My Front Porch

new blogging sight

2006-07-12T16:53:00.000-04:00

Please check out my new blogging sight. http://skassay.blogspot.com , you will find me sitting on my front porch at the lake....sipping my glass of ice tea.......

Tammy And Her New Hip

2006-07-10T11:38:00.000-04:00

I am packing and heading to Toledo tomorrow. I am going to visit Judypatootie (Memories are made of this) We are going to get caught up on what is happening in each others life, drink tea and I hope to learn a thing or two about this blogging habit that I have. Judy is the person who got me started with blogging. She had one and I would read often and enjoy the pictures of family and friends and enjoy her stories. I was in Florida when I thought why not try one myself. I knew no one amoung my friends in Florida that could help me get started. I asked Judy many questions over the PC and with many questions and a lot of patience I did it. It is now just a everyday thing. I still have things to learn so tomorrow I will post a picture of Judy my mentor, and I while I take a quick class or two. Then I am on to my daughters house. Tammy, her dad and I were in an accident and she ended up with a broken hip at the age of 11. The doctors did not know what to do with a child so young. To make a long sad story short she waited to the age of 23 to get her first hip. Now at the age of 43 she is going to have the hip replaced for the second time. The lady who hit us got on the expressway going the wrong way, of course she had been drinking and had no insurance. That lady that day that did not care about whet she was doing changed my daughters life forever. I am so against drinking and driving because the person having a good time and a few drinks is not alert even if they think they are........( Please have a designated driver if you want to party) Tammy will have the hip replacement on Thursday. I will be her care giver, mom and friend for the next few weeks. My granddaughter Lindsey will also help her mom after she returns from her dads a few days after her mom gets home. Of course I will have my laptop and give you reports on how Tammy is doing. See you tomorrow at Judy's where we will have a tall glass of ice tea and just talk...........

A Beautiful Sunset

2006-07-03T11:08:00.000-04:00

It was a very warm amd humid day at the lake. We had rain and sun and this is the beautiful sunset that apeared in the evening. Lindsey and friends went for a walk and I had them be my models in the sunset. We had s'mores over the fire and cinnamon rolls on a skewer. All was very yummy, and the girls had a good time. (So did the adults) Today we will venture to the water again and hope the sun stays out. We are suppose to have hail and rain this afternoon so want to take advantage of the sunshine while it is still here. I love the colors in the sunset pictures, it is like a canvas that God painted on. .
Everyone liked the cinnamon rolls we had last night and it was the first time I had ever had them, and they are so easy to make.
Need a package of Pillsbury rolls in a tube. You will need a long cooking fork put over camp fire till browned. Have a dish aside with butter and one with cinnamon. Roll ( the browned roll ) in the butter then the cinnamon. It is so good. I want to wish every one a happy and safe 4th. of July. Enjoy the fireworks and for those in other countries throw a snow ball or two for me.

A Day At The Bay.........

2006-06-27T21:33:00.000-04:00

Picture of the pond with flowers in bloom.
Day lilies by the pond.
Evening sunset
sitting on the edge of the dock.
The flags tell a story.
This is a picture of the fountain in the park at the bay.
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This is a picture of the Perry Monument at the bay.
This is an old Lake Freighter that people made into there home. You see this on the way to the bay. This home has been featured on the Home and Garden show on television.
Charlie's son Lee his wife Donna and our grandchildren arrived safely after there 5 thousand mile trip from Alaska. They have stopped along the way on there 15 day journey. We as grandparents are so happy that they have come back to the lower 48 to live after spending 6 years there. We will now get to see Emilee grow up and watch AJ grow up in to a young man. As you can see from the pictures above they are camera shy so tomorrow I will take family pictures of them on the sly. The family went to Put In Bay which is a family island during the week and a party island on the weekends. Charlie and I got married at the bay 15 years ago on a 4th. Of July weekend. That must have been a time when I was wild and crazy because now you can not get me there on a weekend. What a difference 15 years makes.........We had a fun day on the Jet Express which is a ship that takes us to the bay. Emilee said she liked the big boat and she sure did like the pizza for lunch. I have been going to Put-In-Bay since I was 16 years old and it takes me a while to figure out how many years that has been....A long time.........
It is a wonderful day trip that we now do every summer and a fun place to take family and friends. On a clear evening you can see the Perry Monument from are patio, it has a light that shines bright like the light houses of the past. It is the end of a long and fun day and looking forward to tomorrow and more fun in the sun.

LOVE

2006-06-26T19:01:00.000-04:00

This stepping stone was a gift from a friend, her name is Carolyn. The same Carolyn that Judy from Memories are made of this refers to often in her blog.
The three of us were and always will be best friends. We do not see each other that often but when we are together we have so much fun. It is just like old times and we have so many happy memories of our children growing up together. The stepping stone is sitting by the pond at the lake and every time I see it I will think of Carolyn.
It will be Charlies and my 15th. Anniversary the 6th. Of July and I thought of the stone and the word love.... I was married the first time for 21 years and my x husband found a younger women and there I was, starting all over at the age of 41. I was single 7 years and then found Charlie. God does not close one door that he does not open another. I have found a wonderful person in Charlie. We like all couples have a few problems but I have to thank God each day for Charlie (THE LOVE OF MY LIFE) I know from experience that when something happens in life, you have to make the best of it and ask God for guidance and he will one day answer your prayers. I think he could have gone faster then 7 years but he will do it in his time...Not our time. So when times get bad we have to pick our self up and just keep going knowing that we are not alone. We have family, friends and now a new blogging family that we can go to when we need support. The stepping stone says it all.......LOVE

