My finds

This is the sweet table I picked up when I was out bumming with my sister last week. It would have made more sense to have taken a picture before I put it behind the table, duh! But it is just perfect to hold the plants from my Mom's house instead of what I was using before, and I think it comes pretty close to matching the dining room set. I don't know how I am going to be able to give up this set when we move to Az, but as Scarlet says" I won't think about that today, I'll think about that tomorrow at Tara" The vine from Mama's house almost died last year when I took it to Az. I think it was from riding in the RV's sink for a week on the way home. But it is getting stronger every day, and I am going to leave it home this year and let Bill water it like he did the other one, it did really well.

 "Do what you can, with what you have,where you are "- Theodore Roosevelt

Joyce

Ready, Set, Go

8/23 - 179, 8/30 - 176

Sunday Praise

"I will praise the LORD God with a song and a thankful heart."
Psalm 69:30 (CEV)






 "Do what you can, with what you have,where you are "- Theodore Roosevelt
Joyce                                                     

Peace

sunset at Door County

I took another Joycie day today. didn't plan on it. I had plans to go shopping and out to lunch with Louise and Grace, but my body had other plans. My hip hurt, really bad, all night. I am so disappointed that the procedure did not work. I had about one and one half weeks of no pain and then out of the blue last night, bang! At first I felt guilty because I have been doing so much, gardening, walking with Izzy, shopping with my sister, maybe I overdid it. But if I had gotten the results I was expecting I should have been able to do anything. So, I give myself another little pity party and make a Dr. appointment and figure out something else to try.

 "Do what you can, with what you have,where you are "- Theodore Roosevelt

Joyce

Summer Nights

Last night was so pretty we decided to take another drive, went to Sonic in Lemont. I have to say I am not impressed with Sonic but J and Izzy loved it. Iz though she was all that because she got to be in the back seat by herself. You can't see it but J is holding her leash, other wise I know she would have gone for it. I know you are thinking "what about the diet, Joyce" , but it is cool. I had a corn dog which is only 6 points in Weight Watchers. I had enough points left for a peach when I got home.                                                                                                         

     I feel like such a poor blogger. My sister and I went antiquing today and bought so much we could barely get it all in the jeep. I had my camera with me, but was so caught up in the great stuff we found, I forget to take any pictures. Oh well, I will try to do better.

 "Do what you can, with what you have,where you are "- Theodore Roosevelt

Joyce

Izzy

Izzy had a beauty day

doesn't she look so sweet and girly

I'll give you sweet and girly lady

you're not the boss of me!

Read, Set, Go

and we're off

So I officially started yesterday. Today I am 1/2 lb less than the day before and just went on a half hour walk with Izzy.  I am going to use Weight Watchers online, my brother and his family have been on it and he has lost 70 lbs.  I know, of course, it will be harder for a disabled women in her EARLY 60's, but I feel confident (today at least).  We are not going to Nashville until the middle of September so I have time to figure it out before being faced with all that wonderful food. 

Nashville, Tn

told you we had the bug, gonna check how Nashville is doing

leaving the middle of September, Yeah!

On the road again,

I am getting that itch again. We have been home to long, I am ready to hit the road. Jay and I were looking at RV sites on the gulf last night. That is a sure sign we have been in the stick house for too long. I have a dentist appointment on Friday and then I think I have two weeks till the next one, just enough time for a quick trip.

Praise Him

Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

Reunion

It was a beautiful day

Getting our history lessons

The Whole Gang

Well, we pulled it off. We had our first annual Brown(Northern Branch) reunion. Not everyone could make it but we had a really good turnout for the first one. We had a great time, wonderful food, great conversations, and my sister Louise, who is the genealogists in the family gave us some history lessons about our ancestors. Oh how I wish Mama could have been with us, but I know she was looking down with a smile. Thank goodness we still have Aunt Bea with us, hopefully for a long, long time. I am so happy that we finally got together for something other than a funeral!

Reunion

Tomorrow is a big day for our family. We are having our first ever annual Brown(northern branch)
family reunion. I have two desserts I have to make before I go to bed tonight so I have to get
going. Hopefully, there will be no rain and I can take lots of great photos to share. 

Storing Memories

We spend so much time away from our family in the RV, I am rushing to store up as many memories as I can this summer. My sisters and I had such a nice visit this morning. My younger sis had not gone through the things she had brought home from Mama's house almost four years ago, so my older sister and I went over to help her. And of course we had Miss Grace and Miss Izzy to help us. I could have sat and watched that little girl eat chicken nuggets and frys all day. I truly feel blessed that I get to spend so much time with my sisters. We are a very lucky family in that we have basically all lived in the same town our whole lives. We are a family of five kids all in our 50's and 60's and the first one to move away was my brother 3 years ago. While Mama was alive we almost always showed up at her house every Sunday, that is so rare.

