Sweet Magic

This morning was full of sweetness. I was sitting watching the men’s final at Wimbledon, and Greta climbed up into my lap. She wiggled and snuggled and the next thing I knew she had fallen asleep with her head resting under my chin, just like a baby. For a few minutes my arms felt pleasantly full of a little bundle of love. Sweet magic.


You know, one of the things I have learned in my life is to stop and enjoy the moments, be they little or big. Sometimes when you stop and do something unusual, you will find something wonderful happening, and sometimes when you least expect it, MAGIC!

One of my best stories of sweet magic was finding Shubi.
We didn’t go to Germany to get a dog. We went to see our friend, Otto, who was ill. We wanted to spend time with him, and we were visiting and having a good time, but I missed Otto’s old dog, who had passed away. I mentioned this and how much I also wanted a dog like their late dog.
The next day I was holding Shubi in my arms.

Sweet Magic.


This sweet magic lasted between us for the ten years we shared.
So sweet magic comes to those who know enough to sit down and let it come to them, as much as to those who remember to always keep their eyes open to the possibilities in life.

Wrap-Up

I have decided to catch you all up on the latest from New Hampshire. I feel like so much has happened in the last week that I have been somewhat remiss in sharing. So I will go back to Sunday and work forward.
I did mention that my childhood friend, Gail came for a visit. But because I didn’t have a picture of the event I had to wait until she got home and sent them to me. So here I am with Gail, whom I have known since I was 13 years old, and trust me, that is a very, very long time!


Monday, I had hoped for a little down time, but it was not to be. I had errands to run and groceries to get and cooking to do. Of course, it all made Tuesday such a success, that I can’t complain. I really enjoyed having everyone come for the Fourth of July, and grazing on all the delicious food, made the day a lazy, relaxed, and comfortable day.

Wednesday I was once again trying to catch up. There was cleaning to do, and then the usual stuff, like meals to cook, bills to pay and the garden to work in. In fact when my daughter called to firm up plans for Thursday, I was so out of it, I actually thought it was still Tuesday and I would have a day off before my drive down to her place. I had to laugh at myself, but holidays do that to me.
Thursday, not only did I spend time with my daughter, Amanda and my former mother in-law, but I got to spend time with my grand-kittys! I have three. Cleo, who is a bit shy, Maestro, her brother who is a big beautiful black and white boy, and Ortez who is gray and white and really loves his Grammy! Ortez is the baby and still full of wonderful wild energy!

Amanda & Maestro, me & Ortez

Friday we headed over to have Hubby’s knees examined. This was his first post operative appointment. I am happy to report that all went well. Hubby is released for the next three months, with promises that he will not do things like kneel for a while, (I have screamed at him about this already!) or should he simply have to kneel he must get some “Miss Lewinsky” knee pads to use!

Hubby’s latest x-rays.

Saturday I devoted to weeding the garden. I have not been very good about it and there was a lot to do. I spent about 2 hours simply pulling them out, and now the garden is looking great. I need to mention that we have now eaten our first two summer squash, fresh from the garden, tossed in a pan with butter and onions and basil, and today we picked our first cucumber! The joy that gardening brings is definitely when you serve it all up on a plate!

And to end this post I will make note that today Greta flushed out a Mama and baby ducky. She did not hurt them, but simply flushed them from the bushes. Still when I heard Hubby hollering at her I ran full speed up the hill and discovered I am not nearly as young and fit as I once was! Greta was carried home by me, and I let her know that she is not to scare Mummy like that again. A person could die of heart failure!
You may all stop giggling now!

Strong Women

Thursday I spent the day with two of my favorite people. My beautiful daughter, Amanda, and my former mother-in-law, Alice. We celebrated Alice’s birthday a little early and went out for lunch. We met before lunch at Amanda’s place and sat around drinking coffee and chatting up a storm. It felt so good and so comfortable, we three women with this familial connection. Of course legally Alice isn’t related to me at all, but in my heart she always will be. She was a wonderful mother-in-law to me and we have remained friends. Best of all, she has been an outstanding grandmother to my daughter. I couldn’t have asked for better.




I’ve always read those e-mail things that go around about wonderful, strong, women.
Thursday we all had lunch together.

Thursday Thirteen


Thirteen of my Favorite Shows from The 1970’s
(In no particular order)

1. Marcus Welby, MD
2. The Mod Squad
3. The Carol Burnett Show
4. M*A*S*H*
5. The Bob Newhart Show
6. The Streets of San Francisco
7. Happy Days
8. Soap
9. The Love Boat (so shoot me!)
10. Barney Miller
11. Three’s Company
12. Taxi
13. WKRP In Cincinatti

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!




