It's beginning to look a lot like...

I'd better get my buns out and get shopping!

I remember those days, when the kids were little, when the shopping started early and ended late. 

I remember those days when the decorating and wrapping seemed to go on forever!

This year seems so different...the wreath is not on the door yet.  Not one gift bought, no tree in the living room yet...

But my heart is singing!  The festivities are in my heart, not my living room!

I am blessed!

Celebrate!

Tonight, we're getting together for one of Mark's favorite desserts, apple pie and cinnamon ice cream.  I'm sure we'll share a Mark story or two and celebrate his life.  We'll hug because we have one thing in common:  we miss him.   It's been two years.  Hard to believe.

 

Mark and Arnie

We miss you but will see you again!

River time!

Not too long ago, Andy, Tony, Morgan and I hit the road for a very exciting destination...

THE KISKI!

We raked, swept, polished and planned.  We made lists, plugged things in, drained the rest.  

We sold the boat (!), after one last cruise.  

 

We also got to try out our newest toy:

 

We hit golf balls...

 

We smiled because we were at the river!

~happy sigh~

Now go out and be a blessing to someone.  I'm right behind ya!

Love,

Jan

Take me out…

Tonight I'm going with friends to watch the Pirates play. I'm not a baseball fan, but I love to go to the park.  I'm a people watcher, a boat spotter, a river rat and I love Pittsburgh's skyline!  

It should be a fun night, With food and friends. 

It's starting to green up around here, the weeds in my yard are taking over, you can hear the grass grow, and flowers are showing up every day.

I've been getting out to run most mornings, new orange running shoes are such an incentive!  I love my camera phone or is it phone camera?

 

 

Guess what really matters is that if I vary my route every day I see something fun to photograph. Sure wouldn't be able to do that it wasn't for my phone. I can't imagine carrying my SLR around with me.

This morning I passed a house that had more stuff outside than any house on the block. The kitchen sink wasn't there but everything else was including a flower basket hanging from the railing.

No flowers planted in it, but the cat thought it made an excellent cat bed. 

I'll leave you with this photo. Soon as I shower off the sweat, I'm going out and share a smile with someone. Why don't you try it?

Remember, I love you.

God bless you!

Jan

 

While running this morning...

I saw this:

it's a good thing!

Love you guys!

God bless you,

Jan

Running in the right direction...

This morning I thought I'd change things up a bit. Instead of heading for the Industrial park where I like to run, I ran through a new (to me) neighborhood.  I love to check out gardens, flower beds, porches and even sheds.  This morning I was running through an alley and saw this...

 

Made me smile, how about you?

Love ya!

Jan

Running a what?

As all y'all know, Sunday the toned, trained and terrific athletes flocked to Pittsburgh to run the Pittsburgh marathon.

The very special got to run on Saturday.  That's when they held the children's marathon:  1.5 miles, from the North Shore, across the Sixth Street Bridge, through town.  

For security, to encourage family physical activity, to add to the masses, each child running had to be accompanied by an adult wearing a matching bib.

I was asked to accompany Tyler and Ryan, Morgan's step brothers.  

I ran steady, cherishing the cow bells, cheering, whistles and shouts ( something I don't usually have when I run on local city streets).  Ty and Ry sprinted, lagged, walked, skipped and jogged but somehow we all crossed the finish line together.

All kids finishing got medals.  They wore them with pride!  

What fun!

Here's Team Jan:

---

 

So, where have I been?

I keep thinking that I'll have tons of time to sit and post a long, chatty update like I used to do...

Kids, it just ain't gonna happen, but GOOD THINGS have been  going on in my life that I want to share.

Today, I'll share one:  ten days ago I got to spend a few days n Atlantic City, NJ.  It was the first time I was ever there.  

Of course, being near the water inspires me.  I did a no-no (for me) and ran three consecutive days.

Why did I do that?  Running on the board walk provided me with this view:

 

Takes my breath away just thinking about it!

I'm outta here for now!  Now go out and bless someone with a smile.

God loves you and so do I!

Jan

Just wanna remind you...

Hey, I've been away for a few days, just getting back into the routine but wanted to share this with you, as a reminder:

You guys already know I love ya, don't you?

God bless you,

Jan

 

My dryer isn't heating!

Good thing I have sons I can call for help:

Well, at least it started out that way...as usual, they decided to YOU TUBE it, 

now they are watching stupid videos and giggling like a couple of teen age girls!

I should be impatient, but the sound is music to my ears...

What music are you hearing these days?

Gotta run, big plans for today!

