Who Knew

That one Crepe Myrtle would have two different colors?

That oranges in their infancy looked like limes?

These were surprises that awaited us in the back yard. The answer to the crepe myrtle mystery is of course grafting. Expect when we return in October the "limes" will magically turn into oranges. Neighbors tell us this tree gave them an abundance of fruit last winter. Looking forward the 2009 harvest.

We are getting ready for the U.S. Open this weekend. Have purchased and unpacked TV's and the DISH Network guy is coming this afternoon to install the golf channel (and about 300 others). Oh, the anticipation!

My Summer Job

My friend Patti found a job like this at Glen Ella Springs Inn, Clarkesville, GA. Thought I'd look around here in FL for the same thing and voila!! found they had an opening at the Springdale pool, right here at The Villages. Lucky me!!

On the Road Again

Here we go again. Decided it was time to hit the road for the Florida house. Leaving Sunday morning (6/14). Got word from the neighbors that they were going to go en mass, via golf carts, to Panera's for dinner then move to the Spanish Springs square Sunday evening for music/dancing. Expect we will arrive in time to join them. Good way to start our our visit.

BTW you can now find my photo albums here.

Looking over my "stuff" trying to decide what to take and leave in Florida. I'm determined not to take anything that I don't want to have the rest of my life! Think I will start to transfer some of the older family items first. Of course this trip we will be taking the golf clubs so that severly limits the trunk space. But, I must have been paying attention when I was a child. My mother could always fit one more thing into the car. I seem to have inherited that gene!

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Sunday -- Left GA 9:00 AM. Arrived The Villages 6:30 PM. Made really good time considering we got caught in two slow-downs on I-75.

The yard looks good. Lawn guy has been doing a really nice job. Like what he did with plantings. I'm thinking of adding some lantana in a couple of spots for some color. It should actually be a perennial here! Pictures to follow.

Back To Georgia

Arrived home on Monday, May 18th. The Mountain Laurel is in full bloom and the Rhododendrons are not far behind.

Pollen season came and went while we were away. But, the porches were heavily coated in that wonderful yellow/green powder. Major cleaning to be done.

On Tuesday I did a quick load of laundry then checked in on my neighbor Debbie who had surgery while I was gone. Friends Randy and Patti brought lunch for Debbie so I got to have an unexpected visit and a yummy lunch. Later that afternoon I went to a CASA Board Meeting and left immediately from there to Callaway Gardens for a CASA Conference.

So much for sleeping in my own bed!

It Was All About The Schedule

Graduation for Keri Hanson Olson

May 16, 2009

University of Wisconsin

School of Nursing

Arrived in Milwaukee on Wednesday the 13th. John and Josie were at the station to meet us. We slept in on Thursday then went to John & Keri's for the afternoon. Keri had one more powerpoint presentation to make -- a review of her life leading up to graduation. We had lots of fun looking at pictures and being silly. That evening we packed up the kids (all 4) and headed to MacDonald's for the antique auto show and dinner. Jim found a red GTO convertible but not a 1964! On Friday Keri and I headed out to run errands. And, she introduced me to Jimmy John's Subs. I'm a fan of the Vito. Yum! Then the schedules became important.

5:30 PM -- Julia and LJ have Spirit Night at their school. Games, art displays, all for the famil

6:30 PM -- Spring Concert at Shelby's school.

7:30 PM -- Shelby headed off to a birthday party and the rest of us went for ice cream. Everyone agreed that was a good way to end the evening. Hot fudge heath bar sunday.

Saturday was graduation day.

8:40 AM -- Keri, John, Shelby and Joann head out to school. Priscilla and Jim stay behind with the 3 younger kids.

9:30 AM -- Priscilla, Jim & kids head out to school. We found our seats with the rest of the family just as the music started.

10:00 AM -- Graduation ceremony begins. UW-Parkside, Kenosha, WI

2:00 PM -- Nursing School ceremony, UW-Milwaukee

5:30 PM -- Family celebration, Oak Creek, WI

Busy, busy day but a good time had by all.

Congratulations to Keri!! With hard work and persistence she graduated Magna Cum Laude with a BS in Nursing. Congratulations to John, Shelby, Julia, LJ and Josie for their support and understanding over the past 4 years.

Remembering Rick

Ham Lake, MN with Dee and family
Saturday, May 9, 2009

It has been a year since Rick died. Dee was able to round up the whole family for a dinner and time of remembrance.

