Rancho San Rafael Park and Wilbur May Arboreturm

This past Wednesday we took a little excursion to the most lovely park and arboretum near the University here in Reno with our dear friends Bill and Ruth....It was a beautiful fall day before the storms headed in..thought I would share a few pictures!

We had a wonderful morning and a lovely walk...Thanks for visiting!

Monday

Good morning it's a cloudy cool morning here north of Reno...it's supposed to be close to 80 today, but I don't think it's going to make it...I woke up about 6;30, had my coffee, and went back to bed.  Carl had left early to head down to the VA for his flu shot, so I thought what the heck, get a little more shuteye...He came home without his flu shot because it's Columbus Day and the VA is closed.  Well, never thought about that! So he will try again on Wednesday, and I will also get mine at CVS, I have a prescription to pick up and will just get mine there.  Easier than calling and making an appointment at the doctor, that's for sure.  I have Medicare as my Primary insurance and they cover it regardless of where I get it.  We get our flu shots every year, there's a lot of controversy about getting it or not getting it, but we do.  I have a chronic illness and the flu would probably hospitalize me.. Ain't no one got time for that!

We are getting our Fall on here at the Boyack's.. I haven't decorated for a holiday for a few years, just too depressed and busy, and no grandkids close enough to enjoy.  Grandkids probably won't see our home now until Thanksgiving, but I decorated for Fall, not just Halloween and Thanksgiving.  Trying to cover all bases.  Here are a few pictures of my efforts..Could use a little more here and there but I think I am going to call it done!

Just enough to make it feel like the fall season we love.

We had lunch today with our good, dear friends Ruth and Bill today at Bordertown, our local casino.  Their restaurant is really good, food is good and at a fair price, so we go nearly every Monday or Tuesday for $1 tacos.  Of course, no one felt like tacos today, so we all had cheeseburgers off of the senior menu.. very good.. Usually our mutual friends Marcie and Rob join us, but they were busy today boarding a cruiseship in L.A. so we had to forge ahead.  I'm sure their lunch was just as tasty!

We are going with Ruth and Bill to the Rancho San Rafael county park on Wednesday to walk through the arboretum there, they have told us the fall colors there are a must-see..I will be posting pictures from our walk.

I'm TRYING to get my blog going again.  For the most part, I don't feel like I have a voice.  My blog is not specific like a homemaking or sewing blog, it's just me.  I so hope I find my voice again, please leave a comment,  I like to know if it's even being read anymore!

Have a fab evening!
 

The Day My Music Died

I've been wanting to write about this for a while, I don't know if this will sound like I need to 'grow up' or what, but I along with many, many others are still mourning the passing of an Icon this past January, Glenn Frey, one of the masterminds of the classic rock band The Eagles. Glenn passed away on January 18, 2016 in New York of complications of pneumonia and intestinal problems that had plagued him for a long, long time.. He was only 67 years young. Glenn left a beautiful wife, Cindy and three children.

With Glenn's passing, my dream of seeing the Eagles perform in person died.  The first time I heard the Eagles music was in 1972..I was fresh out of high school, listening to all kinds of music of the day, but their hit "take it easy" turned out to be one of my lifetime favorite songs. 

 
As the band became more famous, opportunities to see them perform In person for some reason didn't come along for me...time went along, I became involved with my husband, got engaged and married and had my first son.  The Eagles were probably not Carl's first choice of a band to go see, although he didn't not like them...Carl is 8 years older than me, so the bands he grew up with into young adulthood were a little before my time..

There is this magic time between high school and settling down where your life goes along with the music you listen to, I believe.  My music was Glenn Frey, Don Henley and the Eagles.

 

Then the Eagles broke up around 1980..According the Glenn and Don, they would get together again "When Hell Freezes Over"..well, about 15 years later, by damn, Hell Froze Over and they got back together once again.  In fact, the tour was called the "Hell Freezes Over Tour".. I was so excited they were once again making music.  I bought the CD and about wore it out listening to it as I shuffled the boys to soccer practice those couple years.  Why did I not go to a concert, they were touring again.  I don't know. 

