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Play Mate

Category: Life As I Know It | Posted: Sat Jul 23, 2016 1:12 pm

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We ended up at the ER with Cory this past week. He was in a car accident and is thankfully okay.

There was an elderly couple sitting by us in the waiting room. He was in a scooter and she was in a wheel chair. How they actually got to the ER in the first place is still unclear. At one point my phone rang. After I got off the man said, "We finally get all this hi tech stuff and I'm at the end of my life so I won't get to enjoy it."

It was an awkward statement, but he was smiling when he said it so I got up and walked over, "I'm sure you had some good stuff when you were a kid."

He was hard of hearing, made clear by the fact that he was talking really loud. First, he proudly told me that he was 94 years old. Then, he said that they were the first house in his neighborhood to have a radio because his dad was an engineer and figured out how to put one together.

We spoke some more then he asked me, "I bet you never met someone who voted for Roosevelt?"

"No sir, I haven't. Were you in the military?"

Come to find out he's a WWII veteran, infantry division. "The only injury I got in the war, though, was poison oak."

At this point he looked at his wife and said, "I told her that God protected me so I could be here to take care of her."

She smiled at him. I looked around and there were a few other people who had been listening. One woman was shaking her head, also smiling.

At this point we left to the other side of the hospital. When we came back I looked for the elderly couple. He was sitting in his scooter, asleep. She was nowhere to be seen. I hated to leave without saying goodbye, but I didn't want to wake him up.

He opened his eyes and saw us. A big smile came across his face and he greeted us with that booming voice. Then, behind us a nurse came in pushing his wife in the wheel chair. She was wrapped in hospital blankets from head to toe, obviously cold from the A/C. His eyes lit up and he said something that captured my heart. With excitement and love in his voice he yelled out, "Here comes my play mate now."

My daughter-in-law let out a big, "Awww!"

She was wheeled over to him, smiling the whole time. We shook their hands before we left and my wife thanked him for his service. We said our goodbyes and I left the hospital feeling as if I had left some good friends behind. It was definitely a moment in time that I will not soon forget.

Last edited: Sat Jul 23, 2016 1:44 pm

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Sara Without the H

Category: Life As I Know It | Posted: Tue Jul 19, 2016 3:49 pm

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"Sara without the H."

That was the response I got when I asked my youngest son the name of his online girlfriend.

"Where does she live?"

"In Canada."

Thus began a relationship that my generation has difficulty grasping. How do you get to know someone by only talking to them online? How do you survive a relationship without any physical contact whatsoever?

Well, after five years I am happy to say that Joshua and Sara (without the H, of course) not only survived, but they are getting married today at 3:30 Eastern Time... in Canada!!

I will not be there. His mother will not be there. No members of his family or any of his friends will be attending, but over the years I have slowly realized that my youngest son does not do anything in a normal way. That is one of the things I love about him and one of the many reasons that I am proud of him for the man that he is becoming.

An interesting thing happened when Sara came to visit last year. We had picked her up at the airport and the lovebirds were sitting in the back seat having an excited conversation about a newly found planet. I remember listening to that conversation and thinking how strange and wonderful that my son could find the perfect person for him halfway across the world.

When Donna was pregnant with Amanda one of our choices for names was Sarah Elizabeth. My brother's wife was also pregnant at the time. She was due before us and had also chosen the name Sarah. So, we decided to go with Amanda instead (she ended up having a boy). Then, when Donna was pregnant with Cory we chose Sarah as a girl name, but we had a boy. Finally, when Donna got pregnant the third time we once again picked Sarah as a girl name, but we had another boy.

So, you see, we have always wanted a Sarah in the family and now we are going to have one. "Sara without the H" but actually it will be Sara with the H because that is the first letter of our last name. Welcome to the family Sara H.




Last edited: Tue Jul 19, 2016 4:06 pm

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Sunflower Challenge, Sunday, 7/17/16, Anyone Interested?

Category: Gardening | Posted: Sun Jul 17, 2016 2:16 pm

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Thought I would post some pictures of my efforts to save the seeds from the 10 footer. As you can see, I ended up with a full pint far of seeds.

I was wondering what I was going to do with all the seeds and then I had an idea. What if I shared them and next year a few of us tried to grow them? Would anyone out there be up for the challenge? It would be fun to see how they grow elsewhere.


( photo / image / picture from eclecticgarden's Garden )


( photo / image / picture from eclecticgarden's Garden )


( photo / image / picture from eclecticgarden's Garden )


( photo / image / picture from eclecticgarden's Garden )

Last edited: Sun Jul 17, 2016 2:17 pm

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Sunflower Journal, Sunday 7/10/16, week 21, FINAL ENTRY

Category: Gardening | Posted: Sun Jul 10, 2016 11:38 am

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So, this is it. Last week should have been the final entry, but I was out of town visiting my daughter.