Your visit here is such a blessing to me!

Love ya!

Jan

With great pride and love...

May I present:

My middle son, Andy, and Ashley, his beautiful bride!

Just get me to the church on time....

Oh heck no, I'm not getting married, who would have moi?

A long time friend/co-worker of Andy is getting married today. The wedding is in a few hours and at my age, it takes that long to become stunning...

Stunning? Stunning. Me. Stunning.

We'll see.

Hey, what are you doing this weekend? From what I hear, you should be queuing up to buy bread, milk and toilet paper-there's snow on the way.

Stay safe,
God bless you!

Jan

Yesterday was...

National single parent day.  I was a single parent to my oldest two children for a long time.  Although those years are far behind me now, I remember being so busy the memories are a blur...

My hats are off to those single parents!

I never thought it would happen again, but I find myself a single parent once again.  I think I am too old.  I KNOW I am.

A word to all those who think single parenting is a breeze at age 61:

This is what you might get...

Andy, dressed to attend a wedding rehearsal dinner. What a joker, just like his dad!

~sigh~

I am blessed. Hope you are counting your blessings too!

God loves you and so do I!

Jan

Sometimes I forget

Really, sometimes I forget to blog! I get going in 300 different directions at once and I forget I left all y'all back here, wondering where in the heck I went.

Another thing I forget is how blessed I am, I sit in a tub of bubbles and think about boo-hooing (but I don't because we all know I am a butt ugly crier) Until I remember that I am so blessed that I have blessings to share...and then I jump out of the tub, get dressed and share my wealth!

So here I am, ready to go out and be a blessing to someone. Why don't you do it too?

Seriously, my God is awesome!

See you soon!
God bless you,
Jan

PS, can't do much more than give you a peek, but THIS is what I'm working on!

Taking it easy...

I am fine, thanks for asking. Just tweaking my life a bit...it's all for the good. See you later this week!

For now, Winnie, Bill and Linda are offering free chillin' lessons!

Nineteen degrees and dropping:

Friends keeping friends warm!

Lazy Afternoons

When almost everyone has something to do...

Why do I Blog?

I was in the midst of a MNN (Much Needed Nap) when that quirky sound alerted me to the fact that 

I was being texted upon.

If I told you about the ensuing conversation, you would not believe it, so I'll SHOW you. 

 Ah, the wonders of technology.

 

This message came from one of my 

six favorite sisters-in-law.

The green shaded words of wisdom came, 

of course, from me...

Now, why do I blog?

To re-read when I am having a down day

 so I can smile again and again...

Go out and give one of  your smiles away!

Love,

Jan

National Read Where?

It's National Read in the Bathtub Day! 

 Reading in the tub is one of my favorite things to do.  

I'd spend the entire day reading in the tub if I could. 

I could see that this could easily become one of my very favorite holidays!!!!

I thought of how I might decorate...alas, there is no room in my bathroom for a tree...

So I thought I'd just practice...

So I got a cup of tea in my favorite mug...

Ran a tub of hot, steamy bubbles with my favorite bubbly...

And since I am a modern, high tech kinda gal, I gathered several of my favorite book(s)...

Sure it's a Kindle,  I love that thing!

Oh, and I had to be sure that my phone was ready and able...

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh...

I leaned back, turned on the Kindle, 

sipped my tea and began to read...

Then...

the cat comes in to walk on the edge of the tub...

the phone rings...

I answer (it's a lady from church)...

Now the next few minutes are too ugly for you to see, so we will skip ahead to where...

I threw on my robe...ran down the stairs...and got the rice...

Yes!  Rice!

No, I didn't suddenly get hungry for Chinese!

While doing my research, I saw that several people were posting photos of their Kindles looking like this...

I thought that was silly...

But now, my Kindle is encased in a baggie too.  Look:

We're still drying out, still crossing  our fingers...

~heavy sigh~

So if you need me today, I'll be easy to find. I'll be in the tub, celebrating Read in the Bathtub Day the old fashioned way:

One page at a time!

Love ya,

Jan

Welcome new friends!

The word on the street is that Marlene from Stitching by the Lake is heading this way with her virtual tour!

I just wanted to say...

Come on in, look around.  I planned to post a gracious and witty welcome to all newcomers, but I've been busy this week...

So, this will have to be a self guided tour...leave a comment to let me know you were here and please...come back again!

Nice to meet you!

Jan

Today is...

Can you believe it?

Scary, isn't it, but it's true...

Katie, my beautiful niece,

is having a birthday today!

