It's Election Day - Let's Focus on Something Else!

Oh my word - are you like me and so ready for the election to be done and over with??? Yes! I'm not sure it will be over with after tomorrow, but I hope the constant focus will shift. Let's relax, breathe in and take in the beauty around us - isn't this flower gorgeous!

Just in case you need something else to look at and read about -- I've been wanting to tell you about Maddie's photography. She took up photography a few years ago after she got a little weary of me taking her pictures! So, she's been taking some friend photos, some senior photos, engagement photos and family photos! The family ones are probably the trickiest as there are so many people to focus on, have looking at the camera and eyes open. I, myself, have irritated photographers over the years with closing my eyes when everyone else looks perfect. This was a favorite photo shoot of Maddie's during the summer with Kamree and horse Tommy! Oh my word -- aren't they so pretty together!

One of Maddie's very good friends, Mia, never takes a bad picture. That girl is so pretty and SO sweet! I wish the pandemic was over and would allow the girls to get together more. They both are going to Southeast Community College, but in different classes, so don't see each other much. The college experience with the pandemic is a bit sad if you ask me. No sock hops (I kind of doubt there were sock hops anyway), but no get-togethers like bonfires, hayrack rides, etc. It's a different time. But let's think positive and get through this together. As my son says, we can do hard things!

Taking photos is not as easy as it looks. And she works so hard at editing and making the photos and the people in them look so good. She's also enjoyed taking photos of blooming trees and flowers. At first, she pooh-poohed my suggestion at flowers, but then later decided she liked those too. And flowers are not required to smile or keep eyes open! Anywho, I wanted to show you a few she's taken this year. My good friend's daughter was in town from Denver and asked Maddie to do some engagement photos! It was a very hot day, but they turned out sooooooo good. Best wishes to the happy couple who rescheduled their wedding from June 2020 to June 2021. Isn't she so beautiful! He looks good too, of course, but she is stunning!

The Big Red Jeep Had a Big Red Wreck

Oh no -- the big red jeep had a bit of a wreck recently! No one was injured and no one was even in the jeep. Some lowlife creep hit the front end of the jeep when it was in a parking lot -- somewhere. I didn't notice it at first! I took it in for some brake work and asked the mechanic about it and he said -- "hey lady -- it was hit - probably by some big truck or something!" Poor, poor jeep! The front grill and passenger side front light were all broken and something inside too - obviously, I have a lot of knowledge about vehicles! :)

Luckily, I still have my collision insurance for it and insurance did agree that it could be repaired and I could just pay the $1,000 deductible. So, it now feels like a new Big Red Jeep -- well, new with almost 125,000 miles. It's a 2005 and I've had it since 2005, though I didn't buy it new. I'm not sure why Jeep discontinued the Liberty style as I think it is the best looking jeep they've ever had and it is the best vehicle we've had for driving in the snow. I'm now being very careful where I park! Last week I even took a photo of a big truck that was near the jeep just in case!! Here it is . . . the new and improved Big Red Jeep!

Riding With the Top Down

 

Riding with the Top Down

Mr. Tennis a/k/a the Rickster has a convertible!  

Yes, he bought it a number of years ago without consulting me -- generally his MO when buying vehicles.  

One year, he and two salesmen showed up at the house -- he had bought an old used pickup and needed to get a check!!  Yes, I was surprised! I didn't know he was in the market for a small pickup! 

 It was a great little pickup and everyone in our neighborhood borrowed it to get mulch for their yard each spring.  

Sadly, most who borrowed it brought it back with the gas tank empty. 

One neighbor even told him when he brought it back that it needed gas!  

Hey, thanks dude and you're welcome!  :0 

Walt (age 9) and Rickster

Anyway, I digress - back to the convertible.  

As you might guess, it has a limited season of use and it's 2020 time is nearly up as the temps get cooler. 

 So, he decided to take each of the Little Grands for outings the last two weekends,

 except the baby - she's only 1-1/2.

Jane (now 10) was first and somehow missed the photo op!

Harry (age 7) and Rickster

They had so much fun riding in the convertible with him.  

They each went to some different places including to the zoo, to see a horse and each got lunch or a candy bar!  Those were 4 very successful outings with Poppa and they were only gone for 2 hours.

They are all requesting repeats already.

Dorothy (age 4) and Rickster

  He also gave each one some foreign currency!  

One received Canadian dollars; one got some Filipino cash, one some Chinese Yuan and

 Dorothy got some money from the Bahamas -- 

probably none of it worth more than $1 -- but very, very cool!  

I'm not sure what the next adventures with Poppa will be next time.

Of course, we're now having a warmup in temps so riding

with the top down can continue for a couple more weeks!

Dear Fall 2020 - Things I like About You!

Dear Fall 2020 -   

I thought by now "things" would be different -- better -  but we're not there yet, are we?

However, there are still a number of things to like/love about fall including:

Orange Pumpkins!   

While I kind of love the gnarly ones, I  really like the orange ones too!  

So perfect, so orange, so fallish!

Squirrels!  

Truthfully -- I have a hate/hate relationship with squirrels.  

The squirrels in our hood are doing some damage!  

Our yard probably has 50,000 acorns lying about, even though I sweep the 

sidewalk and street every other day.  Yes, I am that weird lady who sweeps the street.

  A couple years ago, when it was icy, I chopped the ice and attempted to sweep the ice away.  

My neighbors thought I was cray-crazy! ;)

Back to squirrels - the squirrels are throwing acorns at our vehicles - with a lot of force!

