Let's go shopping!

 

Locklan came to spend the day with us

 

(yes, he does that as often as I can steal him away from his mom and dad).

 

Lately, since his mom is still in a cast and cannot put any weight on her leg,

we get him a little more often.

 

Last week, he came and dragged all the toys out...

 

And found his favorite truck, a wooden flat bed tow truck that  I brought home from New York...

 

 

The grass was too wet to play outdoors without rain boots and he had outgrown his...

So Pappy and I decided to go to Rural King to look for new boots.

 

Rural King has two things that makes it appealing to Locklan,

 a popcorn machine and kid sized shopping carts!

 

Before we could get him out the door (they didn't have any boots in his size),

he threw his bag of popcorn in the tiny shopping cart...

 

 

And away he went, through the store, stopping occasionally to squat down and get a closer look at things...

 

Finally, Pappy scooped him up and we headed to Wendy's for lunch.

 

Not just ANY  Wendy's...

The Wendy's across the street from a huge construction site.

 

 

As long as we got a table next to the window, he'd stay there all day if we'd let him!

 

At one point, while we were waiting for Ron to get our lunch,

Locklan found my wallet,

 

 

He unzipped it, pulled out a dollar and started shouting for Ron.

 

"Pap!  Pap!"

 

He wanted to pay for our food!

 

One more stop on the way home...

 

Pappy bought Locklan a plastic pumpkin.

 

As soon as we sprung him from the car seat, he decided he could walk up to the door himself...

 

 

 

 

I can't believe how grown up he acts!

 

Of course, he had to stop and ride the doggy...

 

 

 

This dog statue sat on the front porch of Mark's parents for a long time.

 

When they passed away, Mark brought it home.

 

This is the third house I've lived in that was guarded by this silent dog!

 

We came home without boots...

 

But we had a ball!

 

 

 

 

 

Visiting royalty!

It's no secret that Locklan runs the show.

 

He walks in the front door and heads for the back door.

 

He loves to be in our back yard,

 

where he finds some of his favorite things:

 

the toys, Pappy Ron and Shirley.

 

The other day, he managed to combine all three:

 

 

 

Some people might say he's spoiled...

 

But the truth is...

 

We're spoiled!

 

Have you heard from Mr. K?

I know it's April 1, but this is not an April Fool's Day Joke!

 

I start my day earlier than my husband.  Occasionally, several hours earlier.

 

I was up and at'em , drinking my coffee and reading the obituaries online

from my home town newspaper

when I heard his business phone ring. 

 

Since he ALWAYS has speaker phone enabled, I could hear every word said. 

 

It was Paul, his patent attorney.  "Ron, I think you have an email problem," he said.

 

Apparently, some time during the night, my precious hubby's email was hacked and

sent this to international business associates, members of professional associations

and governmental agencies...

in other words, if you didn't get this, you just aren't on his A list!

 

 

 

Since he has been known to travel internationally, some people may think he WAS in London!

 

I can hear him downstairs in his office, trying to straighten it out...he's been at it for 2 hours, he's constantly interrupted by phone calls asking if he is really in London...

 

In other words...he's home, he's safe and healthy. 

 

DON'T SEND HIM ANY MONEY!

 

Of course, if you insist, make checks payable to REDSOCKMAMA!

 

 

 

 

 

Pictures only in my mind...

I do not have a photograph to accompany this post,

 I did not take my camera...

But even if I had taken it, I would have been so dumbfounded

 I would not have remembered to use it.

Last night, we went to Hokkiado, the new local Japanese restaurant.

I've never eaten Japanese before...

 

Never eaten after watching my food go up in flames before

 (at least not outside of my own home),

 

I never sat boldly watching the chef/server twirl knives

and throw food into our mouths before...

 

Wow!

 

I can't wait to try it at home!

 

No, I can't say I am a huge fan of Japanese food...

 

But the rest of the show?

 

Bring it on!

 

If you need me, I'll be in the kitchen, practicing...

