Vacation 2013

Vacation this year began in Holmes County, Walnut Creek, Ohio.  The Amish take you back to a much slower pace of life!  I tried to get pictures of their daily lives, but they don't want you to take their faces, so I have some from the back or side views.

 

 

 

This was taken at The Farm at Walnut Creek.  Bev & Larry went there and loved it, so we went as well.  There were tons of animals, a wagon ride, and Amish workers planting fields, milking & more.

 

 

 

 

Clyde helping separate the cream from the milk.

 



 

  We stayed in Canada at the Marriott Fallsview.  This falls is on the USA side taken from the Canadian side.

 

This was taken from our motel room, Marriott Fallsview.

 

This was taken as we were finishing our boat ride, Maid of the Mist.  It takes you down and very close to the falls.  You feel the mist off of them.  The one to our right is Horse Shoe Falls, the one that's the biggest and most photographed.  Beautiful.  We loved it.

 

This is on our way to Niagara on the Lake, where we stayed one night.

 

Larry & Sandra Rice, our next door neighbors went with us.  We all met and made the reservations and planned our trip.  It was pretty perfect in all ways.  We enjoyed our time with our good neighbors!  We all loved the falls, our motel, the grapes and the meals we shared!

Summer 2013

School has started back in Fayette County.  Without me.  For 23 years, I was there on the first day of classes.  I didn't have a school duty (outside of my classroom) so I would help the  kids that were out looking for their classrooms, or just any help I could see....mostly just giving hugs and welcome them back.  We have a few new students and parents that need help finding their room or just a point in the right direction.  I usually know of a few families that I had the parents at CME (like Ashley Morris Safie) or those from SCC (the Salyers, Kristen Piercy Knowles) and more that I try to find and give extra love and support when they bring in those kindergarteners.  Not this year.

This year I hope someone did that for Maggie at Rosa Parks!  I hope someone directed her in the right direction when she gets "turned around".  I hope someone gives her help if she needs it in the cafeteria, or to get to after school program (Trailblazers), or if she is confused.  God bless MJ and help her as she needs it.  Bless Mrs. Zoll this year and help this class to "bond" and be good friends soon.  By the way, Dorothy Zoll was Jason Allen's Kindergarten teacher at Breckenridge Elementary.  He is now 36 so that was appx. 31 years ago.  She is my friend, Martha Deener's, sister!  We loved her 31 years ago, and she seems the same sweet teacher now!  So, hoping for a GREAT year!

Matthew & Austin are in 3rd grade.  Matthew has Mrs. Andry, that moved up from 2nd, again this year.  Becky loves her and so does Matthew.  So, I see a good year of learning, catching up, and continuing to grow for him.  He has his moments of "shutting down" when things get too hard for him, or he feels he doesn't "get it fast enough".  He has already improved by leaps and bounds from the uncommunicative child we got in our family at age three.  He has no problem communicating now!  He and Austin have been very protective of Maggie, helping her on the bus, and I'm sure showing her the ropes.  She is lucky to have two big brothers.  Although, at times, she may not think so.

Austin has Mrs. Calvin, and I know her from my former principal, Barbara Albaugh. Joe Albaugh (Barbara's husband) is her dad.  Mrs. Albaugh gave me my job at CME all those years ago.  So, this world isn't so large afterall.  Another connection, Caron Troop Cron is Austin's para (asst).  I love her and her family.  She was a friend of Becky's in highschool and I worked with her mom, Penny.  Austin appears to be the one with confidence, an attitutde of "want to win", hard worker, direction follower, and my sweetheart.  He helps nana and pap and is the one to look forward to seeing us most with hugs and "hi nana".  However, he is sensitive and unsure how much he wants to leave home (mom & dad) and just likes to "stay close".  Not sure if this is accurate, but there are times he would rather be with his family than to be with us, and he loves being with us.  Saying that, he will do well at school, but a little teary too. 

Wishing all my CME friends a healthy start to this school year and a very fun filled one.  I enjoyed this week at the Horse Park and just couldn't believe "all that" was going on when I normally would be in school.  I loved staying up late, sleeping in, and eating lunch out with a couple of former teachers on the first day of classes. 

I hope to add some pictures later from my iphone that I didn't download on here.  I need to go home and mow:)  It's a beautiful Friday so I'm good with that! 

