Happy New Year 2012

Spending a day at home looking at our financial picture and being grateful at how far we've come. A lot of old debt was retired and saving money is at the top of the list. 2011 was a very good year for us. But 2012 will be even better!

Allan working from home and me with part time agrees with us and our life style. Our health is good and we so enjoy our daily routine! A big family reunion is planned this coming summer to honor my parents 60th wedding anniversary. We have a lot to look forward to.

We wish everyone a happy, healthy, and blessed new year!

Last Trip to Gordon

Allan and I set out on our last big adventure to see Melanie, Adam, and the boys in Gordon, Nebraska. They will be moving shortly and I really wanted Allan to see that part of our country!

We left from TIA and flew to Houston, then to Denver, and ended up in Rapid City, SD.
Four airports and three flights! We made it and settled into our hotel room in Rapid City until we could drive to Gordon the next day.

We drove to Mount Rushmore the next day. Beautiful ... but COLD! I enjoyed looking out the glass window while sipping hot cocoa. Allan ran around taking pictures at every angle.

We arrived in Gordon around dinner time and everyone was waiting! It was so good seeing them again -- it had been too long. Hezekiah is tiny and beautiful and we all took turns holding him. After a nice supper I got the presents out and passed them around! The boys were so excited. New Christmas outfits, PJs and new toys.

While we were there we saw lots of snow -- but not crazy below zero temps like the last time. Allan and I took short drives around town and ventured out to Fort Robinson on the far west side of Nebraska. We also had Isaiah take us to some of his favorite places ... the park, library, Covered Wagon ( a local fast food place). Allan shot a movie for him to remember all this.

We went to Mass at St. Leo's and Sunday service at Grace Lutheran. A Thanksgiving supper was served after church. We enjoyed meeting all the members.


Wine time. Allan's smiling now ... not the case earlier! Too many people packed inside a jet make for an uncomfortable ride.

Dinner in Denver! Found a wonderful French Bistro in the airport. A much-needed break!

Dessert, anyone? They tasted as good as they looked! Yum!

We got into Rapid City late so we spent the night at the Alex Johnson Hotel. Very nice!

Local wildlife.

SNOW! Guess we're not in Florida now!

So excited to be at Mount Rushmore!

Allan's pretty happy about it, too!

The Money Shot. Another tourist took this picture of Allan and me. I will always remember how cold it was that day. Allan also celebrated his birthday. Happy Birthday!

Beautiful shot of Mount Rushmore

Had lunch in Keystone, SD. Buffalo burgers! Delicious!

Main Street, Gordon, Nebraska

Florida flamingos don't do well in Gordon winters!

The reason for our trip!

Poppy meeting little Hezekiah.

Three little guys waiting for us!

Nanny handing out the presents!

Captain America toys were a big hit!

Nanny and the Spider Boys!

Adam and Isaiah

Melanie and Hezekiah

Noah!

Sunday morning angel face!

How I spent my days!

All too soon we were back at the airport to begin our long trip home. It was 14 degrees in Rapid City and it was 78 degrees outside when we landed in Tampa!

See what I did today!

Dug around the garage and came up with my outside Christmas display. Whatcha think?

Breaking the silence

Thirteen years ago I lost my soul mate, best friend, the love of my life. We were together for ten years. Seems like for ten minutes. In that ten years, he loved me like no other, loved and helped raise my three girls, and showed me how to live each day like it was my last. I could look deep into his eyes and see his love for me. I could leap into his arms and feel his love for me. And I could hear his love whenever he said "I love you more"!

He took away all the fear and uncertainty of living. He allowed me to discover who I really was. He encouraged me to go back to the Catholic Church. He even came to Mass with me.

Because of him, I could be the best mother to my girls. And he could be a funny stepfather. He made up silly little games (the WORD of the DAY) and craft projects (Christmas bird house ornaments). That first Christmas he ordered a swing set. Then put it together.

He took us on weekend boat excursions (our youngest learned to swim off the boat swim platform) and to Marineland. We would all jump into our big canopy bed at night and watch movies. We had a house full of cats.

He would drive us to MomMom and PopPop's house. Or to the mountains. Or just to get pizza or ice cream. I could count on him to pick up the girls from school. He was great with take-out. He knew his way around Publix.

He built us the best fires in the fireplace. Sometimes we slept on blankets in front of the fire. He fixed the best barbecue chicken on the grill.

He let me decorate and redecorate the house. I loved doing the girls' rooms. New furniture, drapery, wallpaper, carpet. We always had a beautiful and cozy home.

He loved to travel and showed me his favorite places. My favorite times were aboard large sailing vessels. He was at home on the sea. I never feared for our safety. He was the captain of our ship. He loved to teach me about the different types of boats. How to tell a ketch from a sloop. And all the parts of the ship. I wish I could remember it all today!

Because of him, I got to see the lovely turquoise water of the Caribbean, Nassau's straw market, Hope Town's striped lighthouse. And hundreds of other tropical landmarks.

He had a great love of books and art. He painted with oils. I still have most of his paintings. And books. We all had a hand in a repainting of Van Gogh's Field of Iris. The painting hangs in my home office now.

Today I am remarried and living in a different part of the state. My three daughters are grown and married and have their own children. By the end of this year I will have seventeen grandchildren and four stepgrandchildren. My parents live nearby and so do two sisters and their families. I have four stepsons. Allan is retired but I continue to work as a decorator in a cute furniture shop at the beach. We have a full life.

Life (and love) goes on.

