Jeannie Marie & Company

I have many plans in my head for the upcoming year. Jan 1st starting off the year geocaching and Dianne came with me! There were a lot of shadows on this sunny day!  The first objective of 2016 was getting home safely.  It's a long drive by myself from Ohio.  I go out of my way a bit to drive to Shelly's in North Caroline from Ohio and stay a day or so before continuing on.  So it is two days of eight plus hours depending on how often I stop.  I made it home a few days ago and now must unpack and regroup.  I do like a good road trip! This time I did some geocaching along the way home.  Overall I found eight caches in different rest areas and near gas stations.  I don't go out of my way to drive to get to any, but if one is within five hundred feet, I will take time to find it, sign the log and take a picture.  It's a great way to get a little exercise while on a road trip. Finding a tiny caches in a tree! I have my...

These days I am quietly navigating my way through my days and settling into a new routine. I want to change many things but haven't done much about it.  The house is still the same, I haven't changed anything to speak of except clean out the desk so I can use it, and re-file things so I can find them.  Bill and I had very different ideas about how to file. The days are blending into weeks now.  I'm surprised to find it is again Sunday already.  I have more than enough to keep me busy.  I have church events, events through my art guild, and family time with my mother and sisters. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ My sister Karan and my mom and I went on an impromptu cruise in January, taking advantage of the low, low prices.  We were upgraded at the last minute to a suite and I must say I felt quite grand! We went to Grand Cayman and Cozumel, Mexico. This trip was a breeze as we had a wheelchair for mom to get from place to place without tiring he...

This year we stayed in town and celebrated Thanksgiving with Mom and my Uncle Bob, my dad's brother.   We enjoyed Roast Turkey & Cranberry Sauce Mashed Potatoes and gravy Sweet Potatoes Stuffing Buttered Corn Deviled Eggs Olives Stuffed Celery Dinner Rolls White wine and Soft Drinks Later: Pumpkin Pie Apple Pie a la Mode Fruitcake Coffee Football was enjoyed in between dinner and dessert by the men. Mom and I leafed through my Southern Living Cookbooks and discussed recipes, remembered our family members who were celebrating elsewhere, and talked over past Thanksgiving celebrations. And we had a very enjoyable and quite perfect day of  thanks   

I've been a mom and celebrated now for over forty years on this special day of days.  Even after my daughters had children, it was still the grandchildren's privilege to provide the special day for their moms.  I always felt very celebrated along with them.   Our Family   July 4, 2010 Kyle's birthday!   My kids have always given me a wonderful day, and this year as well!  They thoughtfully sent me tickets to our local dinner theater!  This is one of my favorite things to do and I'm so excited!  I had a phone call from each one of the four and spent time with them that way, individually this year.  I feel very, very blessed. But this year after a crazy year of changes, I am now my mothers neighbor, friend, daughter all rolled into one! I wanted to make the day very special for her.  She has always been into celebrating in a big way every occasion!  I've been the lucky recipient of her fun spirit over my childhood yea...

I felt like we three sisters were Ladies-in-Waiting as we gathered at Mom's house early on Saturday to see her off to her special evening, dinner and celebrating the 25th anniversary of her Sweet Adeline's Chorus.  Mom is a charter member and honored guest. I arrived first by showing up so early Mom was still in her PJ's!  She rallied and rustled up some hot coffee for me and a chocolate doughnut.  We chatted and I brought out my knitting.  It was going to be a day to remember! Karan arrived shortly after.  She is our organizer!  She  helped by putting together the outfit and helping choose the contents of  Mom's  new silver handbag and the silver bag of goodies she was taking.  No last minute rush and forgetting anything.  Mom brought her special pins, photos and sparkly decorations that she had saved over the years that she sang with the Sweet Adeline's.  She would bring these out and share them with her longtime friends ...