It's a Baby!

Okay, okay, it is the most pathetic little bird nest ever built. Ellen has a tree in her backyard. It is a beautiful old tree that provides great shade on her patio. We noticed earlier this spring that there were the beginnings of a new home just above the back door. We did all we could to encourage the mother to build in a safer place, but she just kept building. She must have been in quite a hurry to finish that house because one day we came home and there she was just sitting.
Well, we watched and watched every day, and on Wednesday of this week, we went out to look, but the mother wasn't on the nest. Then we began to look around, and saw one half of an egg shell! We started looking for a dead baby bird, not thinking that she could possibly be alive. Well, she was! The little thing was in the corner, and Mother Bird was just staring us down. We told her not to worry, that we wouldn't hurt her baby. Sure enough, yesterday we went out and the baby was in one of the planters along the fence. She must have been practicing flying. Congratulations to us! We are now Bird Grannies!

Look closely and you can see the bird sitting on the poor little housing project. After the baby was born (hatched), we could even see right through the nest. Isn't that something? Have a great weekend!

Always Smile At Our Nursie-Pooh

What a fun week this has been for Ellen! She has been Polk's school nurse since 1993! This has been Nurse Appreciation Week. She has felt not only appreciated, but very much loved.

You should see the mountain of cards made by the students. Each day was a special designated day. One day was water day; one was fruit and flowers; one was fun band-aids day; one day was anti-bacterial wipes day, and today is Scrubs Day.

Today is also the last day of this school year for Ellen because she is having a total knee replacement on Monday. Sharon will take her to the hospital at 5:30 in the morning. Her surgery is scheduled for 7 a.m. She is anxious to have this surgery because she hopes to be taller when it is over. (Plus, she really doesn't want to hurt any more.) Any of those who watch her walk will also be happy for her when she doesn't hurt.

The reports of her having severe PMS are actually true!
P: Pedicure on Tuesday
M: Manicure on Wednesday
S: Shampoo/Haircut on Thursday
She had to take care of all of these important things before surgery.

Sharon is at school with her all day today to help cart home all of the good-bye presents, goodies, etc.; also, to give moral support. If we can get through the day without tears flowing, it will be a miracle.

Say a little prayer for us as we walk this new path! Have a great weekend!

A Tribute To Our Moms!

We decided to write a special tribute to our mothers for this special day! Who knew when our moms gave birth to us many years ago (and we do mean many) that a baby girl born to Ferne Ellyn George Vise in Texas, and a baby girl born to Eleanor Laughlin Meyer in Missouri would someday be the closest of friends? We decided that our moms would have liked each other very much. They both had a wonderful sense of humor, a flair for sewing, a deep spiritual life, and a love for family.

Ellen's mother was born on July 28, 1922. She passed away on Novemeber 18, 1985. Sharon's mom was born on December 16, 1921. She passed away on September 3, 2006.

This is the first Mother's Day that Sharon is unable to call or to send flowers to Momma. It has been a hard year of firsts, but we think Mother's Day puts all of our moms in the forefront of our hearts and minds. This first picture is one of Sharon's mom just before she became ill. The one right below shows both parents of Ellen. Both ladies were beautiful, and lived in times when there were special traditions celebrated each week. Sometimes we wonder if they have met each other in Heaven. If so, we know that they would be laughing and having good times.

Sharon's mother was a mother even as a child. She took care of her two younger brothers after her own mother passed away. Always, she had cared for someone else. Sharon and her sister, Janice, were fortunate to be born to someone like her. She is still loved by those she left behind. That includes three granddaughters, and two great grandsons. Even though she is gone, she lives on in all of our hearts.

Ellen's mom died at the young age of 63. She was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's Disease (ALS) and would often joke that when she saw him in Heaven she was going to give him a piece of her mind! She loved baseball like any other respectable St. Louis native, but she thought it quite undignified to have such a terrible disease named for a great baseball player.

Ellen's sister, Carol, had two sons. Several years went by and her mom thought that would be the extent of her grandchildren. Ellen was in the Convent, so there was no hope on that front! Then 1978 rolled around. Carol had another son, Ellen left the Convent, got married, had Nichole in 1979 ..... then Carol had Christine in 1980, and in 1981, here came Joe!! So, in a matter of two and a half years, she went from having two grandsons to having four PLUS two granddaughters. She took great pride in all of them.

Sharon's mom "adopted" Ellen. It doesn't matter how old we get; to have a "mom" in your life is a treasure. Ferne was that special person to Ellen. When she was in the hospital, she would tell people that she had three daughters . . .... two she gave birth to and the blond, she adopted! Ellen was only 36 when her mom passed away. There are still days when she is missed. We thank God for Ferne, who was always there to step in when a hug was needed.