Our 4th of July Celebration

Yesterday was one of those wonderful days. Here in America, it was the 4th of July! Independence Day. We celebrated with my cousin, Janet, my Uncle George, And Hubby’s Army buddy, Ed and his wife, Janis and daughter, their daughter, Alison. What a great group to get together and celebrate!
From noon until 3, we sat outside enjoying a continuous bevy of appetizers. Homemade salsa, chips, clam dip, and stuffed eggs. Everyone brought different beers to try, so we had Yuengling, Michelob Ultra Lite, and Samuel Adams. We also enjoyed some mixed beverages, and for some of us, just plain old soda.
At 3 PM we moved our party onto the screened in, and covered porch, and set up the TV so we could watch The World Cup match between Germany and Italy.


We broke out the next course of goodies, which were a fantastic potato salad made by my cousin, a yummy bean and mango salad made by our friend Janis, and shish kebob fixings (recipe will be posted for the marinade).
Hubby got his new grill going and soon we were all making the shish kebobs and Hubby was grilling. I cooked corn on the cob and in no time we were sitting down to eat a fabulous 4th of July meal!



Because no 4th should be celebrated without some sort of luscious dessert, I ended our food orgy with this cake.


After our guests departed, the sun set, and soon fireworks blazed in the sky. We watched until the grand finale. Then my bed beckoned me and somewhere around 11 I was in lala land.

Happy 4th Of July

It’s The Fourth of July here in America. The day we celebrate our Independence from English rule. I think we have also moved toward celebrating our freedom. Most families celebrate with barbecues and general gatherings. And of course, fire works!
The fireworks start several days before the fourth. Neighboring towns will coordinate so people can go to all the events in their area. My sister can go to a fire works display for three of four days! Fun stuff!

Quite a few years ago, when my daughter and Hubby’s daughter were with us on the fourth, (they were both in their early teens) I set about to teach them safe handling of fire works. They loved sparklers and so that was what I selected.


I showed them how to hold it at the very base of the stem safely.
Well, you know me. Nothing ever really goes the way I plan. I lit the sparkler and it malfunctioned and blew up in my hand, burning me pretty badly.
I ran inside and grabbed a bag of peas and off we went to the Emergency Room. Where they cleaned and dressed my hand. And I got a lecture on fire works safety.

It was then I realized that I needed to never handle fire works again. And I haven’t. I have been very good about letting the professionals do all the display work. You just never know when you might get a bad one and have it explode like that.
So to everyone out there today celebrating the fourth, please be careful and safe.
Happy Independence Day!!!!

Cook Out Day

Sunday was hot, humid and hazy.Typical summer weather. Usually, I could care less about the heat in the summer, now that Hubby has air-conditioners installed in every window through out the house. On a 90 degree day, we can keep the house nice and dry and comfortable. Somehow today, despite the air-conditioning, I remained hot. (menopause?)
Today my best friend from my childhood came with her family. I have known Gail since we attended a Christian Summer Camp when we were 13 years old. I’d been looking forward to this since the spring when she told me they were going to Nova Scotia for vacation. I knew that to get there, they had to either come through here going or coming!


On their way home they stopped and spent the afternoon. We had a great cookout, christening Hubby’s new grill,

and ate a wonderful feast of summertime foods. Hot-dogs, hamburgers, potato salad, stuffed eggs, vegetables with dip and yes, my world famous, (okay, my Hubby’s favorite!) Strawberry Rhubard pie.

We talked and joked around and had the best time. It felt so relaxing to just sit and enjoy the porch, the people and the meal.
All too soon they had to leave to head for home. I hope they come back soon.
Even Greta had a good time.

Itch, Itch, Itch!!!

When I am an old woman, I will fence in my yard so that my dogs can run free without me having to worry about…Poison Ivy!
Yes, it’s July, and every July this happens. I wake up one morning and there it is, on my arms, where my dog has cuddled up close to me in the night, a bumpy itchy patch of Poison Ivy!
I didn’t have this problem, of course, when I lived in Florida. Then it was just heat rash that last year round! I bought Gold Bond Powder by the case! That, and insect repellent!
But when we moved back home to New Hampshire, I knew I was in trouble because of the large wild field behind my house. Oh, the wild flowers are beautiful, the butterflies a thing to behold, but the Poison Ivy leaves me itching from now until September.


The field, behind our netted cherry tree.

I’ve spoken to Hubby about fencing in the yard. Our yard is very large and if we did this the dogs would still have a large area to run without them running through the field and bringing home these horrible oils to rub all over me in the night. We also wouldn’t have to think about the deer, or in the future, the puppies getting loose.
Hubby is a naturalist. He likes wide open spaces and he loves to watch the dogs running through the field. He doesn’t get Poison Ivy the way I do.
I do love the open fields, just not in July!
Time for the brown soap and calamine lotion!
itch, itch,itch!!!!!