Bad, Bad Blogger

Okay, I admit it! I've been a bad blogger lately. I don't have an excuse. I don't know why. I have been pretty busy, but along with that I don't seem to have anything of real importance to say. I just haven't been able to dig down and come up with anything profound or even interesting to write about.

So, I guess I'll just play catch up.

The weather hasn't been especially nice, so I've been doing some inside things, like:

Cleaning the fridge and closets. Or:

Making cards on rainy days.

We had some not so bad days in which I:

Washed windows and worked on getting the porch ready for summer.

As I was taking pictures of finished projects, Jim said, "You're not going to blog a picture of your refrigerator, are you?" I can't lie to the guy, so I just didn't answer.

We've also managed to visit the Amish garden store and buy vegetable plants and some additions to my perennial garden. Yesterday was a great day and I managed to get some planting done and begin spreading mulch. If the rain stays away this afternoon, I hope to finish the mulching.

I've read a couple of fun books and taken a lot of naps. Oh yes, we saw Iron Man 2 and I was really disappointed. The first one was much better.

See what I mean? Not much very exciting going on in our neck of the woods.

Today is the annual school budget vote. There is a hotly contested battle for two school board seats. It is really interesting since, in most years, they can barely find someone willing to serve on the school board. It's been a really volatile year between the present board, administration and some townspeople. The result of this election could really change things. I know who I'm voting for!!

Once again, see what I mean???

Well, my garden is calling me and I feel I must answer. Hope all is well with my friends in Blogland. Keep on keeping on.

~hippo hugs~

Mother's Day

It's Mother's Day and I want to take this opportunity to pay tribute to the wonderful women in my life who have helped to make me the person I am today.

First of all, of course, there is my own dear mother. My mom has been gone fourteen years now and that just doesn't seem possible.

This is my mom about the time I was born. A single mom, she always put me first in her life. She worked hard to provide for me. I have such wonderful memories of her from those days. When I was nine, she married my step-dad (who was my father in every sense of the word) and raised his two children too. My mom always made us feel equal and was looked up to by all who knew her.

Being a single mother in the 1940's couldn't have been easy, but she was blessed with a wonderful mother of her own, my Grandma, and two devoted sisters, my Aunt Letty and Aunt Jessie. I was so loved and cared for by this quartet of women. They have a special place in my heart forever. Along with these sisters, stood the sisters-in-law, my Aunt Myrle and Aunt Jane who took me into their families and loved me.

My dad's sisters became instant aunts to me; Aunt Elsie, Mary, Dorothy and Betty (my dear Aunt Bets). I loved them all. Only my Aunt Bets and Aunt Mary survive today and I treasure them and the little time I spend with them.

No tribute to the women in my life would be complete without mentioning those who taught me not only academics, but lessons of life: Mrs. Stampe, Mrs. Miller, Miss Chapel, Miss Ruvo, Mrs. Streeter, Mrs. Fickinger and Miss Collins, all dedicated to molding our young lives. My hat is off to all of you.

If you are a reader of my blog at all, you know that I adore my dear Mother-in-law. Not only is she a beautiful, Christian woman, she is a wonderful mother and mother-in-law. She welcomed all three of her daughters-in-law and treats us as if we were her own daughters. At 95, mom is still in the center of our family, praying for her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren every day. We love her so.

Over the years God has blessed me with women who have befriended, cajoled, praised and supported me. I am so grateful to all of you, especially The Loser Housewives who make my days brighter and my burdens lighter.

And you, my blogland friends, whose joys and burdens, questions and insights I get to share each day as I read your posts; Anne, Lynilu, Winifred, Fay, Dagmar, Laura, Patti, Michelle, Tracy, Cheryl, Chrissy, Dana, Louise, one of my heart's desires is to someday meet you. We are friends without having ever met. Thank you for your part in my life.

Of course, I wouldn't be a mom without these two beautiful young women:

I am so proud of you both and I thank you for all the joys you've given me. It is such a privilege to be your mother.

