Larry and I go away to France every year in November. He works hard and going away to a place where no one can call him with a “work” problem is the best place for him to relax.

Last October, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. The next week, a tree came through our roof. After my cancer surgery, pending treatment and house repairs…..Larry and I decided to postpone our 2019 French holiday till March 18th, 2020. TODAY.

About 2 weeks ago, we decided to postpone again because my immune system is not 100% and the health of the world hangs in the balance.

Larry postponed our airfare, and all reservations in France. THEN he made reservations at our favorite French Bistro in Dallas. He said, if I cannot take you to Paris, I will take you to the Bistro. Yesterday the Bistro called. They are closed now.

Both Larry and I are fine with everything that has happened and what is yet to happen. I have been blessed beyond belief and God has us in his hand. I am not sure why things are happening like they are, but I know that soon, all will be fine and lessons learned will live in our hearts.

Below is one of my alltime favorite shots from Paris. I took the image is 2006. One night I could not sleep…and woke Larry up. I said get dressed, lets go for a walk. It was raining and cold.

I am not in Paris, going to a store or visiting friends, but it is really ok. I am content and happy. Life, love and friendship will continue if we just have faith.

Hold on to your dreams. Stay honest & kind and everything will be fine.

Love you beyond the moon.

Me

Happy St Patrick’s Day to you all.

Happy Tuesday! We have made it to Tuesday! How wonderful is that?

I have been working on projects non-stop and reading. There are a few great movies that I am going to re-watch and I will be taking a walk every day…but here at the Cottage.

***I will be taking a break from most social media for now. The selfish negativity is making some people look amazingly ignorant. I have been spending to much time looking at the opinions of people who are not relevant in my life.

A friend, who is battling cancer, texted me last night. Her words were generous and thoughtful. She has been very ill and I respect her tenacity. In her note last night, she offered prayers for everyone to stay healthy and safe. Of course she said it in a more elegant tone….but her unselfishness touched me to the core.

It will be a busy morning at The Cottage. I am setting up a new You Tube channel….and that is a mess trying to figure out, Larry is on conference calls all day because of the quarantine. I have one painting to finish and material to make sun-dresses for the beach!

Happy St Patrick’s Day! I hope that you stay happy and healthy.

May all, Dr’s and Nurses be blessed with health and safe moments as they continue to fight the unknown virus….They are in my prayers.

Love you BEYOND the moon.

Me

My Mother, her older sister and parents lived outside of Pittsburgh, PA. As the story goes……… Her mother went to Pittsburgh for important business and shopping. {i never knew what the important business was} The sisters {in their early teens} were bored. They did chores, read, sewed on projects and this is how my mother told the story:

“During the day, after all the chores were done, I remembered seeing a recipe in the newspaper. It was for a simple pound cake. While Sis {that is what she called her sister} made dinner, I made dessert. We did this to surprise Mother and she WAS surprised.”

Back to today……We grew up enjoying this pound cake but I must have been 30 years old when Mother gave me the recipe. She gave me the recipe, written in my Grandmothers handwriting from years earlier. Larry had it framed for me. It is a treasure indeed.

Yesterday, all I wanted to do was bake Mothers pound cake. Using the cast iron loaf pan that my cousin Pamela sent me, the pound cake turned out beautifully, decorated it with home made butter cream icing. Larry and I made strawberry shortcake with the pound cake. It is a treasure indeed.

Old family stories, old family recipes….treasures

Love you beyond the moon,

Me

I am sixty five years old and have a compromised immune system. I go to my DR visits. I wash my hands often and try to be aware of sneezing, coughing and my body temp. Larry and I take pretty good care of ourselves.

Larry and I were to leave on March 18th, 2020 for Paris. We have postponed the trip because I do not want to be “stuck” {quarantined} somewhere that is not home.

That is the only compromise that I will make.

Seeing people {esp on social media} panic, when they have no reason to is ridiculous. The hoarding of toilet paper and sanitizer is greed and selfishness in its worst form.

I worry about the seniors in our community. The older persons on government incomes who have no food to spare, let alone Purell for their hands or extra toilet paper.

Today Larry and I will be taking a few donations to the local food pantry. Perhaps it is time to think about someone else instead of ourselves….

Love you beyond the moon.

Me

I had not been to Book Club in a very long time. I was invited to yesterday’s gathering, even though I had not read this months book. It was awesome/wonderful seeing so many of the ladies. They are all well educated, interesting, traveled and kind. Books chosen in this group are not the run of the mill “Oprah” picks, but are thoughtful and sometimes non-fiction type of reality, the kind that hits you in the face with a strong topic.

Yesterday, the group discussed EDUCATED.

I had not read the book. The discussion was very interesting and sad at times. I had questions, as an observer. Lynne asked me if I would like her copy. Of course I said, thank you, yes. I started it last night. Have you read it?

On to other news…

The dining room table is still cluttered with a puzzle. I cannot go to bed until I have found at least 6 pieces. I usually find the pieces early in the morning when the light is good. The dining room is on the East side of the house.

It is a difficult puzzle. Larry being color-blind finds it nearly impossible….but the windows and doors are so charming. I love it.

When I am sitting working on the puzzle, this is what I see…’

I try not to measure my days by the puzzle but it is hard. I found this online,

I wish you happy puzzles and a happy Friday.

Love you beyond the border pieces.

Me

In April, Libby, my pug dog will have been gone for 3 years. I miss her daily, and confess that sometimes, I even talk to her portrait.

I read a quote yesterday, that said, “Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.” – Anatole France.

Larry and I have had a few dogs over the years. Different sizes and shapes. Not one of them was a kindred spirit to me, till Libby-Girl.

This is my subject today, because for the past three years, my daughters have been sending information about rescue dogs that they have found. Found for me to adopt and bring home.

I told them: Libby is waiting for me. When I see her again, I will be able to tell her that I have been waiting for her too. And I am waiting. I am crying, just typing this, I miss her so much.

I envy people who can adopt a dog so soon after losing a beloved companion. They are able to fill that sad void.

We have all lost a pet. A beloved member of our family and we all deal with the situation in a different way.

Me? For now, I am just waiting.

Love you beyond the moon.

Me