Live is a Beach

2006-06-25T11:55:00.000-04:00

Sunset at the lake
A beautiful day at the beach
Winston is looking at me as if saying, are we ready for the daily walk we take or are we going to sit here all day. I think he likes it at the lake as much as we do. Last weekend it was beautiful here, the sun was shining and the beach was full. On Tuesday evening we had a storm with six inched of rain. I have had the sun and rain and now I can sit and watch my sunflower grow. Because of the storm we had there has been no computer setup for a few days. I am thinking oh no....How will I post on my blog...How will I know what in happening in the lives of all my blogging friends. How will I pay my bills and balance my check book. I forgot how much I take this little laptop for granted, how much I depend on this little machine for my daily life. Then I think back to 10 years ago when I told Charlie I want a computer and he said it will be a fad with me and just sit around. Wow, did I prove him wrong on that one. I can not think of what life would be like with out this little wonderful window to the world. A wonderful way to keep up on what is happening miles and miles away. I love the fact that I can send a payment for a bill through the wires of this machine. I am so happy that I am in the world of all the new tech culture and I truly think that it will keep my mind busy as I grow older each year. I am always learning something new and that is a good thing for this granny. We are not the generation of grannies just cooking and cleaning the house. We are the grannies of tomorrow. We are always learning new things, so that we can keep up with the grandchildren. We are woman here us roar.............

Then And Now.........

2006-06-14T14:57:00.000-04:00

THEN

NOW
It is a warm day with a light breeze, just the right kind of day to sit in the sun and soak up the rays. My granddaughter Brittany called last night and asked if she and two friends could spend the day at the lake. This is the first summer that Britt has her own car and can drive. This is so new to this old granny, my little ones driving up to spend the day. What happened two that little girl that I use to color with? She has grown up, has a job and she is not my little girl any more. I went through watching my daughters grow up and now I am doing it one more time. And very happy and blessed to do so. I remember when she was three and I would have to stay with her at the water, then I remember when she was thirteen and we would go and get craft projects to do when she came to stay with me at the lake. And now she drives her to spend a day with her friends. Just like my memories have changed so have the bathing suits. I have watched so much change around me. But I happen to be a modern mature lady and I just go along with what is happening as long as I approve of course. I remember when that older granny was my mother and all of a sudden that lady is me. I look in the mirror often and wonder where that young lady is, the one with the good shape and nice smile with no lines on her face. That lady is right here, ready to take on this world we live in. I am older in years but still young at heart. I am an older women but watch me while I watch my little ones grow up. I am the THEN and they are the Now.........Come sit with me on my front porch and I will share another memory with you soon.

Under The Weather

2006-06-13T19:18:00.000-04:00

Hi everyone in blogging land. I have had a summer cold and it knocked me down a couple pegs. I am feeling better today and did a few things around the house and in the yard. I am not moving to fast for fear of getting the bug back, no cold all winter and I get one in the summer time. My mom always use to tell me that mother nature has a way of telling us when to slow down. And if this is mother nature calling on me it sure did work. I have been laying around for 3 days and it is getting to me. I am going to read some of my favorite blogs tonight and I will post again tomorrow when I feel just a little bit better.

The Lighthouse

2006-06-06T19:43:00.000-04:00

There's a lighthouse on the hillside that overlooks life's sea. When I'm tossed, it sends out a light that I might see. And the light that shines in darkness now will safely lead us o'er. If it wasn't for the lighthouse, my ship would be no more. ( Ron Hinson )
The pictures are Marblehead Lighthouse in a little town called Marblehead in Ohio
It is a cute little town with shops and a few restraints and the whole town is on Lake Erie. The lighthouse is a wonderful place to sit and relax and enjoy the beauty of this place we call earth. It is another miracle of God's creation
Lighthouses are expressons of human creativity. Physically they represent triumphant solutions to complex engineering problems. Emotionally they exemplity drama, rescue poetry, romance, grandeur, nostalgia and artistry. (Charles Wysocki )
Charlie, and I had a small picnic at the lighthouse this evening. Winston had a good time exploring around the rocks and we took a nice walk. It was a beautiful evening. The picture of the house above is the home that belonged to the lighthouse keeper many years ago. They guided friendly strangers who were lost to there home port and a safe return. There are two ways of spreding light. To be the candle or the mirror that reflects it. Now at home working on this post I can reflect on the evening and enjoy my glass of ice tea. Come and sit a while with me on my front porch and I will show you more pictures of the lighthouse.

School Time

2006-06-01T21:41:00.000-04:00

Summer will be here and the children will be out of school. When I was a little one I always loved the last day of school and the first day of summer vacation. I can remember making a tent in the back yard with a blanket over the clothes line, my girlfriends would come over with there lunch bags filled with peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. My mom would make kool aid and we would have our party celebrating summer vacation time.
I love the memories of jump robes and pick up sticks and all the fun we use to have with kick the can. I have lived through the time of sitting in front of the big radio and listening to Ozzie and Harriet and Amos and Andy. Oh how the times have changed.......... And now we are in this new world of internet, the Ipod and cell phones. I love the days of old but enjoy all the new and modern, My grandchildren are on there computer and cell phone at the same time they are watching TV.
Now that I have gone through most of my memories of yeastier year I have a short story to tell you about me and my fifth grade teacher. As many of you have noticed I can not spell well and spell check does not always pick up my mistakes. Most of the words I have problems with are 5th. Grade words. I had a teacher who had to be the worst teacher in the world. Instead of spelling words or doing math we would take magazines and put them on the heater to warm them up and then put them on her chair so she would have a warm seat. When it was time for gym class the boys would cross there hands together and she would sit on there hands with her arms around there neck
and they would take her down the steps so we could have gym. The girls got to do her hair and put cream on her face. I could go on and on about her, we did every thing that year but learn. I know many years later the parents were trying to get her out of the school system. She has been gone for many years but how sad it was that I had to spend a year with her. If you are reading my blog and see miss spelled words you will now understand why. To all the school children, have a fun vacation and to all the parents out there ( HELP )
Now it is time to sit on my front porch and watch the little ones come home after there last day of school............