As you can see, the sunflowers have died off. The 10 footer never did relent. It's still refusing to lower its stubborn head. I'll have to save some seeds from that one.

Frank and Henry, thanks for following along for the past 21 weeks. I've enjoyed posting every week. Maybe I'll do another plant journal one day.


Sunflowers, 7/10/16 ( photo / image / picture from eclecticgarden's Garden )





Last edited: Sun Jul 10, 2016 11:43 am

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Sunflower Journal, Saturday 6/25/16, week 19

Category: Gardening | Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2016 11:41 pm

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Sadly, the show is all but over, but the ten footer is still standing tall.


Sunflowers, 6/25/16 ( photo / image / picture from eclecticgarden's Garden )


Sunflowers, 6/25/16 ( photo / image / picture from eclecticgarden's Garden )

This blog entry has been viewed 655 times

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Sunflower Journal, Saturday 6/18/16, week 18

Category: Gardening | Posted: Sat Jun 18, 2016 2:24 pm

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The end is drawing near for the sunflowers. I'm still amazed by the ten footer. Even now it continues to stand proud, refusing to bow it's withered head in defeat like the others are doing.


Sunflowers, 6/18/16 ( photo / image / picture from eclecticgarden's Garden )


Sunflowers, 6/18/16 ( photo / image / picture from eclecticgarden's Garden )


Sunflower, 6/18/16 ( photo / image / picture from eclecticgarden's Garden )


Proud 10 Footer, 6/18/16 ( photo / image / picture from eclecticgarden's Garden )

This blog entry has been viewed 600 times

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Sunflower Journal, Saturday 6/11/16, week 17

Category: Gardening | Posted: Sat Jun 11, 2016 12:23 pm

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It was inevitable, but the sunflowers are winding down. Honestly, I didn't expect to still see blooms after seventeen weeks. The highlight is definitely the lone, ten footer that is proudly standing far above the others. I don't know how it survived. We had at least two more wind storms since I posted pictures of the wind damage. In fact, I had a few more sunflowers that were destroyed by the wind. Somehow though, that one has managed to make it through unscathed.

I plan to keep on with the journal until they are all gone. It will be sad, but that is how it goes when you grow annuals. I guess it's kind of a metaphor for life. Beginnings and endings.


Sunflowers, 6/11/16 ( photo / image / picture from eclecticgarden's Garden )


Sunflowers, 6/11/16 ( photo / image / picture from eclecticgarden's Garden )


Ten Footer ( photo / image / picture from eclecticgarden's Garden )





Last edited: Sat Jun 11, 2016 12:26 pm

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Sunflower Journal, Saturday 6/4/16, week 16

Category: Gardening | Posted: Sat Jun 04, 2016 1:03 pm

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The wind storm that passed through on Wednesday night left some damage, but I've been able to salvage most of the sunflowers.


Sunflowers, 6/4/16 ( photo / image / picture from eclecticgarden's Garden )


Sunflowers, 6/4/16 ( photo / image / picture from eclecticgarden's Garden )

Here are the sunflowers that were too far gone to save. Don't worry though, the chickens will enjoy the seeds.


Wind Storm Sunflowers ( photo / image / picture from eclecticgarden's Garden )

I'm most excited about this guy. One lone sunflower has shot way above the others, reaching over ten feet high.


Tall Sunflower ( photo / image / picture from eclecticgarden's Garden )


10 Foot Sunflower ( photo / image / picture from eclecticgarden's Garden )

Last edited: Wed Jun 08, 2016 11:02 am

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Sunflower Journal, Thursday 6/2/16

Category: Gardening | Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2016 11:05 am

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Had a storm blow through last night and it did some damage to the sunflowers.


Sunflowers, 6/2/16 ( photo / image / picture from eclecticgarden's Garden )


Sunflowers, 6/2/16 ( photo / image / picture from eclecticgarden's Garden )

Last edited: Thu Jun 02, 2016 2:21 pm

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Sunflower Journal, Saturday 5/28/16, week 15

Category: Gardening | Posted: Sat May 28, 2016 11:44 am

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The first sunflower opened up on April 28th and now, exactly one month later, the sunflower show continues on. I honestly didn't remember having them around to enjoy for so long. How long will it last? I'll keep on taking pictures until they are gone.


Sunflowers, 5/28/16 ( photo / image / picture from eclecticgarden's Garden )


Sunflowers, 5/28/16 ( photo / image / picture from eclecticgarden's Garden )


Sunflowers, 5/28/16 ( photo / image / picture from eclecticgarden's Garden )

This blog entry has been viewed 627 times

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