11 Questions

I've been tagged by Funny In My Mind.  This tag came with all sorts of rules.  I'm only going to follow one of them.  I'm going to answer the questions Funny set for me, because I liked the questions. 

1. Why did your parents choose your name? Does it mean something?  My mom worked for a dentist and, if I have the story right, one of the patients was a pretty little girl named Deanna.  Mom had never heard the name before (60 years ago it was a very uncommon name).  She loved the name and thankfully gave it to me.

2. Do you believe in ghosts? Why or why not.  I do believe in ghosts but I have no idea why... I just do!

3. Do you think any president will be able to fix our economy? Do you feel like things are better or worse with the current president.  Things are absolutely worse with the current president.  I believe it is possible to improve our economy, but from what I'm seeing, we don't have the right people on board to do that.  In my simplistic mind, we need to just quit spending money we don't have.

4. Favorite time of year. Why?  Fall.  I love the colors, the cooler temperatures, and sitting around a fire wrapped in a blanket on a cool Fall night.  My favorite holiday, Thanksgiving, is in the Fall.

5. Favorite item of clothing, past or present.   The Polyanna dresses mom made for my sister and me when I was maybe 5.  They reminded us of what Haley Mills might have worn in the movie Polyanna.  Loved those dresses!
 
6. Name the strangest pet you ever had.  Our Chihuahua, Whiskey, takes that title.  He can be the sweetest little guy on earth one minute and then without warning turn into a demon dog.  I swear he is posessed.  He is very definite about who he likes and who he doesn't like, and many fall on the doesn't like side (sorry Greg, it isn't personal).  If we scold him, he turns his rear end to us and sticks his tail straight up, like he is giving us the finger.  He's absolutely crazy, but we love him.. 

7. If you could take a week off and travel anywhere with money and time away not an issue, where would you go and why?  Only a week?  Not possible!  I want to go to Greece, Australia, Sweden, Denmark, Italy, Hawaii... the list is endless.  The east coast is calling me.  A return to the Apalacian Mtns is always on my list.  I've never been to Oregon, Montana, or Utah.  I love the South and want to spend more time there.  Yea, give me at least a year.. not a week!

8. Do you miss a time when we didn't have cell phones are you happy for the latest inventions?  I do miss "the good ol' days".  Our grandkids think we are crazy when we tell them there was a time that our families didn't own a television and that TV stations went off the air after the 10:00 News.  There was one phone in the house and it had a cord attached to it.  There was no such thing as a private conversation.  We ate our meals together without the interruptions of texting or computers.  But.  I am very happy for the latest inventions.  I am lost without my computer.  I feel lost if I leave my cell phone at home.  I feel much safer when it is with me.  I'd just like to see all of these gadgets used with respect for others.  They should never take the place of face to face interaction.  It makes me sad when I see a young family in a restaurant and the parents are either talking on their phones or texting, and the kids are plugged into the ipod, phone, or games.

9. What is the one thing you dread more than any other thing? Be honest.  It used to be losing one of my children.  Now that fear has extended to them or any member of their family.  If I think about it, my heart just tightens and I get emotional (like I am right now).  Next question.

10. Are you high maintenance? Hair, nails, clothing, looking perfect, massages, etc. If so, do you do it to make yourself look better or to FEEL better.  I'm probably high maintenance in some ways, and low maintenance in others.  I love my pedicures and manicures.  I get my hair colored and/or highlighted every five weeks at a high end beauty salon. I'd say I do it so that I look better.  I'm low maintenance when it comes to day to day me.  I can get ready in 1/2 hour easy.  That includes shower, hair, and make-up.  I hate to shop. When I do,  I take Jim along, because otherwise I'll come home empty handed.

11. Insert random thought about me here. I am out of questions.  You are a high maintenance, funny, and caring person.  I love how you put yourself out there for all to see. 

My love, My life

I would say that, by most standards, forty years is a long time.   If that is true, why does it seem like it was just yesterday that this man of mine and I became man and wife?  Why does it seem like all we did is blink and poof, here we are?





