Friday Foto Friends....

It is Friday, and also the last day of August. How did that happen so fast?!  Fridays are when I link up with Debbie at Breathing In Grace for her Friday Foto Friends linky.  You can visit Deb and join in HERE!!

Do you remember when I posted this photo
 a couple of weeks ago?

I mentioned how the landscapers for the clubhouse

had left that branch 

sticking out and it was making me nuts! LOL

They finally got it!!  Yay!!!

Because of our lazy week, the only other new photos I 

have are from our Wednesday visit to the farm (Joe's accounting client).

Driving on the 'lane' to get to the house gives us such

beautiful views of our Florida sky.

There were cattle along our 2-mile drive on 
the lane to the house.

Sometimes they are all in the pasture and 
other times we find

them 'waiting for us' along the way.

The Guinea Hens were cruising through, making noise

and eating bugs! Busy, busy.

The horses got their carrots and hugs from me.

On the way home, we stopped at our favorite 
little Italian restaurant.

Joe had a couple of slices of pizza and I had 
spaghetti & sausage.

What a lovely treat!

It is hard to believe September is upon us!  Labor Day weekend will be quiet for us, though the HOA is doing a potluck on Monday.  They will supply the ribs, hamburgers and hotdogs while the rest of us bring a dish to share. It is always well attended and delicious!  We invited Helen and Cheryl to join us.

Thanks to those who prayed for Theresa!  She told me the excision went well and the doctor is sure she got all the melanoma.  Of course, we must wait on pathology, but so far, so good.

Thanks for stopping by!  Give Debbie a visit at Breathing In Grace!  Peace & hugs!

Thankful Thursday with Rebecca Jo...

On Thursdays, I like to link up with Rebecca Jo at Knit By God's Hand for her Thankful Thursday!!  You can join in HERE!!

**I am thankful to still be feeling pretty good and healing well!! Praise God!

**I am thankful that Joe is also feeling pretty good, too!

**I am thankful to have had time at the farm (Joe's client) yesterday!

**I am thankful that the red-shouldered hawk took off after a couple of days of hanging close to the house.  This is the hawk that was injured and rescued by Joe's client at the farm. (Story here.)

**I am thankful for the lessons learned in life that made me stronger!

**I am thankful for my faith in Jesus, from whom all blessings flow!!

**I am thankful for those of you who are praying for my friend Theresa today!

**I am thankful for all of you who stop by my blog!  Peace & hugs!!

Black & White Memories on Wednesday...

I am sharing a few black & white photos with you, and the memories that go with them, for today's Black & White Memories linky.  I am doing this only until our Joyce returns (hopefully) this Fall with the beloved Hodgepodge!!  Add your link below and share some memories with us!  No rules and they don't even have to be black & white photos!

My maternal grandmother, Ethel Jane, was one of six children.  Her two younger brothers, Phillip and Walter, both died as young children so I never knew them, but I did grow up with my two great-uncles and my great-aunt.

Aunt Mabel was 18 years older than my grandma. She had already married and moved away when Grandma was born.  Aunt Mable and Uncle Charley never had children.  I was very young when Uncle Charley died, but I remember visiting their house and being very interested in their collection of glass and ceramic dogs.  It seems like they had hundreds of them!!  Funny what we remember.

This is Uncle Charley and Aunt Mabel.

I believe it may be their wedding picture.
Grandma was born in 1911, so this is most likely 1910.

But this is how I remember them!

Aunt Mabel was SHORT! LOL

She also had whiskers that scratched when she hugged you

and kissed your cheek.  She was jolly and loving.

This is a photo of my grandma and her siblings.

Standing left to right, Grandma & Aunt Mabel

Sitting left to right, Uncle Jim and Uncle Den (Denver)

And here they are years later...

Aunt Mabel, Uncle Jim, Grandma and Uncle Den.