A Day At The Lake

2006-05-30T20:22:00.000-04:00

There is a song that says...April showers bring May flowers that bloom in June. Well it will Be June very soon and the flowers here are beautiful and in full bloom. Memorial day weekend was very warm here in Ohio, but this evening we had a good rain fall and it cooled down a little. After the rain I went for a walk and found a mother and father goose walking and with there little ones. Also a mother duck looking after her eggs, mother nature at work. I planted my sunflowers and they are growing well. I often wonder at the earth and nature and enjoy all the miracles that happen every year at the same time. I took a picture of our pond, we have gold fish swimming and I love the sound of the water flowing from it. I have my wicker chaise sitting near by where I curl up with a good book and enjoy the quiet time, just me, my ice tea and nature. Of course I usually end up taking a nap and have to remember what page I was on. It is times like this that I realize how wonderful retirement can be. For all of you that are still working at a daily job, I will once in a while remind you that it will one day be worth all the time and effort when you like I can sit and watch my sunfloweras grow. Some think that when that time comes they will sit around with nothing to do, but if you have hobbies you enjoy you will wonder how you ever had time to work a job. I find my days going so fast and wondering where the time went. In my days that go by fast I always take time to thank God for each day he has given me. I try to look for the good in each day and always look at my glass have full. Talking about a glass I think I will pour another glass of tea, so stop by soon and visit with me on my front porch.

13 Things I Am Thankful For....

2006-05-24T21:00:00.000-04:00

1 - I am thankful that I live in the United States Of America.
2 - I am thankful for all the people in the Armed Services that help protect our freedoms.
3 - I am thankful for my children and grandchildren and their good health.
4 - I am thankful for all the good friends that I have.
5 - I am thankful for all the beauty of nature.
6 - I am thankful that I have Charlie in my life.
7 - I am thankful that I have faith in God.
8 - I am thankful for my little friend and puppy,(Winston)
9 - I am thankful for good health.
10- I am thankful for all of the people that I now know through blogging.
11- I am thankful for all the blessings that I have.
12- I am thankful for the bounty of food that this earth gives us.
13- I am thankful for my home and that glass of tea on my front porch.

Think Spring

2006-05-23T22:38:00.000-04:00

Wow, it has been a busy day the sun is shining and it is warm and I am so happy. I do think the weather has so much to do with how we feel. It has been wonderful to be outside. I have been working in the yard, have planted many flowers and the pond now has water plants. I started out with a half hour walk this morning and did not stop moving the whole day. If some one saw me they would have thought I was the entergizer bunny, wind me up and watch me work. After last week and spending a whole week inside it felt wonderful working outside again.
I want to get the work around here finished so I can lounge with a good book and enjoy all the warm weather that is heading this way. This weekend will be very busy and start the summer fun here. We live in an association and will have a meeting on Saturday morning and a potluck in the pm. On Sunday we will get together with friends for dinner, Monday afternoon wave as everyone goes home for 4 days and then back to the lake for another fun weekend. Before long we will be out on the beach and wonder how time has gone so fast. My Mother use to tell me the older you get the faster time goes, and I would say 24 hours are 24 hours. Well I guess I have now become my Mother because I so agree with her.
I saw this picture and thought of Spring and good friends and I also thought of the many people that we blog with and feel that we are blessed to have found each other.
Well folks it is again time for that wonderful tall glass of ice tea while I sit back and read a few of my favorite things. The story of life of all my new friens. And remember if friends were flowers I would pick all of you so come back soon and visit me on my front porch.

THURSDAY 13........

2006-05-17T19:58:00.000-04:00

13 Things about me...

1.. I do wear glasses for reading
2.. I am left handed
3.. I have two daughters
4.. I also have a stepdaughter and stepson
5.. I have been married to Charlie for 15 years
6.. I am a great grandmother
7.. I am 5ft. 2in.
8.. I have big blue eyes
9.. I drive a Buick SUB
10. I am going to my 45th.H.S.reunion this summer
11. I enjoy reading a good book
12. I love my glass of ice tea
13. I do not like coffee
Just a few things about me...See you next Thursday for 13 wishes

Rain Rain - Go Away....

2006-05-16T20:32:00.000-04:00

Guess what? I saw the sun for a total of an hour today. While the sun was out I went for a walk and I saw a few flowers in bloom. They were pretty with there dew drops I just had to watch for the puddels and high grass around them. I took a picture of the cut that looks lonley with no boats or jet skis yet in place. In another week or so the area I live in will be very busy and the traffic will be crazy. This is a resoet area and on Labor day weekend the action begins and will go all summer. What a fun place to live. I count my blessing often, good health, wonderful family and a good husband and a sweet little puppy that helps me greet my frinds. What more can one ask for. For me wealth is counted in blessings and I am truly blessed.
I took pictures of the little flowers I saw, the swing I sit on and the lake and beach I see each day. I also took a picture of a funny little guy with glasses that looks like Charlie. A few months ago Tammy e-mailed me with a picture and said Mom this looks like Charlie, for those of you who know Charlie you will agree, for others I will post a picture of Charlie and show you the resemblence tomorrow.
I love the picture of the vintage lady with the flower and you will see many vintage pictures on my post. I love anything that looks old, including my funny little man LOL. I just previewed my post and have no idea why it is underlined, I will fix that before the next post. I also wonder if any of you have a problem with not being able to see your blog after it says it has been published. Some times I have to wait a day to see the post. My daughter on the other hand has it right away
Not sure if I am the only one that has this problem. I also have been trying to post links and still am having problems with that one.
I took enough time with this post that it is raining hard again so I will stay in my little house tonight and have a glass of tea thinking about the sunset I may see tomorrow if the rain will please go away.

