It was last Tuesday when I last posted the blog.  Let's look at the week and see what happened.

Of course, Kodi went home and we did the "happy dance".  Not that he was bad but it is a lot of work taking care of a dog.  Now we miss him!  lol!



Wednesday I went into the out patient ward at the hospital and had my stent taken out.  An hour later I was doing fine!  Yea!

On Thursday we went to Kirland  met our sista at Starbucks for coffee.  We always have a good time with her and it takes us hours to get all caught up!

                                               

Nancy always looks so good!

Tell me why this line is in the middle of this picture.......help me Rita!

After we had coffee and shopped a little we went to my favorite place, "Tommy Bahama's"

On Friday we again went to Starbucks......then went home and crocheted

Yesterday we went out to the apartments on 67th and looked at a large two bedroom and the 3 bedroom.  We liked them both and I liked the pool and Starbucks a half a block away!


Now here it is Sunday and all we did today was putter around.  Mark, Rodney Josh and Kodi came over to pick up some furniture and I forgot to take any pictures........after they left I made muffins and biscuits.  Now we are having a protein drink for dinner.

BE CAREFUL OUT THERE!
                             S'

All in blue!

Today I got a text from my son Todd.  Below is a picture of the new truck he got today.  He is in Springfield MO and Melinda and the dog will arrive tomorrow and they will start a new adventure across the United States!

Todd's new truck is a pretty blue to match his blue eyes!  I am so surprised that you picked the blue....did I mention that Todd is color blind and only sees objects that are blue!  lol!

What a great match...it will look great in the truck!

Thank you Rita for another great picture.  We are very lucky as we usually do not get hit very hard when these storms move in.  They are sometimes interesting and sometimes very beautiful but they are dangerous, muddy, dirty and contain the spores from Valley Fever.  60% of the cases of Valley Fever in the United States are here in the West valley of Phoenix.  Both Rita and I have had it and we will always show positive for having had it!

Saturday was my daughter Tami's birthday.  Since she was not here and her birthday was Thursday in Australia, it made me very confused.  So, I forgot to wish her a Happy Birthday in the blog!  

HAPPY BIRTHDAY tAMI, MAY YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL YEAR!  love you!

Be careful out there!

                S'                      

Day 7, the boys are coming home tomorrow!

tonight is pour last night with the dog.....he is adapting but it has made me realize that I do not want a dog!  He has been fun and funny but he takes up too much room, he is demanding and he shows me that dogs are just like having a kid and I am too old for a kid!

Here we are at Starbucks and it is my favorite one.....for around here that is!  We will have coffee and then go home and sew.  We are finishing Todd's special throw!

Let's have our coffee and then go and see my mother and then we can go home and sew....we should be able to finish Todd's throw today

Yesterday this dog did something I have never known of him to do...our next door neighbor came over....at first he started barking and she thought that he was going to eat her.....then he went into the house and came out and showed her his bone....then he went back into the house and brought out his other bone and let her look at that one.....do you think that he did because she had spilled pancake batter all over herself that morning and he thought she would give him a bite? lol!

This is Todd's quilt....it is made from flannel and notice on the upper left corner...the backing is a really neat pile.....it should be nice and warm!

The boys should be getting on the plane about now....they will arrive in Phoenix about 4:30 pm tomorrow and then the baby dog will be going home!

On Wednesday morning I am going in and having the stent taken out of my stomach.....hope it has not wandered away and it takes only 10 minutes.  Will let you all know !

On April 12th Rosine will be 95 years old...getting close to 100.

On Apri the 15th I am having the Blue Light Special on my face and will not be able to go outside for 48 hours.  On April the 18th we will go to San Diego so that the salt air will help my face heal.   There are a few more things between now and then but we don't need to talk about them!

We are going on a cruise in May.  May 12th to be exact.  We will be going to Alaska and will be spending 3 days in Vancouver.

On the 23rd of June we will be going to Kansas City to see the kids.  We will return on June 30th.


