FROM CRUSTY TO SOFTY

Kathleen and Cammie working on kicks....














Cammie "jumping" to Miss Kathy














"Ring around the rosies....."


I know, who would have thunk it. Old crusty here turning into a mush melon. Can you see what loving Evelyn has done for
me? Never would I have looked at other people's children like this, not before Evelyn came into my life. She has peeled an onion, layer
by layer. She has gotten to my very soft caramel center. She has opened me to love like I have never known before.

This little girl "Camryn", called Cammie was down at the pool with her Mom and Grandma a week ago. I took immediate notice because
she made me think of what Evelyn might look like at age 2 1/2. Cammie is also adopted. She and I have begun a friendship. I go into the pool everyday. Her Mom and Grandma just sit on the edge. She and I are playmates. I am practicing my Grandma skills. It is really very easy. She has decided that I am the best. When she comes down after lunch and spots me, she cries out "Miss Kathy", and runs to me. She has taken to kissing and hugging when she leaves. She had never heard the song Ring Around the Rosies, I began singing it and moving her in circles, she sang along and within two tries she had the words down. Her Mom videoed us with my camera and if I can
figure out how to post it later I will.

Okay Evelyn, hurry up and get to Detroit, your Grandma is waiting for you. I think there will probably be a trip to the Zoo!

Until next time....Always, Kathleen

GEORGIE'S COUSIN

MEMORIES OF GEORGIE

Many years ago, 30 to be exact, David had a parakeet named Georgie. He was bright green with yellow and black. David bought him with his savings(Communion Gift money). He then saved for a new cage and kept Georgie in his room. He loved that bird to death. He taught him to talk, to land on an outstretched finger, to ride on Mandy's(our dog)back....and to avoid the cat, Scratcher. All was well in the house of man, dog, cat and bird.

In August our annual camping trip to the Pinery was planned. Grandma and Grandpa Barber were taking Georgie for a vacation at their house. Two days before we were set to leave, I put Ann in the front seat(she was almost 3), the birdcage in the middle next to her, and I went back to the porch to grab the stand. As I struggled to put the stand in the back seat, a small voice was heard from the front seat, "Georgie go bye-bye". I quickly looked in the cage and much to my dismay it was empty. The cage door was open as were the car windows. Ann continued, "I put Georgie on my finger and he go bye-bye." I dreaded telling David:(

I could barely look at him. He was so upset. Off we went to the street behind us, the direction Ann said Georgie had flown. Sure enough we found him in someone's backyard, high up in a huge Maple. With David coaxing, finger outstretched Georgie attempted several landings, but he couldn't make it past the strong updrafts. The owner of the house let us leave the cage on his driveway overnight. Come morning there stood an empty cage. No sign of Georgie following an abnormally cold August night.

Our home was silent of chirping and mimicking, all that could be heard that night was an eight year old boy crying himself to sleep in his Mother's arms. The Mother cried too, and for one of a few times in her life she didn't know what to say. She wrote in a journal that night, one she still has, and found in that telling some comfort for herself. The beginning of writing about her feelings that has carried her through the past thirty years. The beginning of a personal journey and the realization that she couldn't fix or control everything Something she still struggles with every day.

IDES OF MARCH???

Sunrise from my porch


A missed sunset...caught the sky leaving for dinner


The Moon and Venus at dinner


Just so you don't think everything
is beautiful here....this is the ugliest
artificial flower arrangement I've ever
seen....and it's in my Living Room!

Is it possible? Tomorrow is March 1st. Only 31 days left to our stay in Florida. Our new home away from home. I hate the thought of returning. I'll be happy to see the important people in my life, but can't say I've missed Detroit/Michigan at all! I will look forward to
our return next year. Such a pleasant place to look forward to.

I went to a Line Dancing class on Friday with one of my friends. What fun!! I plan on going again on Wednesday and Friday. It really was a workout. I love dancing and so seldom get to do it. Weddings are fewer and fewer now. Our big party days are over. I felt like I was in Bill Wilson's Studio of Dance. Barbara would remember that. A large part of our childhood. Tap, ballet, modern jazz. When my cousin Barb and I were 4, we charged people 10cents to watch us perform. Our Grandma Bullock(our Mother's Mother) was in the hospital, seriously ill, in Pennsylvania. The times were safer then and our Mom's left us outside on the hospital grounds, unattended. Barbara and I saw ourselves as budding stars. There we were in our matching blue/blue striped dresses, tapping on the grass for anyone willing to come up with the coins. Much to our Mother's horror we managed to collect enough to put in our piggy banks. Grandma died never knowing we had inherited her industrious nature. How did we know Barb, that many years later, we'd be tapping to keep patients happy!

