Out of town

It's been almost a week since I have posted, because I am out of state.  My third son is in the Army and has been deployed to Iraq.  He had his mid-deployment leave this week and so I went to Ohio to see him before he had to go back.  It was great seeing him and his wife and my two little sweet grandbabies.

May 4th - Finally home from Ohio trip

Well we got home from Ohio at 0430 hours and then I had to have dh to a doctor's appointment in Nashville by 1100 hours. 

It rained pretty heavy about half the way home.

And as usual, we hated to say goodbye to the folks in Ohio so much so that we lingered and lingered until it was way late.

Today on the way into Nashville we got caught in a pretty nasty traffic jam.  Dropped dh (by this time he was starting to become DH) off at the VA hospital for his appointment; and went about 2-3 blocks away to the Parthenon.  I am writing his blog post from my daughter's but have some pictures I took to post later.

The Parthenon is a truly amazing place and right in the middle of the city in Nashville.

I will write more after I unpack and make a "What I have to do to catch up" list.

Note: I wrote this blogpost longhand while at the Parthenon and have not gotten to post it until now.  That is why I dated it for May 4th.

Day 3 of our mini Ohio vacation

Well it is day 3 of our mini Ohio vacation.  We are going home tonight.  It finally quit raining, yeah!

My daughter-in-law and granddaughter came over to visit again this morning.  I sure will miss them when I go home.

My dad, daughter-in-law, uncle, brother and sister-in-law played games last night, that was nice.

It has been a pretty good weekend; didn't get to run around like I usually do; but in someways that made it nicer.

Tried to take a few pictures to share with you; but just like my cell phone, my camera batteries died ... hope that doesn't mean anything in the bigger picture of things.

Ohio Trip - Day 2

Another very rainy day here in Ohio.

Was up late visiting with family.  Got sick for a while last night, throwing up and all that fun stuff.  But think it was just temporary; feeling basically decent today. 

Was too 'up' from the day to fall right to sleep last night; so ended up online til almost 0300 hours.  First I caught up on some of my favorite blogs ... definitely not all of them.  Seems I follow so many of them.   Then I was playing games on Pogo.

Not really sure what's up for today, hopefully more visiting with friends and family.  Seems returning home for a visit is always a little bittersweet.  You are happy to be home and visit and see people; but you have to go home.  You are not one of the blessed people that is able to live their entire lives near to their loved ones.

But thankfully today we have cameras, and cell phones and the internet and so much more to allow us to live apart and to still be a part of each others lives.

Ohio Trip

I'm in Ohio for a short weekend visit!  It's kind of cool and rainy weather, but I am happy to be able to visit.

You know how you always seem to forget something?  Well sure enough, I left without packing the phone charger. 

Got to see my sister-in-law for a little bit.

Then went to Golden Corral with my Dad and my granddaughter to eat.
Then visited with my Dad for a little bit.  We looked at his pen collection (if you know Dad you know he is pen crazy & it tends to run in the family) and he gave me 4 pens I was drooling over.  I purple glittery one; and a fine point purple gel pen. And a yellow glittery one and another purple pen.  And since purple is my favorite color, I was happy! .... I know, sometimes, I am easily amused.

There is this cool office supply store in town called Bihl's and they not only have cool pens; then let you try them out in the store.  They have little scratch pads by the pens for you to check them out.  How cool is that?

Summer Vacation

Well summer vacation time is starting, Thursday I drove my youngest son to Ohio; so he could spend part of his summer vacation at his buddy's house. Tuesday I will take my youngest daughter to Virginia to spend the summer with my oldest daughter. After all these years of raising seven kids, it will be weird to have no kids around all summer. I am sure the grandkids will come visit at times; but on a day-to-day basis there will be no kids.