Jason's Birthday

Today is Jason's 36th birthday.  How blessed we are to have him as our son.  He has always been so respectful and loving to me.  He loves his sister, his nephews and niece, and his wife more than anyone.  To say he is "over the top" happy to be having a baby boy before this year ends, is not saying enough.  He is grateful, thankful and just blessed.  Here are a few pics from tonight:

Jason, Rosemary and Lucas (coming in November:)

Jason K. is working out of town and we missed him!  Mommy & mini me.

Our special friend, Carver, came to help celebrate!  He is a DOLL baby.  He was SO good.  Not one "peep" from him.  Super cute!  Oh, he brought mom & dad too.  Casey's birthday was yesterday and we have celebrated with him a few times throughout the years.  New friends are good, old friends are best!

Carver was the "center" of attention with the Keith children.  Well, him and their electronics.  Austin & M.J. both held him....check out Austin making sure Maggie didn't drop him! 

 Jason's favorite gift!  Personalized baby bibs for baby Lucas, from Becky.

"Hey mom & dad, those are for me!".....Love, Lucas

If anyone needs a cake, contact me and I'll hook you up with Lauren Mays!  Her cakes are delish!!!!

This was so sweet of she and Casey to bring tonight!  Made just the perfect ending!

We had the sweetest waitress tonight.  She was so patient, gave plenty of refills, kept bringing us "samples" of sauces, chips, dips....so, we gave her a piece of this cake!  Chocolate with filling.  Really good!!!!

This will be the best year ever for Jason & Rosemary and we are so thankful to welcome Lucas before year's end.  Thank you God!

Garden in July

Fourth of July has come and gone, once again, and I find we are in the hottest days of summer.  Day lilies are finally blooming and at the same time, wilting from the heat.  The Shasta daisy blooms at the same time as the lilies and it requires little to no care.  I have a patch way out back in a bed that is at it's best now.  Most of the year it's rather unsightly, just green foliage.  Now, the purple garden phlox is blooming, along with the daisy's.  In the back of the little round bed, is a spreading mound of Obedience plant, that blooms pink. 

Also, now is the second growth of the Knockout roses, but, unfortunately, the Japanese beetles have "hit" with a vengeance.  I hate them!!!!  I have tried Sevin, spray, both types.  One I mix with water, one straight from the bottle.  However, it only kills on contact of the bug, doesn't prevent them from munching.  So, I find "picking" them off and dumping them in water works OK.  Anyone have some home remedy that works, I am listening.  I did Pintrest it, but didn't come up with anything especially new. 

I have planted a few new Balloon flowers (purple) and a new white Coneflower.  I also stopped at a day lily farm in Garrett Co. and bought four lilies from the nice lady there, Mrs. Graham.  She gave me one more for being a first time customer.  She knew my sister, who lives nearby and has bought from her before, and she taught each of my nieces in school at Camp Dick. 

So, I'll try to download some pics from around the yard.  Keep in mind, middle of the summer, heat.

Pink Taffy 

  



I will add the name when I am home:)  Eating lunch and blogging!

*I have to add, this one was a little too close to a yard full of this same color...oops.

 Now, I'm inside at night and don't remember which number this one is:) 
I believe, it's name is Tom Wise

 

I love catching a butterfly on the Lantana.  Sweet.

 

Each summer I take the same photos of the same kind of butterflies, on the same bushes.  However, they are new to me each time I see them.  I love hummingbirds, but I truly love butterflies as well.  And, they come around much more often.

 

Ha, a different angle!

 

 

Bees sure love the coneflowers, and I love honey. So, a win win.

 

This year the pond lilies have had bigger "pads" and larger blooms.  Wish they covered more of the pond, as it's not too clear with all this heat:(

 

Well, this is one reason I love summer.  Coming out to lunch and using my time to write on my blog.  If any one of my BFF's would have come in the door, she would have LOL.  I have my laptop up and in use (blog on it is best), I have the ipad open, can't waste time while photos are downloading:) and I had to open up the iphone to download the photos from it to the laptop!  So, I am covered in technology.  Wish I knew half as much as the hardware may indicate.  Unfortunately, this is about as much as I know.  Oh well, at least I have a post to my blog from my summertime garden!