Happy birthday, Miss Katlyn, 

I love you!

Aunt Jan

Happy happy...

Magickal Graphics

Not sure about you, but I am ready for spring!

Punxsutawney Phil Sowerby, what's your answer?


See you soon!
Love ya,
Jan

I got that warm fuzzy feeling...

Last night when we were getting ready to call it a night,

 Tony and I were in the kitchen filling the water bowls for the dogs.

Winnie, Tony's basset hound was standing there, just waiting.

Instead of carrying her bowl back to it's usual place, 

Tony set it down in front of her so she could get a drink.

And then...

are you ready for this?

He lifted her ears and held them up so they would not fall into the water bowl (something we deal with all the time around here) while she drank.

~sigh~
Warm Fuzzy

Tony loves his Winnie...

And Winnie loves her Tony!

~happy sigh~

She's NOT spoiled...

Is she?

Don't you just love those little love stories out there?

Now go out and lay some loving on someone. Make your own little love story:   Hold open the door, Let someone with only a few items go in front of you at the check out line, smile like you mean it! 

Love,

Jan

I Quit!

correction: after counting backwards and consulting with my historian (Tony), we've determined it has been EIGHT years!


7 years and two weeks ago,

I made the decision to quit smoking...

Seven years ago yesterday,
I smoked my last cigarette.

Seven  years ago today,
I became a non-smoker.

Seven years with nary a puff-other than my puffed up ego.

I'm a non-smoker and darn proud!

squeezing my WHAT?

Years ago, when I was teaching my brother how to drive, we racked up many miles in my 

school bus yellow 1975 VW Beetle. 

Many times, he'd be driving between rows of parked cars, or passing huge trucks on the highway and I'd squeeze my bum cheeks together, HARD, as if that would make the car smaller?!?

Once we got through the tight squeeze, I'd always tell him, "I was squeezing my bum cheeks together!"

After a while, when one of us wanted to show support for each other, we'd say, "I'm squeezing my bum cheeks for you!"

Family tradition...

This morning, I booted up the 'ol computer, 

balanced my checking account...

Paid my bills...

Checked my credit report to make sure someone wasn't spending all the money I don't have...

...and...

Squeezed my bum cheeks and...

Did my taxes!

Believe me, because I had some pretty new (to me) things going on this year, I wasn't sure how things would go...

All I can say is all that squeezing worked. It wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be!

~whew~

How about you?  Did you do your taxes yet?  Need me to squeeze for you?  Let me know!

Back soon.  Dinner tonight with one of Mark's high school friends and his wife.  I'm excited, they make me feel so warm and fuzzy.  

Until then, go out and be a blessing in someone's life.

Love ya,

Jan

Going...going...gone!

In our town, if you don't have anything to do on a Saturday night, head on down to the local auction house!

Wally Yaracs Family auction has been going on for years. 

Although the founder has passed away, there are two generations still holding auctions there on Saturday nights.  

They have STUFF...

And then they have SPECIAL STUFF...

This week there was a tricycle...

A wringer washer and a wood burning stove...

There are boxes and boxes, table after table.  

Wally, the owner/auctioneer, sits on a stool on top of one of the tables and auctions things off...

He pounds on the floor with a cane (he seems to collect them) to make a point or conclude a sale.

It's always a full house, I've seen a packed house during a snow storm. 

 Regulars are afraid they'd miss something good.

This week, in addition to the stove and washer, they must have gotten an Elvis collection. 

 There were 20 or 30 Elvis photos...

Elvis calendars, books, lamps and records.

 If you wanted it Elvis, you should have been there.

It's always fun when they start filling boxes. Morgan started out bidding on two Pyrex baking dishes and ended up spending $2 on two boxes of stuff, including 

A toothpick holder!

Oh, and these...

Everyone got a chuckle out of Tony's reaction.

All night the auctioneer kept looking to Morgan to keep the bidding going.

I managed to snag 17 green depression glass plates for 45¢ each.

We didn't bid on...

a Pez collection or hair clippers...

Although Tony assured me they did work!?

We also passed on the box top full of assorted stuff with 

no real purpose!!!

I did manage to snag a 10 gallon crock that is so heavy 

it's still in my car. 

 Morgan got a small air hockey table and 

Tony got to carry it all out to our cars...

Oh, and he got Nachos.

 I didn't mention they have a full kitchen in there.

If you are ever out and about with nothing to do on a Saturday night, let me know, we can hit up the auction...until then, I'm...

Going, going, outta here!

Love ya,
Jan