I guess its time again

My sister told me it was time again to write in my journal.....

 not as fun as reading everyones but its only fair I guess.
It will be hard to read though
because I noticed
it is way too long

Maybe I can deleter the previous journal now and

it will be easire to read

So with That I will go check

hope your having a good day

I will get this figured out yet

Sandra

Still enjoying summer

This is the first time I have seen a frog like this one in our yard so had to take a pic. It was on our porch railing last night. Leo yelled at me to hurry and get my camera. lol couldn't figure out what he thought I could take a picture of at night but I "m glad he called me... I think it was busy eating a bug at the time.
Sure has been awhile since I have been in here but I have been enjoying summeer and reading a lot more than usual. I enjoy it  very much especially sitting on the front porch. the weather isn't quite as nice lately thought. very humid and raining off and on and mostly cloudy. we are so lucky its not flooding around here..... not yet anyway.
We are fine here .... new neighbors moved in my friend Pats house accross the street and it looks like we will be getting new next door neighbors next door too. seems the bank forclosed on the house..... the one accross the street is a young woman and I think I may be getting someone my age next door.... will let you know if and when we find out.
Hope your summer is nice and its cooling down a bit for you now. I am looking forward to Fall this year.
Sandra

Still alive and kicking

I took a picture of the rose bush Mike and Teri got me the last time they were home. the flowers seem to be smaller but their are more. Seems to me I read somewhere if you want bigger roses you should snip off some of the buds if there are many. maybe I will try that next time. the moss roses sure did thicken up since I planted them didn't they/
Its very warm and humid today so Im spending most of the time inside where its nice and cool. I was reading some of the Harry Potter book but after about a chapter decided to come in and play on my computer for awhile. :) I will go out again later ~ winter is too long so I am going to enjoy summer while it lasts. too hot for pulling weeds anyway....:>)  not my favorite job and the last time I had a backache for 2 days.....
Mike said he and Teri would be coming home in October.... Teri loves halloween and Shari and Dan will be having a Halloween party I guess. I think I may have to get a bigger aero bed for them... the twin size is too small and last time Mike slept on the sofa. they have higher ones now too and it will be easier to get in and out of... give me something to do and plan for.... I started washing windows and got 2 finished.... maybe I will get more done by the time they get here..... do you think??????
I should have lots more to write about but really haven't been doing too much.... reading a lot thats for sure. I just love sitting on the porch and reading in summer time.
I will try....... really I will to come and write more often. Hope you are all haveing a wonderful summer and a good day,
Sandra

our new church

I added the pictures wrong and after writing a nice size entry I had to delete it because I entered the pictures wrong. Now I have to do it all again.............The pictures are of our new church. I happened to have a camera in my purse when we went there after mass to sign the alter stone. It is going to be so nice to have such a big and beautiful church.  the old one was nice too but it was way too small. They are going to wait until Spring to transfer the stained glass windows. It will be so beautiful then it will be hard to leave at the end of mass.
Saturday Julies husband Mark celebrated his 50th birthday in grand style. everyone had a good time....Lots of people there I didn't know but lots I did. All my family was their except for Mike and Teri and Tom and Cindy because as you know they live in Florida now. Teri's cousin has a very good band(they play for openings of famous singers etc) and they volunteered to play for the night... very good too. I will probably add a few pictures tomorrow or so. I have laundry etc too do today and have to get started.
The weather here has been beautiful and now I guess rain is in the forcast.
Rick is on vacation this week and Carley will be spending it with him. They have big plans so I hope the rain doesn't put a damper in it.
So off I go to eat breakfast and do housework... hope you are having a nice day, Sandra

More pictures..... I hope

Thanks Janice... I found out finally how to do it..... yipee!!!!!

