Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Memory Lane

Every now and then, it's fun to look at photos taken years ago and remember places I have lived, worked and played.  For the most part these are fond memories and still invoke giggles and treasured moments.

Pregnant with our son but stupid drinking beer.


Gotta love a man in a kilt.


Some castle in Belgium with Jim Watson
 Dean and I riding donkey in  Hydra, Greece

Downtown Athens at night

Ya,you know what this is!

Good ole Switzerland

Kel at about 3 yrs

Castle trip and yes we spent a week in this castle.

See, I told ya, photos invoke memories, smiles and fond moments.  Don't wait for cold weather to review ole photos.

Monday, May 21, 2012

Slip n Slide

What a wonderful weekend, lots of warm weather, hell, at times it was down right HOT.



Now let's see if this show up.  I'm telling ya, a few falls like Clint did, and you'd not see me doing this again but he's a tough little bugger and just keeps going.

He didn't wait for his pool water to warm up either, he was in that pool as soon as his Daddy got it filled and honey, that was some cold-ass water.  His little teeth we're just a clanging but no way was he getting out.

Then, Meme came home and decided she needed to get his pool out and ready at her house too. I was sweating like I don't know what as I had to hold the air pump on the pool value in the hot sun. Once inflated, I could not toss in the hose and move away as it filled.  Move away, hell, I grabbed a beer and sat on the upper deck, under the awning, hoping to cool down as the sweat continued to roll down and off me.  Inside the a/c was going nicely and cooling down the house and here I sat, outside in the heat.  Talk about stupid.

While us NY kids were doing this, the Minnesota kids were in Duluth at a Jr Islanders hockey tournament and yes, they won the championship.  They sent me the link to the webcam and I got to watch some of the action, really cool and congrats to the entire team. I know the ride home was long and hopefully, all homework was done because Monday was and is a school day!!!

Hubby is back from his "outings" which included places like Albany, Chicago, Milwaukee, Syracuse, Waterloo, Sandy Creek, etc. and now, I can do up his laundry...traveling man is one tired puppy so he's definitely sleeping in this morning.

And the best news is my sister will here over Memorial weekend,hurrah.  We'll fix Patrick a bang-up birthday dinner on the 28th and yes, we'll do the cemetery runs too.  Gotta say hi to our parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles.  My parents did this for years and when they died, I said I'd carry on the tradition, hopefully with other family members joining me.  Doesn't always happen but it is nice when they can join me. Plant flowers, talk to the folks and make sure they know they are not forgotten.

Busy week ahead of me, have Clint on Tuesday, hurrah.  Wednesday Shirley and I should be able to do our weekly lunch number and then, who knows, maybe I'll rip down more boxes if my energy level remains up.  Ripped down a bunch Saturday morning and thought I had done them all until I went to the garage and saw the stack we had out there -- damn!  Mostly tho, I'm gonna enjoy this warm weather and with any real luck, figure out how to set up and use my inflatable kayak.  Ya, I know, I keep talking about it, saying I'm gonna use and so far, haven't taken it out of its carry bag. This has to stop, cause I really wanted use this sucker.

So you all have a good week, okay?

Sunday, May 20, 2012

Flower+Grandson+ FUN

 Last year Clint helped me plant flowers and in the process, found the hose and in due course,"hosed" me and the house.  It was quite the party!






This year, he is two and a half years old and I kept the hose away from him...he used the watering can.



Ya,he looks so innocent here, right?







I know, this year's photos would be nice but unfortunately,they are still on my iphone and I have yet to figure out how to post them directly to my blog via the phone.  I can post them on Facebook but -----  regardless,this year's flower planting was much easier and we both worked hard and got exhausted in quick order.  Fun day tho.

So here's my summer game plan or as it stands at the moment. First my sister will come up over Memorial weekend and help with the grave site flower number.  Then in August the Minnesota Rourk's shall arrive and let the good times roll.  In September, if all goes as planned, head to Vermont to meet up with my Nam buddy and continue our memory lane number.  Its amazing how much we actually remember from those days in Nam,40 some odd years later when we get together.

Oh and this weekend Alex is playing in some Jr Islanders hockey tournament in Duluth and so far, they won two and had another game to play at 4:30 but I haven't heard that score.  And this afternoon (well, actually around 10 a.m. ) the final of the Rome, Madrid tennis final - soon the French Open shall begin and once again, I shall be stuck to the TV.

So you all have a good Sunday, for once we are having a nice warm,dry weekend...loving it.

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

More Birds

Yes, yes and yes, its a hummingbird.  The first one to visit my feeder this year and yes, I am excited.

My grandson saw this and said, "Oh how cute, he's small Meme."

And while the hummer is enjoying his seemingly "solo" diner, the cardinals are having a blast.  Now if I have this right, the bright red ones are the males and the less attractive are the females.


Yes, the female cardinals are red but not as bright and a bit more cautious than the males.  The males tend to stand guard and allow the female to venture forward to get food.

Now even the females are coming on to my deck and they are some fat birds...maybe they are pregnant?
Oh yes, the damn rain continues and while hubby did manage to get the lawn mowed Sunday, its been raining off and on every since...but without mowing we'd need to hire a farmer and baler.






This is Clint's tomato plant.  We started from a seed, and Saturday we transplanted into this bigger container.

Oh stop, we did this last year too and it worked nicely and we had tomatoes up the eye balls.  He doesn't like tomatoes but he loves catsup.  And if we make salsa he likes that too.


