I'm trying not to be melancholy, but.. that's hard on the day of a funeral. Huge family, absolutely huge. They don't need my help grieving. Still I am. I'll miss Ken Powell. I remember years ago when so many of Ken and Vi's friends were moving to Florida to spend their retirement years. They were contemplating the same, discussing the virtues of going south when a couple of the grand kids came running into the room. Excited little boy voices calling Grampa this and Grampa that, climbing on laps, grabbing cookies, a hug for Gramma, and zoom, they were off playing again. Ken laughed, looked at all of us and said, "See that Pearl," (Ken's pet name for Vi) "why would anyone want to move away a miss all that?" They didn't move away, and the grand kids, then the great grand kids were a part of their lives...daily. They were  terrific grandparents, and Vi still is. She'll carry the torch. She's strong and spunky.

That's all. I can't post my own grand kid here, and I understand that. But I can put on these little ones who brighten up my world once a week or so...

A Foot of Snow...3 foot drifts

Snow Days! yawn...
A two hour delay means Tom goes to work 2 hours early
First he has to plow our driveway  (4:30 a.m.? I don't know, I was asleep.)
At 6 a.m. he says, "Goodbye, stay in bed, the schools are all on a two-hour delay."
"Mmmm,"  I murmur, "nice,"  and roll over and go back to sleep.

The delay turns into a  cancellation. Awesome. I love snow days.
I still had my little girls for part of the day so their mama could use her bonus day to clean house. It made the best of both worlds for me and for her.

The snow is absolutely beautiful, but mostly we don't like it. No matter how beautiful it is, it's inconvenient and cold. Tomorrow we have a funeral to attend. It will probably be beautiful, but mostly we won't like it. No matter how beautiful the service is, saying goodbye is just so sad.  But still, my good friend's father will be buried tomorrow. In the snow. And we'll be there.

9 plus 9 makes 18

February 18th is almost over. I haven't blogged since the 9th.It hasn't been a great week. I've spent 9 days catching up from time away, but haven't accomplished it yet. And I had house guests, and I got sick, and Nathan's cat died...on our watch...second one. Oh dear, don't ever ask me to watch your pet. Apparently I can't be trusted.  Kids I'm pretty good with, but animals? Not so much.There's one cat left. She's curled up beside me now. She's big, soft, fluffy,and purry. I keep telling her she can't dare die on me. My heart would break, and Nate would be within his rights to question these alleged accidental (cat #1)and natural cause (cat #2) passings.

Add to that, my dad's in the hospital recovering from surgery. My friend's dad is in the hospital dying.

Is that why I  missed my niece Leesa's birthday yesterday, and my good friend Trudy's? Is that why I'm behind at work...both of my jobs? Perhaps. But I feel better now and another weekend is coming up. Tomorrow I get my baby fix with two little girls. Saturday I'll catch up. And I'll go buy a couple of belated cards.

 

Here I am with Deenie in Florida, taking time to smell the roses.

Home Again, Home Again

It's delightful to go away; it's wonderful to come home. I already unpacked the suitcases -- pretty proud of that. And now I've got to get off to church. I feel totally refreshed and ready to get back at it. I hope Tom and Gary and Deenie feel the same. We've got our memories to keep us warm and happy till spring. Right?

 

 Good memories, and....

"Gee, but it's great to be back home!"

Delays

We should be home by now, but not so. Did you hear? There's a snowstorm on the east coast.

Really? It's clear and sunny here in Sebring, Florida.But oh dear, our flight was canceled yesterday. So we must extend our vacation. I know, I know, it's pretty hard to take. Or as my friend Nadine said, quoting Brer Rabbit, "Don't throw me in the briar patch!" Unfortunately, it is cool here. Not cold, mind you, just cool.

I feel badly that we're inconveniencing people back home at church. Gary, Tom and I all had commitments this morning. Sunday school teacher, worship leader, and jr. church teacher...oops, we ought not to all go away together just in case something like this should happen. Fortunately, not a one of us is irreplaceable. But I know we put a few people out, I hope they will accept our apology.

This is the second trip I've made to Starbucks to use the internet. I can only use the internet at Dad's by using his computer...and as we all know, we're kind of attached to our own. There's stuff on my own laptop that, well yes, it could be transferred with a hot stick, but goodness, it's just inconvenient. Plus the atmosphere here helps me keep focused on my work...ummm, er, except for at the moment, I'm sort of blogging instead of working. So here I am getting back to work.  First a picture of Tom with his little baby hammerhead shark.

And then proof that I was indeed working...

And playing some too...with Deenie

North Captiva

Today was heavenly...really. We woke up to a very cool, cloudy morning. No sense going up to the crows nest to watch the sunrise because there wasn't going to be a sunrise. Well, I mean, of course the sun would rise, it does every day, but it doesn't make a spectacular show of it every single day. And this was one of those days. So some of us went back to bed and others turned on her (my) computer and finished my homework for my little writing job. Wouldn't you know, just as I finished my 60th venue for the week (that's my commitment, and my week runs from Thursday morning to Wednesday night...or very very early Thursday morning ;-) The sun came out. So off I went to the beach. I looked north and I looked south and I saw no sign of Tom or Gary and Nadine. I  chose south and had myself a fabulous walk with the wind in my face and the breakers off the shore and soft waves lapping my feet. Did I say today was heavenly?

We all met back at the beach house when our stomachs told us it was past lunch time. Then, well let's see... read for a bit on the deck, catch some rays way up on the crow's nest, walk up and down the sandy lanes to the pool for some invigorating laps. Yes, let's do all that. We did all that. And now the sun is going down. It looks like it'll be a beautiful sunset. So I'd better get my water shoes and the camera and head down to the beach. Life is good. The God who made all this for us is awesome.

Yesterday's sunrise. Good morning world.

And then, before you know it, and before you're quite ready, the sun sets.

Good night world.

Don't worry, the sun will come up tomorrow...again.

Gulf View

Church was wonderful...not like home, but lovely and inspiring. Charlotte Stemple actually presented the message at this huge church filled with lots and lots of retired pastors, pastors' wives, and missionaries. Charlotte and her husband, Woody (hello Grant! not the same Woody as your little cowboy friend) were missionaries in Viet Nam during the war years. What an incredible story they have. What an incredible speaker she is. I'd like to list her points to cement them in my mind...but I'll save that for my journal. Just now I have to get to work. This is a bit of a working vacation for me. So here I sit with my laptop and a view of the Gulf, and I really must get to work, which is not exactly a hardship.