DAYS OF MY LIFE.....AN UPDATE....

You all know that I have been 

away for a while.

I know many of you have reached out

to me to see what is going on in my life.

Life has had lots of ups and downs

these past few months.

One of the best UPs-

I went to Florida to deliver my grandgirl,

Alana,

to Disney College.

We spent a few days before that

at the beach.

Now she is at college in Connecticut..

sigh...and I miss her.

I also went to Mexico with my daughter

and her three girls for a week.

Beautiful resort and beautiful weather.

Another UP-

I got my inflammation pretty much under control.

A combination of anti-inflammatory meds

and a blood panel that showed me what

foods cause inflammation in my body

made a huge difference.

My SED rates are the lowest they have

EVER been.

Hubby has had good days and bad days.

Bad days are days on end spent in bed.

Good days he is up and about,

running errands, going to a dance class,

interacting with others.

On good days,

he will take Mr. Scruffy

for nice long walks

and let him explores holes in trees.

On down days

they snooze.

Sadly, we sold our camper

that was on a permanent site in

Door County, WI.

I was getting ready to paint and remove

the old borders and update the interior.

However, if I went, I went by myself

(with Scruffy)

and would have to leave hubby at home.

Maybe someday, I will have another

'escape' plan.

I relaxed there and read books for 

days on end.

Now that I am home,

I have been dawdling around with 

doll making again.

I have a couple of other ones I made, too.

I smudged the face on one by not waiting 

until it was completely dry.

Never fear-

SCRUFFY FIXED IT FOR ME!

Remind me to beat him later!

I'm sure you know I mean that!

I will do that right after he is done

guarding the house from those

vicious squirrels.

My son-in-law, Jason,

continues to fight brain cancer.

I think he is on his 10th round of chemo now.

He has such a positive attitude

and a supportive wife and family.

Please keep them in your prayers.

I will do some before and after

shots of the condo soon.

We moved in during Covid and it

took a while to figure things out.

We had to wait on some things.

Oh- and I am still drinking

If you have read this far,

well, bless your heart!

Thanks for hanging in there.

See y'all soon!

 

PICK YOUR FAVORITE FALL TABLE RESULTS-WHO IS SITTING WHERE?!

First of all-thank you for all the welcome back messages.  I do miss you guys when I am gone.

AND-if I missed anyone, please let me know.

I had to dig some replies out of my Spam folder.

For some reason I can't

access my editing program

to create a collage.

I can 'get there' but I can't

transfer pictures.

That is one of my frustrations with my newer MAC-

otherwise, I love it.

So- I will have to do this picture by picture this time!

#1 PUMPKIN SOUP

                       Sitting here:

Melanie, Sabra (daughter of my old roommate, Donna-she passed way too early and I loved her dearly), Jeanie-Wants me to move the table!, Leena, Noreen, Brenda, Kathy, Billie Jo, Sue & a NEW guest, Yvonne plus

two special guests-

Unknown & Anonymous

#2-STREAMERS & A CHANDELIER

Betsy/Estelle, Sheri, Rachel (wonders if this is a potting table or what) Amy-(wonders if that is dog food in the bucket and wants to bring furry friends), Marilyn, Polly-(Wants a cushion), Kim, Kitty, Bonnie S & Kris

#3-CANDLES & CHARGERS

                    Laurie-Wants to move it to the beach,

Ayla, Susie, Linda/Life&Linda, Denise

and Tiffany-Sabra's sister!

#4-PICNIC PLEASER

                      Terri, Lorrie, Theresa, Bless

Michelle, Jack&Sherry (he says he is going to have to drag Sherry) & Lisa

#5 BURLAP! DO I SEE BURLAP?

                      Got some burlap lovers here!

Liz, Ann, Jan/J'sJourney,

Linda/Life Journal, Ginny, Tete,

MA & Cecilia

#6-GREEN GOBLETS

Judy/GoldCountry, Debbie N, Rita C,

Carla, Mevely, Debra/WhoSeeks, 

PamS-would sit @#2 if I removed the flowerpots

#7-COLOR COLOR COLOR

                          Diane, Jan, Doris, Sandie,

Happy, Debbi/Beach Gypsy (always brings fun and an array of special things), Pat,

Julie, Tom B, bobbie-Bringing a cushion..wonder if she could bring one for Polly @ Table 2?

AND...a few that couldn't decide!

Vee...seriously, Vee?  How about you move from table to table and enjoy everyone? lol

Tom-Wants to eat off paper plates like he is doing at home right now while his kitchen is being redone.

