Owl

Stephanie and Cory have a condo in a beautiful setting on a lake. Here are a few pictures Stephanie posted on facebook including some of an owl they saw. I was reminded of it by Ruth's posting and poem about a boeautiful owl on her blog sync-ro-ni-zing. Click on the link to see.

Mia - warts and imaginary friends

Like all 3 year olds, Mia says a lot of funny things. For instance, I noticed some warts on her hand that looked kind of red. I said, "Oh, you have some warts on your hand." She said, "Yeah, I wanted to keep them, but mama says 'no'." I found out from Jaime that she has been treating the warts to get rid of them.

Yesterday Mia spent all day playing and arguing with imaginary friends. This is especially creepy because the kids have always insisted that there is a ghost in the kid bedroom. Mia says they won't be quiet and won't do what she tells them. Yesterday she said one was named Donald and he was with another little boy. She said they were "scaring themselves".

I have always discouraged the kids from talking about the little girl they say is in the closet. Jaime started it when she was little. She freaked Cory out so much that he would not sleep in that room. I have to say that I have never seen anything weird, though I do think about it a little on the nights I have slept in that room.

One night when Jonah was little, we were watching TV and the picture started rolling. He reached up and opened the blinds above the bed. I scolded him and asked what he was doing. He said, "There's a ghost out there." I closed the blinds quickly. Then he said, "He talks." Yuk! I did get some cold chills down my back.

I especially didn't want Jill to hear about this. She gets scared enough already. All the children do insist that the closet doors be closed at night and I tend to feel more comfortable myself when they are closed. One side doesn't fit very well and tends to come open a little bit. One day, Jonah came running in the kitchen and said, "Come see what is in the closet!" I was on the phone with Roger, who knew the stories. When I came back he asked, "What was it?" I said, "What do you think? NOTHING!"

These events have happened occasionally over twenty years. I even met the son of a previous owner one time and have talked to my neighbors. There is nothing I have found in the history of this house to give any credibility to these stories. But it does creep me out a little when Mia talks this way. If there are any children ghosts in this house they should be happy with what is generally a sunny happy little room.

Sylvia and Steve

My neighbor, Sylvia, came down yesterday to tell us her beloved companian, Steve, died suddenly on Saturday. We are all stunned. He was in his 70's but a very active and fun loving man. They have only been together about a year. Steve loved to fish in his boat and only recently sold his motorcycle. I was supposed to go down and show them how to use Craigslist so he could advertise for electrician jobs and she could sell her handmade jewelry online. We all liked him very much and he and Sylvia were having such a good time. They went dancing every week and just celebrated her birthday on Friday. In fact, they were at the Seminole Casino when he had a sudden heart attack. They were winning. Life is short. Now Sylvia will have more time to go for walks and help me with the yard. She is a good friend. Life is not only short and it is not fair.

Coping with January

Tangelo tree has a few orange globes if you look closely. This tree is not in good shape but the tangelos are still sweet. (Part tangerine, part orange)

Bacon and pancakes and coffee warm Roger up this morning.

Here is the view from our front door. At least the sun is out. It is about 37 degrees out there right now. I know it is not really that bad, but cold to us.

Jaime and Jonah returning the class guinea pig, Cocoa Puff, to school.

Cocoa Puff is visible in the left hand corner of the cage. Jonah above.

It has been cold all weekend and still record breaking cold this morning. It is supposed to be warmer by Friday. Jonah brought the school guinea pig home for the weekend. It was a cold walk from the classroom to the car on Friday. Now Jaime and Jonah are getting ready to take Cocoa Puff back to school. She was a good little guinea pig. Squeaking and jumping around now and then and eating baby carrots (too many I'm afraid). Jonah and his friend Eliot volunteered at the pet store to get some animals adopted homes. When I asked Jonah if anyone adopted a pet he said, "No, but Eliot is thinking about adopting a bird." I told him the idea was not to adopt all the animals themselves. Happy January 11, 2010!

Goodbye!