They are all gone now, but they were such a big part of my life growing up with their kids and grandkids.  Uncle Den was the grandpa to my cousins Lana, Vicki, and Tysa.  Uncle Jim was the dad of my cousins Pam, Jimmer, and Bobber. My growing-up years are so intertwined with theirs!!

I have mentioned in previous posts that my grandma was not a nice person.  She had a nasty evil streak.  Years after Uncle Charley died, Aunt Mabel was old and not well when she asked grandma if she could move in with her.  Grandma was a widow and had a lovely three bedroom, two bath home.  Grandma told her no.  Aunt Mabel died alone in her tiny apartment (100 miles away) not long after that and wasn't found for three days.  Grandma didn't even flinch or feel guilty (that we ever saw).

I was blessed with a loving and dear Granny (dad's mom) and Grandma (my step-grandma), so I did have wonderful grandparent experiences.  There are nasty grandparents out there in the world though.  Please don't be one of them!!

Thanks for checking in and I hope you will join us walking down memory lane!!  Peace & hugs!!

Tickled Tuesday...

I am tickled to have a quiet week this week!!

We were both tickled to hear from our son, Joey, who called from Kuwait yesterday afternoon.  Our DinL Darlene has been busy starting a non-profit organization (in Georgia) to care for animals.  Joey texted us photos of their new donkeys and goats, who have been added to the family of horses.  They are still looking for property for their "New Paths Horse Sanctuary".

These are our grand-horses, Kitty and Bebe.

These are our new grand-donkeys, 

Helania and Mikey.

And here are our new grand-goats, Camille & Coco.

Thanks for your visit today!  What are you tickled about?  Peace & hugs!!

Weekend Recap on Monday...

Backing up to Thursday, it was a facial day for me!  I don't go every four weeks anymore, but am doing eight weeks instead. Now that I'm not wearing makeup anymore (so freeing!!), my skin is so much better now. I'm also not so stressed since I'm retired. While I was working, it was so relaxing to go.  Now it is more social to catch up with my friend Dawn and what's going on with her family. I've been going to her for over 15 years.  If you have never had a facial, I highly recommend it!!

Friday evening we had Al and Theresa over for dinner.  We hadn't seen them in over two weeks so had a good time catching up with them. They are both working. Theresa works at a physical therapy office and Al still works at the Polk Museum of Art in the Security and Operations department. He keeps me apprised of what goes on there too!

I did not take photos but I made baked ziti (no recipe... I just throw it together), salad, and garlic bread.  I baked a chocolate cake with chocolate ganache and served it with ice cream.  Al had three helpings of the ziti, so I guess it was good!  We retired to the living room and watched "Invincible" on TV.  They both enjoyed it, and we did too. It is one of our favorites because it is a true story about the Philadelphia Eagles.  Joe had season tickets during the time Vince Papale made the team so that makes it even more exciting for us!  We have seen it over 10 times!

Saturday morning when I went out to get the newspaper, this little guy jumped from above the door to the side of the house. I had to scoot back in for my phone to take this picture.  Frogs at the door are good luck!!  Isn't he cute?!!

We went to the 4:00 Vigil Mass Saturday afternoon.

It poured rain during the service but had stopped by the time we were leaving.

On Sunday, we invited Helen and Cheryl to come after their church to have lunch with us.  I had two HUGE chicken breasts in the freezer to use, so went looking for a recipe.  I had forgotten about my Alexandria (Virginia) cookbook but found a good recipe that I was happy with. We all enjoyed it and I will use it again. Thought I would share it with you since it was good. I only used chicken breasts and should have taken it out after 45 minutes instead of the hour called for in the recipe. Use your judgment.

All of this from two breasts! 

Joe and I have a clear calendar this week!! No doctor appointments and nothing other than our visit to the farm on Wednesday.

Wednesday also marks the 15th anniversary of my brother Randy's death. Hard to believe it has been 15 years.  I miss him.  He died of colon cancer after a very hard seven-year battle.  He would be so proud of his two kids. Mike is our future doctor and Sara is beginning work on her PhD.  I know I am proud of them!

