Walking each other home

“We're all just walking each other home.” 

-- Ram Das

 - Gate to The Moonlit Valley, West Penwith.Sarah Vivian

I've always loved this quote and this painting is very moving. 

Sharing some photos that speak this to me. 

We're all just walking each other home

 

Family outing, 1980's. My Mom is pushing the stroller, I am holding my oldest son.

My grandparents, my dad, and three of my siblings are also in the photo. 

Our son, Randy and my youngest brother,Tim. 

1980's.

My sister-in-law, Jennifer and our granddaughter, Rixci.

Dan with our grandson, Everett. 

2021

Our grandson, Forrest with Auntie. 

2022

Mom pushing the stroller at the Monroe County Fair, 2019

Dan walking the hunting property with friends. 

2019

Dan with our granddaughter, Rixci at the Monroe County Fair, 2021 

Everett with his cousin Eli, Monroe County Fair 2019

Dan walking Kelly down the aisle. 2014

be blessed

and

  let's keep walking each other home

healing

Well, my knee replacement surgery on October 15 was successful.  The recovery and healing process is going well.  I had awesome care at University of Michigan Hospital.  I do not have one complaint.  My in-home nurse and physical therapists from HomeCare Connection were the best! My nurse was Pam, she was also my nurse the first time I went through this. I am so glad I have gotten to know her. Now I am in the midst of physical therapy at ATI Physical Therapy. ATI is a great facility and I love my therapist Sara.  Sara was my therapist after the first knee replacement. I am making progress, my knee is improving, I am driving now and feeling pretty good.

Here are a few pics I took while I was laid up. 

hospital

from Kelly & Josh

home

As you can see Tucker has been my constant companion.

 Bentley has kept watch too. 

 from Chris and Emily

 from Dad & Mom

from Tim & Jennifer

from Judy

Dan has been great, taking care of me, the house, the things I normally handle. So thankful for him. 

Big thanks as well to all of my friends and family who have prayed,  visited, called, brought over food, sent cards, send text messages, sent flowers.  Love you all!

xo

Pam

Liebster Award

Judy, from My Grateful Heart nominated me for the Liebster Award. 

Thank you, Judy! It's an honor!

The Liebster Award isn’t really an award as much as it a meme,but it’s also a great way to find new blogs and make new friends! So I’m honored that Judy nominated me and I’m happy to participate. Thank you again, Judy

Here are the rules that I found:

Official Rules:

If you have been nominated for The Liebster Award AND IF YOU CHOOSE TO ACCEPT IT, write a blog post about the Liebster award in which you:

1. thank the person who nominated you, and post a link to their blog on your blog.

2. display the award on your blog — by including it in your post and/or displaying it using a “widget” or a “gadget”. (Note that the best way to do this is to save the image to your own computer and then upload it to your blog post.)

3. answer 11 questions about yourself, which will be provided to you by the person who nominated you.

4. provide 11 random facts about yourself.

5. nominate 5 – 11 blogs that you feel deserve the award, who have a less than 1000 followers. (Note that you can always ask the blog owner this since not all blogs display a widget that lets the readers know this information!)

6. Create a new list of questions for the blogger to answer.

7. List these rules in your post (I have the no right click script on my blog, so if you choose to accept, email me & I'll email you the rules.) Once you have written and published it, you then have to:

8. Inform the people/blogs that you nominated that they have been nominated for the Liebster award and provide a link for them to your post so that they can learn about it (they might not have ever heard of it!)

Judy’s eleven questions -

1. What's your biggest fear?
All of our children and grandchildren living far away from us.

2. How many brothers and/or sisters do you have?
I have three brothers and one sister.

3. What's the best life advice your parents gave to you?
Put God first, always.

4. If you could live life over, what's the 'one' thing you would change?
I would have gone to nursing school right after high school.

5. Are you a night owl or a lark?
A lark. I love quiet early mornings.

6. Do you have any specific talents?
I don't think so.

7. If you were given 2 hours of uninterrupted hours to do anything you wanted to do, what would you choose?
If I was physically able, I would walk in the woods and take photos.