Happy Mother's Day

~Hippo Hugs~

Random Ramblings

I can hardly believe it's been over a week since I've posted here. I have written some on my other blog From the Hippo's Pen, but have totally ignored this, my favorite blog. Lots has happened, nothing which is of any great importance.

I had lunch with the Lindas on Tuesday. I planned the whole day...only to have the weather and other circumstances totally sink it. First of all, I wanted to go to the Art Museum. I, personally, haven't been there since I was taking classes there over ten years ago. I thought it would be such fun to spend a couple of hours there, have lunch at their new garden cafe and then go to the Sugar Mountain Bakery for dessert.

Well, first of all, the museum isn't open on Tuesdays. Then the weather stepped in and poured rain, squelching my idea of eating at an outdoor cafe. We decided, as the rain and hail poured down upon us, to go the mall and eat at Biaggi's. Of course, by the time we arrived at the mall, the sun was shining brightly and the sky was a beautiful, cloudless blue. Never mind, the lunch was really good and we spent three hours eating and talking. One thing you can be sure of, we never run out of things to talk about.

We ended our day by having cupcakes at another new cupcake bakery. YUM!!

Let's see, what else? Oh yes, we were finally able to get our friend Claudia to come for coffee. She brought me these:

I have some growing in one of my gardens, but never think to pick them. They look wonderful and smell delicious. It was great to see Claudia and catch up with her.

I've been weeding, weeding, weeding in my flower gardens. I also did some thinning of the more prolific plants. I am going to add a few things this year and if the weather cooperates tomorrow I plan to visit my favorite nursery. I think, by next week, I may be ready to spread the mulch that Jim and I picked up this week.

Speaking of picking up, if you read my post on April 20, you know I was yearning for the Lazy Boy outdoor recliner. Well, today, I did, in fact, buy said recliner. The only one left in the store was the floor model and I got it at a discount. That, plus my coupon, made it a little more palatable for me. It is all that I had hoped for.

I spend hours and hours on the porch in the summer and will totally enjoy this new purchase.

Hey, did I tell you we also bought a new car? Meet Esmerelda whom I call Esme.

I'm sure lots more has happened in this time span, but I really think this is enough for now. I love my life and hope you are all loving yours.

~Hippo Hugs~

Dixie Carter,

The first time I became aware of Dixie Carter was sometime in the early 1970's. She was playing the part of Olivia Brandeis Henderson on one of my favorite Soap Operas, The Edge of Night. I couldn't remember exactly what the role was, only that she was a lawyer of some kind. Actually, she played an assistant District Attorney from 1974-1976. Even though I don't remember the details of the role, I remember how I was struck by her beauty, charm and strength.

I lost track of Dixie in the next few years while I was busy changing diapers, potty training, wiping runny noses and rocking my babies to sleep. Fast forward a few years and my girls are teenagers, enjoying watching television with their mama.

Now I have always loved southern women. In fact, to this day, I think I should have been born a southern women. They are without a doubt my favorite females on earth. Add to that strong minded, smart, beautiful southern women and whoop-di-doo, you have my attention. All that equals Designing Women, which my girls and I fell in love with.

Never before, or since, has there been such a great cast of women, great writing, and great acting. It was a sacred ritual that Paige, Gretchen and I sat down together to watch DW every week. When Paige went off to college, we taped every episode and watched them all together when she came home for holidays. Nothing could become between the Wo*****er Women and Designing Women.

I've purchased the first two seasons of this show and am watching them by myself these days, making plans to watch some of the episodes this summer when the girls come home for a visit. Although there are many, many delightful skits featuring all of the talented actresses of DW, Delta Burke, Jean Smart and Annie Potts, this one is a classic.

Bon Voyage, Julia Sugarbaker.

May 25, 1939 - April 10, 2010

~Hippo Hugs~

It's Tuesday

It snowed this morning, but I was determined to bring spring to my front door.

Hippo Hugs

Random Tuesday

Cheryl revived her Random Tuesday post today and I thought I'd just continue the tradition here. If you're interested, you can answer here or post this on your own blog. Come along and join the fun.