It's gone. I sold my little car in 1 DAY on Craigslist. From my short real estate "career" I know that means I sold it a little too cheap. It was a good car with a lot of happy memories. It made me feel young to get in and crank up the radio and roll down the windows (with a crank handle). I love our crossover, SUV, or "the vehicle" as we call it, whatever it is, for hauling all the kids around, but this little car was mine, bought with a lot of help from my "boyfriend" -- now my husband on a very hot day in 2005. A couple of nice people were fighting over it, but a nineteen-year-old named Tiffany got the car. She said she was going to give it a name and a wax job. I think it has a good home.

the sleepy bowl

sleepy bowl

This bowl was a gift to my daughter from her stepmother, Joyce. She has a talent for finding all kinds of quirky gifts from a variety of catalogs. I believe she also gave Jonah his beloved and well-worn dinosaur quilt. I will have to get a picture of that. Anyway, there were four bowls but this is the only one left. I use it to give chicken noodle soup to Jill when she is sick and I often use it for Mia's breakfast or lunch. It is so cute to hear Mia say, "Wake up, bowl. Time to get up!" She also loves the little hearts.

Tree Surgery with a Truck

Sean came over to investigate the tree problem. With no ladder and dark clouds overhead and rumbles of thunder, he had an idea. He threw a rope around the offending branch and he and Sean Borseth pulled hard. Only a little piece came down. Then they tied the rope to the truck and pulled again. I was a little afraid the whole tree would come down, but after a couple of tries, all the big offending branches were on the ground and NO ONE WAS HURT! Hooray!

sweet and gentle visitors!

Every morning we watch the cranes slowly stroll down the golf course eating bugs in the grass as they go along. There are five when they all show up, but mostly we see these three. They make the strangest clacking sounds. Today they came across the street into our yard! I ran to get the camera and a slice of bread. They came straight up to me for the bread but were much more gentle and calm than the local ducks, who can get quite aggressive. I led them all the way to Sylvia's house and talked to her and Steve who were having coffee on the porch. When the cranes got ready to leave, the biggest one spread his wings and stood on his tiptoes for a while as if to say "Thank you." I was so stunned I didn't get the shot. What a nice way to start the day along with cooler temperatures and some sunshine instead of rain!

hair cuts, birthdays, dance recital and last day of school

Hard to tell, but Roger and Nibbles both got hair cuts the other day. Roger complained he hadn't combed his hair yet when I took this picture. Nibbles is a skinny shadow of his former fluffy self. Both feel a lot better. I will try to get a better picture.

Today at 6:30 Jaime is having a bowling party for Jonah's birthday. He will be 9 on June 12, but he is leaving on Sunday for Tennessee to have his real birthday with his dad. Jaime is serving pizza and a huge birthday cookie "cake". This is a boy party and Jill is not invited, but she is handling it really well.

Jaime sent cupcakes to Jonah's school on Wednesday. I forgot to get a picture, but here is one of Jonah and his friends eating pizza at the new outdoor picnic area at school and a picture of Ms. Goodknight who has been his teacher for two years. I know he will miss her and I will, too.


Jonah took this one of himself and his friend.

Everyone got gift bags just before they left.

Money is tight. Especially since there is also a party for Vannon on Saturday. He agreed to have his party a week late. His friends are coming over with their video games. Vannon and Connor's X-Box is broken again and doesn't look to be fixable this time. Also, they are doing without internet as well. Vannon is 16. He and Connor get wonderful grades and help Jaime with the house and the baby and are all around great kids. Happy Birthday, Vannon.

Lastly, Jill's dance recital is on Saturday at 2:30. I should have some great pictures from that. I haven't seen the costume yet but I hear it is white and sparkly. Jill got a very good report card and will be going to first grade next year at Lake Magdalene, I hope. Her teacher at Miles, Ms. Baker, did a great job. This was her last year to teach after about 34 years. She did a great job with Jill as her report card reflects. Jonah will be in third grade next year.

Home

Here is our present and our future. My past where my children were raised and now my grandchildren are just as much at home as their parents were. It is beautiful after all the work that Alan did and we are very lucky to have it.

Goodby Southport Springs

The house at Southport Springs is gone. The pool, the club house, the golf cart, the friends. We tried very hard to find a buyer, but in the end there were just too many obstacles to overcome. Roger and I spent our first married days together here with many memories.

Happy Easter

Tulips

Jaime, Mia and Sean

Steph, Cory and Jill

Connor's Easter basket was in a tree!

Mia's Easter Basket was in a flower pot

Jonah fooling around with a water pistol

Jill's Easter dress (and Nibbles)

Jonah, Erica, Connor and Vannon

Darlene and Roger (and Samantha)

My brother, Rick

We had a lovely Easter with friends and family and lots of good food. Too much chocolate, coconut cupcakes, and two beautiful cardinals who have built a nest in a bush nearby. Happy Easter to everyone! (Happy birthday, April!)