Robin Tolbert

Sleepless in 1993

- robin

One hot Texas summer day in 1993, Mother babysat Lauren and Jami. Larry asked me out on a rare date. We were quite poor and outings were few and far between. There was a movie that I had been waiting to see….

Yes, Sleepless in Seattle. We went to a little burger joint for dinner. Larry was in the food service industry then as a street rep. We had dinner at one of the restaurants that he serviced. It was a wonderful dinner out.

Then we went to the movies. Movies in 1993 were different than they are now. I loved the process then, they were movies that you could not see on TV and the popcorn! OH! That popcorn. Larry took me to see Sleepless in Seattle. It was during the movie, I saw something. It was in Annie’s apartment. I will not share where the object is in the movie, as not to spoil it in case you will watch the movie soon.

But….after the sweet movie, I went home and within the week, I made the object. Larry cut the piece of wood for me and I hand painted the angel.

It was the summer of 1993. Each year until recently, it would hang in the entry of our living room at Christmas. Angel has been in storage for a few years. (We do not decorate at Christmas any longer)

My daughter, Jamison and husband Jared have moved into their new home. While sitting in their living room last week, it occurred to me that maybe they would like the angel for their next Christmas?

Yesterday Larry and I went to storage and brought the angel home. I have not asked Jami and Jared yet….

Photo: The Angel From Sleepless In Seattle

The Angel measures 5 1/2″ X 3 1/2′. It is acrylic on wood and handpainted by me. The Angel has watched over many Christmas parties and celebrations the past 28 years.

I hope that Jami and Jared will adopt her.

Photo: The Angel On Matilda’s Doll House

Now, the question is, where does the sister angel hang in Sleepless In Seattle?

Love you beyond the moon.

Me

Dionne Warwick Day

- robin

Yesterday, was a beautiful day. The sun was out all day and it almost felt like spring. While waiting to go out, I had the chance to get a few old CD’s put onto my new little MP3 player. ( I just bought this and LOVE it)

Photo: My sweet little MP3 player

When we travel or have picnics, music always comes with us. I do not use the phone for music… but I have a little speaker and the very old NANO died a slow death a few months ago. It took me that long to find this player and it is exactly what I needed. I have filled 2/3 rds of the MP3 player so far with much more music to go. I hope that the player has enough room.

Yesterday was Dionne Warwick Day…..I Say A Little Prayer For you…..

Love you beyond the moon.

Me

Handwritten Letters

- robin

Last year, when I was going through my second treatment for breast cancer, I stared receiving notes and cards in the mail. (My daughter Lauren posted a need to cheer me up. Thank you Lars) It was wonderful, kind, distracting in the best way possible and I have saved every note that came to The Cottage.

I love receiving handwritten letters and I love to write notes and letters.

Yesterday, a friend of mine asked me a favor. Her Mother is feeling down and would I write her note? I am sorry that her Mom is struggling and I am beyond glad to write her a note or two. I put my friend’s mothers address in the address book this morning….now what will I write? Shall I send her a fat quarter (she is a quilter) a muffin recipe or a stunning quote from my favorite poet?

That is one thing about BLOG….it is typed not hand written. I pretend that I am writing a letter here every day about one event in the past tense . It is posted here for the world to see with no return address.

When I write real letters, there is always a return address…in fact I have the BEST stickers …..

Oh. And don’t forget the BEST pen.

Love you beyond the moon.

Me

Double Reds

- robin

Yesterday, Larry gave blood. I must add, he gave more than blood. He gave double reds. It makes him weak and a little ill for a few days and cannot donate again for 4 months.

*Double Reds or Power Reds: A Power Red donation allows you to safely donate two units of red blood cells during one donation. … This type of donation uses an automated process that separates your red blood cells from the other blood components, and then safely and comfortably returns your plasma and platelets to you.

Photo: Carter is a Dallas tradition.

The need for blood is great right now… and many people are afraid to donate. Larry said that it was very safe, masked, social distanced and hand sanitizer was everywhere.

A year ago, Jamison had 3 blood transfusions. Because of this, Larry donates double reds whenever he can, in Jamison’s name…

Please consider donating blood? It will make you feel wonderful.

I wish you a day filled with Happiness.

Love you beyond the moon.

Robin

Casserole Recipe On A Monday Morning

- robin

Happy Monday.

A week ago, Matilda asked for THE green bean casserole. I hardly remembered it but dug deep into my recipe files and found it, hiding in the pie section of my recipe box.

I made it yesterday in honor of her 9 1/2 birthday. (she celebrates each 1/2 year) Please enjoy this recipe, it is delicious. I wanted to share the recipe on this Monday.

GREEN BEAN CHICKEN CASSEROLE

this is a Taste of Home recipe

INGREDIENTS

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

1 Package (6oz) long grain and wild rice mix

4 cups cubed cooked chicken

1- 3/4 cups frozen French style green beans

1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup

1 can condensed cream of broccoli soup

2/3 cup chopped onion

2/3 cup chopped green bell pepper

1 envelope onion soup mix

3/4 cup Colby cheese

1 cup French Fried onions (optional)

DIRECTIONS

Prepare wild rice according to the package directions, let cool for 10-15 minutes. Stir in the chicken, soup mix, green beans, onions, green bell pepper and canned soups.

Spoon into large casserole dish or two small casserole dishes. Sprinkle with cheese.

Bake for 30 minutes, sprinkle wit French fried onions, and bake 5 minutes longer.

This casserole freezes very well.

