Hello, My name is Danny...the middle son. It is with a heavy heart that I inform all of mom's blog friends that she is very ill. She was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer a couple months ago, and is now receiving hospice care from my sisters Erin, Mary, Dawn, and myself.

Please say a prayer for her, or simply keep her in your thoughts.

Warmest regards,
Danny 

THE BUD MAN..AND A BABY GIRL

On my 80th birthday, my daughters, Mary and Erin bought me little "Buddy."  It was only a short time ago that I had lost Mele..my little companion for 12 years.  It's funny how you think you can never love another as much as you did ...but over and over it's been proven to me that there is alway "room for one more".. 

Buddy had never been groomed yet when this picture was taken..AND he has grown a lot..so another picture will be posted soon.  He is the very first male dog I have ever owned..and maybe it's just my Buddy..but he is a notorious chewer..and so far he has chewed or TRIED to chew nearly everything, Furniture, and not just any furniture..ANTIQUES!  Shoes, pencils, clothing, torn up floral arrangements he takes from table top.

He can jump from the floor straight up to the back of the couch and often overshoots and hits the window and falls behind the couch..comes out looking puzzled!  

He can jump up on table..(I think he is part kangaroo!) desks..coffee tables..so we have to put everything in the guest room and close the door.

IS THIS A YORKIE TRAIT..or is it a MALE dog thing.

He is house broke..and the new doggie door is a God send...bless the one who thought that one up.

  SO...

....and this is my little great granddaughter "Zoe"..

She is the second grand child of  my fifth child, Erin.  Her first birthday was just a few days before Easter Sunday 2016.  She has just learned to walk and is showing off her little Tutu.  I bought her a 1959 Roadster for her first birthday!  :)  One of those that she can drive when she is older and can also be driven using the remote by an adult.  

Her little brother, Roman who is 4 said.."Grandma..we can share..right??" when he saw the little white car..

"HAPPINESS" is written on the corner of the little windshield!  

I DO love having a large family..and tons of grands.

Love,

Mona

~GETTING IT TOGETHER~

The photo below was taken at my daughter's home. Many happy times were spent there. 

The home was once owned by the famous author Emily Barnes.  

This is a photo of six of my seven children taken some years ago.  My daughter, Sandy was not in it because she was living  in Georgia with her little family at the time.  My son that passed away in November is on the far right.  Pat.  This Easter his absence was felt.  Next to him is his brother, Mike.  Mike and Pat were 13 months apart in age and very, very close.  Crib mates.  It's been a tough few years for our family.
 Next would have been my first born daughter, Sandy, and "big sister" in our family...then my third son and forth child, Danny.  Danny is the one that lost his kidney's and his sister Erin donated one of hers.  She saved his life.  What a time it all was..a stressful time for all.
The chubby one is me before I revolted and stopped trying to keep my dark hair.  *Hint*  Never wear a bulky white sweater in a picture..it just DOES NOT work!  :)   Next is second daughter and fifth child, Erin Kathleen, then Maryalice, and then last..but far from least is my baby girl Dawn.  She is the mother of Wrenna Dawn on Face Book otherwise known as "Wrenigade"   The one that is off adventuring in ...Switzerland? right now.  She is coming to stay  with me for a bit in August..and needless to say..I cannot wait.  My granddaughters are ..amazing.  Every single one of them.  I be-est SO blessed!!  So are the grandson's and you KNOW how us grandmothers can go on and on...

Easter was really nice.  Four young great grandchildren were here racing around and this grandma was in heaven to have them.   Five greats were missing.  Only twenty four for dinner this time..many had to work and some were far away but were remembered at family prayer time as were those far away and those that have made their transition and are waiting for their Mom.

Belated Happy Easter to all of you out there... YOU ALL are another reason I have been so blessed.
Thank you for being there..
I'm out here trying to get my act together..

Love,
Mona

P.S.  Did you know I turned 80 while I was "gold bricking" and not blogging?  Yep, back in early October.  Some of you that do face book knew because my children advertised it.   LOL  How am I taking it?  NOT well..not well at all, :) but on the other hand ....I am happy to be here.  

WHAT HAS HAPPENED....

I will do the best I can to get through this post.   It's been so long since I have posted that I have sort of  forgotten now it's done...so this may or may not get finished.  Depends.