Summertime 2013

Yeah for the summer!  School is out, swimming pools are open, gardens are in full bloom, kids are playing baseball (well, that's been going on since early spring), and for me RETIREMENT!!!  This blog will be a sort of "walk down memory lane", and journal of my EOY party.  I will throw in "odds and ends" of our life since my last post, which was on President's Day when we were out of school/work.

I am sitting in the lobby of Toyota on Nicholasville getting an oil change.  They treat you well, with complementary popcorn, nice seating area, wi-fi for my laptop:), and a nice large screen TV.  So, I'm all set...although I would rather be mowing.  I got up, mowed the front, got cleaned up:) and will finish in awhile.

My job, well that's a loaded subject.  My kids attended Clays Mill so that is where I wanted to be.  First, as a homeroom mother, where other mom's like Laura Siever, opened their arms wide and we fit right in.  Then, after a few years, the Computer Lab was opening and my principal, Barbara Albaugh, offered me a job.  That changed the course of my life and it was a road I am glad to have traveled.  I learned about computers, and started working there in 1986.  In 1990, Fayette County took over the contract and I started working for FCPS.  I stayed with CME until this June 1st!  I am ready for retirement, and don't really have any plans.  I don't want them at this time.  I have had a few people ask me to join this or work there, but nothing has "panned" out, and that's OK (for now:)

My co-workers have made retiring so fun.  When walking in the door daily, Carol S. would say "10 more days"...."1 more Monday", etc.  Fun.  Others (Valerie M.) would walk by the window in the lab and hold up her fingers to count down.  Others have given me numerous hugs, high fives, and notes.  I even got some pretty great gifts (which I did not expect!!!)  The one from our EOY party, is a Adirondack chair for my yard!  It is brown and comfy, sitting right in front of my fire pit!  It's low to the ground which makes it perfect for roasting smores!  We had a perfect weather day, third year to have it in our backyard, and we had a good turn out (whew!!)  They brought in City Barbecue, and everyone brought a dish.  Lots of food!  Lots of desserts, salads and sides.  Yummy....CME are good cooks!

The social committee and my friends got together and wrote words to a song and sang it for our entertainment.  Even my brother loved it (I showed him a little clip) and thought the girls did a very good job!  For Joyce T. that also retired, her resource team gave a very cute skit that was equally entertaining.  Loved the evening!  Enjoyed every minute.

I will miss the students.  I got lots of cards & notes they wrote for me.  During the years, I have been touched many, many times.  It's been said and it's true, I received much more than I gave.  I do feel good in the technology they have been exposed to and feel very comfortable doing.  They learned Word, saving to a file, printing, and many skills using it.  They know Power Point inside and out (3rd, 4th & 5th).  They all have used Publisher for making signs, brochures and more.  They know the internet and how to research just about anything (watch out parents!)  This will keep going and go even further!  They are in VERY good hands.

Well, I will stop now....love my job, love the years there, and will love the years to come!!

They know me so well!  Can't have too many flowers.  Betty, Vicki, me and my longest girlfriend at CME, Joyce.  Love them!!!!  So happy they came to "see me off".  

Loved having the "next generation" of guests at our party!  This is baby Mia and mom, Maria.

This is baby Josie, Meg's baby (our Art teacher).  Holding her is Cathy P. who, by the way, was awesome with all the babies!  She was a great "holder" to give mom's a break to eat.  Actually, she just wanted to love on those babes.  Just like she does her babies at CME.  She always gives the hugs and shows the love!

This is baby Bella, her mom is April.  She and I worked in rooms that were close and we became fast friends.  Although I am the age of her mom, she didn't make me feel like her mother.  She has a wonderful one already, so I was her friend.  Each baby was so good and beautiful!

My good friends met after school and Cindy V. changed the words (with help from others) to a song. It fit me perfectly and it meant the world to me!  What a precious, thoughtful group of ladies.  LOVE.

When Beth C. became Librarian (media) she was my next door co-worker.  She is a Class A person.  Just in every way...the clothes, work ethic, children, home, job....friend.  You will never find a better one.

This is the chair my faculty gave to me.  It was over our budget, but they like to give a gift to Clyde and I for hosting (which I forget they do, and it is NOT necessary)....so this was "tied in to one" big gift!  Thanks!!!  Loved it so  much, we ordered one for Clyde for Father's Day!

