Girl's Day Out

Yesterday was lovely. I enjoyed a girl's day out. Maria and I went out of town to visit with my Mom, sister, aunt and cousin. We've been trying to make this trip for weeks but every time I had a day off, something came up. In fact, the last two times we scheduled this trip, we endured snowstorms instead. Anyway, it finally happened!

From the moment we arrived at Mom's house, Elise was ready for adventure.

She wanted to hug everyone and inspect everything. She was especially excited over Mom's cat and dog. They weren't so thrilled to see her but she didn't seem to take it personally.

She just kept on moving!

When my aunt, Michelle, and cousin, Anne Marie, arrived, Elise wanted to have time hugging everyone.



Unfortunately, Cordelia started feeling pretty sick. She remained sweet and adorable but we could all tell she wasn't her usual sparkly self. Anne Marie read books to the girls, which was
perfect for Cordy.






My daughter, Maria, gets a turn snuggling Cordelia. Throughout our visit, Cordy would ask different ones if they wanted a chance to snuggle with her. That was about all she had to give. Even sick, she was sweet as can be.

My sister, Tina, uses a motorized wheelchair. Usually, that is a disadvantage to her when it comes to little ones warming up to her. Not so with Elise! Elise loved it!

She even got Tina to take her for rides, sometimes even trying to "drive" it herself. Thankfully, Tina did not give up the controls. Cordelia, who has always been a bit worried about that wheelchair, decided to go for a ride as well.

She was polite but quickly said, "You can let me get down now."

I love all of these women and it was nice to spend time together. If you haven't already, go back to their names (Maria, Michelle, Anne Marie) and click to be magically taken to their personal blogs. Four out of five of us are bloggers! If my Mom is a blogger, she's still keeping it a secret.

Thanks for a fine day, ladies!

Time with Family

I spent much of this past week-end at my Mom's. She lives only about a two hour's drive away. I LOVE the drive up there. It involves a lot of wide open space, one of my favorite things. I always relax at Mom's house as well. She has a way of making her home so welcoming. It just feels homey to me, even though I never lived in the house where she now lives.

Saturday evening we picked up my aunt Michelle and met my sister and nephew, Tina and Steven, for dinner out.  Every time I go to their town I find myself wishing I could go visit them more often!

(pictured: my Aunt Michelle)

My Mom has 4 sisters and I always thought all of them to be quite beautiful.  

Sunday morning I went to church with Mom, meeting my sister and nephew there as well. It was a treat to worship together. After church we went out to breakfast. It was calm and pleasant. Well, for me it was. For them it may have been annoying as I drug out my camera so they couldn't really relax. They were good sports, though, so I can share my photos here with you. Thanks, guys!

I was there to celebrate my Mom's birthday with them. I probably shouldn't tell her age so I won't. 

I will tell you, though, that my Mom is much, much younger than other women her age.

Think about that!

Grandpa Red's Footstool

Elise recently become the next kid to really, really love my grandfather's footstool. I thought I had posted about that footstool before but I couldn't find it so maybe I didn't so now I will. Can anyone say, "run on sentence"?

My Aunt Michelle gave that footstool to my Grandpa Red maybe almost 50 years ago. I remember it when I was pretty young. I used it in lots of adventures as it could be flipped out and opened up in a variety of interesting ways. I think I pretended it was a boat a lot. Well, I was among the first group of grandchildren to play with that footstool but I most certainly wasn't the last. Many generations have enjoyed it! It has been reupholstered and it doesn't have all the adjustability it once had, but it still is precious to me.

When my Grandma Rose died and her house was sold, I didn't hear anyone wanting to claim the stool. My Aunt Michelle said that I could take it home so I did. I couldn't bear to think of it going to a dumpster! I don't think of myself as the owner of the footstool, but rather the keeper of the footstool. I know that I have cousins who played with it. My children and many of my cousins' children also played with it. Now, my grandchildren are enjoying it. I doubt very much that my Aunt Michelle ever dreamed of this footstool being a treasure to future generations but it certainly is!

Wyoming Road Trip

Remember that we are doing that big one week sale on Wyoming Rose Boutique. Use the coupon code word JAZZY at check-out and you will receive 50% off ANYTHING IN OUR SHOP!

Yesterday I was called off work so Maria and I took advantage and headed to visit my Mom, little girls in tow. Cordelia was pretty excited to go see Grandma Grace. As it turned out, my sister was sick and couldn't join us. My aunt and cousin came over for a bit. It was a fun day!

Cordelia does well on road trips. She has a little DVD player which helps.  Elise slept for much of the trip. We actually saw two bald eagles sitting on a fence but did not stop as we didn't want to disturb Elise. I'm kind of regretting that. Seeing two bald eagles hanging out is not an ordinary event. You would have liked the photos...sorry about that.

