BEFORE:

AFTER:

FEELING BETTER:

Here, in Michigan, we are trying to break a weather record set in 1954.  Consecutive days in the 90's.  The old record is 11 days...I think we are on day 9 or 10.  I don't remember us getting all upset back in 1954.  July was supposed to be hot and of course, we didn't have weathermen coming on every hour to tell us how hot it was or that we had set a record.  It was miserable, I'm sure.  Just like it is miserable now.  The main difference?  Now I live in an air conditioned house.  Back then, it was, lay on top of the bed and try and sleep while sweat poured off you and made the bed soggy.
================
I saw a memory on my FB page this morning.  11 years ago I wrote, "Life is not the way it is supposed to be. Life is the way it is. The way you cope with it is what makes the difference."

I was a lot smarter back then.  While the statement is true, I'm not coping very well with all that is going on.

I feel restless, but am not motivated to get out and go anywhere.  It's too hot.  I don't want to have to wear my mask.  I need to save the gas.

So, I prowl around the house and then, end up sitting in my chair, watching something dumb on TV and cross stitching.  I have even been know to fall asleep in my chair and take a nap around 4:00.  I am not a napper and don't want to get into that habit.

Tomorrow afternoon I have an appointment to get a hair cut.  It's been nearly 7 months.  I'm hoping that will make me feel like a new woman.  I'm getting awfully tire of this old one!

A high anxiety morning for me.

Karen has been picking up my groceries, these long 4 months and last night I was thinking that I should get back to doing my own shopping.

This morning at 9:15, I loaded up the back seat of my car with 3 bags of bottle returns.
I checked to make sure I had everything I needed. Even some ice water because the A/C in the car only works occasionally, and I knew it was going to be hot.

I prayed that God would protect me and keep me calmed and relaxed. I even had a note at the top of my list that read, "You can do this. You'll be fine."

I got to Meijer and hauled all 3 bags of bottle over to the return place only to find a sign that said they were closed until they got more containers. Oh well, no problem. I put the 3 bags back in the car. The guy behind me was upset and yelled the "F" word three times in a row.

When I got in the store and checked my list, I realized it was "backwards" as I usually go in the pharmacy door and back to the pet food section first. Oh well, no problem I started at the bottom of the list and worked my way up.

No Brownberry 12 grain bread that I like. Oh well, no problem, I just opened a new loaf yesterday.
I thought I was in the Howell store, but I was in Brighton, and everything is laid out differently. I was confused. I did find Koegel's Thick Slice bologna that I like for my noon sammich, Karen hadn't be able to find it the last two times.

I chugged along. My back and legs were already hurting. I am so weak. My balance is off, then I just happened to look down and I was and had been going the wrong way in the aisles. They have arrows on the floor, directing which way to go.

I went out into the center aisle and just stopped for a moment. I checked the "saying" I had written at the top of my list, got my bearings and did manage to figure out how to get to the Pepsi and milk aisle going the way the arrow showed me I must go.

Finally done with the grocery part, off to the more quiet part of the store where the pet food is, then up to the pharmacy area to get some soap and finally plodded along trying to find a check out.
=================
My Bridge Card had been reloaded last week, so my list was mostly food products and knowing Meijer would rather we use our cards, instead of cash that I normally use, I had put $$$ in the bank so I could use my debit card.

Got it all checked out and loaded, reached for my debit and Bridge card and..........................

The mask was hot. The long, heavy hair on my head was sweating. Tears sprang to my eyes as I explained to Dave the Cashier.

"I forgot to being my cards with me!"

"No problem." he said. "I'll push your cart over there. I'll keep the receipt, you go home and bring back the cards.

I knew right where they were. In the envelope that I carry my cash and Bridge card to pay for groceries.

I may have broken the speed limit getting home, but all the other cars were doing 55-60, so I joined in the fun.

Ran into the house--there were the two cards in the purple plastic envelope with the sticker that says, "GROCERIES".

Back to Meijer, limped in and found Dave. He finished the customer he had and then signaled for me to come forward. He rang up the receipt and the card reader asked me if I wanted to take $6.00 off my order, through my M-Perks.

I thanked Dave several times and told him, "I would hug you, but I know it's against the law right now."

Trust me. I will call corporate and put in a good word for him and he will be in my prayers tonight, asking for a blessing on him.
=================
All the way home, I argued with God, reminding Him that the least He could have done was remind me about the needed cards. As I pulled into the park entrance, the A/C starting blowing nice, icy air. I guess that was God's answer--giving me a break?

