Ice Storm 2010

Oak trees on Oak Springs Drive

Willow tree limbs on the fence

Icy drive at the Wolfchase Mall

Monkey grass and Oakleaf Hydrangea

Spring buds on the maple tree

Toni and James playing a game of tug.

After a week of predictions by the weatherman, we finally got our ice and snow. One and one-half inches of sleet, snow, and freezing rain was just enough to ice the roads, overpasses, lawns and trees. Most of the usual weekend activities such as shopping and attending church services did not happen. The above images were taken Sunday morning under a beautiful azure sky surrounded by glistening trees and a coating of clear ice on all surfaces.

Thankful for the beauty of the day......
.....TravelLady

Visitors From Romania

Brother, Mom, Mariana

Christi and I went to Glen and Mariana's home on Monday to meet her mother and brother from Romania. They arrived in Memphis earlier this month.
We did a lot of smiling and Mariana did the talking and interpreting for us. During Glen's last trip to Romania, he took home videos of the countryside, trains, and the village. Anytime that we go to Glen's, we must watch home videos and Monday was no exception. The summer countryside of Romania looked green and beautiful.
Mom will visit in the US about two and one half months. Her brother will stay about two weeks and then will return home to work.

Thinking of Romania......
.....TravelLady

Love Mercy

My first completed read of 2010, Love Mercy, left me feeling just OK. This book was written by Earlene Fowler of the Bennie Harper mystery series. Some of the characters of the Bennie Harper series are mentioned and play small parts.
I love that the name of the author is in large letters on this cover and the title of the book is much smaller.
The setting is on the California central coast - this I love - in fictional San Celina County. The fictional town is Morro Bay and the main character, Love Mercy Johnson, is recently widowed and lives in a small house with views of the Pacific Ocean.
Love's granddaughter, Rett, arrives in Morro Bay unannounced at Christmastime.......
The characters believe in God and the Bible in different degrees, prayer is mentioned and specific Bible verses are also quoted. (This is probably the reason that I finished this book.)

Quoting from the book. "She sang the last song by heart - "Blessed Assurance." She was surprised that Rocky closed with such a traditional hymn. His final prayer surprised her even more, because he prayed first in Spanish, then in English."

My next book will be non-fiction......
.....TravelLady

Dogs and Dots

It was love at first sight.

"Man's Best Friend"

Cindi was home in Memphis for Christmas. Her home and husband and dog are in Wyoming. But I hope that part of her will always call Memphis home. Since she needs fabrics for window treatments and pillows, I suggested that we go to Johnson's Fabrics in Bartlett. (Christi, Cindi and I were out for a day of shopping and lunch.)
It was love at first sight for me - dogs and dots - in neutral colors that I love. I bought 2 yards of each. The design is named "Man's Best Friend" by Prestigious Textiles; 100% cotton; printed in the UK. The dots measure 2 inches in diameter and the dog with the brown sweater measures about 6x5 inches. The background color is a warm off-white with yellow undertones.

I am formulating a plan for new pillows in the living room, recovering my 2 armless chairs with a coordinating fabric, painting the walls, etc.....This fabric find will lead to an all new space!

I hope to be sewing soon......
.....TravelLady

Christmas Trip To Northern Kentucky

Icy shrubs outside the front door

Snow on the Honda

Tired Grandchildren After Swimming

On the day after Christmas we took a road trip to see my grandkids, son, and daughter-in-law.
Cindi, James, Toni-the pit bull and I made the trip in about nine hours. We exchanged our gifts and I really enjoyed seeing the faces of the little ones as the gifts were unwrapped.
Our Sunday was filled with activities including church, eating out, and swimming in the hotel pool. Mother nature provided wind, cold temperatures and snow.

The last trip of 2009.....
.....the TravelLady

Thoughts On the New Year

Family and Friends
Christmas 2009
Christi and Jeff's Home

After Cindi's plane landed from Denver, we had a lovely Christmas dinner at the home of Christi and Jeff. A few gifts were exchanged, photos were taken, and old stories remembered. It was a happy time together. Thanks Christi for all your hard work!

I have been pondering and planning for the new year and new decade. What types of actions and activities will I place on my "to do" list for 2010?
1. Being the TravelLady, I want to travel this year. Maybe the Grand Canyon, more western states, some eastern states, the Biltmore again. James and I are in the planning and saving stage.
2. Because I can sew and have that listed as a hobby, I would like to do a project this year. I have two slipper chairs and would love to sew slipcovers for them. Coordinating pillows are also in the planning stage. I have new fabric from a wonderful fabric store in Bartlett named Johnson's Fabrics.
3. Because I start a new diet once or twice a year, this year should be no different. I will always have extra weight to lose. Along with diet must go EXERCISE!! (I have all the equipment, I just need to use it.)
4. Because I am am a Bible-Believer, I plan to spend more time in study and prayer. A 2010 prayer journal will be started. (I kept prayer journals in the 1990's and I love to go back and read them. To the best of my human understanding, many of my prayers were answered.)
5. Being with family and friends will always be important to me. For 2010, I desire to connect with others - family, friends, strangers, and co-workers.

Ever thankful for all my blessings......
.....TravelLady