BE CAREFUL OUT THERE!
                           S'

Adventures with Kodi, day4

Looks like the family is having fun in Sydney!

Aaron is taking some really nice pictures in Sydney

                                                   Great Cityscape!

Last night we had an interesting adventure with Kodi.  Did I mention that he is a little bit "high maintenance?  Well, I was sitting in
my chair trying to figure out another shawl pattern.  Kodie stood staring at me.....after a few minutes he became very rigid, his ears flatten out and his tail went between his legs.  I finished the row I was on...I called Vicki over....Kodi has been standing here for at least 10 minutes....he looks like he is scared to death....he is so stiff that I think he has to poop and is probably constipated.....we pushed, probed and finally I got up....Kodi started crying and lunged for the chair....you guessed it....I was sitting on his ball!  lol!

We went to Starbucks this morning and when we got back Kodi got really excited....so, I opened the door to the front patio...he went charging out the door and knocked the screen off its hinges!  Okay, we were not going to put it back on for now but remembered that we need to be able to close it when we are having a treat that Kodi is not having any .

It seems when we take him for a walk to do his business that we are having to pick up a lot of gravel rocks....Mark and Tami just may have to rent a truck and buy a yard of gravel to replace all that we are picking up.  None of the houses will have in any gravel left in their front yards by the time they get back!  lol!


We just got bcd from taking Kodi for a walk.  It is beautiful out

Thank You Rita for the beautiful picture os last nights sunset!



BE CAREFUL OUT THERE!
                   S'

I think the dog is in charge!

Hello everyone!  Today is day 3 with our grand dog!  Mama Mia!  We had no idea how needy he is.  Tami and Mark brought him over on Tuesday about noon.  After they left I gave him a carrot, which he loves, and he threw it back at me....so, of course, I gave him another one...which he promptly threw back at me.  He did a lot of pacing and we were in hopes that he would get very tired!

                                                           
Everything will be all right....you can go to your room if we make you nervous!  lol!  Well we found that he will not let us out of his sight....Whereever we are he sits half way between the two of us.  When I am in the shower and Vicki is in the living room....he lays in the hall.  If I am up doing something he is on my heels.  I swear it is just like having my sister Sue here for a visit.  When we had Kodie living here 3 years ago he just stayed in the bedroom until his mom and dad came home from work and the only time he paid attention to me was wen he wanted my food!



Time to go poop!  Get a move on it...want a treat...Nana is wanting to ogo to Starbucks....hurry!

On Wednesday morning we got up and went for a little walk....I think I need to trade him in for 2 smaller dogs.....it seems as though he drags me down the street and it seems like I am running very fast!

It is so sad to watch him faithfully waiting at the front gate!

We think he has settled in.  Last night I laid the shawl that I was making, on the floor.  Kodie laid on it and refused to get off of it.  Let lmd tell you....this is no dumb dog. We knew we were home free when Kodie asked Vicki to play ball with him.  This did not last long as Vicki could not seem to throw the ball down the hall and after hitting him in the head, he gave up on her.  Another sign we have made it is that he thinks that our bed is for him too!  Now I will admit there is enough room between us for 2 dogs....I can't do it.  When he got in bed, he made himself comfortable right on top of Vicki.  There she was saying "nice Kodi"  Now, this is the woman that has sleep problems and will never make it 10 minutes with the dog on her.  It took me 2 ttys to get him to sleep at the foot of the bed!  Mama Mia!


Now today was interesting....we took the dog to QT with us.  The handyman was here so we thought it would be nice to take Kodie with us.  Well, the ride there went well but he decided when he saw where we were, that he was going to get a treat.  So, all the way home he went crazy...We got home, I got him a treat, put him outside and then we had the treat that was in the bag!  Mama Mia!

Vicki is so happy.  She wants the new little shawl that I made. We are on the way to show it to Rosine.  I just love it!

I can make it in a lighter weight material and it will be really cute in the summer too.  It ends up having a rolled collar.