1. I was so excited when I bought____________________

If you've been reading, you know I bought a new dress recently. I bought it without trying it on and brought it home thinking I would probably return it. But, then I tried it on and I was smitten. I love that dress and I'm really excited about it.



2. If I had some "mad money" to spend right now, I'd buy__________________.

We received a flyer from Bed Bath and Beyond today and this is what I'd buy.

It's a La-Z-Boy recliner for my sun porch. It is just what I've been looking for. The problem is that I bought two chairs last summer. This chair is $297 and I don't know if I can justify it.

3. I really shouldn't have_________________________________.

I really shouldn't have stopped for a McDonald's Frappe this morning, but it tasted soooo good.

4. _________________made me cry.

Talking to Shelly today, about Bruce's accident and recovery , made me cry. It has been such a long and arduous journey for them and they have so far to go. It hurts to see your precious friends hurt.

5. _________________made me laugh a lot.

Gretchen told us a story about a happening at her workplace recently. I couldn't stop laughing. No one understood what made me laugh so much, but I was really tickled. If I were to tell you the story now, I would break up in laughter once again. It just hit me that way.

6. _______________us awesome.

God is awesome. He never fails me. He covers me with his grace and rewards me with his mercy. What more can I say?

7. I just cannot believe___________________.

I just cannot believe that my hand is so sore tonight. The doctor says this is arthritis. It hasn't hurt me at all while I was in the Southwest. Tonight, I can hardly type. Now, that doesn't mean I'm complaining. Just sayin'.

8. I'm really looking forward to__________________.

OMIGOSH! So many things. I'm looking forward to having both the girls home this summer. We are already making plans for the things we'll do in one short week. I'm looking forward to our trip to the Pacific Northwest next fall. I'm looking forward to getting some scrapbooking done. I'm looking forward to the LPGA and Laverne & Cathy's visit. I"m looking forward to spending the rest of my life with my love, Jim.

9. The weather right now is__________________________.

The weather right now is beautiful. Everything is beginning to bloom, the grass is green and the temperature is mild. Who could ask for more?

10. My mood right now is_____________________.

My mood right now is better than it was earlier today. I read something on FB that hurt my feelings and caused me to be angry. Then I received a wonderful prayer on email from a dear friend. It was as if the Lord spoke directly to me telling me to give it up and allow him to love through me.

11. I couldn't believe it when_________________.

I couldn't believe it when Jim told me that the riding mower started right up this morning. He had gone out and bought a battery charger which he didn't need after all.

12. And now I'm going to__________________.

And now, I 'm going to watch NCIS.

~Hippo Hugs~

Home Again

We arrived home about 1:30 PM EDT yesterday, tired, but very happy to be home. You all saw how hard it was for me to leave Nevada. I really like it there. I feel so at home and comfortable. I'm sure if I had to stay through the very hot summer, I would complain, but while we are there all is just wonderful.

But give me a couple of days on the road and I'm thinking home and all the wonderful things that await me here. The only problem is just that. All the things that need to be done to prepare for summer. This morning, I just sat here and wondered, "Where oh where, do I start?"

I have to keep reminding myself that everything doesn't have to be done this week. I am almost all unpacked. That in itself is a great accomplishment. Jim was like a human dynamo today and got a lot of stuff done. I, however, am a much slower starter. I did get to CURVES this morning and managed to get groceries. I thought that was a lot.

This afternoon found me going to calling hours for my friend, Kathy's, dad. He was 96 years old and sat down in his chair and left this life. Oh what a way to go. He was a really great guy and enjoyed his life until it was over.

We have come home to spring and it feels really good. I took some pictures today to prove it.

As you can see, the weeds are very prominent. I guess I need to dig a few dandelions sometime in the next few days. We are at least three weeks ahead of the normal spring. I worry about a really hard frost doing damage.

I know I've made a lot of fun about Jim worrying about his grass, but he was right. The grass is really high. Tomorrow, he'll get the mower overhauled and probably be mowing.

I know we'll get into a groove and catch up soon. Just for now, I'm still a little overwhelmed.

~Hippo Hugs~