I backed in the driveway, up close to the porch steps and again asked, "Dear Lord, help me carry in this stuff."

So weak in my arms I can barely lift the sack with two Pepsi's in it. Lack of exercise has turned me into a wimp!

I am exhausted. My back and calves are screaming, BUT I did it and I will be fine!!!

===============================

Later----I'm sure you want to hear the rest of the story.

Putting the groceries away, I sat down to look at the receipt. The total charge was $84.49. I thought, "That can't be. The only non-food I got was a Thistle Seed sock for the birds and dishwasher cleaner." I looked further and realized that my Bridge Card hadn't been rung up and $84.49 had come off my Debit Card.
EGADS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


So, I took a big drink of cold Diet Pepsi, went to the bathroom and headed back up to Meijer customer service.

Credit my Debit Card? Nope had to give me cash--I thought Meijer didn't like dealing in cash?

Ran my Bridge Card for $62.12--the amount of cash they had given me as a refund on my Debit Card.

I decided while I was there, I would speak with the manager about my cashier Dave. I told the manager a brief scenario and he thanked me and told me, for every compliment, the employee gets 500 points---which later turns in a bonus of $$$$$. YAY

Then I decided, as long as I was out, I would stop into the Smoke Shop to get some more E-oil for my Vape thingie and a couple of CBD oil pain patches. I headed up toward Howell. They were closed.

The nearest Smoke Shop? East end of Brighton!

Turned around and back on the road and 6 miles back to that Smoke Shop. They DID have the brand I like, so I was in luck.
===========
I missed my Soap, which I can watch tonight, but I got it all done and....I AM NOT LEAVING THIS HOUSE UNTIL ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Something I posted on Face Book this morning:

I watched a TV show last night about Socialism and Communism--closely related.
So far, any attempt to have a Socialistic government, have failed and failed miserably--especially for the people living under it.
Look at , Vietnam, Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua to name a few.

First, Socialistic governments want to get rid of their old people, who they believe are a drag on their economy. Next comes the elimination of children and adults that are mentally compromised, e.g. Autistic, Cerebral Palsy, Down's Syndrome, any condition that would keep that person from being productive to support the economy. Of course, Christians are eliminated, along with anyone else who is not of the race of that Country. You are regulated as to the number of children you can have. Many girl babies are either aborted or killed at birth. The population needs to be regulated.

Everyone is equal. Everyone works for the good of everyone else. Everyone gets the same amount of food, the same clothing, the same everything. Everyone on the same economic scale, except for the government leaders of course.

Without Capitalism to help drive the economy, it doesn't take long for it to fail.
Everyone still gets the same, which is starvation and loss of more life. People eating the vegetables from the fields where they work, are shot. They are being selfish for taking food from everyone.

As more people escape from the Country, even less people to work the fields, clean the streets, pick up the trash. Killings break out as people rob others to get what they need to sustain their life.
===========
Now my mind is going into high gear. LOL

Free college, sounds good. Free health care sounds great. Let's pick a medium economic "salary" for everyone. Let's say we all get $100K a year--government benefit of course. You can work at a higher paying job, but you will still only get $100K a year. Your neighbor can sit home, watch TV and drink beer all day and he will get $100K a year.

College is free, but why bother going, knowing that with or without a college degree, you will only get $100K a year.
I can sit here, in my elder years, and get $100K a year. Free health care, so no need to worry about having to pay for health insurance.

If I get sick and have to go to the hospital, of course I've had to wait months to get into the hospital, the shot they give, to eliminate poor unproductive me, will be free.
Hallelujah!

=======================

My friend Helen's response:

 I lived under that system after WWll. We were starving and freezing toward the end of Hitler's Dictatorship. He had to have food for his troops.

We were fed when the Americans entered our city. I don't know how long they occupied our city. Germany was divided among the Allies. We then were occupied by the Russians , Communism /Socialism. The same as far as I am concerned. Again there was starvation, freezing (no coal) and raggedy clothing. Our salvation were occasional Care Packages from America and food and clothing packages from relatives from America. Coffee and Cocoa was coveted by the shopkeepers and richer people, not for money, (money was worthless) we bartered for food. Usually bread and potatoes. Potatoes were the most versatile. We figured out that just a plain potato could be used in about 5 different ways. Jesus was always there for our family. " Give us our daily bread." Not every day but he sustained us.

