Last Day of 2008

No work today , it is way too blizzardy out there. I haven't even seen a plow go by yet. I think it will snow straignt throught the night. I should be cleaning or doing something productive right now but I am already in "January mood" that is what I call the kind of depressed mood I get in every year about this time. I know it is coming but I am never able to avoid it. It has a lot to do with the after Christmas let down and the fact that my birthday is in January, another year older, I hate to even think about it and yet I want a pretty birthday cake, something pink.

I am noticing in this picture of Justin and me how much we look alike, he is actually taller than he looks because he is crouching down. I am also noticing all the clutter on top of the fridge.I will need to attack it later.

Jubilee Roll

At the end of a hectic and stressful week I was doing a mad rush in the grocery store. I had forgotten my list, no surprise, I don't know why I even write one out as I inevitably misplace it. Anyway, without the list I was doing what could be called the grocery store ballet, a lot of pirouetting and running up and down aisles as I remember what I needed was seven rows back, except lacking a ballerina's grace and beauty it was more of a grocery store slam dance. Ramming my cart into "end cap" displays of Little Debbie snacks and bumping into other shoppers(smile and say sorry).

Well, there I was rapidly whirling in the frozen food section when I noticed it: the Friendly's Jubilee Roll. I stopped whirling, stared and stood as frozen as the frozen food and then much to my embarrassment started to cry , I hid it of course by getting very interested in the junk in my cavernous purse. The sight of the box suddenly made me miss my Dad. When I was a kid he would bring a Jubilee Roll home usually before Christmas and it was a treat that I looked forward to so much. I suppose it was not the memory of guilt-free eating of ice cream or the taste of the roll itself that got to me. (I don't even remember if it was very good).It was the memory of my dad and a time when I didn't feel life's pressures like I do now ; like I was feeling that day in the store. It reminded me that it really is the little things in life that touch us the most. It might be a stranger complementing your outfit or your husband pouring you coffee or your dad bringing home an ice cream treat.

Country fairs and Cookies

Country fairs and cookies. Today the weather was beautiful, perfect to be outside with family at a country fair. below is a picture of my niece Adrienne and me acting silly in front of the cookie cottage. Adrienne bought so many cookies she needed a box to transport the delicate beauties. Left is Nick,Adrienne and Kate trying on hats at the craft fair.Above is Justin and our awesome friend Syb on the porch of the cookie cottage.

August 5 K

Finally I am updating my blog. Justin and I ran in this 5k it was hot and it was tough but we finished (not last ). We are going to WALK in the upcoming (october) 5 mile Apple walk for diabeties. I don't have any pictures from the 5 k because we forgot to bring the camera so I photographed the T shirt.

Summer time

beginning in spring and throughout the fall I measure time in flowers. It is exciting to me to see the very first crocuses early in the year, some of them so impatient to feel the sun that they push their heads up through the cold, mushy snow. Summer rushes by too fast and I am always shocked when the sunny black eyed susans and purple cone flowers are in full bloom. Can the dog day's of summer be here already? Next month the fields will be replete with the warm glow of golden rod and burgundy joe-pye-weed which will eventually succumb to a dark rusty brown, but there will still be the bright grand finale of hardy mums in all my favorite autum colors.

WATERSLIDES

Last week I took Justin and his friend Chris to the water

slides at Breezy picnic grounds. They had a great time and it was as the name suggests; breezy. They went up and down the slides like crazy and the beach on the reservoir was very clean. I was thinking I would maybe go down one of the slides but totally chickened out when I saw them. There was supposed to be a slide show on this post but I can't get it to upload. If I ever figure it out I will add it.

Justin's Birthday

Here is a picture of Justin with cousins and friends at his birthday party. The planning was sort of last minute but sometimes impromptu events are the most fun. we played wiffle ball (the competitors were fierce) and went inside when it got dark to play Apples to Apples ( the competition grew even more fierce). If you have never heard of Apples to Apples I highly recommend it and the more players the better, it is a hilarious card game, we love it.