From a huge tenderloin to 70 degree sun bathing...

I think I can... okay, maybe not...



Another day at the beach. Hey, wait - there's no beach here!

 

 

Oh, my man TM never fails to entertain. He heard about this bar in Mt. Sterling, Iowa that served a "big" tenderloin and wanted to check it out. We took a nice 1 1/2 hour drive and found AJ's Bar and Grill. They are super friendly and the tenderloin did not disappoint! I had tenderloin bites - much smaller. We had a blast while there, and yes, TM brought most of his home. He ate on that for two more meals... well worth the trip!

 

Today, even though it barely hit 70 degrees and was a bit brisk, he decided a little sun bathing was in order. Dreaming of being retired in a year, I'm sure. After the sun went behind the clouds, we winterized Jazzy :(

No RV'ing south just yet for us.

 

We both are stoked over the St. Louis Cards heading for The World Series. Chaka laka, BOOM... GO CARDS! As TM turns 65 October 27th, I went online to check out ticket prices for a surprise gift. Well, hold on Hilda... I don't want to take out a second mortgage - so no go on those expensive things. We'll watch from the comfort of home and be content.

 

To all of you snowbirds migrating south, be careful and have fun travelling. We know you'll have tons of fun when you reach your respective winter spots.

 

Always - scatter kindness!

 





 



Life is precious...

 

This is a photo of my fun-loving nephew, Brent, who drowned along with his girlfriend in a freak car accident June 1st. You can see the joy and fun he had for life in this pic. I LOVE this photo of him! He was the first born to any of my siblings; I had just turned 10 on August 24th, and he was born on October 2nd - more like a 'little' brother to me. Brent was 'dreading' getting closer and closer to 50... he was a few months shy of his 49th birthday when he died. Forever young...rest in peace. 

 

 

On a brighter note, this IS my last year of teaching. We have moved our collective retirement year up to 2014 ---  YEAH! TM and I are keeping our house for now and wintering in the south. Who knows where we'll meet up with some of you!

 

Any of you traveling south for the winter that come close to Hannibal, MO are welcome to 'driveway dock' with us. Just send me an email and we'll work out the logistics!

 

Until then remember life is precious and... Scatter Kindness!

 



 

Just a monkey train a comin'

 

Oh, being a teacher in jr. high this time of the year is so delightful! The above pic makes me think how some of our less self-motivated thinkers just hop on that follow-the-leader monkey train and pull out all the stops!!!!!!!!!!!! What one doesn't think of, another one will... and then the students and parents want to go bonkers when consequences occur. Have I reminded myself lately that I am seriously considering not returning next fall? I am thinking my effectiveness [and patience] as a teacher is ebbing more and more. ; )  OK, I'm done belly aching.[until next spring!]

 

 

Most of the RV blogs I try to stay current with finds the authors back home for the summer months. Glad you arrived safely. TM and I will probably be doing the retirement plan 'backwards'. We plan on buying a 55+ place in FL close to grandkids  for the winter so we can attend school events PLUS be in a warm climate. We'll travel north in our RV during summer months and visit other family. Well, that is a tentative plan anyway.

 

 

We have had rain, rain, rain, and did I mention....rain?! It is a good thing as we had a very dry summer last year, but are we ever ready for some sun and motorcycle riding! Come on summer...

 

Till next time, scatter kindness!

Just hanging around...

Yes, that man hanging upside down is my man, TM! His hip doctor recommended TM give an inversion table a try for his back pain, and TM absolutely loves inverting now. He is already tall, standing 6'4" on a good day. I told TM he was going to stretch out another inch or two. He 'hangs' at least twice a day and does exercises on it. I get on every so often; I'm not as wacko about it as him. It's growing on me slowly.

 

TM hanging in his Inversion Table. He doesn't hang completely upside down, thankfully!



 





 

 



Another grandson on his way!

 

 

 

Now, we're told this is a picture of our newest grandson who is scheduled to arrive around June 20th in Gainesville, FL. I will take their word as I can't make out a baby let alone boy or girl... No matter what, we are so excited to welcome our 4th grandchild into the family.