Since so many Germans were fleeing a wall was built to keep them FROM fleeing.No one left and many died trying.
When my cousins turned 65 they received permission to get a passport and Visa to come to America to visit us. They were here for maybe 2 months. Not allowed to go to Canada. They wanted to see Niagara Falls so we took them on the American side. We took them so many places. They drew a crowd at Bill's Food Market in Durand. They became highly excited when they saw all the different kinds of pickles. This was an impossibility under Communism/Socialism. The were fascinated that people could have garage sales. 

Yes every one was the same. No matter where you went to buy your food, the price was the same. No specials or sales. You had a job, most times it didn't matter what your education was. Since all incentive to do better for yourself was taken away all were poor. My relatives were allowed to come because they were 65 and the government didn't care if they never came back. They would be less of a draw on the state.

If you became a Communist you had some more privileges such as traveling to other Communist country, even the Black Sea.

They had collective farms, crop and dairy. They didn't do well since the government owned them. The workers didn't care and worked their required shift whether they were finished or not and walked off . There was no incentive or reward, monitary or other wise.

After 29 years of poverty and locked up to keep you from leaving the WALL came down. Another cousin went to West Berlin and said " I stood in front of the store windows and wept uncontrollably." "What fools we've been." They had no idea of what they didn't have.

Our kind of government is the best in the world. You have the opportunity to make something of your self. That is why so many come to America. The people that hate America and seem to want to destroy her should go and live in a Socialistic / Communistic country.

I am sorry for my rant Judy. This just fired me up. I don't have time to read what I wrote so let's hope it makes sense.

Blogger and I were in a fight.  For some reason, it wouldn't let me post photos, which ticked me off, so I didn't post.

Grandson Stephen and Carolyn's little wedding was just lovely.  I think I liked it better with just 50 of us in the church.  It seemed more intimate.  I don't have many photos of it as yet, just the ones Karen took.  We had a nice late lunch out at her place afterwards.

Yes I hugged him.  I hugged all of my grandchildren and didn't wear a mask.

 Grand Daughter Helene, holding the great grand babies and cousins.

Della, Harrison and Benedikt

I got to hold Benedikt, for the first time, and whisper his blessing in his ear.

=================

Last Friday Karen took me for my first pedicure as an early birthday gift for me.  I did wear my mask this time.

I just about slipped when I got up out of the chair with those slippery little flip-flops on.

It is sort of a tradition that daughter Pam paints my toenails on my birthday, but since I wasn't going to see her, Karen took care of it.  My feet still feel smooth.

Pammie called me Saturday because she had to work Sunday, on my birthday.

============

Tomorrow is going to be my first real day out.  I am going to the Print Shop to get a genealogy to barter with the hair stylist for a hair cut.  She is the best, but I can't afford $40.00 every 5 weeks for a trim so I will give her the genealogy and get a free cute.  As long as it took me to do it, it should be worth 3 hair cuts. LOL

Then I am going to Michael's.  I need to make arrangements to get the kids wedding sampler, stretched on foam core and framed.  Their Big Do isn't until the middle of August, so I do have time.

===============

Well, how do you like the way the world is operating now?  BLM who I understand is an extreme left-wing instigators who don't really care all that much about black lives, they just want to cause more division and riots and anything that will mess with the election.

Tearing down Statues?  Although I am wondering why the Statues of FDR and LBJ are still standing, as they were big time racists.  Back in the day, some chuckled when LBJ signed the Civil Rights bill because he really disliked blacks, but he was forced into signing the bill.

==================

The Virus is still with us and probably will be for months or another year.  We have had only 28 people died in our County.  All in nursing homes, because our Democrat Governor, like Democrat Governor Cuomo, decided it would be a good thing to put recovering hospitalized people in a nursing home for rehab.  Although those recovering people were still contagious.

I am wearing a mask if I have to go out to pick up a prescription and I will wear a mask tomorrow to go into the stores.  One of these days, I will have to get over my slight case of agoraphobia that has settled in from not being able to go anywhere, and force myself to start getting my own groceries.  I kind of dread that first trip and if I am in the cat food aisle, picking out different kinds of wet food and NO ONE is around, I am sure I will pull that thing down under my nose so I can breathe!!!

I watched the funeral.  All 4 hours of it.  I had to click onto another channel a couple of times when it got so noisy.  I don't see how those women can sing like that and not ruin their vocal chords!!!  and why some speakers had to politicize a funeral is beyond me.  There is a lot in this Country that I guess I don't understand.