8. Name one thing you like about yourself.
I try to look for the good in people & situations.

9. What was your nickname growing up, or now?
Pam, Pammy

10. What's your biggest pet peeve?
abuse to the innocent

11. What was your favorite decade (50's, 60's, 70's, 80's, etc)?
70's



My Eleven Random Facts

1. I studied Art History in college.

2. I graduated college with an Associate of Arts Degree

3. My "happy" place is Mackinac Island.

4.  I just started drinking and loving coffee this year.

5.  I enjoy baking Christmas cookies and giving them away.

6. Candles are one of my favorite things.

7. I enjoy browsing antique shops with Dan.

8.  I was on a bowling league with Dan for several years.

9.  When I am alone in the car, I sing along loudly with the radio.

10.  I could watch the movie, "You've Got Mail", everyday.

11.  I do not like spicy foods.

I now nominate -

Kathy
Darylynn
Annie
Pam
Kacy

My Eleven Questions For You

1. What is your favorite way to relax?
2. Do you live in the vicinity of where you grew up?
3. What is the best vacation you have been on?
4. If you could live life over, what's the 'one' thing you would change?
5. Are you a night owl or a lark?
6. What is your all time favorite TV show?
7. Do you prefer reading on a device or reading an actual book?
8. What is your favorite summer outing?
9. Are you an animal lover, if so, what is your favorite animal?
10. What's your biggest pet peeve?
11. What was your favorite decade (50's, 60's, 70's, 80's, etc)?

love my family & friends

Let me start by saying, we have wonderful family and friends. We are very blessed.

 After making sure I was ready to be home alone, Dan went to the cottage Friday and came back today. He had to cut the grass and do some maintenance.  He took Bentley with him and I had Tucker here with me.
I was checked on several times a day and evening by phone, not only by Dan, but several friends and family. Thank God we still have our home phone line because my cell phone died Friday shortly after Dan left!  I kept in contact with lots of people with FB private messaging, the next best thing to cell phone text messaging. I chatted with Kelly quite a bit over the weekend. MISS HER!
Saturday was a fun day. My friend Cindy came to visit Saturday afternoon. She brought me watermelon and a delicious red velvet cupcake.

My Mom came Saturday afternoon as well. Had a nice visit and she brought me a really cute gift from her recent trip to my happy place, Mackinac Island.

This cute little sign is from my favorite Mackinac Island shop,

 Little Luxuries of Mackinac Island

love my Mom!

Saturday evening my brother Tim and sister in law Jennifer brought over dinner. We ate together, had a very nice visit, and they cleaned up the kitchen.   I was complaining to Jennifer how weeds were taking over my flowers outside and she offered to pull weeds for me!  I kept telling her, thank you Jen, but no, you don't need to do that.  She wouldn't take no for an answer! She went outside and pulled of all of the weeds around the back of the house. It looks so much better. That was so thoughtful, so kind. Thank you Jennifer. Tim took Tucker for a couple walks, played with Tucker, giving him lots of attention.  Tucker loved it!  

Sunday afternoon my friend Julie and her daughter Maddie came over and spent a couple hours with me, just chatting.  Julie took Tucker on a nice, long walk while she was here.

Thank you family, thank you friends for checking up on me this weekend, for hanging out with me, sending messages and talking on the phone.  You all helped fill my weekend with love and smiles. 

xoxo

Pam

mother, daughter & friend time

Yesterday Kelly and I did some wedding shopping, went to the florist and confirmed the flower order and enjoyed  a nice dinner out at Applebees.  We had a nice mother and daughter time talking wedding details! This is an exciting time, I feel very blessed to be the mother of the bride, a beautiful (inside and out) bride.

pic from bridal shower last month

This evening my dear friend Cindy took me to a few places I have never been.  We had a great time catching up with each other.

 First stop.. So Sweet Lebanese & French Pastries 

Cindy had an order to pick up, so I took advantage of tasting some yummy samples!

Next was an early dinner at  Mama Lascola's Italian Kitchen

I had a very delicious salad and the presentation was gorgeous! I know, I should have taken a pic!

After dinner we popped in at a bookstore, People Called Women.  Very interesting book shop, and they sell other locally made merchandise. I bought a book, 'Just A Daughter' by Sarita Skagnes.   I am trying to get a stash of books together for my time after surgery.  I don't think I can wait to read this one.

be blessed...always

Happy Caffeinated Friday

 What a cute pic, right?  