Now If I could only get the writing larger so you can read it... always something to make my life a challange I guess.
 Our next door neighbors are moving out today.... it was totally a surprise but noone is sad I guess.... Maybe now we can get some better neighbors ~~~ anyone?????
I didn't do much today. I did go to Canturbury farms again to get another geranium and they had a cute planter for the front I had to get too.  They have a sale I guess because the bill was $5 cheaper than the pot alone was supposed to be and I didn't know until I checked out. They still have some beautiful flowers too...... maybe I will have to visit again.... you never know.
Then I went to the library and got 2 books and found out I already read them but I started reading one of my old books and found out it's hard to put down  so I guess I will go back and read some more.
Hope everyone is having a beautiful day...... It is certainly beautiful here in Green Bay.
Sandra

June flowers

Im tying something

different to get my pictures in here..... wish I knew how it works an easy way but looks Like I may have to try something else. I put a lot of them in yesterday and it had to be viewed left to right and I want it from north to south if you know what I mean. lolThe

orange poppies and peonys are starting to bloom but won't last long with the weather

the way it has been.
looks like I can only get 2 pictures in this way... will have to figure out something else I guess

Sandra

So this week we are supposed to take pictures of Orange things and I found a few tonight. I love orange and could probably find more but I don't like the way we have to add pictures now.... just click on one and you can see it better if you want. besides my orange wallet and orange shoes etc I also have an orange purse etc etc etc

Sandra

Black Cherry rose

My gosh, how did I put these pictures in here this time. I thought it was fixed but I guess I did it wrong.... story of my life I guess. I just wanted to show you the rose bush Mike and Teri got me when they were here. It is blooming and seems to be a healthy plant. I love it! The color is so pretty. it starts out almost black and turns this beautiful shade of red. I also have a picture of my tree peony.... its a beauty too. Teri and I got it before she moved to Florida with Mike. It had more blossoms this year than it ever had but it was so warm and then we got a downpour and most of the petals are gone now.... so sad . It was pretty though and Im glad I took a few pictures to rimind me so I contiune to take good care of it. It doesn't get very tall here because it freezes to the ground every year but Its a nice one with the huge single blossoms.
Ive been reading a lot lately on the porch..... love the days of spring and summer when I can do that. Not much else to talk about. OUr 2 sons came over yesterday.... It was a nice day to look at the flowers and sit and chatter on the porch. Dans stepdaughter is graduating from high school today and he is happy for her. Me too. It wasn't an easy year for her with her baby and school and all but she did it..... :>)
Now Im going to go and read some more.... looks like it will rain today again. This way I don't have to water the flowers  :)
Sandra

Memorial day

I just got back from the green house again where I got a hanging basket for the front porch and a few geraniums to plant in my pots. It will look even better when the clematis & the lilies start blooming. They had such beautiful plants at Canterbury farms today I had a hard time deciding. this year I went with an expensive pot instead of all little ones. I hope I won't be sorry but it looks so pretty now I think. I still have a pot or 2 to fill in back and lots of clearing out to do but for today Im happy happy.
Now Im going to go sit on the porch for a bit and then maybe watch a dvd... I finished reading all my books and the library wasn't open because of the holiday but I always find something to do.  Will go tomorrow I guess. Hope you are all enjoying the beautiful day,
Sandra

Beautiful days

So I guess Im still learning about this journal changing. these are pictures of my first iris and since I have yellow and other shades in bloom also. the other is a picture of my porch and the planters I have just planted. they will fill out during the summer and im sure I will be adding more pictures.
Saturday my cat Charlie bit me...... ouch. he was looking out the window at another cat and they were talking and it started to get loud so I went to the window and  hit the screen and yelled and Charlie got mad I guess or maybe as the nurse said he thought I was going to hit him.... I don't know but it sure did hurt and Monday we decided I should go and have the doctor take a look at it. Im on some kind of pills that are supposed to be good for cat bites ..... some kind of penicillin type drug and I take 2 big ones daily and have to put heat on it 2 or 3 times a day. it is getting better and I have to go back to the doctor tomorrow morning. I was really really mad at Charlie for a long time .... in fact Im still not too happy with him. I can't believe he did that to me. I guess I learned something Saturday. I should have handled the situation differently I guess. he wouldn't come and sit in my window for 2 days and he still is careful when he does. I wouldn't look at him until yesterday.
After I see the doctor tomorrow I think I will go and check out some plants to put on my 2 Granparents graves. my younger sister,Lisa is doing my Mom and Dads now.
Then I will get some flowers for some of my pots too. not going to plant any in the ground as we have so many already but I will fix some pots and maybe get another hanging basket, not sure.
Hope everyone is enjoying Spring. soon it will be Summer. I have been reading on the front porch and the fresh air is so beautiful. What a lovely time of year.
Sandra

