A Beautiful May Basket!

A banner day! My next door neighbors, Mike and Diane both play with the Phoenix Symphony. They have two daughters ages 8 and 12. Due to their special work hours, Diane's parents come to Arizona from Minnesota every winter and take care of the girls during the symphony's season. It so happened that this year they had to return home a month early, so I have helped out! And last night while I was there, I asked the girls if they knew what tomorrow was? They gave me a strange look, and said, "It's the first of May." I said, "Yes, it is." I went on to tell them that when I was growing up, this was a very special day for kids. It was called May Day, and a celebration of spring and health. One of the ways we celebrated, was by hanging May Baskets on the doors of special friends. I explained how my Mom would spend the week before creating these beautiful baskets. Then we filled them with candy and little flowers, hung them on the door knob or placed them just in front of the door of our friends home. We would ring the bell or knock and then run. You were not to let them know who left the basket.

Will guess what? I was sitting in my chair this afternoon watching TV when the door bell rang! I wasn't expecting anyone, thought maybe it was my grandchildren. . . . It took me a little while to get there. But, looking out, I didn't see anyone. Thinking that was strange, I opened the door and Behold, there was a beautiful May Basket hanging on my door knob along with a lovely boquet of flowers! What a surprise and joy for me!

No More Hi-Tech Toys!

Here I sit in one of my favorite places, Paradise Bakery! What's not to like about that? My kids left for the airport on their way back to Houston. But first, we stopped here for breakfast, and the main reason, being certain my lap top was Wi Fi ready! After two days of running updates and deleting unused and unwanted programs, I am up and running. I have a new toy! Dave said, it was an old one and he's right there. But here I am, doing something that has only been in my thinking, for a couple of years.

Another thing they worked on, was the TV. Hmmm, I didn't realize I had a dvd and remarked about the fact, and was told I did. Kris asked, "What's that box in the table there?" To my complete surprise, I found it to be a dvd and cd player, as well as a radio etc! Everything plays through the TV and the surround sound speakers! I have never used it. Dave told me, "Mom you are not getting anymore hi-tech toys, until you learn to use the ones you already have!" It's work in progress, but here I am with one of those toys! Now for the dvd!? It only takes three remotes, like I'm going to get that? Bob, family friend, came over after taking the kids to the airport and hooked up the cable for video and had it working. All I have to do is to remember which remote is for which function? WISH ME LUCK!
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HELP!

HELP!!!!!!!!!! WHAT IS GOING ON WITH FORMATTING? I KNOW IT IS PROBABLY SOMETHING VERY SIMPLE, BUT I AM AT A LOSS. THE LAST TWO ENTRIES ARE REALLY MESSED UP, AND NOT AT ALL THE FORMATTING USED, ESPECIALLY THE POEM!

Home - - - -By Edgar A. Guest

I have decided to include this very important poem on my blog for future and easier reference.

It takes a heap o' livin' in a house t' make it

home,

Aheap o' sun an' shadder, an' ye sometimes

have t' roam

Afore ye really 'preciate the things ye lef

behind,

An' hunger fer 'em somehow, with 'em allus

on yer mind.

It don't make any differunce how rich ye get

t' be,

How much yer chairs an' tables cost, how great

yer luxury;

It ain't home t' ye, though it be the palace of a

king,

Until somehow yer soul is sort o' wrapped round

everything.

Home ain't a place that gold can buy or get up

in a minute;

Afore it's home there's got t' be a heap o' livin'

in it;

Within the walls there's got t' be some babies

born, and then

Right there ye've got t' bring 'em up t' women

good, an' men;

And gradjerly, as time goes on, ye find ye

wouldn't part

With anything they ever used__they've grown

into yer heart:

The old high chairs, the playthings, too, the

little shoes they wore

Ye hoard; an' if ye could ye'd keep the thumb-

marks on the door.

Ye've got t' weep t' make it home, ye've got t'

sit an' sigh

An' watch beside a loved one's bed, an' know

that Death is nigh;

An' in the stillness o' the night t' see Death's

angel come,

An' close the eyes o

her that smiled, an' leave

her sweet voice dumb.

Fer these are scenes that grip the heart, an'

when yer tears are dried

Ye find the home is dearer than it was, an'

sanctified;

An' tuggin' at ye always are the pleasant

memories

O' her that was an' is no more--ye can't escape

from these.

Ye've got t' sing an' dance fer years, ye've got

t' romp an' play,

An' learn t' love the things ye have by usin' 'em

each day;

Even the roses ' round the porch must blossom

year by year

Afore they "come a part o' ye, suggestin'

someone dear

Who used t' love 'em long ago, an' trained ' em

jes' t' run

The way they do, so's they would get the early

mornin' sun;

Ye've got t' love each brick an' stone from

cellar up t' dome:

It takes a heap o' livin' in a house t' make it

home.

Trial and Error!

I don't know what I am doing wrong. I've been trying to edit my last blog and it is not allowing me to change anything. I've spent enough time for now, will come back to it later. Why do I make everything so difficult? Trial and Error. . .

Pictures and Memories - Carlsbad, CA

Carlsbad, CA. A trip that almost was not. Although the trip had been planned months in advance, sometimes things just do not work as planned. It was a few weeks out and my sister and travel companion became ill, and was not going to be able to join me on the trip. In hopes that something would change, I did not cancel. This was one of those resorts you cannot frequent more than once in four years. I was hoping against hope. Everyone I knew already had plans for that week. At the last minute I went for a long shot, and called a dear friend in Lincoln, NE on the outside chance she could make the trip. She and I have been life-long friends, though miles apart. Over the years we have had many trips together. We grew up in the same town, attended the same church and school, graduated, married about a month apart, worked in the same office while our husbands were serving in the Armed Forces and we had our first child within a month of each other. But it was only a few years later that we became separated by miles when we moved to Arizona. But we have managed to keep our friendship intact. I wasn't able to give her much time for a decision, but after deliberating about it for a day or two, she agreed. I couldn't have been more pleased. She flew to Phoenix and then together we drove to CA. giving us lots of time for chatting. We had lots of catching up to do. The resort was beautiful, our time there was packed to the brim with activities everyday. But like all good things, it too ended. But now, we have still another memory, of time shared on this special vacation!

Black Dots - Surfers Carlsbad, CA