===================

We are having massive severe thunder storms all this afternoon.  The weather man said, "Hurricane force straight line winds, which can as much damage as a tornado."  I mention it on Face Book and people comment, "Be safe."  I live in a manufactured home--there is no "safe" from a tornado.   I really wish my weather man would be more reassuring than trying to scare me to pieces.

I did move my car, out from under the big Maple, and to the other side of the drive.  I also have a small cord that I loop over the inside handle of my storm door, pull inside, close the front door and tie that cord around the inside front door knob.  Just to keep the wind from whipping that door open and slamming it against the porch railing.  That happened once years ago.  Ruined the door.

=============

I got all rebellious and smart alecky Saturday, when at the wedding and afterwards, I didn't wear a mask and was hugging everyone in sight.  I was even mentally swaggering around when I got home.  Pretty smug that I wouldn't catch any bad germs.

Now today, with seeing number of cases rising after the slight opening up, and the famed or infamous Dr. Fauci saying we are still in the early stages of the pandemic, I'm not feeling so smug.

Beauty salons open here on this coming Monday.  Of course, I was going to be first in line.  After the wedding, I don't really care what my hair looks like, and it looks weird, but I think I just might wait until late June, early July before I get all antsy and go out.  I have 7 bags of bottles to return.  4" of hair to get cut off, and the kids wedding present to get matted and framed, but..................

When our Governor finally allowed dog groomers to open up again, I got on the phone and called.  I told them I needed a shampoo and a hair cut.  We booked a time. They offered to clean my ears and paint my toe nails, which I thought was nice of them.  Then they asked if I wanted my anal glands expressed.  I hung up the phone.

=====================

The wedding yesterday was beautiful.  Probably the most beautiful I have ever attended.  Only 25 people were allowed to attend, so it made it seem more intimate.  I had time to talk with my grandson before the wedding, gave him my blessing and his penny I had saved from the day he was born--1994.  There was lots of hugging and I even got to meet and hold my new great grandson.  The grandkids were a bit hesitant about the hugs I wanted.  Afraid they may infect me with The Virus.  I told them, it was worth it and I was more than willing to take a chance.

The bride's grandma and I fell instantly in love.  We sat in big comfy chairs before the wedding and talked and talked.  Then the boys--my Marcus and the groom Stephen walked us to our places.  I cautioned them to walk slowly because Bride's Gramma and I both have back/leg issues.

After the ceremony, bride and groom walked out, followed by the two witnesses, then the parents.  Everyone else just stood around, so I got up, crossed the aisle and took Bride Gramma by the hand and we walked out by ourselves.  

There was a small reception at Karen and Mark's the rest of the afternoon.  For some reason, the bride's Uncle took an interest in me and we sat alone and talked for a couple of hours.  If that kid was only 15 years older, I may have "Cougared" him, but from knowing he's the father of the bride's, younger brother, I'd put his age at early sixties, and that's just a bit too young.

I almost reconsidered when I learned he is a Master Gardener.
=======================
Speaking of gardens.  Such a beautiful cool day today, I went out to dig the tall grasses out of my front garden.  I also have a giant Burdock living among my Hosta's.  It took me 30 minutes, sitting in my camp chair while digging.  I don't have enough strength to push a shovel in the ground, so I had to cut off the Burdock--knowing full well, it will just grow back again.
===============
Maybe I should make the long trip to the kids reception in late August and renew my friendship with Master Gardener, Scott?  

I do believe I've lost all logical reason.

Monday was the most perfect day.  My kind of weather.  69 degrees and sunny.  I had the doors and windows open.  It was lovely.

After my Soap, I decided to clean the house.  Scrub the bathroom and kitchen.  Vacuum and dust, wash some windows.

I had planned on going outside and weed the perennial garden of all grasses that are growing in it and sweep off my porch and the 457 million Maple Whizzers I have on my driveway.

Instead I cleaned house.

Yesterday, it was 90 with high humidity, I was closed up in the house with the A/C running.  What a perfect day to clean house...but I had already done it and it was too hot to work in the garden.

I watch the weather report.  I knew what kind of weather we were going to have, so why in the world would I switch up my days and clean on a cool day?

I think senility and my ability to think things out and get organized has flown the coop.

Today, it is 89 and high humidity.  I stare out the window and look at my perennial garden, with the grass growing taller and taller.

