Spring

It has been a while since I have blogged, and there are many things to talk about. I have pictures from Easter and pictures from our Susan G. Komen walk to post. My last writing was about the car seat I bought for my new granddaughter. I haven't gotten to use it yet, though! So, I will try to fill in the blanks since the last post. Spring break has come and gone. We went to Tampa for Easter weekend to visit with Adam and Vicky. While we were there, we went to a nice park that reminds me of Daffin Park here in Savannah. We ate at the Cheese Factory the first night. I was rather disappointed with my meal. I should always get the first thing I am interested in and not count on the waitress to suggest anything!! The cheesecake that we took home was great, though! We finally attended church where my family went way back when we lived in Tampa, around 1959 - 1960. When my parents went to that church, it was in its beginning phase. The worship service was held in the social hall, and the building fund was going on. My parents supported that fund for many years after we moved away. I attended kindergarten at that church. I can still remember the playground that had little cement tunnel things that we could climb in. I also remember playing rythm instruments during class, like the tambourine, sticks, and shaking things. For Easter Sunday, we went to the Manhattan United Methodist Church. It reminded me of our Epworth, because it was a small, older congregation. The people were very welcoming. I just wish Mamma could have gone to visit that church before she died. She always wanted to visit, but we never got there. Dora and her 'stash' on Easter morning.

Rachel and Dora in front of the Tampa house. How do you like those windows?

Dewilla, Vicky, and Adam in front of the church

Dewilla in front of the church sign

Adam and Vicky looking "cool" at the diner

Rachel looking "cool", with Don doing the usual 'phone tech' thing

After church, we went out to eat at a small little cafe. I think it was actually called a diner. I think it is one where the "cool" people go, if you catch my drift. It was a bit eclectic in a certain section of Tampa where I have never been. The food was great! We went home and took a few pictures in the backyard. Daddy planted several orange trees years ago, and they make a pretty spot for pictures. Adam and Vicky have fixed up the yard very nicely. Vicky and her sister even built a little deck. Adam and Vicky found some nice marble pieces to put in the yard. They went to a little island and got some white rocks to use for a fire pit. They have Orchids growing, even! It is a nice little yard. I remember playing in that yard as a five year old, hanging clothes on our little clothesline that Daddy put up for me and Susan. I also remember playing marbles in the backyard. I wonder if any of them are still there buried in the sand?

Later in the afternoon, we went to a nice park that reminds me of Daffin Park here in Savannah. We had a nice walk. Vicky took a run around the park, while Rachel fed Dora and the rest of us took a rest in the shade! The park is right next to the Air Force Base. As we rounded the bend, we came upon the fence separating the park from the base. How wild was that!!

One of my oldest and dearest friends from Germany lives in Lakeland, Florida, which is not far from Tampa. I try to get together with her whenever I am in Tampa. This year, she came over to Tampa to see us. Since we have the carseat now, we cannot all fit in the same car. Rather than driving two cars to Lakeland to see Dawn, Dawn drove over to see us. She brought her granddaughter, Paula, with her. Dawn is in this first picture holding Dora. Paula is in the second picture. We met at the DSW store. This outing was Dora's first trip shoe shopping with her mom!

Our neighbor from fifty years ago, Chisato, still lives in the house next door. Chisato is from Japan. She was a young lady when we lived there. She married an American businessman who was working in Japan, and they moved to Tampa. She never had any children, so she is now all alone. The only family member still alive is her niece, who lives in Hong Kong. Adam and Vicky went to Miami for a wedding last weekend, and they went fishing. They caught some tuna and brought some home. Then, they called Chisato to come over for dinner. She made a Japanese dish for them, with sticky rice. She cut the tuna just so, and then they placed the tuna over the rice. I cannot remember the name of the dish. She makes sushi sometimes, too, and invites them over to her house. I am not a fish fan, and I am definitely not a raw fish fan. Chisato was very excited to come over and have dinner with them. I think it is necessary to be kind to our elderly. So many people just ignore their family and friends when they become older, and I think that is awful. The Bible tells us that we are to take care of our older parents, and if we do not, that we are worse than unbelievers. I am including the scripture reference so you will not think I am making this up. I Timothy 5:4-8 "Children and grandchildren of a widow should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God. The widow is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and ask God for help. If anyone does not provide for his relatives, especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever." There are many people who profess to be Christians, but they forget that they are to take care of their aging parents!!! Many people are selfish these days, unfortunately. What would have happened to them if their parents had not taken care of them as children? People forget very easily how their parents struggled to take care of them. While we were at Adam's house, we all made fresh PASTA, using the Kitchenaid mixer and pasta attachments that I gave Vicky for Christmas. We had a grand time. Vicky's sister and her friend came over Saturday night, and they got into the fun, too! We used some Easter egg dye to color the pasta. We made Easter colors of blue, green, and yellow. We had a lot of fun. Here are some pictures of our adventure. The pasta was great, by the way~