First of all..thank you so much to my dear blog friends that have contacted me and those who may have wondered what happened to me.
Partly I think "taking a little break" just ran into days and then into months.  Then tragedy began to happen to me.  I've already had a lot of loss, as you may know and I have picked myself up and went on after my little companion Mele died on September 7th.   I thought my heart was broken then...but I knew from experience that time would help...only time..

Then my daughters gave me another little dog for my 80th birthday in October and life went on.
He is a little boy and his name is "Buddy"...
Little did I know..my life would once again shatter and fall at my feet....worse.

On November 19th my first born child,  my son Patrick, died suddenly of a heart attack and a massive stroke that happened during the surgery.  My husband Pat, also died of a massive stroke and as in a nightmare I watched my son at nearly the same age as his father...linger for only two days and then made his transition.  He was never alone for one moment.  We stood vigil all night in shifts in ICU.and most of the time there was 22 of us by his side.  Then we knew that it was nearly over and softly each of us..one by one began singing Bob Dylan's "BLACKBIRD"  and then he let go and was gone. His sisters and brothers were so strong...all of my family was.  His wife..she is just lost right now.  I know exactly how she feels.  She lost her soul mate as I once lost mine.  We all clung together and sobbed...

The nurses never once said a word about the number of people in his cubicle...and brought us a cart of coffee and drinks.  From time to time someone would bring food...little was eaten.
My son is gone..and this is the second child I have lost in a very short time.  We are still healing from my first born daughter, Sandy.  Family flew in from Georgia, Colorado, San Francisco... Pat and Sandy were the "big brother and big sister" of my children.  Most of you know I have seven.  I will always say "I have seven children" until the day I die.  

We are devastated!  So...this is what has happened to me.  This is the first time I have spoken in detail of it.  And as it is with Sandy, I see him everywhere..hear his voice saying "Hey Mom!"

This is a bad time for me.
I will be back perhaps...but maybe not.  I've been through death before but this...this is almost too much.  My life is upside down right now.  I cannot post a picture of my son.  It's way too soon.  I have written some of the details because some have inquired...it was sudden.  To dear friends who read my blog but don't blog themselves ...and I can't talk about it over and over..so this is what happened.
Again...thank you for inquiring after me..  It is so appreciated.
Love,
Mona

~HAPPY SUMMER~

When I first moved to this little home, I remember sitting on the front porch and thinking all the things I would love to do to make it cozier.. The wrought iron railing across the front was pretty, but it was black and didn't show up.  The screen door was black and not very inviting.  

So I painted the railing white and replaced the front screen door with a new white one and began furnishing  the porch and adding plants.  I brought my fountain with me and it tucked it into a corner..added white wicker, pretty cushions, more plants, and more and more plants.. *Please be sure to click on the photo because..I don't read directions and my pictures come out too dark to really see things.
One day I will learn... maybe! :) *

So last week I finally did it!  I completed my little dream front porch.  The end fence and gate were added exactly as I had once envisioned. 

Now Mele' can join me on the porch in the morning when I have my coffee.  She does not run away but will wander and sniff and I could not relax so this way I don't have to watch her every move.  She usually curls up at my feet..but one never knows when a kitty will wander by and I am not taking any chances.  She is delighted to be invited out each time I head for the front porch.

Neighbors gather...

venders linger

So does the mailman,

..and at 4 this morning...a neighborhood kitty had the nerve to climb over the fence and helped himself to a nice cool drink from the fountain.

How did I know this?

BIG MOUTH Mele' told me!  That's how!  :)

The water flows in the fountain all the time and during this heat the little birds gather.  There were four tiny hummingbirds  and other birds gathered on the ficus tree's and on top of the fountain trying to keep cool.   It's shady and a great place to hide from this Summer heatwave.

Happy Summer everyone..

Much love to you....

Mona

~THE ELUSIVE TOPIC...~

Here we are, pushing June AND I have nothing.

NOTHING, I tell you!!  

This is a picture taken this Easter with PH's family..his grandsson and wife and their little girl turning a year in June.  PH's first great.   I am nine ahead of him.  

:)

Please click to enlarge.   It helps a PH and I a little.  lol  I said "a little!"

