Flowers in January!

We've had such a crazy winter here. Had a light snow in late October and we said "oh my, we're in for it this year." November was chilly but no snow. December, the same with a couple of cold days thrown in and January, it got pretty cold with another light springling of snow. At the end of January, we're enjoying temperatures in the 50s. My Camelias started budding and I found a flower this morning. It's not May, fellows - go back to sleep!

Believe me when I say that I like this weather. I think Spring when I see blooms this early. Oh, I wish!

I'm going to my brohter's house in Florida to get out of all this cold. What a laugh! If I only knew!

And, now I'm 81!

I had a great day today! Just felt happy! All of my kiddies called in plus friends and relatives. Rec'd two flower arrangments and gift cards to Pier 1 and Amazon.com. also a promise of dinner, a show and a pedicure. Yesterday I had lunch with an "olde" girlfriend. She and I have remained friends for 75 years so pretty good, huh? But, of all these gifts, the greatest was talking to everyone and catching up. I am truly blessed to have such a loving family and friends.

Some of the news is that my granddaughter, Nicole has accepted a job at the University of Colorado in Boulder for coaching soccer. She will be on the coaching staff. That's great, isn't it? I think Joe & Denise are experiencing the "empty nest syndrom" with Ellie & Brooke in California and Nicole there.

Some of my Happy Birthday singers were: Bill's kids - all in good voice, Kathi, Donna Fletcher and my sister.

Tomorrow, I will don my purple outfit & red hat fora Red Hat Luncheon at Edna's house. We always have a good time.

Happy New Year!

I don't know where I've been as I haven't been blogging for 3 months or more. I certainly enjoy it. Hmmm.

I'm glad the holidays are over. It seems to instill such a lot of stress in us. I had about 13 people over for Christmas Eve and everything went pretty well, considering. Christmas was over at Bill's! Regardless, I was tired from all of the hoopla.

I am not making resolutions this year either but like, Jane trying to get organized a bit. This house is too small to have so much stuff in it. I'm taking that old Mantel clock back to the repair shop. If he can't fix it as it is, I'll ask him to install new insides. It will lose its antique-ness but it's not doing anything except take up space.

Did anyone see "We've bought a Zoo!" Cute movie and a different role for Matt Damon. I saw the "Artist" too and didn't think much of it. It's a silent movie from back in the 20s.

Anyway, wanted to say "hi" to everyone and hope to see you more often back here.

Funny Words

Let's have some chuckles! Periodically, my kids and I come up with funny names which sends me into peals of laughter.

I guess the ones I remember most are those from the American Indians. As I mentioned in a former post, I stayed at Chincoteaque Island. I saw that Susan mentioned the Tallahatchie that had to be from the same source. And, how about Tallahasse? There's Mannahawkin, N.J. & Forked River. Forked is 2 syables.

At one time, we lived in Houston County in Georgia but it was pronounced
"House-ton". I went to school with a girl with the last name of Buggy but it was pointed out to me that it was Buuggie. OMG, let's not do names...:-)! Oh, let's!
Grandpop worked with a guy by the name of Sugarbread and we had neighbors whose name was Rowbottom - either English or Indian, wouldn't you say? Isn't this the time, Bill brings up Orangejello & Lemonjello pronounced very different than spelled. And, Dad worked with a Glasscock, a Woodcock & a John Moneypenny. So, put your funny thinking caps on laugh a little!

And Then I Went Shopping...

Started with looking for a card table & chairs. Got them through a site called Hayneedle.com. Noticed Bonnie used this site too. Next, I needed make-up so went right to the Clinque page. Got it. You have to realize it's a rainy day and I hate to shop in the rain. Finally, the rain stopped so took my butt to my fav furniture store in Sttratford to look for a console table. I had moved the bookcase out of the hall into the middle room so had space for something small between the windows. Found a small table with mirror above it. I was telling the owner that after I croaked, stuff will still be coming in. What is wrong with me? Shouldn't I be contend to rock my life away?

This Saturday, Barbara & I along with Ira (the paint guy) are going to the Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge in Oceanville, N.J. which is near Smithville. They have tours on Saturday mornings (2 hours) so will get to see all kinds of birds. They have identified 290 species. Should be fun & different.

Otherwise, I'm doing my Saturday thing: cleaning out drawers, eating & reading.

Why did I buy that?

Sometimes, when we're away we find ourselves buying a souvenir and not thinking what we will possibly do with it at home. Things I have bought: An antique mantel clock, Hummels, china, crystal, an antique sewing machine, coffee cups, tee shirts, hair piece, beer steins, pictures & costume jewelry.

Things I have found use for: Tee shirts, coffee mugs, jewelry.

Things that are just sitting there: clock, Hummels, china, crystal, beer steins, pictures & non-working sewing machine

Things that are long gone: Hair piece.

Most of the stuff I bought in Germany. In the 60s, it was fashionable to wear wigs & hair pieces. So?

I'm wondering just what my children will do with this stuff. Certainly, they are more practical than I am Have a yard sale?

Chincoteague & Assateague Islands

I haven't been blogging as the site refuses to publish my blogs. I have two more in Drafts. Well, we'll see!

With my friend Barbara driving, we went to Chincoteague & Assateague islands in Virginia on a Road Scholar trip. It took us about four hours along a state highway hugging the coast. We used her GPS and maps. Interesting the GPS didn't recognize a new bridge to the island and kept telling us we should turn around as we were approaching water & showed it. For the uniformed, Assateague is a barrier island. stretching from Virginia through Maryland on the Atlantic Coast. It is also home to a herd of wild ponies which are owned by the Chincoteague Fire Department, who care for them by providing medical attention twice a year. They cull them in July by bringing/swimming the young foals across the bay to Chincoteague and auction them off (starting around $1500). These monies are used for the town & schools. The firemen are called "Salt Water Cowboys."

A little local history: Virginia was Confederate during the Civil War but because, Chincoteague had been trading with the North, they decided to remain with the Union.

All in all, it was very interesting to learn something completely different. There were twenty-eight people in the group coming from New York, PA, VA, SC, NC & NJ. Now, let's see if this will publish. If not, I will definitely call my computer guy.