Passing of another year...

Wow!  It's sure hard to believe that another year has just slid on by.  Where did it go?

Let's see:

Mom passed in July after a long, healthy, lively life after a short illness - sad but glad she is not in pain 

A new native Texan baby girl that is healthy and wonderful - wahoo

A new transmission in the car - $$

A newly adopted native Texan young girl that is thankful she now has an aunt - proud

A new set of truck tires - good grief 

A new non-native Texan but not a yankee boy that is healthy and handsome -wahoo

A new heater in the truck < short lived repair - gag

A happy 2 year old new big brother that's also non-native Texan but not a yankee - it is those small things!

A whole new heat / air system - $$$$$ OUCH but cool app to go with it!

A just conceived baby that will be a native Texan - yippeeee

A hail damaged roof ...well, I need to remember to call to reschedule the installation  - ugh more of those $$

A couple of kitties that love me - awww think 'purrrrrr'

A bone spur that is floating around the Achilles tendon - ouch

A great tomato & pepper crop - hey more than 2 is a bountiful crop for me!

A sinus clean out surgery - $$ but can breath now

A new boss - that lets me shine - whew

A few siblings that are ornery, nutty, silly and pretty cool - not bad for 2 native Texans and 2 Kansasians?, Kansasites?, Kansasidians?, Kansas people

Lot's of good things

More good music on iTunes

Blessed and thankful for all the family and friends.

I hope everyone has a good, safe,  blessed and happy new year!

Happy Birthday Jesus!

Merry Christmas

Have a safe, calm and pleasant day.

Christmas is not just around the corner...

Somehow, it snuck up on me!

This will be the first Christmas without either of my parents.  Tough one, that's for sure.  I can't deny that it isn't hard.  I keep finding things in stores that Mom would like.  I bought too many Christmas cards too.  Thoughts of Mom and Dad are good though.  

We have new family members this year, Molly, Maddie and Harrison.  And a few long lost relatives thanks to DNA testing.  Confirmed some, found some new ones.  That is fun.

Sam and Millie are as goofy as ever.

Work is hectic beyond words.

I hope you and your family have a safe and happy Christmas.

WOW Time really does fly again!!

Halloween and Thanksgiving have flown by in epic quickness. 

And now Christmas is around the corner!

Where did the time go?

Sigh

Work is way too busy and have been working lots of overtime.  Trying to limit the weekend hours so I can catch up on kitty snuggles and laundry.

Veterans Day - 2014

To:  all Veterans

From: me, one of the free in the USA

Dear Veteran,

MY DAD'S ARMY UNIT FROM WWII (row 1, 2nd from left)  HE WAS IN THE AIR FORCE WHEN I WAS BORN.

Thank you for your service to our country.  It means a lot to many of us even when we don't show it all the time.  Thank you for your sacrifices.

MY BROTHER COMING HOME FROM GERMANY

And thank you to all the servicemen and servicewomen in my family.  My dad, my brother, my mother's brothers, my dad's sisters and brothers - and all the ones that came before you - Thank you.

Time Flies whether you are having fun or not!

Wow.  As I've said before, time flies whether you are having fun or not!  I just don't know where the last year went.

Let's see,  Mom died, the heater went out of the truck during Wintergeddon, the transmission went out on the car (well, I call it my car but it is a smooth riding XUV - yes XUV look it up), a molar broke in half, my nose is about to undergo rooter rootering and my house decided it wanted a whole new HVAC system (yes, the whole kit and kaboodle), and let's not forget all the new tires.

I'm thankfull for all the blessings I have.  A job, a house, a family and friends... oh, and my 2 adorable fur babies.

Mom is gone

 Mom died last week.  

She lived a full, independent life and loved her family and flower garden.  She didn't like the gophers though.  

The night before she passed, she got quite active:  primping her hair and face, mouthing as though she was carrying on conversations, smiling, waving and patting someone on the head.

My brother, sister-in-law and I were there when she left us on Tuesday.  All her kids and grand-kids got to say good-bye and tell her we loved her.

