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Thursday, April 29, 2010

Silly Squirrels, Must be NUTS

red tulipSeveral weeks ago we spotted this one, lone red tulip in the yard. Not in the flower bed you can see just to edge of the picture. This flower bed is NOT where I've planted tulips at all as a matter of fact. What is a fact is that all the red tulips are on the side of the house, this picture is in the back yard. Now birds can sometimes drop seeds and things can sprout in odd places; but tulips don't have seeds. In fact their bulbs are pretty good size, AND their planted on the surface but about 6 inches below the soil. So.........me thinks some silly squirrel is nuts. Rather he or she was planting nuts, dug up my bulb thinking it was a nut and never remember to come back to it for dinner along the way. Or perhaps he or she did come back for a snack and realized....hum, that's not a nut!
red tulipHere's a close up my lone tulip. Intended to dig it up to transplant it back where it belongs after it bloomed; but it's been raining alot and so, I've not gotten that done.

We enjoyed it's beauty just the same.

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Miracle of Birth, and Laying an Egg

Mallard Duck nestingThe other day I traveled to Urbana to help Daddy take his 90 year old Sister to the doctors. This Duck has made herself a comfy nest right beside the door to the doctor's office. I mean right beside it. See the drain, the door is to the left about 8 inches. There were tons of people in and out in and out. We were there about an hour and half and the poor Duck surely had lots of interruptions. Someone else there waiting got her the bowl of water and some stale bread. What a busy place to make a nest to lay eggs.
Momma MallardApparently, she had already layed the eggs. See the white there in the very front? One of the nurses came out to check on her and said there was a pond back behind the office; but there were often cats there. She figured the Duck felt safer close to the building with all the people.
Duck on EggsShe didn't squawk as we all watched her. I'm not as close as this looks (wanted to give her some space); used my Zoom and then cropped the photo here which makes it appear I'm closer.

Birth is such a miracle. Wonder if the doctors office staff has little ducklings there yet to watch over?

Sunday, April 25, 2010

WOW MOM, The Wisteria

Purple WisteriaWisteria

Took these photo's about a week ago at my folks house. Mom LOVED these Wisteria plants. Year after year it was a source of concern and pride for both my folks. Mom would worry so about them being ruined. Our weather here in central Ohio is soooooooooo unpredicatable. The Wisteria would show blooms in early spring then we'd get a frost and they'd be gone and she'd be extremely upset. She spotted these plants I think on a trip to Williamsburg many years ago and then they decided to plant some.

There have been years when through their worry, Dad would hook up umbrella's around them to protect them from the frost. I even remember one year she talked so much about how many blossoms they had and how anxious she was for them to bloom; he hooked up a light bulb to provide heat for these treasured plants of hers.

And this year, I feel Mom's presence there. The Wisteria have never been prettier, or more full of blooms. They smell heavenly and are loaded with lots of honey bees pollinating. Pollinate away bees, Mom would certainly approve. On the anniversary of her death, I enjoyed some quiet time with Daddy, a glass of wine and Mom's beautiful Wisteria.

**I'm out of order alphabetically here with my W memory of Mom, but it seemed appropriate.
Other Memories:
A=Advice, Afghan, Apples
B=Bread, and Bernie
C=Camping, Creativity and Courage
D=Dancing and Delaware Dam
E=Energy and Etiquette
F=Friday
G=Gown (wedding gown), grape pop
H=Hammocks and Holidays
I=Ice Skating and Isaly's
J=JACKS, Mother and Daughter, childhood games
K=Kindess, something we're taught
L=Love Story
M=Memories, One Year Ago Today (Making Do and Mohican)
N=Noodles Over Niagara


Thursday, April 22, 2010

Clicking glasses together, TOAST!

wine lunchOne for me and one for you! See, I really am handing it across the table to her. Take a look and you'll see, one for me and one for Jan, my SIL.
Jan and wineWe had lunch outdoors, little cool; but we were determined to catch a ray of sun if it showed itself we didn't want to miss the opportunity. This was a couple of weeks ago after we'd gone for a massage. You can tell it's still plenty cool; she's wearing a jacket, and I've got on a vest.

Lunch is always an adventure for us. We don't get to do this often; and it seems funny things always happen when we do; so it truly is an adventure.

I usually have my camera in my purse, and it's a good thing..........cause look what we saw. Grabbed my camera quickly....and HERE YOU GO. (psssssssss click on here you go).

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Shopping

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Berry Insurance Agency serves Franklin, Quincy, Waltham and all of Massachusetts. In addition to serving your insurance needs, they have partnered with American Legion Post 72 to provide laptop computers to our men and women serving us so far from home and their loved ones.


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Monday, April 19, 2010

Noodles over Niagara

Niagara Falls Family PhotoLong long ago, in a planet far far away. Chuckie, Mikie, Mommie, and Sandy. Without the color you may not see what we're all sitting in front of; it's the flowered clock at Niagara Falls. See me wearing pedal pushers....that's right Capri's are not a new style; merely an old one given a new name. Niagara Falls was the first vacation I think we took as a family. We were there I think about 4 days or less. I remember Mom with a fold up iron ironing our clothes on the end of the bed in the hotel room. I remember her talking about how much prettier The Canadian side of the falls was. I remember having fun. Not sure how old we are in this photo.

Noodles. I remember making homemade noodles for the first time with Mom. I remember watching her make noodles before I was old enough to help her. She rolled them out with a roller, stretching and stretching the dough. Then she rolled it up like you would a pinwheel, and cut them. Then to uncurl them she'd lift them off the table over and over until she got the whole pile down, spreading them out so they would dry a bit there on the kitchen table. She made beef and noodles over mashed potatoes. Yum.

I make homemade noodles too, though I use a pasta roller. Though a different method, I always think of you Mom. Thanks for the memories!

I've kept the memory alive by teaching my daughter to make pasta, and a few years ago enlisted the help of my nephews's daughter, my grand niece. And so it continues. Mom's legacy.

Previous Memories:
A=Advice, Afghan, Apples
B=Bread, and Bernie
C=Camping, Creativity and Courage
D=Dancing and Delaware Dam
E=Energy and Etiquette
F=Friday
G=Gown (wedding gown), grape pop
H=Hammocks and Holidays
I=Ice Skating and Isaly's
J=JACKS, Mother and Daughter, childhood games
K=Kindess, something we're taught
L=Love Story
M=Memories, One Year ago Today (Making Do and Mohican)