I had such a great day yesterday. Most of them are great,but yesterday was exceptional. It started off with a sunrise, moved on to dancing until I thought my heart would sing, and then seeing that beautiful night sky. We had dinner at a place called Bha Bha/A Persian Bistro. Food I love. A balmy night drive home, to bed, just to rise and start all over. This really has been such a wonderful time. I am so very grateful.

Until next time....Always, Kathleen

THIS IS SOME OF WHAT I'VE BEEN DOING!

EVELYN IN THE SWEATER I MADE FOR HER,
HAT BY GRANDMA SHIRLEY OUT OF LEFTOVER
YARN



DINNER WITH MY BROTHER JACK, HIS
WIFE PAT, TOM, DAVID/BECKA AND MY
NEPHEW ERIK IN PUNTA GORDA


SOME OF MY MAJONG PALS. LEFT TO RIGHT
PANSY, GLADYS, WILMA, ROSE AND TONI WHO
I CUT OUT(SORRY TONI)


KATHLEEN "NOODLING"

Hi Everyone,

Well, here it is February coming to a close! How did this happen? Ten(10) months from today it's Christmas! Don't say
I didn't warn you. I do this every year and no one wants to hear it. Then November comes and you all complain that you
have so much to do. My solution...cut back! No gift buying. Go to another state, that eliminates decorating. I don't think I
can get away with this much past 2009. Evelyn will be wising up and I sure don't want to miss that!

The weather remains wonderful. The people great. I scored two(2) Majongs on Tuesday. It's so much more fun when that
happens. It is a game of skill, but there is a lot of luck to it too. I guess that's why they called it THE JOY LUCK CLUB.

Our pool is great. The sun is pretty intense and it offers relief. Everyone hops in and does their visiting in the pool. Great place to
do leg kicks and scissor kicks. I think I'll see if Ann can't try to teach me proper breathing when she comes next week. I can do the crawl but have never gotten the breathing right. I end up running out of steam due to lousy technique.

I've met a new lady from Massachusets named Gloria. She sits poolside and knits. She got me going again. I've started an Aqua sweater for Evelyn and am making pretty good head way with it. I've almost got the back done.

I'm going to a Line Dancing Class on Friday morning with Pansy. I'll let you know how that goes. I've got to do something to get me out
of bed earlier. I don't know where the "early riser" went, she's not here.

Until next time....Always, Kathleen

GRATITUDE FOR WHAT IS.....

THE BEACH IN NAPLES


OUR CONDO COMPLEX


BANYAN TREES ALONG MY WALK


A CLOSE-UP OF A BANYAN TREE


I've given up trying to write next to the photos. It always lines up perfectly and then I post the blog and everything has shifted. I guess I need to do some more experimenting.

Have you ever heard a Mockingbird? I never had until this past week. I hadn't noticed that we didn't really have bird sounds in December or January. Suddenly last week the mornings were full of their sounds. I guess it is spring here. A Mockingbird sat on the fence next to my chaise at the pool for over 2 hours the other day. Much to my surprise I found myself watching and listening to it for long spans of time. Mockingbirds make a beautiful sound. They imitate all the other birds they hear. It's incredible. More incredible was the fact that I was listening,watching....being! I wonder what I'll be like back in Grosse Pointe. I wonder if I have learned something new about being, or if it's this place. I hope it is the former. It's a much better way to live. I'm not so driven and I like that.

We do so much more here. We have gone to the Philharmonic to see RIVERDANCE. We saw the HARRY JAMES ORCHESTRA with some friends. We have tickets to see HAPPY DAYS in early March. It's a musical based on the TV show and is supposed to be full of 50s and 60s music.

We've seen more movies in 10 weeks than we have in the past 3 years.

We had a Wii and I found the Wii Fit down here. We are both doing that every day. Today was day 20 for me. It's an incredible program and really gives you a workout while providing fun. Tom is focusing on the Balance Program which should help him a lot. I am still walking in the mornings.