Our friend, Theresa, is having a melanoma removed from her back on Thursday so I ask for your prayers for her, please. Her doctor says it is early stages and that is what we are hoping for.  I offered to go with her, but she wants to deal with it on her own.  She didn't even want Al to take time off work. Praying!!

Labor Day is coming and so is Joe's birthday!!  But that is all a week away!

Thanks for your visit!! 
Wishing you a good week ahead!! 

Peace & hugs!!

Sunday Stealing Questions...

Thanks to Bev Sykes for this week's questions!!  You can join in HERE!!

Misc.Questions

Stolen from Phoenix, the Blogging Mama, which is now a private blog, unfortunately

1. How has your life most benefited from the Internet? Whether it’s meeting people, cutting business overhead, finding rare collectibles, or simply sharing funny cat pictures, share how the web has made life easier.

The internet has made it much easier to be a slug, sitting on my backside with the laptop on my lap spending much too much time browsing.

2. The getaway car is waiting outside – where is it taking you?

Out to eat!! LOL 

3. Do you reply to comments on your blog? All of them? Or just the really interesting ones?  Do you go back to check if the authors or the blogs you comment on reply to your comments?

I am really bad about going back to check on the comments I leave on blogs. I am happy that most comments on my blog come to email so it is easier to respond if a response is warranted.

4. On average, how long does it take you to make an important decision?

I am good at making an informed decision without too much laboring over it.

5. Do you gather a lot of information prior to making the decision, or do you go with your gut in the heat of the moment? 

That depends on what the decision is about. I do trust my gut (and experience) most of the time.

6. What’s the most important thing you’ve learned recently?

It's not a new lesson, but one that hits home with surgeries, doctor appointments and dear friends who are facing cancer treatments... life is so precious.  

7. What’s your hidden talent? Are you double-jointed? Can you sneeze the alphabet? Share your unique skill.

Well, my elbows are 'double-jointed' and that is why I could never stand on my hands and actually broke my arm trying when I was in 7th grade. I've never thought of it as a unique skill, however!! LOL  I can't sneeze the alphabet, but my dad could belch the alphabet -  hahaha!  I can cross my toes... how's that for talent!?

8. Rate the level of intensity you have about wanting to know God – no desire, low priority, curious, great desire, high priority, desperate to learn more. Explain your answer.

I have accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior.  I am always desperate to learn more and will be joining a Bible Study that begins next month. I read my Bible daily, pray daily and have a daily devotional that I read each day. Great desire, high priority, and desperate to learn more all apply!!

9. What’s one of your nicknames?  How did you get that nickname?

Terri (with two Rs and an I) is my nickname for Teresa (no H).  I am also known as Mom, Grandma, and Honey or Babe.  My friend Cindee calls me Ter.

10. What do you have to have with you when you travel? Why?

We don't fly anymore unless we have to (which is rare).  Traveling in the car requires bottled water and something to snack on. We also always have gum.

11. What do you think about reading books on an electronic reading device? Do you have an electronic reading device? Do you love it? Why? If you don’t love it, why not?

I do love my Kindle Fire.  I have over 300 books that I can carry with me wherever I go.  I no longer have books to store, dust, and give away when they become too many.  I thought I would miss holding a book... I don't.

12. Do you prefer writing on paper or a keyboard? Why?

I much prefer the keyboard. It's so much easier to make corrections and edit on the keyboard.  I do admit to writing on the computer and then copying it with pen and paper so my correspondence is more personal when more than just a note is warranted.

13. If the shoes make the man (or woman), what do your shoes say about you right now? (Assuming you’re wearing shoes. Although if you’re not, that certainly says something, too.)

I live in flip-flops and sandals.

14. Describe your favorite pair of shoes.

If flip-flops don't count, I guess it would be my canvas slip-ons. 