Checking the pictures

I just wanted to come in to check and see what aol is doing with the pictures. do you think it will stay this way or are they just trying something new again. Personally I like things to stay the same as much as possible. :) what about you

Sandra

Sunny Spring Day

These are the pictures my son sent us finally. so I am sharing them with you.
Mike and Teri are on their way home from Florida. They are driving. Teri's brothers funeral will be Saturday so its not a happy time for them but we will be happy for the visit.
 I planted a wisteria vine yesterday. I guess it won't get flowers until next year and not get big for a few years but its supposed to be hardy so I am looking forward to that. They say you should always have something to look forward to don't they?  :>) 
Leo went fishing today but didn't take pictures of his 3 big fish. he catches and releases them so I can't either.
Now he is in bed resting before he cuts the grass again.
I didn't do much today~ a little laundry and I finally took my Santa etc off the mantle. I didn't want Mike to laugh. lol but it was so pretty and new this year so I wanted to enjoy for a bit longer.
I don't have much else to write about. I have been cutting back some twigs and doing bits in my garden but not much. I have a stiff neck and its bothering me. hope it leaves me soon. Probably just caused by the stress of people we are close to dying... I try to be brave but then I tense up and my neck muscles are stiffening up...... if it isn't one thing its another right.
Hope you are enjoying Spring, Sandra

Beautiful sunny day

I went out in the yard today and did a little springtime planting. I planted 2 Rose of Sharon bushes. One is white and the other purple or lavendar. The third one I promised to my daughter Shari. It should be pretty too. She picked the pink and red one. Can't wait to see them grow and flower. I also plante 2 honeysuckle vines because the one I have is growing so nice this year I figured that was a good one to grow on the other side of  the arbor. Leo is cutting back and tying up branches from the snow storm and then he cut the grass. It is beginning to look nice already. The leaves are coming out on a lot of the trees already and the weather is warming up. supposed to be 70 today and in the upper 70's tomorrow.
I'm doing well on my diet. think its 3 weeks now and I lost 8.5 #'s   
Maybe later I can sit on the porch for a bit. My shoulder and back have been aching lately so I won't be doing any more yard work today. Im taking it slow so I can do a little every day. The daffodils and some of the tulips are in bloom and they look so pretty and it looks like my yellow lilac is going to bloom this year for the first time too. It should be a beautiful summer.
Take care and enjoy Spring,
Sandra

sad day

My neighbor died this morning. the one with lung cancer and then it was in her brain and they operated 2 weeks ago but she didn't make it. she will be so missed by me and many others.... darn it anyway, I wish there wasn't a thing called cancer. Its a rainy day today because I believe the angels are weeping.

I was going to add a nice entry and was just waiting for pictures but haven't gotten any yet. Jasmin turned one and had a party but I didn't take pictures so am waiting for my son Dan to send me some.

Tomorrow is supposed to be a better day. Hope today is for you!

Sandra

Sunny day

Just another short entry. My computer is still not working the way I want.  can't imagine why or put my finger on the problem yet.

ps I am learning slow but sure.... starting to get happy again. :>)

Sandra

added a pic

I don't know what I did but I got a picture in so I guess it can be done.... This is just a silly picture I did with the paint thing on the computer. lol
Sandra

I'm just trying to add a new entry. It seems with the new aol or the new computer I can't or don't know how to add pictures. Why is it when you get somethin new you always have to learn everything all over again .... so that is it for now  :>)

