My week of 63

My son (Tom) and I visited Gramma and Grampa on Friday.

They are both turning 90 years old this fall.

Birthday cake day at College Park.

Every Friday from 4 - 5 pm there is dancing with a keyboard player

and Tom and Gramma were rockin' it on the dance floor.

(Gramma has to watch her heart though, because she likes to move and jive!)

one, two, three...

turn and jive!

Gramma was sooooo happy her Grandson danced with her, because Grampa doesn't dance anymore!

Here are....
Tom's budgies/parakeets!
I was attempting to teach them to say "hello" but they have not
spoken that word yet.  Actually I think they are scared of me.  Tom is their
Master and friend so he can pick them up and talk to them.

A new visitor came home yesterday.  His name is Midnight and he is a 3 year old Paint!

Hubby's friend Morley owns this little colt and he is letting Brian do some horsemanship training with him!  He is a cutie!

Here is a video of Midnight!

Looking forward to more riding again and to watch Brian
work with this young rascal!


Also had a birthday lunch with my sister Barb and my friend Ilona
at Eastside Marios!  My niece Brenda was at this lunch too but I didn't get her in this photo.
I really enjoyed this time we had.

This is the end of my birthday week.  (I'm now 63)
I have connected with 3 really good friends this month.  Two from
Vancouver Island and this one in Regina.  I am very glad we can still
be friends and laugh and share the good and bad times.

62 good as new

"they say it's your birthday

it's my birthday too, yeah

they say it's your birthday

we're gonna have a good time

I'm glad it's your birthday

Happy Birthday to you!"

...and so on

(the Beatles birthday song)

I love this cake because, it is healthy and soooo easy

to put together (all ingredients pulsed in a blender)

icing is coconut milk, monk fruit sugar powder, unsalted butter, cocoa powder, vanilla

can't go wrong with this brownie desert!

 woke up this morning and pond is completely

melted!

my friend Shirley got me a friendship rose quartz

it's sitting in the sun on my dining room window

my husband installed a new shower head and it is heaven to stand

under as the sprays are like gentle rain and the massager  mode is so

relaxing - cool gift!

Off to Mr. Mikes for supper...

today is my birthday...yeah yeah

I feel good...yeah yeah

Enjoy this earth day birthday like it is a new

beginning!

small and proud

this is a sarcastic post

(a little bit it is)

We go to the 150th Canada Day

Celebration at our Western Development Museum

on July 1st

there was singing and dancing

entertainment;

Historical Vikings in costume,

with all the tools and handicraft

of their lifestyle; as well as a demo

of how they fought and died and survived (interesting).

Brian went to get a Canada Day cupcake or

piece of cake, so we thought, as last year they had

a huge table with cupcakes free for the taking,

all decorated with red and white icing.  It was kind of

special.

(Canada Day 2016)

this year there was no cupcakes or cake to be found

and they gave out small tiny Canada pins.

(very tiny)

 (can you see it?)

I am small but mighty.

this day was for kids at the museum grounds

that is for sure

so we grabbed a hamburger and a fudgsicle

and departed.  All good just expected more!

We saw the fireworks last night and they were good
but nothing too special just kind of the same as usual.
I suppose I was expecting more extravagance?  feel more special as a Canadian citizen (spoil alert)!

throw back this thursday

It's a birthday week;

my boy Graham's was on April 20 (a regretful throwback Thursday in a couple of days).

Had a tough, kind of annoying evening last night

I figured out it was about loss.

After 13 years of working

with grief I have figured out

one simple thing.

That sharp stone of grief in my pocket

pinches me every now and then.

So I am embracing this long

lonely desolate feeling I had last night.

He was in grade Nine here at Waldeck School;

his t-shirt and watch were purchases from

our skii trip in Banff a few weeks previously.

Just saying that the  statement that so many

refer to about "God does not give you anything that

you cannot handle"......

It is a misrepresented statement

God  hands out small doses of pain

to us when he feels we can accept something

about our pain, another little nugget of memory

regret, guilt.

He hands it out in little chunks.

That is what that statement means.

Little pieces of grief are added throughout the

years.  At first it is overwhelming and exhaustive.

That higher being or God, whichever,  is your belief

has it under control.  

Yes God has given me what I can handle, one small pebble or big

chunk at different times.  I have learned to be aware of when

he is "pinching me".

I am so grateful for what I still have.  Gratitude is the key for me

and once I remember that the pain  changes and subsides!

My Easter message I guess.

{love}

still so young

Happy Birthday to my son!

he is not quite 30

and still so young!

the mystery of magic

has always been his secret passion

goofing around is a good way to

let out all that restless energy, and he has that!

Your birthday today is remembered by the ones who love

you best!

Grasslands National Park June 2016

Happy Happy Birthday!

changing decades

we travelled this weekend,

visited family

it was perfect!

pretty flowers,

  Montana silversmith earrings and necklace,

  sweet icing on a cake, 

a colouring book project,

 gift of money, 

supper out with friends

it was very easy turning 60!

