Category: My Life

And…here we go!

1. What a beautiful thing to see on a spring day, is a fully blossoming apple tree!
2. Love, kindness and caring are the most important things in life, right?
3. It’s no surprise that every time I hear a baby cry, or see a new born in a store, I go a little weak in my knees!.
4.It wasn’t easy, but somehow I made it through.
5. I like to try new and adventurous recipes.
6. Oh gosh, that’s hard it changes daily. But for today, The Spy Who Loved Me by Carly Simon is one of my most favorite songs!
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to just vegging out after a lunch date with Mandy, tomorrow my plans include the usual weekend chores and Sunday, I want to work on my plants, perhaps actually planting my peas.!

The Rain, Rain, Go Away, Edition

It’s May, and usually we are through with April Showers, and May has brought an abundance of flowers, instead….rain! However, here are a few of my thoughts about the start of the month of May.

1. We have had a couple of warm days, and I cannot begin to tell you how lovely the fruit trees were/are.
2. You could step into the back yard and the apple trees were so fragrant.
3. Part of our crop (cherries and peaches) will ripen early this year.
4. I was able to buy large eggplant and tomato plants, and I expect an early yield there as well.
5. In not too many more weeks my daughter’s daughter will arrive.
6. I do not want to spoil the surprise, but I know her name and it is a beautiful one!
7. I’m hoping for a warm, sunny June.
8. So, I am putting my order in now for that sort of weather now. Good for taking walks with babies.
9. Mother’s Day is this weekend. To all of my Readers who are Mother’s, Have a wonderful day!!!
10. I’m having lunch soon with Mandy and when I do I plan a stop at a German Deli.
11. I’ll buy some of our favorite foods like, Leberkäse, Klosterbrot, Tilsiter Cheese, Wursts and some fix’s for meals like Schnitzel.
12. My husband is already drooling!
13. Have a great day everyone!

1. What is a pet peeve you have when vacationing?

Noisy, uncontrolled kids! We like to cruise, and I just hate unsupervised kids running up and down the hallways screaming!

2. Would you describe yourself as a light packer or do you need everything in your closet plus the kitchen sink?

I used to pack heavily, and now with all the restrictions, I pack very lightly! Many times I’ll buy a container of sun screen or other toiletries when I arrive (the cheapest and smallest) and leave them when I fly home.

3. What’s the best lesson a child ever taught you?

Not to rush. Children grow up so fast. I didn’t know that. I was so involved in their growth, at times, that I forgot to live in the moment.

4. Share one piece of advice you’d give a recent graduate as they attempt to enter the job market?

Live, laugh, smile and be confident!

5. What’s your favorite lemon something?

I make the best lemonade ever!

6. Flat sandal, wedge, heel…your favorite footwear?

I have some clogs that I love. They’re a bit old and I use them for slippers now, but oh my, they are so comfortable.

7. What do you like best about a beach holiday? If you’re not a beach lover (GASP!!) what do you dislike the least?

I grew up on Cape Cod, a five minute walk to the beach. I could swim before I could walk, and I loved the long lazy days stretched out in the sand. We ate frozen Milky Way Candy Bars, hot dogs and fries. It was a right of passage when you were old enough and strong enough to swim out to the raft, and learn to dive. The salty taste of the sea on my lips, was as soothing as the warm sun on my skin!

8. Insert your own random thought here.

It’s been raining all day and I’m tired of being wet. Hubby and I did the grocery shopping, and had a Chinese lunch. Best part was some coconut chicken I had. Worst part…they charged me as a senior citizen! Guess I was having a bad day!

As you all know, it was my first day for Jury Duty, and although I was called, I did not make the Jury so I must return in two weeks to see if I qualify for another Jury.

My overall opinion of the court was a good one. Everyone is so nice, and the Court is very well run. I had only one complaint…the benches!

I think there must have been about 75-85 people on Jury Duty with me, and they brought us into an auditorium where there were hard wooden benches! And I mean hard!!!

After we watched our jury Instruction video, we were sworn in, and then began the process to pick the two juries. My backside was feeling first pain and then numb! I thought my backside was well padded, but I was very wrong!