Of course Woody Woodpecker has to show up and show off too.  Why pound his beak into a tree when a bird feeder is so much easier and less noise!

So its Wednesday, lunch with my sister-in-law and my turn to pick the spot and at this point, I am clueless...well, guess I'd better think real hard, eh?

Have a lovely day.

Monday, May 7, 2012

Measured


If this doesn't make you laugh, you might be humor impaired!

The Air Force found they had too many officers and decided to offer an early retirement bonus. They promised any officer who volunteered for Retirement a bonus of $1,000 for every inch measured in a straight line between any Two points in his body.. The officer got to choose what those two points would be.

The first officer who accepted asked that he be measured from the top of his head to the tip of his toes. He was measured at six feet and walked out with a bonus of $72,000.

The second officer who accepted was a little smarter and asked to be measured from the tip of his outstretched hands to his toes. He walked out with $96,000.

The third one was a non-commissioned officer, a grizzly old Chief who, when asked where he would like to be measured replied,

'From the tip of my weenie to my testicles.'

It was suggested by the pension man that he might want to reconsider, explaining about the nice big checks the previous two Officers had received.
But the old Chief insisted and they decided to go along with him providing the measurement was taken by a Medical Officer.

The Medical Officer arrived and instructed the Chief to 'drop 'em,' which he did. The medical officer placed the tape measure on the tip of the Chief's weenie and began to work back. "Dear Lord!", he suddenly exclaimed,

''Where are your testicles?''

The old Chief calmly replied, ''
Vietnam ''.

I Love This Country!
It's The Government That
Scares The Hell Outa Me!

Sunday, May 6, 2012

4-Wheeling

Hello,

Yes, it is Sunday and yes, I have my heat back on -- this damn weather is driving me bonkers.  I cannot believe I needed to turn the heater on because this house and I were chilled to the bone!

Yesterday was great fun and a first for me. First my grandson took me for a walk in the woods, over to the gravel pit and of course, he had to hike through every puddle he could find.  He was doing good until he slipped and now, he was thoroughly wet but didn't seemed to care.  His mother and I were most anxious to get him home, changed and dry but that wasn't his agenda (however, we did that in due course too).  And while on this hike,he talked constantly and pointed things out to me. As Daddy had recently "brush-hogged" the area, stuff was sticking up in places and he warned me;"be careful Meme, don't trip!"




Then, back to the house and dry clothes and now he wanted to ride motorcycle with Daddy. Well, Daddy is game and once his helmet was on, it was off they went.  During which time, my daughter decided Mom should go 4-wheeling!  Well, that was also gonna include "mud-bogging" too.  Talk about laugh, we just roared and I kept saying; "I'm sliding down and on your back," to which she replied, "Duh, like I didn't know this!"  But the mud holes were the most exciting once I got use to the idea that we would get thru them and tho my butt hurt it was great fun.  She didn't go fast, thank goodness...and I did not fall off but I did lose my hat and we had to stop to get it but other than that, it was a laugh-ride and great fun.  Hell of a way to spend a Saturday morning.

Then, later, after we both had showered, grandson sleeping, we headed into town to do some light shopping.  I needed potting soil so I could transplant the "grow from seed tomato plant" into a bigger container.  And while doing this, I'd also grab a bag of sunflower seeds for the birds.  I mean, if the cardinals continue to visit and like this seed, so be it!  Of course in due time, dau announced she was hungry and we had to get something to eat. So, off to the Chinese place...where we chowed down until we could not eat another bite.

All in all it was a fun Saturday and it actually got warm...I mean, many were outside wearing shorts and light tops,and while I did eventually put on shorts, it was inside wearing only -- hell, I haven't shaved my legs in weeks!!!

So that was my Saturday and altho my legs ache a little today, I was pleased to discover I wasn't as out of shape as i imagined and I'd like to do this again...maybe next time, without the damn mud!!!

Friday, May 4, 2012

Buck Wheat


Another famous American becomes a Muslim

It is becoming a very scary world out there . . . . .
Another Famous American converts to Islam ...
It was announced today that Buckwheat,
Of Our Gang fame, Has converted To
The Muslim faith and changed his name to: Kareem of Wheat.
I just hope he doesn't become a cereal killer

*********************************

I just wanted to share my visitor with you -- it has taken a long time for Cardinals to actual visit my bird feeders and trust me, landing on my deck was a treat beyond words.  This is one very hard bird to photograph but amazingly I was in the right place, with camera and at the right time.

However Mr(or Mrs) Squirrel has no issue with eating bird feed wherever s/he can find it. And yes, they are cute but they are also hogs!

And now it is May 4th and so far this month has seen damn little sunshine and lots of rain.  However, in all fairness the temps haven't been too bad, chilly at night and some wicked thunderstorms but temps during the day have been bearable.  My that I mean, a light jacket is sufficient and in some cases, could be too warm if one was wearing a sweatshirt.

Have no idea what the weekend shall bring. Still waiting for a decent day so I can try out my kayak but so far, that number hasn't been possible.  Oh well, it will happen.

I just like this photo,the little guy fishing is no relation but he was having a good time and his Mommy was very patient and helping him as much as he would tolerate. Ya, as this damp weather continues, it makes me wish I was still in Florida but I know that state is heating up big time, so I probably wouldn't like it all that much now...April is the perfect month to visit.

Hey you all have a great weekend, okay?