Second Chance

see that look, it's an aw Aunt Joyce leave me alone, look

this is the shot I got about 90 % of the time

lil stinker kept saying she was going to put Izzy in her purse 

good 'ole girl talk

I got another chance to spend some time with my niece last night. My brother moved to PA after Mama passed and I miss him and those girls something awful. When I look at either of them I see the little rug rats I used to take out bumming on Saturday mornings.  Such beautiful girls they have become. My prayer for them is good husbands and a houseful of kids. I know it is probably not politically correct to say that, I should be saying something like, reaching their full potential or career, but I truthfully want a happy strong family for both of them. Love  you Tina and Shirley

Joycie Day

Yesterday I had what we call around here a "Joycie Day", which means I did nothing, absolutley nothing all day. I take that back, I did take a shower, put on clean pj's, give Izzy a bath and cook supper. But, that was it , did not one other productive thing all day. I never took sick days when I worked, it was just something I never allowed myself. From my first day at First American, right up till my surgery 25 years later I think I called in one day. Of course, after the knee all bets were off. So now when I just don't feel up to par I just call in sick to myself and take a " Joycie day". Now and again J will take a "Joycie day" with me, not often though. So in honor off my sick day I am going to leave you with a picture of one of my favorite places outside Nashville. We heard on the news last night that they are starting to call some of the employees back at the Opry. I am so happy to hear that. We have gone to Nashville for the last three years in the fall and it is a wonderful place. I wonder if the places we usually stay are back up and running, maybe I will have Jay check. I would love a quick trip down this fall to see how things are going.
If you can, why don't you take a "Joycie day" today.

Summer Nights

Yesterday was such a beautiful day, the weather was just about perfect. Last night we decided to take a drive in the Jeep with the top off. We ended up at a little drive in at Braidwood that Jay use to go to when he was a little guy. It was kinda cool to sit there and have a burger at a place where my hubby hung out when he was only 10 years old. We haven't done enough stuff like that this summer, seems like the time has just flown by. I am going to promise myself to take a little more time for the two of us.
Hope you have a lovely day.

Connie's Birthday PARTY

of course there was much conversation of macs and blogs and such

disbelief from everyone, this is the blankie I gave her at birth

Robin's son Cameron, isn't he a cutie

I can't believe they came all the way from Pa and this is the only pic I got

make a wish

Do not laugh at the candle, it was all I could find

I  apologize for the poor quality of pic's. I have yet to learn how to stop being  distracted by all the conversations around me and take better pictures when my family is around. But I so enjoy having them at my house.
It is so lovely outside today, make it a good one.

Izzy

8,9,10 ready or not here I come..

Back to School

    




















   








 On Connie's recommendation we went to Target to get the supplies for our school bags (she is the smart shopper) it was tax free day (who knew there was such a thing). Can you tell Connie has had it with her older sister and her camera?

New Header

Boy, don't a have a great new header! Much thanks to

Diane of 
http://www.theblueridgegal.com/

I am meeting some of the nicest people out here in blog land!

Saturday Chores

Izzy loves to help with laundry!

Today I am going back to school shopping with my sister. No, I didn't adopt a couple of kids over night, every year Connie and I participate in a backpack program sponsored by ATT Pioneers. I look forward to doing this every summer. We each buy two backpacks and all the required supplies for kids who need them.

I am so glad that front came through last night, it should not be so sweltering today.

Have a good Saturday everyone.

Connie's Birthday

Today is my baby sister's birthday. You got to love that no matter how old we get, she will always be the baby sister. When I was looking for a picture of her to post, I had a hard time finding one where she wasn't holding a baby, she loves babies. I can't wait till she has some grandbabies of her own. This has been a hard year for my baby sister. She lost her husband in January, it has never seemed right that the youngest of us should have to go through that first. But she is working her way through, one day at a time, sometimes, one step at a time. And I am so proud of her and love her with all my heart. Hope you have a wonderful day, baby sister, enjoy the fact that you will always be the youngest of the three sisters!(Baby brothers don't count when it comes to the age thing, Larry)

Door County Views

Just make your heart sing, don't they?

The Dog Days of Summer

Peace in a storm

Just needed the song posted below today, thought you might need it too.

"Peace In The Midst of The Storm"

I

Door County Views

We saw these little cuties one day while we were out driving. In fact there were quite a few farms raising Alpacas for the wool. The little black one was having a ball. We stopped and watched him for awhile, of course Izzy wanted out to play with him in the worst way.

Izzy at Aunt Louise and Uncle Jack's house

Izzy loves her Aunt Louise and Aunt Louise loves Izzy!