Thursday Thoughts ~The Days Seem Long ~The Weeks Go Fast

Every Day is the same, but my routine feels safe.

For that I am Thankful.

Hubby has mastered the art of preparing our Weekend Brunch...

Perfect Over Easy Egg on Toast, Hash Browns, and Bacon.

And it is now Peak Season for many types of Fresh Fruit.

These Cherries are juicy and delicious.

None of us know if our communities

will host a Winter Arts Festival, so

I have been busy taking photos and listing

our creations in my Tins and Treasures Etsy Shop. 

This week we enjoyed one of our Go-To meals...

Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta.

It also involves mushrooms, red pepper, and green onions.

It fast and easy to prepare and so very tasty.

Hubby enjoys spending time in his wood shop after

a day at the office working with Unemployment.

This is just one of his hand turned bottle openers that is available

for purchase. It would be the perfect stocking stuffer

for your favorite bartender.

Remember if you are a local friend, you can contact me

to make arrangements and we can bypass the Shipping Charges on Etsy.

Stay Safe and Well.

Take care,

~Natalie

When Great Grandma Turns Ninety One

You might remember that last year we had a Party

for Great Grandma’s Milestone 90th Birthday.

However, I’d say that now, every birthday we celebrate

with her is a milestone!

Hubby’s sister invited us to her house for dinner.

She purchased Salmon, cause Great Grandma loves Salmon.

Hubby was in charge of preparing it on the grill.

The menu also included Rice, Salad, and Bread...

Along with our first Corn on the Cob of the season.

It was delicious.

For her gift, I found a cute basket and filled it

with some of her favorite consumable items.

After all, a Senior doesn’t really need

any more “stuff” for their house!

We included a bottle of Pino Grigio,

Harvest Wheat Crackers and Cheese,

Her favorite Sweet Snack Bars,

A Bunch of Grapes,

And Fresh Cut Flowers.

My Sister in Law gave her a roll of Stamps...

I think that is a genius idea for a

Senior Birthday Gift.

We topped off the evening

with a little cake and ice cream.

Happy Birthday.

Here’s to Many More!

Take care,

~Natalie

Our Little Red Wagon ~Fun in the Neighborhood ~Taking Helper Cat for a Ride

What’s just about as much fun

as riding the train at Storybook Land?

That’s right,

Taking Lizzie for a Ride in our Wagon.

There are two seats in the Wagon,

however Jack would rather walk than ride.

We put on a few miles around

our neighborhood.

I’m not sure who had the most fun here...

Jack, Papa, or Lizzie?

Now, she wants to know...

When can we go again?

Stay safe and well, everyone.

~Natalie

Fathers Day Blessings ~Love These Three Special Dads

My Hubby, Father our our Daughters.

Our family has always enjoyed spending a weekend

in the cities and a visit to Target Field for a Twins game.

This photo is from years ago, but still one of my favorites.

Of course, I miss my own Daddy a little more on Father’s Day.

This was my mother’s favorite photo of us.

She carried it in her wallet for years.

Our Son-in-Law

and Father of our Grandson...

Sending love and hugs to this special guy

across the miles on Father’s Day

and everyday!

Hug your Daddy a little tighter today.

Take care,

~Natalie

A Love Story That Started 74 Years Ago ~Happy Anniversary to my Parents in their Heavenly Home ~Here’s How they Celebrated their Special Day

 Today my parents are celebrating their

Wedding Anniversary in their Heavenly Home.

They were married 74 years ago,

after my dad came home from WWII.

He was a man of few words, however he wrote to her

frequently during the four years that he was gone.

I have those letters, tied with a ribbon

in my mom’s Hope Chest in

one of the bedrooms downstairs.

Along with this book of wedding mementos...

...such as this Newspaper Clipping

and handwritten story of their engagement.

You can see in their Wedding Photo that a bride of that time

often wore a nice suit instead of a long white gown.

It was practical, as they could wear it

for special events over and over again.

Plus those women grew up during the Depression

and were accustomed to making do with very little.

Also in that book of memories, is this photo of their first home,

this majestic old farmhouse. They lived here from that June day

until we moved during the Winter of 1970.

For their anniversary celebration, I picture my mother

spent the afternoon getting ready by setting her hair with rollers,

and sitting under the dryer while polishing her nails.

She would get dressed with her nylon stockings,

pencil skirt and jacket. Of course she wore heels.

My dad came in from working in the field.

He cleaned up and put on a suit and tie.

They would drive the 20 miles into Devils Lake to go to a nice restaurant.

My Dad would order the Ribs.

It would come with a finger bowl on the side.

If the band played Alley Cat, he would ask my mom to dance

and they would two-step around the dance floor.

One of the Bye girls would come to babysit me,

And when I got up the next morning,

I had the treat of eating a package of those fancy crackers

and playing with the little plastic sword that came in my mom’s beverage.

Sweet Memories.

