MEMORIAL DAY

This past weekend we celebrated Memorial Day.  To some, it's a time to have friends over for a cookout and enjoy each other's company.  To many, it's a time to remember our military who gave their lives to protect our country. 

In our family, we have our sons who serve in the Indiana National Guard.  David is in Afghanistan with the 3-19th ADT.  He's part of the security detail and serves as a sniper.  This is his second tour of duty.  His first tour was in Iraq.  His brother, Chris, is an MP.  By the time he finished his training, the unit that he was assigned to had already shipped out for Iraq.  He was disappointed that he could not make it with them.

My sons are the first on both sides of our family that are serving their country.  When they both decided to join the military, we asked them why.  Their response was because of all the stories that their grandfather, my father-in-law, had told them of what life was like in Cuba.  My father-in-law was very patriotic.  He loved this country very much and he passed that love onto my two sons.  They told us they did not want us to lose our freedoms like the people in Cuba had lost.  They also felt it was their duty to serve because of what the United States had done for both our families.

We are extremely proud of both them and the many who serve in the military.  They do the job that many are not able to.  Thank you!

Chris

David

ART FOR THE NATION

Today I had the opportunity to be in Indianapolis for the day.  I used it by going to the Indiana State Museum.  I went with the purpose to see the Fancy and Frugal quilts, which I will share in another post.  But I found an exhibit that really interested me.  It is titled "Art for the Nation".  The museum had posters that were used during WWII. 

Poster art was used on the homefront to mobilize the nation around a common cause.  The message was clear and precise.  The posters urged the families on the homefront to sacrifice so that the soldiers would have all they needed.  The posters urged great effort in production, victory gardens, make do what what you have and sell war bonds.

The posters were placed in areas where there was no paid advertisements.  The most common areas were post offices, railroad stations, schools, restaurants, and retail stores.  Smaller posters were printed for the windows of homes and apartment buildings. 

These posters were not designed by the government but by artists who did not get paid for their work.  Different organizations had contests for the artists to do their best design so that they could have a large number of designs to choose from.

Seeing these posters made me think of the war that we as a nation are involved in.  What kind of posters would be designed now?  I don't know, but I do know that the WWII posters were effective.  So head on out to the museum and see what they have.

LAUNDRY

One of the things that I love doing on sunny and windy days is doing the laundry and hanging outside on my line.  I love the smell of line dried bedsheets.  I remember my mom doing laundry with a wringer washing machine.  Back at that time, my sister and I had long hair and our mom would not let us get near it because she was concerned that our hair might get caught.  So we would watch her do the laundry and then take the basket outside and hang the laundry.  Even then, I loved the smell of line dried laundry.

Now, I do my laundry on Monday and relish the days that are sunny and windy.  I get to hang my laundry outside and in a few hours it is all nice and dry.  I save money and energy.  But I also get the satisfaction of dong something that I enjoy and relive when I was a kid and watching my mom hanging the laundry.  So off I go to hang my laundry and go back to the time that I was a little girl.



BABY ROBIN JOURNAL PART TWO

For several days, I have not gone to check on the nest.  So early this morning I went out with my camera and ladder to check out the babies.  Needless to say momma and pappa robin were not happy with me.  They were flying all over the place and voicing their annoyance with me. 


Momma



Pappa

After taking several pictures of the babies, I apologized to the parents and left.  They quickly came back to the nest to make sure I didn't do anything.  It always amazes me how God has instinctively put even in animals the protection mode for their young.

I wonder how long before the parents start teaching the babies to fly. 

BABY ROBIN JOURNAL

Last Thursday as I was doing yard work on the side of my house, I found three baby robines in a nest, well hidden in my lilac bush.  They can't be more than a few days old.  So I went and grabbed my camera and took pictures.  Momma robin was nowhere in sight, but I could hear her.  She was not happy with me but I was able to get some pictures.



The nest



The eggs





The babies





Momma Robin




The shafts of new feathers starting to appear





Nap time



Frequently asked questions about Robins: babies

I will continue the journal of the baby Robins. 

MY GARDEN

Spring is the best season of the year.  Windows open, birds singing, flowers growing.  I just love Spring because of all the new growth.  I have been trying to keep up with the season.  There is so much do to in the spring.  About four weeks ago I planted my peas, carrots, broccoli, and spinach.  I was able to do it before my surgery.  Now that I'm able to walk, work has begun.

Today I was able to plant my tomatoes, green beans and romaine lettuce.  I also have cilantro growing in my garden that seeded itself from last year's crop.  It felt really good to the results of my work.  As I was outside working, I had my dog and cat, Dotty and Ellie, enjoying the sunshine and the breeze.  Ellie was investigating her surroundings.  I do hope that she learns to hunt and get rid of any rodents we might have.  Dotty was just enjoying the day outside.