Ooops!  Rosine thinks this shawl is hers!  I guess it is hers now!

                                         Joshua and Aaron waiting to get on the plane!

Honestly Sandi, I think you should having a cat...they are a lot less work!

This is a darling picture of Melinda...my daughter in law!

Be careful out there!
S'

Happy St. Patrick's Day....no green beer!

                                                            

I would like to believe that it is because we are old that we did not do anything for St. Patrick's Day.....but I know it is not the reason why....we were not any fun 20 years ago , so why start now? lol!
Some people would just say that we are boring.....and there are days when we are.  I wonder if going out for St. Patrick's Day is something we should put on our bucket list?

Today Vicki had to go to her eye appointment....I stayed home, watched the View and crocheted on my little shawl!  Yesterday I finished up the 2 quilts left over from the contest! In a couple of days Vicki will get her sewing machine working and she will do her stitch in a ditch.  Mary Lou's quilt is patiently waiting to be put together too!

                                                   Lou's quilt!

                                              Hillary's quilt!
                                 

Tomorrow morning Kodie my grand dog arrives to stay with us.  He will be here for 1 week and we will eat a lot of carrots!  The family leaves tomorrow afternoon for Australia and they are all excited!

Vicki went to see Rosine this morning after her eye appointment....oops!  Maybe she actually could not see Rosine....hope it was her mother's room she was in....her eyes were dilated and who knows where she really was.  Vicki will be having some laser treatment on her eyes in the next few weeks.  If the  calendar had a red cross by every doctor's appointment or procedure it would be overwhelming




BE CAREFUL OUT THERE!
                             S'

St. Patrick's Day Weekend and Rosine is ready!

Here we are and everyone is getting ready for St. Patrick's Day!  People are having parties, dressing in green , eating and eating corned beef and cabbage.   I do believe there has only been one year that I had a St. Patrick's Day dinner and really have never been out for the celebrating.  No green beer, no Irish music or dancing BUT I do try to remember to wear green!  lol!
Here is a picture of Rosine .....she is ready for anything that comes her way!

Rosine is going to wear her new shirt everyday until the party is over!   She is also wearing a cute green bracelet that has a dangle on it and it lights up!

Today we met our new handyman and he is really nice.  He is coming back on Thursday and going to fix everything on our list.  This will be really nice and now we will have someone to call when we are in a pinch.  Mark and Josh help us when we need it but it will be nice to have someone in reserve.

Well, Mark, Tami, Joshua and Aaron leave on Tuesday and the dog comes to visit us.  It will be different this time as no one will be taking him out to potty at 5:00 in the morning.  I don't like taking him out in the dark because I am afraid that coyote might get me...I mean might get the dog!

Good night!

BE CAREFUL OUT THERE!
                         S'

Where does the time go?

Yesterday, all was  back to normal....what ever that is!  We went to Starbucks at 99th and then took off for Mesa which was an hour away......Vicki had an appointment to have her orthopedics adjusted.  We were 20 minutes late as we got lost ....they called her right away and she was in there all of 15 minutes!  We were then on our way again!

While we were lost we were in an area that was ugly and dirty....the overcast sky did not help!  The shopping Center where the doctor is located is very nice and it has everything you can want....it even has a Fire House sub which is owned by a friend of Davin's!  They went to High School together!

"That was quick....it is too early for lunch....what would you like to do?"

"How about we drive back to Sun City West and go to Red Robin for lunch?  We can use the gift card Mark and Tami gave us for Christmas and it will be time to eat by the time we get there!"

"This worked out perfectly....by the time we get done eating it will be time to go and see my mom."

"I am going to have a hamburger and steak drys and it is not going to make me sick.  Thank you Mark and Tami for the nice lunch!"

Now for today.  We went to the starbucks that I don't like...then it was off to Helping Hands to get a wheelchair for Rosine.  The nice man put it in the trunk for us.  Then it was off to QT where we got our peach tea.  Then we went to Michaels to look for a crochet pattern , which they did not have and then off to Sprouts to get some Morning Rounds.  Oops!  They do not carry our Morning Rounds any more!

