garage dedication

David's kids gave the above sign to their granddaddy a while ago.

It hung upstairs in his man-cave.

Bubba mounted it there and not in the garage.

I found it the other day.

I decided to dedicate my garage to him.

I hung it in the very center.

It is the first thing you see when you walk in.

Walter was the first to see it and comment.

I got some sophisticated shelving in the place where I wish I could park my "tank."

I have chosen to hang my new lawn chairs and the kid's scooters there.

I mentioned a while back that I wanted the garage to be a "girly" garage.

Somehow that just doesn't seem right.

So...

I dedicated it to Bubba 

who always was so proud of his garages everywhere we ever lived.

Here's to you Bub.

I will try to keep it neat and clean even though that never mattered much to you.

One more thing.

Bacon.

Bubba loved him some bacon.

He was the dedicated "bacon cooker" in our home.

I love bacon too.

Sometimes I will have it for supper with some cheese toast.

He always cooked it in the microwave.

I prefer to cook it in my mom's iron skillet.

It just tastes better that way I think.

Bubba is on my mind today.

Not unusual.

He filled up a lifetime with me.

I could never forget,

 

i wonder if anyone will notice

Yesterday I decided to pop a pound cake in the oven.

I often have that thought when my people are coming over for a meal.

It's my Mom's recipe and the kids love it.

The way it makes my house smell while it's cooking is a delight.

Anyway, here it is.

The first thing that happened was...

wait for it...

it burned a little around the edges.

(I need to adjust the temp/cook time for my new stove)

Next,

when I went to take it out of the cake pan it fell apart.

Then, while trying to put it back into the cake pan, it fell apart again.

Now there are three big chunks of hot cake on the counter.

What do I do?

I wanted to dig in right there because I love hot cake right out of the oven.

But, 

I waited,

let it cool off,

and miraculously fit it back together on the cake plate.

You can see where the damage is.

The parts that are missing I did eat.

How could I not?

This damaged cake will not go to waste, I promise.

I love fresh whipped cream.

I serve it with some strawberries when they are in season.

It's easy to make.

They love it too!

While I whip that cream I add sugar and some fresh vanilla.

Except this morning.

This morning I was not careful and instead of vanilla,

 I added orange extract.

I added a lot of orange extract.

I wonder if anyone will notice?

😉

 

inside out

I took this picture from the inside of my sunroom looking out to my patio.

It probably isn't as intriguing to you but,

I can't stop scrutinizing.

So many of the things from the inside look like they are on the outside.

Just thought I'd share.

Photography fascinates me.

My teacher's heart is so broken this week.

I can't even imagine the horror that went on in that classroom full of 4th graders.

God have mercy on us!

Evil is running rampant across our land.

People have lost their way.

Jesus, I pray that You will change the hearts of our leaders and those in authority over us.

Bring us to our knees before you in prayer.

Bring us to Your Word and the truth contained there.

Raise up men and women who love you and live according to Your word.

May they not be afraid to speak Your truth.

Jesus is our only hope.

Thank You,

Cathy

 

brothers, secrets

Gus and Walter.

Who knows what secrets they were sharing.

I 💗 this picture so much.

Watching my grandbabies grow up is such a joy in my old age.

David finished preaching through the gospel of John yesterday.

I cannot express adequately the impact this Scripture has had on my life.

It came just when I need to be taught and reminded of the truth it contains.

I will continue doing my in-depth study from Ryle and Pink.

I don't want to let go just yet.

The book of John is life-changing.

Thank you who prayed for me this past weekend.

Grief never goes away.

I will carry it with me till I too die.

But knowing that there are prayers going up is so comforting.

A few of you remembered Bubba's birthday and reached out.

I am so thankful.

In spite of sorrow, life goes on.

God wants us to live and enjoy the time He affords us.

Being "thankful in all things" is my solace.

Trusting what God has for me and being content is my hope,

I  💗 my faithful friends and family.

 

Bubba would have turned 78 years old today

The handyman.

The wedding ring.

You!

I miss you my best friend.

The thing I miss the most is having someone to talk about Jesus with.

You were always that person.

Deep thoughts!

Your prayers with me 

sitting in the big white chair with your arm around me

 when I was devastated by cancer. 

When I couldn't eat you fed me with Jesus' words.

You loved me unselfishly!

"Even so Lord Jesus, come quickly."

Take me to where Bubba is.

 

Happy Birthday Jake #17

Where have the years gone?

Why did they have to go by so fast?

You were this little and now you are grown.

I am so thankful that God put you in our family.

That I've gotten to watch and relish in your growing-up years.

Your sweet spirit, humor, and love for your people encourage me.

Happy Birthday young man!

Your Grammy loves you!

I can't wait to see what God has in store for you.

💙

 

 

happy birthday walter #7

Walter strutted into his birthday party fully outfitted as a cowboy.

I was overwhelmed with the cuteness.

He had some kind of dress-up day at school and never removed his costume.

