1. When is the last time you experienced nostalgia? While doing my last post about marriage and I filled it with pictures from through the years.

 2. September 29th is National Coffee Day. Do we need this? Ha! So are you a coffee drinker? If so how many cups per day, and tell us how you like it. Is there a recipe you enjoy that calls for coffee as one of the ingredients?  I drink decaf coffee now since I have been having more blips with my heart. I love creamers and I am drinking my coffee with Silk Pumpkin Spice. I only drink one cup a day. I sometimes use coffee grounds in a coconut body scrub. 

 

 3. Do you find praise or criticism to be more motivating? Explain. Praise of course. But sometimes criticism can challenge me to do better.

 4.  What's a television series you keep coming back to and re-watching? I Love Lucy because laughter is the best medicine!

 5. As the month of September draws to a close give us three words to describe your mood. Frustrated, because of Covid,  tired because of the heat, hopeful as we enter a new month.

 6. Insert your own random thought here.

 

 

 

 

 

Marriage

1. How did you meet your husband/wife? I met him at our church youth group in my senior year of high school. February 1973.

2. How did you know he/she was “the one”? I liked his smile. His friends called him Smiley. I asked him what his family called him and he said "Jr." so that is what I called him. We had fun together. He knew what my career goals were and supported me. We started talking about marriage after I turned 18.

3. How did he propose? We were playing pool and he said he wanted to marry me. He didn't go down on his knee and I never even thought about that. He said he needed to talk to my dad. So he did and my mom said to get at least a half carat solitaire. She would tease me because he gave me a promise ring which was popular back then. So we went to Zales Jewelers. I asked them to show me a 1/2 caret solitaire. I chose one and that was that!  My mom use to work for Zales back in the 60's. All that happened in October 1973. I think I have it written down in my diary from then. My mom arranged an engagement party to announce our engagement. Family was invited to our house for Thanksgiving 1973 and our engagement was announced. 

We were married nine months later. After our engagement was announced, our parents got together to discuss the wedding. It was decided that they would go half and half with the expenses since I was a full time student and he was working two job. We were both first born kids. His dad insisted that Jr. buy my wedding dress. I never really planned to get married so early. But we were in love and back then most girls got married right after high school. I let my mom do most everything because I was busy going to the University.

We did have a large beautiful wedding in August 1974.Our little  Gethsemane Methodist church was too small so we got married in the bigger First Methodist Church in our city. Back in 1974, the bridesmaid made flowers out of crepe paper and decorated the cars. The cars drove from the church to the reception and we drove by the Orange Circle to the reception. We had a Mariachi band during the food. Then we had a popular band some in afterwards. There were no dj's back then. You can see more pictures here at my old website.

 

4. Do you have any favorite stories from your marriage or about your husband/wife? We have been married 46 years now so there are many stories. The first few years of our marriage were easy.

   Spring 1977, ready to go out to a Disco!

 As soon as I got my degree in 1977, we decided to start our family. It was a rough time for us but we held onto our faith.We bought our first home in 1978.  With lots of prayers and infertility doctors,  and after 3 miscarriages we finally had a son and then another son, and finally a daughter. 

  

1989

I worked part time at the post office in the evening. So for 19 years we worked different shifts so that our kids always had a parent home. Luckily my husband could take care of the kids. It worked for us. Marriage takes work, patience and commitment. It is giving each other space. It is having common interest and understanding our differences. Our faith in God has been the main thing that has held us together. 

 1993

 

 25th Anniversary, 1999

 

 

 

 2017

 

2020

 

 

 

 

 

"The Finish This Sentence" Questions

 1. My uncle once... climbed the Matterhorn..... Disneyland since he helped build it after he got out if the service.

 2. Never in my life have I... .gone skiing.

3. When I was five... my parents took us camping at the beach.

 4. High school was... lots of fun and I loved playing competitive sports.

 5. I will never forget to...thank God for another day of life.  

 6. Once I met 7..dwarfs at Disneyland!

7. There’s this boy I know... that has 3 cousins and they all call me Mema!

 8. Once, at a bar, I... ordered a Mai Tai at a disco back in the 70's and that was my first and last!

9. By noon, I’m ...am ready to get some things done. I am not a morning person.

10. Last night I ...watched a Hallmark movie while crafting.

 

 

Saturday 9: Do You Want to Dance? (1972)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.
I remember this song. It makes me think of high school.
This week, we're inspired by The Divine Miss M's plea for a definitive answer. Here are nine random "yes or no" questions. Naturally you're welcome to elaborate, but if you want to zip through with a Y or an N, that's fine, too.