==============

I have been watching too much of the News, so yesterday I took great pains to notice things right here in my corner of the Universe.  I take these things for granted, most of the time, and just sort of look through them.  By the time night fell, I was very relaxed and calm.

 Mt east facing kitchen window sill.

The morning sun makes all the little pitchers shine

A Finch at the Thistle seed sock feeder 

My neighbor's Chinese Chain tree.

The yellow flowers hang in chains

The Red Bellied Woodpecker eating from

the bird feeder because I haven't hung out

his suet.

Red Cardinal.  

Whenever I post a photo of a Cardinal on Face Book,

someone invariably comments, "Oh, Someone you

love has come from Heaven to visit you."

Ah-hh, no, it's just a hungry Cardinal. 

Oh yes, my 457 million Whizzers on the driveway.

My question of whether I should plant annuals this year was answered for me.

I decided since today is such a lovely day--well, 60 degrees and sunny is perfect weather to my way of thinking, and since I have been bored out of my gourd, I would drive on down to the locally owned garden center.
Lots of people. Some wearing masks, I chose not to as I was going to be outside.

The long walk from my car had started my back to hurting, but I grabbed a cart and off I went.


No Impatiens. The employee said, "This has been a weird year. We have never sold out this early." I replied, "I have never planted this late."

Went looking for Tiny Tunias instead--my color scheme: hot pink, dark purple and chartruse.

I couldn't find what I wanted, and then, it just got too much. Too many people. All the end of aisle arrows pointing the same way. I asked another employee how to get out. She pointed.

I left my cart at the exit and took a few steps and everything sort of seized up on my. Not just my back, but my hips and thighs.

I limped along, having to stop every 10 steps and lean on something than continue along.
I got to my car, leaned my head back and said, "It doesn't really matter, does it God. Let's just go back home."

I have lots of pretty perennials that are coming into bloom. I have Rose of Sharon bushes that will bloom in August. I probably would have had a hard time carrying the pieces of my 3-tier planter up to the front porch anyway, and the money I took out of my emergency jar, is back where it belongs.
It's all good
===================
This whole thing is really starting to get to me.
The lack of exercise and yet, like today, when I went to the store, I was out of Diet Pepsi..it was crisis time, there feels like there is too many people, too much noise.  The mask makes me feel closed in.  I start to feel panicky and all I can think of is getting out as fast as I can.
For a couple of weeks, in April, I sat and watched the News most of the day.  That isn't good for a person.  Hearing the same thing over and over, can get into a person's head and make them feel defeated.  So, I stopped doing that.

We had an incident the other day here in this quiet park.  All of a sudden two police cars drove in, EMS and fire truck.  An older lady up towards the front of the park, was out on her porch with a gun.  Threatening to shoot anyone who came near her and then going to shoot herself.  
What in the world?
Things like this don't happen in this park.  We haven't had a break-in or even drunken people fighting incident since I've lived here.  
They said she had suffered a breakdown and they took her in for a psych evaluation.
I could empathize with her.  

Dar had come running up on my porch, pounding at my door.  When I opened it, she breathlessly said, "Shelter in place!  There's a hostage situation up near the front of the park.  A guy has a gun, threatening to shoot the hostage and everybody else he sees.  The SWAT team is here and even the State police.  Pull your blinds and lock your doors.  I've gotta tell the other neighbor's!"

SWAT team?  State police?  Hostages?  My first instinct was to hop in the car and drive up to see what was happening.  But I didn't.  I also didn't close my blinds.  I figured if the SWAT team was any good, they had the guy under control.

It all lasted an hour and later we heard what had really gone on.  I think Dar is the last person I'd want to be with in a "real" situation.  She is overly dramatic.
==============
We are going to have nice weather this next.  Nice and cool.  Maybe I can get motivated to go out and pull the grass out of my front perennial garden.
Maybe?
Maybe not.
It really doesn't matter.

WOW!  I have certainly been amiss in my posting on this here blog.  In earlier days, I posted every day.  I guess I thought the world was waiting for my incredible words of wisdom, advice and clever quips.  Such folly.

As the months and years went on, I had less and less to say--to anyone and especially the world.

Then I started working on genealogies and I drained my brain everyday on research and writing the family story and there was nothing left to post here.

Then I posted once a week, on a Sunday.  Now I have gone two weeks and believe it or not...there are people that e-mail me and want to know if I am all right because I haven't posted.  Silly Billies.