  Frannie thinks that maybe someday she'll be able to catch a squirrel - doubtful.  

Until then, she drags acorns to the backyard and munches on them as appetizers! 

 I'm constantly saying - "drop it Frannie -- acorns are not kibble!"

Cooler Temps!  

Who doesn't love the lower humidity and cooler morning temps!

  It's making  me feel so happy and relieved that I don't have to fight my hair and frizz 

quite so much every day.

Sweaters and Throws.  

Going along with those cooler temps means having some throws on the sofa -- 

we love cuddling up and watching some lame tv!  

What about you?

What do you like best about fall?

5 on Friday!

Greetings Al!  

 It's time for 5 ON FRIDAY -
provided on Thursday for your reading enjoyment!

 5 things I've been thinking about lately and may or may not interest you.

1.  New Senior Photos.  I thought I really liked Maddie's senior photos from last summer -- until we did a "redo" of  senior photos that I'm calling - Part 2 - the Graduate. The new ones really look more like her and capture her beautiful smile and spirit, so I'm including a few spread through this post!  Maddie had a change in plans and is attending our local community college now. 

2.  Traffic Around Here Lately.   I think I got used to very little traffic during the big shutdown.  You know,  I've always been a bit of a nervous driver, but now I find myself going out of my way to avoid making left-turns at certain intersections!  

Yes, it's true -- I'm that little old lady who goes slow and stops at yellow lights. 

 Hey people behind me - - deal with it!

3.  The Littles.  Oh my goodness, the littles are getting so big!  Jane is 10!!  

What the heck??  The baby, Gloria, is 1-1/2 and I believe she inherited my curly hair.
Well, both her mom and dad  have kinda curly hair too,
but let's say it's from me.

 Of course, it looks adorable on her. 

4.  Flamingo.  Have you heard of that Flamingo product for self-waxing???  

I bought some ages ago (before the pandemic) and  was afraid to use it. 

 Don't be afraid if you have some too and haven't tried it. 

 It doesn't hurt and it also doesn't do a very good job.  

Note to self - make real waxing appointment soon!

5.  The New Blogger.  What the heck is going on with Blogger?  

Makes me sad that it is tricky to do blog posts.  

Thanks to Laurie L for pointing out how to "Revert to Legacy Blogger" but it appears

 that  we will continue to have to revert until they take the legacy blogger away entirely.  

Happy Friday Friends!!

Happy Birthday to Frannie!

 Little Frannie Doodle had a birthday this month!  She turned 1 on August 8!   

Now that she's 1, I'm sure all those naughty puppy behaviors will be a thing of the past, right!??? 

 Let's hope so.  Fingers crossed!

Her birthday look!

Like most pups, she has her good days and her extremely naughty days.  Perhaps turning 1 has freaked her out a little and she is determined to remind us that she need and WANTS more attention!

Recently, she tore into a couch cushion from the sofa that is "hers."  Guess since she is allowed on it, she figured she could tear into it.  I did not appreciate all that stuffing on the floor.  Why, oh why, did she think she could eat the stuffing!  One thing I've gotten past is my disgust at having to dig things out of her mouth! 

Just the other day, she decided Rickster wasn't paying enough attention to her.  He is her favorite, by the way!  Frannie has already chewed up a number of pairs of reading glasses.  She crossed the line the other day when she found and starting chewing his new prescription glasses!  She popped out a lens and chewed the frame.  He immediately forgave her and said it was his fault!  What?  Who is he?  Do I even know him??   He took the glasses back to Lenscrafters hoping they could help him.  It was 12 days beyond the one-month timeline - but yay for Lenscrafters, they said they'd take care of it and sent the glasses in for repair!

Maddie and I recently enrolled her in another training class.  First class she was the number 1 student!  Guess we gave her too many treats though as she barfed those up for all to see.  Ewww!  I'm not sure how she'll ever learn to not jump on people.  Go figure - we've learned - Doodles jump and bark!

Her very best attribute is her ability to put herself to bed in the evening.  Every night between 8 and 8:30 pm, she runs into her kennel for bedtime!  

She's gets a few Bacon Bits and sleeps through the night til 7:30.  Good dog! 

We do love her to pieces and take her on lots of walks.  She loves the walk, but hates her leash on-- not sure how we can fix that as we have to chase her around the house to grab her and buckle on the leash.  Any suggestions?

Photo from last fall when she was agreeable to wearing sweaters!

Even though she's getting big, we are still planning on having her wear her turtlenecks for winter -- though we will definitely have to buy a bigger size.

Happy Birthday to Frannie Doodle!

Graduation . . . Finally!

Well, Finally!

It was time for Maddie's graduation from high school!

Only a little more than two months later than originally scheduled.

We were happy that a graduation could and did happen!

It was held at the Pinnacle Bank Arena so that there was plenty

of space for social distancing.  

Of course, we all wore masks.

Maddie and her brothers, Philip and Connor after graduation!

It was really a special celebration of the 2020 Senior Class of

Pius X High School.  

What a crazy, hectic, stressful final semester it was for these amazing students!

Maddie and her friend Hannah.

                        

Oh look -- I got in a photo!  

Hmmm - need higher heels as I am the shortest there!

Catherine and the Littles stayed home because tickets were restricted and

 seating was limited and it was naptime!

We celebrated with them later in the day!

In other news, in a couple weeks, Maddie is starting college at

our community college.  

Exciting things ahead for my girl!