Sandra

HAPPY EASTER

I had a happy Easter this year. We all or almost all went to church and then to brunch after. I only took pictures of a few ( mostly Great Grandaughters and Grandaughter) I hope those with a camera will send me more of theirs too. There were 21 of us at brunch. I got to meet my Grandson Brians girlfriend for the first time and she seems like a nice girl. I just didn't get to talk to her very much because there were so many to take my attention  :)  It was a nice day even if it still isn't warming up.  
hope everyone had as nice of an Easter as I did
Sandra

winter is coming back

I thought I would show you some of the flowers that started to bloom in our yard.... we did have a couple of days of warm weather and now the darm weatherman says we will be getting a couple of inches of snow again..... Easter this year will be very very cold. My husband and I were just talking about what we should wear and I will be wearing my lavender cashmere sweater and black pants with necklaces etc to cheer me up. I will probably have to wear a winter coat too. We will be going out to eat brunch after church with the family that still live in Green Bay so it will be a nice day anyway. I suppose a week later it will begin to warm up again. for good this time I hope. today its raining and I am staying in. Leo went fishing and got damp through all his clothes so decided to cut it short. He caught 1 big fish but didnot take a picture of it...
It doesn't seem possible that by the end of this month we will have leaves on the trees again. Until then I will bide my time. :)
If I don't come in again before Easter I hope everyone has a beautiful and Blessed Easter.
Sandra

Carley

Hello my name is Carley.  What's your first name?  Do you like the weather?  I do!  I am a kid ,I bet your an adult.  I am 9 years old but on September 7, I will be 10.  I am at my Grandma's house right now.  What kind of books do you like?  I like mystery  books.  I got to go now, bye.   Oh one more thing my mother added my E in my name CARLEY.BYE.

Smarter than a 5th grader

I ve been watching are you smarter

than a 5th grader and I got a lot of the

answers right tonight... haha... its harder

than you think and its a lot of fun too.

I didn't do very much but the usual today.

I got a new cook book that looks like its going

to be a good one. It's a slow cooker cook book and

I made the first recipe tonigh. chicken with tomato sauce

and green peppers and onions... very good and something

Leo can eat. Looks like I finally found some good

recipes that Leo and Gary and I will all like and

good ones for Leo since he still has trouble swallowing

since his radiation. he needs things very tender and with

a sauce mostly... He was happy tonight I know.
I hope typing only part of the paper it will be easier

to read. I don't know what happened but it got way

too wide again.
we had snow flurries again today but it didn't stay on the

ground... no more shoveling I hope. Looks like it will

be warming up soon though . I looked in the yard

found the daffodils are about 5 inches high so it

will be spring soon One of these days I will take a

picture of the artificial flowers in front.

They really make a difference in the otherwise

drab landscape.
Hope you are having a nice evening,

Sandra

Melting snow

Our snow is almost gone.... the large piles on the edges from shoveling are still there but we can see grass is some spots already. It melted so fast we had to put sump pumps in the window wells because the snow was melting so fast they were filling up and running into the basement.Leo got to it pretty fast and cleaned up the water that did come in and he still has a fan running down there to make sure its dried out.  We had temps up to 60 today but that isn't going to last. We are just so happy that Spring will be coming after all though and can take another week or so into the 40's. When I was outside to day it even smelled like Spring. :)  I don't think I ever saw the snow melt so fast before...

I haven't been doing much lately.... Sunday after church we went shopping and got a lot of things I needed and wanted plus a few groceries too. I got 3 new movies but haven't watched them yet.... all funny ones. Laughter is the best medicine, right?  :>)
Now Im going to watch American Idol. It should be pretty good tonight. Of coarse the girls are all so much better than the guys this year... hope they vote the best one in this year. but you never know. they got it way wrong last year.
have a good evening, Sandra

Quick Hello

Just coming for a quick Hello to everyone this morning. Hope you are all happy and doing well. We are doing the happy dance here because the weather forcast says by the end of the week the weather will be getting better.... usually does in the middle of march. We got more snow yesterday and the low was a -8 but maybe it will be the end now. I think we got our share this year now. It's nice and sunny today but kinda cold at 20 right now....
We haven't been doing much besides the regular stuff around the house. I have been reading and I just finished a good book by Susan Crandall  "A Kiss in Winter" I will get another by  her .         Hope you are all having a good day ~  I think I may  do the laundry abnd then play some games on the computer today :)      