We are really living life but so much more simply. I'm trying to figure out why. What makes home so much busier? Is it simply my frame of mind? Hope I can find a way to transfer what is here back to there.

Until next time....Always, Kathleen

DAVID AND BECKA ARE HERE!

Sunday morning communication with David and Becka


David....poolside


Our pool


Our condo....top window is our porch.
We overlook the pool, golf course to the
right.


Hi Again,

Well, David and Becka are here. Yesterday was pool day and out to dinner. Today they went to Barefoot Beach and we are now going
to drive up to see my brother Jack and his wife, Pat. My nephew Erik is supposed to meet us too.

There visit time has gone by too quickly. Of course we aren't getting to do half the things we thought. Well, there's always next year and maybe then they can stay longer.

I joined Facebook today. It's a fun sight and I'm hoping to find some old high school friends. We'll see.

We are still loving it.

Until next time....always, Kathleen

A Family Visit in Florida

My Nephew Ken Blackwell and my Great-Nephew Jake watching....


The Alligator Feeding at the Naples Zoo!


Jake driving a speed boat!


Jake and Uncle Tom, Great Pals!

Back in mid January we spent the day with my brother Jack, his wife Pat, their daughter Trisha, her husband Ken and their son Jake.
It was a gray, windy, cold(53degrees) day in Florida. We decided to go to the Naples Zoo. The Zoo here is wonderful. It is set in a Botanical Garden. The animal displays are large but a very reasonable distance apart. Navigating can be done easily by youngsters and oldsters! All of the primates are housed on islands in a small lake. A pontoon boat takes visitors around and a live narration is given about the various types of monkeys and their habitat. They have a wonderful store, full of things to delight children.

Jake was a very special boy to Grandma Eva(my Mom). He took to her as a baby and Mom took to him. She spent some weekends at Trisha's house so the bonding was extra special. Trisha made a point of making sure Grandma Eva got to know and love Jake, and vice a versa. Jake loved Grandma's walker and used to pretend he was driving a car. Mom used to pretend the walker had a horn and she'd cry out "ooga-ooga" (which was the sound old car horns used to make). Thus Grandma Eva became known as Grandma "Ooga-Ooga" and to this day it's how Jake refers to Mom. He came with Trisha several times when Mom was ill and was with us the morning she died. He is an exceptionally well behaved boy and has been that way since he was very little. My Mom BRAGGED about how good he was. If anyone knew my Mom you know how big she was into children's behavior. Jake always made her mark...one of a very few!

Now, Jake is a tall, well behaved, loving and very bright 3 1/2 year old. He behaves in restaurants, church, other peoples homes. He told my brother Jack. "Grandpa, you're my best friend!" He connects with people but most importantly he is able to tell them how he feels about them. Before we spent the day with them, he had only seen Tom a few times. That Thursday in Florida, on that cold and windy day, a bond was made between Jake and Uncle Tom. Later in the evening, Jake raced up to walk along side Tom. He reached up for his hand, looked into his(Tom's) face, and said, "Uncle Tom, I really like you!". Guess who's heart melted? Guess who has who, in the palm of his hand?

Publicly, I'd like to acknowledge, Ken and Trisha for doing such a magnificent job. Jake is becoming a wonderful human being. It all started with the love you both held in your hearts before he even began. Now it is because of the love, and the time you are investing in him. You are making this world a better place by preparing Jake for it. Thank you too for caring enough to let Grandma have the joy of him the last couple of years of her life. I'll never forget you for doing it. I love you both!

FAMILY AT EVELYN'S BAPTISM

DAVID AND BECKA

AUNTIE ANN AND EVELYN
OUR FAMILY
PROUD AND HAPPY PARENTS


Well, here it is four months later. I can't believe how much Evelyn has grown. These photos were taken at a park that is near Brian
and Lara's house. It was a beautiful setting.

I noticed in the photos that had Evelyn in them, she is looking up....at the leaves and the way the sun was coming through them. That was her developmental stage back then. Now she is busy laughing, picking things up, making baby sounds and screaming out loud....just because she can. What a wonderful journey this is. Being a Grandma is wonderful. It's like God is giving me another chance to love
another perfect human being. I think I am doing a better job. I think I get so much more now!