Now, we are at home....Vicki is making air plane reservations for Kansas City in June and she is doing some banking.  We still have to go see Rosine at 3:00.

"  I am not happy, I had to go poop....no one came to help me....I got on the toilet by myself...I am not suppose to do that but I really had to go....Sandy went into the nurses station and told them that no one was helping me.  This is the second time this week that I have gotten on the pot by myself"

Rosine can barely transfer herself when someone is helping her....what a safety risk, Rosine doing it with none there!

Okay I am done!

BE CAREFUL OUT THERE!
                      S'








































































111111

You will think that I have totally lost it!  Here are 29 Places you should see before you die.Vicki and I have seen  9   but none of the ones in Arizona!

So, it looks like we have some work to do.

Today we went to Starbucks and then Vicki had her hearing aids adjusted.  We went home for a couple of hours and we both took a little nap.  Soon it was time to go get our fingernails done.  We missed seeing Rosine yesterday so we went by there today.  She was in a good mood and did a lot of laughing.

Tomorrow we have to go an hour south to get Vicki's orthopedics adjusted so this will take most of the day.

My goal for tomorrow is to write down everything I eat!  This also includes staying close to 1,200 calories!

Enjoy!

1. Mendenhall Glacier Caves, Alaska

AER Wilmington DE / Flickr: 25949441@N02 / Creative Commons

AER Wilmington DE / Flickr: 25949441@N02 / Creative Commons

Sergey Yechikov / shutterstock.com

 

In Mendenhall Valley of Juneau stands this 12-mile glacier that is home to some incredibly surreal ice caves. If you follow the West Glacier trail, you can get a chance to see these whimsical ice clouds for yourself.

2. Antelope Canyon, Arizona

Manamana / shutterstock.com

Francesco R. Iacomino / shutterstock.com

Flickr: merlune / Creative Commons

 

Located near Page, Ariz., this brilliant slot canyon is split into two different sections, commonly referred to as “The Crack” and “The Corkscrew.” The natural canvas of color and unique structure is an Instgrammer’s dream.

3. Oneonta Gorge, Oregon

zschnepf / shutterstock.com

zschnepf / shutterstock.com

Flickr: gorgejeff / Creative Commons

 

The Oneonta Gorge is in the Columbia River Gorge with a unique set of aquatic and woodland plants. The ferns and moss make the walls look like a fairy tale, and visitors can walk through the creek on a warm summer day.

4. Skagit Valley Tulip Fields, Washington

RuthChoi / shutterstock.com

karamysh / shutterstock.com

Jaime Pharr / shutterstock.com

 

Located in Washington state, hundreds of thousands of visitors come to the tulip fields between April 1–30 to see these gorgeous flowers in bloom. The festival is designed as a driving tour since there is no one designated “site.”

5. Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness, Colorado

Mavrick / shutterstock.com

Dr. Alan Lipkin / shutterstock.com

Flickr: usdagov / Creative Commons

 

This wilderness area is located in the Elk Mountains of central Colorado and has over 100 miles of trails. The closest city in reach is Aspen and the entire area spans over 181,000 acres.

6. Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida

Varina and Jay Patel / shutterstock.com

Nagel Photography / shutterstock.com

Flickr: sathishcj / Creative Commons

 

This isolated island of bliss sits roughly 70 miles west of Key West in the Gulf of Mexico, surrounded by clear waters and an abundance of sea life. The area is only accessible by boat or seaplane, so leave your phone at home and enjoy a day off the grid.

7. Zion National Park, Utah

fabernova / shutterstock.com

Steven Castro / shutterstock.com

Flickr: gregfoster / Creative Commons

 

Located near Springdale, Utah, this incredible 146,000-acre park is a popular destination for nature enthusiasts. A prominent feature is the Zion Canyon, which is 15 miles long and a half-mile deep. Other spots to visit while you’re here is “The Subway”(pictured on the left) and “The Narrows” (pictured on the right).