Here's to our moms! Even though they did not know each other here on this Earth, perhaps they are celebrating Mother's Day in Heaven. If you are lucky enough to still have your mom, be sure to call her, give her a hug if you can, or lift a glass in her honor! Our moms live on in the sparkle of our eyes, laughing gently, loving wisely. Moms are the place we came from, our first home, our first love. May you have a very Happy Mother's Day!

Once More Thyme Matters

Wow! Nichole's visit came and went so very quickly that we wonder if time sped up last week!
She arrived on Monday, and left on Friday. In between time, there were visits to old friends, lunch with brother Mark , visits with other family members, and wonderful meals at home, Thyme Matters, and Sharon's house. On Thursday evening, Nichole cooked for Ellen, Sharon, and Joe. (For those of you who know us, you know that Thursday nights are reserved for the beauty shop, both hair and nails.) We do NOT cook on Thursdays. The meal she cooked was delicious, and her mom told her that she was proud of just how domestic she had become.

Here are a few pictures taken during Nichole's visit. They are not in any particular order.
This first one is of Nichole and her mom, Ellen. They are at Sharon's house.

This picture was taken at Thyme Matters, a really great restaurant. The food was outstanding. We all had something different, and it was all DELICIOUS!

After our meal, the owner sent over a beautifully presented Creme Broulet! (That may or may not be spelled correctly.) We all shared it, but first a picture was taken. It was almost too delicious to describe.
This next picture is of Nichole sitting in her mom's office sorting through all sorts of mail that has been forwarded for them. That took quite a while to do!

This last picture is of Nichole, Ellen, and Joe the first evening she was here. Ellen cooked oven fried chicken, and steamed veggies. Yummy!

This last picture is of Ellen and Nichole right after Ellen arrived home on Monday.

We are certain that Nichole will talk more of her visit on her blog. She was a busy girl during the day catching up. All in all, it was a great week, and we hope she enjoyed being here as much as we enjoyed having her for such a short time.

After Mother's Day, is surgery day for Ellen. Keep her in your prayers as she gets a brand new knee! Bye for now.

This Week Is Finally Over!

Hello, everybody, the carpet is finally here and installed! What a week this has been. Those carpet people really caused us to work really hard before Nichole gets here. She just couldn't come home to a home in disarray.
This first picture is a view from the dining room to the living room. (Believe us, EVERYTHING has been cleaned.)

This second one is a view from the office toward the living room. Ellen and Sharon built up the hearth by putting tile around it. It was our first effort at laying tile. We must have gotten better because then we went to Sharon's and put tile in her entryway. (This was a few years back. I am not sure either one of us could do it now.)

This last picture is the view from the front door. The dining room is straight ahead and the living room is to the right.

Sunday is a day of rest! Here's hoping we are able to get some this Sunday! Next week we hope to add some pictures of Nichole's visit.

How Do You Say Thanks?

The past two days have been a blur, not only for Sharon, but for Ellen, too. Sharon is writing this. Today was a big day for me. Both Ellen and I had test procedures done. Mine was an endoscopy and a colonoscopy. Hers were all of the pre-op tests necessary before her total knee replacement in May. Aren't we a pair?

As usual, the preps for my procedures were more involved than the actual tests. If you didn't have to suffer for so long before you get the thing done, it would be easy! But, oh, well, it is all over for now at least. No news about the results, but I think all is well. I don't even remember swallowing the camera!

The reason for writing this is : I want Ellen to know publicly just how grateful I am to her for our wonderful friendship. We have been through lots of things together (both joyous and sad) with both of our families, and through it all, we have built a strong bond. It is a lasting bond, and I am forever thankful to you, Ellen. You are the best-my best friend and confidante. We are a team, and everyone who knows either of us, knows that if one of us is there, the other is just around the corner. We used to sing a song at school, "Best Friends Should Be Together." That's how it ought to be. So, I thank you, Ellen, I thank you for taking me to the doctor, I thank you for helping me with so many other of life's difficult things. Robert Louis Stevenson wrote, " A friend is a gift you give yourself." I gave myself the most wonderful present. Our joys when extended will always increase, and griefs when divided are hushed into peace. I hope everyone is blessed with a loving friend like you!

It's Almost Like Christmas!

Since Sharon still hasn't learned how to put the pictures last, you will see the pictures first!
This is one view of the dining room before going into the kitchen.

Below is a picture of the dining room table and China cabinet.
This one really shows off the floor. Isn't it pretty?