15. If you could wake up tomorrow having gained one ability or quality, what would it be?

What a loaded question!  I would like the ability to heal by touch, but would not like the notoriety that would come with it. I would not want to be mistaken for a deity, but just to eliminate pain and disease...  I'm probably thinking about this because of four friends fighting cancer right now and one losing the battle with Parkinson's Disease.  I am helpless except to pray.

Wishing you a blessed Sunday and week ahead!!  Thanks for your visit!  Peace & hugs!!

Saturday 9 with Aretha...

Think

Welcome to Saturday: 9. What we've committed to our readers is that we will post 9 questions every Saturday. Sometimes the post will have a theme, and at other times the questions will be totally unrelated. Those weeks we do "random questions," so-to-speak. We encourage you to visit other participants posts and leave a comment. Because we don't have any rules, it is your choice. We hate rules. We love memes, however, and here is today's meme!


Think (1968)
Unfamiliar with this week's song. Hear it here.
In fond remembrance of The Queen of Soul (1942-2018).
 
1) As befits one of America's premier artists, Aretha Franklin sang at three Presidential inaugurations. The first was Jimmy Carter's in 1977 when she sang "God Bless America." What's your favorite patriotic song?  God Bless America is a good one!

2) The daughter of a Baptist minister, Aretha grew up with church music. She told Rolling Stone one of her favorite songs was the hymn, "Victory Is Mine." What's your favorite religious song?  I have many favorites!  Here is one of them...

3) She welled up a bit when President George H. W. Bush presented her with the nation's highest civilian award, the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005. When is the last time you shed a tear?  I have mentioned before that I cry at movies, TV shows, sometimes a commercial, and definitely when I see someone else crying. Let's don't even mention the videos on Facebook about animals. 

4) In 1980, the Queen of Soul sang for the Queen of England in a Command Performance at The Royal Albert Hall. Have you ever been to London?  Nope.

5) Since Aretha had many honorary degrees, it would have been appropriate to refer to her as Dr. Franklin. Who is the last person you referred to by his or her title (Officer, Father, Sgt., Dr., etc.)?  On Tuesday when I saw my doctor, Dr. Hahn.

6)  In this week's song, Aretha tells her lover that it doesn't take a high IQ to understand what's going on in their relationship. Do you know your IQ?  No... only the one on Facebook that says I am a genius because I can answer questions no one else can. Ha!

7) A sculpture of Aretha is on display at Madame Tussaud's in New York. Do you think wax museums are cool, or creepy?  Pretty cool, I guess. Some of them are not done very well, however.

8) Aretha and Motown legend Smokey Robinson were literally lifelong friends since they were playground buddies in Detroit. Smokey is one of the only people who can claim to have seen The Queen of Soul with a bucket in a sandbox. If we went to the playground today, would you head for the swings, the slide or the jungle gym? Or, like Aretha, would you play in the sand?  I would head for the swings.

9) Random question: Do you like pumpkin seeds?  Not really. I've had them, salted, and don't hate them, but it is not a snack I would seek out.

Thanks so much for joining us again at Saturday: 9. As always, feel free to come back, see who has participated and comment on their posts. In fact sometimes, if you want to read & comment on everyone's responses, you might want to check back again tomorrow. But it is not a rule. We haven’t any rules here. Join us on next Saturday for another version of Saturday: 9, "Just A Silly Meme on a Saturday!" Enjoy your weekend!

Thanks to Crazy Sam Winters for this week's Saturday 9!! You can join in HERE!!

Happy Saturday! Thanks for your visit!! Peace & hugs.

Friday Foto Friends...

Friday has arrived and that means it is time to share some photos from the week and link-up over at Deb's Breathing In Grace blog.  You can find Debbie HERE!!  Thanks for hosting us, Deb!!

I made it to the farm (Joe's accounting client) on Wednesday! Missed going last week!

How about a flock of guinea hens. Noisy and fun to watch!

