Yes. It's Time.

 Summer had to go to the bathroom but not before stepping onto the scale to see how tall she is.  God love her!  

This years plans are to go to Ocean City again with family and that is always a blast...  but I am seriously looking into adding a Walt Disney World Vacation early next year.  At the beginning of the year sometime when it's not too crowded.  I think the kids would love it!  They are at that perfect age. 

Next thing on my bucket list will be me and my guy, traveling across country.  If it weren't for Gracie I would have considered this much sooner.  But I hate leaving her home alone with just a part time 'sitter'.    Now that my daughter has a house of her own (which will have a fenced in yard when I'm done), I will actually consider leaving her with them.  She loves them almost as much as she loves her pack (Gary and me).

And so.  Yes.  It's time.  A bucket list is in order, while we are still in good enough health to enjoy life.    We are not getting any younger.  This life passes us by way too fast.  I have lost too many loved ones this past year.  Sometimes I feel so broken-hearted, living without those that meant so much to me for so long.  Everything has changed but through it all I am so very grateful for a loving family.  Wouldn't trade 'em for anything!!!

And so my bucket list begins...  

GOD WILLING....

1.  disney world with the kiddo's

2.  traveling with my guy

That will be all for now.  These two adventures will take lots of money...  so for the time being I need to get to work....

Dear Diary,

I am being forced to use a ramp (at night) to get on the bed.  Mom says I wander too much at night anymore.  And then I whine because I can't jump back up onto the bed.  She said she had two choices.  Either to lower the bed to the floor or make me use the ramp.  She's making me use the ramp!  Selfish, nagging woman!  Gracie

Changes Everything

It can change the way we think, feel and react.

It can calm us amidst an angry storm.

It has healing power.

It has been known to give us the sweetest of sleep when our minds cannot shut down.

It draws us near to God.

The power of prayer is miraculous to those who believe.

My office stress 'pillow'

Dear Diary,

It's a glorious day in my world!  I have shed the 'worst dog in the world' title and have become the second worst.  And now the really good news.  You're gonna like this...  wait for it...  can I have a drumroll pleeeeeease....  and the winner of the worst dog in the world award goes to ......
ELLIE MAE HAYES!!!!  BOL BOL BOL!!!!
My **clears throat** niece who just happens to be Mom's new granddog (who gobbles up all my food in one swipe when she's here) not only pees and poops on the floor but she jumps onto the table and eats all of her peeps dinner!!!!!  ***I'm rollin'****  ****too funny****  ****way to go Ellie Pig Mae!****  That's what cha get for being the cute new dog in the family and stealing my thunder.  I say, put her in a cage!  BOL!  Oh I just can't stop laughing!!  Gracie.

"I'm Ellie and I'm sweet and innocent.  Just look at these eyes."

Pretty Sad

 Saturday before leaving the house I checked on my baby birds.  You know.  The ones outside of my office window that we saved by plugging up the leaky rain spout so they would not drown.  The babies were gone!  They were not ready.  It was not good news.  As I wondered what could have happened to them, I found one lying dead on the porch floor beside the door to my office.  The other one was nowhere to be found.  I had a sick feeling in my stomach and almost cried.  I hate not being able to save the little babies.  

You do what you can do...  and leave the rest to God.  And what is to be will be.

A couple of weeks ago a lady stopped by my office, quite impressed with Anvil our front yard ape.  So much so that she wants to include him in her publication of Off-168, a magazine featuring local tourism information.  The magazine is available in all State of Maryland Welcome Centers.  It's published 5 times a year according to the seasons.  She features animals a lot and she wants to do a story on Anvil, though he's not real.

Today she stopped again and informed us that she has decided to break her 'tradition' of only featuring live animals on the front cover.  Yes!  Anvil has been chosen to be the first 'unreal' front cover animal on her publication.  She wants him dressed patriotic and so   tonight we went out to find some accessories that will make Anvil's claim to fame stand out and send people to National Highway in search of the big gorilla.  Stay turned!

Dear Diary,

Yesterday was Dad's birthday.  It rained.  Mom and dad felt sorry for me because I kept looking depressed (lack of walks makes me that way).  And so they took me in the Buick.  First to the pet store where I smelled pig ears and chew bones and lunged at a couple strange looking humans.  Then it was on to Tractor Supply.  More good smells.  I'm pretty sure you're allowed to pee on the floor there, so I'm not sure why mom made such a big deal about it and a person I did not know showed up with towels to wipe it up.  Guess it's not okay after all.  Well, when we got home mom and dad left right away to go eat at Wasabi.   Without me.  I pooped on the floor while they were gone.  My bad.  Gracie.