Busy Days ?

2006-05-15T13:17:00.000-04:00

I have been so busy, not sure what I have been busy doing but I am having a good time at what ever it is I am doing. Do I sound a little nuts? Well I am going nuts it has been 4 days of rain and no sun shine, now remember I live in Florida all winter and my system is not use to this kind of weather. Charlie is under my feet and Winston is hanging on my leg. Help.....
Last weekend was Lindsey's birthday and she was 8 years old, she is growing up way to fast for this grandma, just yesterday I was reading her books about the three bears and now she is reading me stories about Elizaberh, the American Girl doll we got her for her special day. Lindsey and her little friends had a good time and her cake and ice cream was so good, fun was had by all.
This weekend Tammy, Amy and myself went scraping for a day. We srarted out at 10am
and worked on scrapbooks till 8pm. It was a fun day and I got a few pages finished. I will take pictures of my pages and do a post on my scrapbook some day.
We are still waiting on the completion of Amy's home, she has been very patient with the builder and soon we will work on the decorating project I came home early to do. I also will be working on DVD's that go along with the scrapbook project. I do this on the computer and put music with the pictures. Little ones love to look at the TV and see them self, and a scrapbook full of there pictures is so much fun to look at. I said I am the granny with the camera and if I leave nothing else to my grandchildren they will always have the memories of themselves growing up.
Well I guess I will get the umbrella out and see if my sunflower has grown at all we have the rain now we need the sunshine and warm weather to help them grow. I may look funny but I will sit on my patio with ice tea in one hand and the umbrella in the other while I think about tomorrows post for my daily journal. And I do mean daily, I hope to post every day and to get in to the daily blogs that are going on so please do not give up on me. Then at least I will no what I am doing to keep busy. Please come and visit me again soon on Mt Front Porch. Till tomorrow..

A Summer Place

2006-05-03T19:24:00.000-04:00

Calm days and gentle breezes
When is dinner?
Comfort zone for a good book
My nautical shelf
Winston after a long day
Little Bathroom

My little kitchen
My window to Lake Erie
A spring day at the lake.... I am at the lake and settled in
after a few days of dusting, sweeping and lawn work. The weather has been good in the 70s and sun shining every day. What more can I ask for, and all is good in my little corner of the world. Lake Erie is calm this evening and the sun will set soon. The pond is finished and the little gold fish are happy in there new home. We planted flowers and I also put a few sunflower seeds in the grown. A sunflower is a sign of country to me and that is the look I love. Country cottage in a small trailer, it is not how big your home is but how much you love your home. My little place is me, with the checked curtains, candles burning and lace dolly's on the tables. As you can see in the above pictures Winston is at home at the lake and is very happy and content after the long ride to Ohio from Florida.
In a few weeks I will head to Toledo and start decorating Amy's home which was to be finished in March but we hope will be ready by May. I am sure Amy and her family will be more then ready to settle in there new home, it has been a long winter for her watching how slow the home was built. I will be in my glory helping her decorate, it will not be work to me because I love to put a home together. She has all new furniture and we will shop for all the little things that make a house a home. I will post pictures of before and after of each of the rooms as we do them.
I also will go for a walk at the lake and take pictures. No wonder the kids call me the grandma with the camera. Well I had better get the grandma camera out for this evenings sunset. I will sit on my patio and have my glass of tea and enjoy God's beauty that is all around me..........Sharon

Vintage Housekeeping Swap

2006-04-25T21:29:00.000-04:00

I am again settled in to my summer place, the place I call home,as I have said before Florida is vacation for me and Port Clinton Ohio is home. I was born in Toledo Ohio which is an hour away from where I live in the summer and Toledo is where my girls and grandchildren live. Charlie and Winston arrived last Friday and
are little family is once more together again. I very much enjoyed the time I had with the girls and grandchildren, but there is no place like home and home is where my story begins. It took me a few days to unpack and get settled and I worked outside for a day or two but most of the work is finished and I can begin to play, scrapbook and get back to my blogging habit. I have missed putting just a little bit of my life in to journal form and I have also enjoyed reading many of my favorite blogs again and getting caught up on what is happening.
I received a wonderful surprise today through the mail and what a fun time opening my vintage housekeeping gift from Sherri of musingsbymommy blogspot.com. It is the first swap for both Sherri and I, and I so much love what she picked out for me. I received 3 beautiful towels, vintage soap and very Victorian stationary with a darling pen and it all came in a lovely box tied with a bow. Thank you so much Sherri, I loved everything you chose for me and your vintage gift is on its way to your home. My big vintage hat also goes off to ms*robyn for taking the time to put the swap together for all of us who love the Victorian and vintage world of yesterday
Well it is now time to sit on my patio and watch the sunset, oh no I just looked outside and the sun has already set so it is time to have my glass of tea and again enjoy my beautiful gift from my new blogging friend Sherri. So till tomorrow and another post I bid all a good night.