That gorgeous blue Florida sky!  It was a pretty day!

Doc was waiting for his carrot snacks! Such a sweet boy!

And Pistle is a little aggressive when it comes to snacks.

He tried to chomp on my thumb at one point. He is a good boy though.

The exciting thing there this week was an injured Red Shouldered Hawk

that was rescued by the owner!  He was feeding the bird raw chicken when

we arrived.  Such a regal bird.  His left wing seemed to be injured.

He tried to fly away once, but was captured again and brought back to the cage.

Hoping he will be strong enough to take off and hunt again!

They do have a place to take him for rehab if giving him rest and protection

there isn't enough.  I'll find out next week, I guess.

He had no problem with me getting close for photos.

We are entertaining our friends, Al & Theresa, tonight for dinner and a movie.  At the start of football season, we always MUST watch the movie "Invincible" which is a true story about the Philadelphia Eagles football team.  Al has never seen it so we will be watching tonight after a meal of baked ziti, salad, and garlic bread.  Cake and ice cream for dessert and popcorn for later.  A nice way to start the weekend!! 

Thanks for your visit!!  Peace & hugs.

Thankful Thursday with Rebecca Jo...

Rebecca Jo, at Knit By God's Hand, hosts Thankful Thursday HERE, where we link up with others who blog about what they have been thankful for this week.  Please visit Rebecca Jo and join us!!

**I am always thankful for our beautiful blue Florida sky!  The picture was taken yesterday.

**If you have been reading my blog this week, you know I am thankful for good doctors!!  My knees are nearly pain-free, making movement so much more pleasant.  Thankful for cortisone shots!!  I am also driving again, one week after my out-patient procedure, which also worked wonderfully!!  Praising God!!

**I was thankful to drive Joe down to Ft. Meade yesterday, to his client on the farm. I got to feed the horses carrots while he did his accounting work in the office with the owners. I missed being there last week!  The owner told Joe the horses missed me. (That was sweet!)

**I am thankful for Facebook!!  I found a cousin I hadn't been in touch with in over 50 years!!  Just by chance, now and then, I go searching on social media for names from my past.  I have found a few folks that way, but am most excited about finding cousin Anna Lee.  Anna Lee's mom was the niece of my Granny Kelly.  The Fulks owned a dairy farm and I got to spend a week with them a few summers when I was 10-11-12ish.  Anna Lee is my age so we played together when I was there.  Both of us were tomboys and liked to climb trees, build forts in the hay/straw mall and see what other trouble we could find on the farm.  I wish I had pictures!!  She remembers me and my visits and also my parents.  It was fun chatting with her on Messenger!!  Thankful for family and fond memories!

**And of course, I am thankful for YOU and your visit!  Peace & hugs!!

Black & White Memories

In place of the Wednesday Hodgepodge, which we all still hope Joyce brings back this Fall, use this fun filler to share old photos and the memories that go with them!!  Since some of you aren't as old as me and may not have black & white photos to share, color photos work too as long as you share the memories!!  There really aren't any rules, but I hope you will link up with us and share!!

I went digging to find a few that I haven't shared before.  At least it has been awhile since I shared these old photos...

Didn't everyone have a naked baby picture taken back in the day?

This is me at 6 1/2 months old and that makes it mid-July 1952.

This was in my grandma's backyard.  Sorry - I don't remember posing!!

I DO remember my sliding board and swingset.

This was in our backyard in Washington Court House, Ohio, on

Washington Avenue. I must have been around three.

And my first BIG bicycle, for Christmas,

same house but in the living room.

It was great being an only child for a little while!!

This is my maternal grandmother, Ethel Jane Willman.

She was quite the flapper girl back in the day!

This is my sassy-looking mother. 

I was not born yet and this was a picnic at the lake

with my dad, Aunt Dot, and Uncle Bill.