Ellie is checking out a bird on a tree




Manicure








Tomato




Green Bean




Romaine Lettuce



Sweet Pea



NEIGHBORS

In the almost 28 years of marriage, Jorge and I have been blessed with great neighbors.  We first lived in an apartment and above and across from us we had wonderful neighbors.  With one of them, we shared the joy of their expecting twins.  With the other neighbor, we shared the joy of going to his wedding.  In the apartment building, we relied on each other. 

Then we bought a house and moved from there.  Again we were blessed with wonderful neighbors.  Our next door neighbor would mourn with us as we experienced the many miscarriages.  They also shared in our joy when our firstborn, David, was born and then the birth of Chris.  We lived in that house for eleven years.  Our neighbor across the street from us always had banana popsicles for David and Chris.  We found out later on, that those are her favorite and she would only share them with my boys.  When we had the ice storm several years ago, we all helped each other out.  We had no power for ten days, but our neighbors helped us out until we had power. 

Again, we decided to move.  We have been living in our present home for almost 16 years.  And again, we have been blessed with wonderful neighbors.  We had an elderly neighbor where my boys loved going to visit.  She always had Little Debbie's cakes for them.  I remember one time I had no idea where Chris had gone to.  He was only seven years old and I found him sitting with Dorothy on her swing in the front porch just talking.  She passed away and a new family came to live there.  They are more than neighbors and friends, they are family.  Their two children love my boys.  For example, when Chris came home from boot camp, their son Colin was so happy to see him,  He was only  seven years old and was hugging Chris's legs telling him I so glad you're home. 

Our neighbors have been a blessing to us.  In the last several years, I've had to have surgeries and they have been there to help out.  How did they help?  They brought meals, did yardwork, took care of the dog, and when we had rabbits, they took care of them also.  Our neighbors are our family.  We look out for each other.  That is why we have not moved to be closer to Jorge's job because we love where we live and we love the people around us.

So I challenge you, do something nice for your neighbor.  It'll be good.

TRIBUTE TO MY MOM

Tomorrow is Mother's Day and I am blessed to still have my mom with me.  My mom is an extraordinary mom.  I have so many wonderful memories of her.  When my siblings and I were younger, we would always pick dandelions from the park across the street and bring them to her.  She would always put them in glasses and proudly put them in the living room and dining room.  To her it didn't matter that they were weeds.  To her they were flowers that her children gave her. 

Another memory I have of my mom is that she would always listen to the music we asked her to listen.  If there was a song on the radio that we liked, we would call her to come and hear it.  Without fail, my mom stopped whatever she was doing, and she would come to listen to the song.  I remember when my dad was out of town, my mom bought tickets for all four of us to go to Navy Pier and listen to Air Supply.  We were on cloud nine.  She even tried to get tickets for us to hear Earth, Wind, and Fire.  She was disappointed that they were all sold out.  

My mom has always been our cheerleader, encourager, counselor and friend.  My mom has always been an example of what a godly woman is.  She has always given her all for her family.  She was there for my dad.  I learned so much from her.  Even now, I still look to her for guidance.  I am so thankful to God for having the mother I have and the example she has been to me.  I love her dearly.  Thank you mom for all you have done and continue to do for your family.

                   

SURGERY

Well, you may be wondering what has happened since it's been a while from my last blog.  Well, here's what's been going on.  I had to have foot surgery.  This was corrective surgery.  A coupld of years ago, I twisted my left ankle on the corner of one of the steps outside my house.  My leg went right under me and down I went.  Little did I realize that when I twisted my ankle, I had broken a bone off my ankle and it lodge itself where it's not supposed to me.  Needless to say, I was having constant pain. 

Last June I received a cortizone shot because I just could not take the pain.  The doctor had x-rayed my foot and I could see the bone causing all the problems.  The shot did help me a lot but I retwisted the ankle a few months later and the pain came back again. 

So, on Thursday, April 21st, I had the surgery done on my foot and now my foot is in a cast.  The doctor told my husband that for the next two weeks I'm supposed to keep my foot elevated and not put any weight on it. 

For my friends that know me, I don't do well sitting still for a long period of time.  But my I know that if I don't do what the doctor tells me, I may have further problems.  But I also gave my word to my husband that I would follow the doctor's orders.

So what do I do since I can't quilt, garden, or do many of the things that I like to do?  I knit.  I'm working already on Christmas presents for several friends.  Like an old phrase says, when you're given lemons, make lemonade!