The Desert is Waking Up

J took his motorcycle up into the high country today and took some shots of the flowers that are starting to bloom.   I love him for taking these pictures so I can share in the things he sees and then I can share them with you. 

Sunday Praise

J took a few shots of wild horses on his ride this morning.  Isn't this a beautiful world God has given us.

I Love Etsy

I find more neat things on Etsy.  This is my latest find, a beautiful magnetic chalk board from  TheDoorstop.   It fits perfectly in place of the ugliest piece of "art" you could ever find. Here it is at Christmas, disguised by Christmas Cards,please believe me, it was ugly.

I love that it is an individual piece hand crafted, that's why I love Etsy.  Jenny was able to make it fit exactly in the place of the prior piece, in a motor coach you don't have a lot of places to put nails or screws, so I needed the dimensions to be exact.  And the polished nickel chalk holder matches everything else in my kitchen.  Someday I will do a post of all the things I have gotten from the artists at Etsy.  If you are looking for a kitchen chalkboard, please give Jenny a look. 

I miss her so.

Do you have someone in your life that you can tell anything too? Someone who doesn't judge even it you are being mean, or hurtful or just plain wrong.  Someone who offers support, whatever the circumstances, no questions asked.  Someone who lets you rage, whine, cry , someone who giggles with you, tells you if the jeans make you look fat,  If you have someone like that in your life, cherish them, let them know how much you love them, cause someday something might happen and they might leave you.  Leave you with out the chance to even say good bye. I can't believe it has been over four months since Judy passed.  It seems like I miss her more and more each day.  There is just this deep longing to talk to her.  That's what I miss terribly, our talks, we could talk for hours every Sunday on skype.  She would kill me for posting this picture, we were both a little chubby when this was taken, but this is what we did, talked and listened. Oh Lord I miss it so much. 

Ain't it a shame

Every time there is good news, bad news is right there behind it.

Good News: Size 10 jeans!!

Bad News: Muffin Top like you wouldn't believe.

No way I was gonna show you the muffin top up close, if you look you can see it, it is ginormas!!

This and That

J and one of his friends went on their annual trek to Barrett Jackson yesterday. And as usual he brought home only pictures of VW's.  He is crazy about the VW trucks and vans.  They were pooped when they got home but had a great time. 

                                     

I used the opportunity to spend some time with one of my girlfriends. She is a great shopper, has a great eye, so we did some shopping and then of course had a bite of lunch.  It is a good thing I had to get home to let Iz out or I could have done a lot more damage. 
Luckily I had put some red beans on to soak the night before, so when I got home a started them with all the fixing's I we had red beans and rice for supper.  It was really good, but goodness it was spicy!!!!  And of course I made enough for an army, guess we will be eating it for awhile.  Wonder if I can freeze it? I'll have to look that up. Have a good day ya'll.

Sunday Praise

Hope you have a beautiful Sunday.

This and That

One of the best things about my IPhone is the camera. I think it takes pretty good pictures, it has a lot of photoshop editing options and I always have it with me. One of the things the physical therapist pointed out to me on my first visit, was the weight of my great big purse in which I carried my camera and extra lenses. Now is I know we are going somewhere that will definitely have photo opportunities I take the big camera, otherwise I rely on my IPhone camera.

This picture of Iz I took and edited on the IPhone.

I took Iz to the groomers this week. this is her before shot. She was really long and oh so hard to keep clean out here.

This is her after shot ($50.00 after), think maybe I should have gotten it cut a little shorter? Most people around here thought I didn't get it cut at all, but they did take off 1 1/2 inches.

Part of this horrible pseudo porphyria skin disease I have is that your skin itches horribly. In order to not be able to scratch I decided I would go have fake nails put on. I hated to do that because they damage your nail bed so, but because the nail is thicker you can not scratch. When I talked to the manicurist, she suggested shellac nails, they don't damage the nail bed and they last a little longer than the ceramic type, they are also much, much cheaper. So, I gave it a go. I like my nails short and with a very natural color, don't want to call attention to my chubby, arthritic hands. I will let you know how it goes, but so far I really like them.

Top of the World

It was a beautiful day yesterday, look at this sky.

J and I decided to take the jeep up over four peaks mountains ( about 7,000 ft) . This is our view of the mountains as we started.

We saw quite a few camping spots on the way up, thought this one was interesting. I would love to know the story behind it.

Almost there, what a view.

We ran into ice and snow at the top.

Our view from the very top, spectacular!!

