Love my Daylilies

My front garden

Home alone

I don't do well sleeping alone...

Notice anything that seems just a bit out of place on my bedside table???

Yes, I'm a big scaredy-cat at night when I'm home alone

Doors are double locked

butcher knife at my bedside

bedroom door locked and,

Rick's bedside light stays on all night. 

It only happens once a year, that's when my guys leave for a 2 night fishing trip 

over Memorial Day weekend.

 I love that they go... but I'm so glad when they get home. 

Photo taken by Darin (orange shirt) Thanks Darin :)

 From foreground to rear, My dad, My hubby, my big brother, my little brother, my sister's hubby, my nephew, my niece's hubby, my oldest son, my youngest son, my youngest boy nephews.

~

While the guys were up north fishing, 

some of the girls got together on Saturday

(we don't all live in the same city) 

all 6 of us got our toes done!

Photo compliments of my sis-in-love Cindy, thanks cindy

Thank goodness for family and good memories 

It's Perfect

I finally found what I was looking for...

I've been looking for a fountain for my deck

just to have that gentle ambiance while I sit out in my favorite room.

Rick and I have been looking (since Mother's Day) but haven't had any luck,

 I really didn't even know what I was looking for

but I knew I wanted something a little different.

My sister told me about a table top fountain that

 she had bought for a gift

 I liked the sound of it

 I found it at Menard's....just like she said, and I LOVE IT !!!

It has a little LED light in the center of the fountain which illuminates 

the bubbling water as dusk sets in.

Home of the free ~ Because of the Brave

Rochester has a beautiful Veterans Memorial 

I thought it befitting to visit today...

the beginning of Memorial Day weekend.

A veteran stands before a group of onlookers, telling stories of the war

The Memorial Wall

honors over 2,000 service men and women form Southeast Minnesota

 who gave their lives in service to their country.

The Walk of Remembrance

is made up of about 6,000 pavers honoring US Veterans and our Allies for their service.

 ~

 the circular walls have majestic scenes etched into the granite

Remembering the medics and nurses 

God Bless the USA 

"And I'm proud to be an American, where at least I know I'm free. And I won't forget the men/women who died, who gave that right to me. And I'll proudly stand up next to you and defend her still today, 'cuz there ain't no doubt I love this land, god bless the USA." ~ Lee Greenwood

Little birdies

In the gutter under the deck....

 a mamma Robin decided to build a nest

and have a family.

Not sure where the 4th egg went but I have a pretty good feeling it had
 something to do with a nasty blackbird
 (or "grackle" as my husband would say)

Even though I know the nest is there,
every time I go around the house to do some watering I have a mild heart attack
when the mamma bird squawks and fly's right by my head. 

I'm pretty sure she's having a heart attack too.  

Love my girls

Us girls (last week) on Mother's day

4 Generations

Mothers and daughters are closest, 

when daughters become mothers. 

 ~Author Unknown

A daughter may outgrow your lap,

 but she will never outgrow your heart.  

I'm a lucky momma

Now if I could just get my boys go pose with me  :)

Jack Pot!

Did I mention that I will soon be the grandma of a little boy

That's gonna be a big change from the 3 yr old "Princess girl" Audrey

Pink and purple

Tiara's and jewels

Bows and hair clips

Dresses, tights and sparkly shoes

That's what little girls are made of

I had two boys of my own so I know that dressing boys can be fun as well!

Today on the way home from work I decided to stop at a few garage sales

The 2nd one was the jack pot !

Old Navy, Gymboree, Carters, Gap, Fisher Price, & Children's  Place

Tables and tables, size infant to 3yr of boys clothing... GASP

 Everything looked brand new.... 

such cute, adorable clothes, how can a grandma resist  :)

14 items for $11.00 

cant beat that !

My favorite !

I love being a grandma

Cant wait to meet this new little one in a few short weeks

The place I like to be

I can't help but be lulled to a afternoon stupor as I slouch in my comfy chair 

on my cabana covered deck. 

A cool breeze refreshes my senses as it makes the leaves dance on the aspen

 that sits just outside our yard (I love my neighbors tree)

 Its like a wind chime that is opposite of obnoxious.

This is my favorite place to be....

Yesterday I no time for "deck time"

I did laundry, hung it on the line, planted flowers, trimmed and mowed the lawn, 

ran some errands and watched my sweet granddaughter. 

I got a lot accomplished so that today I could take it easy.

Thought I'd share a few of my flowers that I planted yesterday.

Hanging basket from my daughter's family for Mother's day.

I think it's time I get up and give my newly planted flowers a drink :)

Rollin' on down the hill

It doesn't take much to entertain a toddler...

After about 10 times up & down the hill.... 

she's all tuckered out

Mother's day Saturday with "mom"

A few years ago, mom and I started a tradition of going out on the 

Saturday of Mother's day weekend to get flowers for our homes,

and just hang out together.

I always have mom pick one out from me.

She picked out a beautiful hanging basket!

~

This is our 2nd time going to Donahue's in Fairbault, MN

I love, love love this place!

 If you've never been to Donahue's...it's worth the trip over, the selection is amazing

 and the prices beat any of the nursery's in Rochester (even with a coupon)

 The back of my van full of flowers.... there's more up front  :)

It was too early for lunch so we swung into GOP Lutheran church (just outside of Kenyon) 

My mom has a relative buried there. 

A beautiful little church (with a steeple of course)

I love the old churches with their own cemeteries. 

This little bench was tucked away at the edge of the cemetery almost hidden in the tall grass.

I wonder how many have sat on that bench, remembering their loved ones?

Since we were passing through Kenyon we stopped at the nursing home

 to give a quick visit to my mom's cousin. 

She was glad to see us, It was nice to meet her  :)

Then it was on to Kasson, were we had lunch at Daniels Resturaunt

It was scrumptious! 

It was a beautiful day to spend with my mom

Thanks for hanging out with me mom.... I'm pretty lucky to have you!

We're not in Rochester anymore toto.

Sites so that are so beyond Rochester, Mn

 A wharf

A cable car 

Rows and rows of victorian homes. 

Painted ladies 

The city's cool buildings

Cables everywhere !

So many people, cars, buses, cable cars, trollies, taxi's, it's a busy place that never goes to sleep. 

I'm glad I live in a small town of 108,000... It's perfect  :)