In June, she and I went hunting for her great-grandparents grave in Boswell OK.  We didn't find them but we had a blast.  Later that month, we had a reunion with her cousins family.  They were from Oklahoma so it was really fun to hear some stories about my grandparents and the fun the cousins had in their younger years.  Got to meet some new family members too. 
She had the best nurse at the end and we discovered that her yardman was now an aide at the hospital.  He came and took care of her one day.  

I'm glad she's at peace now and with family.

Loss

It seems like yesterday that my Dad passed.  It was only 2 years ago.  

Mom before she was Mom

Now I'm about to lose Mom.  She had surgery 7/7 and did really great.  Recovering fine, returning to her normal self, laughing and having fun.  Then last Friday night, 7/11, she had a strong stroke.  So strong it left her paralyzed on one side and blind on that side.

She's not getting better and is steadily going downhill.   She didn't want to live with tubes and was very  vocal about it in the past few years and we did go over that again before her surgery.

She's on comfort care now and I hope what little time is left is peaceful.

Be Save, Have Fun, Thank a Veteran

In honor of my dad, brother and many other relatives who gave ....

My dad, as he left for WWII, Europe & Africa

My nephew (at Dad's funeral) - who puts his life on the line for us everyday

My brother - went to the military as a kid and came out a man

In honor of those who went before...

A thank you is not enough to all the men and women who serve our country to protect our country and our freedom.

Many in my family, uncles, aunts, and greats have served in the military and police...back to the Revolutionary War (and before that most likely).

Thank you.

and may God bless all your families.

Catching Up

Yikes!  Busy busy busy....

James and Nancy McCann!  Where are you hiding?

 Mom and I went to Boswell OK to find some relatives (my great great grandparents) but they weren't where they were supposed to be.  So we'll have to return some time.  We didn't eat lunch until around 2 so we were starving!  Mom ate and ate and ate and licked her plate clean at Chili's.  Reminds me of her mom who also normally ate like a bird until we went out.  Grams favorite was Chinese food.

Where's my Chuy's cream jalapeno dip?

Then there's the grand nieces.  Little-ist Miss M is so darn cute.  I got to hold her.  I forgot that newborn skin is so so soft.  

How they drive in Arkansas

And a quick quick trip to Arkansas

and here's Miss M the elder with little Miss M

soooo adorable, they are

and this morning, I get to go with my sister and the elderly-est Miss M to see Rio 2 and go to lunch.  Little-ist Miss M declined the invitation.. something about sleeping and eating and pooping all day.

Littlest Native Texan Finally Arrives!

Little Miss M f.i.n.a.l.l.y decided to come on out and play today. 

Big sister for the very first time - Miss M - was happy too.  

We are a very blessed and grateful family today.

Wrong kind of visitor tonight

Way too many of these showed up at my place tonight.  

Freaked out the kitties.  

Scary and loud.

 

Update:  Fixed the photos.  No obvious damage but will have roof checked out.  Truck that was outside didn't have any broken windows.  Lucky us. 

Still hiding away.....

Little Miss M is still hiding away and not ready to come out and play. 

She and mom are ok.

She's just stubborn.

Like a mule.

or the rain they keep saying that's coming.  

sigh

Patiently waiting... NOPE

We are waiting on my nephews baby to make an appearance.  Apparently, she has some attitude already.  I don't know where she gets that trait.  

 Neither does my sister.

I asked her soon to be older sister to whisper to her 'Aunt Carla says it is time to rise and shine so come on out!'.  

Alas, that didn't work. 

I forgot to mention... this will be ANOTHER native TEXAN.  YEAH!!!

Happy Birthday!

Yep, I'm 29 again....

 I got to see Miss M when she was visiting her grandparents.  She and my sister took me to El Fenix (favorites for me and Miss M) and we had desert in the car!  She and her dad (my nephew) made cupcakes for me.  They were good too. 

She made me a card too. I love the homemade cards and presents.

I got her a kite and she and my sister went flying.

I love kites.  Brother-in-law didn't get to go because he broke his leg.  

Happy Birthday everyone!

