3/17 I'm So Lucky

 

I'm so lucky to have a birthday on St. Patrick's Day☘️

Everyone likes to celebrate my birthday (even if they don't like green beer)☘️

It's hard for family and friends to forget my birthday☘️

St. Pat's Day signals spring to me (even if the wind chill is zero and there is snow on the ground)☘️

My Facebook is filled with birthday wishes from friends and family and lots of former students☘️

My mom is still kicking at 88 and looking forward to our visit☘️

My brother and sisters will help me celebrate today☘️

My kids and grandkids will call (tomorrow I told them)

We're going out to eat (something we don't do often enough)☘️

I'll drink green beer (why don't they have green wine?) ☘️

16/31 It's Hard to Be a Puppy When It Rains

 

I can't play in the yard 

• it's too muddy
• it's too cold
• you'll get all wet
• you'll track mud in the house

It's hard to be a puppy when it rains.

I can't play inside

• settle down
• don't bite
• we're not wrestling
• stay out of the garbage
• what are you into now

It's hard to be a puppy when it rains.

I can't sleep all day, 

I have too much energy. 

I don't have any dog friends to play with.

I don't have any kids to play with.

It's hard to be a puppy when it rains.

15/31 Bad Slicer

 I have been a bad slicer the last few days and I don't see it getting better over the weekend. Life is taking over! How dare it!

I haven't written til waaaayyyyy late in the day. I haven't commented like I usually do. Usually, I comment twice a day. In the morning for the early birds and again after supper for those who post later in the day.

I'm setting a goal to write and comment on the next two mornings. Get me on schedule again. 

But Friday we are heading to my mom's overnight. It is the land of the internetless. I'm going to try and write a couple of posts that I can schedule them to post--or at least have them written so I don't have to write from my phone!

But my guess is, I'll write Saturday's post on my phone.

I can't be too organized. Can I?

14/31 They're Everywhere

 For the last few weeks I've been doing my "Welcome to Medicare" physical, as my doctor referred to it. So there was blood work, an EKG, and a bone density test. I also had a dental check-up. Now, this post isn't about those tests or Medicare, or even about growing old. Well, it is kind of about that.

I taught in our small town for many years. Taught a couple thousand or more kids. And now, many of them are adulting in our hometown. Most of them still refer to me as Mrs. Day

When I went for my EKG, a familiar face and voice awkwardly called my name. There was a little small talk as we walked down the hall and she introduced me to another former student who would be assisting. After all the explanations of what was going to happen (and they were pretty good at it!), we could talk and catch up on the years since we all left school. I like hearing about what's going on in their lives (another new school grandbaby is on the way 😊).

A few days later, the bone density test.

"Deb", an uncertain voice called. "Boy. Is that going to take some getting used to." 

It was one of my former speech kids, now working in radiology. We walked down the hall, chatting about nothing important. She introduced me to a trainee, who ran the test. While the test was happening, we caught up, and talked about vacations and her family. All the while, she kept an eye on her trainee and made sure things were running as they should. 

What's nice about this, is these are MY kids. MY school babies. And here they are. Adulting. Easing my tension and taking care of me. Like I tried to do for them all those years ago.

13/31 The Little Things

 It's The Little Things

The smell of coffee brewing☕️

Tulips pushing up through the ground🌷

Walks with Sophie🐕

My Birthday☘️

Comfy clothes💕

Ice Cream🍨

Dinner Out or brought in🥘

Grandkid giggles😂

Sophie zoomies in the yard😁

Sunshine😎

A glass of good red wine🍷

New pens and notebooks💕

Sitting on a beach🏖

Wander shopping🛍

Big hugs

Campfires🔥

Writing again!

12/31 The Toybox

All I know is that the toybox originally came from Grandma's Garage.

I don't know if my sisters and I used it and Mom gave it to me after my oldest was born or if Grandpa pulled it out of the garage after he was born.

I just don't know.

But it is the kind of thing Grandma would buy and keep in The Garage.

It traveled with us from my hometown and four moves after that. It held Hotwheels and GI Joes, Legos and Lincoln Logs. It lasted through our two boys and six grandkids. At the end, it held forgotten toys that no one played with anymore. It was relegated to the basement dumping ground.

Forgotten.