Happy Easter -Happy Spring

2006-04-12T19:34:00.000-04:00

I want to wish all my family and friends around the world a happy and blessed Easter. A year ago I would just have said family and friends but sense I have been blogging I have meant so many wonderful women from all over the world. We have been there for each in so many ways. We have shared family photos and many family stories. We have been there in times of trouble and also there for the good times. We have prayed for others and been there for support in time of need. We wish birthday greetings to family members and share a beautiful rose from someone's garden
I have so enjoyed meeting all of you through this machine we call a personal computer and I look forward to all the pictures and stories that are yet to come.
I am now in Ohio waiting for the arrival of Charlie and Winston, they will be heading north in a week or so. I spent a week at my daughters home (Tammy) and then came to Port Clinton my summer place. My place in Ohio is very small but it is all I need to enjoy all the beauty of Lake Erie. We have many wonderful friends here and I am sure you will meet them through out the summer through pictures and stories that I will be posting. There are about four couples that live here all summer and the rest of the people come up on weekends and vacation. We have many small social functions and get together for cards and board games camp fires and dinners. It is a fun time, and we all wait for that first time we can sit on the beach and soak up the sun rays while watching that sail boat cruse by. As I said my place is small but I am sitting here looking out at all the magic of the season. The tree with a small hint of green, the spring flowers of many colors and the bird that is all ready looking for a place to nest. I do not have a front porch here but I do have a patio with a small pond, day lilies and little gold fish swimming around, so this is where you will find me reading a good book and having that glass of ice tea in a beautiful crystal glass with a mint leave in it. Again I wish to all a blessed Easter and happy spring.

Happy Birthday Amy

2006-04-10T17:01:00.000-04:00

Amy and the kids
A birthday surprise
My little girl
Amy is 40..........
The reason I went back to Ohio early was to surprise Amy on her 40th birthday. Her sister Tammy and I have been planning this party and get together for 3 months. On Amy's 35th. birthday her husband Greg passed away from lung cancer. What was to be a celebration turned out to be an awful day for the whole family. Greg had been ill and told he had cancer only 4 months before Amy's birthday and of course we all thought he would beat the cancer and be ok. Greg had planned a birthday dinner for Amy on this cool Saturday evening and Tammy and I were going to celebrate with them, when we arrived Greg had all ready passed away. He had roses for her, gifts and a beautiful card that she opened latter that tragic day. Needless to say we have had a hard time celebrating the birthday each year sense. I knew after 5 years it was time to celebrate Amy and her life and to look at this day also as a celebration of Greg and the life he lived while on earth. We had a wonderful celebration for Amy and as we had planed she was very surprised. We had 60 friends and family members at the Spaghetti Waarehouse for dinner and Amy thought she was going to have dinner with a friend Tammy and myself. It was a wonderful evening and we all had a good time and celebrated the big 40. They say that time heals after the death of a loved one and the time helps but the memories of the person is what also helps. Greg was a fun loving person and I know on April 7th. He was looking down and saying to Amy, you have done a wonderful job with the children and YOU GO GIRL.

Ohio-State Of Mine

2006-03-30T16:48:00.000-05:00

I sure have missed blogging and reading others blogs. As we have stated before it is a very habit forming addiction. But much better then most addictions I have heard of. I am now in Toledo Ohio, my hometown, and the home of my girls and grandchildren. I must have brought the sunshine from Florida because today was in the high 60s and beautiful outside. I have looked at a few blogs and it seems like there is a lot of health problems among our fellow bloggers. To all that are under the weather I wish good health, to those that have had colds, drink a lot of water and rest.
This morning I went to see Amy's new house that was going to be ready to move into on March 20, but due to weather and other problems she will be lucky to have the family move in date by May 1st. I will be busy helping her decorate and I will post pictures along the way. Decorating is my passion and it will be fun to help her put the house together. I will be in Toledo for a week then on to Port Clinton, where I have my little bit of heaven on earth right on the shores of Lake Erie
So till tomorrow I will say bye from Ohio, that state of mine.

Going Home

2006-03-14T18:30:00.000-05:00

It is Tuesday evening and I have been busy cleaning and packing for my trip up north. It is a yearly trip that I look forward to, this year I am going back to Ohio early. My youngest daughter Amy is building a home and wants mom to help decorate. That is something I enjoy doing and it will be a lot of fun to help her put her new home together. Charlie will follow about 3 weeks later with Winston in the car to keep him company. I will have time to get our summer place opened up and a lot of time to visit with family and friends, and help Amy and the kids get ready for the big move to there new home. Of course I will post pictures of all the decorating that will be going on. It has been 80 degrees and sunny in Florida for the last few weeks and I will be going back to very cool weather in Ohio I have to think about sweatshirts and jackets and things to keep me warm. I am always ready for the adventure of heading north to all that I grew up with. Winter in Florida is like a vacation to me and Ohio will always be my home.
I will be using my laptop computer to do all my blogging up north so I should get it out and practice this thing we call blogging. I had a friend the other day ask me what BLOG stands for and I do not know, I hope one of my fellow blog friends can tell me what the letters do stand for so if someone else ask me I can sound like I know what I am doing.
Of course I am going through pictures to pack for my scrapbook adventure up north and I came across a few pictures of the lake and they made me think of spring and summer and the beach. The pictures are of my granddaughter Lindsey, every once in a while Gram gets the camera out and makes her model. I guess she is to young for it because she can not wait till I am finished and the camera is put away. Sorry Lindsey but this summer we will do the beach model thing one one time. Well it is time to have that glass of ice tea and sit on my front porch and rest. I am tired just thinking of all I have to do...........Till later

Apple Annie

2006-03-10T08:37:00.000-05:00

This is Apple Annie saying hi to all my family and blogging friends. Yes it is true, I went to clown school and at graduation I had to dress in my clown outfit and do a funny skit with a hundred people in the audience. And I did good if I must say so my self because no one will see you, they see the clown. Clown school was not easy to master, you had to learn makeup, face painting, how to make a balloon in to a dog........not easy. Then you had to find a name and an outfit to go with the name. I am Apple Annie so I made a dress with little red apples and used that as my theme. I loved to walk in parades at the Villages, we would go to rest homes and hospitals. I found the hospitals very hard because you had to be with children that had cancer and if you thought you would cry ,you had to leave the room. Well I was out of the room more then I was in it. I found it very tough to do and I dropped out of that part of clowning. For the last two years I have gone to my granddaughters school in Ohio and been Apple Annie. Lindsey always walked around saying have you seen the clown she is my grandma Apple Annie. When she was real little and went to Mc.Donalds she would tell every one that the clown there was her granny, I guess it was the red hair. When you are a clown and walk up to a little one and they cry you back up and leave real fast. You never want to scare a child that could affect them for life. I love this blogging, because all of us get to know each other so well. For now this is Apple Annie saying always be happy.

