Grammie-Heaven

One of the best things in my life is being a Grammie! I was talking to Gordon the other day and mentioned how much I enjoyed being a mom... that, without a doubt, was my favorite! I loved (love) being a mom. But we all know that being a mom (and not JUST a mom) requires work, work and more work to go along with the joy. That is not a complaint... just a statement of fact.

Ahhhh, but being a Grammie? Yup, that is heaven. It is the extra blessing! I like to say, "I am no longer the Mommie-enforcer, I am the Grammie-spoiler!" And can I just say that I am loving this phase of my life!

I got to see two of my little darlings (that live much too far away). Oh, how I love these babies! My sweet Deborah took some sneaky pictures of me with Baby Belle.

This little girl is so squishable! I could just nuzzle and kiss those cheeks all the day!

And Riley... I wanted to say *little-Riley* but this big boy is 7 now! Where does the time go? We had a fun dip in the pool together. I tried to teach him the steamboat kick that I learned so many years ago but he was more interested in playing with the other kids in the pool!

(Parenthetically, I'm often reminded that Riley and I have the same age difference, 55 years, as my DADDY and I have. And I am reminded that I am grateful that I am in the grammie, not the mommie, roll!)

Freeway Bushes

For as long as I can remember we've called oleander freeway bushes. They are prominent in the median strip all up and down California's Central Valley. When Bekah moved to Fresno in 1998 I became intimately acquainted with the miles and miles of oleander median. It was comment to drive past oleanders as big as a house, and I'm not exaggerating!

Sometime about 10-12 years ago CalTrans decided they needed to add a center guardrail which meant they buzzed off all of the bushes at ground height. I was just sick!

So this trip, when I saw that some of the large white ones were as tall as semis I felt happy again! All is well in the freeway bush department. 

In Her Mama's Chair

Miss Fiona came to spend the afternoon at Grammie's house while Mommie did her last day of school training before summer (YAY!) and Daddy took the *bigs* back home. After a nap on Grammie's big bed, with Grammie, it was time for some lunch.

One of the first things she did when I put her in the highchair was hook her little toes under the edge of the stainless steel tray.

That is when the memories started rolling in. It seems like only yesterday that this sturdy little highchair was Mama's meal-time seat.

This happy little highchair has been host to several generations of children. It joined our family almost 48 years ago when my sister, Sue, got it for her first baby, Cindy. After two more babies at her house Sue gave it to me for Spencer. He used it until I got a second highchair in preparation for twins. It even took a trip to Rebekah's house for several years (where it got recovered with white vinyl) before it came back to me.

Now it gets occasional use from visiting grandbabies.

Happy little friend!

Rainbows

I ventured outside this evening to water a few dry spots and recently located plants. When I opened the garage door I could see the rain in the air, but no wetness on the driveway. I was pondering on that phenomenon when I heard a neighbor's grandchildren calling out...

"Look!! There's TWO of them!"

I knew immediately what they were seeing TWO of! I came inside, grabbed my Rebel and out I went... chasing rainbows!

Quail Adventures

It was a *beautiful-work-in-the-yard* day today. I started early with a trip to the green waste dump to get a load of compost. It is so wonderful and black and compost-y!

I bought a bunch of plants yesterday at Home Depot to fill in some blank spots in my yard. I started in the front; planting a big hydrangea and installing my new self-winding hose reel. As I came around into the backyard I saw movement...

It was a quail family: Mama, Daddy and a bunch of little babies were crossing the back lawn and went into hiding under the currant bushes. I struggled to get my iPhone out of my pocket to get some photos. Those little babies move FAST!!! I have several of photos of rocks as they darted along the breach filled with rocks between the garden shed and the raised garden area. I didn't want to unduly upset them, but I NEEDED SOME PHOTOS! So I stood back by the edge of the shed and just kept clicking photos.

Daddy immediately flew away, I'm sure it was a diversionary tactic but I couldn't help but see that it left Mama in crisis with about a dozen babies! She was talking to them the whole time...

"All right babies, be brave and follow me!"

"Stay right along the fence..."

"Be quick now! Come under this nice plant..."

And, my favorite, "Come my babies. Let me gather you under my wings!"

I love how fluffed out she is. I couldn't see any babies under her. What a good Mama!

O ye people... how oft have I gathered you as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and have nourished you. (3Nephi 10:4)

Purple Robe Locust

This year, the 9th since I planted it, my Purple Robe locust tree is putting on quite a show. A quick Google search showed me that this beautiful tree doesn't photograph well. I wish you could see it with your very own eyes. It is a beauty!

Now this...