This is another view of the dining room taken from the hall.

Do you remember the excitement you felt growing up when it was almost Christmas? That same look and excitement is in the air for Ellen. Since she bought her home in 1998, she has been talking about one day getting wood floors for her entry way and dining room. We haven't written anything in quite awhile because we both have been working very hard preparing her home for the new floor. (We have decided that you might as well move when you get new carpet, or any type of new floor.) Everything must be packed up. That means all of the glasses, and things that were in her China cabinet, ALL of the things on ALL of the shelves in her entertainment center, everything !

The only things that we didn't move were the heavy things that neither of us had any business moving. The crew did a wonderful job moving things for her. Sharon stayed at Ellen's while the crew came to begin work on the new all wood floor. Where was Ellen, you ask? At work, of course! I have long told her that she has the uncanniest way of slipping out of work. (I'm teasing, of course!) When it is time to do the dishes, she has to go to the bathroom, and conveniently returns after the job is almost done. (Carol, I felt great empathy for you when you all were growing up! She does have this way about her of getting people to do things. I guess that is what makes her so engaging. People love to be around people like that.)

The new floor is absolutely gorgeous. She is completely happy with the look and feel of it. The past two days have been spent washing all of those things that had to be moved and returning them to their correct places. Wednesday, the new carpet arrives for the living room, and the excited look in her eyes will continue, not only because of the new floors, but because Nichole arrives the next week for a visit. Nichole will arrive to a new look, and a very clean house! Merry Christmas in April! Fa la la la la, la la la la!

Thyme Matters

A couple of days during the school year, students, teachers, and staff are dismissed at noon. We always take advantage of those days to go out to lunch. It makes the day seem special. Joe, Ellen's son, has been telling us about this little place called Thyme Matters. We asked him earlier in the week about going with us some evening for drinks. We decided to do that a little later in April. Well, when we were trying to figure out where to go for lunch, we decided we'd give this little place a try. OH MY..... it was wonderful. The food was great, it was quiet (even though most tables were full), the service was good and of course a good glass of wine added to the enjoyment. THANKS JOE! The ambiance made us have a longer than usual lunch. It was just delightful to sit quietly and talk.

We'll still go there one evening with Joe.....and perhaps Nichole? Paula, when are you coming to town next?

March Madness Is Finally Over!!

To most people, including us, March Madness refers to the NCAA basketball season finale. We did watch many of the games and yelled for our favorite teams. ( In case you haven't figured it out yet, we like most sports.) But this March held lots more madness than usual! It seems Sharon was going to doctor visit after doctor visit. The final ones actually turned out quite positive with good news. That put a few worries to rest. Ellen did not have one Saturday at home during the whole month!! The first Saturday she worked the District Science Fair at UTEP. We left town the next Saturday for our trip during Spring Break and we were still out of town the following Saturday. The next Sat. was spent working the UIL speech/math Middle School competition held at Guillen Middle School and then last Sat. was the UIL competition for the 4A High Schools held at Burgess H.S. This Saturday she is SLEEPING IN!!!

Perhaps there will finally be time to work outside with the plants...sounds like a relaxing way to spend April!

April Has Already Brought Some Surprises!

Wow, March went by very fast. It actually went out like a little wimpy lamb. Spring Break is over, and now the kids will be making that final push to finish out the school year. In Texas this year, the students will actually have a longer than usual summer. The state has decided that no district may begin the school year before that last Monday in August. Therefore, August 27 looks like the day that the students will come back. That also means that the year won't end until June.

April is going to bring another round of tests for Sharon. Can anybody say, "Endoscopy AND Colonoscopy?" She can hardly wait to swallow that little camera. (UGH!)

April will also bring a series of appointments for Ellen getting ready for that all important knee replacement surgery in May. Everything will happen so fast.

On Monday of this week, the excitement in the neighborhood brought the discovery of a neighbor who was found dead in her home. The WEIRDEST thing about that is that no one had seen her , or heard from her in more than a year. They actually think that it was probably 15 months. She lived as a recluse building a fortress around her home. She was estranged from family members. She even had a son! Can you imagine not being in touch with your mother for more than a year? (Sharon can't get lost for 30 minutes without Ellen on the warpath looking for her.) The lady was partially mummified. Her two little dogs were also found dead with her. Those of us who saw her on rare occasions tried to be friendly, but she would have none of it. We feel really bad about the situation, but we were helpless to find a way to help her. She apparently died the way she wanted to die, and her home became her tomb. May she rest in peace!

We hope everyone has a blessed Easter!