health, happiness and lots of time in the future to travel and continue enjoying all that you desire.

love you lots and lots, always

Mom

Dog days of summer

Longest, hottest day of 2009.....and poochie above knows just how to enjoy it. No rain in site YET for anywhere in our area - I'm tired of watering and worrying about my plants. Have moved some inside and they are lovin' it. Can't say I blame them. Trying to do whatever errands and such all in one day and rest 2 days after that. Jon, my middle child, advised me to buy a windshield cover to help with the heat. Did so and must admit it does help somewhat. But, hot is still hot! Longing for the super cool and wonderful days of Palm Springs. sigh....

Weekend thought: " My idea of an agreeable person is a person who agrees with me. " - Benjamin Disraeli

And another new restaurant for Montgomery

Opening weekend for Montgomery's newest restaurant, The County Line. And it was great. Very large crowd, inside and outside dining, lots of waitstaff, good menu choices and fast service. We placed our order and within 5, maybe 6 minutes our food was served. Hot, delish and plenty of it. I have dinner for tomorrow night also. For those that boat, you can dock and come aboard and enjoy dinner also. I am sure they will do well. The only drawback, they share the parking area with several other restaurants. Well, you can't always have everything.

Keeping good thoughts for my friend Marlene who is feeling much better, my friend Dian who had her nasty gall bladder removed yesterday and for Andrea and her family in regard to her Dad.

If applicable, Happy Father's Day to all who have the good fortune to have a dad in their lives....I miss my Dad every day.

2 more pics.........:-)

Today was Girls Night Out....

Which was quite a contradiction - we went for Girls Day Out - to College Station, Bryan to the Messina Hoff Winery. Beautiful day, the heat had not yet gone full blast, we had a personal guided lecture and tour of the grounds. The grapes are due to harvest July 18 - the were able to see the processing of the grapes, sans stomping, which will be done on July 18....Our guide was very personable, knowledgeable and certainly enjoyed his job. After the tour we returned to the Tour/Tasting room where we sampled 4 wines, 2 white, 2 red. We were instructed the proper way to prepare to taste, taste and then to cleanse our taste buds. Lunch at a very cute restaurant in College Station. Every time I've been there in the last few months, I am amazed at how the city has grown and changed. Time has been very good to College Station. After lunch, we went to the Galleria Beauty Spa and had our particular passions satisfied (30 minute massage and mani for me). loved it, but a tiny bit sore tonight. Advil time, it will pass I know. This group is a very loud and lively bunch, out to have a good time. Eat, drink and be merry certainly applies to them. Check my pics and enjoy.

Orange Trucks

Hook'em...........for all you UT fans. Driving to the post office in Montgomery this a.m, I passed a truck sales place on HWY 105W. This guy always has lots of different coloured trucks (big cab type for rigs) but today it was a blaze of ORANGE. As far as the eye could see. I couldn't believe how many there were (see, it doesn't take much to catch my interest). Don't even begin to know how or where he acquired all of these trucks, but it's a bunch. Did my errands and as I returned homeward bound, I was able to get up close and see the true size of the trucks. awesome!

Today's thought from Wendell Johnson "Always and never are two words you should always remember never to use". I like that and I will try to remember it. Example "It is always hot in June and one should never leave the air-conditioner"..ha-ha! (silly me :-)

June 14, 2009 - It's ....

FLAG DAY - Long may she wave. My flag may be small but it is still very mighty! I have one on my front and back patios. I have flown flags faithfully since 1966. That is along time plus alot of flags have come and gone in my life. After we returned from service time in Munich, Germany and Edgewood, MD. I decided to start flying the flag. Many friends were lost during the Viet Nam conflict and a visit with my friend, Diane in Columbus, OH. earlier this year reminded me of how much our service people have given. Diane's husband, Bob, was a retired career (West Point) graduate and served his 30 years. His dad before him was also a graduate of West Point and I had the lucky occasion to visit with Bob's parents when we lived in Munich. Bob passed away in 2007 and I remember his dedication to his chosen life style and Diane's devotion to Bob and their family.

Fly YOUR flag today - honour how lucky we are, not only today but everyday.

and the last

more pics

Los Angeles, Palm Springs & Malibu - Fab......

Fabulous...............what a wonderful week. Josh and Kayla were absolutely delightful and loving. We had a grand time together. Josh generously sent Kayla and I on a "girls weekend" to Palm Springs where the weather was incredible, windy (whish) cold in the a.m. and evening and warmed up during the day. We shopped and ate and swam and napped, evening was casino time, won some, lost some (that's gambling for you). Yesterday Kayla and I drove to Malibu, had lunch at Neptune's Net (featured in Rachael Ray's series) and drove the mountains and coast line....Way cool....Several evenings in LA their friends joined us for dinner - lots of Vegan/Vegetarian CA type food, Tai, and "market food". Plus I had the opportunity to shop Trader Joe's TWICE. Wish, sigh, we had one in TX. More pics to see, check them out.

Today's thought by me "Vacations are wonderful, especially when it is with folks you love". that also goes for my previous Seattle trip. I'm just a traveling fool...:-)

Last luncheon for the summer for Garden Gals

Garden Gals traveled to Navasota today to Martha's Bloomers. A real treasure of plants, garden goodies and delicious lunch and lecture. David from A&M is their head botanist, very knowledgeable and not hard on the eyes either. He patiently answered questions and spoke for about an hour and half. Luncheon was a great salad with edible flowers. I tried to take a good pic of the desert, (didn't eat any) it also had edible flowers. That was good....

I've really enjoyed Garden Gals. Can't wait for September and start up again.

The ladies have become friends, we have alot in common and it's been fun.

I'm off tomorrow a.m. for LA - visit with Josh & Kayla. May, may not blog, I'm anticipating being busy.

from Regina Brett again "Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful." I'm sure she can say that with authority, considering her age.

Take care and enjoy the week,weekend. :-)

Cupcake is ready to

travel. He is going home to where he should have been in March 2009. Cupcake is one of Kayla's beloved bears from when she was a small girl. In March I put Cupcake along with some papers, pics, etc. into a nice cozy box and USPS'em to LA. No word from Kayla that Cupcake ever arrived and truthfully, I forgot about it. In May 2009, a box was left by USPS on my doorstop. Wondering what it was, I opened it, and SURPRISE, it was Cupcake and his packages. Looking at the box more carefully, I noted that it had been (so they say) delivered but no one was there to receive it. So poor Cupcake made another trip - this time back to Montgomery. I'll carry him in my tote Thursday when I go to LA. It doesn't seem to matter to Cupcake that he traveled so far for so long, just that he got no points, miles or rewards. Bummer!

Today's thought was sent to me by my friend Gail, originally written by Regina Brett, 90 year old lady, of The Plain Dealer in Cleveland, OH. "Life isn't fair, but it's still good."