I have been so terrible about taking pictures..and posting and it's not getting a lot better very fast and I apologize for that.  Springtime usually finds me in the back yard messing with the patio and yard but the heat will drive me back in soon.

There are new pictures of us on facebook, posted by family and if it were not for family, there would be no pictures of us at all.  Truthfully, I am not fond of looking at pic's of myself and neither is Howard.  Not any more!!  :) 

I have ordered a little gate for our front porch with a heart on it.  It should be here by the 30th of this month...according to the Professional IronWorks.  I will take a picture of it when it's installed.  

I hope all of you are well and that this election business isn't driving you as nuts as it is me!

Sometimes I leave PH all alone watching the news.  He hates it when I scream at the TV.  :)

Take good care..

Mona

~FANTASY HOMES ..for wee me?~

:)  OH, if only I could!

I've drifted from blogging..and I am not sure why, but the longer I am away the harder it is to return.  

I took to Pinterest for a few days..and found lots of bloggers there..AND on facebook whenever I happen to drop in there,  if I am mentioned.   Then of course I stay, peeking, reading, shaking my head finally and leaving.

...and the hours pass....

I stop it and wander through Pinterest for a bit then I am back to doing choses and in no time back to Pinterest...

 for what I promise myself is just for a "few minutes"  and then I discovered these little hobbit homes and fell in love with them.

 I think I just might be trying to turn this little trac home into one of these...however...

not possible to dig it into the side of a hill.

 Well..I have a path across the front of our home leading to the back gate all done in the flag stones...  but that's just one thing.and .sadly about the ONLY thing our homes have in common.

 And would I really be happy in one with no windows?  No real sunlight?  

And if it rained too much..would my little hobbit house leak?  OR worse yet, cave in on me?

No of course not.  :)

 I do know I am suited to this kind of dwelling rather than a high ceiling one.  Round  and oval are my favor shapes. 

.

I have heard of these turf homes, but who would think they would look so sweet!
So I guess you "mow" your roof?  

Little round window at the end of the table...and notice a lot of the food is finger food..

I love the candle light.  This table would have fit my family of nine perfectly.  

Wondering if this picture was taken in one of the little homes or from the restaurant.     

I have to check on that. 

Hmmm...no garages?  :)  No AC?  Lots of questions...but I don't think I need to worry.  You know what I mean? :)

Would you just LOOK at the view out the front door of his little hobbit home?  

These photo's are from the Hobbiton tour in New Zealand.  HOW I would love to go on that tour and go inside each and ever little home.   I suspect this might be a restaurant on the tour.   

Whatever the case...ever since I read the Trilogy and the Hobbit, I have been in love with Tolkien's writings for years and years.  I go back and read them from time to time...probably always will.

A very favorite Author...kind of reminds me of PH.  Kinda, sorta...don'cha think?  

Nice to be back..missed you guys!

Mona

~HE IS RISEN~

Happy Easter!  

~MY FRONT DOOR BOUQUET..

Easter!

I've always loved Easter..

My mother used to decorate the middle of our large dining room table with Easter grass and baskets for all of us children.  There were four and I was the eldest.

Still am. 

But my mom is gone now and Easter is a time I remember my parents and our Easter's.

This year, Easter is at PH's and my home and it's been a long time since that happened.

A new baby girl that will be born this Thursday to my granddaughter, Rachel, will keep us in town.

No going to the beach this year..

So..

when a dear online friend, Jean, sent me a photo she had found of an umbrella arrangement for the front door...I decided to try it.  Jean sent the picture and wrote "It's got your name all over it."  :)

I had to wing it.  Could not find directions..but..it's no wonder.

Simple as heck!
Thank's Jean!!

I found this umbrella at Target for $12 and the flowers I had around the house.

(got lotsa flowers!)

The hanger looks black in the photo, but it's gold.

 I should probably buy new ribbon..found this in the bottom of my sewing basket and it looks it.

Most of the flowers...ALL the rose stems go clear to the bottom of the umbrella..

I tucked Spanish moss every place I could tuck it...

Done!

No hot glue at all..if I take everything out, the umbrella could be used as intended without a speck on it.

AND I did have to buy the fern and nest.  Pier 1 had it.  

So..I'm just...about...ready.  Working on that patio now.

