AFTER DECORATING MY DAD'S AND BROTHER'S GRAVES on Sunday, we drove across the prairie back to our humble abode in small town America.
The drive takes about an hour and a half one way. I miss my Mom living in Marion so much it hurts. Going to Marion always brings back fond memories. I drive around town looking at the houses of people I once knew, but are now passed away. There's so and so's house!
This year I did not walk through the cemetery as the grounds were soggy from the downpour of 5" of rain. We managed to hang wreaths on shepherd hooks. Later in the week, we'll need to retrieve them and bring them HOME, then I will hang them on our front doors. Grapevine wreaths with white roses and blue with white stars on a bow. They should look nice for Memorial Day through the summer until Labor Day. Near the 4th of July, I'll add some miniature flags on them.
When I return to the cemetery, I will place a hanging basket of flowers on the shepherd's hook and place a bundle of faux flowers in the tombstone vase that is built in. I like the idea of placing a potted plant on the graves and then when the gravesites are to be cleared off take the plants HOME to enjoy the plants longer.
Dad and David's graves are near an old oak tree that has nice shade. Seems odd that my Dad and Brother are buried. It's been a year since we last visited the gravesite. A year. Doesn't seem possible.
Drove HOME in some rain. I talk to myself sometimes and say things like make today count. Life is too short to be unproductive and full of regrets. Turn loose of hard feelings. Live like you mean it. One day, my body may lay in a grave. The spirit is gone, but what have I done while living?
In the cool of the evening, I walked in our backyard to clip some Irises from the garden. Mostly yellow Irises are what are left as the Irises fade away. As I spent some time in the yard, I took time to think about what to do with the flowerbed next. Some baby trees have sprouted up through the Iris bed. I'd like to keep some of the walnut trees that are poking through.
There are a few Iris seed pods that I need to read up on to see how to handle these so we have some baby Irises next Spring. When I walked past the peonies, there seemed to be some seed pods as well. Same with reading up on what to do with the peony seeds. I'd love to have some more peonies.
Resting this evening. Every once in awhile, I walk by the Easter wreaths that are on the table that I am working on and do something to them. The time I have allows for a little here and a little there to work on them. Soon, they will be finished and stored in the cellar. I'm either seriously running behind or super ahead of myself with the wreaths for Easter 2026.
GOOD BYE OLD FRIEND!
This week-end the yard clean-up has started. The old 1971 OPEL GT that we have hauled around with us for years was turned loose of. It was alright to say good-bye. My Husband has had this car ever since I've known him. 1973. We dated in this little car, I learned to drive a stick shift in this car, left our wedding in this car, used it to drive about when our first born came into the world. The kids played in this car. Bitter sweet to say good-bye.
I climbed into the car so I could sit behind the driver's wheel one last time and it was a joke trying to get out of it. So small and I'm a big mama these days. The car is very low to the ground. Even if it were in running condition, it would be difficult to get in and out of it. Those days are gone. V-room v-room off you go. She was a beautiful butterscotch colored sports car way back in the day.
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Hubby is fixing a container garden for us. He cleared a ground area beside the garage, laid weed mat down then placed old bricks on top of it. We're planting some peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers and herbs in containers then sitting them in this area. We have part of an old picket fence that will be attached to the garage above where the bricks lay. It was his idea and I fell for it. It'll be sweet.
So with that being said, I can recall our productive week. Last week-end two of our grands graduated. We traveled. Medical appointment. We traveled. Grocery shopped and thrift shopped. We traveled. Bought an old leather club chair with ottoman for Hubby's Art Studio that will be created soon. We traveled. Shopped for some plants and herbs. Turned loose of the old Opel GT. Traveled to a High School League Track and Field event. Traveled to decorate graves. Snipped the last of the Irises that I adore. Saddened that the time for the Irises to fade has come. Will celebrate MEMORIAL DAY on Monday.
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We are on day 6 of our Daniel Diet. Lots of beans are being eaten. Hubby has not complained and seems to be doing pretty well eating the way we are. 21 days of this and then we will ease back into eating red meat, fish and chicken. I think we'll stick with drinking almond milk instead of cow's milk. I look forward to eating eggs again. Skipping the pasta, white rice and pastries.
Since we cannot eat meat and desserts on Memorial Day due to the Daniel Diet, we will probably have black bean patties without hamburger buns and french fries with sugar-free catsup. Yummers. Some fruit. More veggies like a cherry tomato, cucumber, radish and lettuce salad. Lots of lemon water to drink.
Well, I think it's time to throw a load of laundry in, watch some TV and have HAPPY thoughts that I am where I am even if it's not perfect.