Take care,

~Natalie

Where Great Grandma Grew Up ~Weekend Road Trip ~This Old Dog Struggles to Learn New Tricks

This is what social distancing looks like in the Dakotas...

not another car in sight!

 

It was a beautiful day for a drive out in the country.

Hubby got his big pickup ready for a little road trip.

We picked up his mother and headed northwest

to visit the little town where she grew up,

went to school, and met her sweetheart.

This was her childhood home.

Oh how we loved to hear her reminiscing

about the house, her family,

the neighbors, and the local businesses.

I was disappointed that we couldn’t find

the little country cemetery where her mother is buried.

Hubby suspects that it is underwater.

In fact, he had to use four-wheel drive

just to get us back to the road.

It was a beautiful day for an outing.

We spent the whole afternoon and evening looking around.

The perfect ending to our day was

a Twist Cone Turtle Sundae!

Take care,

~Natalie

Perhaps you are wondering what “new tricks” I am referring to?

Google apparently felt the need to update their Blogger App.

There have been plenty of kinks and glitches,

which explains why my posts have been few and far between. 

I know, I’ll be the first to admit,

it’s a challenge for this retired empty nester

to adjust to new technology.

Where the Weekend Went ~Good Friends..Good Food ~Work Hard..Play Hard ~God Bless America

It has been tradition for us to gather with these friends

on Memorial Day. This was Pre-Coronavirus,

before Social Distancing was a part of our lifestyle.

This year was a different holiday, indeed.

We spent most of our weekend working at home.

Hubby worked hard on the yard and planting our flower pots,

while I worked inside on the everyday house chores.

A hearty weekend breakfast of eggs and toast...

my personal favorite is the Over-Easy Egg.

This is one of the Wash Tubs that my mom and I

used on Laundry Day. We salvaged it from the Farmhouse.

The highlight of our Memorial Day was the

Taps Across America event.

Trumpet and Bugle players around the world

came out to their balcony or front porch and

played Taps to honor America’s fallen heroes.

Several of us drove over to their neighborhood

to listen to our friend, Dennis, play his trumpet on the front porch.

He performed with perfection.

Later in the afternoon we gathered at Alan and Kari’s home

for some good food and great conversation...

with the appropriate Social Distance observed.

It was a beautiful evening, so we could be out on the patio,

roasting some marshmallows, making S’Mores.

If you are still in need of a mask for your summer outings,

I have several available in a variety of colors and prints.

Memorial Day is a special holiday to remember

and pay tribute to those that serve and

to their families who have given the intimate sacrifice.

Stay Safe and Well, Everyone.

Take care,

~Natalie

Honoring Those Who Serve and Have Made the Ultimate Sacrifice for our Country

"As we express our gratitude, we must never

forget that the highest appreciation

is not to utter words but to live by them."

John F. Kennedy

Take care,

~Natalie

Monday Memories ~A Daily Walk to the Park ~Weather Permitting

Jack’s house is close to a Park.

We walked there often, if the Spring weather cooperated.

Here’s Jack with his Uncle Jake.

Running up and down the ramps was perhaps

Jack’s favorite thing to do.

There he goes again!

The slides are fun with assistance from Mama...

...even better with Mama and Aunty Emily,

one on each side.

Just a quick walk to the park makes for 

plenty of great memories.

Stay safe and well, everyone.

Take care,

~Natalie

Mother’s Day 2020 ~Here’s My Report ~We Celebrated Across the Miles

I am blessed to be Mother to these Special Young Women.

While they no longer live nearby,

they still found plenty of ways to help me feel the love!

On Friday, this lovely card arrived with a

heartfelt handwritten note from Amy and Nick inside.

Included in the envelope, this card from Jack for Nana Gigi...

Art Work, Spring Stickers, and his Hand traced on the back.

It is proudly hanging on our refrigerator,

and I smile every time I see it!

Thank you, Amy, Nick, and Jack.

After Hubby made brunch, we ventured out to the Garden Centers

to select the traditional Hanging Basket for Great Grandma.

Hubby also treated me to these pretty flowers

to cheer up our kitchen counter.

 Thank you, Honey.

In Saturday’s Mail this gift from Emily and Jake.

Each day features a quote and short story written by Hoda.

They are a quick read and perfect for my Morning Coffee Time.

We all need more inspiration to start our day.

Yet, another package arrived yesterday...

A glass water bottle with bamboo lid.

A good reminder to drink more water!

Thank you, Emily and Jake.

Like a couple of old Empty Nesters,

Hubby and I went for a Sunday Drive late in the afternoon...

Ending up at this familiar landmark in Aberdeen.

I have two favorites at Twist Cone.

This is the Mounds Sundae.

Next time, I’m ordering the Turtle Sundae.

Both are sinfully delicious.

Whether you live across the country, or just across town,

 there’s a chance your family probably didn’t celebrate

all together due to the quarantine.

I hope you enjoyed a little time chatting on FaceTime

or through the glass of your Picture Window.

Stay Safe and Well, Everyone.

Take care,

~Natalie