leder legends

Things that make me smile at this time of the year! This child's happy face! Memories of crazy trips. How close the apple grows! These two!

Adjectives   --yes...adjectives According my internet source-- An adjective is a word used to modify or describe a noun or pronoun. They are always near the noun or pronoun they are describing. Adjectives are often overused and add little to a sentence. While I agree with the definition, I disagree that they add little to the sentence. I get very terse replies to emails and text messages particularly from younger people. They don't use emojis (well, they might, but they are way too small!!), they don't elaborate, and they make you feel like you are being nosy.   I could go on. Pure frustration! I'm to the point where I don't want to try and communicate via the written word- on the phone. I guess that's what I'll do. No more texts and/or emails. Just phone calls! So answer the phone people!! Example: I spend precious time putting together an interesting box to send to my wonderful children and beautiful grandchildren. I have to ask annoying ...

Sleep I read an article yesterday and another this morning, both emphasizing the need for the correct amount of sleep for a person my age.   The major reason for this, is to delay the possible onset of Alzheimer’s disease.  There’s no hope for me...I guess! Last night I slept for two hours and then woke up as if it were morning.  I picked up a novel and started reading.  Unfortunately it was a good book lol.  Of course, when I did try, I could not sleep.  I got up. I finally slept from 6 to 7:30.  Definitely not enough! It’s been a lazy day! I sorted cards, mailed 10, took a nap, watched food network, made a few phone calls and set an agenda for a meeting tonight.  Oh, I also checked my yard hoping for some signs of spring. 

I RETIRED ALMOST 5 YEARS AGO It seems so long ago that I came home from Calvin with boxes of "stuff" from my office.  Those boxes have languished in the basement...ignored and forgotten until this week.  I decided to go through them and see if I still wanted any of that "stuff".  The answer was NO.  The  recycle bin is full and the boxes are empty.  The only thing I'm a bit sad about is getting rid of my collection of Spanish kids books.  It was fun collecting those over the years. I'm donating them to where they can be used more than where there were in the boxes in my basement.  Stuff is just that --STUFF.  I am glad it's done but again was surprised how long it took to sort and empty 8 boxes.

A while back I posted a picture of the tulips and daffodils popping up in the garden.  I was so hopeful!  But it's Michigan! Snow and cold weather has been the forecast for the last weeks with more to come.   You would think we'd remember but we don't and our hopes of an early spring are dashed every year.  The wind has been exceptionally strong making me want and prefer to stay indoors. The tulips and daffodils don't seem to mind as much as I do. Thankfully!

I'm going to do this more often...(like we used to).  Company is coming so the house gets cleaned, the food gets prepped and we get to enjoy an evening with friends. These guys graduated from Calvin Seminary together 45 years ago. The LBBJ guys (LBJ was around lol) Three of them ended up teaching at Calvin Seminary years later.  One was a career pastor in Canada.  All are retired and much more relaxed nowadays. To get back to my point...having company has another great perk.  The day after, the house is still clean,  there are lots of leftovers and I love it!!! Arie bought some Spanish brandy and we started with carajillos. A carajillo is a Spanish drink combining coffee with brandy, whisky, anisette, or rum. It is typical of Spain and according to folk etymology, its origin dates to the times when Cuba was a Spanish province. (Wikipedia) Caprese salad skewers  with a fabulous balsamic reduction,  paté, fruit, cheeses, chutney, brea...

This boy LOVES being outside. He doesn't talk so he takes you by the hand and leads you to the back door.  Arie finally went out with him.  This is an earlier picture taken in his backyard!