But then, Lucky #7 arrived. Mom and Dad were looking for a toy box...

It's circus animals fit in with her room decor. It needed a little TLC, but not much.

And now, it's no longer forgotten.

11/31 #sol23. Spring

 

Drip

     Drip

 Drip

Warm days

Melting snow

The sun warms me now

as we walk

Drip

   Drip

Drip

It creates squishy mud

That crawls between 

Puppy toes

She leaves paw prints

everywhere

Including my heart

10/31 #sol23 I Got Nuthin'

 

Seems about right. March 10, and the "I ain't got nuthin to write about" blues are here.

I wrote about my plants yesterday, for crying out loud.

I can't keep writing about Sophie--that would get boring. Although, she's been pretty cute lately.

Haven't seen the grandkids recently, so I can't write about them. Although, I love schools that livestream events because we did get to watch one of the kids' jazz choir concert the other night!

Maybe I could write a poem about spring or the snowstorm that wasn't yesterday.

We're meeting some lake friends tomorrow afternoon, but I guess that will be a post next week. Lake time is coming up! But I'm not ready to write about that.

I searched through my Blogging and Journaling board on Pinterest. 

Still nothing.

Looked through my notebook.

Still nothing.

So, this will do for today and I'll worry about tomorrow, well, tomorrow!

9/31 #sol23 Plant Babies

 

Mom says I got my green thumb from her mom. Could be. But I spend a lot of time taking care of my babies. Most of them I have rescued either from friends and family or Walmart. Wherever I get them, they all need a little TLC.

These are second-generation Boston Ferns. I rescued the original plant from Walmart three or four years ago. It started with four fronds. Last fall, before I took it apart, it was probably three feet across.

Seriously. It was huge. And it had overgrown its pot and made a horrible mess in the dining room where I hung it for the winter. I decided it was time to do something.

Websites I found said you could do one of two things to propagate new plants. The first was to cut the plant into pieces and plant them. The other was to take the little seed balls and plant them.

So I did both. And they are all doing great and ready for spring---if it ever gets here!

I also have some deep purple Morning Glories sprouting. My niece from Colorado sent the seeds to me because I loved these wrapped around her deck when we visited this summer.

This is from an African Violet from a plant I bought twenty years ago. It started dying off, so I plucked this little sprout off of the main plant and am hoping it will start a new plant. 

And this one makes me most excited. It's a bright orange hibiscus--another Walmart rescue. There are several buds on it right now and they should bloom in a few weeks. This is its third year. It started off spindling and about a foot tall. Now, it's about three feet tall. During the summer it lives on the deck and in the winter it's a dining room dweller. 

Now, if it would quit snowing, get warm, and stay that way, I could think about outdoor plants!

8/31 #sol23 Ohboyohboyohboy

 

Ohboyohboyohboy. Ohboyohboyohboy.  Ohboyohboyohboy

We're going for a walk! And about time. It's been so boring here. I better sit really nice while Mom gets ready, just to make sure.

Last night, I put my fleece-lined walking pants out so that when I got dressed today, I'd be all ready to go. I don't know how Sophie knows the difference in pants, but she does.

Oh, man. She's going to eat first! Well, at least it's Cheerios and yogurt. That doesn't take very long, and she does share the Cheerios. And I looooovvvveeee Cheerios.

She does. I used them as a treat to keep her off the table when we are eating. Now, every time I get the box out, she thinks they are for her😂

Here come the shoes!!!!! Now I know we're going to go for a walk! She only wears those shoes when we go for a walk. Ohboyohboyohboy.  And here comes my harness and leash (I wish she'd just let me walk without them.) Ohboyohboyohboy. And she's getting a poop sack!!!!! Ohboyohboyohboy

See you later. I gotta go before she changes her mind!

7/31 #sol23. A Walmart Trip That Made Me Smile

A lot of times, a trip to Walmart makes me grouchy. Too many people. Long lines. And I always spend more than I planned. Many years ago I took a class where a guy said every time he drives past Walmart, he should just throw $50 out the window. 

I kind of feel the same way.

But today, a trip to Walmart brought a smile to my face and it still hasn't gone away.

There I was. Standing in a random aisle, checking out random things when I heard

"Mrs. Day? Is that you, Mrs. Day?"

