Happy New Year 2015...

                                           At the Ice Rink

My family on Christmas Eve 2014

                                                         Flower child contortionist

                                            V and H at Broadway Rox Christmas

                                                            Youngest Texan grand

                                                  Ivan, Cammy and Kelley

This year our family could not all be together for Christmas. My youngest daughter moved to Florida.
I miss them so much. I loved being able to visit them whenever I wanted to. The five kids, including the baby of the family, are now over a thousand miles away. Our Texans left yesterday. My oldest daughter who lives two blocks away has just announced that they will be moving to Florida as soon as they sell their house. 2015 is going to be tough for me. I have loved having family so close.

I can not think of any resolutions for the New Year. I hope I am aging gracefully. Sixty-four this year. I am the girl who did not think I would survive sixty. I went to my work Christmas party. I am invited every year even tho I have been retired for seven years (what?). I sub quite a few days. There are only three co- workers left from my time. For the first time ever I felt out of place. Three new babies. Everyone seems so young. They are now mostly in their late 20's or early 30's.

I am reading Lincoln Ladies by Suzy Duffy. I just finished All the Light we Cannot See by Anthony Doerr. This story made me so sad. WWII story of such suffering caused by war. Little glimmers of light, character, in the darkness of inhumanity. I watched many sappy, fun, Hallmark movies with my daughters. It's a Wonderful Life made me cry again.

Goodbye 2014. Where did you go and how did you go so fast?

Bye, bye, love...

So long happiness...They are moved to Florida. My daughter and her family left snow country or God's country, whatever it is to you or to me. I will visit of course. People tell me, " Now you have a new place to travel to." But it is not the same as having them in my daily life. I think of the time I will miss with the baby...

Reading The Wolves of Mercy Falls trilogy. Very good. Listening to An Echo in the Bone. Starting An Abundance of Katherines.

Really enjoyed This is Where I Leave You, the movie.

Bye, bye my loves,  good bye...I think I'm gonna cry.

Some things you should know about the porch person...

I have picked so many berries this summer. I cannot stop. The bad thing is what I do with them. Muffins, pies, buckles and crisps...

Then there is the new I-Pad Air. I have charging stations in every room, including the porch. I have a Droid, a laptop, a Paper White and now the Air. I have a Kindle app, an Audible app and Overdrive media console on each one. I have The Book of Life by Deborah Harkness, audio and hard copy. I listen to the Outlander series while I do a poor job of cleaning and gardening and walking. Outlander is now on Starz...

I have a headlamp available at my bedside just in case I need to read after dark.

Camera equipment, especially lenses, makes me smile.

I  am concerned that my electronic vices, not devices, could be taking over...

Cray-cray on the porch...

Summer, so far, has been crazy busy. The Texans were here for almost a month. Mackinac Island, Run or Dye and the Fourth of July. I finished that 5k...not last.

I have been reading. I even watched a few movies, Gravity and Dallas Buyer's Club, thanks Jeanne and Milo. My home has been painted and most of our roof replaced because of wind damage. My daughter and her kids crashed the backyard adding veggies and perennials and cleaning up overgrown lilacs. Spent a week in Isabella just in time for hay baling behind our camp. I love that field and the big round bales. The view.
Looking forward to my niece's grad party downstate. Will be seeing my far flung family.

My favorite apps...

10. Wells Fargo-last but it pays the bills.
9. Dictionary-M points and word of the
     day.
8. Temple Run 2-for those moments of
      waiting.
7. Camera-photo documentation mostly
     grand pics.
6. Audible-my addiction. I always have a
     listen available.
5. Blogger-On the go ruminater.
4. Evernote-my memory keeper.
3. Kindle-my e-reader.
2. Goodreads-keeps track of what I have
     read with star ratings and two
     sentence reviews.
1. Overdrive Media console-access to
      library and audio books. Free.

There are a few more but these are the best. They make my life easier...

Another birthday on my old porch...

I woke up this morning of my 63rd birthday to huge snowflakes. I thought sixty would kill me but it did not. Somehow it is three years hence.
All children and grandchildren called, gifted or decorated. Brother Joe and niece Sarah sang. Sister Marci, friend Dani and cousin Jeanne called. Facebook posts. Cards. My dear husband made the trek to MQT in the snow. I am so fortunate. My family is so dear. At the end of the day though I am still 63...
I am listening to The Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabalden and looking for my next good read. I saw a movie with Cammy and Joanie this week, The Other Women. So funny! I mean so very funny!
Last night's Lake Superior sunset was beautiful. Shades of pink and blue.

Life is Sweet. (Martha Nedeau)

Nightwoods and The Other Woman...

I finished Charles Frazier's Nightwoods. The story was grim at times but the writing was excellent. I am amazed by his use of the English language. We all have access to these words but this guy can really put them together. 5 stars!

I went to the movie The Other Woman with Cammy, Joanie and Holly. It was fluffy but funny. I laughed so  much.