My Uncle Jim Clouser, posted on Facebook reminding the family

of the Clouser Reunion this weekend.  That reminded me of

the Willman Reunions when I was a kid.  We had SO MUCH fun

with cousins at Serpent Mound State Park every summer.

I sure do miss those gatherings - and my cousins who I don't see often enough.

Vicki, Lana, Bobber, and me...

Do you have some memories to share with us today!!  Leave your link below so others can find you!!

Before I go, my appointment with Dr. Hahn went GREAT!!  I am nearly healed, can drive again! And Joe heard her say four more weeks of limited lifting and activity!  Still taking it easy, but I did drive us home and then to Publix!! Hooray for good doctors!!

Thanks for your visit!!  Peace & hugs!!

An InLinkz Link-up

Tickled Tuesday....

Well, my day (and Joe's) didn't start out with either of us "tickled" about much, but the day was saved.

My appointment at the Florida Orthopaedic Institute was for 10:45.  With Joe driving, we decided to leave at 9:30 and take the back roads over to Tampa/Temple Terrace, rather than drive I-4 at the tail-end of the Tampa rush hour.  We arrived unhurried with time to spare and even found a Handi-Cap parking space right in front of the door. TICKLED!!!

Then I signed in to see the PA Brian Yates, for my cortisone shots.  We were told there was a 90-minute back-up due to lots of surgeries last week and a vacation schedule.  That 90-minute back-up turned into 3 HOURS!!

If you have followed my posts for a while, you know that I struggle with being patient.  Joe is actually much more patient than me (what!!!).  If we weren't an hour from home, I might have rescheduled. BUT my knees have really been hurting and over-hearing conversations with others who did indeed reschedule, it would be another month before getting in (because of the doctor's vacation).

Doctors are allowed to take vacations.  I'm not begrudging him his, but a $100 gift card would have been nicer than the bottled water and crackers they put out for everyone.  One of the administrative women told someone there were 138 patients scheduled for the day.

Okay... back to being tickled.  Really tickled.  When we were finally called back to a room, where I expected to wait even longer, the doctor himself walked in with a med-student.  He jumped in to help his PA (Physician's Assistant) with some of the patients. This is the doctor that our nephew recommended to us.  Sean has been in the OR with Dr. Bernasek and told me to see him for my knee surgery. Sean represents a company that makes the 'hardware' for replacements and watches/over-sees the surgeons using their products in the operating rooms.

Dr. Bernasek was GREAT!  He apologized for the long wait, didn't take the notes in my file as gospel until he examined my knees himself, looked at my x-rays, and talked to me about strengthening my muscles before surgery.  He gave me a prescription for some physical therapy with instructions to work on my knee strength daily.

I did not mention Nephew Sean's name until he was getting ready to leave so the nurse could prepare me for the shots.  He remembered Sean (we both thought it was genuine) and he spent just a little more time with me then.  The nurse came in to clean my knees to prepare for the shots and Dr. Bernasek came back in to do the shots himself. He did the injections in a different place from either of my former doctors, so I am hopeful for a lot less pain in the coming days. He also shook my hand and then Joe's and reminded me to get ice on my knees and take it easy for a couple of days. (That's what I am doing anyway! LOL)

SO.... a good day turned bad turned good again.  I was actually tickled to have left the house at 9:30 and not arrived home until nearly 4:00.  Glad we had nothing else on our calendars.  We did have lunch in the little cafe there before we left the clinic. Both of us were starved!  My bleu cheese burger was great and Joe loved his Godfather sub!!

PS... I was really tickled to see this selfie on Facebook, from my nephew, Dr. Mike Kelly, who began the first rotation of his internship in the pediatric emergency department of his post in Toledo, Ohio!!  So proud of him!!

Today, bright and early, I see Dr. Hahn for my post-op appointment.  It seems to be all about me this week!!  Hoping I will be tickled with her report and that I can drive again!

Thanks for your visit!!  What are you tickled about?  Peace & hugs!!