Photo: Lauren made the beautiful salad

The family loves this recipe. I make it in a favorite casserole dish given to us by a special California Cousin, Aggie.

Photp: One of my favorite casserole dishes

Good food and special moments. It was a wonderful weekend.

Love you beyond the moon.

Me

Return To Me

- robin

I went to the DR yesterday and my blood pressure was so high, my DR is having me chart it for 2 weeks. (Yikes) I am also having a dozen tests done this week. My question is….when an office looks like this, who wouldn’t have high blood pressure?

Photos: Top: The outer waiting room. Middle: The Exam room. Bottom: the cartoon video instructing us how to meditate.

I walked around the lake a couple of times when I came home from the DR and it gave me time to think. After dealing with surgery and treatment from #2 breast cancer, I have not been eating well, days are NOT spent exercising like I should and anxiety is always nudging my brain…..it is just such an odd time.

It is an odd time for ALL OF US and we worry about the friends that we have not heard from. They are included in my daily prayers, hoping that they are just preoccupied and not ill.

There is a movie that I like. It is considered one of our Comfort Movies. It is “Return to Me”…..Have you seen it? The soundtrack is playing this morning and I feel very sentimental. Often, I wonder if everyone is feeling like me, having high blood pressure, prayerful and feeling sentimental?

Photo: Movie, Return to Me

Return to me is one of my favorite movies. It reminds me what is truly important in our lives. The music is one of my favorite soundtracks…. even Larry likes it. Please watch it if you feel inclined, or better yet, listen to the soundtrack. It will remind you what is important in your life. (LOVE)

I send love and calm to you today.

Love you beyond the moon.

Me

Yesterday and Today

- robin

Can you believe that it is Tuesday already? Yesterday flew by so fast that I cannot remember what exactly I did.

Perhaps it flew by because I am trying diligently to bypass the news during the day. My days are spent testing recipes, ART, reading and knitting a sweater for Larry. OH! Yesterday I also played a video game with Matilda! She was at her house one hour away, and I was home. We played Terraria. An hour with (granddaughter) Matilda always brightens my day.

I am up early this morning and have a DRs appointment. The house is dark and I can hear Good Morning America on the bedroom TV.

Photo: In the Dark Hallway. 5:30 am

I am going to try to have meaningful moments all day today. (And remember them tomorrow)

Love you beyond the moon.

Me

The Best Example

- robin

On Saturday, Larry and I went to the country to see Matilda, It was “ART In The Garden” day. For months, Matilda and I have been making and crafting different ART projects. We plan to auction all the art , with proceeds going to St Jude Hospital in Memphis. Please look for our auction soon?

While visiting Matilda, she asked if she could play the piano for us. She is playing so well and one song in particular moved Larry very much. Larry asked Lauren if they might video her playing the song and could we post it on The Blog today? The video is below…..

Larry wanted us all to be reminded that we are all one and we need to accept each other for exactly who we are.

I hope that you enjoy Matilda’s mini concert…The children are our future. We need to set the best example that we can.

Love you beyond the moon.

Me

The Heart Of A Pansy

- robin

Yesterday was a calm Monday. I got laundry done, walked laps at the lake and made Larry onion soup for dinner. It was a productive day.

The best part of yesterday was, the mail. Larry surprised me with a 23 and Me kit. (Larry received one for his birthday and thought he would include me in the fun) Soooo, I spit into the vial, sealed up the box and in three weeks I will have the DNA results.

A few weeks ago, I had ordered a dress pattern from EBAY. It arrived yesterday and I was impressed with the packaging and the owner of the Vintage pattern company!

Photo: The new pattern was wrapped

The pattern looked like a gift…

Photo: The company who I bought the pattern from. I will order from them again.

I bought a summer dress pattern….because Larry booked our beach trip for 2021! I am nervous about the world and what it will look like when we are able to travel. The trip is months away….and I have time to make some summer things now.

Photo: This is the pattern that arrived yesterday

I love the new pattern. I can make it out of gauze to wear over my bathing suit and some fun fabrics to wear during the day with sandals. It has huge pockets on the sides….I love pockets!

On to domestic news……

The new pansy planter is happy. The miniature pansy blooms are beautiful and I can see them from the kitchen window.

“Nobody can keep on being angry if she looks into the heart of a pansy for awhile.”

~ Lucy Maude Montgomery~

I love working in the kitchen and looking out the window at the plants and bird feeders…..

Love you,

Me

New Years Eve

- robin

This past New Years weekend was happy. I think that it made up for such a difficult holiday. Larry and I did not go to the Dallas Symphony on New Years Eve. We looked at our tickets and agreed that it would not be a good idea to go. There were terrible storms in Dallas and to be honest, we just wanted to stay home and be together.

We dressed up and took pictures….

Photo: Larry & Robin~ New Years Eve 2020

Then we got into our PJ’s….. ate popcorn and drank Champagne in bed. We stayed awake till 1:00 am 2021.

***

All thank you notes have been delivered to the post office this morning. I was going to put them into the mail box, but I wanted them to go out as soon as possible.

Photo: Thank you notes and mask for the post office

I feel grateful today. There is so much good ahead of us and I am here to take part in the history that will be 2021.

Photo: Dead Zinnias in the winter sun.

Last week, I video chatted with friends far away. One of my friends in the UK, made me feel ok that I was not taking photos or even looking for fun shots anymore. The photo above is for him. I took it this morning, in the back garden.

Who inspires you or who do you inspire? I think that it is a gift to be inspired and to inspire….

Have the BEST day ever.

Love you beyond the moon.

Me