SAndra                                                                                                              

Pictures of the snow

I thought I would share my pictures of the big snow I took today. I know it will go away soon and am hoping the damage isn't too great....
Now I have to go and get something else done before the day is over. I hope we all have had our share of snow for the year now..... I've had enough thats for sure.... Sandra

Guess Spring is not here after all

So Spring is not here yet I guess. We are getting snow and it will continue for a couple of days until we get 10 inches they say.... I just knew we weren't finished yet as its still only Feburary.... We have a few weeks to go yet I think. right now the snow is blowing and its a light snow.... it will get harder and heavier and still blowing I guess.... Gary shoveled the driveway once so far..... had to go to the street to get the paper. Don't need the snowblower yet but I suppose before its over it will be needed.
Say a prayer for my neighbor please. She was being treated for lung cancer and now the doctors found 2 tumers on her brain. She is staying with her son and daughter in law now.... I hope she isn' t in pain is all. I just found this out yesterday as it came on suddenly.
So now how to I change this thought to something happy? After all this is supposed to be my Happy Days journal isn't it? I am just so lucky..... the other day when I went out to get the cat that sneeked outside I slipped and fell on some ice I didn't see and was flat on my back in a blink of an eye..... no broken bones and only a sore back etc but am feeling pretty good today. I ended up crawling into the house and trying to catch my breath.... the cat stayed outside for awhile and didn't leave the yard and since it was cold out when I  called him 10 min later he came running in..... All's well that ends well so they say. :)
So today will be a day of reading and watching a bit of tv later I think. Hope you are well and happy, Sandra

Is Spring coming?

It was above freezing today...... and should possibly be the rest of the week too and then what? Snow maybe?  I think we will still get the big one but I hope Im wrong.... Winter has been so nice and relaxing but Im ready for sitting on the porch and reading again and drinking iced tea etc.... :)  We are cutting back on the yard work so I hope we can get ahead of it this year. Leo helped me so much in the fall Iam almost looking forward to it again..... I think the secret is not to do it and just wait until we can both do it .... at least I hope thats the secret....
My diet started showing up on the scale today and that really makes me happy... now I wonder if I ate too much for supper. I won't eat anymore tonight and hope for the best.... didn't have much to eat today so maybe its ok....
The race was good yesterday.... Jeff came in the top 10 so that was good because there were so many crashes. Everyone wants to win the Daytona 500. Mike and Teri were going to go to the pre races but Teri got sick and ended up in the hospital... her doctor thought it was appendix but I guess not because they let her go home after 2 days. they said the white cell count was getting back to normal and she stopped throwing up. she is on antibiotics now and seems to be feeling much better. She wanted to go home and she will go back to the doctor in a week or two. I hope everything is ok now.
I think I will play a few games on my computer and then read or watch tv... supper is over and the dishes done so its time to do anything I want..... I remember when it was the busy time... homework with the kids and getting them ready for tomorrow and putting them to bed and finally have time to iron etc ....those were the days. I actually do miss them and wish we had what we do now so I could do it all over again.... but you can't go back and life now is good too.
hope everyone is having a nice evening. Sandra

BRRRRRRRR

As long as its so cold outside I decided to come in and write a bit today. I don't plan on going outside today. -15 with a wind chill of -30 is not my idea of a nice day even if the sun is shinning. All the schools are closed today. My son still had to go to work though and his car started too. He keeps it outside but its a new car so I guess thats why. I hope this cold spell ends soon. I have a feeling the kids won't be going to school for a few days.
Leo got up and ate his breakfast and now hes back in bed. lol I think I will do my laundry etc and play on the computer.
  The Colts won the Super bowl yesterday and that is a good thing too. Now in a few days the Nascar races begin again... We like that too. Can you believe they are selling plants and flowers on QVC already?  I guess all are not as cold as we are here in Wisconsin but our day will come too. and we will appreciate it so much when it does come.... in the meantime we will hibernate I guess.
Hope you are having a good day, Sandra

