Nothing Is Safe

Nothing or nobody is safe.  

My new camera arrived this morning.  

Random practice photos:

Per Gracie's request.
Where she lifts her leg to pee.

And then...

"Gracie, Mommy has a new camera.  

Let's get a picture together..."  

"This is not my submission pose...
 this is my 'forget it, I'm not interested' position."

Dear Diary,   Some words for concern.  New camera. Picture together.  Smile.  I think it's going to be a long hot summer.  Gracie.

It's A Problem!

Update on our baby robins.  

One day 2 were gone.  

 One remained and I was able to get a picture.  

  

The next day, he was gone too.

It makes me a little sad.  

But then again, next year will be new babies more than likely. 

 Life...  goes on.

And speaking of life's continued blessings...  

When the last of my baby birds left the nest I never even thought about what life would be like if she were to have a few baby birds of her own.  Grammy is the best title I've ever owned.

God is so Good!!

Dear Diary,  I'm trying here.  Really I am.  I'm cordial.  I greet her with a lick on the side of her face when she comes to visit.

She tries to touch my fur...  and I let her.

She stares at me with those baby blues and it melts my heart.  

Mom says she thinks I'm one of her stuffed animals...  and I let her believe that.  I mean...  heck...  what do I have to lose?

I even let her fool around with my ears which is a part of me that is off limits... except for me..    *scratch-scratch*

She coos at me.  She stares at me.  She watches every move I make.

I tell her, "Go ahead... you can play with my Wally Gator"  even though she doesn't allow me to play with her giraffe.

I have one problem with Short Stuff though.  Now I'm not saying I only love her for the cookies that she'll someday get and share quite generously with her BFF "me" but what I am saying is: I'm getting seriously tired of waiting.  She's ready, already.  Give the kid a cookie.  I blame the nag Mom.  Gracie.  

Remember

I grew up on a quiet street, Cemetery Road.   To me, Memorial Day meant that school had come to an end for the year and the beginning of a summer that would last forever was about to ensue.

I'm on the far right

Memorial Day meant heavy traffic on our back road and a cemetery thick with visitors, paying their respect to lost loved ones.  Flowers.  Guns.  Ceremony.  Lush green trees and the beginning of idle days.

Mom, my sister Angie, and me kneeling in the back.

Nothing to do but play baseball with the neighbors, climb trees, and picnick and swimming at Swaugars Dam at New Germany State Park.   A heart bursting with happiness.   No worries. 

My sister Rita, my cousin Gail...  and that's me on the right...

Memorial Day still stirs these fond memories for me…. But now, as an adult, I see the core of what we celebrate and I have the utmost admiration in my heart for our brave men and women who sacrificed their lives to make our country a better place. 

one thing was for sure... I loved my pets!  Gizmo and me.

Yogi and me

Jinxi and me

I hope everyone is having a peaceful Memorial Day today…  

Summer

Are you enjoying the long weekend?  

Memorial Day is Monday.  

And Summer will be here before you know it.  

Summer

crazy

Sometimes...  you just have to get a little crazy...

The Man and the Giraffe

"Hey Grammy!  Big Dog's trying to get my giraffe!"

"Hey short stuff...  stop squealing on me.  And speaking of squealing, let me sink my teeth into that squeaky toy of yours."  

"No Big Dog,  It's mine."  

"No Short Stuff... It's mine. 

Tell ya what.  I'll trade ya...  straight up... my new multi-squeaker TOUGH MAN for your rubbery squeaky giraffe.  

Whaddaya say?"

"No, Big Dog ~ Grammy says your man is dirty 

and I would just put it in my mouth."  

"What does that nag she know?  Here...  

take my MAN and see for yourself. It's clean as a whistle."

"Grammy!  Come quick! 

Big Dog is trying to get my toy!"

"Ya little traitor...  Give me back my blanket..."

"Here Big Dog...  you can smell it, but promise me you won't steal it."

Dear Diary,
If it looks like a dog toy.  And squeals like a dog toy.  And smells like a dog toy.  Then it is a dog toy.  Now...  to get it off the little trouble maker without getting in deep doo doo with the nag mom.  Gracie.

A FEW THINGS ABOUT SPRING AND LOVE

There's something about Spring...

Fresh.

Beautiful.

 New.

 Dear Diary,


Nothing says I love you like a good scoop of Dairy Queen ice cream in your food bowl...  
I'm feeling very unloved these days.  Gracie.

Answered Prayer

A few weeks ago Gary was reunited with his daughter Athena after a horrible court battle with the end result being that she was removed from his life for almost 6 years.  It was a time of hurt for both father and daughter.  

Now an adult, Athena has choose to come and stay with us for the summer.  She arrived today...  and a healing has began.  

Who says God doesn't answer prayer?  

I like my new MAN!

After over 100 years in business, Bethlehem Steel closed its home plant in Bethlehem Pa. in 1998.  They continued to operate in other states until they filed for bankruptcy in 2003.

  The well known steel company made the steel for many famous structures that still stand today including the Golden Gate Bridge and the Holland Tunnel (just to name a few) 

 Many war ships were built here as well, and used in WWII.

 Gary put in 29 years at the Bethlehem Steel missing his pension by 1 year.   

The plant is progressively becoming a huge tourist attraction that  includes a Casino, an Ice Skating rink, a museum, and various shops and restaurants.   

 

While in Bethlehem last weekend, we decided to check it out.

These flowers had the most heavenly scent!  Who knows what these are?  LOVE THEM!

Below is the old Brass Foundry where on January 21, 1974, a young Gary (19 years old), walked through the Foundry doors, excited for the beginning of his new trade; his new life of being an adult and working in the steel industry.  

To learn more, visit 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bethlehem_Steel

Dear Diary,

Yesterday I got a surprise.  A Bath.  Right smack dab in the middle of the day.  I think the nag Mom has lost her marbles. She should have been working.  I think I don't like her working so close to home.  Oh, and another surprise.  She had to go to the Vet's to get my prescription food and she brought me home a Man!  He has multiple squeakers and some of them sound like screams.  I like my new Man.  Gracie.