Heidi is now competing at the Preliminary level!!

2 weeks ago, Heidi competed at Morven Part HT..her first prelim show.... She came in 4th...a great achievement ...Gem and Heidi are superstars ...and it won't be long until she goes intermediate and CCI....woohoo!!

GO HEIDI!!

GIVEAWAYS

Wendy,Laurie and Holly..... go to the "Make it perfect "blog listed on mine and check out her fabulous designs!! she is giving a pattern away in a draw.. all you have to do is leave a comment on her blog .. with contact info if she can't get to your blog....
have fun.. hope one of us wins.. the coat is so cute...I can see all three girls in it...

A tribute to my Mother ..for her birthday and today...

Shannon's last day of Holidays

Shannon went back to school today.. Her job as a teacher's aid is back on track....so we went and had fun....at Putt Putt golf... we had a blast because neither of us has any golfing skills.....

The Sunshine Factor

It's that time of year to dust the cobwebs of the last few months...where the cold prevailed and the Sun's rays weak....


Today,I offered to drive Randy to an appointment in Englewood.... hmm.. it really was an excuse to have some ME time with a book.... I really really needed to finish the Twilight series.. yes maam... I am not done yet.... on book three and still one to go... Once parked ..I let the engine run for the AC and music (I've been caught out before with a dead battery...).. I had my favourite AM channel on.. studio 1430... put the seat back for plenty of leg stretch...and started to read...and read... and read... I looked upwards out the window for an eye break...and could not help but look at the trees..their leaves dancing in the sunlight and breeze....and the oh so blue Colorado sky....I had to get photos... luckily..on the back seat was my camera...I daydreamed ..imagining myself up there.. weaving in and out of the leaves,falling softly towards the breeze which lifted me up ..up to soar as a free spirit in the sky.....Daft I am.. a new lease on life it gave me....




and now back to the real world...where Shannon and I took the dogs to the park...they had a blast!

Joplin....




Skip....


Bailey found a Husky friend with whom he ran and wrestled....

then found shade...he was wiped out..and a very happy puppy...

See those shiney white sparkling teeth? Yay! ailey went to the dentist last week and had his annual teeth cleaning...He has FANTASTIC sweet -smelling breath again.... He collects Tartar so bad....poor guy...He loves it at the Vet. I drove to Petsmart at 0730.He saw the building..His eyes lit up ...We got out of the car and he literally dragged me to the front door...trotted down to the back where Banfield Hospital is.. walked onto the scale..70#...smiling away...then he looked a little strange as he went willingly enough with the vet tech but realised I was not coming.... I didn't think of taking photos..our next visit I will ask the staff if we can and let you all see Bailey's Vet.. they love him just as much as he loves going there....

My Grandmother....Grace Ida Cook (1897-1951)

I remember sitting at the dinner table at "home" ,opposite my Dad. there would be chatter and silence... then I would get the feeling that someone was staring me... a scowl would be on my Dad's face.... or perhaps it was a tentative "am I being a good boy?" look.... Dad would say (this would repeat itself..usually every sunday dinner)
"I think my mother is at the table ,watching me ..you look the spitting image of her..!!"
I found out that like all small boys... Dad was terrified of not being in his mum's good books....and just like all little boys who are the babies of their family , my Dad was a cheeky little monkey... apparently he got away with blue murder but must have felt guilty some of the time!
Above is a photo of Grace..my (paternal)Grandmother....below.. is me..from a cancelled passport..similar???



Grace died in 1951 ,5 years before my parents were married...and My sisters and I were not even twinkles in their eyes! I often look at the few photos I have of her and think of the time to come when I can meet this wonderful lady... she had a powerful disposition,personality and an adventuresome spirit... She had 4 children, raising them pretty much alone.. and moved countries several times..now that is something I can relate to.. and it is not easy...why do it, you ask?.... why not????

Anzac Day and Jenny's birthday.. Mum's birthday was two weeks ago....wendy's Birthday.....

The months of April and May are busy for Birthdays... there is one every week..or if there isn't,we can still be celebrating the one just gone or the one coming!

I was the odd one out..however I am still a spring baby as is everyone else....

Here are some photos I have of my sisters...I am the middle child....I got it from both sides...I'll go into hiding now!!

Jenny is my baby sister, Jenny Margaret...born April 26th at home (strood,Kent)....Mum wanted to name her Jane but Wendy and Dad finally allowed Jenny...not Jennifer.







Wendy Ann was born May 3rd at all Saints Hospital, Chatham,Kent. Wendy is the firstborn....I remember being on Holiday in Cornwall one summer. Wendy was 11 years old. I don't remember what she did but Mum was telling her off..I kept quiet but felt horrified! I remember looking on the scene and thinking that now Wendy was in "double figures" she was too old to be told off!! What was I thinking???







Wendy should have been born a mermaid...She loves the beach and ocean!!
We have all been blessed with children and have enjoyed Motherhood over the years....