Elise enjoyed exploring my Mom's decor.

Cordelia loved up on my cousin, Anne Marie.

She sometimes loves kind of rough.

She also enjoyed my aunt, Michelle.

Do you see that Cordelia is wearing a shopping bag as her backpack?

It was a lovely girl day.

Cordelia's Party

What a special week-end!  Mom and my Aunt Michelle came to town.  My sister, Tina, and my nephew, Steven, also came to town.  We enjoyed a lot of family time, especially the party to celebrate Cordelia's birthday.  We all went to her party and had a lovely time!  

My nephew, Steven, provided some music for us.

 My mom is beautiful!

 My sister, Tina, getting to know Elise

It made me so happy that Michelle was there.

Princesses Playing Maracas - It just doesn't get any better than that!

We Love

1 John 4:19

New International Version (NIV)

 We love because he first loved us.

Meet the Bloggers

I've taken to preparing posts ahead of time for when I am scheduled to work long shifts at hospice.  This is one of those posts.  I hope you are all having a lovely week-end, maybe laying around reading a good book and sipping on lemonade, while I am slaving away.  Sorry.  Putting people on little guilt trips just comes naturally to me.  The honest truth is I had several days off in the middle of the week while you were likely slaving away.  This post reflects on one of those days.

We are a bloggy bunch, me and my relatives.  Maria (daughter) has been blogging daily for years.  I was perplexed when she first started blogging.  Why would anyone do that?  Why would anyone want to give themselves a writing assignment every day?  And isn't it like writing a diary?  That's something you should hide under your mattress, not put out for the world to read!

Well, apparently we are a writing bunch of relatives as many of us have followed in Maria's footsteps.  When we were at the cemetery the other day four of us were together.

Maria, Me, my Aunt Michelle, My Cousin Anne Marie

Cordelia doesn't blog - YET!

Maria's blog is Little Things are Big.  She has been writing in it for years.  

I love reading it!  

She writes well and I enjoy seeing the world through her eyes.  

She finds beauty just about everywhere. 

My Aunt Michelle writes A Wyoming Woman's Thoughts.  Anne Marie writes Bits & Pieces.  

I'd encourage you to check them out as well.  They both write about family and living in Wyoming.  

They also have some great photos!   

When we left the cemetery that day we went on to have lunch with my sister.  

Guess what!?  She's a long-time blogger writing Living With Cerebral Palsy.  Her blog helps connect people who are handicapped.  It is also great for anyone who wants to better understand how a handicapped person deals with obstacles and overcomes adversity.  You will learn about real courage there!

So, if you have some time, know that you are invited and welcome to stop by their blogs as well.  Maybe you will figure out what's wrong with us; why do we impose writing assignments on ourselves?

Who's Calling Please?

Yesterday, shortly after lunch, my cell phone rang.  I was driving so I pulled to the curb to talk.  I know, you didn't ask, but I thought this was a nice little opportunity to point out that safety move.

A funny conversation followed.  After I said my "hello" a lady asked to whom she was speaking.  I kind of thought since she called me she should know that but sometimes I've forgotten who I was calling myself so I was nice.  Truthfully, I thought it was someone from Hospice wanting me to cover a shift so my mind was off in a different direction, "Could I work a night shift with so little notice?"

I answered, "This is Susan."  Most of my friends don't actually call me Susan but it really is my name.  When I applied at Hospice they called me that because it was on my application.  Although I answer to a lot of nicknames (Sue Ann, Susie, Bubba, etc.) I am most used to being called Sue, except my relatives usually call me Susie.  I don't mind either but I really never liked being called, "A Boy Named Sue!"  The truth is, I think Susan is the prettiest so at this new job, I just let it be.  That is why I answered, "This is Susan."

The voice on the other end sounded confused as she asked, "Susan who?"  Now, I know that when someone calls and asks your last name you probably should not give it out.  This lady, though, didn't really sound like a salesperson or even a stalker so I gave it.  When she next spoke, her tone was still confused but relaxed and I recognized it!  It was my Aunt Michelle!

My aunt was confused because she had been talking to a technical support person.  We all know how much fun that is!  She'd already answered many, many questions and then was cut off from the person who was "helping" her.  At that point she heard her phone dialing and there I was.  Surprise!  It was kind of a nice surprise for me.  I enjoyed having an unexpected conversation with my aunt!

Cell phones do funny things.  One time I was calling Maria and got a stranger.  At the same moment she received a call from another stranger.  Somehow two calls had crossed!

Even before cell phones most of us had weird phone calls.  One time I had spoken with an older  woman from our church.  That conversation ended and maybe 30 minutes later I went to use the phone.  Someone was on the line but talking in the background!  It turned out that the older woman hadn't quite set the phone in the cradle and we were still connected.  Someone was visiting her and I was then an eavesdropper!  I yelled and yelled to Evelyn but on her end I was a voice too tiny to hear.  I had to hang up and give up using my phone  for awhile.  Every now and then I'd check and yes, Evelyn was still visiting.  Eventually, after her company left, she noticed the phone and hung it up.  Who would've thought that connection would've held on so long?!

