Raspberries & Reunion

We found a wonderful patch of wild raspberries on the back of our property. So far we have picked about 12 quarts. The picture to the left is some of our pick as well as my hubby's arm all scratched up! Ouch! You can also see his purple fingers. That does wash off. While I was gone to my class reunion, my hubby made raspberry jam -- can you believe it! He's very handy in the kitchen.

Soon we will be picking wild blackberries that are on the front of our property. Can we say blackberry cobbler? I need to look up some other recipes to use with these two fruits. Muffins, breads, ice cream toppings, etc.

My class reunion went very well. We had 50-60 people there and I was surprised how many people I did remember. We had classmates come in from New Mexico, Kansas, Illinois and Texas. Most there though were from our hometown. My best friend from elementary and high school was there and we had lost touch -- so it was really great to catch up with her and hopefully we will remain in contact. We did exchange e-mail addresses. Thank God for technology!

Class Reunion

My class reunion is this weekend. The last one I went to was 20 years ago. I haven't contacted any of my past friends to see if they will be there -- I'm just walking in cold. Hopefully I will recognize someone that I know! I left my hometown when I went to college and didn't return to live there. I go back to visit with my parents and other relatives but don't run into classmates very often. My mom keeps me updated from time to time on this one and that one ... but mostly I haven't been connected very much since graduation.

In case you can't guess, this is my 30th class reunion (did I say that!). Unbelievable. Will some of us have gray hair, bald, be grandparents, be retired, have small children (possible but OMG), have teenagers, be empty nested? I'm sure most or all of these things someone will be. I'm just hoping to reconnect with some past friends and be reminded of fun times from the halls of SHS.

Saturday Sales

Saturday sales brought many interesting finds. I bought the vase to the left and for 75 cents and bought begonias for 99 cents and now will add this to my flower garden. The Adirondack chair in the background was also bought at a garage sale and is sitting on my front porch.

The bowl to the right is really cute and will be used for M&Ms or dips. This was $1.

The cute outfit below is for my granddaughter. I thought it was really cute and in great condition. Sometimes babies don't wear their new clothes very long. I believe this outfit was $2. Can't beat that!

There were several other finds, but these were my favorites. I brought home some children's books and a jack-in-the-box. I noticed the toy when a little girl was winding it over and over again and jack popped his head out repeatedly! At least I knew it worked before I bought it.

We have beautiful weather here today. I've been working outside in my flower garden and am now getting ready to help my husband tile our back bathroom floor.

Always projects around our house!

Flood

Water everywhere. My son is living in Waterloo/Cedar Falls Iowa this summer working for John Deere. He has been helping with sandbagging and today he worked at a Food Pantry. There are a lot of sad stories to be told in Iowa, Illinois, Indiana and Missouri.

His only difficulty has been getting to work. He drives twice as far to get there, by the time he drives around the flooded areas.

Hopefully, the rains let up and everything calms down and allows people to get back into their homes. We're hoping to go visit with him over the 4th of July -- hopefully we won't have to take a boat to get there!

Find

Great find at a garage sale - $8. I saw it and just had to have it. I hung it in my entryway. Now I need something for the adjacent wall that will compliment it. I'm thinking about a wrought iron shelf with some black lanterns hanging above the shelf. Add some greenery around the shelf and a candle or some Willow Tree angels.

The picture is from France. Beautiful countryside with vibrant colors. I also really like the frame.

A couple friends and myself are holding our own garage sale this weekend. Maybe I will make enough to buy some of the items I mentioned above!

Wedding

So as I was saying on my last blog, I flew from Pensacola Florida to Kansas City for my SIL's sister's wedding. My mission, should I choose to accept it (which I did) was to take care of Cora while her mom did her bridesmaid duties and her dad did all the music for the wedding including DJing at the reception. The bride was beautiful and the wedding went off without a hitch.

The picture to the right is Cora before I put on her dress for the wedding. We waited to do that at the very last minute.

It was a long day for me because I had to get up at 3 a.m. to get to my flight and to fly into KC by noon. The wedding was at 6:30 p.m. and I left the reception at about 11 p.m. My head was starting to feel a little fuzzy -- luckily by then my daughter was taking care of Cora!

The picture to the left is my beautiful girls.

Cora and family have been very busy for the past month. This week they are vacationing in Nashville and then the Great Smoky Mountains. Check out my daughter's blog to read about their adventures. Their blog is called "Continue the Conversation".

Beach Bum Returns

My husband and I were chaperone's for our church's Senior High School Class graduation trip. We first stopped in Memphis for lunch and then New Orleans. We visited the French Quarters area. The St. Louis Cathedral to the left is beautiful.

We spent the majority of the week at Ft. Morgan, Alabama in a beach home right next to the Gulf. Walk out the back door and there is the wonderful ocean.

While on vacation I read "Running With Scissors" from Augusten Burroughs and "Tuesdays With Morrie" from Mitch Albom. I really recommend "Tuesdays with Morrie". It was a very inspirational read and I think I will reread sometime soon and highlight parts. I'm a little behind on these books because I know they have been out for awhile, so many of you have already read them -- do you recommend either of these author's newer books?

I loved listening to the waves, looking for shells, digging in the sand and watching dolphins swimming by not far from the shore. I'm an ocean girl and could definitely live on a beach full time. As soon as I returned to Missouri I picked up my sinus problems and didn't feel any of this once in Alabama. I think I medically need to live at the Gulf Shores -- I'll work on my presentation of this information to my husband. He might give me the same speech for living in the upper Northeast or Alaska! That would definitely be too far to commute to see each other.

At the end of the week, I flew back to Kansas City for a wedding. Some pictures from that fun day will be posted soon.