Grams Little Ones

2006-03-06T14:41:00.000-05:00

My grandchildren and I had are picture taken a while back and we all wore our Ohio State sweat shirts. One of my granddaughter's Sarah received a four year scholarship at OSU ( proud grandmother moment ) she is a freshman and enjoying her first year at collage. Jessica, another granddaughter blessed me with a grate grandchild his name is Tim, but Jess I am way to young for that. Just kidding.......I love being a grandmother just love them and spoil them and give them back to mom. When I am in Florida in the winter I miss them so much and can not wait to return up north and be with them again. Charlie and I have a small place on Lake Erie in Port Clinton Ohio, the beach is right out side our door and the young ones love to come to grams and swim, and go to the playground and play in the sand. It is a fun place to live and I love it there. I will return early this year at the end of March and I may see snow on the sand, but that is ok because I will have all my grandchildren to keep me warm. Pictured above is Sarah, Jess, Lindsey, Gram, Austin, Nick, and Brittany. The picture is two years old so all my little ones have grown up a little but to me they will always be grams little ones.

My Mother

2006-03-03T20:31:00.000-05:00

This a picture of my mother, when I was a little girl I always thought that she looked like a movie star. March 4th. Is her birthday so she is in my thoughts today. She was a beautiful person and is missed by all that new her.

My Memory Shelf

2006-03-03T19:33:00.000-05:00

I have an area in my home that has many memories, it is my memory shelf. I have a picture of my mom and dad, my sister and my self. I lost my dad many years ago, my mother passed away ten years ago and I lost my sister five years ago. I am the only one left in my little family and I miss them every day. On my shelf I have a red glass,and china that belonged to my mother. I have a pocket watch that was my fathers and a glass heart that my sister gave to me. I also have placed three angels on the shelf that represent my love for them. I always feel like they are a part of me when I look at the shelf. I have many happy memories of my family and all the fun we had together. The holidays that we shared and the every day memories that I can look back on. To all of you out there in the blog world that has a mother or father a sister or brother remember to tell them how much they mean to you and how much you love them. If you are lucky enough to have a family enjoy them every day, for all I have left is my memory shelf.
I did not mean to go on and on, my gosh I sound like a preacher well it is time to go out on my front porch and have that glass of ice tea and enjoy the beautiful Florida weather. Till later............Sharon

An Ocean View

2006-03-02T16:26:00.000-05:00

We went on a short four day vacation to Englewood Florida to visit friends who have a condo on the ocean. Of course my camera was in hand and I captured some of God's evening creation of beautiful sunsets. I saw so much of the beauty of the world while I was there, the small flower that was yellow one day and red the next. The sunsets, and after the colors of the sky, the small fragile sea shell on the beach the dolphins playing in the water. All of Gods miracles in one place and what a place to be. I may have to trade my front porch in for another day or two at the oceans edge

The New World Of Blog

2006-03-02T11:59:00.000-05:00

I was only gone a few days, We went to Englewood Florida to visit friends that have a condo on the beach and we had a wonderful time. I found my self looking forward to home and my computer because I miss reading my new friends blogs. I have only been blogging for a month but it is something that grows on you, I use to play silly games on the PC, but now I find myself looking forward to the next post that a friend has published, a new picture or a new person with a new blog. Wow it is fun to meet new people around the world and I so enjoy the pictures of the other countries, the gardens, and the family's of all the new friends that I have come to know. A special thankyou to Judy of Judypatoootie that sent me her blog which I enjoy so much. Through her blog I found others that I enjoy and here I am just blogging away.
There has not been a day that I could not think of something to post on my blog, I look at the blog as a journal of my life and I thank every one who has come over to my front porch for a visit

Let's Take A Walk

2006-02-23T15:37:00.000-05:00

I am going to take you for a short walk through the area I live in during the winter months. The Villages is located one hour north of Orlando, it started out as a small area and has grown in to one of the largest retirement communities in Florida. My walk took us to Sumter Landing, one of the two town squares we have at the time being.
Both town's have shops, restraint's, movie theater's and any thing a person would want. One of the features we have is that the whole Village area is golf cart accessible. Any thing you would need is here, hospitals, grocery store, post office
etc. It is all here. At 5:00 each day the band warms up and the people dance the night away, on my walk I stopped at Nantucket Bay to visit two of my buddies Dana and Debby, they were promoting one of the cute tops in the shop that day. Then on to the water front where I took a little R&R while Winston took time to smell the flowers. I then took a picture of one of the many golf carts out for a ride, they were looking for the tree lined lane that takes you to the area of the Villages where the buffalo roam. I told you we had every thing here a person could look for. On another day I will take my camera with me and take a few more pictures but for now I have to sit for a while and rest on my front porch.... Till later.........

My Little Angel

2006-02-20T13:29:00.000-05:00

A happy birthday wish for my little angel, twenty two years ago on February 18th, a beautiful little girl came in to the world 3 months premature. Her name is Jessica Marie and she weighed 2 lbs 3ozs. She came in to the world at a very busy time in my life, I had just gone through a divorce after what I thought was a happy marriage. I feel that God never closes one door that he does not open another and all the love I had for my ex-husband I now could give to Jessica.
The doctors and nurses told the family if we talked to her and touched her that would take the place of holding her which we were not able to do at the time. She had needles every where and had an heart operation before she was 3 months old
Jessica was a real fighter and was in the hospital for one year. It was a very busy year for the family, I would go to the hospital after I got of work and visit her, I would tell her that some day she would smell the flowers and see the trees and the clouds in the sky.
Her mother Amy was at the hospital every day as was my other daughter Tammy, I have so many stories to tell about that year that I could write a book but one I will mention is Amy falling of a bench while she was visiting Jess one evening. She must have been very tired because she ended up on the floor with a broken arm, of course she was in the right place and help was there fast, we could not hold Jess so she had plenty of time for healing.
Jessica is now a mother of a darling little boy but she will always be my special little angel.

