MY BEAUTIFUL 15TH GRANDCHILD!!

On September 17, 2010 my 15th grandchild, Tessa Ann Johnston was born. Tessa is the 2nd daughter of my son. Evan and his wife, Traci. They had trouble having babies until they had invitro and their first daughter, Tori was born about 6 years ago. A truly beautiful miracle baby.They were able to save some embryos for another time.  When the time came to have another child, they used their saved embryos to no avail, so they went thru the whole grueling invitro procedure again.  But again it did not work.  After so many disappointments they decided it was not to be and were thankful they at least had Tori.  But lo and behold, God worked another miracle and they became pregnant the old fashion way and beautiful Tessa joined their family . We welcome you, Tessa into our family and we are so glad you are here!!

FALL

A sure sign of fall. Soon frost will be on the pumpkins!

My friend Joann, came to stay with me for two weeks in July. Despite her memory and hearing problems we had a great time. She would have been happy just sitting on my front porch everyday, but I took her many places and we had a good time. I took the ferry with her to WI where her daughter met us. We had lunch and I returned home on the ferry. Got my ferry trip in for the year. I do love to ride the ferry. Brings back lots of happy memories for me.

Where did the summer go?

Seems we celebrated Labor Day and summer ended even tho it does not officially end until late September. Lots of wind and cooler temps have arrived and like always I am not ready to give up summer.

It was a beautful summer. So much better than last summer. Was to hot in many areas of the country, but here by the lake it was marvelous. Never turned on the air conditioner.

The summer started with my Dad's memorial service. It was simple and heartfelt and I think Dad would have been pleased both with the service and the many friends and relatives that came to honor him. Always so sad to say goodby to those we love. In the last 7 years we have had to say goodbye to way to many family members and friends. Life does go on, but never is quite the same.

It was a bittersweet time. Tough to say goodbye to Dad, but wonderful to have so much of my family together. All were here, except one granddaughter. While here, my twin girls turned 50 years old. Man oh man did those years fly by.

My brother and sister in law invited the whole gang to their place for a big party, where we actually celebrated five June birthdays. Erin, Elin, Campbell, Katy and Julie. Was a great party. After everyone left, my son Ethan and his family stayed on for a while and so enjoyed getting to spend that extra time with all of them.

The rest of the summer was filled with friends and family visiting.  Lots of trips to beach and State Park. Must say I really enjoyed my first summer here by the lake.  It is truly a beautiful spot.  I would love to be sharing it with John, but that was not meant to be I guess.  There are times I seem to feel his presence so perhaps he is still coming around to be with me.  I hope so.

Had some fun filled days up at Susan's with the girls, The Sisterhood with the View.

In July I attended my 55th high school reunion.  We all had a wonderful time.  We are all alarmed tho that our next reunion in 5 years we will all be mighty close to 80 years old. Yikes!!  Those years have certainly flown by quickly. 

Mt Pleasant High School Class of 1955

Happy Father's Day

This is the first Father's Day in 73 years that I have not had my Dad to celebrate. He passed away on February 7, 2010. I miss you Dad, you were the best of the best. The father of my 7 children has been gone for four Father's Days now. I miss both of these men everyday, but these special days are especially hard. Loved you both with all my heart.

My four sons are all Dads now and have given me 8 of my 14 grandkids, with another on the way in the fall. My son-in-laws gave me the other 6 grandkids. They are all wonderful
Dads. I am blessed to still have these 6 fabulous men in my life.

Happy Father's Day to all you wonderful Dads!! I love you all.

The Easiest Peanut Butter Cookies Ever

I first saw this recipe in a Christmas catalog several years ago. It said something like - you hear carolers coming down the street- quick make these cookies and they will be done and ready to serve before the carolers reach your door. Not sure about that, but they are pretty easy and pretty darn quick. Also they taste really peanut buttery.