Life got in the way, the boys were growing older and leaving the home.. We moved several times trying to find the right fit for our retirement.. We never went to see the Eagles in Concert; there was always going to be time.  Then on January 18, 2016, time ran out.

I recently read that Don Henley said the only way the Eagles would perform again would be with Glenns son Deacon playing with the band as he is quite good on his on accord.  If that happens, I am GOING.  It won't be quite the same.  But it would be good to listen to them play the good songs that keep running through my mind and my music on my phone.

Something about listening to the Eagles, especially Glenn's voice, has been very soothing to me as we have transitioned into our new home, and helped me deal with the loss of my siblings and dad, and mom.  It makes me feel good.  Oh, I listen to other bands, but it is the Eagles and Glenn Frey who were the music of my life. 

Anger

I need to write, and where better than my blog.  I have not been consistent with writing, I felt like I lost my blogging voice a few years back, maybe it's due to not being able to keep things straight enough in my head to put to pen and 'paper'.  I don't know.. I am making a vow to myself to write more consistently this fall and get back INTO the habit.

I want to talk a little bit about the anger I have.  I haven't written much about it but I've really lost my family.  I guess they aren't family if it's there to lose.  My mom passed in April, I no longer have a sister and my brother really doesn't speak to me.  My dad is now living in Illinois with my sister, although he's been in a nursing home since about a week after he got there.. he took a fall and had pneumonia.. Gee, if he was going to get put in a nursing home why didn't he just stay near my brother, who lives in Southern California.  At least then I would probably get to see him again.  Because I was ill and could no longer do the daily care for my invalid mom and fragile dad, I've been bullied and harassed online by this ex sister.. I finally had to block her phone number the other day, one text too many.

Found out this evening through a mutual friend that the wedding ring my mom gave me for safekeeping a year or so ago, and had to return to my dad after she passed, is now going to be remade for my ex sister. She posted this news online.. This makes me so sad.  My dad told me he was going to have it re made and give each of us something of my mom.  I don't have much from my mom, a few things she gave me about a year or so ago..  Everything else got packed up and moved or given away to other relatives.

I don't really even know why I am writing this.  I just need to write.  or scream.  or something.  Thanks for listening.

Heavenly Blue

Heavenly Blue..

This is a sad post for me, so I will make it short..I just found out a long time friend from my high school days' son in law passed away suddenly yesterday, I don't know the details and I don't need the details..All I know is that a young wife, two pre teen children and many family members and friends are sad and in need today.  I know that he is in Heaven now and that is comforting in a way..I'd like to post a few images of how I am feeling and thinking today...

 

I am linking up to Jeanne at Backyard Neighbor today, thank you for visiting me, and please stop by and visit Jeanne and some of the others who post on Blue Monday...May God bless and keep you each and every one..

Fathers

I thought I would write a little about the fathers I know.. Each has a story to tell..

My Dad.  My dad was born in 1929 in Minneapolis, MN.  When he was a teenager, his parents, my grandparents, moved to Hollywood, CA.. They followed other family members out to the 'Promised Land as California was known then.  Not so much a wonderland now, but in the 40's it was the place to go.  My grandparents followed my Nana's parents, along with my great aunt and her son.  So a big family together, they made the move.  After my dad was done with high school, he enrolled in the Merchant Marines.  I get a little fuzzy on dates and such, but I do know that he eventually was in the Army and served in the Korean Conflict from 1950-1953.  He married my mom on December 24, 1950, and I, their firstborn, came along on June 21, 1953, followed by a sister in November, 1959 and a brother in May, 1963.  My dad was a bartender by trade, it served him well for the most part and he continued working until he was nearly 80 years of age, part time then, of course..Now he is a widower, losing my mom just this past April..he is frail and has taken several bad falls, none of which have YET produced a broken bone, thank Goodness. He can no longer live by himself, and I think the plan is too have him go live with my sister in Illinois, although I'm really not sure of anything anymore.