Hope you like it.

It's not much of a post but it's better than nothing at all...right?

Right?   :)

Love,

Mona

~A BRIGHT SUNSHINY DAY THAT GOD HAS MADE~

Most of us are lucky people.  We have homes..enough to eat and families to love us.

I try to lose myself in the little things..the sweet things.

But...I will not stick my head in the sand and pretend all is well.

Our part in all this?

Love one another....

The Coastal Redwoods are getting big.  Sometimes I just walk into their branches and stand.

They are soft and cool.  Even though one day someone will come along and cut them down...I won't have to see it.

PH  and I planted them one day in December 2008.  They were only 5' tall or so and now they are taller than the house...MUCH taller.

The grass is trying to fill in again.  Lack of water had all but killed it.  It's still sparce in places..but reseeding helped and our recent rains.  I hoped the rain would be more plentiful...

Some folks are getting way too much...life is so unpredictable.

It brings joy to some and heartbreak to others...

Interesting orbs show up on the lawn..and a really large one in the tree. 

Dust?  The rains just past.  Due drops?  Yep..HUGE ones.   :)  Light refractions of some sort.

Sure.  All of the above probaby. 

What a bright sunny morning this was.  I took these the morning after the rainy day a couple of days ago.

The stones were still wet..I could almost hear things growing..

The grass is getting thicker and greener.   There are so many things I would love to do to this little home.  This is just a little home..nothing outstanding about it ..except it is SO loved.  That always makes things special.  

We are all in this together...hang on, dear friends, it's going to be a bumpy year.

This one's going down in the history books...and it's the first time in my long lifetime that it makes me want to cry.  If family values are important to you...love...don't hate.  

We ARE one!

Love,

Mona

~OUTDOORS ON THE PATIO..come on out..~

Thanks for stopping in ..I was just thinking...

(shhh..don't say it! :)

I love the country, but I know now that I will never live there.  Of course anything can happen in this life so who knows.

In the meantime, I love our yard.   A little rain worked miracles!  The weather has been so nice and I've felt so good that I've been out there fiddling with the flower beds..sneaking a bit of water for the new grass seed.  More rain expected a couple of days this week.

Loving it!

We spend a lot of time on the patio as well.

Notice the piled stones and bricks on the umbrella stand?  We have had some high winds and have more than once found the umbrella's in the neighbor's yards..and one is broken.  

*sniff*

We don't have the rolling hills that I would love to see, but it's a nice yard and Mele' had lots of room for a little doggy to run about and chase imaginary kitties that sometimes wander in..well, they are not ALL imaginary!    My poor fern had a rough winter, can you tell?  

Do you see the plum tree in full bloom?!  I'm so happy about that!

The apple tree is the last to leaf out.

Looking in the opposite direction..the orange tree, lemon tree ..the peach tree..not sure what happened but it may have frozen.  It's looking bad.  It's behind the lemon tree.  

From this angle it looks like a pile of junk!  LOL  

That's okay.  It's home and it's comfortable.  

You know, I never used to like succulents but for awhile now they have been gathering on this little table...yes, and I allow it.  The spider plants are ones that were born here..pups clipped from the large hanging plants.  They are doing well   

So, that's most of the patio.  I very carefully didn't let you see the potting bench..it's a MESS!

Please come back and have coffee with me.  I'll even make some big chocolate chip cookies..

Okay?

Love and hugs,

Mona

~I'VE THIS THING FOR BABIES AND ...PORCHES~

Stole a couple of pictures from Granddaughter in law of our little baby boy, Ethan Daniel.
He was born last August 11th.   

 I wish his great grandfather had lived to see his great grandchildren..but he died way too young at the age of 63.  
Emily is his big sister..I just recently posted a large photo of her..
I think he is going to be handsome..don't you?  :) :)

 Ethan was about to make his first snow angel..with a little help from his Mommy?

Taken at Mammoth Lake California about two weeks ago..

AND...

Front porch with a touch of Easter...say..like...an Easter bunny?

I fell in love with her especially when I saw...

...her tiny baby bunny in her backpack!  Isn't he just so cute??
(I've this thing for "babies" as you probably know by now!

I just want to say here that I am so appreciative of the visits you paid to me.  I wander off and my sweet blogger friends are kind enough to keep tabs on me.

