The Last Day of June ~Here’s my Report ~What happened to the Month

June was a month full of family, friends,

fun, and celebrations.

It was a beautiful evening for the first 

Downtown Association Summer Outdoor Concert.

The night is even better when we find good friends on the Plaza.

Thank you, Mayor Schaunaman, for sharing this photo of the view from above.

We look forward to another concert this Thursday.

Another “date” took us out to the Theatre to see our Community Production

of “Come From Away”

This year we celebrate the 100th Birthday of

our historic Capitol Theatre.

I caught up with this good friend at our Summer Arts Festival.

We both taught at CHS and 

I loved when my classroom was right next door to hers.

 We could just step out in the hall, make eye contact, 

and know what the other person was thinking. 

We look forward to dinner with these friends once a week.

We often go out, but when it’s nice, it’s fun to put something on the grill.

This time it was Baby Back Ribs.

And you can’t have BBQ Ribs without Mac & Cheese,

Cole Slaw, and Cornbread.

Thank you, Wendy, for bringing half the sides.

One of my June highlights is was a a visit from Lorie.

We started teaching together in 1979 and have been best friends ever since.

She and her hubby have moved to live closer to grandchildren,

but when we do see each other it’s like we haven’t missed a heartbeat.

Another highlight was a visit from one of my college friends.

We both majored in Textiles, Clothing, and Fashion.

We arranged our schedules and registered so we had our classes

together and could be lab partners.

Last, but certainly not least, was spending this past weekend

with my High School Bestie.

We met in the third grade and have been friends ever since,

despite not living near each other.

We were bridesmaids in each other’s weddings.

This year we celebrated her and John’s 50th Anniversary…

And our 45th.

So, to review,

We kicked off the month by celebrating Memorial Day

with daughter and grandsons.

We celebrated both our anniversaries with these special friends.

The family celebrated our little Princess when she turned four.

I enjoyed a birthday lunch with this special friend.

Good Food and Great Conversation.

“How did we get to be this age?”

This post would not be complete without including this guy

who has been by my side for better and worse,

 in sickness and health, and through thick and thin. 

We are Blessed.

Take care,

~Natalie

What Turning Seventy Looks Like

This is what Seventy looks like…

…and this is what Sixty looked like.

Where did those ten years go??

My 70th Birthday Celebration started like every other day…

Morning Inspiration, Messages, Physical Therapy, and Breakfast.

Then Hubby took me out and about to WalMart,

where the Self-Checkout Attendant sang Happy Birthday to me.

Fresh-cut Flowers always brighten my day,

a gift from our daughter and her family.

Thank you, Emily.

We enjoyed lunch at one of our favorite places.

Hubby grilled a PorkTenderloin for our dinner.

Summertime Dinner-Prep is my favorite,

as hubby grills the protein while I prepare the sides.

We tried a new recipe…

I’ll post the link in the comments.

I’m loving these green blossoms that look like buttons.

I also love friendly mail.

These cards came from good friends across the miles.

It’s not a Birthday Party without a Cake, right?

My traditional (and favorite) is a 

German Chocolate Cake.

My mother baked one, from scratch, every single day year…

Until I got married.

And when one marries a man that doesn’t like coconut,

The next best choice is a Turtle Cake.

It was a Sweet Ending to a great Celebration.

Take care,

~Natalie

Welcome Summer ~Happy Fathers Day ~Birthday Hugs to our Granddaughter

Happy Summer Solace, Everyone.

I love this season of warm sunshine, outdoor activities,

and dinner prepared on the grill.

Happy Fathers Day to my Hubby.

He’s already enjoyed FaceTime Calls from both daughters…

…and all four grandchildren.

I cherish the memories I have with my Daddy.

Apparently I liked the way the electric razor felt on my face.

When my dad was done shaving, he’d put the cover back on the razor

 and tickle my cheeks and chin.

This little princess is celebrating her birthday today.

First thing she said to us was “I’m four”!

Best wishes for a wonderful start to the Summer Season.

Soak up some sunshine and celebrate the people that you love.

Take care,

~Natalie 

An Anniversary in Heaven

It has been Eighty years since my parents said “I do”

Here’s the story of their engagement on Thanksgiving Eve in 1945.

It sounds like a page right out of an old romance novel.

They honeymooned in Winnipeg.

So it was fitting that we did, too…35 years later.

My mom was a teacher and my dad had just come home

 from the war and was farming.

This was their home from 1946 until 1970.

It was a magnificent home, back in those days.

You notice that my mother didn’t wear a long white gown.

In those days, the bride wore a nice suit,

that she could use again for special occasions.

I still have that beautiful Pearl chocker.

Today, they celebrate their love story in heaven.

Cherish your family’s sweet memories.

Take care,

~Natalie

Happy Flag Day ~Happy Heavenly Birthday to My Grandmother ~Happy Birthday to My Blog

June 14th has given us plenty of reasons to celebrate.

My Grandmother Hilda was proud to share her

Birthday with Flag Day.

So, first thing in the morning, I proudly display our flags

in the flower pots along the front of our house.

The Continental Congress approved the Stars and Stripes as the first

National Flag of the United States of America on this date in 1777.

Philadelphia seamstress Betsy Ross is credited with sewing the first flag.

 According to family legend, she was approached by George Washington

and two other Founding Fathers in 1776 to create the flag.

“This flag, which we honor and under which we serve,

is the emblem of our unity, our power our thought and purpose as a nation.”

President Woodrow Wilson

My Grandmother, Hilda Natalie,

would have turned 133 years old today.

Yes, my parents named me after my Maternal Grandmother.

Here’s Grandma Hilda with her nine Children, all who

have died and been reunited in heaven.

This photo is truly precious,

Grandma had a tough life, raising those nine kids

on her own through the depression.

She was an inspiration…

…and the thoughts behind my very first Blog post,

Eighteen years ago.

I grew up on a farm, and my mother and I went into town every

single day to get our mail from our post office Box.

And every single day we stopped at Grandma’s house

to see how she was doing.

Every single day, there were home baked goodies cooling on the kitchen table.

Two of my favorites were her Banana Cream Pie

and her Molasses Cry Baby Cookies.

And then, on her Dining Room Table,

Quilt pieces, all carefully cut, laid out in a pattern,

and waiting for her hand stitching to hold them all together.

Sweet Memories, indeed.

Take care,

~Natalie