Yes, I am fine. If I had died, you would have known because my daughter Pam has instructions to post that event on FB AND in this blog.

===========

What is there to post?  This quarantine has kept me home bound.  the muscles in my legs are becoming weak without my weekly visit to the HUGE grocery store that I used as my exercise program.  Walking the breadth and length of that store and up and down aisles.

So, I initiated a walking program.  Every day, out at 2:00 (after my Soap) and attempting to walk down to the corner, perhaps a block away.  But, half-way there my back would start aching.  My legs would feel weak, my pace unsteady, my balance was off.

So, I went into the shed and hauled out the walker that Medicare gave Fred after his heart surgery.  One of those fancy ones--with hand brakes and even a seat.  That helped a bit.  Sometimes Jackie would walk with me, she also using her walker.  Sometimes Pearl's daughter would come out and push Pearl, in her wheelchair, Merle tagging along behind us, occasionally Dar would bring her 98 year old father out in his wheelchair and we would parade along.

We did that on two occasions, coincidentally on the two days we had of Spring.  Now it is 90 degrees with the humidity at 62% and it feels like July or August.  I am heat-sensitive, ever since a heat stroke took me out years ago, and I get nauseated and faint in the heat.  Sometimes I want to slap Dar who brags, to all that listen, that she loves the hot weather and I just need to drink more water to cure my problem.  Of course, she complains and suffers in the winter time, when I am outside with no hat or gloves enjoying the cold, crisp air.

Maybe she needs to drink more water.

====================

This quarantine has taken all the fun away.  Although I am used to staying home and only going out to the store or bank once a week or every 10 days, to know that I am supposed to stay out of the stores and the ones I want to go to are closed, has set me back.  AND if I go--once a month to pick up a prescription, I have to wear a mask and those dang things are hot!

I need a hair cut!  My hair hasn't been this long in many years and it is heavy hair and it is hot.

I need to go to JoAnns or Michaels and get the kids cross stitched wedding sampler stretched and framed.  Both stores are closed and my hands are so weak and shaky that I can no longer stretch and frame the piece myself.

So, I'm closed up in the house with the A/C running and it is just like being closed up in the house in winter with the furnace running.  Closed up is closed up, no matter when it is.  I want the windows and screen door open to let in the fresh, spring breeze, but like I said, we only had 2 days of spring.

It is very tiring with nothing to do.  No genealogy to work on.  No ability to go out into the gardens.  No grocery shopping to do.  Nothing.

Now you can see why I don't post more often.

I have nothing to say.

It's been many years since I got together will all my kids on Mother's Day and five years since I've been with the 3 daughter's on Mother's Day.  My Mother died many years ago at the young age of 53 and since then, I would just as soon forget all about it.  So to me, today is May10th 2020, a Sunday with lots of sun and even a few early morning snow flakes.  Bah Humbug.

Ah-hh, but yesterday, daughter Karen and her hubs Mark came over and in the windy and chilly 47 degrees, ripped out the raised garden I had on the west side of my shed.  That garden has been a pain in my heart and I have been trying to find someone to take it out for 4 years.  The rain that came off the shed roof, poured down into that garden and at one time, it was great because that meant I didn't have to haul the heavy hose out there to water.  In the last 6-7 years, that rain has poured into the garden and directly UNDER the shed, which in turn as caused the shed floor to rot and fall apart.  Apparently whomever erected that shed did not put down a cement pad first.

The kids also dug a hole, where I had a Mulberry tree taken out 5 years ago, to get it ready for the gift for me that I used a bit of my Economic Impact money for.

It's been 25 years that I have yearned for a Red Bud tree, but not the pink kind we have around here, I wanted one with almost black trunk and the branches twist and grow twisty and it reminds me of a Ming tree.  Plus, I wanted one that has purple blossoms--kind of Lavender color--and dark purple leaves.

I checked with the garden center/nursery just down about 600 feet and across the road from me.  Yes, they had them, but they no longer arrange for delivery and planting of the tree.  But, yes, they had them, 5-6 feet tree and only $225.00.  Oh, and it comes with a one year warranty.

EGADS!!!

So I checked on-line and found one, 5-6 feet tall, comes in a burlap bag that you plant along with the tree, one year warranty, and it is a weeping variety.  Shipping and all--$99.00.

 This will be a perfect specimen tree for that spot as the tree doesn't get too wide and only about 8-10 feet tall.