Yesterday, we had the Susan G. Komen Walk for the Cure here in Savannah. My family participated again this year. I am not sure how many years now we have done this...either three or four. My mom had breast cancer. She underwent a masectomy and radiation, and the doctors gave her a clean bill of health. Then a year later, she was diagnosed with Stage FOUR uterine cancer. This cancer ate her to pieces and took her life. Even after a hysterectomy, lots of chemotherapy, and more chemotherapy, the disease took her life. Death from cancer is an awful thing! NO ONE should EVER have to die that way. I have pictures of our walk. Even Baby Dora took part in the walk yesterday!! The weather was terrific, and the scenery thoughout the walk was beautiful.

The school year is just about to come to a close. We go into June, but it seems like it is time for it to end already! Next year will bring all sorts of new adventures and happenings. I'm not sure what those will be, but they will be different. I am excited for the summer to come. I will be attending a high school reunion in Milwaukee during the end of July. My fellow Bitburg Barons will all be getting together, after forty years apart. We all went to high school togethe in Bitburg, Germany. Through the wonders of Facebook, we have found each other again. One of our members works at a country club in Milwaukee, and he has planned our reunion around the Germanfest that will be held in July. The entire event sounds wonderful! I will definitely write about it when I come back from the festivities. I will close for now, but I wish you all a great weekend.

Ready to Ride!!

I finally bought a carseat for my new granddaughter! I bought one for ME, that is. Now, I can take her places any time I want...well...with her mom and dad's approval! HA! I have been talking about buying one ever since I found out that my daughter was expecting. I saw this one in Target a couple of weeks ago, and I really liked it. I waited, and waited. I looked at it, and I looked at it. I almost bought it the other day. Then I thought that I should really research some, rather than buy the first thing I liked! So, I went online and looked. There was one that I liked, the pattern that is, but this one is much better. It is the same brand and style, but this one is better...don't ya know! HA! So after going to two Walmarts and finding nothing, I went to the Target on the other side of town. Luckily, they had the ONE that I wanted...ONE mind you...just like the other store...it only had ONE, too. This carseat will stay with her until she reaches 65 pounds! It is one of those covertible ones that sits facing backwards untiil 40 pounds, and then it faces frontwards up to 65 pounds. This way, I only have to buy one carseat from baby to toddler. See how good I am at being a grandma already!!!! So, now I am ready for an outing...when that will be is yet to be determined, but I am READY!!

Dora Morel~

She's HERE!! My little granddaughter made her grand appearance four weeks early! Dora Morel was born Feb. 27th, and we are all extremely excited and loving every minute being with her. She was 7 pounds and 4 ounces, which is pretty big for coming four weeks early. The world is such a better place with her in it. I have seen her almost every day. I can't think of much to say except YAHOO!! This first picture is of Mamma and Dora.