I love every bit of this right down to the rain boots,

which of course all cowboys need.

Also, the gun facing the wrong way would almost assure no one would be hurt.

Seven is a great age!

Still innocent.

Not yet fully aware of the complexities of living life in the world.

I'm always amazed at how much my Cleland grandkids love my

Broccoli Chicken Casserole.

Even on their birthdays,

when they can order up whatever they could possibly want,

they choose BCC.

This one cooked up perfectly and everyone said it was delicious.

A new house,

a new fireplace,

same old birthday sign.

It doesn't matter.

This moment right before opening presents is the bomb.

It's what each kid waits for all year.

Where's Lucy?

Walter is doing a sideways blowout of his curvy candles.

He wanted brownies with ice cream and cherries for his dessert.

Happy Birthday little guy.

Your Grammy loves you so much!

Ride um cowboy!

PS Walter's birthday was on April 29th.

I got behind with sharing so many pictures.

Better late than never!

In this long book of blogs,

 I can look back and see pictures of almost every one of my grandkid's birthdays.

I am so glad I have taken the time and made the effort to write this chronology.

Memories are the best when you get old like me!

 

a tale of a van and a garage and me

I worked really hard to clean out my new garage.

My goal was to be able to put my van inside at night.

On a Friday afternoon about two weeks ago I accomplished my goal.

I had it washed inside and out.

(didn't want to bring tons of that nasty yellow pollen inside)

Everything was ready for the long-awaited entry.

This is the entry.

My garage has two garage doors that are on the small side to say the least.

I came from a garage with one large door.

I could just pull in with no abandon.

Footloose and fancy-free.

In and out in a flash.

Not so here.

I got the van in by being very careful.

I had to inch my way along.

Satisfied with my achievement, I put the garage doors down with a flourish,

"You can do hard things, Cathy!"

I didn't need to go anywhere until Sunday morning.

I keep the nursery for the Sunday School workers every week.

Little did I know that getting out of the garage would take me an eternity.

I backed out and pulled in over and over again.

My much loved Culligan water system is to the left of the door.

I was so afraid I was going to knock it out of commission.

With much precision and tenacity, I finally got free.

Of course, my neighbor was walking by and saw the whole ordeal.

I found out later that she won't even try to pull her car in or back it out.

Her husband does it for her.

 Knowing this made me feel a little better.

Here are the indelible tire marks that will forever remind me of my folly.

(from the new asphalt that they laid down recently).

The van has not been back in the garage.

I am formulating my next plan in my head.

For now, it will sit outside.

🚙

I need a smaller vehicle.

The "tank" is too big for my garage doors.

I refuse to pay the hugely inflated prices.

It is a dilemma.

Waiting, always waiting!

 

happy saturday

Yesterday afternoon I had all five of these sweeties over to my house.

After a long session of outdoor activities,

we all piled into my tank

 and headed for dinner at Cici's Pizza Buffet.

The excitement was palatable.

There was talk of lots of pizza heaped on lots of different plates and a drink bar too.

For some reason, to teenagers, and almost teenagers,

 this is the best treat ever.

I was, understandably unimpressed.

But watching them have fun and enjoy this outing made my day.

Having cancer and then going through Bubba's sudden death completely shut me down.

It was like I was still in the land of the living,

 but I felt detached from reality.

Most of the time I found solace in the quiet of my home, alone.

I'm still at that place of needing a lot solitude,

 but I'm starting to gradually feel the desire to interact with people again.

Yesterday was good.

It went well.

I still can't make a phone call for lots of different reasons.

Mainly because it absolutely scares me to death.

That's okay!

Kinda sad, but okay.

But I've met some of my new neighbors and they are nice and I feel safe.

Thank You, God, for small victories.

 

my first hydrangea at my new house and a few more easter

This beauty was one of my Mother's Day gifts.

I love the colors.

God was so creative when he designed flowers.

The colors that He chose are glorious.

Now I need to decide where it will thrive best in my yard.

I'm so very glad to have the internet to clue me in on such things.

Easter feast!

I love islands.

They make the best place for serving large crowds.

We had filled it up with delicious food.

Walter and Ruthie chowing down.

Gus and Charis on that famous mound of dirt outside my bedroom window.

Lucy and I had hidden lots of eggs in and around that area.

No golden eggs were hidden there though.

Erika and David were convinced that the golden egg was hidden inside my car.

I had parked it on the side of my house and left it unlocked

which they noted was not something I would do.

No egg was inside the car,

 but David found several things that had been lost since the move.

I almost cried when I saw the little bird that got knocked off one of my favorite lamps.

Harry found the golden egg-containing $10 though.

It was taped to the top of the front right tire.

Charis found the $20 golden egg in my freezer in the garage.

It was my best hiding place ever.

I had to practically drag them there to look.

We had to play the hot and cold game.

No one suspected it would be hidden in the freezer.