Yesterday was a fun lunch out with my Mom and mother/daughter friends of ours, Cathy and Kay. We had a great time catching up and laughing.  Kay and I go way back, friends for years and Mom and Cathy are close friends as well.  Hope we can do it again soon.

Tonight we are attending a high school musical. Angel, the daughter of close friends, Dave and Shellie, has a main part in the musical, Happy Days.  We have known Angel since she was a baby and have watched her grow up to a lovely young lady. We are looking forward to supporting her this evening and hanging out with Dave and Shellie!!

Here is a pic that Shellie took at last night's performance. YAY Angel, can't wait to see you tonight!

Pinky (Angel) and the Fonz!

Happy Friday

be blessed...always

Pam

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. It is a time to give thanks to God, for He is good. He has blessed us so much.
 Thanksgiving is a time of celebration... a time set aside to celebrate our family, friends, our blessings, celebrating others and reaching out to those in need.
Thanksgiving is also a lots of yummy food!!   We will have around 32 people here for dinner!   Dan and I are cooking two turkeys, mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy, green beans and a couple desserts. Everyone who is coming is also bringing food and drinks.
It will be a fun day, after we eat everyone will hang out here for most of the day and evening.  I  am looking forward to spending the day with family and I am very thankful that Dan doesn't have to work wednesday and thursday!! YAY!

Look what I've been baking today..

Cranberry Pecan White Chocolate Pie

~yum~

Wishing all of my American friends a very Happy Thanksgiving!!

And to my friends who aren't here in the USA, enjoy your week!

xoxo

friends~family

It's a quiet Monday after lots of get together with family and friends the past couple of weeks. 
 Thursday I paid a much overdue visit to my son Randy and his girlfriend Emily, we had a  nice visit and lunch at Panera.  They live about 45 minutes from us, which isn't that far. But with every one's work schedules it is hard to get together.

Emily & Randy, such a lovely couple.

   Our dear friends Debbi & Steve were here for a few days. What a nice surprise!  We had lunch together a couple of times, did some shopping at the mall, and had a nice evening out on Friday.  Sadly Dan had to work, but Kelly & I joined Debbi, Steve, and several other friends and family at Zinful for dinner. 

photos via www.zinfulwine.com

Worked out great because Friday was also Kelly's birthday!

 Me with my birthday girl! Love her!

Today I am getting caught up on laundry  and other household chores. Dan has tonight off, it has been weeks since he has had a night off. We may go out and see a movie later!

Happy Monday

 

 

lots of memory making

We have been enjoying time with friends and family the past couple of weeks and it isn't even the holidays yet.  As I mentioned before our dear British friends, Dave & Tina and two of their children, Ashley & Simone were here in the area, we had some great get togethers with them!  Dave went back on Saturday, Tina, Ash and Simone left this evening, in fact they are flying right now. Oh my, how we are going to miss them! :(

 My Mom & Tina

Dave & Dan

Mom, me, sister in law Jen, Tina

Simone & Tina at Bronners

Tina & Kelly

My nephew Derek is home for a few days on leave from the Navy, his girlfriend Honey came with him. Honey is such a lovely person, I am so happy we are able spend time with them both and we have this chance to get to know her!

 Last night we went to Derek's  youngest daughter, Lily's birthday party. She just turned three. The party was held at my brother Tim & sister in law Jennifer's house. (Tim is Derek's Dad).

Lots of people, lots of food, lots of fun!

And I took LOTS of pics..here are a couple.

Derek with both of his girls~ Brooklyn 4 1/2 and Lily 3.

This pic taken at our house on Saturday.

Today we had another small get together, at our house. 

Hung out in the garage, playing pool and eating!

Dad, Derek & Mom

Dan with Lily watching

Honey with Brooklyn watching

Dan's brothers, Dick and Doug

 Doug & Lily

Brooklyn hanging on Derek's leg! lol

We have had so much fun lately, making lots of happy memories. And of course I have drove everyone crazy taking photos!

Derek & Honey will be in town a couple more days, so we should see them again before they head back to Virginia.

 ~blessings

xoxo