Friday Fotos....

Some women "treat" themselves by buying new shoes or jewelry. 

Me?  I buy plants for the garden.




Here are my latest purchases:

Spanish Lavender - 'Anouk'

                                 Lupine                                  Blueberry bush - 'Elliot'

The Englishman and I treated ourselves to a new tree - 

Vanderwolf's Pyramid Limber Pine

Stone Basset on the left, real one on the right.

The real ones are the reason for the miniature fencing!

Best photo ever?

This photo, taken by daughter #2, of her gorgeous daughters.

This captures their personalities perfectly!

The protective, loving Big Sister - the abundantly joyful 

Little Sister.

What a blessing they are in our lives!!

Wishing everyone a safe, peaceful weekend!

Thursday's Thought for the Day....

courtesy of Pinterest

Wednesday's Wisdom....

Watch this.

DANCE!

Then repeat.

As often as necessary.

I guarantee - you will feel fabulous when you are done!

I've learned I always feel better when I dance!

Even if I'm only moving around my kitchen floor.

Tip for a Tuesday....

Got milk?

In a concerted effort to eat healthy, the Englishman and I have been drinking skim milk for quite some time now.  Great, right? No fat and we even buy the organic version.

After watching a program about the amount of sugar in our everyday diets that most of us are unaware of, I started checking labels for sugar content also.

Did you know there is sugar in milk? 

The skim milk we purchase contains 12 grams of sugar per serving - 

that's roughly 3 teaspoons per cup.

I couldn't believe it!!

Daughter #1 recently purchased Silk Pure Almond and let me have a sample.

I was pleasantly surprised by the sweet, creamy taste.

And the best part?

NO SUGAR !!

So I'm making the switch, in order to keep my sugar intake in check.

I may have given up many different foods lately, but my daily dose of Cheerios and milk 

will not be one of them!

My tip?

Read food labels carefully - including SUGAR content!!!

A Memorial Day Memory....

Memorial Day 1965  

My mother and I - Girl Scout and Girl Scout Leader 

 Photos taken before setting off to march in the parade.

Memorial Day 2015

Granddaughter M - Daisy Scout  

Getting ready to march the exact same parade route 

as her Grandmom and Grandma the Great.

Friday Fotos....

"Through their deeds, the dead of battle have spoken more eloquently for themselves than any of the living ever could.  But we can only honor them by rededicating ourselves to the cause for which they gave a last full measure of devotion." ~ Abraham Lincoln

This is the front lawn of Southern Regional High School, Rt 9 in Manahawkin

Southern Regional High School and Middle School students honor the fallen from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars with its annual ”Field Of Flags”  for Memorial Day weekend.

Students and staff placed a 12” by 18” flag in front of the high school for each of the 6,847 veterans lost in the two conflicts. 

I passed by the school early this morning.  It is a very moving sight to see.

Wishing everyone a safe Memorial Day Weekend!

May each of us offer a prayer of thanks for those who gave their lives in service to our country. 

Thursday's Thought for the Day....

(Posted by Good Housekeeping on Facebook)

Tip for a Tuesday....

The Englishman and I watch the National Memorial Day concert every year.

The show is hosted by Gary Sinise and Joe Mantegna.

The Memorial Day Concert airs on PBS: 

Sunday - May 24th at  8 p.m. EDT / 7 p.m. CDT

"The 26th annual National Memorial Day Concert will feature uplifting musical performances, documentary footage, and dramatic readings that honor the military service  of all our men and women in uniform, their families at home, and those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. One of PBS’ highest-rated programs, the multi-award-winning television event has become an American tradition, featuring a star-studded lineup performing in tribute to all Americans who have sacrificed for our country.

The program will be co-hosted for the tenth year by Tony Award winner Joe Mantegna and Emmy Award winner Gary Sinise, two acclaimed actors dedicated to supporting veterans and troops.

The concert’s mission is to unite the country in remembrance and appreciation  of the fallen and to serve those who are grieving  Executive Producer Jerry Colbert says, “We think of the agony of the mother or father who lost a child, the spouses and children left behind, the people who are wounded in body and soul. And we do this memorial service to remember and reach out to them. We must remember their sacrifices and continue the mission set forth by Abraham Lincoln to ‘care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan.’”

I highly recommend it!!

Friday Fotos....

We are finally starting to see some progress in the back garden, despite the dramatic fluctuations in temperature and wind gusts.  Here's a sampling....

Tiny herb seeds starting to sprout!
(Will need to thin them out before planting outside.)

 Lilac bush just on the verge of blooming!









New River Birch tree in the far left corner is settling in nicely!

 How cute is this guy?







The Englishman's "Spitfire" looks like it's ready to take flight!

I just love bunnies!

Herb plants, lettuces and tomatoes - so far, so good...

Wishing everyone a peaceful weekend - 

hope you get to spend it with the people you love. 

Thursday's Thought for the Day....

That'll Do

A kind and steady heart can make a gray sky blue

And a task that seems impossible is quite possible for you

A kind and steady heart is sure to see you through

It may not seem like very much right now, it'll do, it'll do

When you find yourself in the middle of a storm

And you're tired and cold and wet

And you're looking for a place that's cozy and warm

You'll make it, you can never forget

A kind and steady heart can conquer doubt and fear

A little courage goes a long, long way

Gets you a little bit farther down the road each day

And before you know it, you'll hear someone say

"That'll do, Babe, that'll do"

A kind and steady heart is sure to see you through

A little courage goes a long, long way

Gets you a little bit farther down the road each day

And before you know it, you'll hear someone say

"That'll do, that'll do, that'll do, Babe, that'll do"

Lyrics by Randy Newman

My girls and I used to listen to Kenny Loggins sing this song.

It's wonderfully reassuring and true -

I truly believe that a kind and steady heart will always see you through!

Friday Fotos....

(This is a quote from the television series "Blue Bloods" on CBS, Friday evenings.

I highly recommend it!!)

Just wanted to share this today, as the NYPD lay to rest one of their own, Brian Moore.

Such a tragic and senseless loss, of an incredible young man.

BLUE LIVES MATTER, TOO.

Wishing all Mothers - 

whether here with us or watching over us from Heaven - 

a beautiful, peaceful Mother's Day!

Truth is, without them, none of us would be here!!

May God bless us all!

Thursday's Thought for the Day....

"Truth be told, happiness is not the absence of problems, 

but the ability to deal with them." 

~ Marc Chernoff

"8 Things to Remember When Everything Goes Wrong"

Wednesday's Wisdom....

(Someone reposted this on Facebook this morning. I'm afraid I can't remember who.)

I needed to be reminded of this by someone I love dearly this morning.

Because it's so true - worrying steals precious moments of joy and peace.

And changes nothing.