Judy Green's birthday!

We love to celebrate birthdays! Of course, mostly it involves eating somewhere, which, of course, we also love to do. Here are some pictures of our recent celebration of our friend Judy Green's birthday dinner. Unfortunately, my camera and I were not good friends that day, either, and I'm afraid the picture with Tracey acting like a goofball is the one that turned out the best - go figure! Here's to another wonderful year, Judy Green!

Blueberry muffins!

Recently my niece, Maria, came over to help me make blueberry muffins (that's what she always wants to do when she's over). This time she also wanted to learn to knit. So here's a few pieces of photo documentation of what was happening that day. For some reason (probably operator error), the pictures are fuzzy. I'm really trying to be electronic savvy, but it's difficult these days!

Maria wanted to wear an apron - you can never be too careful when baking, you know!

So we dug out my Christmas penguin one - she likes mighty fine in that apron!

 The best part, of course, is licking the bowl!

Here's a few of the mini blueberry muffins we made for her to take home to the family!

Then, of course, we needed to take a rest and watch some tv - one of the most important parts of baking!

Then we did some knitting. When I took Maria back home, she said, "Aunt Debbie, I feel older now". When I asked her why she responded with, "because now I know how to knit"!

Time...it's slipping, slipping, ....

We're approaching my favorite time of the year...again...already...didn't I just say that a few days ago? I can hardly believe how quickly this year has gone. It seems my list of things to do always gets longer instead of shorter each day. I try to make a conscious effort to be present in the happenings of my days, and enjoy each day as a gift, but it seems all too easy to put myself on "auto-pilot" and not really focus and pay attention to the things going on around me (right now a bunch of you are laughing as you remember how you've waved or honked at me as we've passed each other on the road at one time or another and I totally didn't even see you!). But seriously, how many times have you not even noticed things around you? While standing in the checkout lane, while waiting for your bus, while waiting to be seated at a restaurant? Those of you who have smart phones probably feel exempt from that list, because we all know you were productively multi-tasking with those little black boxes, so you have an excuse for never looking up or talking to us, let alone looking us in the eye during conversations - don't let me get started on that rudeness! My point is, one day we wake up and realize some things: I'm actually the age that I think in my mind my mom and her sisters are; my children are way older than I think they are; I have 2 grandchildren; my eyes are getting horrible - oh, that last one is true, but not really pertinent to this point. Time flies - especially as we get older. I used to think people who said that were loopy, but now I understand what they meant. Hold on to each person you love. Tell them you love them. Don't wait til tomorrow - we don't know if we'll have tomorrow. Kiss and hug your children. Squeeze your grandchildren tight. Tell your friends how important they are in your life. When someone is kind to you out in this big ol' scarey world, tell them thank you. Don't just assume people know how you feel about them. That's my advice on this rainy Saturday morning. Make sure today you reach out and contact someone you care about or appreciate and let them know how you feel. As for my favorite time of the year...well, we'll discuss that tomorrow! Can't wait!

Meteor Shower

I so wanted to see it - the meteor shower. However, as is often the case in my middle aged life now, it didn't happen. Oh, I went out there. First out to the front yard - beautiful night (I looked Saturday night), about midnight - stars were bright - sky was beautiful. Didn't see anything, so after about 2 minutes tops, I went into the house and out the side slider and sat on the patio, intending to wait the suggested hour to see something. Well, you guessed it! After a few minutes, I was snoring in my chair! I was in bed by midnight fifteen, and no awesome sky show did I see! My spirit was willing, but my flesh was weakened by this new found, (menopause induced, I suspect), love for sleep! When I was younger, I slept much less. When I was in college, I slept about 2 hours a night and functioned well. When my children were babies, I hardly slept a good deep sleep at all, always keeping one ear open in case they cried. As my kids aged, we were up and at 'em early for hockey practice, school functions, on and on and on. Then when they were teenagers, I couldn't possibly fall asleep before I knew they were safe and sound at home with me. So I guess maybe I'm catching up. Now I live alone and have only my schedule to dictate when and how long I sleep, and I find that I LOVE to sleep. Couple that with the fact that sleeping is not frustrating for me as it is for some of my friends. What I mean by that is, I've always been able to fall asleep easily and quickly and stay asleep. My head hits the pillow, I'm out. It's a good thing, really.

So I hope some of you had more gumption than I and got to see firsthand, the beautiful display in our sky this past weekend. I congratulate you, and I'm just a tad jealous.

My Biggest Apologies!

Did you think I'd forgotten you? Never! I just have been swamped, and, as you know, my life is not so exciting that I think you want to know all my mundane details. But alot has happened since we last met! It's been long enough that Google has changed this blog site again, so I'm hoping this posts. Why they feel as if changing everything is always for the better, I'll never know! Wow! Did that just sound like the spirit of my grandma Gardner just entered me or what? lol!