Happy Birthday to me

Today is my birthday and Leo went and got me this cute birthday cake. He ordered it from the bakery he and I used to work for before we got married. they make the best cake and I always liked this one especially and he remembered it..... he is getting finer in his old age isn't he... :) 
I think we will have 6 more weeks of winter but it isn't too bad this year. My sister said it will be 32 in the next 15 days so after that everything should be getting better I guess. It's always so nice to look forward to spring isn't it? I can hardly wait to sit on the porch again. The sun is shinning today and that is always a good thing but at this time of year it also means a cold day for some reason.
I went to the doctor and the eye doctor and everything is fine!!!!! also got the lump off my head and the dentist so now all I have to do that didn't get done last year is lose dreaded pounds.... I will do that though.... doctor wants me back in 6 months and he said it would be nice if I could lose 10 or 15 by that time.... I will try...... sometimes all a person thinks about in winter is what to cook or what would be good to eat.... guess its time to take my slim cook books out again......
Hope you are all having a wonderful day, Sandra

Snowy Sunday

I bought these puppets from the web site after my sister Joans daughter Laura came back from a trip to Peru and had gotten some from the ladies there. I couldn't make any so nice. If you want to take a look the web site is under the picture.
I had fun last night..... My son and his daughter Carley came over and there is never a dull moment when she  is around. First she told me about the fun she had sliding down the hill with a tube Rick just got. then she looked around here in my computer room and I have my makeup in my vanity here and she decided I needed some sprucing up. first she decided my nails needed polishing .... I din't say anything and she proceded to polish my nails..... (she is 9) first she put some under coat on and then while that was drying she was picking out the color to use and then put some lipstick on me. then she put some dark red polish on my nails ...... I wish I could have laughed but she was so serious and so I just let her. she told me to close my eyes but I felt her doing it and she was polishing from the outside in and then dabbing it on too. then we had to wait for it to dry ( quite awhile as it was pretty thick) then she put some stuff on my eyebrows and she did that the same way.... I have a little brush for that and she was brushing my eyebrows the wrong way and then she rubbed them with her fingers..... then she put some under my eyes and after she said grandma I don't know why but you have dark spots under you eyes so she put some hand cream all over my face..... then she wiped off the lipstick and put 2 more colors on and then she used eye shadow on my eyes and then she looked for the sparkly stuff and I guess she found it .... then she got this fuzzy thing and put it on my hair and then I had to go and show everyone how pretty I was... LOL  she said I don't know why but Grandmas face is kinda red isn' t it..... anyway it was fun
Then she wanted some printer paper to write a story. She wrote the cutest story and even made pictures. then Rick said it was time to go but she wasn't done yet she wanted to play with my little dolls and gave them all names .......I think she wanted to take one home but she didn't ask.... I would have let her Im sure... maybe next time. Anyway she made my day. I miss having kids around. Oh I still have the polish on my nails in case she comes over again today but she probably won't because we are having a nice old fashioned snow storm.
We are just sitting around now after church and lunch waiting for the 2 football games to start. (yes I did wear the polish to church, lol)
Hope you are having a wonderful day. Sandra

Beautiful Sunny day

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

It sure started out nice ~ warmer weather and sunshine for the second day now.... Gary and Rick were talking about golfing :)
Nice that the Packers won the last game ~ hope Farve doesn't quit but if he does he went out on a good note and everyone wanting him to stay.
Also nice Wisconsin won the bowl game too.
I put away my Christmas presents this morning and Gary his last night and now its Leo's turn. He is always the last one to put his away.... He went to pay some bills this morning and is talking about taking the lights off the trees outside while the weather is nice..... I would be happy to see them a little while longer but if he wants to thats fine because it's a big job. Then maybe tomorrow we will take our tree down and get back to living our "normal" good life. :)
Shari and Dan and Mindy and Ryan should be coming home tomorrow and that is so nice!!!! we missed them. I know they had a wonderful vacation though and am happy for all my sunshine kids....
So back to work I go.... dishwasher needs emptying ....lol
Sandra