Playing Tag

2006-02-16T18:25:00.000-05:00

Playing Tag
I have been tagged by Kerri so here goes.....

(What were the three things you wanted to be when you were growing up)?

1 Airline Hostess-- Back then it use to be a glamorous job.
2 Teacher
3 Interior Decorator - I hope I grow up soon because I still want to do that one.

(You can relive one day from your childhood, what would it be)?

1 A warm summer day at Silver lake with my family, my mom dad and sister sitting in the yard and enjoying life as is use to be.--All three have passed away and I would love to relive just one day with them.

(You have 2 minutes(and a mover with you if you need heavy lifting help) to grab 5 things from your home before it morphs into a polka dotted hobgoblin and hops away. What will you take)? (Food/drink/family/friends excluded).

1 Family photos
2 Computer
3 Tooth Brush
4 My New Puppy - Hope that does not count as family?
5 My scrapbooks and supplies.- I need to be busy and I can use the family photos for the scrapbook.

(You have to paint one quote on your kitchen wall what will it be)?
1 The Queen does not cook.

(What is the one thing you want to accomplished by the end of the year)?
I want to know how to put my picture on the profile of my blog?
Can any one out there in blog land help me to figure this one out before the end of the year. I am new at this and some things I think I make harder they they really are...............Help

( You are moving to the moon for one year and can only bring one flower with you. What flower will it be)?
1 I would bring a sunflower with me, and use the seeds for food.

( You just received word that beside the one flower you can bring 5 books
What books would you bring)?
1 The Bible
2 Kane& Abel
3 A perfect day
4 Message in a bottle
5 The Lottery - When I think about that question I should take 5 books that I have not read yet. I have read all of the above books.

Tagging 3 lucky people.......
1 judypatoootie
2 meow
3 mimi
Have fun.....

A Few Of My Favorite Things

2006-02-16T15:02:00.000-05:00

The items here are just a few of my favorite things. As I said in some of my other blog posts ( I love any thing that looks vintage or old ) My husband Charlie says that is why I love him so much. I walk into an antique shop or flee market and head right for the vintage look. I fall in love with every thing I see but can only put just so much in my home. So now I look long and hard for that one special object that I just have to get. There is a sign in the boutique that I work in part time that says: Saw it wanted it had a fit got it. That is me and every other women when shopping for clothes, antiques or what ever, we see it and we know.

The above items are a china doll I made years ago and the buggy that I got for Christmas one year. The lady is one of my favorites and was a gift from a friend,
the mustache cup was my grandfathers, and the pictures are of my grandmother and grandfather. These are the things that I treasure and have special meaning to me. It is not just the item I love but the memory that goes with it. When shopping for friends I always look for that one thing that I know they will love and treasure. I can look through catalogs or books and find that one item that would work in that certain place in my home. I enjoy decorating so much that I have taken classes that will help but it has to be something that you enjoy or all the classes in the world will not help. Well it is time to sit on my front porch and look through a few more catalogs. Till later...........Sharon Kay

Little Boy--Little Puppy

2006-02-15T16:23:00.000-05:00

It is a beautiful day in Florida, the sun is shining and it is warm. I thought I had better get back to my scrapbook projects that have been on hold for the last few weeks. It is one of the many hobbies that I have going on at this time. I guess the blog and the scrapbook are in the same class,words and pictures that tell the story of my life. When I worked for the Toledo Public Schools I worked in the Audio Visual Department I would put music together with film, so I guess in a way the job led me to the things I now enjoy doing as a hobby. At times I wish that I were not so stationary and enjoyed the things that would keep me active, but here I am just sitting at the computer or sitting and working on that special layout for the scrapbook. But these are a few of my favorite things, (so sit I will)

This afternoon friends came over with there grandson David to visit the new puppy in our life (Winston) and they were so cute together that of course I had to get the camera out to make a new memory. Another picture and story that tell the story of my life. Now I am going to get that glass of ice tea, sit on my pretend front porch and think about my next blog, and the layout for the next pictures in my scrapbook of life. Back soon...............Sharon K

Happy Valentines Day

2006-02-14T19:43:00.000-05:00

I wish everyone a Happy Valentines Day. I have been so busy this last week with the loss of Simon, and having a new puppy in the house. A lot has happened in one week and I think I am going to make it through it all. I have to get back to what is all most normal. I want to put pictures of my home and the Villages on my post. It has been so sad to read my blog that every one had to get a Kleenex while reading. Only happy stories will you read from now on. I will be back real soon , till then..........Sharon K

A long quiet day at home.