Anyway, you already know I have a handsome little grandson named Spencer, who just turned 6 months old. Now I have a beautiful little granddaughter named Ellie, who was born last Monday, making her about 10 days old! How fun it is to have these little ones in my life, and how wonderful to see my children grow up and have happy lives. We've been through alot, me and my little ones, so it does this momma's heart good to see such joy in their lives. 

Also, big changes for my business. Tanner and I opened a place in East Peoria, just off Pinecrest; I'm doing massages at the Emden Hair Salon one day a week; and I'm doing massages in my home part time. It's all fun, but makes for a terribly packed schedule until everything gets working like a well oiled machine! I am in the process of moving all the furniture around in my house, so these first few appointments will have to overlook the decor - next time you come in, it will be better, I promise! 

Tomorrow my son, Barry, turns 30. I cannot believe it! I'll see if I can get my laptop to cooperate and I'll try to post a picture and a little "bio" of him tomorrow - a shout out, if you will - to these past 30 years!

It's June!

Sorry it's been so long since I've posted - partly because I've been overly busy for an old woman, partly because there's not much interesting to report, and partly because they (whoever "they" is) have changed the whole set up of this blogging again, and I haven't had time to figure it out - lol! It really is odd becoming the "older" one! Anyway, my days are a flurry now of work - lots changing there, and some still up in the air. Tanner and I have opened a place in East Peoria, and I am spending one day working in Emden. I'm still located on Route 9 also, for now. Things are changing there, too, so I am forging ahead to make alternate location plans. As for why else I'm so busy? Well, I'm anticipating the arrival of my second grandchild next month, I'm living alone (for the first time in my life) and trying to re-arrange the entire house, trying to assist with my first grandchild, and helping with the cystic fibrosis fundraiser that is happening next month. Time just seems to fly, as you all know, and soon each day is over. I am also hosting a drumming "open house" this Saturday at my house from 1-4 and you are all welcome. There will be lots of drums and shakers, so don't worry if you don't have one to bring. Come when you can, leave when you have to - pick up a drum or shaker and join the drumming already in progress. It'll be great fun - hope you can stop by.

Catch up!

Well, you can already guess, eh? It's been so incredibly hectic around here, and yes, the blog site has changed everything, so I actually have to think when I get ready to post - it's not so automatic like it used to be. Anyway, here's a quick run down of my activities since I last spoke with you. I'm sure some will have to be expanded into their own post at some time, so I can give you my detailed opinion on that happening, and maybe, just maybe, a picture or two if I can figure that part out. Ok, here goes.

I moved some of my stuff over to Emden for my new massage business over there. I attended a Mary Kay party where I, unfortunately, was given information about eyelash mites - yuk - which I subsequently googled - even yukkier! I got the oil changed in my car (you should be really proud of me on that one because I NEVER hardly EVER get that done!) We had an open house at the Emden Salon, where I did free chair massages, then stopped by the Horses Healing Veterans fundraiser that evening. I attended my daughter-in-law's baby shower, looked at the place we're opening in East Peoria, worked, did chair massages, did free chair massages at Single Mom's Morning Out in Peoria, worked, printed, organized all this stuff to open 3 salons and close the one we're in - whew! Attended drum circle and went on a quick day trip to St. Louis to a couple of may fave stores in the whole wide world. Wow! In between all that, I worked, got to see and/or babysit Spencer a few times, and had a few major meltdowns. We're also planning a fundraiser for the cystic fibrosis foundation. Tanner's in the process of moving out, and Tyler's moving out the 25th of this month, so for the first time in my whole entire life, I'll be living alone - of course, unless something else happens in the meantime! That opens up it's own emotional can of worms, believe you me! lol! What's that? You're requesting photo documentation? Ok, I'll see what I can do. You know, my laptop is so old that facebook won't let me upload pictures anymore and my desktop is broken and her parts have been donated to fix someone else's computer, so it's "iffy"! Oh! I forgot to include that I'm also reading 2 fabulous books - 1 is "Let it Go" by T.D. Jakes on forgiveness, and the other is "The Magic" by Rhonda Byrne. Changing my life....literally, I'm not even kidding!

Marilea and Tracey at The Cheesecake Factory, St. Louis 

Marilea and Karen at the gas station in Litchfield

Tracey pumping gas in her beautiful red car and, apparently, sticking her tongue out at the photographer! 

Marilea at the gas station in Litchfield

Vicky and her girls at Brittany's baby shower 

Brittany and Carlie at the shower

Brittany opening gifts at the shower

Maria and Spencer at the shower

The shower 

Spencer and Aliza at the shower

Spencer and Uncle Barry at the shower

Emden Salon open house

Emden Salon open house

Emden Salon open house

Emden Salon open house

Well, I hope you feel a little more a part of my happenings! I'll try to keep you better informed in the future! Enjoy the beautiful day out today. It's your life - go make something beautiful of it!