If I ever don't come back..my Granddaughter, Kristy will post to let you know as soon as possible.
  Absolutely NO plans to do that..LOL but I just wanted you to know.
My love to you..and thank you so much!

Hugs and love,
Mona

~I DID IT..I POSTED SOMETHING..

I said "something."

I cannot seem to get into the swing of blogging again.  New camera is not really the problem..

I should be used to it by  now..problems downloading and then finding the pictures..but that's not really the reason either.

I'm...in...a...funk!  

Ran out of steam!

Get up and go, got up and....blah, blah...

Working on  Easter decorating a bit helped.  

Still messing with the fireplace mantel.  I think I'm done!  

Needed more brambles but still haven't found a source.

I did get a bit more done today..but I haven't opened a single Easter crate.  

Hmmm...does this mean..I'm (oh  God!) slowing down??  

Another thing I did was replace the living room curtains from Heritage's "Downton Abby collection."

I love them.

But then I'm a fan of lace.  I have a typical old lady home.  My style does not change.  My daughter and were looking at old magazines, some over 15, to 20 years old..(yes, yes, I keep old magazines!) and we both said we still like the styles from back then.  

No STYLE here.  Just what I like...so..I have a hodge podge of furnishings and it keeps changing.just not the sofa etc.  

Let's see...

More dishes...well..yes...more dishes!

I fell in love with these..so Springtime and Easter.  Also the placemats.  The dishes are from Pier 1 and the place mats I found on Amazon.  I bought a set of six..total cost was about $30 something dollars.  They were $5+ each.  At Pier1 they were almost $20 each.  The price has dropped now.

But still not enough that I wanted to pay that much.  Then they came and boy, were they worth it.

I love those placemats..or..chargers..whatever.  I say placemats as chargers are smaller I think. 

The mantel cover above is also from Pier1.  I don't usually shop with them..but they had the cutest things this year!  So..I added to my collection.

Tomorrow...

I am going to dig into my cartons.  The clock is ticking! :)

This isn't much or all that interesting..but I'm trying!  

At least it keeps my mind off politics!!!  LOL

Big hugs and love,

Mona

~REMEMBER.."THE MISSION INN" con't~

I am easily sidetracked lately and I did not keep my promise to post a few more photo's of our lovely historical Mission Inn in downtown Riverside California,  which is not far from our home.
Some of the photo's  may have been posted before..but here is a reminder..
Please click on the photo's to get a wonderful view.

This is one of my favorite views of the Inn..  It surely shows the age.

There are many historical facts about  this Inn..and if you want to know more..you may look it up on the computer.  This would be a lovely place to visit if ever you come to our little town.

 I've  posted this before..but..you KNOW how I love red!!

See our mountains in the background.  This time of year they are often white with snow.

I think I told you that my children gave my second Husband, Frank and I, a weekend here.  You know I lost him to cancer.

And did I tell you my  grandparents were married here?   Indeed they were.

Another of their pretty rooms.  They spent a LOT of money refurbishing the Inn some years back.
I believe it is probably an ongoing thing to keep this lovely place in tip top condition.

I KNOW I posted this scene before also..and told you about the moving figures in the tower clock.

I've loved eating lunch here and when it's cool out, there are heaters and if it's hot..big umbrella's.

I do love this place...it is a place that is not far from our home.  I have come here with a couple of my blogger friends when they have visited.  There is a lot to see.

This is the President's room...and yes, I have sat in a cozy corner and had cocktails and interesting conversation with a gentleman.  It's a memorable place.

Just a few photo's to with the delicious lunches and brunches  they serve.  I don't have a picture of their Sunday brunches..but they are AMAZING..and the amount of food to choose from will make you crazy just trying to decide.

Of course there is always a  menu to choose from and formal dinners in the evening.

Oh..and besure and bring your wallet!!  uh huh...:)

I can vouch for this!!

and this!!

:) Yes, and this!!

Are you kidding??  OF course I can!!

Yes and this too.  

Do you remember the photo's I posted of my blogger friends and I in front of this famous cupcake shop?  Yes..and they won the cupcake war on TV!!

These photo's are from my dear friend Mary.  Thank you Mary R.  :)

Love,
Mona