Mid Morning Visitors

I took my book, my coffee and my camera out on the deck this morning. These were my visitors.

Happy Anniversary to Us

48 years! Wow, where does time go? Our wedding was fairly small. Just close friends and family. The reception was ice cream and cake in the church basement with a reception at my brother's later for family.

Not having a lot of money to spend on the wedding, I chose a short wedding dress. I had it made to be the exact same style as the bridesmaid dress I was wearing later that year in one of my bridesmaid's wedding. And Marilyn, my maid of honor, would only have to buy one dress as she was in both weddings. The bridesmaid's dresses did have an overskirt but they didn't wear them for my wedding. The dresses were light blue. Look how even all of the skirts are! One of my regrets now is not having a long dress. I think a bride should look like a princess on her wedding day and I'm not sure I looked like a princess.

Forgive the grainy picture but it is a picture of a picture.Here are all but two of us 40 years later. Since we went to the studio for our formal wedding pictures, the only ones at the church were snapshots.

So here we are 48 years later. Two great children. Five fantastic grandchildren. Good health. And retirement on Sanibel Island. What more can one ask for!

A Fantastic Gift

Dr. Amber, one of the vets at CROW, is an amazing artist. Each year she does a pencil drawing for CROW's Art Auction and each year her drawing goes for quite a large amount. Last year, she did a drawing of one of CROW's patients, a Gopher Tortoise, who was released. The person who won the bid gave the picture to Amber's father. He agreed to have some prints made and put them on sale in the CROW gift shop. I had to have one and bought it as a present to myself.

This year, Amber's drawing was of one of the 20 sea turtles who came into CROW during the January cold spell this year. The person who bought it at the auction this year gave it back to CROW to hang in the lobby of the new hospital. It is dedicated to the memory of one our our volunteers and staff members who died from Ovarian Cancer in February. I was hoping that again prints would be made. And they might be, I don't know.Last night was CROW's Volunteer Recognition Dinner. When we entered we were given a raffle ticket and were told that the winner would win a print of Amber's drawing. I was assuming it would be one of the gopher tortoise prints. Imagine my surprise when they announced that it was a print of the sea turtle. As they were preparing to call the winning number I said that I hoped they would have prints for sale because I was going to get one. Imagine my delight and huge surprise when they called my number as the winner!!! I was in tears when I got a hug from both Dr. PJ and Dr. Amber. Guess I don't have to buy one now:)

Duckie Drama or The Adventures of Donny and Marie

Those of you who are my friends on Facebook already know the saga of Donny and Marie but for those of you who don't--here goes!

A couple of weeks ago I was out on the deck filling my two bird feeders when who should come paddling along but a pair of duckies. I threw some birdseed their way and they thoroughly enjoyed it. Next day--same two came visiting so I threw them some more birdseed. (BTW--NEVER, EVER feed ducks, birds etc bread. Not good for them!) So about this time I'm thinking I need to buy some duck chow for them The closest place to get stuff like this is Futrals which is about 45 minutes away. We had to go in that direction anyway to get a couple of propane tanks so we stopped and I got a 50 pound bag of chow--the smallest I could get. So, next time the duckies came around I threw some chow in the water but near the shore for them. Boy did they love that!!So, by now, I'm thinking I should name them. I first went with Donald and Daisy but that just didn't seem good enough. Then I came up with Donny and Marie! Loved it. So, Donny and Marie would come back about 2-3 times a day for a handout. I've even caught them out there at 7:00 am! And Donny is such a gentleman. He always lets Marie have her fill first.

After our big monsoon a week ago, the city let some of the water out of the creek so that it was kind of low. Because of this we had many other visitors--Great Egrets, Snowy Egrets, White Ibis and a Little Blue Heron. There was like a feeding frenzy going on and they were flying up and down the creek and from side to side. While I was out there watching, here came Donny and Marie fighting their way through the melee.A couple of days ago, I came home after a trip off island. As I got out of the car, I heard a commotion in the creek and Daisy came scooting up out of the water into the driveway. I had never seen them do this before. I wondered if she was so hungry she was now meeting me to beg or what. But, when I looked out into the water I saw Donny fending off a couple of other ducks--another male Mottled Duck and a Mallard. By the time I got my camera, Marie was back by Donny's side as Donny had successfully sent one of the males on his merry way and the other was at a distance looking on.
The next day, Donny was again agressively keeping the Mottled Suitor at bay. Donny loves his Marie and will defend and protect her to the end!

So, yesterday evening I went out on the deck and there is Mr. Suitor at a distance eyeing the food. Donny and Marie weren't there. The reason Mr. Suitor is at a distance was this guy! Apparently Mr. Turtle likes chow too. I guess Mr. Suitor didn't want to lose a leg by getting to close. Oh, and apparently another little turtle didn't want to lose any of his appendages either as he was lurking off to the side beside Mr. Suitor.Just then I noticed that someone else was watching all three. This didn't thrill me at all!!! I love this cat. He reminds me of my Shilo and comes to visit periodically but so help me if he goes after Donny, Marie or any of the other birdies out there, I will be very upset. So, that is the Saga of Donny and Marie--so far. Nesting season should be happening soon so I won't be at all surprised if someday they show up with a bunch of little Osmonds--oops I mean duckies. I'll keep you posted.

Happy Birthday to the Best Son In Law Ever

Today marks the last of our March birthdays. Michael, our son-in-law, turns a whopping 37 years old today. He is the best son-in-law anyone could hope for. He is also a great hubby and father. And his proud mother in law also deems him a darn good doctor too! Anyway, here are a few pictures of Michael.

Karen and Michael Christmas 1997

Wedding day August 5, 2000
Two generations in their scrubs 2003.

Good grief, there are two of them!! December 2005

Being the father of twins is exhausting! Feb 2005

Enjoying a day with his boys.

And yeah, he gets a little goofy once in awhile. And that is why we love him!!
Happy Birthday Michael. You are the BEST!! Love ya!

Block Party

8E is a great street to live on. Every once in awhile, we have a block party. It's been so cold this winter, we haven't had one so one was finally planned for last night thinking it would be warm. Well it wasn't but we had it anyway! There is always LOTS of good food.

After dinner, we generally have a "getting to know you" time. This year we each had to write something from our bucket list (past or future) on a piece of paper and put it in a bucket. Then we took turns drawing a piece of paper out, reading it, and trying to guess whose it was.After that, a couple of the gals broke out their guitars and we had a song fest. A couple of the ladies even helped out a bit on the Unicorn Song. Oh, by the way, did I mention that it was COLD and WINDY? Campfires are not really allowed but we somehow got around that rule. And trust me, we all warmed up by the fire. Since it was the night before St. Paddy's Day, we had appropriate decorations. Green carnations poked into potatoes shaped into a turtle. When Irene got ready to go home, of course we all sang Good Night Irene and she even got to dance a little.It was a great evening. Good food, good drink, good friends, good music, and a really great campfire.

Happy Birthday To My Beautiful Daughter

As I mentioned last week, March is a big birthday month in our family. Both kids and both of their spouses--plus our anniversary at the end of the month.

Anyway, today is my beautiful baby daughter's 44th birthday. OK, so she's not really a baby anymore, but she will always be my baby! So, in honor of this momentous occasion, I will embarrass her with some pictures.

3 months old

Easter at Grandma Olive's 1969First day of school

Reading

Karen with Mikey Day

Graduation from Ohio University Summa Cum LaudeMy all time favorite picture of my daughter and my granddaughterMy beautiful daughter on her wedding day

With the love of her life

Wife and mom
Karen, I am so proud of the girl you were and the woman you are.
I love you LOTS!!