 

but I'll be back!

 

Providing I still have all my fingers,

after twirling with knives...

 

Have not singed my eye lashes...

 

and Ron has not choked on the food I threw into his mouth from across the room.

 

Wish us luck!

 

The Man Cold

Seriously?  No I'm not being serious...

Honestly, I'm kidding.

 

Ron has a cold...

Ashley is in the final days of pregnancy...

 

I let each assess their condition...

 

Guess who is suffering more?

 

 

On the other hand...

 

Wednesday, Ashley and I went to meet with the anesthesiologist to discuss

the pros and cons of an epidural after her back surgery
and then headed to Chili's

for the last lunch before the little guy arrives!

 

The little guy?  Wow, are we excited?  I know I am!

I'm getting excited...

 

 

 



Snowed in and lovin' it!

How would you like to wake to this out your front window...

And this out the back door...

I did yesterday and hours and hours later, I'm still smiling about it!

I told you Sunday day that it was Taco Sunday at our house...and we had a house full.  Between my kids and their partners/spouses, Ron's daughter-in-law and grand kids, and even  church friends, the ping pong table got a work out, the kitchen was temporarily full of food (we put a hurting on that), and the house was full of laughter, love and friendship.

What it wasn't full of was Ron...who had to leave to catch his plane to Texas before the first guests arrived...and Ron's son, who also had a plane to catch (although he was going to Orlando instead).

They did manage to meet for a late lunch at Pittsburgh airport, though,

 so they did have their own little party.

Ironically, Ron called on Monday morning to tell me he forgot to pack enough dress pants for his meetings...

since he's known for spilling things on himself at the most opportune moment, this could be disasterous...

 

Yesterday I was telling Ron's daughter-in-law about his dilemma and she said that her husband arrived in Orlando, but his luggage did not.

 

Imagine that...the two Mr. Ks, out there, potentially pantless!

 

I was working on (yet) another secret project yesterday when I heard the snow plow out front...

 

 

 

Along with the neighborhood kids!

 

They were having a ball. 

By afternoon, we had six inches of snow on the ground...

and on the driveway! That was enough to keep them busy for hours!

 

 

 

I will admit, I was concerned when we learned that the cul-de-sac was filled with kids under the age of 7, but they are a hoot!

 

 

Not too sure about the hat, but it seems to work for her!

 

 

We have the most adorable twin boys next door. 

One of them announced they were going to take all the snow off my driveway...

 

 

And two minutes later, he said they were going to leave it on the drive...

 

Last night my 'handy man' came to eat leftovers and I put him to work!

 

 

 

 

Even though the snow was still falling, he got my driveway cleared...

 

And came in to get warm!

 

 

This morning, it was pretty quiet out there.

 

We did have a few visitors...

 

 

 

I really do love the snow...

but Andy posted on Facebook yesterday

that said he's more than ready for this...

 

And this...

~sigh~

 

I want it all!

 

But for now, I have things to do...

 

God bless you!

Jan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Knock knock...

I'll bet when you see this...

 

You think it's the door to my sewing room again, don't you?

 

Wrong!  It's the door to my hubby's bathroom.

That's not unusual, the door is usually closed, but tonight when he goes to brush his teeth..

 

Look who's waiting for him!

 

I'll bet he'll be surprised!

 

No wonder he loves me!

Celebrate that anniversary...

And we did...we had a wonderful dinner at Lidia's,

and then went to see the Christmas exhibit at

 Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens.

 

I tried, to share with you guys, and to serve as a remembrance of our first anniversary,

 to take a selfie of us...

 

First try:

 

 

That's me on the left, and of course, you recognize Ron, on the right.

 

Second try:

 

 

 

Clearly, Selfies are for the very young...

 

But we persevered...

and I present, for your viewing pleasure, anniversary attempt #3

 

 

 

 

Oh well...

 

It was raining, we were soaked (check out my hair...It did some pretty strange things), 

 we had much to celebrate!