8. Watkins Glen State Park, New York

Flickr: dr_bullschmidt / Creative Commons

alexsvirid / shutterstock.com

Adam Lohr / shutterstock.com

 

We all know Niagara Falls is a sight to see, but located south of Seneca Lake in the Finger Lakes region lies a lesser-known fantasy-like area called Rainbow Bridge and Falls. It will make you feel like you’re in Lord of the Rings.

9. Yosemite Valley, California

Flickr: robsettantasei / Creative Commons

Peter O'Toole / shutterstock.com

Flickr: grimeshome / Creative Commons

 

This 8-mile glacial valley is covered in pine and surrounded by granite summits like Half Dome and El Capitan. The California beauty is a hot spot for tourists and photographers and it also offers scenic trails for hikers.

10. Grand Prismatic Spring, Wyoming

Flickr: projekction / Creative Commons

Lorcel / shutterstock.com

Anne Elliott / Flickr: 71833159@N00 / Creative Commons

 

This natural pool of rainbow-like colors is the largest hot spring in the U.S. and the third largest in the world. It’s located in Yellowstone National Park, which also has other great sights to see such as Morning Glory Pool, Old Faithful, and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.

11. Haiku Stairs of Oahu, Hawaii

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Flickr: kevin1024 / Creative Commons

Flickr: syntheticaperture / Creative Commons

 

This “Stairway to Heaven” is a steep hiking trail that is technically closed to the public, but many people continue to climb despite the “No Trespassing” signs. Sometimes breaking the law is worth it, right?

12. Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico

Flickr: pumpkincanada / Creative Commons

Doug Meek / shutterstock.com

Flickr: unkwot / Creative Commons

 

In this National Park beneath the rocky land lies more than 119 known caves, formed from limestone and sulfuric acid. Visitors can take the natural entrance (pictured on the right) or ride down the elevator 750 feet below ground.

13. Whitaker Point, Arkansas

Flickr: texas_tongs / Creative Commons

Bernie Jungkind / CJRW of Little Rock / buffaloriver.com

Flickr: naturegal / Creative Commons

 

In the heart of the Buffalo River country lies this incredible crag, a popular spot for proposals, scenic photographs, and pretty killer views. The best time to snap a pic is at 6:15 a.m. (as pictured above on the left).

14. Hamilton Pool, Texas

Flickr: dawilson / Creative Commons

Flickr: dawilson / Creative Commons

Flickr: dawilson / Creative Commons

 

Located just outside of Austin, this natural pool is a popular spot for tourists and residents in the summer. Hamilton Pool was created when the dome of an underground river collapsed due to massive erosion thousands of years ago.

15. Horseshoe Bend, Arizona

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Flickr: fkehren / Creative Commons

 

Named after its horseshoe-like shape, this famous meander is located just outside Page, Ariz., and offers a wicked view of the Colorado River.

16. Northern Lights, Alaska

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Flickr: arctic_troy / Creative Commons

Flickr: bjgraf / Creative Commons

 

The Northern Lights is one of the most beautiful wonders of the world, and a trip to Alaska will give you a front-row seat. The best places to see the lights are in Fairbanks and Anchorage from about September–April 20.

17. Bryce Canyon, Utah

Luca Galuzzi / commons.wikimedia.org

Flickr: markusnl / Creative Commons

Anna Morgan / shutterstock.com

 

This collection of large natural amphitheaters is famous for its hoodoos, geological structures formed by frost weather and stream erosion. The orange, red, and white rocks are a beautiful sight and only roughly 50 miles from Zion National Park.

18. Lake Tahoe, California/Nevada

Topseller / shutterstock.com

Curtis / shutterstock.com

George Lamson / shutterstock.com

 

Bordering California and Nevada, this freshwater lake is the largest alpine lake in North America. The clear waters and surrounding trees make it an ideal vacation spot.

