Gonna do it...

Here you go girls! The pic of my pontoon boat - unfortunately for sale... cuz i don't really use it anyway! Guess a half hour drive is still too far to bother with. Silly (lazy?) me!!!

Notice the SparkPeople thingy above? Since actually working at a lifestyle change with SP as a guide, i've actually lost 17 pounds!!! That's without trying very hard. When i actually get going with the exercise portion it might even go faster.

...and SP is not just another 'flash in the pan' according to Business Week! For the second year in a row, SparkPeople is on their list of Best of the Web. Also, read what SP has to say about it here.

power of one - a new release

: "1. Power Of One - Bomshel "

I'm using Rhapsody on my new laptop with Vista. Just trying to learn to use the 'puter & i signed up to use this program - available to sign up for. Kinda neat! I don't know if you have to sign up & sign in to listen to this song because i'm still signed in.... anyway free music can't be all bad now, can it? Yes, there are two paid options plus i can buy this one for 99cents if i want to. Well, gotta go... will check in later when i have more time

I'll tell you what it is! It's a...

circular staircase -


looking from top straight down at it. Recently had the steps covered with the charcoal carpet & used gold colored strips because with the oak trim it looks better than the silver color alternative.





...and here i wanted to share my old laptop computer's current desktop. Yes, the photo is beautiful as well... took it at the State Park in Holland, MI during my last visit with #3 daughter. I LOVE the ethereal quality of the unbrellas against the warm summer sky... but that's not the reason i'm sharing.

Notice the clock & the weather stamp? I got them from Yahoo Widgets. Also have the widget toolbar but prefer letting it hide when i don't need it. The other widget i downloaded & have ready access to is the gas saver widget. It gives me a list of current gas prices in my area, so naturally i only use that one when my car is low on gas. The best part of these things - you can make them partially transparent (as mine are) or not at all... or keep them hidden until you want to see them. Check 'em out!

I learned about these little gems from the computer club where i still maintain membership. Gotta stay up to date, right?

Gotta share this with you...

I took this photo recently & just wanted to share it. Can you tell me what it is? Of course, I know what it is... i took the picture! I want you to guess. I'll be back to give you the answer later.

Today is an anniversary...

...one i do NOT enjoy but must observe.

Two years ago today my husband was working on a household project downstairs in the family room. He came upstairs, telling me he needed my help - then sat on the floor. He was pale & cold & clammy & i phoned 911 as i ministered to his request for a drink of water. 1st response arrived within 5 minutes & ambulance in ~20 minutes. By then he was gone. For the first time in my life i was completely alone.

Was gonna say i'm sorry for sharing my grief, but i'm not... I need to do this. I loved him always & we were best friends. We had many of the same interests. We did everything together. Until August 29, 2005 we remained as one entity... & now it was broken. He truly LIVED until he died. For this i am grateful.

We spoke occasionally about what one would do without the other. I am there. I heed his words. I make the best of this 'half life' after living so fully for 49 years, 11 months & 5 days of marriage. He is always with me so i do not dwell on his physical absence. Life goes on.

new life...

A week ago, the last Sunday in July, my sister Gerry & I visited our sister Barb. Barb has the most beautiful garden i've ever seen in real life... even though i have a friend who is a master gardener & her garden is beautiful!

Yes, i took lots of pics but I call this one 'Barb's Garden.'

Last Saturday, on the birthday of my twin girls, i took my mother for a walk in the Dow Gardens. She had a pretty good workout for a 91 year young woman! We had a great time. Yesterday, the first Sunday of August, Gerry & i took mom out to dinner at our favorite Chinese buffet. I went off my diet & ate just about everything on the buffet that was fried! Mom did a pretty good job of keeping up with me!!!

I thought they were dogs at first...

...then of course i knew! They are the foxes my neighbors have been watching from afar! They invited me over to watch them one evening... and they appeared 'way over near the river and we could barely see them!!! But this!!! This was great! They were in my backyard - a total of three..... and i was able to get 4 shots all together. The camera was set on macro & i had to use my telephoto so they're a bit grainy... but there they are! Aren't they beautiful?