VISITS WITH FRIENDS

PHYLLIS AND ME













PAUL AND TOM












LIN AND ME









Here are some pictures of friends we've spent time with while in Florida. Phyllis and Paul Danilow are two great people we originally met in Puerto Vallarta. We became fast friends and we have visited them in their former home, New York City, several times over the past 7 years. They came and spent a week with us two years ago in Detroit. We took them to Mackinaw Island, Petosky and we spent several days at our cottage in Amherstburg. They liked the cottage the best.

They have now moved to Lake Worth, Florida on the east coast and given up their NY city apartment. We spent 3 days with them after Christmas. Their home is lovely and of course it is always great seeing them. Phyllis keeps us in stitches with her stories and quick wit(she reminds me of Bet Midler), and Paul is a gracious, gentle and wonderful man.

The picture at the ocean was taken in mid January. Lin Fons is a former classmate from nursing school. She and I have maintained contact over the years. She and her husband have a place on Marco Island, about 20 minutes from here, and I spent the night and a day at her place. We had so much fun. Lin is another quick witted, comedian friend and we played on the beach like school girls. We built things in the sand....not sand castles and laughed until I thought we'd cry. Truly I have not had a day of such childlike play in many, many years.

As I've said in emails and earlier posts this has been a time of healing, introspection and obviously play. I am so grateful for what this winter season in Florida has brought to me.

Until next time....always, Kathleen

BACK TO DECEMBER.....

SUNSET ON MARCO ISLAND







MY COUSIN BARB











BOB AND BOBBIE YUVAN(OUR NEXT DOOR NEIGHBORS
FROM OUT COTTAGE IN AMHERSTBERG) AND TOM!

THEY WERE IN MARCO IN DECEMBER











EILEEN ON THE LEFT, HER COUSIN ANNE NEXT TO HER.
FRIENDS FROM OUR PUERTO VALLARTA DAYS, WE SPENT THE
DAY WITH THEM IN THE LAUDERDALE AREA







Now that I have a computer I thought I'd update my blog about some of the people we've seen and things we've done.

Our next door neighbors from our cottage were down in Marco Island for a week. We spent a day with them at their condo.
It was a beautiful day and our first trip to Marco. The beaches are magnificent. The sunsets spectacular, especially if you have
an ocean view.

We spent Christmas with my cousin Barb and her husband Dick in Plantation on the east coast. I don't know what happened but somehow I didn't take pictures. I only have one of Barb which I took on our morning walk at a nearby walking trail. I think we were too
busy talking to take pictures.

While there we had lunch with some friends we met in Puerto Vallarta. Eileen lives in Pembroke Pines and we have kept in touch
over the past few years. We first met on the beach at the Camino Real in Puerto Vallarta. She was an early beach walker and I was an early meditator. We struck up a conversation on morning and that was it. We'll miss seeing them and many of our other friends in Mexico this year. However, this has ended up being far more economical for a much longer time period.

Until next time....always, Kathleen

Look Who's Keeping Me Warm!

Okay, this is what's outside!



















This is who's inside!



"Getting to know you, getting to know all about you...."
















"Splish, Splash, I was taking a bath...>"








Yes, I would do it again! Leaving sunny Florida for this charmer is a no brainer. I know Grandpa Tom wouldn't like this weather but he is missing the Apple of his eye. Funny how love has a way of inching into our hearts and just growing. Again I marvel at the tenderness, love and joy I feel with this perfect little girl. She is such a reminder of how perfectly we come into this world. It's only the way people write all over us that changes that. So far I see no signs of that here.

Evelyn is blessed with two of the most loving, tender, positive influencing partents. This house resonates peace. She is joyful, tender, inquisitive and so content. She hasn't cried since I arrived which is a week now. She coos and babbles and patiently waits for an adoring someone to lift her from her crib. She is very bright and loves to entertain anyone who is interested in watching.

She is also very lucky to have a Grandma and Grandpa nearby who watch her every day when her Mommy and Daddy go to work. She is learning so much at their knee. She can play peek-a-boo and loves singing and music. She knows she is loved.

Well, Grandma P's visit is drawing to an end. Today is the last day. I am relishing every moment I have. I have done enough photos to last a few months. Brian is kindly making me a copy of their videos. This should be my fix until the next visit, maybe in April at our house.

Oh, I also recorded the Zoo song on Brian's I Pod. It now has five verses and Evelyn lights up and gets excited when she hears it.

Until the next time....always, Kathleen