And two No Votes-just popping in-

Debby & Shari-I am so happy you are here anyway.

It was nice that someone sat at every single table..sometimes no one sits at certain tables.

And if you have read this far...

If you have to vote as anonymous or unknown because of the way blogger works -which is crazy-please add your name at the end of your comment so I know who you are.

I will be back soon.

I am hoping I can get this stupid picture thing figured out with my editing program.  If not, I will be the one with missing hair patches visiting your tables.

ps-Not sure WHAT happened 

to all the spacing, print this time. 

I have a love/hate relationship

with blogger!

I'M BACK WITH A PICK YOUR FAVORITE FALL TABLE

 I'm back!

Yes! Indeedy!

It was a short summer 

in so many ways.

I am not making promises about

how often I will be here

so bear with me.

You all seemed to like

the posts where you pick your favorites.

Or...if you didn't like it 
you kept your mouth shut....

your thoughts to yourself

so now

you are stuck with me doing another

PICK YOUR FAVORITE

You can click on any image for the source~

(if I have it)

Ready?

Okay- Here we go!

#1-PUMPKIN SOUP

A harvest table set on a  patio

with an arbor to the side..

Beautiful in whites and neutrals.

#2 STREAMERS AND A CHANDELIER

This one is a bit more rustic with

much more color and 

is under a gazebo.

.

#3 CANDLES AND CHARGERS

How about this tablecloth covered table

in a field of green?

Don't you love those wood chargers?

#4 PICNIC PLEASER

This one is even simpler with a 
painted picnic table and white tableware
and a colorful runner to anchor the food..

#5 BURLAP! DO I SEE BURLAP?

This one sports a heavily ruffled  burlap runner,
candles and bronze colored chargers.

#6 GREEN GOBLETS

A study in greens-green goblets
 paired with yellow plates

#7 COLOR-COLOR-COLOR

Last but not least-
A FUN one-It reminds me of an opened
Crayola box.

So, there you go-
Place your vote for #1 thru #7
and I will tally up the results.

EDITED TO ADD:

If you are posting as anonymous because of some blogger glitch, PLEASE, leave at least a first name at the end of your vote so I know who you are.  Thanks so much!

I will fill you in on other things

I have going on in my life

in future posts.

It's a crazy life but someone has to live it!

I have missed you guys!!!!

THE TIME HAS COME-THE TIME IS NOW-NANA DIANA IS GOING FOR A WHILE

 I have a lot on my plate

right now so I am

 taking a blogging break.

     I am going to curtail my visits on

Instagram, Facebook & Blogger

for a while.

I will pop in once in a while on

IG & FB but will not be blogging.

I feel guilty getting comments and not

being able to reply or to visit your blogs,

so---off I go for a while.

As some of you know,

John has some more surgery coming up,

I am still dealing with inflammatory issues,

and I need time to handle things here.

What's on my agenda?

I have a trip planned with my daughter

and three grand girls.

I have new books to read,

an upstairs full of 'stuff' to purge,

things to finish up in the condo,

and I need to get the camper

ready for the season.

We have NO internet and 

sketchy phone service at the RV park.

HOWEVER-

I WILL RETURN!

Look for me this fall

but for right now----

I just need a break.

I hate it when people just disappear

and you never know what happened to them....

so I did not want to be "that person".

Thank you all for always being

so faithful and following along

with all my nonsense.

You are

THE BEST!

RANDOM FACTS ABOUT ME---NOW--TELL ME ABOUT YOU!!!

 

I haven't done anything like this

in a long, long time.

I thought it might be fun to do it again.

Many of the 'old' bloggers

will remember when we often did this--

and tagged someone else to do it, too.

 

 I don't want to put others on the spot

so anyone that would like

 to take these questions and

 answer them on their own blog

is welcome to do so. 

 This is especially fun

 if you are a newer blogger.

  If you do so,

please leave me a note so

 that I can post a link to your blog. 

 Hopefully, you will get a few new followers.

1. Where do you like to vacation? Florida in the winter and the UP in the summer/fall months.

2. Do you have pets?  I have the most wonderful SCRUFFY...the little love of of my life.

3. What is your favorite color?  It changes from time to time.  My wardrobe holds a lot of green/black/beige/gray- boring...I am boring. However, lately, I have been bringing bits of brights into my wardrobe. 

4. How many are in your family?  We have 4 kids, 17 grandkids and I had one sibling-a wonderful brother, Charlie, that passed away.

5. What is your least favorite thing to do?  I am trying to think of something I really dislike...hmmmm...GOT IT!   I hate to put the clean dishes away out of the dishwasher.  I know, I know, weird, huh?

