Greetings everyone,

I don't write Christmas letters but if I did write one this year mine would say:

I didn't visit China but I did go to the Hong Kong Buffet.

I didn't go to New York City on a shopping spree but did check things out at Walmart.

I didn't make it to a 5 star restaurant but I did go to the new Cracker Barrell one mile from my home.

I didn't pay off my mortgage  but I did pay off my car.

I didn't loose weight but I didn't gain weight either.

I didn't find a cure for cancer but I did discover coconut oil.

I didn't find world peace but I did find peace in my world.

Happy Holidays everyone.

Queen Rose Mum

PS: My grandsons are smarter  than yours.

      November and Thanksgiving reminds me that I have a  lot to be thankful for. Reflecting on past holidays is bittersweet at times. As years go by and family and friends no longer gather at the table. This is when warm memories can truely fill our heart. Reminiscing is a lasting joy.

     Growing up in WV I have many memories of my paternal grandmother who had a small farm and raised turkeys, cows, and pigs. The fall was slaughtering time. I can still see the beef hanging from the tree in the back yard. Often it snowed at Thanksgiving. Grandma had 9 children so the house was always full. My mother cooked the dinners at grandmothers and I was the official stuffing taster. I would taste the moist uncooked stuffing oozing with butter and turkey fat and tell her if the dressing needed more salt or sage. She would make me a patty and fry it for for me to eat at breakfast time. I still make patties with left over dressing and fry it. I love the crisp edges.

     A few years ago my husband Don woke up very early on Thanksgiving morning and put the turkey in the the oven before I was awake. When I got up around 8:00am I discovered the trukey was done. We were eating alone that day so I got busy and fixed the trimmings and we ate Thanksgiving dinner around 9:00 am that day. I still laugh when I think about it.

     I am thankful for many things this holiday, my health, my family, and all my wonderful friends. Have a blessed thanksgiving.

Hello Everyone,

     I have not been here much in the past few months. Life happens. I am now a full time caregiver because my husband is entering moderate stage of Alzheimer's disease. Here is a poem I wrote that expresses some of my feelings.

Alzheimer's Disease

I have found an uninvited guest in our home.

Oh, at first she was sly like a fox,

Showing up briefly but with slow determination.

Then little by little snatching away what was ours.

Now I find myself alone with you beside me and this unwanted guest.

You are with me but I miss you, alive but not here.

Here but gone at the same time.

Such an ambiguous loss.

There is no closure like in death.

Each day I grieve over another loss and your former self.

Then feel guilty because it is not all about me.

I am letting go, hanging on

And at the same time, trying to live with ambiguity.

Hello all,

    What can I say about August?  Apparently nothing happens in August. You can't get a day off because there are no real holidays in August. It is not the hotest month of the year. July is. It is not vacation month. July is. August makes us realize that the peak of summer is behind us. Gardens start to wither along with the summer days.

If you saw a heat wave, would you wave back?

August is deep summer when laziness finds repectability.

A brilliant sunflower

Flaunts it's head

Amist the ripening grain

And adds her voice to the song

August is here again.

If we got rid of August, would we miss it?

Red Hat Hugs and kisses, Lois Queen Rose Mum

When I was younger, I swore that I never dye my hair but now I realize that blonds really do have more fun.

I swore I would never buy Mrs. Smiths pies but now I think they taste like homemade.

I swore that I wouldn't put the heat on when it is 70degrees but we are having a cold snap here in FL.

I swore I would never tell my sons to call me more but they should call me more.

I thought I wouldn't spoil my grandchildren but what are grandchildren for if not to spoil.

I hated it when my mother would close the drapes instead of letting in the sunshine but now I understand. You don't see the dust bunnies if the drapes are pulled.

I swore I would never wear clothes too young for me but I am young, just in an old body.

I am more like my mother everyday. I guess I am getting older but I refuse to grow up.

   March means means spring. Winter ends with March and in comes spring. I love spring! The sap flows in the trees again, buds begin to appear, and up north you start looking for the first robin, a true sign that spring has arrived. 

   The coming of spring gives us all a new beginging. Spring restores my hope.

                                 This year's at spring

                                 And day's at the morn.....

                                 God's in the heaven...

                                 All's right with the world.

                                               Robert Browning

 In closing, don't do too much spring cleaning. Go fly a kite intead.

