Beautiful, Beautiful weather

Hello From Rockville

"Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth; break forth in song, rejoice, and sing praises." Psalm 98:4

Oh, what beautiful weather, and the calendar says spring, the birds are out singing the grass is clothed in fresh green and the trees are showing green.

I continue to keep busy.  On Wednesday I spent time with a couple that used to live here, you may have heard me mention Harold and Marilyn, she is in a nursing home in Watkins and he has an apartment across the street from her so he is able to spend time with her everyday.  Harold knew I was coming but Marilyn did not, when I got there I was not sure if she would know me but her face lit up when she saw me I don't remember she called me by name but she recognized me as some one she knew.  I had lunch at the home with them and it was a great meal - breaded baked pork chop, cheesy potatoes, buttered cabbage, buttered bread and rice pudding for dessert and coffee, water or juice - I enjoyed every bite.  I had a great time and will try and visit again soon.

Sarah came over Thursday we had lunch together and it was so much fun spending time with her, in about a week she will be taking a vacation and head down to Chili for several weeks and is excited about her upcoming trip. 

This afternoon I went to an all you can eat fish fry, a benefit for the local volunteer fire department a good dinner and it was close enough to walk. 

That's it for now enjoy the beautiful weather......Fran

Spring time

Hello From Rockville

"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you."  Isaiah 43:2

It has been 9 months since Harlan has been gone and I found the above Bible verse to be so true.

What a beautiful winter we have had not a lot of snow and not cold either.  I know we need the moisture so the farmers can plant and have crops.  A nice steady rain would be nice to rid the area of the dirty snow and clean everything up.  I see the grass is starting to show some green and my lilies are breaking through the ground I hope they won't be disappointed if we get some snow.  Because it's so nice I put some of my plants out, the ones I took in for the winter that will go out side for the summer when the weather is warm enough for them to stay out, now they are out in the sunshine and back inside for the night time. This weather also gives us thoughts of gardening, but of course that's a ways away.

It has been a long time since I have written and not a lot has gone on but I do manage to keep busy.  I am a reading moniter every Tuesday at Granite City Baptist Acadamy. Here we have a monthly birthday party (if some one sponcers it) and a monthly Pot-luck.  There are puzzles in the making up in our community room we can visit and do puzzles, a nice gathering place.

Rick and DeeAnn keep in touch and show up from time to time, Denese has had activities in the Twin Cities and makes detours to Rick and DeeAnn so I can spend time with them, I just did that on Saturday.  While there Rick decieded he needed to see Becky so the bonus of the day was to spend time with Becky, Walt and Luke.  Followed by a shopping trip to the outlet mall with DeeAnn a wonderful day!

I wish each one a great spring and summer, Love to you from me.

It's been a long time

Hello From Rockville

It has been a long time since I have written, with no daily trips into St. Cloud to spend time at the VA I don't have a lot to write about, right now when I went on to write I had a difficult time getting on.

My weeks are much quieter, I spend Tuesdays as a "Reading Coach" at Granite City Academy at that time between helping children I work on "coupons" - Campbell's  labels, Box Tops for Education, Kemp's and Land-O-Lakes bottle caps and several other things which goes to getting equipment for school.  I spend about two and a half hours at school then I do some shopping and finish the day off by treating myself to lunch.  I find this very rewarding and the children are so sweet.

Every other Wednesday I have my place cleaned - vacuumed,  dusted, floors scrubbed,  and what ever is needed, Wednesday is my laundry day too so I have clean clothes and a clean home such a good feeling.

I have been "working" on puzzles sometimes in my apartment (less then 500 pieces) and sometimes in the community room (over 500 pieces) as we wander through just for a hall walk, to the garbage or to get the mail we put in a few pieces and chit chat.  

One evening a month we have a pot-luck also we have a monthly Birthday social.  Every Wednesday afternoon and Sunday evening is 500 if enough show up to play we have also talked about doing a game day/night. 

The other day I stopped at Walgreen's and got a Shingles shot as a preventative and this is suppose to be a life time thing sure hope it works, I know too many people my age that had an awful time with them lasting so long.

This winter has been so mild, my monthly heating bill has been well under $20.00, I can't complain, I love it.

Denese is still with me, I love her company.

I'll try and write again but as you can see my life is mundane even a bit boring but as I see it Life is Good!  Everyone take care............Fran 

MERRY CHRISTMAS


Hello From Rockville

I don't know what happened but I have not been able to get into my blog I hope I can publish it.

Sue came home for Christmas we enjoyed a week with her. She took me to St. Paul to spend time with Doris and Bob we went out to a wonderful Chinese restaurant and had a great dinner.  It was so good to spend time with them.

I had Christmas with my family Christmas Eve day.  Rick & DeeAnn and Becky, Walt, Luke and Kate joined Denese, Sue and  me for a 1:00 O'clock dinner on the 24th.  We had so much to eat - ham, twice baked potatoes, corn casserole, green bean casserole, rolls, pumpkin pie, apple crisp, ice cream, cookies, milk, hot apple cider, coffee and I'm sure I forgot something, we played that "famous" game Take A Gift Away.     

Christmas Day (Sunday) we went to church and was treated to a light breakfast, rolls, juice, milk and coffee.  We had the Christmas story acted out with a real baby - he slept through the narration and play this was followed by a candle light service.  