So I made them for my husband and he loved them. We took some out to my folks and my Dad loved them also. I said, Mom you should make these cookies sometime. Dad loves them and they are so easy and you won't have to stand for hours on your swollen legs. Do you know what she said? She said, they are not cookies. I said why do you say that? She said because they do not have flour in them and if they don't have flour they are not cookies. So I said, well they look like a cookie, they taste like a cookie, so I think they must be a cookie. She said, no they are not and that was that and she never did make them.

Know what's funny? My husband used to say and now my kids are always saying, Oh Mom you are getting just like Grandma! Guess we just can not help ourselves!!!

But you know what, my gluten free friends love these peanut butter cookies or whatever!!

Here is the stuff you need:

Peanut butter, egg, sugar and vanilla.

Recipe

1 cup creamy Peanut Butter

1 cup sugar ( I use 1/2 cup brown and 1/2 cup white)

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. In medium bowl mix all the ingredients. Roll into small balls, place on cookie sheet and flatten with fork in crisscross pattern. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool before serving or storing.

At long last....

At long last got myself a new little notebook computer. I love it. The Red Cross had their annual "angel auction" the other night and for the first time in my life I actually got into a bidding contest with someone for this computer. I hung in there and at long last outbid them. It is a cute little thing and even a pretty rose color. Don't have a clue if I paid to much, but it was for a good cause and I really don't think I did. Now I have computer, can travel. How fun is that?

Here are a couple of pictures:

Isn't it just the cutest thing? I'm as happy as a box of birds!!

May Day

I remember a interesting May Day many years ago when we were living in Ohio. It was late afternoon and time for all my kids to be home from school. Suddenly my front door bell rang, which hardly ever happened. I opened the door to find 3 beautiful May baskets hanging on my door knob. The baskets were filled with the most beautiful tulips. Of course I was so thrilled and then I heard my three young daughters giggling around the corner of the house and knew where the baskets had come from.

Suddenly my phone rang and it was my next door neighbor and she was not happy. Seems everyone of her beautiful tulips had disappeared from her yard. This was not so good, but I sure do remember it and always will. So a belated thanks for the tulips and the memories girls. Just don't do it again, OK!!

My Dad

On February 7, 2010 I lost my 96 year old Dad, Robert Allison Archey. He had been my Dad for almost 73 years. He was wonderful man and I am missing him so very much. I was lucky to have him for so long I know. After my Mom and husband died, it was just kinda my Dad and I taking care of each other. Tho we did not live together, we saw each other almost everyday. I never walked into his house without him giving me a great big smile and a laugh. It is so sad to lose those you love, but I think he stuck around just to see if I was going to be OK and when he thought I was, he was ready to go. He had been really missing my Mom, Zelma for almost 7 years. He quite often called me Zelma. They were both wonderful and I shall miss them more than anyone will ever know.

I am hoping Dad is up there in heaven dancing with my Mom and that my husband is playing the trumpet for for them. Love you all. Always will.

Lump Update

I am one lucky person. Also a very thankful person. I do not have cancer after all!!! Oh how I wish more people could get this news.

No squamous cell cancer!!! They now believe my lump was something called Branchial Cleft Cyst and that my friends is not cancer!! Something that may have formed when I was a embryo. In Greek, Branchial means "gill". (Is probably why all my kids were such good swimmers!!) Some kind of infection most likely caused lump to grow, because after taking antibiotics, the lump did shrink somewhat. Not sure I understand entirely yet, but am working on it.

If they had been able to determine this earlier, I would not have had to have 5 hours of surgery or removal of lump, muscle, veins, lymph nodes & who knows what else. Guess you can live with them. One good thing is that I guess this will cause the medical profession to maybe take larger biopsies in the future, not just fine needle biopsies. My doctor actually apologized!

So now I am working on recovering for 4-6 weeks. Am feeling pretty good considering and really feeling good about not having to go thru radiation or chemo. Am sure once numbness and swelling go away, I will be almost good as new. Thank you, thank you dear family and friends, I know your prayers made this happen. Love you all.