Sat down to diner with 11 people; Dee, Celeste & Cynthia, Cassandra, Dillon, Dorothea, Mike, their Pastor and his wife, Jim and me. The food was good – a group effort consisting of potato salad by Priscilla and Dee; fruit salad by Cassandra; burgers and bratwurst prepared by Celeste and grilled by Dillon. Then there was pie for dessert! Apple, Strawberry/Rhubarb, and Chocolate Silk. Yum, yum.

After dinner Pastor acknowledged that the family had now experienced many firsts – the first Thanksgiving, first Christmas, first birthday, etc. without Rick/Dad. He asked that we share whatever was on our hearts but did not have to share at all if we didn’t want to. He asked us to think about what emotions we had felt. Where had we been sad, where had we been angry? Were there any surprises? Many in the family did share their thoughts. There were tears and laughter as we remembered times with and without Rick. I will not share the things said by others – they are best left at the table

I will share with you my remembrance. The Great Shower Curtain Caper. In August of 2004, Rick, Dee, Dorothea and Mike met Jim and I in Maine. We all stayed at Nance & Phil’s home in Brooklin. We had all converged to celebrate Nance & Phil’s 25th wedding anniversary. Jim and Rick decided they would construct a shower around the existing whirlpool tub in the bathroom. What a project. The brothers, one an engineer the other a builder, both perfectionists, came up with a plan that worked. After many, many trips to the local hardware store it was completed and is still in operation today. Every time I go to Maine and use that shower I think of that time together.

Another of my memories is how Rick and I, both early risers, would sit outside drinking coffee, talking about how good life was and how grateful we were to be participating in it. We solved many of the world’s problems on those mornings.

We lost Rick way too soon but I will forever be grateful for the role he played in my life and the time we did have together.

Thank you Dee for bringing us together for this meaningful evening.

America The Beautiful

We have met some interesting folks on this trip. A cross-section of American life. From Chicago to Denver we had dinner with a young man who had been in the service, done 10 years as a long distance truck driver and was now heading to California to begin working his way up the Pacific coast with hopes of spending the summer in Alaska. He was very nice but it was like having dinner with Forrest Gump. He'd been everywhere and done everything!

From Denver to Sacramento we had lunch and dinner with a mother and daughter who were starting a vacation to celebrate the daughter's 50th birthday. They were going to San Francisco then drive south along the California coast. They had rented a convertible so they could "do it up right". Fun to see them enjoying each other's company.

In the Sacramento train station we watched a woman who obviously had severe concern about "germs." This was right in the middle of all the swine flu hoopla so maybe it was that. Anyway, she wore latex gloves; had a plastic bag that she put over her hand whenever she handled anything (train ticket included); carried a large piece of cardboard that she would unfold and place on the bench whenever she wanted to sit down; and carried multiple plastic bags holding other items. All I could think of was how much energy it must take for her to go through daily life and how grateful I am for the blessings I have been given.

From Sacramento to Seattle we had breakfast with a man who had retired from the railroad after 40 years of running a dining car. He was a delight and very gracious to the current staff. Did not feel it necessary to tell them how he would have done things! But he did share stories with us of "how it used to be" before the day of frozen foods and microwaves. That being said, we found the food on the train to be very good. The menu was the same throughout the trip was large enough that we were able to have a variety of meals. My very favorite though was the Railroad French Toast at breakfast.

From Seattle to Minneapolis, we had breakfast with a couple in their 90's. They were travelling from Elk, WA to Havre, MT for their great-grandson's graduation from college. They were newlyweds of about 4 years; had known each other from church for many years and after their respective spouses had passed away decided to marry. Gave us hope that there are still many years of good times to be had.

All in all, this has been a trip of a lifetime. We have seen some incredible sights, met some wonderful people and spent time with loved ones. As we watched mile after mile of landscape it brought the song America the Beautiful to life.

America the Beautiful
Words by Katharine Lee Bates,Melody by Samuel Ward

O beautiful for spacious skies,

For amber waves of grain,

For purple mountain majesties

Above the fruited plain!

America! America!

God shed his grace on thee

And crown thy good with brotherhood

From sea to shining sea!

For all the lyrics go here: http://www.scoutsongs.com/lyrics/americathebeautiful.html

Go read it -- I had not in a long time. Maybe it's because I'm in the middle of this journey but the words are as meaniful today as ever.