When it arrives, Karen and Mark will come back and plant it for me.

==================

Karen also got me a web cam and I got hooked up with ZOOM so I can attend the virtual wedding shower next Sunday.   Apparently grandson Stephen and Carolyn are still getting married on June 6th, but not the big church wedding they wanted way over on the west side of the state.  Instead, they will be married in the Catholic church here in Brighton, Stephen's home church, with 25-30 people invited and I AM ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE.  

How easy for me to get dress and drive the 3 miles into that church.

Their reception will be end of August on the west side of the state and I probably will not go to that.  2 hour drive over  there and 2 hours at the reception and 2 hour drive back home....I figure would just about kill me or at the least, put me down for 3 days.

I have had their wedding sampler cross stitched for about 4 months.  I thought at one time I was going to have to pick out the "date" threads and re-do it, but....now if I can just figure out if I am allowed out of my house to get it to the frame shop and get it all done in time for the shower next Sunday, I'll be okay with that worry off my mind.

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The weather man has promised, that we are done with chilly and this next week it should warm up for the next 4-5 months.  I have my Baltimore Oriole feeder up and 2 pair of Orioles enjoying the grape jelly and sugar water.  The Thistle seed sock is up for the Finches, that have just started coming in and the Hummingbird feeder goes up this afternoon.

I don't when or if I will buy annuals.  I am only going to plant one planter--the 3-tiered one I have for my porch.

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I am hoping the hair salon open up before the wedding because I look awful with this sticking out, gray/dark, long hair.

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Did you know that the Governor from New York, instead of putting older COVID-19 people on the ship or at the Javetts center, sent them to nursing homes to recover?  Instead, they infected the population in the nursing homes.

We have 380 cases of COVID in this County.  20 have died--all over the age of 70.  No new cases or deaths in this County for the last 5 days, so maybe we are calming down.

What beautiful weather we have been having...well at least the last two days.  Tomorrow it will rain again and get colder.  At least with the nicer weather, it makes the whole CV-19 go away for awhile.

It all feels very normal, when I wake up in the morning.  I get up, feed the cats, look outside at my spring bulbs blooming so nicely.  Spring bulbs come up no matter what else is going on in the world.  If I keep the TV off, there is no News of the latest cases and deaths to disturb my peace.  It's nice not to have to deal with reality for a few hours at least.

I watched a virtual graduation ceremony for my grandson Stephen and his fiancee' Carolyn.  It wasn't exactly a ceremony.  The Dean was on with a few comments, then a photo of each graduate, with the medical degree they had earned.  It took 90 minutes to show those photos.  I watched and waited so I could take a screen shot with my camera of the kids.  The photos didn't turn out real well.

After 8 years of study, they are both Doctor's.

They have postponed their wedding until August 20th.  We are still having their virtual shower on May 17th.

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Maddie sent me a photo of my 2 month old great grandson that I still have not seen in person.  Bright blue eyed, little blonde.  He looks so serious.  Benedikt

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I went out to check my garden today.  They are coming along just as they should AND my pair of Baltimore Orioles showed up at the feeder today.

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I got my Economic Impact check and I can't begin to tell you how secure it felt...for a day anyway.  Then I went to the bank and deposited more than half of it, came home and wrote out checks on some bills that have been overdue for 4 months, and now I have way less than half...which is still nice.  I have stashed it in my "emergency" jar, hidden in this house.  It's not that I don't trust the bank with all of it, but I am a bit leery of hackers and I do like to have cash in the house.  

Reminds me of my great grand parents.  After the Crash of 1929, they bought a big safe and put it in their house and kept all their money in there...for years and years.

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The hair salons here in Michigan will open on May 28th.  By then, I will be 4 months overdue for a hair cut.  I will be going in, even though I'm a bit scared.  

Hey--if I pick up the Bad Buggie there, at least my hair will look nice for my hospitalization and funeral!!!!!!!

I finished a genealogy.  An interesting one....oh, I guess I say that about all the genealogies I do, but this one will have a few surprises for my client and that always makes me smile.

When I do the pedigrees, I create them on an Excel spread sheet, then I tape the pages together and take it to the print shop to have them copied onto one long sheet of paper.  Well, the print shop is closed, so I taped the pages together and put them in her book.  They look okay, but not professional like I would like.

We have to do the best we can.

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Technology...what can I say about it.  The undermining of the next generation with their noses stuck in the phones night and day, or playing games.  A way to track us with GPS, so every where our phone goes, "they" know.  