Daddy, Mamma, and Dora

Uncle Adam and Dora

Mamma, Uncle Adam, Grandma, and Dora

Mamma and Dora

Grandma and Dora

Grandma and Dora

Grandma, Mamma, and Dora

Mamma, Uncle Adam, Daddy, and Dora

Daddy and Dora

Dora

Dora

Dora

Mamma and Dora

Dora

Daddy and Dora

Papa and Dora

Uncle Adam, Aunt Vicky, and Dora

Gram crocheting

Granddad

Gram and Dora

Gram and Dora

Gram and Dora

Friends

Heaven has another angel this morning. One of my dearest friends passed away last night, in Oregon. Linda Spignesi Ponci was one of my friends when I lived in Spangdahlem, Germany. Her daddy was in the Air Force, just like mine. Linda and I and our friend Dawn got together two years ago for a girls weekend. We had a great time. The three of us hadn't been together in forty years, so it was quite a reunion!! Linda flew down from Oregon to Florida. I took my first train ride and went to Florida. We met up with our friend Dawn, who lives in Lakeland, Florida. Dawn got us a really nice room in one of the Disney resorts, and we spent the day at one of the parks. I cannot remember what it is called. Anyway, we had a great time talking about high school, Germany, and the musicals we were in together. Of course, we had to sing all of the songs! Linda has had some stressful times in the past few years. Her father passed away this summer from ALS, and her younger sister passed away a few years ago from colon cancer. Earlier this week, Linda had a brain aneurysm. Her husband found her unresponsive and without a pulse. He did CPR, and the ambulance took her to Portland. She had some type of coil surgery done, and they thought she was going to make it. Unfortunately, her brain had already swollen. Last night they said she had no brain activity, and she passed away after taken off life support. Please be in prayer for her husband and family. Linda was a great friend, and she will be truly missed. Here is a fun picture of us at our girls weekend at the Disney park! Linda is the one on the right side.

Dawn Grant up top Linda Spignesi on the right Dewilla Hooper on the left

Another Saturday Morning

Well folks, it is Saturday again, and I am up early. What in the world is wrong with me? HAHA! I suppose it could be the fact that I go to bed so extremely early that makes me get up early. I am so worn out and tired each day from work, that I go to bed like a kid around 7 or 8. Fridays are especially tiring, so I go to sleep early on those nights, too. I guess I'm getting OLD! Today, I have no plans. Maybe I can get the Christmas things put up into the attic. Yes, I said Christmas things. Last Saturday, I finally took down the tree and put everything into two tote boxes. I just sat them in the boxes very gently, without their own little boxes or coverings. I hope they are okay. The real Christmas boxes are in the attic, but I cannot get them all down by myself. So, all of my Christmas things are still piled high in the living room. Perhaps some nice, strong person will saunter over here today and help me get the boxes down from the attic. After I fill them up, maybe another nice person will come by and help me put them into the attic. You know what, though, I should just keep them downstairs. The problem with that is that there is nowhere in this house to PUT them!! Next month, I like the sound of that, next month my new baby granddaughter will arrive. It just doesn't seem possible, but it is going to happen! We are all so very excited! Rachel is doing very well with her pregnancy. She will work up until she has her little girl. She is hoping to be able to stay off work the rest of the school year, but she isn't sure if that will work out. They give you a certain amount of time off, and if you have more sick leave built up, you can stay off longer, If not, you take leave without pay. That is not fun. So, I am up and messing around on the computer. It is nice and quiet around here, and I enjoy keeping up with things and searching for nonsense and stuff like that. Hey, it passes the time away! I am anxious for another pleasant Saturday with nothing in particular looming over my head that I HAVE to do. Have a great weekend everyone!!

Saturday Ramblings

I'm UP! For a Saturday morning...to be up at 7 am...that is an amazing feat!! I'm not sure what happened, but I woke up and kept thinking weird thoughts, so I got UP! I have a new little camera, and I am going to attempt to get some pictures on here from it. I finally took the plunge and bought an actual camera, rather than the phone camera. I hope the pictures turn out alright. Sam's has a lot of different types of cameras, and I opted for a very small one, a Canon, and it is BLUE. I figured that I might be able to find a blue one, vs. a black or gray one, when it gets lost..and I'm sure it will get 'lost' many times! This little camera actually fits into one of my little change purse thingys that I have, so that is terrific. I have the battery charger in a little blue zip up thing that I got from the teacher's union (that holds my phone charger), so now I am all set for baby pictures - and even videos!! I went to Rachel's house last night and took some pictures of the baby's room to see if the colors turn out better than the ones I have from my Iphone camera. After about an hour of fiddling with downloading software and finally getting the date and time set on the camera, I am ready to put a few pictures on here. I forgot all about the fact that the only thing that I really needed to do to get pictures was to put the little disk in the computer and copy them! Oh well...at least I found out how to work a few things on the litte camera! Pictures from Rachel's baby stash!!

I know that some of these pictures do not look like they are in the baby's room, and you are correct. Some of the pictures are in the living room and dining room. They are pictures of the big items that Rachel and Don have had fun putting together, like the Car seat, strollers, etc. They are having a grand time learning how to use everything!