My Grama's Soul

For the next 100 days I have committed to do a post each day of something that I deem to be beautiful. MY GRANDSON........... Jo

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

For those of you living in colder parts of our country, I wanted to share pics of what it is like in Arizona right now.  Flowers are blooming like crazy as it has not turned so hot yet. The jasmine has bloomed and the fragrance is truly heavenly...but it doesn't last for long.  So we do enjoy it while we have it. The lavender and dianthus are taking off as are the bottle brush bushes.  The bees are especially fond of the lavender and the hummingbirds LOVE the bottle brush. We have a resident humming bird who lives in a tree nearby and often vacations in our little courtyard.  He loves the Buddha fountain I have hidden under the bamboo. Most evenings he comes here for water and to take a little bath while Skyler and I are in our TV room watching a movie.  We can see him through the window as he often comes to show us how lovely he is by putting on a display in front of the window. I always like to think th...

I certainly don't do as much Christmas decorating as I used to when I was younger.  In fact, since my son passed Christmas is always a bittersweet time for our family.   But this year it has been easier to get in a festive mood, so we got out all the old Christmas things and tried to use them in new ways.  The above wreath is decorated with clear bulbs that my sweet grandson and I tie-dyed to be pink in color.  They turned out lovely and I was able to use them in this old wreath.  I have it mounted on an old bird stand and it is proudly displayed in our living room. Our tree is only about three and a half feet tall and it sits on a desk and the end of our main room in the house.  My sweet sister in law gave me a Christmas book a few years back with all kind of handmade papers and cards.  This year I took it apart and used it to decorate my little tree.   When you retire ...

HAPPY TURKEY DAY..... xo Jo

Yesterday was my wedding anniversary.  June 1st, 1979 was the day my sweet Brad and I tied the knot...  as they say. We had a very simple wedding as it was a second marriage for the both of us...  In a small home down in central Phoenix....38 years ago.  Only immediate family joined us and we were married by a Justice of the Peace.   Neither one of us had much in the way of stuff or much money for that matter;  but we had my two kids and each other and that is all that seemed to matter. Lots and lots of flowers decorated our home for this event...are you surprised? Daisies were my favorite flower then so we filled the place up. The JP wore a Kelly Green leisure suit...which I WILL NEVER FORGET.  When he rang the door bell and I answered....it did take my breath away...I'll tell you that!   :0) The whole event was catered by Miracle Mile Deli.....one of our favorite inexpensive eating places...and I...

My mom died when I was 32 years old.  I still miss her after all these years. Here is to you MOM!! Jacqueline Marie Robinson 1921~~1979

This is a second marriage for both Brad and I.  His first wife, though I never met her sounds like a lovely woman, but the marriage just didn't work.  Fortunately, ours has. He has never shared much with me about his first marriage...but as I have gotten older I have been a little more inquisitive about that part of his life. One of my recent questions to him was what his home looked like. He has always loved wood and he has told me that his last home with her had Mahogany doors and window casements.  Perhaps that is why we always have wood floors  when we purchase a new home.   This led to me inquiring about the inside style of his home. He said it was pretty basic...black leather sofa from college days and a few other things they has picked up along the way. Her style was totally opposite mine....not so much stuff!  haha Anyway....as we are talking about this he was looking around our sweet li...

While sitting at Mayo clinic this morning waiting for tests to be done, I sat across from a beautiful woman in a blue bandana.  Actually, she was dressed in blue from head to toe.  While contemplating what her health situation might be, I realized how confident and regal she appeared to be. This wonderful woman knew who she was, knew she was ill, and knew she would survive. If I am ever forced to wear my own blue bandana, I hope to show the confidence she shared with me today.   Just sayin' Jo

"Don't cry because it is over.  Smile because it happened." Dr. Seuss This is a photo of our two beautiful Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.  Sophie, in front and Skyler behind.  Soph...as we call her is 14 and Skyler just turned 5. These two pups have given us such joy it is hard to describe in words. Today, unfortunately, we have had to make the decision to put our older girl, Soph, down.  It is one of the hardest decisions a pet owner must make but we know it is our final loving responsible act. Tomorrow morning we will have the vet come to the house and lay our girl to rest. I know it will be the saddest of days but one that any pet owner must ultimately face in the end.  I titled this post as I did choosing the words I chose for these reasons. I need God's HELP in seeing me through all this sadness:  just as God helped me pick Soph as a puppy all those years ago. I want to THANK God everyday for having...

What a wise quote for the beginning of 2016.  I plan on staying PRESENT this year and enjoying every minute of it. xo Jo quote:  Values.com

Goodness....I have not posted in over a month.  This one will have lots of pics so be prepared.  (O: I was not sure if I was ready to celebrate this year as Christmas day was the last day I saw my son alive....but I know Scott would want me to celebrate the day even though he is somewhere else....hopefully....having his own celebration!!! These old clear bulbs turned into the ones in the shots above.   Still loved the bulbs as they are plastic and unbreakable but wanted to make them a color so took paint and made that happen.   I have used the same decorations now for sometime....just remaking them into something new.   We did not put up a big tree this year as I was just not up to the task...but as you can see I spread little things here and there though the house. The leather photo album in this picture is over 100 years old.  It contains pictures of my aunt, my mom and my grandmother and grandfath...