Another Bride, But Where's the Groom???

Our niece Tiffany and her fiance Mark are getting married in April. This evening there was a shower in their honor with a Mardi Gras theme. It was a festive occasion with lots of eating, drinking, visiting, and laughing. There is just one problem with this entry. I failed to get a picture of the groom. I am upset with myself, but I was visiting with family and friends and you know how that is...I get sidetracked so easily!
Pretty invitation and party favor.

Lisa took a little break to visit with Lorie and Maw Maw.
All of the tables were decorated with a festive Mardi Gras theme.
A little love from my niece, Leah.
My brother, his wife, Kathy and daughter, Leah.
Mardi Gras tree.

Lisa made beautiful centerpieces for each table...she really outdid herself with the decorations.
Tiff and Maw Maw Nina
Leon helping Maw Maw down the stairs.
Before we left home Don had to get in a little time with his friends.
While I was cooking I was able to have a nice chat with Don's sister Debbie.
Don always helps me in the kitchen and today was no exception. He helped peel the shrimp and boil the pasta for our Seafood Pasta dish!

And she's off...

Ashley headed off to Miami to board the research vessel out of Miami that will head to the Bahamas. Don got up and made her a yummy breakfast. I know this picture looks like he's asking me what the heck I am doing taking his picture this early in the morning, but I promise he's not. He's trying to smile but he just doesn't have it in him until about 9:00 in the morning.
She was in such a happy mood and it was only 7:00 AM...she didn't even mind having her picture taken during breakfast!
Okay, I made that last one up...she may not really like having her picture taken at the crack of dawn.

What A Day!

Today we went to Lakeview to continue clearing my mother's backyard. Hopefully she will have a yard when the house is completed.
Don did a lot of digging to get rid of stuff buried since the storm.
The boys tearing out the fence posts.
Don making sure they do it right!
Lisa wanted us to save her garden bricks so we dug them all up. Phew...I'll never think the same about a garden brick as long as I live.
Ashley examined each brick that was pulled up to see what was living below each one.


My cousin's son Bobby and two of Bobby's friends, Joe and Mitchell have been working on clearning the lot for serveral months. You would not believe how many bushes grew up in that yard. These boys were a huge help - they had all of the equipment to get the job done!
Dumpster we filled with weeds and bushes that had been chopped down a couple of weeks ago. We alson burned a lot of stuff that would not fit in the dumpster.
Befpre we could leave this morning, Don and Goby had to watch a little duck hunting.

One Smart Cookie!

Ashley's laptop has been giving her trouble so Don decided to run some tests to see if he could get the bugs out. If you have been to our house or read this blog, you know he had a helper. Hooch nicely waited his turn to take a look. Notice how Don is multi tasking...one hand on the computer and the other on the remote control. He can operate that remote like a ten-key adding machine...without looking.

Don put on his glasses to take a closer look - Hooch still waited quietly...

At last he got an opportunity for an up close look at the problem...

He watched closely as Don moved through the programs...

After rendering his opinion regarding the computer, Hooch decided to have a go at Organic Chemistry. Next week, piano lessons and karate!

Family Visit

Saturday afternoon Don's sister Debbie, brother-in-law Deke, and great niece Hannah, came to visit. Hannah stayed busy with the computer, DVDs, and Hooch. Sunday we took a ride to see how Ed and Roxanne's house is coming along, drove over to check out Mom's house and then had lunch at LeMadeline. We had an enjoyable weekend visit with the Arrowoods.
What a beautiful face to wake up to.
Debbie talking to Hannah through the "Listen Up" device As Seen on TV. I thought the whole point was to listen to people across the room.
Douglas and Ed have come along way on the house - the new paint looks great!
Checking out the inside of the house.
I think Hannah is begging me to quit taking her picture.

Kaitlyn and Hannah pretty in pink.

Don with his great nieces from coast to coast. Hannah from Florida and Kaitlyn fom California!

Shake it Up Baby

Yesterday afternoon, Marie called and had Valerie on the phone. Valerie lives in Mesa, Arizona and wanted to hear Don's story. I shared his story and we continued to talk about the shakes and the difference it has made in her own life. Then Valerie shared her story - she has had recurrent blood clots throughout her life, and at one time had one that was 5 1/2 inches long being monitored by the doctors. She began taking the nutritional shakes and in time, the blood clot was reabsorbed and she has not had another clot since. Ironically, I had not told Valerie about Don's blood clot which was almost completely blocking his portal vein. When he was diagnosed with the cancer, the doctor told him the blood clot would kill him long before the cancer would. That is why the clot has caused me such concern. I have consistently prayed that his clot be reabsorbed, but until yesterday had no idea such a thing was possible. I know our road still has bumps in it but Valerie's story has given me renewed hope!

What a Lucky Girl!

I went back to work this Wednesday and had a very hard day Friday. I got a new computer which had to be set up. With the help of some of the others in the office, we moved furniture, crawled under desks and behind desks and finally got the job done. Then two of us went in to Josh's office and unpacked his things, set them up, and got his office ready to go. Coupled with the fact that I had been awake since 1:00 AM, when I got home at 5:30 I was cold and exhasuted. When I walked it the house it was cozy and warm with the fireplace going and dinner on the table.

Delicious homemade vegetable soup. Don had never made soup before, he did a wonderful job.

He also made a German Chocolate cake and put it on the new Fleur de Lis platter that I recently bought. The cake was much bigger than this but with six people in the house, it didn't last long! It was also delicious. I wonder how long this treatment will last!

Snug as a Bug!

Well, I was worried when I went back to work that Don would not get out of the house. So far, he has kept very busy including today's project -- covering the bouganvilla. We are expecting a hard freeze tonight and we were worried the bush would be damaged. When I got home Don and Drew had it nicely covered, and even put a light under it to make sure the whole package stayed warm. I am not sure what that ladder is across the top of the bush, but I know there must be a reason and at some point, I'll ask!

When I went out to take the picture of the bouganvilla, Hooch followed me out - he's always ready for a good game of fetch!

After his busy afternoon, Don relaxed in the den and chatted with his sister, Debbie. She, her husband Deke and granddaughter Hannah, are coming to visit this weekend. You can see Don's elbow is continuing to heal from the fall he took last week when he was trying to let the pesky Weimariner go out.

Like A Kid in a Candy Store

Tomorrow I will return to work for the first time in 6 1/2 months. Don said he was going to work on the barbeque pit but needed some things from Home Depot. So, off we went to run our last errand together, he'll be going it alone from now on, and I know he is very happy about that! He could spend hours in Home Depot, and today searched up and down for "stuff" he may need. He did forget something and will have to go back before he can complete the project. Hopefully, we will be grilling again soon!
He looked and looked...
...and looked some more.
He measured once...
...and measured again.
Until he finally found what he needed.

He found a hoe that he said we really needed and then tried to whack me with it, but I was too quick.
Even though this picture looks like he's saying, "Would you please quit taking my picture", he's really just squinting in the sun. If he does ask me to quit taking his picture, I just tell him I'm doing it for his family so they can see how good he looks, then he just smiles or poses or whatever I ask him to do. "It's for the family" really works, especially if I whine a little when I say it... Then we got home and he got right on the project...or not!