Jim and Deanna - June 17, 1972



Maybe it is because we married the right person and have held on tight as we shared our lives together.  We found strength in each other to help us face any struggles, burdens, sorrows, and heart breaks.  We've held on to our happinesses, joys, successes, and loves.  We celebrate each day together.  All of these things could be the reason that 40 years have flown by in the blink of an eye.  I am very blessed to have had Jim standing next to me as I am traveling this journey called life.

June 17, 2012
Tessa, Deanna, Jim, Julie, Greg

Our children, their spouses, and our grandchildren did everything possible to make this day very special for us. 


Saturday we they got everything ready.  The plan was to host a cake and punch reception at church after Sunday morning Mass.  Then just family (and our pastor, of course) was going to have a good ol' fashioned BBQ at the house.  That meant the metal lawn chairs had to be retrieved from the garage storage and cleaned off.  Since there are 18 of those things, that is a job all by itself!  The menu was BBQ Pulled Pork, fully loaded baked beans, potato salad, deviled eggs, Mex-Tex Dip & Chips, left over cake from the reception, and home made ice cream.  It was PERFECT!

Anniversary Cake
Center Cake has the names of everyone in the family written around the border
The two side cakes include words that describe our life together
As I read the cake, it didn't take me too long to tear up - because that is what I do... It was beautiful!

Front row:  James, Cara, Jim, Deanna, Allen, Reagan, Austin
Middle row:  Anna, Tessa, Emily, Alicia, Dakota, Julie
Back row: Bill, Greg, Travis, Doug, Cody

 We took tons of pictures.  So, of course, I made a video.  The song used in the video is John Denver's "For Baby".  We sang that song to each other on our wedding day, so it seemed appropriate to use it. 

With that, I will leave you with the words to "For Baby" and a link to a video of our 40th Wedding Anniversary. 

"For Baby (For Bobbie)"

I'll walk in the rain by your side,
I'll cling to the warmth your hand.
I'll do anything to keep you satisfied,
I'll love you more than anybody can.

And the wind will whisper your name to me.
Little birds will sing along in time.
Leaves will bow down when you walk by,
And morning bells will chime.

I'll be there when you're feelin' down,
To kiss away the tears if you cry
I'll share with you all the happiness I've found;
A reflection of the love in your eyes.

And I'll sing you the songs of the rainbow;
A whisper of the joy that is mine.
And leaves will bow down when you walk by,
And morning bells will chime.

I'll walk in the rain by your side.
I'll cling to the warmth your tiny hand.
I'll do anything to help understand.
And I'll love you more than anybody can.

And the wind will whisper your name to me.
Little birds will sing along in time.
Leaves will bow down when you walk by:
And morning bells will chime.

by John Denver

Bright eyed and bushy tailed

I don't know where to start. Talk about "writer's block"!  I have it. I can't even seem to get a video put together of the grand's ball games.  Summer time blues?  I don't really think so... Just lazy?  Maybe...

We have been attending a few ballgames.  A couple of Sundays ago, we hit paydirt.  Who would have thought it possile to watch 4 gandkids play ball in one day?  But that is exactly what we did.  The two little towns where my two oldest "kids" live played against each other.  We could cheer and always be right!  At one point I did move from one side of the bleachers to the other.  It was the only fair thing to do.

With the weather being as dry as it has been, we've been watering our flowers, blackberries, grapes, and pear trees.  It was great to hear thunder and rain this morning.  We grabbed our cuppa joe and sat on the porch and watched it rain.  I'm pretty sure all of our friends in the forest were just as happy to see the rain as we were.  The birds were everywhere.  I even saw a big ol' owl lumber through the trees.  We have Purple Martin's this year for the first time in forever.  Love my Schwartze's (I call them that because I can never remember their name, but we have a guy we go to church named Martin - last name (you guessed it) Schwartze.  So, at Jim's suggestion, I do the name association  to come up with Purple Martin!

Anyway, this is just a quick post to say hi and that I hope everyone is ok.

My Way

I received this in an email just moments ago and just had to share.  My eyes sprung leaks when I heard the opening note.  It is so beautiful.  I'm sure it caused a bit more emotion than usual because it took me back in time when our daughter, Julie, played the violin in school.  Oh so pretty.  I cried at every performance. 

So this one is for you Julie.  Love you.

The renowned Dutch violinist, conductor and composer, and his orchestra did a tribute to Frank Sinatra with "My Way" on his Stradivarius violin at Radio City Music Hall – New York.