6. What is your most favorite thing to do?  I am hard pressed to pick just one?  Spend time with family is number one...but I also love to read, drive, sew, paint and oh...I could go on and on...Guess I will stop here.

7. If money were no object what would you like to do when you retire? I am retired for the second time now.  I'd like to do a lot of traveling, revisit old friends that are scattered around the country and also help others get a start on their "dream". 

8. What is your favorite season?  Fall- I love Fall-followed closely by Summer.

9. What book are you currently reading? I am re-reading my old Catherine Cookson books before I give them away.  

10.What time do you go to bed, get up in the morning?  Ready?  I go to bed about midnight and I am usually up about 5:30 to 6:00 am.  I do best on about 6 hours sleep.  I am pretty high-energy for an old broad😀.Lately-have been dealing with some inflammatory issues so moving slower.  DRAT!

11.How long have you been blogging?  12 years!  WOW- Is that even possible?

11 Random things about me~

1.  I am a happy person and find joy in even the small things in life.

2.  I hate to admit that I don't feel well even if I am in pain- It makes me feel weak & I don't want to be  "that person" that is always talking about HEALTH issues!

3.  I am looking forward to some new ventures/adventures this year.

4.  I love a clean/orderly house.  The worst part of creativity to me is the mess...BUT  I don't mind one bit when the grandkkids mess up my house.

5.  I love roses- absolutely LOVE them..and lilacs!

6.  I just about always wear black- usually paired with another color.

7.  I try not to eat sugar but cave to ice cream.

8.  I love fresh linens on my bed.  If I weren't so lazy I would change them everyday.

9.  I love to make people smile. 

10. I often create in my mind but don't always apply that creativity to a project- Laziness?

11. I believe in the power of prayer...that miracles can, and do, happen.

So...now...YOU...copy the questions below and come back and tell me that you are doing this and I will post a link to your blog!   Then tell us 11 random things about yourself.  If you want to play by the OLD  rules you are supposed to tag 11 other people.  I am not a very good rule follower-  Sad, huh?  Anyway, Please grab the questions and try it!   It'll be fun- xo Diana

1.  Where do you like to vacation?

2.  Do you have pets?

3.  What is your favorite color?

4.  How many are in your family?

5.  What is your least favorite thing to do?

6.  What is your most favorite thing to do?

7.  If money were no object what would you like to do when you retire?

8.   What is your favorite season?

9.   What book are you currently reading?

10. What time do you go to bed, get up in the morning?

11. How long have you been blogging?

You DON'T HAVE TO HAVE A BLOG to answer this-You can leave your answers right here if you want!

Can't wait to find out more about you!!!!

Love you peeps!

Kris over at JunkChicCottage has joined in.

Click HERE for the link to her blog.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

 I hope you all have a wonderful 

MOTHER'S DAY!

Love and Blessings!

BEFORE AND AFTER BACKYARD MAKEOVER

This is a home we owned 

several years ago in the 

Historical District of Green Bay.

The big old houses were built

close together with long ,deep yards.

The house to the left of 

the one we bought

was an eyesore as far as

the yard was concerned.

The fix?

A fence!

What's the old saying?......

Good fences screen ugly things

make good neighbors.

SOOO TRUE.

Here is one of the 

highlights when we were done.

When we moved in 

this is what I saw looking out our

breakfast nook window.

Now how cute is THAT? NOT!!!!

Look what a difference a fence makes.

This is from the back looking towards 

the back of the house.

Before:

After:

This was before any landscaping was done.

We divided the back yard into

two "rooms"...and put a picket fence

across the back yard to divide it.

First we had to dig up the yard to 

trench utilities out to the back.

I stuck an arbor there so they

would know where I wanted

to place the fence across

The fence went up to make the division.

The problem was that the neighbor's 

old garage was built on the property line.

It looked like what you see above.

The neighbor allowed me to paint it

and hang a door and two windows on it.

I painted the back of the windows black

so that they looked like the real deal.

They are basically "decorations" 
hung on the side of the garage.
I eventually painted the shutters
white-sadly, no pictures of that.

Want to see what is behind the gate now?

Come on in!

Hard to believe it's the same place, isn't it?
New Dawn roses eventually grew up the 
arbors and scrambled right up over
the side of the garage.

sigh- Have I told you I really loved this place?

I did-oh yes-I did!
If I run away from home you might want
to look for me under the arbor
in my old 'secret garden'!
Shhhh-don't tell MyHero where I am

he might show up and want me to cook!