Happy New Year!

We always go to Lori's on New Year's day. After a nice lunch, the ladies, with the help of little fingers, tried to fit the pieces of a puzzle together as we talked, laughed, and just had a good time.
We didn't get too far on this one.
The older kids went sledding on a nice hill near Julie home. They had fun bouncing on the bumps.
As a kid, I loved to sled down the hills with my brothers and dad. Now the grandkids have just as much fun.
The holidays are over. With Becky's help, our tree got taken down and put away for another year. The front door wreath was changed, and the decorative lights outside are turned off.

Today is Monday. Probably a lot of moms were glad to send their children back to school. I remember when I was about 6 or 7 years old, I came home from school that first Monday and saw the Christmas tree gone from the living room. I asked my mom why was it gone and then cried. I didn't want it gone.


Well, like my dad always used to say on Christmas morning, "Only 365 days till Christmas!"
..............Gee, it's less than that already!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Pedal Cake

I had mentioned in my last blog that I would take a picture of the "pedal cake" I made for Lynda's birthday. I big holiday called Christmas came up so I didn't get it in the blog the next day so here it is now.
It looks like flower pedals so I guess that's why I call it "pedal cake". My brother, Ken, calls it "shower cap cake" cause way back when, probably the '60's, I had a fancy pink swimming cap that looked like flower pedals all over it. Back in those days fancy caps were the big "in" thing to use.
Anyway this is it....aren't you impressed.......

A Second Daughter

Today we celebrate our 2nd daughter's birthday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY LYNDA!
1972
I made her a birthday cake with Christmas decorating on it. After all it was almost Christmas.

On Christmas she loved to visit with Grandma and Grandpa Loveridge.
1973
Santa came again to her birthday party.
So did Grandma Ancell.
1978
Santa came again for Lynda's birthday party.
Santa liked to dance with all the cousins.

A cute doll and lots of toys were happily received by the birthday girl with aunt Sue looking on.

1979
Santa couldn't come any more to Lynda's birthday celebration. But her cousins still could even though they did miss the Santa visit.

I had fun decorating her cake copied after a drawing she previously made.
1981
Many cakes followed using her drawings.
I think I was more ambitious then. I'm bringing a cake to celebrate today but it doesn't have the cute drawings. I made a pedal cake. It looks like a big flower. We'll take a picture today and post it tomorrow so you can see what a pedal cake looks like.

November

As this month of November draws to a close, I've much to be thankful for in this time of Thanksgiving.
The beginning of November displayed some fabulous sunsets right out our door.
Had to catch it quickly for the display was short lived, only about 10 minutes of vivid color.
The yard displayed it's vivid colors, too.
The reds and greens complimented each other in their own way.

I'm thankful for this beautiful earth.......
Lots of birthdays this time of year.
Emma turned 2.
I'm thankful for family........

Thank you, Julie, for having us over to enjoy Thanksgiving dinner together. It was delicious!
I even attempted to make mom's famous red cabbage dish. It turned out pretty good.
And Becky made the pumpkin pies, yummmm, wouldn't be Thanksgiving without them.
Lynda brought some great salads which added the finishing touches.

Family gatherings like this are what makes these times special.

Again, I'm thankful for family........
.....and this beautiful world in which we live......

What a Day!

What a day Bernell and I had, yesterday. We were invited by an acquaintance (who is a prominate federal judge) to see his chambers and a tour of the Federal Courthouse. So we can say we went to court yesterday. It was a fantastic tour; first time I've ever been waved through a security check with purse in hand!
We were also invited to accompany the judge and his wife to the swearing-in ceremony of immigrants receiving their citizenship in the United States of America. A federal officer met us curbside and drove us to the theater where this occasion took place. After shaking hands with many dignitaries, we were escorted to reserved box seats and from there watched the proceedings with the judge conducting. Having never seen this before, I was very touched by what I saw and heard. About 190 people received their citizenship that day representing over 60 different countries. A person sang the Star Spangled Banner as part of the program and it triggered me off needing tissues to dry the eyes. The new citizens could raise their hand if he or she wanted to make a comment as the microphone was passed. I wish all Americans could have heard what I heard that day from these people. What a wake up call! Let's cherish our freedoms, liberty, and this great land. These people do. All that spoke were in tears as they expressed how thankful they were to now be called an 'American'.

I'm glad to be an American. I love this country and may God continue to bless it. We need His help and need to do our part in keeping it a land of freedom and opportunity. We can't let our new citizens down.

All Dressed Up

It's that time a year again to get "all dressed up"..........for Halloween.
Lori had us all over for our annual Halloween party and the kids did a good job again arriving in their favorite Halloween attire.

This year I think auntie Annie and Suzy took the prize; the best witches I ever saw!
We ate our usual bread-bowl soup, dry ice root beer, vegetable tray, and donuts.
Out newest little goblin, 3 month old Mitchell, even seemed to have a good time
Combat games, swings, trampoline jumping, and busy little ones running around was activity of the day.
HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYONE!
Fall is here!!!!!

Is it worth it?

Summer's gone. Where did it go.......
I mowed the lawn Saturday between Conference sessions Saturday, one of the many weekly times since early spring. It's been a lot of work to keep it mowed and edged these past few months, especially when the days hit 95 degrees and above. When I was mowing the front, a neighbor walked past and made the comment, "You,re working too hard!" I made a comment back, "Yea, I don't know if it's worth it."
In the Spring, many flats of flowers and tomato plants were bought and planted in flower pots and flower beds. They had to be watered, weeded, tended and fertilized.

The garden grew, the flowers covered the beds and pots, the grass grew green. The tomatoes produced. Continual applications had to be made in snail control, weed control, pest control, deer control (they killed our weeping flowering cherry tree this spring) and whatever else it takes......is it worth it?
Last week the temperatures dropped.......really dropped......and the impatiens didn't like it. Color's gone, life's gone, stems drooping down, leaves are wilting; they're finished.
Becky kindly pulled them out....she wants to get more tulip bulbs and plant them.




Yes, I guess it's worth it. 4 months of color and the beauty of flowers makes us feel good, makes us happy, makes us love the pleasant surroundings this earth offers us. It gave us a sense of accomplishment. It gave us a pleasant place to host outdoor activities. It gave us enjoyment just to sit and read or have a simple outdoor lunch or dinner.

Yea, it's worth it.....can't wait for Becky's tulips next spring.