Tuesday, March 24, 2009

A LAKE IN THE DESERT



My latest company left today. It was a busy week of eating out, celebrating St. Patrick's Day, casino, playing Gin 13, cooking real meals, enjoying an evening with friends at the local bar with karaoke and dancing, and playing tourist at home with a walk about town and a day at the local River Preserve....where I discovered a spring-fed lake just a few miles from my home! The Preserve was formerly a ranch ( who's owners were murdered and burned by a competitor and are now buried on the grounds), a guest ranch (which planted the towering palms which are now over 100 years old), and has a spring-fed lake where mallards were enjoying paddling about when we visited! I have been coming here for twenty years, and had never been to this idyllic spot before. One of the fun things of having visitors, is that it encourages one to get out and see the local spots that are around, but often overlooked in one's day to day living. The house seems quiet without company, and Wylee will miss his walking partner. But Bart will be happy to get more attention again, and I will try to get out and riding him more in the nice weather and get us both back in shape!

Sunday, March 15, 2009

HAPPY 40th CHRIS!!!!!

My daughter emailed me that she thought I would have something in my blog about my son's 40th birthday. I have to admit it is startling to realize I have a son the age that I feel! I remember the surprise party I was given for my own 40th, and felt I had really gotten old. Oh, to be that age again! Now I am 22 years older than that, and I feel like I should still be in my 40's...although that face staring back at me in the mirror reminds me that the years have piled up since that surprise party. It also brings to mind the saying "Too soon old, too late smart". Ah, to be able to know what I know now and have some of those years back!
Suzie Orman spoke on TV this morning about the economy, and encouraged people to forget about what was, and to concentrate on what you have now and go forward. I think that is good advice for anyone reaching the senior years and questioning the value of their lives. We can't fret over bodies that have lost flexibility and youthfulness. We can't obsess about the wrinkles and chronic aches and pains. We can't beat ourselves up on mistakes made over 60 years of living and learning. We can only take what we still do have, and make the most of each day. There are still memories to be made, places to explore, new friends to meet, and new things to learn.
So HAPPY BIRTHDAY my first born boy. The first act may be over, but there is a lot of play left to enjoy. CELEBRATE LIFE!!!!!

Monday, March 9, 2009

LOVE COMPANY!

My sister, Mary, and hubby, Reagan are visiting for some sunshine relief from the cold Wisconsin winter. He is a handyman who seems to be able to tackle anything, and has kindly taken on some of my "honey do" jobs. I now have a lever handle to replace the difficult round knob on my back door, my patio swing is now securely attached to the patio post so it doesn't list sideways, my burned out back light has been replaced, and best of all....I have two walls painted to give some color and warmth to my living room and bedroom! Mary is an artist, and helped me choose colors, and she and Reagan taped and painted away. I offered to to the lower half of the walls, but Reagan is pretty fussy, so I didn't get to do too much of it! Gave me time to do some dusting of the items removed from the shelves and walls and clean up some hidden dust bunnies. I also got to prepare a big meal again and made them a pot roast dinner with popovers...yum!
Last night we enjoyed the final look while watching "Pure Country" (for their first time, my tenth!) while munching on snacks and a cocktail. Today they are doing the tourist things in town and at the museum, and plan to visit one of the local mines this afternoon. They will be taking their dog, Keno, to my vet this afternoon to check on the wound in his side that happened the day they were leaving home. Poor dog has been so good, despite a nasty gash and his floppy plastic "necklace" that keeps him from licking at his stitches.
It is so nice having them here. They have great ideas and are so clever about fixing, repairing, painting and moving things. They spent the day before doing Mom's house....adjusting her laundry doors so they would stay shut, painting her kitchen cabinets, hanging a new light fixture in her dining room, and Mary and I found a new dining room set for her at a sale, so her house has a fresh, new look! It turned out to be a working vacation for them, but we would rather pay them for their efforts, and give them gas money to visit us than pay a stranger. At least they can walk their dog out in the sunshine, and have enjoyed relaxing in the pool and Jacuzzi at night. Can't do that in Wisconsin, where yet another winter storm is predicted. Will hate to see them go.....so many more things we could do....FUN things instead of work! But they are talking about pulling out tomorrow, so I will get back to riding my neglected horse and get ready for my next visitor coming on the 16th!

Sunday, March 1, 2009

SPRING FLOWERS








It is sometimes difficult to believe all the national news showing snow blizzards in Kansas, tornados in Georgia, and freezing cold weather and 8" off snow in Minnesota when I can walk around the park and see all the bright flowers beginning to bloom. Phoenix may break a record to day with 90 degrees, and I actually walked in the house a few minutes ago after taking these pictures and thinking "Ah, it feels nice and cool in here!". My sister, Mary, is on her way here from Wisconsin and says she HAS to get out of there after yet another blizzard filled their driveway with snow. I am so grateful to be living in the warm, dry climate of Arizona. But I am well aware that in a few months it will be getting very hot here, while up north they will be enjoying a northern summer playing golf, fishing , swimming, picnicing....and swatting mosquitos and dealing with humidity. And here, people will be golfing and riding at dawn with an eye out for an occasional snake....then hunkering inside during the heat of the day. I guess there is no Utopia, but springtime in Arizona may be as close as it comes!