I remember when computers first came out, all big and bulky.  We were told it would make our life easier.  We wouldn't have to keep paper files, as everything we needed would be kept on the computer's hard drive.  They neglected to tell us what to do if we needed an important file and the hard drive on the computer had died and we had no paper in a file folder to get what we needed.  Every company I ever worked for, not only kept their files on the computer system, but a duplicate paper one in a file folder in a file cabinet.

One particular reason I am kind of glad for this newer technology, my grandson Stephen and his Carolyn are having a bridal shower.  I figured with all the 20-30 somethings in attendance it would not be a good idea for me to attend.  You know, that age can be carriers and not even have one symptom.

My daughter Karen, Stephen's mother came up with an idea.

The kids will be at her house, where they are staying right now, and the rest of us will be linked up with ZOOM via cameras on phones or PC's so we can watch and everyone can see and hear everyone else.

A virtual bridal shower.  How very clever.  I have none of that equipment, but Karen has ordered the camera and connection that goes in a USB port on my computer and I will be all set.

I feel sad for this couple.  They both graduated from medical school and of course, no graduation ceremonies.  They both have their residencies at the hospital they wanted so that is good, but they have been planning their wedding for over a year.

06-06-2020.  What a lovely looking date, however....that is now being changed.  We don't know the date of the wedding for sure now.  May still be on the 6th, maybe a few days later.  Of course, no one in attendance but two witnesses and their parents.

They have planned their reception for late August and will re-do their vows, in their wedding clothes, at the reception.

They are such a nice couple and have worked so hard to get their degrees and now their residencies have been postponed until The Virus is not so prevalent in the hospitals they were assigned to.  At least they haven't had to work with The Virus patients.  Stephen is going into Cardiology and Carolyn is going into Family Practice.

I had their wedding sampler all crossed stitched and was about to wash it, iron it and get it framed.  Now I will wait until I hear the actual wedding date, because I might have to cut the threads and pick them out of the date I have stitched.

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I've been watching live streaming church programs.  I really enjoy  pastor Allen Jackson from a big church in Murfreesboro, TN.  He had a regular Sunday morning service that I have watched for years.  Now he is live streaming.

He wanted people to write in the comment line what was the first building they were going to go to when things get opened up.  Without thinking, I typed "Hair Salon".  That shows what a heathen I am because everyone else had commented, "Church".  HAH!  All I can say is, I think some of them were fibbing.

I look like someone I don't even recognize.  A very old lady with gray hair poofing way out to the sides and sticking out up on the top.  The back of my hair is way down the back of my neck, touching my collar.  ARRGH!!!!  

We here in Michigan are still on Stay Home orders and it is mandatory to wear a mask if we have to go to the grocery store, or they won't allow us to enter.  Do those masks really help?  Some medical people say they do, others say they don't.

The ones Karen made are lined with a coffee filter and, she sewed a seam for a pipe stem cleaner to be inserted, along the top edge so the mask can be pinched to hold tightly to the bridge of my nose.  They say when you put on a mask, light a match, bring it up toward your mouth and if you can blow the match out, the mask is no good--won't help a bit.  I tried that, and no matter how close I got that match, I could not blow it out, so........it gives me a certain feeling of safety.

Our Governor had many illogical restrictions.  Not allowed to go out on a lake in a motor boat.  You could with a canoe or a kayak, but not a motor boat.  Not allowed to buy any seeds or garden items.  The Walmart actually had their garden center roped off and "Do Not Enter" signs posted.  Not allowed to play golf.  All the golf course clubhouses around here were closed anyway.  No landscaping companies were allowed to work.

Last week she relaxed some of the restrictions.  You now can go for a motor boat ride and fish if you want to.  The lawn mowing guy can now come, mow the lawn, pick up sticks and rack leaves.  The nurseries around here opened and yesterday, their parking lots were packed.  You can play golf, but you can't use a cart, nor enter the clubhouse AND you can't touch the pin on the green...It has to stay in the hole.

Our State is opening in phases.  This is Phase One.  Phase Two, restaurants' will open with strict rules.  "Vulnerable" people are to still stay home in Phase One and Two.  Phase Three will allow salons, gyms, tattoo parlors, and the like to open, also with strict rules and in Phase Three, we vulnerable's will be allowed to go out and about.  I expect Phase Three isn't going to hit until August!

I will look like Cousin Itt by then.

ARRGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!