Small Town Pride

The parking lot was filling up fast with cars, SUVs, vans, and many trucks.  As we hurried into the gym, our senses were greeted with the sound of excited voices, clashing perfumes, and a scene of people of all ages looking anxiously for those they were saving seats for.  The Grandmas were already fanning themselves with the programs handed out at the door, as the exhaust fans installed at each end of the building did their best to keep the place cool.  Children and parents alike were dressed better than they would be for the average day on the farm, and there were more cameras ready to flash than a bus full of Chinese tourists.  Music that I didn't always recognize was being played on the piano by the Band Director. This, my friends, is the scene of a small town graduation.

There were eleven young adults graduating from High School.  Eleven!  You can bet each and every one of those kids were friends in one way or another.  The Eighth Grade graduating class had burgeoned to more than double that number - I think 27.  Granddaughter, Emily, was part of that class.  The Band Director playing the piano happened to be Emily's other Grandmother.  Pretty special, huh.

I'll have to admit as those young adults proudly processed into the gym, I felt a lump in my throat.  It was like I was being transported back in time to when my own children graduated, and even further back to when Jim and I moved from one phase of our lives to another.

At first I was a little dismayed when I realized we were not attending just the 8th Grade Ceremony, but rather a combination of 8th Grade and High School.  We were in for a long night and obviously needed to sit back and get comfortable on those hard folding chairs. 

As the ceremony progressed I was so glad we were here for the whole shabang.  The students spoke from the heart to each other, telling stories of each and every one of the students, as they talked.  You can do that when there are only eleven in your class.  They thanked all who helped them achieve, including family, friends, and teachers, and gave encouragement to the Eighth Grade Class that was taking their place.   For their Commencement Speaker, they had asked a former teacher (I believe she was the Librarian but don't quote me on that) to return.  She mixed humor, life experience, and advice for the future, in her speech.  She made fun of the Kardashians and Snooky, pointing out which way is the wrong direction to aspire to.  She related to the students on every level. 

As these kids (they will always be kids to me) walked onto the stage to get their diplomas and certificates, the tears welled.  I was so proud of Emily.  She has grown into such a confident, beautiful young lady. They played a video with photos from their High School Days, with a segment for each individual child that included their own personal song as their life was documented in photos.  Again, only is that possible in a small town.  When the older kids presented their parents with flowers, thanking them, and as often as not shedding tears with them, it was almost more than I could take.  Cara was hanging on to her Grandpa's arm.  She didn't know that his emotions were coming from memories of all of the students who had passed through his classroom for those 30 many years, in addition to memories of his own kids.  She just knew he needed hanging on to.

After the ceremony, we indulged in cake and ice cream, more photo takes, presents for our lovely Granddaughter, and a late night drive home.  Emily, thank you for  being the wonderful young lady you are.  We are very proud of you.  Thank you for asking us to share this experience with you.  It was great.

Cards

I have so much to blog about that I'll probably never get around to everything I want to share.  So I thought I'd just do a quick and easy post of some cards I've made lately.  My best intention of taking pictures of my "creations" have had real poor results.  The cards invariable get sent and then I say "oh shoot, I forgot to take a picture".  But here are a few:

This card was sent to a dear friend in thank you for a present.  The brown background is strips of masking tape inked in three different colors, then clear embossed.  I really like the masculine effect it makes.



This is Emily's 8th grade graduation card.  I was really pleased with how it turned out.

The inside reads "one person can make such a difference, and that person is you!



Austin's Monster Birthday Card

Austin said he liked the card, but I believe the Icecream was the real hit!

Barn Charm Tuesday

It is Tuesday again - and time for Barn Charm!  Tricia is hosting, and I am joining in.

Oh, by the way, I freeze my wonderfully tart cherries (previous post) to be used in the best cherry pies in the country. 

Today's barn was spotted along Hwy. 94, not too far from Herman, MO.  It seems the countryside is dotted with barns, with a new old one around every bend.  A few times I was focused on one barn while Jim was saying, "hey, look at this one!"

There is something about these arches that is so plesing to the eye.  I'd love to renovate this into a business of some sort. 

Speaking of arches, can anybody guess where we were this past weekend?

More on that later...