Valentine Event

 

Bob kids that he extends the February 14 holiday over many days-and he does just that! He keeps me adorned with flowers throughout the year. The older of the bouquets was still beautiful when he arranged the new, so I had two!  One day he found chocolate covered strawberries to gift me. On the Friday before the holidays, we shared a delicious lunch at Hometown Pizza, with leftovers to enjoy a few more days!

 

Blessed with spring weather a few days this month, we ventured into our woods. Here we are in winter coats but high enough temperatures to melt the snow.
 

Last Sunday we ventured into the woods in front of our house and walked the deer trails to explore.  Bob found a deer skull, with notches for the fallen antlers.

 We still get cold temperatures, wind and snow, but the good news is our deer no longer fear the hunters and the foursome from last summer are back, and looking healthy. We're expected to add to the pack in the spring.

 Both sons celebrated birthdays this month and we so look forward to seeing them soon. We think about them all the time and so appreciate the frequent communication.

Together in the Tundra

 

We brought in the new year with snow, not a lot and tolerable temperatures. There were a few days when the snow melted and we took a walk in the woods.

One week we took a ride to Oakland, stocking up on grains at Schrocks Country Store and stopping at Wild Ember for a loaf of their delectable Chocolate Fig bread. The BBQ restaurant we enjoyed in the fall was open, where we shared a lunch inside.

Our ride to Grafton another week brought pleasures of watching a bald eagle take flight at Tygart Lake, then lunch at Biggies.

We’re ending the month in a deep freeze, snow and ice. School has been closed for a week. My walks are limited. We call it living in the tundra.

Reading, bird watching and being together is our pleasure.

The afternoon the power was out, we sat by the kerosene heater in the basement with retro Christmas lights blinking around the train set.

No Place Like Home

Our holidays this year were quiet. Bob’s resting from his last round of targeted chemotherapy (only one more round) and on Christmas Eve he developed bronchial pneumonia. Yet it looks like we’ll ring in the New Year on the mend. 

Our kids make us happy with continual messaging and calls. Greg and Michelle, who live overseas, spent Christmas in Vienna and share pictures of markets and buffets. Chris just started a new job with few days off but has friends to share celebrations. We’ll see him soon. We loved his picture of Hank on the couch with another golden lab at the sitters home.

Winter weather came early but managed to warm enough for Bob and I to take a few walks in the woods. We look forward to spring when the wildflowers bloom.

After 10 years of post retirement volunteering, I have officially retired. In those years I taught classes for life long learners, conducted food demonstrations at our summer farmers market and taught statewide whole grains classes. I developed and tested recipes for the Food and Nutrition magazine and even wrote an article for them (complete with footnotes). I was a Stone Soup Blogger (that was fun) and styled many a platter with recipe posted on my personal food blog. Bob and I shared picnic adventures in the parks of West Virginia and surrounding states. In the pre COVID days companies sent me cookbooks to review when I got to try many recipes ,then share the cookbook with a friend. 

Most days I enjoy my walks in the truck lot at the bottom of our hill. There is a little spruce bush where I turn around that I decorated with a few Christmas bulbs. While most of the neighbors are retired, we can count on them for smiles and messages, snow removal and treats. 

There is a small group of dietitian friends that lunch together about once a month and we were able to do that in December.

I so enjoyed a few classic Christmas movies- National Lampoons Christmas Vacation, Miracle on 37th Street, parts of Home Alone 1 and 2 and the Sound of Music. (Unsure if it qualifies, but it is wonderful) I played Christmas songs on the piano daily. My favorite memories are with Bob, sitting in the basement near the kerosene heater with the light up manger scene and flashing retro lights around the train layout.

We are blessed.

Thankful For Everything

 

Fall 1958 was the first time I left home without my Mother. At 72, my mood still dips this time of year. 

Fall didn’t last long this year. Temperatures were below normal.

The drought ended. Acorns were abundant and the deer feasted in our yard. One day  I counted 14 deer crunching nuts.

Bob and I were home as Bob rested from his third season of targeted chemo for a bladder tumor. Bob keeps up on the falling leaves and laundry. For the first time since retiring a decade ago, I have no volunteer or social activities. I walk and cook. (The water bill is up!) Bob and I both read and nod off while sitting on the lazy boy couch. 

Here we are-the end of November.We are so thankful that Chris moved back to West Virginia. He’s 2 1/2 hours from home, working day shift for people who like him and living near friends and family.

Greg and Michelle call weekly and message to share adventures. Sundays often include calls from both sons. 

I am thankful for Bobs’ constant companionship and care. He adorns me with flowers and escorts me on errands and markets. In late afternoon he takes my hand to tell me how he enjoyed his day with me. Who could ask for more?

View

Look out any window this time of year to view the deer who feast on nuts and salt.  The game camera added insight into who comes into the yard after dark.

2025
 

49 & 71

 

September was a month to celebrate starting on the 5th when we celebrated our 49th wedding anniversary. On the 27th, we celebrated Bob's 71st birthday.  Perhaps the best news of all was Chris moving back to West Virginia! He landed a job where the people liked him and welcomed him. He's near friends and only a little over 2 hours from home.  We are blessed!

2025 

Summer Pleasures

 

Bob left me a tiny "expensive greeting card" after a day of doing the summer things I love:

"Nothing is better than a beautiful ride and beautiful day with a beautiful girl."

 We also love sitting on our front porch watching the wildlife and drinking coffee or sharing a Coke. Our home is beautiful too!

2025