 

Our little Lion is going to be a big brother already [he turned 1 November 9th]!



 

TM has gone back to work [as of Wednesday] after his November 7th heart attack and two stents (99% blockages in two arteries). He says he was getting way too used to not going to work and knows he can 'handle' retirement in a year. We are both so thankful for all our health blessings as I just had two skin biopsies last week that came back fine.

 

When I finish school in May, I will begin the downsizing process in the house. As some of you have said, "Where, and why, did we get all this STUFF?" Geez...

 

I'm getting antsy for the first warm enough day to get the bikes out. Looks like that is a few weeks away still. We really haven't had any snow to talk about; we missed one day of school right before Christmas [knock on wood]. It has been cold and windy a few times, but overall a 'mild' Illinois winter.

 

Hope you're having a fun Super Bowl Day. TM just came in from work and turned the TV on. I've been grading papers, so had it off thinking I would concentrate better. All bets are off now on that task! 

 

I must give our grandchildren in Sarasota 'blog time', too. The following photo is of them enjoying an afternoon at Siesta Key beach in January...sigh!

 





 

Remember to scatter kindness!



2013 is here!

Hey, we made it through 2012...wa hoo to all! TM and I welcome 2013 and the adventures it shall bring. We 'celebrated' at home - just the two of us - last night [and loved it]. Our party days are way behind us; we like quiet times now!

Christmas was equally quiet for us as we enjoyed staying home. My family doesn't 'get together' during Christmas as each sibling's immediate families have their family time. TM's sons and families are in Florida, and we did not go down this year as TM is still recuperating from his heart attack. He is doing well!!!!

I am sharing a photo of our Sarasota, FL grandson and his new puppy, Otis, taken by his mom early Christmas morning. There is nothing sweeter than a kid and a puppy, unless it's a sleeping kid {which he obviously is not sleeping - what a little faker} and his sleeping puppy.

 

 

 

We are enjoying reading your blogs! Thank you for sharing, and TM and I wish you many blessings in 2013.

 

Remember to scatter kindness!

 

 





Grandma, I tried cooking mustard greens...

 

 

The photo above is my "Poppa" and Grandma [paternal side]. Salt of the earth, hard-working, proud Kentuckians who moved to Illinois when my daddy was 19. Poppa brought his family 'north' to find work. If not for that, my parents would never have met...but that is not what this post is about.

 

Grandma and Poppa always had a large garden, and that was their primary source of food all year long. They had loads of fresh produce in the summer and early fall, and in the winter they enjoyed what Grandma had canned. Grandma wasn't one to tolerate 'foolishness' in her kitchen, so if I was there my chores to help her were minimal - such as washing potatoes or getting out the bread and butter, setting the table, etc. She was the cook, as was my mother in my home growing up. Of course, Grandma and Poppa always had greens of some type, and I loved to eat them. Poppa showed me how to put vinegar and hot sauce and some butter on them to spice them up. I adored Grandma's greens and always looked forward to them. (She also made one dee-lish lemon meringue pie!!!)

 

Fast forward to yesterday. As stated a few days ago, a change in TM and my eating habits are in order! So, I thought cooking some mustard greens, fresh from the produce section, would be a tasty, healthy treat. Yes, we have eaten them from a can, but I want more fresh produce from now on - processed food is off our radar for now. Well, I sauteed an onion, threw in some red cabbage and low salt chicken broth along with several spices and then the greens. I cooked them for approximately 20 minutes. Apparently that was not long enough... they were still a little bitter. They sure did not taste like my momma's or my Grandma's used to. Next time, I will cook them longer and hopefully have better luck. Of course TM said they were fine; he is too sweet. All I can say is, "Grandma, I tried cooking mustard greens..."

 

Oh, taking trips down memory lane, especially connected with good food, can be cleansing for the soul. Thank you Poppa and Grandma for being the people you were!

 

Remember to scatter kindness...