THIS! is what the beautiful flowers look like!

And the smell? Yup, it's heaven! Somewhere sweet between lilacs and honeysuckle. And now I have purple snow on my lawn from the dropping blossoms.

♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪ Or Walk By Our Lilac Tree ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪

Lilacs will always hold a very special place in my heart. The smell transports me back to my little-girl days at our tiny home in Greenville. We had a huge (6-8" tall and 4-5" wide) lilac hedge that was right along the street in front of our house. There were also several more lilac bushes at the front corners of the house and down the east side.

For whatever reason my lilacs are glorious this spring! Perhaps the lilacs are appreciating this real spring; it is just that right uneven mix between balmy days and stormy days that we rarely get here.

I've always loved the Primary song My Heavenly Father Loves Me. As a child I only knew about lilac bushes, not lilac trees... I thought the song writer was a little mixed up. Now as an adult I've come to appreciate the beauty of a lilac tree or a less bushy bush.

The most wonderful thing about the the 6 lilac bush/trees that live here on my happy little quarter acre of heaven; only two of them are the same color (those shown in the photo above).

My Favorite Lilac

MY *Awkward Family Photo*

I have to make a disclaimer at the beginning of this post... of all the sewing I did for my kids (and it was tons) this is the only epic awkward fail!

I got the great idea to make matching outfits for the kids and I for Easter 1993. Now there is nothing wrong with that, but the fabric choice... yeah, within a few weeks I began to question it.

And after I saw this photo I think the whole kit and caboodle went to Goodwill!

This is the days before digital... so I have a series of shots taken that are similar to this. I would set the timer, run to get into the photo and then try to look all cool and collected. Fortunately one of the kids 'fessed up that they'd been goofing off in the photos so I did get ONE group shot where we all looked normal... even if our cloths were...erm... interesting!

But look at my darling children! They never complained.

Spencer, 9.

Camille, 7 1/2.

Stuart, 7 1/2.

These photos have produced a lot of laughter in the last 21 years. Now I think I am brave enough to show them to the world...

I just have one thing to say... be kind!

Stuart and Stephanie's Wedding Day

It was a wonderfully busy, happily-stressful, joy-filled, tearful, exhausting week and today I'm somewhat rested, dried out and ready to blog.

On 4.4.14 Stuart and Stephanie were married in the Salt Lake City Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for time and all eternity. And, in case you've ever wondered, this is what joy looks like!

We were so fortunate to have all of our family here for this wonderful day! (Even though we are missing Kevin, Ryan and their families from this pix... sad face)

I can't even begin to express what it was like to sit in the sealing room of the Salt Lake Temple with many of our posterity. I think that it must be close to heaven!

Stuart specifically told me he didn't want me behind the camera so I obediently turned over my camera (after a few shots) to one of Stuart's friends and will wait for the wonderful photos from Brittany Cascio. She does such beautiful work.

I don't know what was being said here but I love the happy smiles of these wonderful people who are my children! How did I get so blessed?

I love these happy sisters (and Stu too)!

Speaking of... I couldn't have asked for a better close up of my Stuey.

And with my family you know we love to have fun...

This reminds me of a similar photo from Camille's wedding.

I love that they did this pose... it is my favorite...

And why not for little-Joanie too?

Oh, and these big boys? When did they get so grown up? Mama has on 4" heels!

This favorite hails back to a day at the beach almost 28 years ago. It's caption is, *Strong like booll*

And my precious babies... *all growed up*!

And these ladies? We've been BFF for almost 30 years. They've been with me through many ups and a few downs. I am so blessed to have women like this in my life. We've all realized how rare and precious our friendship is! It is one that is not oft repeated!! Kristi commented how wonderful it is that they come to help me with these weddings.

Little dressed-alike cousins.

And this... Rebekah meets her little Fiona-niece! What a blessing family is.

The only sad thing about these photos is that since I'm not the one taking them there are so many that are missing... but those memories will live in my heart just the same.

Joy in the Journey

We've had a very mild winter this year. We bought 4 new bags of ice-melt back at the beginning of the winter that are all still languishing in the garage!

And because of this mildness our apricot tree is popping out. (photos taken on 3/28)

Most of these last 10 springs these early bloomers come out; then...

This...

But you know what? I decided several week ago to enjoy the beauty of my apricot tree, even if I don't get a crop. I'm very thankful. What you see here... it isn't just snow! No! It is the result of much fasting and prayer. (I blogged about this special fast back in February.)

So we just aren't fussed... we may not have apricots this summer but we will have that much needed water. I'm so grateful for this glorious blessing.