Favorite Foto Friday!

This was a birthday gift from my friend/co-worker, Carol.   She is very talented.   It a great piece of artwork and I love the orange ribbon that serves as the hanger.   I have it in my bathroom to see my favorite verse in "doodle" form each day.  She is moving and will be missed at work.  Even though she will no longer be my co-worker, I do hope she will still be my friend.  : )

Good luck Carol and enjoy!

Favorite Foto Friday!

Can you smell the fragrance of this star gazer lilly?  There are several new buds opening today.  I received a vase full of these on Mother's day and they are still so beautiful.  We have kept them on the deck this week (they are covered by the awning) and you can still smell the beautiful fragrance without sneezing and having sinus problems.

I planted the garden today.  Was so hoping to beat the rain and we did.  Meagan and Mason helped me plant peppers and tomato plants, beans, cucumbers, squash, zucchini, and eggplant.  We have a small garden but we enjoy those fresh veggies all summer long.

Planting beans with a stick to measure the space,
just like we did when I was a kid.

What a Fun Mother's Day

It was a lovely day with my family and friends.

I woke to breakfast in bed with gifts and cards from the kids.  All three of them spent the next 20 minutes in our bed just talking and laughing.  What a sweet moment with no camera to capture it.  After church we enjoyed lunch on the deck with friends, a song from Meagan (video below)  and then moved out front for our annual game of croquet.  Went for a walk, enjoyed some frozen custard and a splash in the neighbor's hot tub.  Couldn't ask for better weather, company or happenings.  Thank you God for my family and the blessings they bring.

Kelsie's home from college for the summer.  Yah!!!!

I cut off Michael's head but I see I got Amanda in this picture.  

Is this the winning shot???

The boys took the convertible for a spin.

To my mom

Happy mothers day!

I hope you have a grand day of relaxing and enjoying quiet time, whatever the day may bring.

I had a great time visiting Philadelphia with you. Thanks for inviting me to go. We had a good chance to visit and enjoy extended amount of conversations. The fire alarms at bed time were just icing on the cake.

Here are some highlights from our trip. I love you. ~Donna

View from our room on the 24th floor of the Loew's Hotel.
Pretty cool that Ben Franklin designed this building.

After a quick lunch at the Reading Terminal Market the tour began.

First stop...the Liberty Bell, of course.

The grounds outside the liberty bell showcase were beautiful
with 100's of tulips of all colors.

Independence Hall - George Washington sat in this very chair.

Current repair work requires a scaffold and
scrim banner on the tower.

Our carriage ride was very fun.  Thank you Doris.

Day 2:  Lunch at City Tavern after our double decker bus tour.

I'll save the sights from the bus tour around town for another post.  Can't wait to return to Philly for more history and maybe even a sporting event.

Favorite Foto Friday!

It's unusual for Mason to smile during a haircut.

It's the day before Derby day. The Kentucky Oakes is today.  It's a big social event (mostly for women) the day before the derby.  Where's my hat???  Oh yeah, I don't have one.  (I don't think a beach hat would be appropriate.)  That's two weekends in a row that a hat would have been appropriate for such an event.  Didn't wear one when I watched the royal wedding either.

The first Saturday in May is fun to think about my old Kentucky home.  I grew up several hours drive from Louisville.  I still have family there and have visited many times. 

We really never "celebrated" Derby day in our house.  My parents didn't attend derby parties.  I did babysit for a few.   I've never had a fascination of any kind for horses or racing, though I've been to the track to see what it's all about.  I've never tasted a mint julep.  

I do enjoy Derby Pie and Mississippi Mud and a Hot Brown (open faced turkey sandwich with gravy) sounds really good.

So tomorrow I'll most likely do what I've always done.  

Turn on the tv to watch the pre-race showing of the horses.  

Get a glimpse of the hats adorning the heads of excited race fans as the camera pans the grandstand.  Then watch the race to see who wins, who falls, who cries.

They will put the roses on the winning horse and take pictures and say "We're off the the Preakness" and give odds for winning the triple crown and such.

Maybe I'll learn to make a mint julep this year.  Maybe I'll make a funny hat to wear.

It's fun to think of home and how "the sun shines bright".   : )  

I pray the sun shines bright enough to dry up the flooding they are experiencing there this week.

.......may the best horse win.

Happy May!!!

Well I thought April showers were supposed to bring May flowers.....so far they've just continued May showers.  I am so thrilled to be back to work and back in a routine after 4 weeks of being sick, 2 of those away from my office.

Last weekend we had a few family members visit from Kentucky and I was able to sneak away for a short trip to Philadelphia with my mom.  Saw the sites and marveled at the architecture and history that city provides.  So much to share in a future post.

Playset update:  Michael finished the playset.  Again I missed a picture of him working in the rain.  : )

I've helped paint as I was able.  He re-built the rope ladder and added a climbing wall at Mason's request.  There's a tire swing under the platform that was a Mason must as well.  Mason we hope you have lots of fun playing pirates and Flynn Rider and whatever else you might come up with.