And then there are the wrong number funny  moments.  I loved the one that happened to my Mom years ago.  Her phone number was similar to that of the local bus company.  Once, in the middle of the night, she sleepily answered the phone.  Someone asked, "Do you go to Denver?"  Confused, she answered, "Sometimes."

How about you?  Any funny phone stories you'd like to share?

A Windy Day at Hobby Lobby

Recently my aunt and cousin, Michelle and Anne Marie, were in town for an event.  They gave me a call and we got together for a bit.  I also got to visit briefly with Anne Marie's husband and daughter.  First we met at the mall but we quickly migrated to our REAL destination... Hobby Lobby.

Are any of you Hobby Lobbiers?  I LOVE that store!  My mom always wants to go there as well when she is in town.  As she put it, "It is a lovely store full of things that no one really needs."  Well, it is true that it doesn't carry the necessities of life, but sometimes I really think I NEED a certain color of yarn or some new beads for earrings or fabric for a dress or ......  They have SO many things I really, really need... ok, things I WANT. 

My Aunt Michelle was a pretty important person during my elementary school years.  My family moved to the same town in Nebraska where she taught at a college.  I remember lots of times spent following her and my Mom around doing exciting things like touring through new mobile homes for a Sunday outing.  When we'd drive to Wyoming for Christmas or something, Michelle sometimes rode along with us.  For some reason I often had leg aches as a kid and they were especially bad when we were in the car too long.  I remember Michelle massaging my legs to help me feel better. 

Anne Marie is a lot younger than I am so I can remember back to her infancy.  I remember her as being very smart and very spirited.  Our two families did not live close together by then so I only saw her occasionally.

For many years, though, I've mostly only seen Michelle and Anne Marie at my Grandma Rose's house.   Grandma's house was really the gathering place for extended family.  Grandma Rose died just before Christmas last year and since then so much has changed.  We don't have that center to our extended family anymore.  It seemed kind of odd to get together with Michelle and Anne Marie somewhere else, but I mean odd in a nice way.

I'm so very grateful that Michelle and Ann Marie made the effort to call me so that I could see them.  Oddly, it made me feel a little closer to Grandma Rose again.  There is something comforting about being with people who have known you your whole life.  That feeling of connectedness is something I've come to value.

I brought my camera to document the occasion but had left the SD card in my computer.  Duh.  Luckily, Michelle had her camera along and has shared some pictures with me.   Thanks, Michelle!  As she noted, we have the Wyoming Wind hairdos!

Anne Marie and me...

Michelle and me...

Michelle and Anne Marie

Thank-you for stopping by. Feel free to use my photos but please link them back to my blog. I am honored if you wish to share content of any of my posts on Facebook, Twitter, etc. as long as it is linked back to my blog.

Saturday Plans

What are your plans for this day?

As soon as I post this I plan to make pancakes.  I'm HUNGRY!

I plan to go to Walmart before the Saturday crowd arrives.  I only need a few grocery items and some yarn for another poncho project.  I've taken orders for 10 ponchos and a few hats since last Saturday!  I'm on my third one of those but one didn't turn out as well as I'd hoped so I am going to redo it. 

So, I plan to crochet like the wind!

I plan to do laundry.  I'll  likely wash and dry a few loads that will then be plopped on our guest room bed until I am forced to fold them.  I love doing laundry, it is rather magical how yucky, dirty clothes go into machines and come out smelling like a warm Spring day.  However, I hate folding laundry.  Why?  I've no idea.

I will work on my Bible Study by Beth Moore, "Breaking Free".

I will crochet like the wind some more.

I will prepare my lesson for the 3-5yr olds in my Sunday School class.  We are on the letter "F" this week so it will be about fish, either the loaves and fishes story or the fishers of men story.  I'm leaning toward the loaves and fishes story.

I will crochet like the wind some more.

Somewhere during this day I will receive a phone call from my Aunt Michelle.  She will be in town with my cousin, Ann Marie, and her family and I am excited to see them.  They have a tight schedule while here so when she calls I will drop whatever I am doing and go to meet up with them. 

We get to have Cordelia over this evening!  Yay!  That is like the icing on the cake.

After Cordy leaves, you guessed it, I will crochet like the wind!

I hope your day involves interesting projects and people you love as well.  I just hope you don't have to fold laundry.




Thank-you for stopping by. Feel free to use my photos but please link them back to my blog. I am honored if you wish to share content of any of my posts on Facebook, Twitter, etc. as long as it is linked back to my blog.