Five years after retirement, and I still turn and smile when I hear my name.

It was my teacher hater from my credit recovery class.

He gave me a big hug and shared his life with me. The first thing he did was whip out his phone and show me pictures of his two baby girls, and then, he introduced me to his girlfriend who obviously loves him. He's got a good job, although he's looking for something else. He just looks happy. 

Even today, the best part of teaching is connecting with students. Although now, I get to see them as adults and smile because they have created a good life for themselves.

6/31 #sol23 #CelebrateMonday

 Antoinette posted a slice this morning that dovetailed right into what I was thinking.

I have always liked Mondays. Probably because it seemed like I spent most of Sunday getting ready for it.

But on Mondays, I was ready for the week. I was organized and looked like I knew what I was doing. At least for Monday.

I was the annoyingly cheerful person who posted motivational Monday memes and used the #CelebrateMonday hashtag on Twitter.

But, now I'm retired. And Mondays are awesome! While the rest of the world is going to work, I am sitting in my pajamas, drinking more coffee than I need. I don't shower til 9:00 at least, and then I may put my robe back on. 

I sit leisurely in my recliner, watching the Today show, and making a to-do list of things I will try to do this week. But if not, they can be done next week, except for the bathroom. That is an absolute must-do today. Oh. And birthday cards. There are a couple coming up this week.

I may walk Sophie. I might go to the grocery store. I might dust and vaccum. 

Or I might read my book all day. 

5/31 #sol23 Down a Rabbit Hole

 I am not a late-day slicer, but I went down a rabbit hole today that threw off my whole morning.

Today, you see, would have been my grandparent's wedding anniversary. I don't know how or why I know that it is March 5th, but I always remember the date. It wasn't like they celebrated it (that I knew of anyway). I don't even remember them being overly affectionate. I just know the date.

But that started the trip down the hole.

I didn't know the year. 

First, I looked for a printed copy of my dad's family tree. Maybe that would tell me.  But no. Something I've put my hands on several times a year is nowhere to be found. 

Then I went to Family Search, a free ancestry site where I have an account. I did find out they were married in 1931, but, oddly, no marriage certificate.

I kept searching. 

When I clicked on Grandma's name, her family came up and some things had been added since the last time I was on this site. One of those things was another sister. One who died the same day she was born. Her birthday? The same as my grandma's.

Grandma was a twin?  Didn't know that.

Then I looked for a birth certificate. Nothing. But there was a death certificate for the baby that died. 

Curiouser and curiouser.

I finally dug myself out of the hole and moved on. 

But I have a feeling I'll be heading back down.

Just a little writing inspiration

4/31 #sol23. Begin Again (Saturday Morning Ramblings)

Spring exists

To remind us that

Everything can

Begin 

Again

These words spoke to me this morning as I read them 

(Sorry. They aren't mine and no author was listed. Found this on the Poetry Lovers Facebook page)

Begin Again

Reconnect

March is giving me that chance. Finding old blogging friends is rejuvenating my writing. And while I know that the middle of March "I don't have anything to write about" blues will rear their ugly head, right now, writing and sharing are fun again. 

Begin Again

Reconnect

Sophie and I took a walk yesterday. We hadn't had our daily walk for a couple of months. Too much ice and snow. And definitely too cold. But yesterday---

Spring began working its magic.

Sunny and 40.

Snow is melting, sidewalks are clearing.

Tulips are peeking up through the dirt (I really need to bring the Santa flag in)

Sophie had a blast on our walk. Darting back and forth in front of me (and sometimes behind me), I swear she smelled every fire hydrant, tree, potty spot on our route. I kept reminding myself that this walk was for her, not me. 

Begin again.

Reconnect

3/31 #solsc Meet Sophie

Some Things About Me, Sophie (not Mom)

Hi! My name is Sophie and I am one and a half. I’ll be two this summer. My birthday is the same as my dad’s! Mom said I should introduce myself since she’s writing on here I thought, why not? I’m kinda bored anyway. 

1. The number one, most important thing you should know about me is I like to play!  All day! From the time I get up in the morning until Mom makes me take a nap or go to bed, I like to run and tug and race around the yard. I like to play with other dogs, and with kids, but mostly with Mom and Dad.