On the Road Again

Today I was back on the road; as I drove my youngest son to Ohio, so he could spent part of his summer vacation with his buddy. I was a 6 hour trip; but the day was beautiful and the trip was easy. The sky was beautiful blue and had the biggest, fluffiest white clouds all over ... absolutely gorgeous.
After I dropped my son off I went out to my dad's and he and I went to Golden Corral for dinner; we called my brother and he and his wife and daughter were able to meet us at Golden Corral and had a great time reminiscing. The prices there have been raised, although the quality wasn't and the waitress was rude. They charged $1.99 for drinks; and charged my dad an ADDITIONAL $1.99 for a cup of coffee. I will not be going back there.
Hanging out at my brother and sister-in-law's now; we sat up and had a good old-fashioned gabfest and then since I was wired from drinking Mountain Dew on the trip and at dinner I am still awake and so am taking advantage of their fast internet.
Amazingly, I no longer drink Mountain Dew everyday. Mostly around the house I drink a diet peach iced tea mix that I have been getting at Walmart.

Garden Plowed

Well we got our garden spot plowed up finally. We have been having the wettest [is that a word?] spring. This is only my second spring here in Kentucky; and only my 3rd or 4th garden ever; so it is a learning experience. It is about 15' x 50' I am guessing. It seems late in the year to me; but maybe they have a longer growing season here. I used to live in northern Ohio and they have a short growing season ... some nasty weather happening up there. I'll keep y'all updated on its progress.

What's everyone up to?

Well here is a current rundown on my bunch:

I am currently visiting friends in Ohio.

DH is at home watching the critters and the place.

DD1 is still stationed in Virginia; she is a staff sgt in the Air Force and thankfully returned safely in January from her third deployment. She has been home to visit 2-3 times.

DS1 is in Kentucky; he is still working for the same place; him and wife and kids are doing well; grandson and granddaughter made honor roll in school recently.

DS2 is still stationed in Kentucky with the 101st; he recently was promoted to Specialist; his wife is starting a new job; our granddaughter is going great.

DS3 entered the Army on New Year's Eve and has successfully graduated from basic training and is in the middle of his AIT now; his wife is about 4-5 months pregnant with their second child; the baby just turned 1.

DD2 is currently in Florida; and in the National Guard; she does the Honor Guard for the military funerals; she is engaged.

DS4 is up in Ohio this week visiting on of his best buddies; he is doing well in school; and is taking a welding class this semester that he is enjoying.

DD3 is spending her spring break with ds2 and family in Kentucky. She is doing well in school and recently had her birthday.

As for the extended family:

My dad and step-mom are still in Ohio and doing ok.
Much of the other family is in Ohio some in northern Ohio and some in southern Ohio. Thankfully most are doing pretty well.

I am blessed with my family and thank God for them.

Visit to Ohio

This past week, I have been in Ohio. It is spring break for the kids back home in Kentucky. So, my youngest son, begged to come back to Ohio to hang out with one of his best buddies. So I brought him and have been having a vacation / visit myself.

So far I have visited with my brother and sister-in-law and niece. We caught up and went yard-saling and went to lunch at the Chinese buffet. It was a long, fun, tiring day. We also went to visit my sister-in-law's dad for a while, he is almost 85 and still very spry.

The next day I got to visit with my dad and step-mom. He is doing pretty good. It stormed that night; and reminded me of why I do NOT miss Ohio weather.

Also got to visit with my aunt and uncle; she is the one that had bariatic surgery a year or two ago and she is doing much better.

Yesterday, I took my son and his buddy out to lunch at Arby's; and then son and I drove almost an hour further north to one of my best friends' house. I have been visiting here since. It is amazing how after not seeing each other in almost two years, that we can catch up like no time has passed at all.

Tomorrow I pack it up here, go pick up my son and head back to Kentucky. I am looking forward to going home, I have enjoyed the visit; but as the old cliche puts it so well ... There is no place like HOME. Especially after going for a year without a home of my own, I deeply cherish my home each day and am happy and content each morning when I wake up and realize that I am in my own Home Sweet Home. Corny but wonderful.

Family Back Home

Well the family is all back home from Ohio.

So the solitude is at an end. However, it had it's effect, I am much more centered and grounded and dealing with them much better.

They opened their Christmas presents from me when they got home. Two youngest kids got denim cathedral windows quilts -- one in red & blue and the other one in all blue.

Got my 2nd son's Army denim cathedral window quilt started, but I am short on the fabric and the local Walmarts don't have it in stock.