I had concealed the golden egg in this Nuts.com bag.

I filled it with a small pine cone.

Greatest hiding place ever.

Archie found the most eggs.

The background is my garage before Junk.com came.

Ruthie won the prize for finding the least eggs.

That's all for Easter 2022.

I'm thankful for the memories.

Life is very sweet and good when you are surrounded by friends and family!

hope is the thing

My Lu Blu just got home from a little trip to Aquatica in Orlando.

David took her and Harry on a short jaunt.

She bought this for me from my favorite shop and brought it just now.

Oh my!

She knows my heart so well.

I will ponder this bit of verse for many days to get its full impact.

Hope!

It is my everything.

She is too.

I 💗 her so much!

 

Happy Mother's Day!

 I know it wasn't a coincidence

 that this was the passage I studied in my quiet time with the Lord this morning.

"But there were standing by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother's sister, and Mary Magdalene.

When therefore Jesus saw His mother

and the disciple whom He loved (John) standing nearby,

He said to His mother,

'Woman behold your son!'

Then He said to the disciple,

'Behold your mother!'

And from that hour the disciple took her into his own household."

John 19: 25-27

"The incident recorded in these verses is wonderfully touching and affecting.

Even in this trying season of bodily and mental agony, 

our blessed Lord did not forget others.

 He had not forgotten His brutal murderers but had prayed for them:

'Father forgive them for they know not what they do." 

He had not forgotten His fellow sufferers by His side.

When one of the crucified criminals cried out to him,

'Lord remember me,'

Jesus at once answered him and promised a speedy entrance into paradise.

And now he did not forget His mother.

He saw her standing by the cross

and knew well her distress,

and felt tenderly for her desolate condition 

left alone in a wicked world after having lost such a Son.

He therefore commended her to the care of John,

 His most loving and tender-hearted, and faithful disciple.

He told John to look on her as his mother,

and told His mother to look on John as her son.

No better and wiser arrangement could have been made in any way.

None would care so much for the mother of Jesus as the disciple whom Jesus loved.

No home could be more suitable to Mary."

JC Ryle

Expository Thoughts on the Gospels

Volume Four

John 19: 25-27

I love this so much!

💗

Jesus loved His sweet mother and took such good care of her.

I am so blessed to have children that love me like this!

Thank You, Lord God, for Your tender mercies to me.

Happy, Happy Mother's Day!

 

Easter at Hope Lane

Dinner for 14.

Lots of roses.

Pink roses are my personal fav.

At my front door to welcome guests...

bunny and bashful girl.

Roses and tulips.

I 💗 fresh flowers!

The children's table.

I 💗 pink tulips too.

I love the way they droop after a few days.

I found my much-loved "Bunny" plates.

Everybody got a mini chocolate easter bunny at their plate.

Julie made this adorable "Lamb" butter mold.

It was a huge hit.

Some of the kids on my sofa getting ready for the egg hunt.

We were praying that the rain would hold off.

It did.

I'll stop here for today.

Having this gathering at my new home was challenging but so much fun.

I can still pull a party together with a lot of help.

It takes me longer and I get tired easily,

but I still enjoy the process.

So many good memories.

The next blog will be about the egg hunt and the winners.

Lucy and I hid 74 eggs including 2 golden eggs with money!

 

Easter at Hope Lane and Hope Bible Church

My life is full of hope.

My hope is in Jesus.

My church is Hope Bible Church.

I live on Hope Lane.

You might say that hope defines me in my old age.

Walter reading his Bible.

Some of these boys still abhor having their pictures taken.

One of them got all dressed up and was happy to have his picture taken.

Gus is just sweet to make us happy! 

I Love all of them.

Me and Arch.

He looks like a future preacher to me.

Tomorrow or the next day I will share pics at Hope Lane.

I am going to stop here for today.

I am deeply involved in a couple of projects.

I'm still unpacking boxes in the attic.

Hoping to not have a heat stroke while I'm up there.

My main focus today is filling the shelves in the living room with all of my beach treasures.

It takes me forever,

I have to put everything in the exact perfect place.

It involves a lot of ladder work.

Amanda hates for me to get on a ladder.

I love ladders!

They lift me up to where I need to be.

I will change this stuff around a hundred more times before I'm satisfied.

😏

 

my computer is fixed

I was never so happy to receive a call.

When my phone rang this morning and I saw that it was my computer guy.

I was overjoyed.

I won't even go into what all was wrong.

It was mostly my fault for letting things expire and such.

Nothing major this time like before.

He cleaned it up for me.

I bought some more space for my pictures.

Now, miraculously, they have appeared.

That makes me happy.

Keeping this short today.

I have been working in the attic.

It's getting hot up there.

My brain is a bit fried.

I did find three things I have been looking for and that makes me happy too.

FYI

Computer geniuses are in high demand.

It took a week for him to fit me in.

Just saying...

this would be a great career to get invested in.

I am so thankful for his expertise.