Yesterday, Larry and I skipped church…because Matilda (the most wonderful granddaughter) invited us to come play a new game with her at her house. (she played this game (Pandemic) while away on holiday last week in NC) It is called Pandemic and you cure the world of the virus!

You can find the game at Target and Amazon.

It is a GREAT game and we cannot wait to play it again. ( look for it!)

Last night for dinner, we had tacos, nachos and quesadillas, rice and beans. The chips and salsa were perfection if I say so myself…..

I was not very hungry, but I did eat a lot. So did Larry. It was sooo GOOD! What is it about this kind of food that is amazing?

Now, about the wine……..

For Mothers Day and any holiday or occasions .. I have requested NO GIFTS. I need nothing at all. I told my daughters that IF they HAD to get me a small something I would like a bottle of wine.

$25.00 or less bottle of wine with a terrific label. That way, the wine will become part of special dinners, moments with friends or a sweet evening at home. Larry and I save all wine labels. The labels go into a leather journal. You are thinking, why are you telling me this?

Jamison and Jared, for mothers day gave me two bottles. One of them was……

Watermelon Margarita wine! I built the dinner, (TEX-MEX) around the wine and after dinner the label went into the amazing wine journal. I LOVE this so much…. The wine was so much fun and the label will become part of the journal to keep forever.

As always, thank you for taking a moment to visit Blog.

Love you beyond the moon.

Me

The past few days, we have had guests. Jami and Jared took a trip to Florida to watch the shuttle lift off from Cape Canaveral so Gunner and Cooper came to The Cottage.

I had honestly forgotten how much work caring for a dog was. (but worth it)

Jami and Jared arrived back home late last night. Sunburnt and happy, sharing stories of their adventures. They loaded up their puppies and off they went to go back home.

This morning, the cottage is quiet. I am missing the sweet dogs.

I love them so much, but I will never have another dog again. It hurts to much when they are gone….

Love you beyond the moon.

Me

I started with a quote today to remind myself what I can do in the right mindset. Last night, while going through my Instagram account. (it was one year ago when I closed down all of my social media for many months because I was hacked) I checked all of my passwords, etc…and during the process, I was inspired.

A woman’s name popped up, saying that I might know her ( I didn’t) but I clicked on her account. She is a seamstress and she is living with stage 4 breast cancer. Her photos are amazing and her sewing is beautiful. She is inspiring us all while fighting her own fight.

My wonderful friends and family are supportive and are always near if I need them. But the inspiration I am talking about it internal. It is in my heart and brain…..

Is this kind of strength born in you OR do you learn it?

Love you beyond the moon. Me

‘Vulnerability is the essence of romance. It’s the art of being uncalculated, the willingness to look foolish, the courage to say, ‘This is me, and I’m interested in you enough to show you my flaws with the hope that you may embrace me for all that I am but, more important, all that I am not.’

~Ashton Kutcher~

The quote above is perfect, but it does NOT have to be romantic to be true. We need to be honest with ourselves to accept who we truly are.

Some days, it is difficult to love myself. Is that a “feeling sorry” for myself attitude or is it something completely different?

Love you beyond the moon.

Me

Larry has been taking such good care of me, this past Sunday I cooked him a special meal.

We had steaks, twice baked potatoes and corn on the cob.

I did not feel very well on Sunday and we missed Sunday School and church for the second week. Maybe next week, I will feel better? I put most of my energy into making dinner. Larry loved it.

It has been raining in Texas for weeks. Maybe this summer will be sunny and pleasant? My fingers are crossed.

Our Sunday movie will be kept a secret for now. Larry and I wanted to view it before giving it to a certain 10 year old on her birthday. It was GREAT.

I can tell you about ONE movie though. Do you know that one of Larry’s clients is a certain International movie CORP? They honor him with free movies for a year. On Saturday, Larry took me to see CRUELLA, with Emma Stone and Emma Thomson. We had not been to a regular movie since March 2020. We ate popcorn and enjoyed every moment of the movie. (I loved Cruella)

Have you been back to the movies yet? It really was wonderful and now I am waiting for The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard. What movie would you like to see next?

Have a happy, wonderful day.

Love you beyond the moon.

Me

My son in law is a great man. He is a husband to my daughter, a Dallas Police Officer, chef, ARTist….and a kind soul.

I wanted to share with you what he is up to now…..he is making cutting boards out of exotic woods.

He is selling them, please find the link to his Etsy page below.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/USVeteransCrafts?ref=search_shop_redirect

His ART is always spectacular…check out his Etsy! (he sells out fast!)

Love you beyond the moon.

Me

“I have come to the personal conclusion that while all artists are not chess players, all chess players are artists.” – Marcel Duchamp

I learned to play chess during my first diagnosis, surgery and treatment of breast cancer in 2012 and have played often until recently.

Why do we stop doing things that we love? Is there something that you have always enjoyed and for some odd reason you stopped doing it?

My days are full. Larry’s positive spin on life adds to my joy…..but why is it, that as we grow older we give up certain things? I never expected it to be like this….

Love you beyond the moon.

Me

My father and his brother’s birthday were one day apart. Today is my Uncle Bruce’s birthday. This was one of the greatest men I have ever known in my life. He was honest, loving, kind and fair. I miss him very much and often wish that he was here to see that is happening in the world and the family.

When my father was not a part of my life any longer, Bruce became a huge part of the life of my husband and daughters and myself. Although miles apart, I knew that he was there just to say hello to. That was the best feeling in the world. He left us in 2010 and would have been 91 years old today.

I would like to wish this dear man a Happy Birthday.

Love you beyond the moon…and miss you terribly.

Me

My father and I were close. We lived with him and Mother when we moved to Texas, making the house note on his home each month because he was unemployed at the time. When we found our little house, it was 2 miles from where he and Mother lived. I went with him to probate court after Mother died. Larry and I took care of his dogs. When the dogs needed to be “put down” Larry took care of the difficult job. We knew him (Norman) very well. We took care of him and took care of things that needed to be done. Until he met his soon to be wife. As soon as he met her, he really did not need us any longer. I think that the word is expendable. Larry and I knew many of the unspeakable things in his life and were a liability. The public story is that he was angry at us because we did not RSVP to a Christmas Party that he and his wife were giving……

He was angry at me (the RSVP thing) for years till the time that he died, but that is ok. I loved him beyond the moon. I saw him about 6 months before he died, in the hospital. I told him that I loved him, he ignored me when I said that, but it is ok. He knows how I felt.

Today is his birthday. He would be 94 years old. Happy Birthday Dad.

I still love you beyond the moon.

Me