 

1) Do you check your cellphone first thing in the morning? Sometimes.

 

2) Are there dirty dishes in your sink right now? No

3) Have you laughed yet today? Yes, my dog made me laugh.

4) Have you written a check in the last week? No

5) If you met someone who shared all your strengths and weaknesses, would you like him/her? Yes, I think so.

6) Is a bride ever too old to have a big wedding? No

7) Do you put potato chips in your sandwich to make it crunchy? Normally I don't, but I have tried it. Not to bad, especially salt and vinegar chips.

8) Have you ever taken a nude photo of someone (not a baby)? Yes

my husband in the shower with my son, privates covered.

9) On Monday, will you be playing Bud and Mimi's cool new meme, Monday Madness? (Our last shameless plug, I promise.) Maybe

In my last post I mentioned having something going on with my heart. I talked with an advice nurse who had me go to Urgent Care. The doctor was really nice and took the time to hear what I had to say. He had me take an EKG test. He sent me to the lab for blood test. He also had me take a Covid test after he heard about my vacation. Because of my family history, I was referred to Cardiology. He also said no more caffeine. The doctor said to go home and relax and rest in my faith.This happened on Wednesday night. I got my test results the next day. Initial test were all good as well as my blood test and negative on Covid. Today Cardiology called me to set up a telephone appointment for Monday. They are sending out a unit for me to wear that will monitor my heart rhythm. I have had Kaiser for 38 years and have always had good service. Thanks to those who encouraged me to see a dr.

 

 

 

 

 

 1. It's fall y'all. What's something you love about this season and also something you don't? I love to decorate my home for fall. I have several bins of decorations. I also have some yard decorations that I hope to put out this weekend. I don't like that we have warm weather through November. We are in the city an hour away from the lower mountains.

2. When you think of the colors of fall, which one is your favorite? Is there somewhere you could easily day trip to see the leaves in all their glory? Will you? I would say a burnt orange. But it is the combined colors that are special. Yes we are planning a trip to Oak Glen in a couple of weeks to pick apples and visit a farm. One of the big fires was in that area but the farms and town were saved. Not sure how many fires were destroyed. I think it is about a 40 minute drive.

3. What's one thing you've let 'fall' by the wayside during this season of staying home and staying away? Exercise, I miss going to the gym.

4. If you're wearing a sweater is it most likely a cardigan, crew neck, v-neck, or zip up hoodie? Depends where I am going. I like zippered sweatshirts. I like sweaters
when I go to church. I have a "jogging jackets when I am at the gym. I don't like anything tight around my neck.

5. What's your secret to dealing with change? Talking to God, talking to someone about it, pray. I like doing things I enjoy so I don't let the change get to me.

6.  Insert your own random thought here. I think I have been having some heart issues. My heart has been racing a few times, especially when I bend down and then stand up. My dad had A Fib and I think I might be having some episode too. I plan to contact my dr. I need to eat better and exercise. I do have high cholesterol which runs in my family. Our gym opens up this weekend but I think I better talk to my dr. before I start doing any exercise.

This is a picture from last year. This year I added lights to the inside of the fireplace to give it a warm glowing look.

 

Most of the siggies I use are over 15 years old. All the graphic shops are closed. If they are still open, I will link them.

My Website is at Susan's Garden of Friendship The link is to the right. Lots of inspirational pages too. I hope to see you there!

Today is the first day of fall though we won't feel it until the end of October.

Today my dad would have turned 87 and he died when he was 79. I still miss him so much. This picture was taken in September 2008 before we went on a New England cruise.

                                 This week's topic is your home routines.

1. What laundry products do you like to use or find best for you? Purex Natural Elements

detergent. It has a light scent that doesn't bother my nose. I use unscented fabric softener sheets and Clorox beach.

2. Dryer, line or combination of both? Mostly the dryer. Sometimes I put the beach towels over the patio chairs if I do laundry in the morning and the weather is hot.