February is the month of love. Since we celebrate Valentines on February 14th, I thought I would share some of my favorite love poems or words that others have written about love.

Two Things

 Can not alter,

Since time was, nor today.

The flowing of water,

And love's strange, sweet ways.

                                                   A Japanese lyric

Love is friendship set to music. Pollock

My heart Has Love

The sea has its pearls

The heaven its stars....

But my heart, my heart

My heart has its love.

                                                     by Heinrich Heine

Taken from my journals over the years: 1967 Love is forever. 1974 Love is !!!!!! 1979 Love is a comfortable feeling. 1985 Love is unsure. 1989 Love is hard. 1990 Love is blind. 1993 Love is complicated. 1996 Love is hard. 1999 Love is smothered with piles of nothing. 2003 Love is hard. 2006 Where has the love gone?

Happy Valentine's Day

Queen Rose Mum

Today I called Hatquarters because I forgot my username for my second red hat chapter that  I started in November. For security reasons I was asked the name of my first boyfriend and quickly the name Eddie Smith came to mind. This started my wondering all day, "Whatever happened to Eddie Smith?"

In 1952 Eddie was one of the boys in my first grade class. Each day after school I would run as fast as I could to the street corner where the local policeman would stop traffic for the children to cross. If I  could make it to the policeman, I was safe but if Eddie caught me, he would kiss me and at six years old that was yucky!

I took a lot of teasing from my older sister and brother over Eddie Smith. I can remember hiding his school picture behind my sister's dresser. Also I remember the card and present he gave me for my sixth birthday. On the outside of the card it said, "Hello Gorgeous!" and inside a girl wearing a hat with a big yellow feather popped out at you. The present was "Moma's Little Helper"- a red metal carpet sweeper.

It strikes me funny that I can't remember my username from two months ago but have so many vivid memories of Eddie Smith, my first grade classmate, dancing partner and boyfriend from 1952. I moved away in the second grade and never saw Eddie again. I wonder whatever happened to Eddie Smith. 

I quit fighting! I give up! I give in.

When I downsized and moved to Florida I decorated the guest room with palm trees and matching bedding. In the begining it was a very calm, relaxing guest bedroom. Then 3 years ago I joined the RHS. I thought the guest room would be a good place to put my RH clothes, shoes, purses and hats. I also started to use the chest of drawers by putting my RH jewelry, gifts, cards and pictures I received. Then I bought a standing hat rack for the corner of the room for the overflow of hats and boas. Next I received a singing bear which I put on the shelf above the bed, then 2 other bears and 2 tassel dolls were given to me. The shelf is now full of RH items. There are 4 hat boxes beside the hat rack and a RH Mardi Gras mask. There are RH books in the nightstand.

Last year I formed 2 RH chapters, the RH Rosebuds and Queens at play plus I joined 2 virtual groups from the QMB, Women of Webkins and Friendship Roses. This lead to a collection of roses, tiaras and a Webkins black and white cat called Mistea Rose.

My group also does crafts so in the room is a RH cigar purse, bra purses, wine glasses we painted with rosebuds, and a lighted glass box to name just a few things. The closet is full. The dresser is full. The shelf is full. The walls have pictures of me with my groups and a RH painting I did. For Christmas I received a beautiful RH lamp.

I never wanted a red hat room but I see now that the room has a mind of it's own. It is what it is. I think it is time to take down the palm tree wall paper and go shopping for red and purple bedding.

I quit fighting! I give up! I give in! I HAVE A RED HAT ROOM!

How did the guilt riddled tradition of New Year's Resolutions get started anyway? Whose idea was it? Istead of resolving for next year, why don't you pat yourself of the back for all you accomplished this past year. Celebrate life! You did good.

A New Year's Resolution goes in one year and out the other.

This year I am making resolutions I am tempted to keep:

I resolve to spend more time on the QMB2.

I resolve to eat dessert first.

I resolve to eat more chocolate.

I resolve to spend hours in Webkinzland.

I resolve to eat out more.

I resolve to do less laundry and wear more deoderant.

I resolve to play more and work less.

I resolve to commit random acts of silliness.

I resolve to hide my Visa bill so my DH won't know what I spent on hats.

I resolve to read less because I am on the computer more.

I resolve to gain weight and not worry about it.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE