This is a picture of Emerson at Easter. Isn't he stylin' ? I gave him a sunflower for his Mommy to plant . Amy's hair is casting a shadow on top of his head so it looks just like he has a comb-over. It is so funny to me. I really don't like comb-overs as I'd much rather see a bald head, but in this case it's pretty cute. And by the way, he is getting some real hair now.....enough for a fauxhawk... almost.

Did I mention that I love to read? I LOVE TO READ. Growing up I would enter the house and see my Dad reading a book or magazine 90% of the time. I used to think that was all he ever did. He is a very bright man and maybe because he read so much he gained a reservoir of knowledge about many things. I must have inherited his love for reading. I used to go to the little Cowley library every week for new books. I would get lost in the Nancy Drew mysteries, Mary Poppins books and anything else that looked like a fun place to escape to for a while. I still like mysteries and fun books but the last couple of weeks I have read two books which really had an impact on my life. One is "Left to Tell" about the holocaust in Rwanda. I can't say I enjoyed reading it. It was more like I felt I needed to read it to understand life in other parts of the world better. It is about a woman's struggle to live through an African holocaust nightmare and yet keep an unwavering faith in God even as she witnessed the death of all her family members except one brother. The other book was given to to me by my daughter-in-law Kee and is a story about one woman's connection to her great grandmother. She studied her grandmother's life and wrote about her homesteading adventure in Eastern Montana. It is called "Hattie Big Sky." It details the struggles, hardships and fun times trying to establish a homestead near Wolf Point. I am so glad that I live at this time in the world and in this wonderful country. I am a strong woman in many ways, but I know I wouldn't have made it in pioneer times because of the extreme deprivation and challenges of the weather, ( I like mine temperatures to be 60 to 80 degrees) or can I even imagine losing those that I love so much. I am a much more grateful person these days because of the messages in these books.

I have this thing for soap. I don't know why. I have been collecting ( yes, and using ) it for years. Every time we go on a trip I buy a bar or two. Every time I go to a little boutique or bath store, I buy soap. I even found a bar at the nursery where I buy my plants. I buy it at local art shows, at bazaars, at the mall, and even in little quaint stores along the road. My favorites are the ones that smell like citrus fruits, but I also like the oatmeal variety, the kind filled with seeds to be used as an exfoliant, the beautiful and mild scented French milled soaps, and the ones made with goat's milk. I buy them and give them to friends and my daughters for Christmas. I seem to remember that the ones I give my daughters end up as decorations in the bathroom instead of in the shower however. I should probably start making my own but in truth that might become work, and half the fun of soap for me is finding it. Thank you Crabtree and Evelyn, thank you E Barrett, thank you Archipelago (the pomegranate is divine) thank you Asouith and Somerset, thank you Pre' de Provence, thank you Pamplemousse,

thank you Olivia Care and thank you Dove. Now I don't know if this is connected, but I notice that when I am on walks tiny little bugs will fly in a circle over my head. I'm not sure what to make of that since I am clean. Oh, they think I am a flower. Yes that's my story and I'm stickin' to it.

Millie Turns Four

The two cutest Hawaiian girls on the planet

Colett gets a little smoochie from the The video hula instructions begin.

birthday girl.

Millie is happy as a hula dancer and Grandma's girl.
Aloha Oi

I went to a Luau yesterday. It was hosted by my daughter Colett and in honor of my little granddaughter Millie. She turned 4 yesterday. We played limbo, had hula instruction, ate cupcakes, had a puppet show and watched as she opened presents so fast that papers were everywhere and her gifts stacked in a matter of 5 minutes. She is a little shy so we didn't know how she would act at her party year but she had a great time and never exhibited her shyness all evening. She was in her glory and is now the proud owner of 2 kites, 2 balls, 2 outfits, jewelry, and art supplies. Her favorite part was just being the center of attention and that's what birthday parties are for. Happy Birthday to our Silly Millie!!!

Picture of my ankle hardware.

Well, I went to the doctor this morning. I needed a complete physical and blood work but had been putting it off. I had my colonosocopy when I was supposed to, I get my teeth cleaned twice a year, I have my mammograms, and I get my eyes checked every year. My blood pressure is good, my cholesterol is borderline but holding, my blood sugar is normal, my kidneys are functioning properly as is my liver. OK, all is well right? When I went in today, the Doc said it was time to do another MRI on a tumor that I have on my pituitary gland, a bone density test for Osteoporosis (since I am in that age category) and is fitting me for a device that checks my heart for palpitations.... which I have had too many lately. My joints have been aching from a fall that I had decorating for Christmas a few years ago. I had broken my knee badly and my ankle even worse. My foot was turned completely backwards at one point and now my leg is the proud owner of several rods and pins. My thyroid turned out to be sluggish and I have to decide if I want to go on medication for that for the rest of my life. He said between my pituitary and thyroid, it is almost impossible to lose weight. Don't I know it. After further tests, they found another tumor on my brain in a different spot but feel it is benign and will just keep doing MRI's yearly to make sure it doesn't change. I am too plump right now and hating every minute of it. It's hard to exercise on my leg that still really doesn't work correctly and I miss the real me. Then I look around me and see those with real sorrows and real health problems and I feel blessesd.


Life is good!! It really is!! Yes, it really, really is!!