My husband.  My husband was born in 1945 in Pasadena, California...He grew up in that same town, and he served from 1966-1969 in the Army in Vietnam/South Korea.  I met Carl in 1976 at work, we were married in April, 1977 and have now been married for 39 years.  We have two wonderful sons, Dan and Scott, two lovely daughters in law, and Scott has two little ones, Gracie is 5 and Jackson is 4.  They keep us all hopping!  I am so lucky to have found such a great fella.  He has always been there for me, in good times and in bad times, and of those we have had a few.  We both have health problems now in our older years, but we just keep at it.  We recently moved to Reno, NV to be closer to our grandchildren, who live east of Sacramento, CA.. a much shorter drive from here as opposed too the 9 hour drive we were having to drive. We are loving our new home in Reno and look forward to many years of love, happiness and maybe some travel tossed in there!

 



Another awesome dad I'd like to mention is our son Scott.  He is married to his lovely wife Melainie since 2009, and have two children, Grace Lily, 5 and Jackson Scott, 4.  Scott is a hard worker with a good work ethic.  That is so important.  He and Melainie do a lot of fun things with their kids, playing at the park, going to ballgames, swimming in their pool...they are a busy young family on the go, go and go.  We are proud of the dad he has become!

I wish all the dads out there a very Happy Father's Day!

I am linking this up to Beverly's Pink Saturday Please stop by and check out all the Pinkies and say hello to our Beverly for all the hard work she does every Saturday!  Oh, and please let me know you stopped by here by leaving a comment!

Pink Saturday

I have not posted for Pink Saturday for a few years, still trying to get my blogging mojo back, thank you for visiting!  And a big thank you to Beverly at How Sweet the Sound..  she has a beautiful blog and just celebrated 8 years of Pink Saturday!  Please stop by to visit some of the wonderful blogs that participate.

The best PINK I have is my granddaughter and last Saturday was her 5th birthday.. I can't believe Gracie is 5 years old, I first announced her birth on my blog way back then..

She's Here, Meet Grace Lily

Here are a few pictures we took at her party. .She is finishing up pre school this summer, and will be in Kindergarten in the fall.. Her brother is only a year behind her, so they both really are growing up fast..

A fun time was had by all..even Jack, who doesn't look too happy, but he was having fun, too.

Have a wonderful weekend, it's HOT here in Reno...high close to 100 tomorrow..it does cool down nicely at night, once the sun goes behind the mountains, the temps drop like a rock..so nice to be able to open windows and get a nice cool breeze in the evenings..

A Red, White and Blue Monday

Greetings on Memorial Day, 2016!  I hope you all are having a good holiday, but most of all I hope everyone is remembering the reason for this day, honoring those military members who we have lost.. 

I am linking up to Jeanne's Blue Monday.  Please stop by and see all the blues for today, and say hi to Jeanne!

Carl and I normally would be at our city's Memorial Day gathering, but since we have now moved, we will need to start a new tradition here in the Reno area.. I have been at our son and daughter in law's home the past couple weeks helping with the grands, just got home Saturday evening so didn't have time to research local events.  Next year for sure!

I thought I would share a few images I found on Pinterest with some 'blue'.. more appropriately, today, red, white AND blue!

and one new blue, for us

 



That's about it for today, it has been a quiet holiday for us..Thank you for stopping by, would love It if you would leave a comment!

Blue Monday

I've decided to join the gang over at Backyard Neighbor for the weekly Blue Monday, joining my dear long time friend Anne, who blogs at Phamilyblog..

What on earth can I post for Blue Monday...let me go through some pictures...then maybe I can come up with a theme..

Grandson Jack gathering flowers

Frenchman's Lake, CA 

 Great nieces and nephews at Moonrocks

 Carl and I at Moonrocks with our Razr

 Grandgirl Gracie taking a picture

 This artwork is named Sassy, love the blue scarf!

 Enjoying ice cream with Mimi

Nevada Highway Patrol Car

 

Well, I've enjoyed visiting with you today, be sure and link up and also go read some great blogs!

 

Barb