My Grama's Soul

Anyone who knows me, knows, I have been a lifetime Gardner.  When I was young I used to have around l50 plants in my home.  Mind you, some died...but nevertheless, it never took the joy away from looking after the one's that survived.  I lived in AZ for most of my life so gardening can be sketchy.   It does delight me to see that gardening has taken hold once again in this beautiful world of ours.  I hope that this is not a passing fad like Sourdough Bread and Kambocha and all that baking we were doing during the early days of lockdown. Gardening can be a lifetime endeavor guaranteeing the Gardner earthly delights each and every day.  Keep on digging in that dirt. Stay happy Jo

O.K. people.....here's the thing....We are all in this together, so do something wonderful for yourself.  Please bring something beautiful into your home.  You deserve it, your emotions deserve it, your family deserves it, and your space deserves it. If you lucky enough to have a yard....go out and whack on some bushes and bring some greenery inside.  I've  done this here with  trees and bushes that are flowering at the moment.  I can't go the grocery store and buy fresh flowers because of our stay at home mindset right now..but I can raid my yard.  Things in pots count too....go cut off some stems of greens and put them in a little vase inside.  You would be amazed at what this little bit of effort does to your immediate space. One can only image how long this "sheltering in place" will be in effect but don't let this bump in our society let you lose your long term goal of living and having a ...

Enough already folks.....it is the holiday season!  If you follow the news at all you will realize that our country is so very angry.  In fact....the whole world seems to be angry right now. I get that everyone  is overworked and most of us are underpaid but can't we let go of all this animosity for just a short period of time and really ENJOY this season. I know things are far from perfect on our planet...we've done a lot of things wrong and haven't been paying attention as we should.   But please...let's give it a rest and just smile and greet the next person you see with a heartfelt MERRY CHRISTMAS or HAPPY HOLIDAYS. I know, I know.... I'm on my soapbox, but life is much too short not to enjoy the truly merry times. SO.........MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!! Jo

I have shown this work of mine in a previous post. Like most things I do....I'm always revising and refinishing until I achieve the desired result. Still not done here but wanted to show my progress on this little wall piece.  Painted with Behr paints you can by at Home Depot and worked on a little at a time when the spirit moves me. I could not do anything like this when Brad and I were traveling back and forth to the San Juans and out to our little place in Montana.  I was not able to get the supplies easily and it seems as though we were ALWAYS on the move.  Anyway....now that we have settled in our little spot....I can pretty much experiment any way I want as long as I don't rip out walls and attempt to do any major construction.  This is a little slow going as I get older...but it does bring me such joy just to be able to work creatively. I try to be patient with things like this now as new ideas take time to gel. ...

Look at this beautiful hibiscus bloom....is there anything more lovely?   Any person who says there is no divine order to our world surely must be mistaken. With all the tumult around us constantly I challenge each of us to simply "go outside and smell the roses" or hibiscus for that matter. Just show gratitude for all this wonderful planet has to offer.  Instead of "whining" about what you don't have look around and see what you do have....and it doesn't cost a dime! Me on my soapbox today....Just sayin' xo Jo

Brad and I were married 40 years ago today.  It seems almost impossible that so much time has sped by.  It is a life filled with many, many memories that I never dreamed I would have. Saying those vows all those years ago in our little living room in our house on Holly makes the memories even sweeter. We started out with next to nothing...only our love and commitment to each other and my kids and we have never wavered.   He always sends me one rose for each of our married years.  This year....it is 40....such a large bouquet that the florist had to place it in two vases.  Goodness....the thought just occurred to me if we make it to 60 they will have to put the roses in a small wheelbarrow. HAHA!! I married a wonderful man....I'm VERY FORTUNATE AND GRATEFUL. Have a beautiful day, Jo

WHAT A BEAUTIFUL PHRASE.....AND IT ALWAYS WILL BE! MERRY CHRISTMAS xo Jo

Brad and I have a lunch group that meets on the third Friday of each month.  We rotate turns on picking the place.  Today it was Indian food. Here are we girls being silly in our Christmas cheer. xo Jo

Part of celebrating Memorial Day...is having memories. Sophie we will ALWAYS miss you!! Jo

JUST SAYIN' Me.....

Today is our thirty seventh wedding anniversary.  My how the years have flown by.  It seems like only yesterday we were standing in front of the Justice of the Peace in his KELLY GREEN leisure suit....that's right...it was a hoot!! I should of known  then I was in for one heck of an adventure with my guy.  We have had a wonderful and exciting life together, and it "ain't over yet" as they say. Happy Anniversary Brad... I will love you forever. Jo