Fun with Family

my sister's birthday was today and we went to the new

breakfast and brunch restaurant in Regina called Fresh and Sweet actually here is the

link to their website (Valley Girls Fresh and Sweet)

Wonderful tasting food and a good start to my Saturday morning!

I can have fun just as much as I can keep getting older.   Fun is always available with the right people!

out at coyote flats

We were visiting our friends on Saturday at their acreage

"Coyote Flats".  These 2 are into training colts.

I am sure that this discussion below is regarding

horses?

Shirley and Morley 

my man and me

these 3 colts have shed their fuzzy teddy bear

fur and I think are looking healthy and shiny...We will be taking one of those
colts to our place this fall to start working with.  They are only a year old
so not much to be done with them for a year or so.  

a wonderful green June and new beginnings!

busy June

Tommy's birthday June 16

Hubby's birthday June 20

my dad - father's day!

our 35th Anniversary June 21

The Man

Tommy's birthday was on June 16

with everything going on I didnt honor him

on my website

here he is in a mosaic of the last 7 years...

In this photo below, he was 19 years old and in his first semester at 

Lethbridge College...I remember that moment sitting on his bed and studying for his
1st set of exams....(he's just a little boy)  time goes by and by so glad I have lots of pictures!

a small party

yup 6 candles on the small cake and each candle representing a decade

it was a great party!

hugs and beans and love you always Brian/Mantracker/Dad!!

years do go by...

yesterday started a week of family birthdays

Tom turned 26 years yesterday

 (photo taken spring 2008)

(Tom 18 years old and flying in 2007)

 our 33rd anniversary is on Friday June 21

Mantracker's birthday is on Thursday and it is usually

about the horse, but I know that his wife and son are on equal ground (LOL!)

Happy Birthday to  my husband and my son!

The Way to Emerald City

The Way to Emerald City

this photo is my birthday present from my son

it is framed and in my living room

it was taken last summer in Saskatchewan

i love the name of the photo

and the beautiful colors 

and perception and angle

and imagination to see this

as like 'the yellow brick road'

in the Wizard of Oz which is my all - time

favourite musical/movie

quarter century crises

my son

have fun

then do the work until

your done!

(on a more serious note..)

you are a fearless man, inspiring me to

do good things

and to be happy

thank you for your gift of life to me

love Mom

Happy Birthday Tommy!

earth day birthday

my son put this earth day feature on a website, you should clic on it and enjoy!

EARTH DAY APPRECIATION

 my birthday is today

 i canoed in our pond

Tommy and his bird boxes are up and painted white this year

so great this weather today
keep enjoying it!

Chef d' Tom - fine dining at Kirkville

1st entree: white wine and seasoned crusty loaf
2nd entree: salad greens with cold beets and hickory sticks
3rd entree: sweet potato yam soup with yellow peppers
4th entree: palette taster - rasperry shorbert with frozen lime koolaid iced cubes
5th entree:  main dish was salmon filets, vegetables baby corn/water chestnuts/asparagus stirfry; potato stack
6th entree: vanilla bean creme bule'

THEN A TCBY PINK AND CHOCOLATE YOGURT CAKE!   (courtesy of Mantracker)

Tom, I am impressed  with this delightful fine dining night and I really feel this was an extra blessed birthday because I have you, and I have Mantracker!

Good night...(feeling a bit full)

Happy Earth-Birth Day

my birthday for another year has arrived, but don't tell anyone (that is why I have it on my blog so we can keep it quiet..ha!)

I am having a fine dining 5 course meal tonite in my own home, catered by Thomas Kirk.  I can hardly wait.

To celebrate earth day Tom also transplanted several crocus plants into my "depressed" flower garden in front of our house.  Cool Idea!  Crocus's are not an endangered plant species so you can remove them and transplant elsewhere. 

I may be getting older but I am learning how to enjoy life better!

he would be 25 today

,

"Turn off the lights or keep them on.

Either way, I will see you,

call me back or do not call me back,

Either way I will hear you,

Tell me yes or tell me no.

Either way, I will love you."

{by Marion Williamson}

The bond between most parents and their children is without preconditions.  Love simply is----from the moment of birth to the grave.  There is no, "I will only love you if..." between parent and child.  We will move mountains to help them if they are in trouble and will fight their battles for them, if they will allow it.

a daughter's loving inspiration

My dad turned 80 years old on August 28th. We all met at Golf's in Regina for a special dining-out celebration . My sister, Barb, at the last minute,{love it!}; had an inspiration that night and wrote this poem for Dad.


Tho the years have come, gone and past
there is one thing that will last . . .
the love of a father who did his best,
stood the test, and gave his family memories,
of a man who worked hard and gave his
livelihood for the common good of his
family, who see him as a patient man, loving
and kind.

Thanks for everything you've done to help make
our lives happy ones.
We know how much you care, for over the years
your heart has been bared.

We are glad to be the ones to receive the benefit of
your love; wisdom and a sound mind, have been your guide,
to steer you through difficult moments and hard times.

And now, you have come to this place, where you stand
in our hearts and minds, as an honourable man, patient
loving and kind.

inspirations, when acted on, are blessings! keep writing Barb...