BFF's

Everyone needs a BFF.  Luckily, Dixie has many!  From Uncle Stu and Aunt Jan to Colleen and Bill, mother of Dixie's boyfriend, Chance, and all of the other people she runs into.  But, it's always nice to hang out and be comfortable with your special BFF.

Here's Dixie hanging with hers....

Sleeping on her bunny

Mommy woke her up...

But not for long....

Rolling over

And over......

And stretching....

And cuddling.....

Going back to sleep....

Telling Mommy to leave her alone....

Going back to sleep...

Ignoring Mommy

Loving that bunny!

Ahhhh......there's nothing like leaning on a BFF!

Annoyed?  Me?  Heck no...see the white blanket...that's where she started.  

The next thing I know,  she's climbing over my arm to cozy up. 

 I'm her 3rd BFF behind Daddy and the bunny!

Old Friends, New Friends and Good Times

I met two more of Tony's friends from his "controller" days and really enjoyed the visit.  

Every  year, the "guys" get together and play golf.  Milt came from Michigan, Fran and Nancy came from Amherst, Ohio and John and Lee live in South Carolina.  I had already met Milt, John and Lee, so meeting Fran and Nancy completed the circle of this longtime friendship group.  

The weather wasn't the best for the first golf day, as the wind was brisk and fast.  But, with this group, it's all about being together.  I understand that Tony and John team up and usually win.  It was the same this year.  After the game, there was the usual pimping and mock insulting about how each team played.  It's fun to watch them interact.  

While the men were out chasing their balls (pun intended!)  The ladies and I went to the outlet mall in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina to shop and have a nice lunch.  It felt good to walk around in the sunshine and look for bargains.  And, of course, the economy of South Carolina is safe due to our efforts!

We are alone again in the quiet of our companionship, as everyone has gone home.  We had our first outside picnic on our new bistro set today and, of course, Dixie had to be with us.  Thank goodness, for spring and sunshine. 

I look forward to seeing the "Golf Group," next year.

Milt and Tony enjoy wine on the Lanai

Dixie enjoys company, but she always tries to get Tony's 

attention...this time on her back, with her head off of the couch

The Golf Group...Fran, John, Tony and Milt

Tony was the only "wind wise" one in the group--long pants!

The ladies who lunch (and shop!!)  Me, Nancy and Lee

Fran got Dixie's official welcome!!

Golf Day 2...notice the arrangement doesn't change...Fran, John, Tony 

and Milt...or as the guys said, winners in the middle, losers on the ends!

Getting ready for our first bistro picnic...

Dixie was looking for her plate and chair!

Getting Ready For Visitors

We're getting ready to host company this weekend.  Friends of Tony's are coming--the men to play golf, the ladies to lunch!  That being the case, we have spent some time making the yard and Lanai look good.  

May is shaping up to be another busy month--Alex is being christened on our 29th anniversary--May 12, and we have birthday's and fun stuff planned throughout the month.  The year is absolutely zipping by again.  The older we get the faster it goes.    Sarah's bridal shower is in June and the boys will be coming in for Father's Day. This will be David's first Father's Day, so it's nice that he is sharing it with us. 

The weather has been so cooperative!  It's getting warmer and nicer each day.  We have planted more flowers and did spring cleaning so our house is ready for guests.   

Master Gardner

I'm not sure if Tony was taking a picture of me watering plants

 or the wind going up my shirt and showing my boobs

Plants in the planter

A pretty flower

This is a series of Dixie doing her contortions on the floor.  first she turns this way...

...and then she checks to see if you're watching her...

...and then she rolls over...

...and starts the process again...

...she gives it her all....

...and then decides she's pooped and has to take a nap!

Another pretty flower

Our bistro table

An update on my plants

View from the back....

Inside the Lanai

Flowers and Other Stuff

What a nice Easter we had.   The day was beautiful, the food was good and I wasn't working.  We took a walk and played cornhole.  Being semi-retired has been good for me.  My ankles aren't as big as bowling balls most of the time, my resting heart rate has gone down and it's good to get out of the house for a day or two each week.  

As I have said in many blogs, spring is so pretty down here.  The azaleas are blooming and things are waking up.  The sunsets are beautiful and the temperature has finally climbed to the high 60's and low 70's.  Our yard is starting to take shape and I helped it today.

As adults, we remember things our parents told us when we were growing up.  For us, it was, "nice girls don't get their hands dirty...." which meant that my father had to do all of the yard work (I helped sometimes, but often suffered the wrath of my mother!)  Well, today, I was a dirty girl and I really enjoyed it.  

I have said many times that Tony always made our yard in Strongsville look great.  It was the best yard in the neighborhood and he worked for it.  Tall grasses, hanging pots, beautiful flowers throughout.  It was wonderful to drive up in the driveway and just look at all of the colors.  

We have scaled back now to flowers in planters and in various parts of the yard.  In recent years, I have put a flower or two in a pot and called it an accomplishment, but this year was different. 

Many years ago, Tony bought me a fire pit.  I love it.  Recently, however, we decided to make it a big planter and Tony let me pick out what I wanted to put in it.  We went yesterday and I found some really nice plants to put in it.  I'm not sure what they are called (hey, I've just started getting my hands dirty!) but I like them.  

Well, after planting for almost an hour, I now know why I didn't go into landscaping as a career.  Holy cow, it was hard on my body.  I couldn't get the plants out of their containers (I had to water them out...)   my back hurt from digging and I was sweating so bad, water was dripping in my eyes.  Dixie helped me--actually, she just watched me and kind of said with her eyes..."Mommy, what the hell are you doing?"  I took my second shower of the day after I planted and I had to peel off my clothes.  They were so sweaty, they wouldn't come off easily.  

But in the end, I think it turned out OK.  It's not as symmetrical as I wanted and I think something was chewing on one of my white plants last night, but we'll see.  

Take a look at our sunsets and our colors...oh, and the newly "spa-d" Dixie!

The palm tree with new growth

Color!!!

New Plants...

...The Challenge!

My Supervisor

The finished product...we'll see if it grows!

Our sunset...

A beautiful evening...

Tony, Dixie and the light up leash!!  Love it!!

Growing

With every passing minute,  the year ticks by.  We have "sprung forward" and soon it will be time to make the backyard beautiful again.  

The weather has swept in rain and cold temperatures in the past few weeks, but today, it's all about the sun shining down on dormant plants; waking them up and making them stretch.

I took a walk today and saw the progress of the new indoor swimming pool that is being built next to the fitness center.  As with everything our developer does this will be a fantastic facility. As our community grows, so do our amenities.   The Lazy River is next where we  can try our kayaking skills.  

Tony was in Charlotte for a couple days while Tony Jr., went to Florida on business.  He spent some quality time with Owen, who looks more like his brothers everyday.  He is growing and working on getting his sleep pattern aligned with evening instead of daytime. 

My therapy sessions are going well. It's hard doing an autopsy on your life to determine what killed your spirit, but it is necessary.  As with most people, I have baggage that carries pain.  When that baggage is too heavy to carry inside, the pain slips out and I go into protection mode that can manifest itself through my actions in many different ways.  How's that for  "therapy speak!?" My goal is to grow past the pain and learn how it handle it more effectively.  

Speaking of growth:

"What are you looking at?  I just got up"

"Day or night, I need my beauty sleep!"

The Swegle Men

It's Spring!!

My spruce tree, planted by Tony