19. Smoky Mountains, North Carolina/Tennessee

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Flickr: gaensler / Creative Commons

Flickr: fkehren / Creative Commons

 

A subrange of the Appalachian Mountains, the Smokies are a mountain range along the North Carolina–Tennessee border. It’s the most visited national park in the U.S., with 9 million-plus visitors per year.

20. Niagara Falls, New York

Chawalit S / shutterstock.com

Eugene Moerman / shutterstock.com

Elena Elisseeva / shutterstock.com

 

Located along the United States–Canada border is the famous Niagara Falls, a popular spot for tourists.

21. The Wave, Arizona

Flickr: thaths / Creative Commons

Frank Kovalchek / Flickr: 72213316@N00 / Creative Commons

Flickr: james_gordon_losangeles / Creative Commons

 

Located in Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness near the Arizona-Utah border lies The Wave, a sandstone rock formation that looks look a painting. The sight is known for its vibrant colors and the trackless hike to reach it.

22. Sequoia National Park, California

dcrjsr / en.wikipedia.org

Galyna Andrushko / shutterstock.com

Jim Bahn / en.wikipedia.org

 

Sequoia National Park is known for its giant sequoia trees, including the General Sherman Tree, one of the largest in the world. It stands at 275 feet tall and is believed to be roughly 2,500 years old.

23. Thor’s Well, Oregon

Flickr: by_photo / Creative Commons

Thomas Shahan / Flickr: 49580580@N02 / Creative Commons

Flickr: bengrewell / Creative Commons

 

Along Cape Perpetua lies Thor’s Well, a saltwater fountain driven by the power of the ocean tide. The best time to see it in action is an hour before high tide to an hour after high tide. While it’s a beautiful sight, it’s also highly dangerous and visitors should proceed with caution.

24. Badlands National Park, South Dakota

Dapixstudio / shutterstock.com

Flickr: mtsn / Creative Commons

Flickr: naturegal / Creative Commons

 

The red and orange rocky mountains bring in nearly 1 million visitors per year to the Badlands National Park. Native Americans used this area for hunting grounds for roughly 11,000 years.

25. Savannah, Georgia

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meanmachine77 / shutterstock.com

Irina Mos / shutterstock.com

 

The oldest city in the state of Georgia, Savannah has a charming personality and fairy tale-like array of Spanish moss trees.

26. Palouse Falls, Washington

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Flickr: shankarrk / Creative Commons

Flickr: rampix / Creative Commons

 

Located in Washington state, this enchanting scene almost came to an end in 1984 when the Franklin County Public Utility District proposed to build a dam to allow hydroelectric power generation. Ratepayers decided to preserve the falls.

27. Glacier National Park, Montana

Flickr: emilyrachelhildebrand / Creative Commons

Julie Lubick / shutterstock.com

mlorenz / shutterstock.com

 

Glacier National Park is located near Kalispell, Mont., and borders parts of Canada. The park encompasses more than 1,000,000 acres and attracts roughly 2 million people per year.

28. Nā Pali Coast State Park, Hawaii

Sarah Fields Photography / shutterstock.com

Flickr: jginsbu / Creative Commons

Jose Gil / shutterstock.com

 

The Na Pali Coast is inaccessible by car but can be seen over land by helicopter or hiking. The Kalalau Trail provides the only land access, but there are also caves you can explore along the coast.

29. Devils Tower, Wyoming

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Flickr: wespeck / Creative Commons

 

Devils Tower is a giant igneous intrusion that rises 5,000-plus feet above sea level. According to Native American folklore, a few girls went out to play and were discovered by several bears who began to chase them. The girls tried to escape by climbing a rock and praying to the Great Spirit to save them, and their prayers were answered when the rock rose from the ground toward the heavens and away from danger. When the girls reached the sky, they were turned into the star constellations. There are also several othertheories and stories regarding the Devils Tower.