3. Do you have wood floors or carpeting and which is best? We have both.

4. Housekeeping professionals give the following guidelines. Which do you follow? Do you have better ideas?
1. open windows first
2. clear up clutter before cleaning.
3. start in bedrooms first
4.give cleaning products time to work.
5.Always sweep or vacuum before mopping
6.use a toothbrush for hard to get at areas
7. keep things on a central cart if you can
8.dust everything
9.vacuum your furniture often, mattresses once a month or so.

I open the window when I clean the bathrooms. I spray and then I let it set while I go do something else.
Most cleaning things are under the kitchen sink or bathroom sink.
I have an essential oil spray I use on my mattresses.
I do use a small brush for the shower. I have used a toothbrush.
I sweep and my husband  vacuums. Sweeping is done daily before mopping.  I do not dust every room daily, I rotate because of my allergies. We have a small dog that sheds so we keep throws over the couches and they are washed weekly. I have never heard of a central cart.

I got this cute siggy as a gift from Gloria and it made me smile, Thank you!

 

 Siggy is from Fancy Cricket

 

 

 

1. A person I’m glad to have in my life. My husband.
2. Something I find comfort in. Reading the Word and praying.
3. My favorite part of the morning. Coffee which I had to give up for a year.
4. My favorite memory. So many, but the first thing that came to my mind was dancing with my dad.
5. An accomplishment I’m proud of My children.
6. An opportunity I’m grateful for to share Jesus with my grand kids.
7. My favorite song (and why) The Lord is My Shepherd I learned it when I was a teen at church. I have never found the sheet music, but I have sung the songs to all my kids and grandkids.
8. A future event I’m excited about. The end of Covid!
9. My favorite area in my home. The family room.
10. Something beautiful I saw today. My grandkids!
11. My guilty pleasure. Playing Farmville, but it ends at the end of Dec after 10 years!
12. Something I love about a family member. My grand daughter who is creative like me.
13. A compliment that made me feel good. Being told I am a good crafter.
14. The item I treasure the most. The ring my mom gave me before she got Alzheimers.
15. My favorite part about nature is reminding me about God.
16. A book I loved reading besides the Bible, Gone With The Wind.
17. A freedom I’m grateful for, freedom to practice my faith, wherever I am.
18. My favorite part of the evening. Playing on the computer and watching tv.
19. One good thing that happened today. I did most of my fall decorating in the house and on this blog.
20. How I show gratitude for my friends. I like to give gifts.

It was nice taking a few days off the computer. I went away with my Lifegroup friends. We drove up to Cambria and enjoyed the cooler weather. We enjoyed going out to eat and all the places we went had outside seating.  

 

 

 Brad's Cafe at Pismo Beach

Cambria Calif

Moonstone Beach

San Simeon Sea Lion and Elephant Seal Sanctuary
 

 

Deer in Cambria

 

 

 

 

 

Madonna Inn

 

 Santa Barbara Pier

 

 Never Forget

 

I remember that morning so well. My hubby and I were getting in the car for our 39 mile drive into work. It was 6 am PST and we heard the news and they were talking about a plant crashing into the World Trade Center. We were shocked as we listened to the news. Then the news said another plane hit the other tower. At that point, we knew something big was going down.

 I left my hubby at his office and drove to mine. We both worked for the Postal Service. Everyone was talking about it,  and we were listening to radios for more information. Postal network news was talking about the Church Street Post which was across the street from the WTC. They serviced the WTC. I remember being in the break room  and watching the tower fall. It was all so sad.

It was really stressful for my husband. He was a Special Delivery Messenger. Our postal facilities were on emergency status. With the Anthrax scare, carriers and mail handlers were encouraged to wear gloves. 

Back in 2001 I belonged to a country web graphics community. Lori and Toni belonged to it. I Think Annie too. We decorated out sites with graphics from other members. So many artist made graphics to show support to our nation. You can see that here at Remember 911

Our country stood united during that crisis. I feel our country is in crisis again and pray for it to become united again. Other countries are watching us. I still keep in contact with some of the women from the country community and they cannot believe how our nation has fallen. That is what they see. Praying God will prevail and we will be united once again. 

 

 A visit in 2008, looking out from the Winter Gardens

 These pictures and our trip to NY and NE cruise are at my Webhome. 

My webhome is at Susan's Garden of Friendship The link is to the right. 

Lots of inspirational pages listed at the Site Map