A Drop in the Toilet...

We have been in Tucson, Arizona since Monday.  Just before leaving our home, I dropped my new smart phone in the toilet.  I had it in my back pocket... I will NEVER make that mistake again...

So I delayed us leaving because I took the phone apart and dried as much as I could with my hair dryer on cool...then I packed it in a bag of rice (to soak up the moisture) and took it in the car with us.  I held it on my lap so the sun would bake it...

Called Verizon...because I have insurance, only to discover my co-pay to replace my phone will be $99!!!  I thought it would be $50 max.  I am so canceling my ins...what a rip.  When I got the cell phone it was less than $99.

I was able to dry out the phone so I can call, get calls, text and get texts...but I don't think my navigation is working or the short cut bar on the home page of my cell phone screen...I will need a new one...

Been going around all week without a cell phone...and I have to say, I have kind of enjoyed it.

We have one more day with our friends, then we leave early Saturday morning for Thousand Oaks, CA.  We should be back home on Monday.

We have been having THE BEST TIME with our friends... my girlfriend and I have been friends for 43 years.  We've met some of their friends and have just been having the most fun!

More later...hugs to all of you...

A Demonstration of the Power of a Mother's Love...

There is no explanation necessary...you will not be sorry you watched this video...it may even change your life...

Random Acts of Kindness...

Two days ago, we learned my husband's ex-wife died.  Her funeral will be Sunday, October 2nd in Thousand Oaks, CA.  She was a wonderful, loving and giving woman.  She and I became friends and I cannot believe at 68, she is gone...

We leave Monday for Tucson to visit good friends of ours.  We have really been looking forward to this trip.  We will spend five days with our friends, then leave the 1st of October, and drive from Tucson, Arizona to Thousand Oaks.  We will stay with one of my husband's best friends, who live there, and attend the funeral on Sunday.  We should be home on Monday...

In her honor, I intend to do random acts of kindness for 68 days.  She was a daughter, a sister, a mother, a step mother to three little boys, a grand mother, a friend to many, a caregiver, a registered nurse and always, always, always, thought of others first. She was a gifted woman with many talents in flower arranging, sewing, decorating, gardening, crafts, cooking and making a house into a beautiful home.  She loved to shop at Coldwater Creek, taking pride in her appearance. She looked so stylish each time I saw her.

Her family was her pride and joy.  When we were together, her face would light up as we shared stories of our mutual grand children. She loved to laugh, looking for the humor in everything...She enjoyed making special gifts for the grand kids and always remembered each of their birthdays. She loved animals and the elderly. She volunteered her time to help the elderly who were unable to pay for the excellent care she gave so generously.

She was a survivor and a warrior.  She fought hard times and huge emotional challenges. I have tremendous admiration and respect for her...

Rest in peace dear friend...you were loved and you will be remembered.

Magpie #82: Be Gone

The Revenant 1949 by Andrew Wyeth

Photo suggested by Tess Kincaid

Challenge and hostessed by Magpie Tales

He still comes to me

in my dreams

beckoning me

with his ruffled collar

knowing I would

always

smooth it down...

I don't know where he is

I stopped taking his calls

years ago...

I had to stop
the madness...

Yet he still finds me...

haunts me...

with his intensity...
"Come on baby...
I need you to calm me down..."

I needed to laugh

to dance

to explore...

He always wore white

but his thoughts 

were the deepest black...

I can't help you anymore...

be gone!

~dkb~

The Marine Has Landed...

I will taking a break for a couple of weeks.  My step-son joined the Marines and flew in today for a five day visit.  He was told to "be ready" any time between October and January to leave for boot camp. The first two weeks, he is not allowed any contact with the outside world.  After the two weeks, he can receive letters. 

We don't know if he will be here for Christmas so we want to enjoy our time with him before he leaves. He will celebrate his 21st birthday this April. If he has leave, he said he would want to come back to celebrate with us.

What a difference already.  He no longer eats "junk food" or carbs, soda, or chips.  The Marines require him to do PT twice a week and test once a month.  He works out six times per week "for his own preservation".  His spiky, stylish hair is all shaved to a "1".  He still looks so handsome...

The end of the week, we will all travel together to California to celebrate Jacob's first birthday. Jacob has four teeth on the top and four on the bottom now, cutting some other ones.  Still has peach fuzz on his head, but he walking! Where the heck did this past year go???

Six Word Saturday...

Six Word Saturday

from Pinterest

Never Be Afraid...

quote found on Pinterest

Remembering Precious Times...

painted by artist Joyce Sloan

This watercolor hangs in my guest bedroom. I bought it years ago because the two girls looked so much like my two daughters, Holly and Jodee.  Often, I look at it going back in time when the girls were young and I was filled with purpose. An abundance of determination to help them become all they wanted to be...

It was financially challenging being a single mom but I loved every minute raising my precious girls...

It's all I ever wanted to be was a good mother...

Now, I am blessed to be a grandmother... Holly has two sons and Jodee's son will be soon be one year old this month.  Both are devoted, loving moms...

Knowing my daughters are living this parental adventure with their spouses raising up their sons together

helping them become all they can be gives me a happy heart. 

Enlightenment...

Love the opportunity to learn...

embrace your mistakes.

~dkb~

Pinterest and Me....

As some of you may have noticed, I have not been blogging as regularly as I was... I would like to tell you I have been keeping my nose in the gym, doing the treadmill every day, learning to swim, and losing weight... alas, that is not what I have to report.  I have been working around the house, the yard, throwing out my back, you know, my normal routine... However....

I have discovered the world of Pinterest.  Many of you already know about it.  Typical of me...once I discover something I like, I throw myself into it totally.  If you look on my side bar, you will see a pic of "Pinterest takes me to my happy place".  You can click on it and see what I have been doing on Pinterest.

My original interest, was to find some cute quotes to use on my blog.  Not only did I find quotes, but such cute, original ones, I went a little bonkers.... At first I could not figure out how to pin and re-pin etc, so I saved images, quotes to my computer picture files.  After a short while, I was getting quite a collection...so I began to google and read how to use Pinterest, where I could use Pinterest to save my images and quotes (pinning them to my Pinterest boards) instead of taking up space on my computer.  Much better.

It's all my sister Holly's fault.  She is the one who kept sending me all the cute stuff she found on Pinterest.  I had never heard of it before... I went on Pinterest strictly as something to share with my dear sister... and the rest is history.

Needless to say, it has taken up all my free time.  I have to admit, it has motivated me to cook some new recipes, do a couple creative projects (I will post them later) and get me out searching for recycled items I have seen on Pinterest to make... so it has been a creative avenue...just one which has taken me off course with my blogging....

Eventually, what I learn and make on Pinterest I will share with all of you... until then, if you do go check out Pinterest... "Happy pinning!"  Everyone please have a fun, safe, Labor Day weekend!