Winter...repeat #567

Wow.  It was 80 on Saturday - nice and warm

Today is Sunday. And it is in the twenties with wind chills near zero.  Yep. You read that correctly.

And the low tonight will be in the teens.  I will not be looking at the 'real feel' in order to save my sanity

At one point this afternoon, there was sleet, thunder and very loud frozen rain along with some serious wind

The kitties and I napped all day in between the storms.   I went out at 7:30 this morning to use the truck (parked out front) ans was surprised when the door was frozen and sleet on the windshield.  It was very very cold.  And weird after it being so warm yesterday.  I had to go get some kite string     Next time, I'll get kite string when I get the kite!

Stay warm and safe

Grumble Grumble

Old man winter came back.

Yuck

If you can't say something nice, then say nothing at all. 

nothing to say today then,

Kicked that Old Man Winter Out of the Way!

Yes, I know it is still February.

Yes, it can still freeze until late March or early April.

But by golly, it is f.i.n.a.l.l.y warm here.  Warm enough that I swear it was in the 60's more than once last week as I ran from the car to the train.  A.n.d better yet, if I wore my coat (yes, the other mornings were still in the low 30's), I didn't need it when I got off the train. 

Boy do I ever have spring fever.

Even made a run to 2 garden centers this morning, plotting and planning.

It's about time old man winter went away.  Don't come back for at least 5 years!  No more icy roads and frozen garden.

Winter Wimp

I know.  I haven't been here in a while but really, it IS the weather's fault. 

It's either been freezing cold or nice and warm outside!  No in between - just 30-40 degree swings back and forth and then back again. 

I see signs of spring in the garden and then when I go out again, those signs are frozen.  Glad I don't have fruit trees at this time of year.  We've already had our ice storm for the season - way back at the beginning of December.  So the though of the impending one strikes fear in my heart and toes.

Yes, you read that right .... toes.   I detest cold toes.  I don't like to wear shoes and socks.  The building maintenance people removed my little heater that I used to protect my toes.  So now I keep my fur lined boots at work to warm my toes.

Hmmm.  It just occurred to me that the only boots I have are for winter.  I'm a native Texan and I don't own cowboy boots.  Can you tell it's Stock Show time?

My new great niece went to the Stock show yesterday with her new grandparents.  My sister sent pictures of Maddie on a long horn steer yesterday.  

So no pictures.  It's too cold for cameras.  Yes, this winter wimp doesn't like it when the high for the day is at 5:30 am.  That's just downright wrong!

Craziness

Yes, Sam sleeps face down when he's tired

Oh my, after the ice storm, we have 70 degree weather.  The good news is that my toes are finally thawed.

I was able to sneak out of work early Friday (mind you, my version of sneaking out is to tell my boss that I'm leaving early to warm my toes before the next batch of ice arrives) and the train I caught took me part way to the end station.  I left early enough (about 2pm) that the Orange line only goes half way.  So, my fellow travelers and I got dumped out into the partly cloudy but warm train station.   I've had to do this once or twice before - even once when it was below freezing - the train broke that time and we had to wait a longer than normal amount of time as the other trains passing through were packed like sardines.  Oh, back to this story:  we only had to wait 8 minutes but it was so nice to be outside in the warmth.  

 And  Saturday.  What can I say?  It was nice and sunny.  That's it.  That's all that needs to be said.  

Well,  actually my brother and sil decided to go up to my Mom's a day early.  We put away all her Christmas decorations.   and put away.   found some more and put away even some more.  After lunch, we kept finding small things so we kept putting it away.   

For such a small house, she has more closets and storage than I do.  I sure would like a big closet where boxes and tubs can be stored for those things that just don't need to be in the attic where it alternately freezes and heats to a thousand degrees in the summer.    I do exaggerate a tad, but I'm a native Texas so it's in my DNA. 

This is what Millie dreams about

She has real dirt in her yard - I have clay.  But the only advantage I have is that gophers don't tunnel through clay.  

Got to go now so I can enjoy the weather we are supposed to have today.  When we get nice 70 degree weather in January, we frequently get a bunch of ice in Feb.  And I mean a bunch.