Blooms in the garden

Some days actually are cloudy here in The Valley of the Sun....but inevitably by afternoon the bright sun and heat arrive. It has been around 97-99 this week and today is expected to be another hot one...above average temps. Of course there is air conditioning everywhere so it is not too bad.
Yesterday I tried to get in touch with my sis as I thought I would get her birthday gift now rather than wait until the end of May...the stores were having great sales.  I never did get in touch so I went shopping for myself...great deals that I could not pass up. Then it was back home to read for the later part of the afternoon. I di however finish

Ruth from Jennifer William's tatted snowflake book. It was finished the other day but ...
Thank you for the kind words regarding my anniversary. Each of these "firsts" is a day to get through. I do know that I am not the only person in the world to go through these days, However, it is me that I have to deal with. Yes, I have been strong but there are times when I fall apart but I try not to show that to anyone.

On Wednesday Dianna called to invite me to lunch with her and Bobby. So we met up and I left my car and off we went to a few thrift shops, then back to Cheesecake Factory for lunch. We had  a nice meal and chatted away and we enjoyed the day. These kind friends just wanted to be sure I had company and laughs...good company and we always laugh. It really did help not to be home alone.
No plans for today...just laundry and maybe a new tatting project.... there is a pattern that was given free with the invitation to make it your own..."make me pretty butterfly" so I may try it. I am still reading a couple of books so that is also on my mind to do. How about the garden?

Sweet Memory in full bloom

pretty pink cactus flowers and more to bloom yet

Nice to have you visit today. Thank you for your kind words and for you friendship. 

It would have been.....

Today is another one of those days for me. Today would have been my 48th anniversary. Each year I posted a cheerful memory of our wedding day, mine and Dennis' special day. I feel sad but also there is that special place in my heart that remembers the delight I felt when we walked out of church as Mr and Mrs. .... my Denny and me. I was 23 and he was 24. It was 1970.

The story is old and true. It was love at first sight for both of us. Quite an unlikely match really. Me sort of preppy and he sort of hippy but it was a good match that lasted 47 years. Some people questioned  how he could marry a gal who could not cook and did not do housework and this and that. His answer was simple, "I will teach her". I did not even know how to use the washing machine! You see, Dennis lived on his own since he was 16 and then joined the Army so he was very capable of living on his own. In the beginning we cooked together and divided the household chores and it worked. We lived our first year in his 2 room house on a country road far removed from the city lights...as a matter of fact, our street had no lights and ended at the lake! Our mail was delivered to the top of the road at pole #3. I loved it.

Our rings are there for me to touch each day, a symbol of our love.
Our vows said "until death do us part"....I will always be his Graz and he will be My Denny and tonight I will drink a glass of wine to celebrate the wonderful memories. Thankful that we met and married and shared a life together.

I want to be tech savvy

Finally up and having my cup of coffee.....finally thinking about the day ahead and things to do. Need to go to the bank, need to get gas...the dreaded go get gas! I still hate doing this task even though it has been almost 1 year that I have been driving to the gas pump and staring at it for a minute or two before it all kicks in. Maybe part of the issue is that I only need to get gas once a month...this is the same tank of gas that The Brother Alan put it the day he left (March 17th). I can not help it, putting gas in the car and I have a mental block. Gas rant over.
I wish I could be more tech savvy. Using a computer or tablet or cell phone does mean you know what you are  doing. Example....last week as I was thinking ...when did Denny change the batteries in the smoke detectors.... the one in the kitchen began to beep. Great. I was having another "first to do". I climbed on the step ladder, ( holding my breath as this is right next to the tea cup display) after a brief tug and pull, got the battery out inserted a new one and then what? nothing happened. So I tried another battery and I heard a beep but the push to test button did not work. After a half hour I thought I think it is time to check with Son. After a brief conversation all was  well. This morning.... the living room TV remote did not work. Funny as it was working up to bedtime last evening! New batteries inserted and still only the volume worked. A call to Cox and Bridget talked me through the solution. Why am I re-setting the remote after a few months? "It can happen" was the reply. Okay, now I know what to do the next time. Why can't they just give instruction booklets anymore?
Moving along now that I am tech savvy for the day.

I managed to get more tatted and have only 2 more sections to complete. Seems that I had a few too many distractions yesterday. Wish I could remember what pulled me away...oh well. Today is another day.
I did think about this project

not revealing too much about it yet. It is for someone.... so, this is all I will show right now and not any of the fabric yet.
The days are back into the low to mid 90s...and maybe high 90s by the end of the week. Limited outdoor activity in the garden unless I can encourage myself to get up and out there early. Seems very unlikely at this point. I do need to get a few things taken care of out there.
Well, I feel hungry and think hash browns would be good.... and since the Fairy Chef is absent I guess I will make them myself. It is always a pleasure to have you visit with me. Thank you for your kind words and for your friendship. 

Sunday morn

Oh it will be a lazy day as I start it feeling very tired. I have been awake since darkness was outside my bedroom window.... but it was just the start of the London Marathon. Of course that is what I decided to watch and now need a nap. Watching those athletes I am amazed at their stamina. The result of this lack of sleep is now a minor headache.

I have mentioned the crow that stops by every day to visit the small waterfall in my pond....here he is chatting away outside on the rooftop edge. Sometimes he stops by the birdbath out front of the living room window always with much racket. Yesterday I noticed as he flew off there was another one with him....mind you I am not sure of this is a he or she, but there were two of them. Daily entertainment.
I did start another snowflake yesterday.

This one is made using 2 shuttles and is interesting. My hand was an issue so hopefully I will finish it today ... if I can stay awake. I did have other plans and that was to start to cut out a pattern for a horse... but that definitely is going to not happen today. Luckily for me neither of this has a time limit.... at my leisure. I like that word---- leisure. It even sounds relaxing.
I really need to curl up someplace...so, it really is nice to chat but off I must go to nap. Thank you for your kind words and visit and most of all thank you for your friendship.
A special thank you out to dear friend DebbieB for remembering and for her encouragement all these months.