Sue and I were invited to Rick and DeeAnn's for a 4:00 O'clock dinner on Christmas Day which I missed - I slept through it - explanation.  I have been having a runny nose (allergies) and commented to Sue about it and she suggested an allergy pill she carries with her would help, I took it and we headed down to Ricks.  We did some snacking and chatting and I sat down to visit and at that point I was so tired I went to the basement and snuggled into a recliner and ZONKED out, missing out a wonderful dinner - no more allergy pills for me I'll put up with the sniffles!!!  

Yesterday I meet Earlene and Dorene for lunch in St. Cloud also enjoyed the company of Dixie, Heidi and Joni, we chatted and chatted and ate and passed around lots of hugs.  I went home with a gift of Christmas cookies from Earlene and a box of candy and a calendar from Hawaii, a gift from Dixie, it is always fun to spend time with family.  I hope we do this again sometime.

This was not like my Christmas's have been for the last several years as they were spent with Harlan at the VA and I miss him, it has been 6 months (December 14th) but this was a good Christmas as I had my family with me, I am truly blessed.....Fran

No Snow but much rain

Hello From Rockville

The last I wrote was when Sue went back to Georgia, a fast but a fun time with her.  That evening I went with Marylou to a woman's program at her daughter's church, a good program with cookies, punch and coffee.  

Last Friday was our Christmas party at church a fun dress-up time.  Marylou went with we had great food and a lot of fun games got home about 1o:00.

On Monday I met Marvin and Lynnett for breakfast before they headed back home.  We had a great visit and they shared some pictures with me some to share with family.  Even if I had just spent time with them it was fun seeing them again.
Tuesday was our second annual "Trek Through The Neighborhood," we went to as many apartments as we were invited to here in our building to see the Christmas decorating done by our neighbors and ended the time with cookies and coffee in the community room.
Today my place was cleaned, I did my laundry and three of us "girls" went shopping to Cold Spring needed stuff for our pot-luck.
Tomorrow will be our annual Christmas Pot-luck, ham is furnished and we'll "pot-luck" the rest.
It's hard to believe but Sue will be back for Christmas next Wednesday, oh the year is just flying by.
If I don't write again before Christmas have a Very Merry Christmas........Fran

Sue's visit

Hello From Rockville

It is cold had temps right around zero but it is going to warm up to around 32, oh well we know spring is several months away and it will be warm again.

My toe is still sore but getting better which is good.

Sunday was Denese's birthday, we had a family gathering and a wonderful meal planned by DeeAnn with everyone contributing, topped of with birthday cake and Culver's ice cream cakes.  Sue flew in from Georgia to help celebrate it is so good to be together.  She left today but will return for Christmas.  Again we did a relay thing to get her to the airport her and I drove down to the Albertville outlet mall, met DeeAnn and Becky for lunch and Becky took her the rest of the way to the airport and I headed home.
To regress a bit Sue and I spent all day yesterday shopping, stopped for lunch at Five Guys, they have great jumbo hot dogs, then all over for shopping, hitting many different shops and met Denese for dinner at Perkins, I think we "Shopped Until we Dropped" literally, nice to relax after being gone for about 8 hours.
Tomorrow it's a hair trim for me and tomorrow evening we'll have Carolers sing in the hallway and treats in our community room.
Denese had worked very hard to decorate in here and out side, it beautiful.
If I don't write again I wish everyone a Merry Christmas and please remember it's NOT Happy Holidays it's MERRY CHRISTMAS.........Fran

When the cell phone meets the toe

Hello From Rockville

Thanksgiving has come and gone and we are now in the Christmas mode, life goes by so quickly.

I have so much to be thankful for - my family, my home, my country, my health - SO MANY BLESSINGS!!!

Wednesday Denese and I went down to Becky's we stayed over night and had a great Thanksgiving dinner - turkey, stuffing, potatoes, gravy, rainbow jello, green bean casserole, rolls, pumpkin pie, apple crisp and I'm sure I missed something.  Rick & DeeAnn, Denese and Becky, Walt, Katie, Kristin and Luke made up a table full, it's great to be together as a family to meet around the table to chat and chew.

Early Thursday morning I used my cell phone as a flash light and dropped it on my toe, the results a very sore toe but I didn't have to help just enjoyed the food, you have to look for the positive in even "bad things" and I was pampered.

We spent another night at Beck'y left there in the morning headed for St. Louis Park, Denese dropped me off to spend several hours with Mark and Betty, I had lunch with them and a great afternoon.  Denese picked me up after her visit with Paul and Megan and we headed back to Rockville and a restful evening.

Saturday Denese started my Christmas decorating and finished up yesterday, it is so beautiful.

Rick and DeeAnn came up on Saturday and brought lunch - subs - they were good and we finished the day off with pizza.  Rick replaced my car battery, I am thankful for that as I don't want to be anywhere this winter with a car that won't start.

Tomorrow I go help with reading at our school and Wednesday we decorate here and I am making lunch for the helpers.  My cleaning lady comes in the morning.  Thursday we celebrate December birthdays and Bill is our host. 

Sunday is Denese's birthday and we'll have a family gathering to help her celebrate.

I'll write again when I have something "important" to say......Fran