All cleaned up . . .

My very own Live Oak. This is so exciting. I hope it will thrive. I planted the acorn last Fall after we returned from our southern family's home. I picked some acorns when we went to Live Oak Gardens Jefferson Island, LA.

Went to Backus for the rehab session this morning and got complimented on my form with the medicine ball! Pretty neat. Stopped for a quick cup of French Roast with youngest sister-in-law. Stopped on the way back home to buy a metal watering can for $33. Yikes, that is so outrageous but the darned $6 plastic cans' spouts are always breaking. For $5 more I bought an extra sprinkle spout! It actually fits on one of the plastic watering cans so I guess I got a bargain! I was so full of pep stopped at Big Y too and when I got home fed Puppy's Pop and his kid brother some ham sandwiches with horseradish mustard for lunch and . . . I'm not done yet . . . I cleaned the house. A pretty good days work. Tomorrow I'll be off to lunch duty and most likely some swimming time!

Quote: Stranger, if thou hast learned a truth which needs no school of long experience, that the world is full of guilt and misery, and hast seen enough of all its sorrows, crimes and cares to tire thee of it, enter this wild wood and view the haunts of Nature. The calm shade shall bring a kindred calm, and the sweet breeze that makes the green leaves dance shall waft a balm to thy sick heart. __Bryant

Memorial Day 2012

Why has this become difficult ? ? ?

Brought the flowers to the cemetery this morning and found it very difficult to be there. That's unusual. I didn't even walk around to all of the friends, cousins, aunts and uncles. Just managed to see two Caron plots and Mémé and Pépé Bonnin. Took a ride to Wauregan and will go back there after Mass to bring flowers for Agnès. Also visited my great Mémé and Pépé in Wauregan. Will have to get Puppy's Pop to bring me to see Gram. I think that living in this old house keeps the old people close. That I like. It is always comforting to come home and feel that the house has missed us. Well, enough nostalgia.

Had a good time with the Kiddo Friday and Saturday. I was with him in Groton last night because his parents went to see Jeff Dunham. The Kiddo did explain to me all the neat things he did with Grampa when he was here and added, " You know, Mémé , he's the best Grampa." I thought that was pretty cool. They made a dragster kit and he was allowed to spray paint. They're also working on a control line plane and Kiddo can't wait to paint it next weekend.

Quote: Life is the childhood of our immortality. ___Goethe

Just plain old tired today . . .

Still at the railroad museum in York, UK.

Six extra hours of hanging around airports will leave a body pooped. We got home from our southern sojourn at around 1 o'clock this morning. Slept until 7:30 but I'm dragging. Puppy's Pop must be super pooped out as it took him over three hours to tame the lawn! Everything looks so green and beautiful. I went to see my master gardener today and she gave me four beautiful tomato plants. I'll get the rest of the seeds I need Saturday or Sunday and plant the entire small garden we'll have this year. Uncle Curly wouldn't believe I could get so lazy. He used to put so much time and effort into our garden. It must have been at least ten times the size I'll plant this year. We'll have tomatoes, cucumbers, crook neck squash, Swiss Chard and pumpkins. Although, I may skip the pumpkins because Puppy's Pop's Sterling sister told me she's planting enough to have jack o lanterns to give away. I may take her up on the offer. My laziness knows no bounds.

Decided to skip the rehab exercises at Backus for this week. I did work out with the WiiFit so I should be fine. Tomorrow I'll get back to my school routine. Looking forward to seeing our Kiddo and the bunch.

Quote: The best portion of a good man's life is his little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and of love. ___Wordsworth

False River . . .

Had lunch with family and friends at Satterfield's Restaurant in New Roads, Pointe Coupée. It was such a leisurely lunch I had time to sip down two Margaritas! The restaurant is somewhat unusual because it is located on False River lake an oxbow lake about ten miles long. It was at one time a part of the Mississippi River but in the 1700's the river managed to break through another channel and the lake was born. The homes around the lake are very beautiful and have a surprising amount of land along the water front. It is a Fisherman's paradise.

M. completed her second 1000 piece puzzle in a week! Yikes, I thought I was obsessed. I don't think I even worked two hours helping out with the second puzzle which we were not going to tackle. Who knows what will be awaiting when we return for our Fall visit! Will be leaving shortly for a trip to Zachary to get things set up for the June 2 graduation party which will be held in this most hospitable southern home. We'll also pick up the fixings for supper: a shrimp chowder, I think. Every trip brings us something new.

Sullivan's Steak House . . .

The last time I had lamb chops that were as magnificent Puppy's Pop and I were in a small medieval village in England. Last night we took son and daughter-in-law to Sullivan's in Baton Rouge and I was in heaven. The escargots son and I shared were excellent and the lamb chops brought back sweet thoughts of English daughter and her friend. Sullivan's reminded Puppy's Pop and me of the dinner we had in Leeds, England with G.'s parents in a very upscale Indian restaurant on a Saturday night. I'm starting to sound like Proust and his Madeleines! My memories are so vivid, warming, and downright deliciously comfortable.

We were celebrating southern daughter's BS in Business from the University of Phoenix. We had made arrangements to come for our Spring journey before we knew the date of the June 2 commencement exercises at the Baton Rouge River Center so we started the celebrating early! Today we shall take a drive to New Road, LA so I can continue my wide eyed marveling at the beauty of our southern family's home.

Cooling down . . .

The 1000 piece Twilight Time is complete. M. finished it this afternoon. She's pushes hard. It was completed in four days! We're not going to start Evening Rendezvous. It is pretty much shades of green and brown. I personally need bright, clear, crisp colors. I'll probably get whooped three straight in cribbage again tonight!

Went shopping yesterday for southern daughter's graduation present, a gold ring with tiny diamonds. Very nice. Also went to Barnes and Noble our favorite haunt after we had donuts and honey buns at Mikey's. It's a hole in the wall place but the donuts are hot and fresh.

Puppy's Pop and G. were out early this morning to get in some flying before the heat set in. When he returned we drove to F.S. Williams Store Red Boot Deli in Clinton, LA. I wish I had remembered the camera. The deli is in a building dating to 1830 right on Main Street. It is only open from 10:00 to 2:00 Monday through Friday. The sandwiches are so fresh. They bake the bread at the store and it is scrumdilyicious! I ate half a Manship's Muffaletta down to the very last crumb. Even had a real cowboy with his spurs and monster belt buckle eating lunch at the next table.