Where did the time go?

It seems just like yesterday we said "I do", but it was 57 years ago. We were married at my folk's house and my Grandfather who was a minister performed the ceremony. We were surrounded by friends and family. My gown was a ballerina type with a full skirt, strapless with a lace jacket. My Aunt made the wedding cake which was decorated with real flowers from the garden. My husband's Father decorated our car with an elegant bride and groom with a big bow. We opened our gifts after the ceremony, and drove to Great Falls to have our wedding picture taken by a photographer. I think that my folks spent less than $150.00 for everything. Things have certainly changed when it comes to weddings today. It has been a good 57 years, lots of laughs, some tears but most of all learning how to understand each other. Today we were surrounded by our own family helping us celebrate. We are very fortunate to have the love of our children and grandchildren. Grandmother

Just Like Newlyweds

Happy Anniversary to the young in love couple. 57 years of raising a family and living and loving. It might seem like a long time to some but I bet the years have flown by. Wishing you a wonderful day and a wonderful walk down memory lane remembering the many good and happy times. I know that I am glad that Grandmother and Grandfather found each other....other wise I wouldn't be here! Mom

New life on the river

We walk along the Colorado River for exercise. It is not as strenuous as our Granddaughter's workout. The river is quite high due to the run off in the mountains and several inlets are now filled with water. We stopped to look at the high water when we spotted four Canadian Geese swimming around in the quiet water, after a few minutes we saw five small goslings paddling in between the big geese. They still had yellow down on them and they were paddling for all they were worth. It made me think of spring time when I was growing up. Mother always got 100 to 200 new chicks and 20 to 25 ducklings. They were fuzzy and warm when you picked them up. It was exciting to help unload them and watch them run around under the brooders to keep warm. Grandmother

Drive By Mastectomies

Recently a petition has been circulating protesting a push by insurance companies to make a mastectomy an outpatient procedure. A bill has been submitted several times to congress for patients to receive a minimum of 48 hours of hospital coverage. The bill has not passed in prior attempts, but it is currently in the Senate waiting for approval. Lifetime has a petition available for signing if you are interested in supporting this bill.

Given that so many things circulate the internet without any inkling of truth, if you would like to check this one out, Snopes confirms that it is true. Mom

Bootcamp's Kicking My Butt

I have never really understood those girls who deliberately subject themselves to bootcamps.  I mean the idea of exercising until I'm blue in the face never really appealed to me, yet I have joined the ranks of "those girls."  

Why? I don't really know.  And trust me, I've asked myself that question at least a million times since Tuesday.  I also can't answer why I decided to subject myself to said torture for a second time this week.  I'm fairly confident that this decision will incapacitate me and confine me to the couch for the rest of the week.  Yesterday I could barely move and today it felt like I was learning to walk for the first time as my legs wobbled to and fro.  It must have been comical to watch. 

Anyway wish me luck as I take my unsteady legs to yet another bootcamp where I will surely run staircases, do lunges (yuck!), squats, push ups and sit ups.  And 30 minutes through, I will surely curse myself for having come again.  Daughter.

Goodbye Smokey

This weekend was not a good one in our household. Our 16 year old Miniature Schnauzer left this world for the next. He was a good companion, taught us to play tug-of-war with old socks, rope, play toy, take walks to enjoy the surroundings by walking slow and looking at the landscape, wildlife and wildflowers. He didn't ask for much and was always glad to see us, kept us safe by his fierce barking at strangers and sometimes family. He would try to be bigger and fiercer when he saw a larger dog, thinking he was their equal and made up to smaller dogs with playful actions. This dog will be missed greatly as he made a place in our hearts for him. Goodbye to Smokey. Grandmother

Confessions of a Shopaholic

For some it is shoes, others purses but for me it is plants. I can't go to a garden center or a nursery and get just one or two or even three plants. It's like looking at babies in an orphanage...I have to take them all! Never mind the work that comes after picking this one and that one, oh and that one! This doesn't even take in the ones I have collected from the gardens of friends.
Some of the plants are delosperma "Red Mountain, mum "Cool Igloo", dianthus "Flashing Lights", penstemon "Sunburst Ruby", osteospermum "Purple Mountain", phlox "Drummonds Pink", sedum ""Bertram Anderson", verbena "Ron Deal", sedum "Angelina", poppy "Double Tangerine Gem", Silene laciniata, gaillardia "Burgundy", Sphaeralcea coccinea "Cowboys Delight", Nassella tennuissima "Silky Threadgrass", phlox "Emerald Blue" and dianthus "Fire Star".
But my favorites are mimulus or Monkey Flowers...isn't that a great name and look at these blooms! Have you ever seen anything like them...spotted and splotched. How fun. I would have bought a whole lot more of these but when my husband sees how much I spent I will be banned from nurseries for the rest of the summer. Pooh! Mom