2006-02-10T14:40:00.000-05:00

The last few days all I am doing is thinking of Simon. When I sit down I wait for him to jump on my lap, I get in the golf cart and wait for him to jump in with me. I have a felling that Charlie and I will start looking for another puppy much sooner then we thought. There is a void that we have to fill and I think we will recover better with a puppy here not to take his place but to help us get over the fact that he is never coming back. I am all ready calling adds in the paper, we would like to find one that looks like him. A yorkey or yorkeypooh would fit the bill again, so I guess we are off to look at that little puppy in the window one more time I know that each puppy or dog that a person will have will have its own special personality and that another one will not have all the wonderful traits that Simon had, but will have its own personality that I am sure we will fall in love with again. Wish us luck and soon I hope to be posting a new picture of our new bundle of joy. We saved every think we had for Simon so all the new little one has to do is find us. Till later.......Sharon K

A Very Sad Day

2006-02-09T20:02:00.000-05:00

Two days ago I posted a story and picture of my puppy ( Simon ) that was on Tuesday
Feb. 7th. So sad to say on Feb.8th Simon went to the door to go out side to do his watering job at our big oak tree. He would always go out and go around the tree and come right back in the house. On this day he ran out like always but made a fast run for the street, which he had never done before and got hit by a car ( the car never stoppped ) Ann the lady that we bought Simon from a year ago, came over to the house to see him. Thank God she was here because I lost it and started crying and called for her to come out. Simon did get up and come back to our yard, he was walking like he hurt bad and went to a small tree in our yard and he layed down. Ann came out picked him up and put him in my arms, and we went 70 miles an hour to the vet hospital. On the way to the hospital I just held him and told him how much we loved him while crying. Then he looked at me and died in my arms.

I did not know how attached to a puppy we could get untill he was not here any more. The house now is so empty and quiet. Charlie and I are just heart broken, he was Charlie's buddy and my little baby doll. We already desided when we go up north in the spring we will go puppy hunting again . No other dog will ever take his place but through him I found out what a good friend and companion A puppy or dog can be. We will always love you and miss you so much my dear PUPPY SIMON.

My puppy Simon

2006-02-07T19:30:00.000-05:00

My pictures, originally uploaded by sharonoshana.

A picture of Simon

2006-02-07T19:27:00.000-05:00

I want a puppy, I think Charlie got so tired of me saying I want a puppy that he went along with me and we got Simon. He has been with us for a year and we enjoy him so much. He is a yorkeypooh and has been such a blessed addition to our little family. And of course Charlie loves him as much as I do. A few weeks ago we went to a craft show and Charlie and Simon were standing on a corner waiting for me as I looked around. A photographer came up to Charlie and asked if we would bring him in for a free photo shot. Of course we said yes and this photo is one of them that was taken. My puppy the model on the runway of life.

Fun For All

2006-02-07T13:41:00.000-05:00

My family came to Florida a few weeks ago for a visit. I had a very full house but we all found a place to sleep. We went to Disney for a day and stayed at the Nick hotel in Orlando( It is a wonderful place to go with children)for a few days. Lindsey got a pie in her face and slimed and Austin got his face painted and was on a sugar high most of the time. Brittany and Nick were on there cell phones or instant messaging there friends back home in Ohio most of the time. Oh what fun we had. I enjoyed the time I got to spend with my girls because they are back in Ohio while I spend the winter in FL. I like the Florida weather but would like to be back in Ohio with them, but my better half (Charlie) likes it here. We compromise and go to Ohio in the summer and FL. In the winter. We have a very small place on Lake Erie in the summer and I love it there. The lake and beach are right outside my front door. I will be going back early this year to help Amy decorate her new home. Charlie will drive back with Simon a few weeks later, Simon is my little puppy and of course I will post pictures of him to. Pictures above are Austin and Pooh, Tammy Lindsey and Mickey, and Gram and Lindsey. Till Later..............Sharon K

Tammy & Lindsey

2006-02-07T13:08:00.000-05:00

Pictures, originally uploaded by sharonoshana.

Tammy looks as happy as Lindsey to meet Mickey

Austin & The Mermaid

2006-02-07T13:05:00.000-05:00

Pictures, originally uploaded by sharonoshana.

Are you having fun Austin? Not sure

Mother & Daughter

2006-02-07T13:03:00.000-05:00

Pictures, originally uploaded by sharonoshana.

When did I get this short

Something Old - Something New

2006-02-06T19:47:00.000-05:00

I just redecorated my home and it was so much fun. I went shopping and found a new sofa and chair. I found one that reminds me of something I would have seen in my grandmothers home. My sofa is red with flowers and the chair is tan and red check. Of course I had to get new carpet and paint. It is finished and I am very happy with the look. My decorating is English country with Victorian added. I have many old antiques that have been passed on from my family. They were a part of my mothers life and live on in my home. I I have an old mustache cup that my grandfather use to drink from, candlestick holders, family pictures and beautiful old vases. My home is my haven, my little nest where I can sit and dream about my front porch......Sharon Kay

Something Old - Something New

2006-02-06T19:38:00.000-05:00

My Little Corner Of The World

2006-02-06T09:52:00.000-05:00

I have often pictured myself on a big front porch sitting on a wicker swing,the swing has an old quilt and many soft pillows. Pots of ivy are hanging and a flower box filled with geraniums are under my stained glass window. I am drinking a glass of ice tea with a mint leave in it out of a beautiful old crystal glass. And of course I am reading a wonderful love story.

In reality I have a small front porch on a quiet street in the Villages FL
(But romantic that I am it sure is fun to dream.) I do have a special corner in my home that is just for me, I have a big chair with a throw and pillow and next to it a table with a good book, candles, pictures of family and all of my favorite things.
You can make your home in to what ever you want.

I love ivy and lace and any thing that looks old or vintage. I decorate with English Country with a little Victorian added. I love to go to antique shops and flee markets and if I found an old barn filled with junk I could get lost for hours. I like to collect vintage bottles and old signs, I find that special item and bring
it home where it will have a new life. I am going to post pictures of my little corner of the world on my blog in hopes of finding others to share my love of decorating and the old and vintage.

I will post pictures and stories of my family for all to share. I am sure that I will make many new blogging friends out there in this new world that is opening up to me because of my mentor and friend Judy ( JUDYPATOOOTE.) I have enjoyed her blog and have visited many blogs that she has posted. Be back soon with pictures.
.....Sharon K.