It has been too long since my last post.  With Facebook, I just feel I am pretty much transparent with my life!  However, I like to journal so that my family & friends will have an account of my life, in case they ever want to take a look back.

Today is President's Day and we are out of school.  I started the day casually with TV, hot tea and chocolate banana bread....which I will make again.  A little laundry, a little dusting, and too little purging out a desk drawer that was on my agenda, the outdoors called my name.  Although too chilly to do yard work, I left home for some lunch.  I didn't have a lunch date, so I tried to choose one I could use my ipad!  However, Panera is really packed!  Hot soup and a baguette was good, but this will be short.  I went to see mom on Friday after school and before a busy evening.  While there, she said "come on Monday if you can, as I will be busy on Tuesday".....hmmmm, I know she wants me to come by to play a game of Rummy with she and Kent.  So, I called and she said "yes, come".....that's where I'm heading.

I don't say a lot while there, as mom really loves the game...the competition!  She really likes to win, ha!  So does Kent, so we have a pretty "earnest" game of cards, very little talking, but enough.  The times there have given me some funny laughs, not at them but with them.  Also, some fond memories of moms as she takes a LOT of walks down memory lane.  She loves recalling times from 50 years ago!  Recently I recorded her thoughts on her and dad's first date.  I will set aside another post for just it, hopefully!  She recalled it was the day World War II was over and the horns honking in the streets.

Well, I best be on my way but I will continue at another time.  I will share tomorrow is Tricia's 60th birthday.  We started with a dinner on the 13th with our friends the Waggoners, Giles & us.  David & girls had a surprise party planned which was last night (17th) at the Pub.  However, Fred & Michelle were not able to be here so we just "pretended" to celebrate that night and both brought her little gifts.  

Then we had the party last night and enjoyed the times together with her Paris friends, family, and those of us from church.  The atmosphere was fun, the room was set aside just nicely, David had appetizers & dessert for us as well as he did the decorations.  The girls helped "host" this event and were there to get it organized until David & Tricia came.  We enjoyed it!

I will post photos when I can.  Today I pick up the kids at Bounce U at 3:00, so if I'm going to moms....better scoot.  Love, Later, Bye (stole that from Brew)

Maggie's 5th Birthday & more

Maggie's birthday has come and gone and I am just getting her party blogged.  Having a birthday just days after Christmas, some friends are out of town.  Becky had a fun party planned for those that were able to come and children as well as adults loved it.  She worked very hard to get the party favors and treats ready, again, hard as it comes right after a busy season.  The decorations, magician's capes, table settings, all looked great.  Here are a few pics:

   We have been at the Horse Park for the last two Halloween's and Mark was the entertainment.  Becky liked him and secured him for Mag's party then.  MJ LOL many times at his magic tricks!

Jackie makes the kids cakes and they are the best.  The boys say "granny makes the best cakes ever"!

After the show, Mr. Comley made balloon animals for each guest.  Uncle Jason liked the magic show as well!

The big kids like the tricks as well as the little kids!

Maggie asked if there were eggs in the Easter bunny bags.  Becky explained about the magic hat and bunny. the popcorn was a hit....several kids asked for more!  The adults ate it as well.

I had a better pic of the table before the party, but of course I can't find it.  Each child had a wand and black cape at their place setting.  Their names were on each wand.  Cuteness.

On the back of the counter was a big container of pulled, smoked pork.  They got a smoker for Christmas.  Also, for the kids and anyone who wanted pizza, they picked up Jett's Pizza.  Everyone said it was very good.  We had munchy food to eat until the show was over.

Austin casting a spell (I hope it was a good one!)  MJ & Braden.

Crazy kids!

May be hard to see, but the cake server & knife is one she uses only one time each year.  On her birthday!  the first BD we gave them to her, with her name & date engraved.  Hopefully, if they last and she wants to use them, we will have her new name & wedding date engraved on them.

This is an overview of her day.  She is a joy to us.  We went to pick her up a couple of nights ago just for her to stay the night (week night!)  She came in and said how much she had missed us and thanked us for having her.  She said to pap "you like me the most don't you pap?"  LOL, he told her no, he loved all of them the same....I might have had trouble with that (telling her no) even if it is true (that I love them the same).  She was so easy to get up in the morning, get ready and was so happy to be out the door for Ms. Judy's.  She is a happy girl.