 

Speaking of celebrating,

Let's all go out and be a blessing to someone. 

God bless all y'all,

Jan

 

To my husband...

To Ron, my husband of ONE YEAR TODAY...

To think, at one time, not all that long ago, we were two lonely people, wondering (and maybe even believing) that we would live out our remaining years alone...

But then...

 

So much has happened...

 

We've been so many places...

 

 

 

 

 

We've done so many things...

 

 

We've been through a lot

 

 

The photo above  is what you look like 5 hours after a knee replacement...

 

But...

 

 

We survived, and thrived!  It's been a wild and crazy year, full of surprises...

 

Happy Anniversary, my love!

Bring on Christmas!

Every family has holiday traditions...even Ron's family.  He's had a plastic Santa forty + years.  It's been on the roof top of two of his houses and in the breezeway of his apartment.  Last year he was too sick to deal with him, but this year...

Bring him on, Ron!

 

Ladies and gentlemen, Santa is here!

 

(But please don't forget that

 Jesus is the reason for the Season!)

God bless you all!
Jan

Ding dong

Think about this:  Yesterday afternoon, Linda wanted to go out.  We were getting ready to leave, so I put her out on the tie-out on the front porch where she proceeded to eat all the snow off the porch.

I came inside and was busy in the kitchen when I heard the 'ding dong' of the door bell.

We have only one door bell, at the front door, so I went to answer it, wondering why Linda did not bark.  She was sitting there, happy to see me.  There was no one around.
Ron came to the door to see who was there and I explained that I didn't see anyone but the dog.  He went out and walked around the house to see if perhaps someone had walked around to the back door.

No one was there.

Now we are logical people...we came to the conclusion that either we were both hearing things, and the same thing at that, or someone was playing a prank on us, OR Linda was ringing the door bell.

Hmmmmmm...

Of course, Linda is the smartest and cutest dog on the planet...it had to be her, playing tricks on us.

Still....we wondered....

We were driving down the turnpike, on our way to meet Tony and Noelle for dinner when we heard it again...ding dong!

Yes. Sometime in the past 24 hours, I managed to change my text tone to DING DONG!

Now tell me...who is the ding dong?

Okay...things to do, snow to enjoy!
Be a blessing to someone today...

God bless YOU!
Jan

Thanks, thanks and more thanks!

 

 

I have so many reasons to be giving thanks this year; perhaps if I share my partial list, I can also get you current on all the wonderful things going on in my life...

 

So, in no particular order, Let me share with you:

 

The hubster and his newly forged friendship with Linda Lou:

 

 

 

I'm thankful I can still, at the ripe old age of 63, run AND compete:

 

 

 

And occasionally win:

 

 

And be the proud mother of a winner as well:

 

 

This was the year I got a wonderful Father's Day gift from Andy and Ashley:

 

 

 

 

 

Yes!  it's a

 

BOY!!!

He'll be here mid-February!!!!!

 

There is the new home with enough bedrooms for grandchildren to visit:

 

 

A wonderful patio in the back:

 

 

AND a dressing room for all my shoes!

 

.

 

I'm thankful for that darn birthday fairy

 

and the opportunity to celebrate my mom's 83rd birthday!

 

 

We celebrated Ashley's graduation from nursing school...

 

 

Of course, it's a no-brainer to remember and be thankful for time on the river...

 

 

 

And bicycle rides!

 

 

Ron and I got to go all kinds of neat places, like Thousand Islands,

Atlantic City, Texas and Florida...

And Boston!

 

 

 

As always and forever, I'm thankful for:

 

 Andy, Vicky, Michael and Tony

 

 

 Michael and Catherine

 

 

Jamie and Vicky

 

 

Andy and Ashley

 

 

Tony and Noelle

Whew!  And to think, that's just a partial list...

I could go on and on and on!

 

Also, I'm so thankful for friends and family who take time to visit my blog!

 

Have a safe and blessed Thanksgiving...

I'll be back soon!

Promise!

 

Love,

Jan