Then back down the trail to home. I love this place. ( I know, I know, I say that a lot)

Family

This is my bulletin board today. I love that almost everyone in the family sends me new pictures of the kids in our family. J and I were not able to have kids, so my nieces and nephews mean the world to us There are eight nieces and nephews and now we have eight great nieces and nephews ( if I am counting right).

Every time I pass by the bulletin board I get pulled into one of the pictures. We have the most beautiful children in our family! I miss them all so much, especially the little ones. Two of my nieces live in PA. and they both had baby boys last year. I got to see one of them but not the other, thank God for facebook, I really mean that. I live for new photos and videos of them.

I don't know why but I am melancholy today, missing Judy terribly,thinking of her children and grandchildren, thinking of my sister who's husband passed two years ago, and then his mom passed last week. Doesn't it seem there is a lot of grief at this time of year? I guess it is because you are reflecting on the past, thinking of the future, anyone's passing makes you consider your own mortality.

Oh well, snap out of it Joyce Ann, get up and get busy!!

This and That

I am sitting here listening to Adele on my IPOD and thinking I should do a post. But the problem is not a lot happening here.

We haven't been anywhere exciting to talk about because I am still doing Physical Therapy three times a week, but that should be over soon. So you get some this and that.

This plant is a cutting from a vine I bought my Mama, it was huge. I knew I couldn't take the whole plant home when she passed ( when I say HUGE I mean HUGE). When we started staying away for such a long time I left it with my sister to care for. She called, panicked that it was dead, my other sister rode to the rescue, picked it up and nursed it back to health. (both sisters shall remain nameless due to the fact I will be going home again in the spring). I wish I had the before picture my rescuing sister sent me, it was a twig I tell you, a dry brittle twig! But she got it back and I brought it with me to nurse it this year. Isn't it lovely. I think of my Mama every time I look at it.

My sister Louise gave me a cutting from her Angel Wing Begonia, I brought it with me because it is such a beautiful plant. ( almost killed it when I replanted it but looks like it is going to make it.

Last year for Christmas my niece Robin made us a beautiful wall hanging with all the first names of our family. I loved it, but in 2011 we had three!!! babies born in our family and one wedding, so I decided to redo it. I went to Wordle , it took me awhile but I finally got it. We will be having another wedding this year so I cheated and put Nicole's name in early, no more babies.(that I know of!)

And tell me what would a post be with out a few Izzie pictures? She love, love, loves the Angry Bird J got me for Christmas. It is her passion, ha.

I love the way her hair curls when it's wet, wish it would stay that way. I think I am going to take her next week and get her cut shorter. We wanted to let it grow all the way out, but I just can't keep it clean.

I am missing Judy today, can't believe it has been four months on the 9th. I dream of her at least once a week. The dream is always about her leaving, wonder if that will every change.

Judy's daughter sent me this song Blessings, just click on the link and take a listen, I think it will bless you.

Getting back on track

So here's the deal, when I started this blog over a year and a half ago, my intent was to let my family and friends know what we were up to in our travels. I wanted to show them some of the beautiful places we get to visit, some of the great food we get to eat and to keep them updated without having to write the same email over and over.

Somewhere along the way I got off track, so I am going to rein myself in and get back to my original intent. I understand how it happened,it seems every five or so years I lose a little ground with my health. I have read a lot of books about post polio syndrome, I know what to expect, I know the tools to coping with it, but it seems to throw me for a loop every time. But I have met this one, I have a plan and so far the plan seems to be working. So, I am getting myself back on track.

We had a really nice New Year's Eve, about 20 of us went to the outside patio for dinner, Everyone brought a dish to pass and your own meat to grill. We sat with four couples, two we knew and two we got to know. The food was great and so was the company. There was a dance at 8 pm but J and I were just not in the mood for it, so we came home. We watched a little TV, had our glass of champagne and went to bed at 10 pm. We have never celebrated New Year's Eve any other way. We definitely don't want to be out driving when the party is over and people who have had to much to drink are driving home.

I just can't seem to end a post with out some pictures. I haven't been out to take any really interesting ones so I will just share a few I took over the holidays.

My lovely pecan pie, I made one for Christmas and two for last night, they seem to be a hit. One thing I want to do this year is learn to make my own dough. Anyone want to offer to teach me?

This was Iz's Christmas do, she is so pretty and spoiled rotten.

Iz and friends having their Christmas dinner.

It was quite a year wasn't it. It was a very sad year for many of us. But you have to take the bad with the good, right? Today it is just going to be a lazy low key day for us. Hope you are having a good one. Peace my friends.