SPRING? NO FOOLIN'

They said it was going to be an early spring.  The farmer's almanac, the groundhog, the woolly worm.. all wrong!!  We had 70 degrees and the birds and critters were happy and then.. it got rainy and then COLD.. really cold. We woke up to 29 degrees after a low of 17 and snow covering everything that had been bursting forth with buds and flowers. Nice for people with allergies, non existent right now. If we have a long hot summer then I am just fine with a colder spring. Bring it on..just not the snow. By the end of our week it will be back off the roller coaster and into warmer weather. Maybe this is the last blast.. (yeah I said that the last time.) It's weather in Michigan and it sure can change in a hurry. We have to deal with it. Next week they test the tornado sirens. Weird indeed..

At least 3 inches here overnight.

Yes, they put out the lawn chairs...

 

YES it  sure looks beautiful..

Yes they put out the hoses already and some planted flowers. 

 

 

 

THAT OLD HOUSE AGAIN...?

Good Grief...So shocking to see an article written about our OLD HOUSE in the 
local papers. WHY? 
That old home is now filled with a new family and a 2 year old who has a big problem
with levels of lead in her blood. Not from water, but from all the improvements they did 
with our old home. We had a family and raised 2 grandkids in that home and no one had high 
lead levels. The new owners, removed wall paper, sanded and painted the walls and removed
all the old windows (all 10) which had been painted shut. They spread the dust all over the
house. They cleaned the furnace and the pipes and the levels are better but not gone. The couple are now expecting their second child and have taken a second mortgage out to make more improvements. They cannot afford to move.

Our old living room..I like how they repainted it. Sorry there is so much trouble.

Her name is Alexsis.

 This is the backyard now.  The new owner says that lead is in the ground and grass will not grow
there. She failed to mention that they kept old cars and trash and a large dog back there. I will have to see it in document form to believe that the ground is that contaminated. The neighbors KNOW the real story.  They were not asked to give their comments about the situation. Lead is very much in the news in Michigan and I sure hope they find some kind of state help to solve their problem. Selling the old 
place will be really hard to do now that all this is public knowledge.  

(Sorry I tried to fix the font.. it won't enlarge.) 




 

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

The month of February is sure going by fast.  The groundhog predicts spring will be here very soon. I saw the winter geese flying the other morning and saw a pair of doves a couple of weeks ago. The ground outside is green and what snow we had is gone for now. I have the door open and the temps will be in the 40's today. I would say that is about all I need to convince me. We may have one more storm coming in the future but it won't be a bad one. This week I made a batch of cookies to give away. I enjoyed making them but flashed back to the good times I had baking them for Mom and how she loved them. Has it truly been 5 years since she passed. SO much has happened since then.

I have to focus on the good things because all those days that she was sick are just too painful. I moved away from that town as soon as I could.  A fresh start sure did help. A change of scenery always improves your life. Sure is strange how the smell and the taste or sound of something can bring your memories flooding back. I miss mom every day but know she is with me all the time. Hope your Valentine's Day is a great one.. 

 

~~~HAPPY NEW YEAR 2016~~

I have written on this blog site since 2009. A lot of New Year's have passed since then. Some good and some very bad. Last winter was horrible it was so cold and snowy it seemed like it would take forever to get to spring. New Year's day signifies to me the day my dad passed away back in 1994. It also reminds me to be grateful for every year I am here on this old planet. 

 Putting the Christmas things away helps me know it is time to clean up the closets.This past week I have been re-organizing my tiny closet and getting rid of things that I no longer have any use for. I have such limited space now..why keep things you don't use? Makes sense to me..I'll do it again in Spring. Speaking of which..it's only 78 days until official Spring. I think it will come early this year, we can only hope.
Whatever your plans are for 2016, I do hope you have a happy, healthy,successful year. Thanks for visiting and reading my blog.

~~~MERRY CHRISTMAS~~

It's coming soon. SOON.. Hope you all have your plans set and shopping done. I have been baking with my 4 year old "helper". He had a really fun time and yes the more icing the better. He was really good about NOT eating the cookies after he iced them. I told him that the ELF on the shelf would report back to Santa that he was doing a great job. This is his first Christmas with the ELF and it seems he likes looking for him and being GOOD. Bless the person who thought this idea up it really helps. I had to reflect back when his mother was his age and decorated cookies at this same table. It was a tradition to visit Grandma's house and decorate cookies with her cousin every Christmas.       

Seeing a third generation following along made my heart happy. I know his Grandma in heaven was watching and smiling. In the years to come he will find that making them and giving them away will bring him a great feeling of joy. 

I hope this Christmas, that whatever gives you the greatest JOY and blessings find you and your family.