Birthday Past

With Steve's birthday coming tomorrow, I thought it would be fun to visit a birthday from the past.

We are a boating family.  What better place to have cake than on the boat? I can't think of any.

We have cake

Guest arrives

 perfect for the kids, no mess

How ya doin?

 I am asked that question daily. By friends, and neighbors and I still have no answer.

I am slowly coming out of denial.  Steve has what is called vascular or stroke induced dementia.  For such a long time, I would just excuse it as "He had a stroke".  Yes, he did but as things get worse as he is able to do less and less, and I do more and more, I have to come to grips with I am not alright.

So, how am I doing?  I don't really know. I just had to make a major decision of replacing the floor of the carport, that was damaged by the neighbor's water runoff.  I pay all the bills, I do basically everything! Alone! 

I keep telling myself, I will take care of me, so far, I am not doing a very good job of that, the reason I stopped writing for a few months was I was hiding.  I don't want to face things as they are.

This is where we are today.  Tomorrow will be so different.

Found

 Once the trees were removed. Light could get to the area below the long branches. 

What was struggling to survive was three rose bushes.

The first one was in the worst shape 

I was hoping that cutting it back to what looked like it was alive and feeding the plant, then just maybe.

After a few weeks

It was alive and sending off new growth.

Now, to bring you up to date

So many questions.  What will the roses be like?

 Goodbye trees 

and hello sunshine.  I know having trees cut down might be frowned upon, but these trees had to go. 

They were huge

Much of the lower branches were already dead.

To dangerous to be  on such a small lot with homes so close that should one of the trees decide to fall, it would hit  a house.

So, they had to go.  Many neighbors came by to thank me. It was a hard decision but why would anyone plant a tree that is destined to get huge on a small lot, let alone three of them.

Now that so much of the needles have been removed. Sun has brought out a gift for me, that I will share tomorrow.  

Spring came 

and so did the flowers.  Winter looked so bleak for such a long time. When things look bleak, it seems like it all lasts a very long time. Our spring is wetter than usual, colder than usual, but still the flowers bloomed right on time.

Always the first to say hello.

They put on quite a show!

Next up the tulips

My favorite

Natures colors are so perfect, yes you can have red and yellow together.

When things look dark and bleak, hang in there, spring is right around the corner.

 Brand new!

It is a brand-new day, brand new month

Brand new me!

Sorry for the past dirty pictures

 I think it is time I just sit back and wait.  The temperatures will be back to super cold this next week.

At least there is a bit of hope, that spring will come, flowers will bloom. 

We will be able to sit in the shade, complain it is too hot and sip our sweet tea.

I have been enjoying time in my sewing room. My sweet daughter in law, likes what I make for her.  so, you know that makes creating even more fun.

I like to call them Stacey boxes.

I never know for sure what will go in the box. a few past things have been

Set of four cupcake placemats. for celebrating birthdays. All have the orange frosting except the blue with the sprinkles, that is for the birthday person.

Reading pillow for chole

One for Blake

A few kitchen towels

Keeping busy waiting for spring.