Best Life

Today's highlight was lunch with Tina.  Tina is related to Paul's side of the family.  On the occasional holidays we were able to attend gatherings at Aunty Connie's, Tina would be there with her family.  Then we became busy raising the kids and I was working every other weekend and every other holiday.  So we slowly stopped attending. Then when I started working at Women and Infants in 2018,  I bumped into Tina.  She recognized me first and we started talking.  Then laughing and finding out we had many things in common.  At her security post in the main lobby, Tina saw a lot.  As my job as Nursing Supervisor I saw it all.  People are funny and weird and do many strange and outrageous things. This includes staff, leadership, patients, visitors.  Without the laughs, that job would have been even harder.  Thank you Tina for helping make the place a bit happier! And though I have been retired for almost 3 years, we can still fill ...

                                                         Maddy (in the middle holding Layla) and her friends. Good job Maddy!  A perfect summer day to host a graduation party with family and friends.  Beautiful decorations, good food including a taco bar and the bouncy house/water slide.  Thank you for all your hard work and sharing your day with all of us! The girls decided they could not wait for the party food and wanted to make their own peanut butter sandwiches.                                    Brianna definitely the messiest - fingers, face and table (and some on the bread).                               ...

 Today is National Swimming Pool Day and All-American Pet Photo Day.  So I have merged the two.                                             Gypsy loved to be poolside and she loved balls of any kind.                                   Fenway prefers to sit on a cushion poolside (like the princess he is!).                                     Cheyenne and Gypsy would do laps around the pool chasing each other. Today Paul and I started early hoping to complete clearing for the fence.  While Paul repaired the wiring on the trailer, I tackled the debris behind the shed.                     ...

 Today we began the preparation for fence installation.  First to go - the bushes along the back line.                                                                                                      Before                                                                           After The removal of the bush was the easy part.  We headed to Megan and TJs for barrels (small debris), loppers, and a trailer for the branches.  After searching for a hi...

 Call of the Horizon Day.   Dreaming big and wondering what is beyond the horizon.  Seize the dream and plan how to make them happen.  We have seen the horizon in spectacular ways.  And we will continue to look to the horizon but also we realize the wonder is also close to home.    Our granddaughter has already captured our hearts.  Her foot, though tiny, has already saved the day.  By alerting everyone to the affected appendix, she has "saved the day".  At 22 weeks appendicitis is an "easy" fix.  Had she not kicked the affected appendage, who knows?   Today I was witnessed the beating of her heart and watching her 4 ventricles beat in unison.  How amazing that 2 cells can morph into a human being with heart, lungs, limbs and a personality.  Watching her rub her face, move her foot towards her mouth and grow.  I cannot wait to meet her!  Sixteen weeks and counting! As painful as it is not work...

 Today's bike ride took us through the woods and not over the river.  Our first attempt at off road riding was a success.  We took the trail we have used for snowshoeing and occasional hiking.  Biking is definitely faster and more exciting.                                                  View of Saddleback Mountain.                                                    The bridge that no longer exists has been piled next to the trail. Though the bikes rode smoothly over rocks and bumps, I did have to stop to take photos.                                         ...