At the end of the morning, I was told to report back to court in two weeks to see if I can perform my citizenly duty and be a juror. If at that time I still can’t find a trial to hear, I will have to report two weeks after that.

I will mention here that I was dressed very nicely in a suit. My hair was done and I had just a touch of make up. One woman came in a velour track suit and slippers and she told me that this was as good as it gets for her! She made me smile!

Oh yes, and she made an active jury! I expect her to be a Foreman!

Our host is Gattina. Come join us and tell us what YOU did this past weekend! After all, you never know when you will need an alibi!

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It was a beautiful weekend and the Apple Trees were in full bloom. The Bumble Bees and Butter Flies were out and so was my camera!

As you can see, this fury Bumble Bee was zooming in for a little sweet nectar!

A pair of Butter Flies also teased me, all over the orchard! But I finally got a few pictures.

Look at those antennae?

Then a Baltimore Oriole came and sat in the apple tree outside our bedroom window. I grabbed my larger camera and snap! What do you think?

I am so enjoying the spring and now today, I must dress up and go into town and serve Jury Duty. I sincerely hope I will be allowed home each night, and keep up Dackel Princess, but should I be sequestered, I will have Hubby let you all know.

In the meantime, enjoy the day!

Last week I got a question regarding my eyes. So I thought I would go back and fill everyone in on my problematic eyes and where I stand now.

1. Cataract Surgery, left eye, March 8, 2001
2. Laser Surgery, left eye, September 2002
3. Detached Retina, left eye, December 27, 2002
4. Vitrectomy, left eye, January 16, 2003

Vitrectomy is a general term for a group of operations accomplished in the deeper part of the eye, all of which involve removing some or all of the vitreous—the eye’s clear internal jelly.

5. Vitrectomy, left eye, April 14, 2003
   
6. Vitrectomy, left eye, June 10, 2004
7. Vitrectomy, left eye, June 14, 2005
8. Lens Implant Replacement Surgery, left eye, August 22, 2006
9. Cataract surgery, right eye, May 8^th, 2007
10. Detached Retina, right eye, Dec. 20^th 2009
11. Diagnosed with Macular Pucker (also known as Epiretinal Membrane, ERM) in my left eye.
12. Slowly a membrane is growing across the left retina.
13. Soon I will need surgery to remove this membrane.

I can see okay now. I’ll be able to see my grand daughter when she is born, but sometime down the road this surgery will need to be done. One thing is for sure, I am so very thankful for my vision. Many people take it for granted, but not me. Have a wonderful Thursday and go outside at lunch today and enjoy the view!

1. My daughter2 is graduating from university this month and plans to teach elementary school. What are three qualities you most want to see evidenced in a teacher?

Positive energy, kindness and the ability to challenger her students.

2. You can tell a lot about a person by

How they treat their animals, or if in fact they have animals. One person, that I thought was very nice, came to my house, and treated my animals so badly, that it immediately turned me off.

3. What song makes you think spring?

Warm temperatures and blooming fruit trees!!!

4. May 1st is Mother Goose Day…share your favorite nursery rhyme.

In the 1830s, Lowell Mason set the nursery rhyme to a melody adding repetition in the verses:

Mary had a little lamb,
whose fleece was white as snow.

And everywhere that Mary went,
the lamb was sure to go.

It followed her to school one day
which was against the rules.

It made the children laugh and play,
to see a lamb at school.

And so the teacher turned it out,
but still it lingered near,

And waited patiently about,
till Mary did appear.

“Why does the lamb love Mary so?”
the eager children cry.

“Why, Mary loves the lamb, you know.”
the teacher did reply.

5. What makes someone unforgettable?

Their beautiful soul and the kindness of their spirit.

6. Should music and/or art be part of a well rounded education?

Yes! I’m so sad that so many towns have discontinued these programs.

7. What social situations make you flustered or nervous?

Large groups. I’m fine in small numbers, but in large groups I get very nervous.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

My fever is gone and I am feeling a little better! Yay! The seedlings are sprouting, and the other plants (tomato) continue to grow. One more month and we plant in the garden!