2 Squeaky chew toys are the best ‘cause if no one will play with me,  I can just chew and squeak. All day long.

3. Rocks are the best toy, though. I love ‘em! Every day when there isn’t any snow I find a rock to play with. I can make them jump! Can you do that? I also like to just suck on them. I don't chew them. They're too hard. But sometimes, if I'm kind of nervous, I just hold them in my mouth and everything is all better. I try to sneak them in the house, but Mom is pretty good at noticing if I do that.

4. I can talk. And one of these days, Mom will get a video to prove it!

5. I hate naps. But Mom says I have to settle down sometime and she makes me. If I don't take a nap, she says I get grouchy! I don't think I do, but when Mom makes me rest, I usually fall asleep for a little bit.

6. I LOVE to go in the car. We almost always go somewhere fun! Sometimes it takes a really long time to go somewhere. This winter we got in the car and drove FOREVER! When we stopped a couple of times we stayed in little rooms and I had to be really really quiet. I hate that. But finally, we got to a house and my Aunt Sue and Uncle Larry were there and it had a big backyard and there was no snow and I could run and run and run.  And there were really nice rocks! That was the best! 

7. I'm learning to be really good when I go with Mom and Dad places. Sometimes they go places that let dogs come. I really like to go to those places. I have to be really good, but Mom usually brings me a toy or a bone to play with. And sometimes I find a rock.

Well, I've got a new bone to break in, so I'm going to go now. Mom says she might let me talk to you guys again if I'm really good, so I'll try! 

See you later!

Sophie

2/31 #solsc 10 Things About Me

10 Things About Me

1. Married for 39 years with 2 kids and 7 grandkids.  I don’t know how I ended up with 7 grandkids. I’m not old enough for that!

2. I went to college as a nursing major, but changed to education as soon as I set foot on campus.

3.  I subbed/taught/subbed for 35 years. Started in 7th grade, finished with high school kids. When people ask me what I taught, I usually respond with, “anything I could”. In reality, general English, Creative Writing, Speech, a variety of reading classes. 

4. I am and always will be a school geek. August is the beginning of a new year. I love back to school sales. There is nothing better than new pens and notebooks.

5. My husband and I love a good road trip (Sophie does too!). We plan those much like I planned units in school. But then usually throw out the day by day plans and fly by the seat of our pants.

6. I love craft beers and good red wine.

7. I hate everything about bananas—smell, taste, texture. Ask anyone. Family, friends, former students will all tell you the same thing. Students used to have to eat them in the hall if they brought them as a snack. My husband eats one every night IN THE KITCHEN and puts the peel in a sack before putting it in the garbage. I’m kind of dictator about them!

8. I’d go back to teaching if Hogwarts called sent an owl.

9. I live in northeast Iowa, but Maui is the home of my heart and soul.

10. I would eat ice cream every single day if I could. Chocolate in any form (but not mint), peanut butter or salted caramel are my go tos. Also, a good brand, not a store brand. Kind of picky, aren’t I. But my mom always told me that life is too short to read bad books or eat bad ice cream. Some things are just worth the extra price.

1/31 #solsc Hello, Again!

Years ago, I was a regular here at TWT. I wrote every Tuesday. I loved the March challenge.I felt most myself when I wrote frequently. In those days, this blog was know as Coffee With Chloe and I had a little help writing  from our dog, Chloe.

But Chloe passed away in a few years ago, and I had a hard time coming back to this blog. So, awhile back,  I renamed the blog Stories With Sophie in honor of our new pup. But the writing hasn’t come.

I’ve gone back and forth about blogging again for a week or so. I haven’t joined in on the March fun for three years. I just didn’t believe I had anything to say. In the past, I was a teacher of writers who also wrote. I believed that all I wrote about were my students and my classes. 

But, yesterday, I took a trip down memory lane and read many of my March posts. It was kind of like visiting with an old friend. And I wrote about a lot more than school. There were posts about Chloe, the grandkids, the weather, the lake, and friends. I had a lot of to write about, and I will again. I just have to pay attention.

And as I read, I started to get the “bug”. When I found this post, I knew I had to try again.

And, today, March 1st, I feel the same excitement and apprehension I did in 2011. Today it starts. Today I reconnect with my blog and my first writing community.

I can’t wait to see who is here!