JUST CATCHING UP

DEAR BLOG, LOVING FAMILY AND FRIENDS,

A MONTH HAS GONE PAST, MARCH WAS A BEAST. SLEET, RAINS, SNOWSTORMS, HEAVY WINDS, AND A FLAT TIRE. IT NEVER LET UP. EVERYTHING I WENT TO WAS IN THE RAIN, SLEET OR SNOW. THE LACEMAKERS GOT CANCELED TIME AFTER TIME. SOME OF THE BACK COUNTRY ROADS NEVER GOT PLOWED OUT EARLY IN THE MORNING, THEY FROZE INTO ICE TRAILS FOR CARS.

WE HAD FLOODING ALL AROUND US, PEOPLE HAD FIRETRUCKS PUMPING OUT THEIR BASEMENTS, BUT WE WERE HIGH AND DRY HERE. THANK GOODNESS JIM AND I COULD STAY HOME. SINCE HE WAS CLOSE TO RETIREMENT, HE HAD DAYS TO USE UP AND HE COULD REMAIN OUT OF THE ICE. FINALY, AFTER TWO WEEKS OF IT ALL, IT HAS CALMED DOWN, AND THE TEMPERATURES HAVE GONE UP TO THE MID 40'S. THIS WEEK WE ARE PROMISED SUNSHINE AND NO RAIN. THE SKIES ARE STILL GLOOMY GRAY, AS THEY ALWAYS ARE, NO NICE SUN RISES OR SUN SETS. MARCH WAS USHERED IN BY THE PROVERBIAL LION. HE STAYED THE ENTIRE TIME.

WE CAN NOT WAIT TO MOVE TO WYOMING AND SEE THE BLUE SKIES, IN THE SUNSHINE YEARS OF OUR LIVES. NOT TO MENTION LIVING NEAR OUR DEAR FRIENDS, MONA AND CLARK DUNN. IT IS GOING TO SHAPE UP INTO A FABULOUS RETIREMENT. JIM WANTS TO CUT AND BALE HAY, I WANT TO CONTINUE WITH MY ROCK SEARCHING, AND FOSSIL SEARCHES....JEWELRY MAKING, BOBBIN LACE MAKING, TATTING, DOLL MAKING, HOLDING DEMOS, DANCING AND FITNESS AT THE "Y", WILL BE REPLACED BY HAVING A HORSE, POTTERY THROWING, CERAMICS, QUILTING, (WE HAVE NO MATERIAL STORES HERE) KNITTING, CROCHETING AND BEING ALIVE LONG ENOUGH TO HAVE VISITS WEST, FROM ALL OF MY CHILDREN.

WELCOME HOME FROM ENGLAND, WADE! YOUR MAMA MISSED YOU VERY MUCH!!!!

AND TO THE GRANDSONS, I JUSTS LOVED OUR SLEEPOVER HERE! WE DID SO MUCH, TOOK PHOTOS, AND PLAYED OUR HEARTS OUT! NOW, THAT WAS MY IDEA OF A REAL VISIT. THE TWINS, CONNOR AND WILLIAM LEARNED HOW TO WRITE SCRIPT THIS PAST WEEK WITH ME, AND THEY LOVED IT. I TAUGHT CONNOR HOW TO HOLD HIS PEN OR PENCIL CORRECTLY, AND WE DID A BIT OF CALLIGRAPHY. BOTH TWINS WERE DELIGHTED. NEXT TIME I WILL LET THEM USE MY OTHER POINTS, WE RAN OUT OF TIME FOR ANYTHING ELSE... JACKY BUILT HOUSES FROM MY AMERICAN BRICKS, WHILE WE DID PRACTISE WRITINGS. I WAS SO PROUD OF THE BOYS, ALL OF THEM.

WE HAD A HOT DOG PARTY, AND LATER IN THE DAY, WHAT THEY CALL A "TEA PARTY", WITH ALL, BECAUSE AFTER ALL, LITTLE BOYS "LOVE" COOKIES TOO!!!! AS THEY ALWAYS POINT OUT. THEY LOVE USING MY LITTLE DISHES WITH THE ANIMALS ON THEM.

FLYING KITES WAS ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS WE DID WHEN WE GOT BACK HERE FROM THEIR HOUSE, AND EVERYONE GOT INTO THE ACT. I LOVE THEIR BOUNDLESS ENERGY! AT ONE POINT, WE EVEN DREW A HOPSCOTCH ON MY CEMENT PAD, AND THEY PLAYED THAT, AND JACKY LOVED IT THE VERY BEST. LATER WHEN WE HAD GONE OVER TO THE JUNGLE GYM AT THE EDGE OF MY PROPERTY LINE, WE SAW A GROUP OF GIRLS GO OVER TO USE THE HOPSCOTCH, AND THEY STAYED THERE FOR A HALF HOUR. GLAD THAT THEY USED IT AND IT DID NOT GET RAINED RIGHT OFF, IN VAIN.

THE TWINS ARE VERY GOOD TO THEIR LITTLE BROTHER. HE IS FOUR AND THEY ARE SEVEN.

SPECIAL THANKS TO ALL OF MY GRAND BOYS, FOR TAKING DOWN THE COLORED EGGS FROM MY DOGWOOD TREE! IT SAVED ME SO MUCH TIME.

THE NEXT WRITING SHALL BE ABOUT JIM'S RETIREMENT. HAVE A FUN DAY, DO MORE THAN ME, AND LIVE YOUR LIFE TO THE FULLEST, WE DON'T KNOW THAT WE CAN COME THIS WAY AGAIN, TAKE THE WORLD BY THE HAND AND TURN IT IN THE DIRECTION THAT YOU NEED IT TO GO!

DO SOMETHING SPECIAL EVERY DAY, MAKE SOMETHING DIFFERENT IN YOUR FAVORITE COOKBOOK ONCE A WEEK, ALWAYS HELP OTHERS, AND USE YOUR TIME WISELY!

LOVE YOU ALL~~~~~NEVER FORGET THAT! XOXO