Last Mass

We all turned out to help celebrate the last Mass in our old church this past Sunday. We even got to sit in our old pew, second from the front, on the left side.

Many of St. Raphael's parishioners filled the church for this final farewell. Fr. Tim and Deacon Jim, as well as Msgr. Dechering and Deacon Grode said the Mass and decommissioned the old sanctuary.

The space will now be used for meetings, youth, and coffee and donuts.

Pop Pop and Mom Mom took the whole family out to dinner at Harvey's after the Mass. We all had a great time.

Closure

He wants to separate himself from us. Thinks my thoughts and comments are out of line. Doesn't want me to feel obligated to communicate with him.

Never mind that we opened our hearts and homes to him. Fed him. Clothed him. Tried to teach him about life and responsibility. Even at age twenty-five.

We invested emotionally in him. Brought him into our tight family circle. Included him in family gatherings and traditions. Gave him money and gifts, and a car. Repaired the car, twice.

So now we are free of him. Except for Allan. He states he wants Allan in his life. But for the rest of us, its time to move on and not look back.

Booked next cruise!

Allan and I have booked our March 2013 Cruise! We decided on a partial transit of the Panama canal. We are booked on Princess Cruise Lines Coral Princess.

We leave from Fort Lauderdale on a ten-day trip that also includes Aruba, Columbia, Panama, Costa Rica, and the Grand Cayman Islands. The trip ends back in Fort Lauderdale.

We reserved a cabin with a balcony–talk about a room with a view! Will look forward to my morning coffee and afternoon wine time out there. We can also arrange a private dinner for just the two of us.

Now I'll have plenty of time to dream and plan the trip of a lifetime.

Sweet Surprise

Sometimes it's just the little, unexpected things that make you feel the best. I was out shopping with my mom at a local T.J. Maxx store yesterday. She wanted to pick out a birthday gift for a friend. She found a great bag for her and we continued combing through the store. The shop was overloaded with tops, tees and summer sweaters.

We both got into looking and holding things up for the other to see. Suddenly she exclaimed, "Pick one out and I'll buy it for you!" I had seen a cute sleeveless tank with appliqued flowers in a soft coral on the main aisle. She liked it too. She paid at the front counter and handed me the bag. I smiled and thanked her.

I'm going to wear my new top with my favorite cargo pants to work today. But first, I'm stopping by her house on the way in to show her how it looks on me. I know I'll always remember this every time I pull the little tank top out of my closet.

Memorial

It seems to me that our loved ones who have passed on should be remembered in some way online. I have been thinking about this for awhile. And since everyone is on Facebook, why not them? Wouldn't it be nice to post their photo, write their biography, list their accomplishments, and post favorite stories about them. We could go and visit the site whenever we wanted, and invite our friends and family.

Perhaps my children could create a page for their dad. Allan could do one for Polly. And I could do one for Bruce.

Going through old photo albums, boxes of personal items and memories to create a virtual scrapbook for all time–what could be better! Sometimes we just need to be with them, to remember them, to commune with them.

UPDATE: I created a Bruce van Voorhis Memorial page on facebook. Look for it and Like it.

Face it, we all know that they would have been on Facebook and addicted to it also!

Rays vs. Jays

Working long, hard hours does have its reward! Bill and Carol decided that I needed some down time at the Tropicana Stadium today so they gave me their tickets to the Rays vs. the Toronto Blue Jays game. We enjoyed lower box seats with an excellent view of first base. We saw plenty of players and even scored an autograph before the game began. We enjoyed yummy baseball food, sang the national anthems of both Canada and the USA, cheered our hearts out for the Rays, and celebrated the Rays win with the entire crowd! It was a fun and relaxing day and no customers to worry with! Thank you, Bill & Carol!


My new best buddy, pitcher James Shield. He signed my game ticket, which I then gave to my Dad.


Allan enjoying the game.


Raymond the mascot sporting a poncho and sombrero for Cinco de Mayo


The scoreboard says it all. Tampa Bay Rays win 3 to 1!!!!!!!

William and Catherine

The wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge • April 29, 2011

Beach Bath

Had a four-foot white ledge, a beach sign, various sea shells, a metal sandpiper, and some frosted glass votive candle holders. Put them all together over the shower enclosure in the master bath and voila! Spent $4.99 on some battery-operated tea lights and came away with another new display.

Love not spending a lot and using what you have!

No-sew flip flop valance

Today I had fun finishing the guest bedroom with a new window treatment. I used flip flop table runners that we sell at the shop. I bought a 1x4x12 foot board (already primed in white) from Home Depot and had it cut to size. I attached the boards to the wall with small "L" brackets. Then I used colorful thumb tacks to attach the runner to the board. Pretty cool, huh!

Fun with Vera Bradley

You can not work at The Bronze Lady without becoming addicted to some particular line of merchandise. For me, it's Vera Bradley bags. I now have nine handbags, three large travel bags, and various wallets, coin bags, cases for glasses and cell phones. I decided to display my smaller pieces in the guest bedroom since that is my dressing room. I used a white laminate cubby tower storage unit I had in the garage for the bags, and a white wire basket (which wasn't being used) for the small things. Since I use my bags all the time, now I can find just the one I want and have a cute display, too!

Feeding the fish

Feeding the fish is a favorite activity at Lewis pond in Jacksonville. Brian stocked his new pond with hundreds of tiny brim and catfish that will some day grow into fun fishing and eating for the Lewis family. Right now Kristin saves the bread crusts and the younger kids enjoy throwing them out to the little fishies.





"I once caught a fish THIS BIG!"