Cuckoo Buds 3 Column

Showing posts with label Holidays. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Holidays. Show all posts

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

* * * * * * * Happy 4th of July * * * * * *

I hope everyone enjoyed our lovely 4th of July!  What an honor we have in our country, I think the greatest country in the world, to freely celebrate our National Independence!


Our Nation is so very blessed!  We wake up every day, go to the job of our choice, make as much money as we want to work hard to acquire, provide for our families in the manner in which we would like.  We are schooled for free until we graduate from High School, able to attend a number of different trade schools, colleges or universities - that in and of itself is tremendous!  How many people came, and are still coming, some at great cost both monetarily and physically, just for that right alone?

Let's face it, almost every one of us has an immigrant background!  But at the end of the day, whether we have become Naturalized or born here, WE ARE AMERICANS!


It's up to all of us, parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, all of us, to teach our little ones exactly what this means.  We have freedom and liberty today because of the brave men signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well that they would loose every thing they owned, every one they loved, their very lives!






Every single man who sign this document, that some would crumble up and throw away, died horrible deaths, lost their love ones, wives, children - every thing they worked for FOR US! What greater sacrifice could another man give to his countrymen?  I think there is no greater gift.




We have so many rights, so many liberties, so many freedoms, I pray we are honorable enough, strong enough, wise enough to keep them!  Do you realize, or do your children or grandchildren know, that people in other countries are imprisoned or punished by death for worshiping Jesus Christ?  For believing there is only one living God?  Some for believing in any god, some for not believing in a god not of their choice?   Do you have to believe in our country? No - that too is your right!



Just as the Signers of the Declaration of Independence, as General George Washington and our country men and women believed in, fought for, died for, I for one am grateful each and every day for those who have fought, died and won our battles to keep us free!




For those who are still in our Military Services, "Thank you for your service to our country.  My family and I appreciate you, we thank you for standing on the front lines protecting our freedom, our very way of life."  To those families who have someone in the Branches - "Thank you for your service to our country.  While not on the front lines, you are the one supporting your service person, keeping the home fires burning, raising the children of soldiers.  You and your family make the sacrifice every day for all of us.  And please know, my family and I thank you and appreciate you and your sacrifices."

So - while we are shooting off fireworks, sparklers - gosh that reminds me of when I was three years old - honestly!!  Please remember after the BBQ's, time on the beaches, or in the stadiums watching big shows, our country is very fragile right now.  We all need to work hard to keep our flag raised, to make sure our freedoms and liberties are not stolen from us one bit at a time, be proud of our country, work hard to keep it free, work with one another.



Blessings,
Donna

Monday, May 28, 2012

God Bless Our Fallen And Their Families ~

Today is a very special day for all of us.  A day for us to remember our fallen Soldiers.  These brave men, and women, gave their ultimate gift for us ~ for our freedom, our liberty, for our country ~ The best country in the world!
There are parades, flags placed on graves, flowers placed next to photos, picnics, BBQ's, family gatherings in the parks.  The Holiday however was not set up to just be another day off, another day for fun in the sun or meant for us to just carry on without remembering the sacrifices made for us to even be able to have the opportunity to celebrate this holiday and all of the other holidays we are able to freely partake in.
This is also a day to thank all of the husbands and wives, mothers and fathers, children, brothers and sisters of all of our fallen.  Thank you for your service to our country!  They have lost so much, sacrificed right along side of their Hero.   
God Bless our Hero's!
God Bless the U.S.A.!

Blessings,
Donna


Sunday, May 13, 2012

As Mother's Day Comes To A Close ~

I thank all of my wonderful friends who wrote personal notes to wish me a Happy Mother's Day.  To all of us on our blogs wishing each other a blessed and lovely Mother's Day, I pray you all had a good day.  A day filled with love, or memories of love.  Some of us, our sweet Mother's have passed on to Heaven, for some we look in to Mom's eyes and remember all the heavenly things she did for us. Others of us were blessed with Moms, AND Grandmas, Aunties, big Sisters or good Friends and have many to be thankful for today!

Some of us are blessed with little ones who make cards, or pictures, or have gifts for us to open.  Some of us are still waiting for the miracle of life one day.  Some of us have raised our children, and are watching them become wonderful Moms (and Dads!) and we now have wee ones that call and wish us "Happy Mother's Day, Grandma!"

How blessed we are indeed this opportunity of celebrating today!

My very first Mother's Day was May 10th, 1970, two days after the birth of my daughter.  As I held her that day, I thanked our precious and heavenly Lord for the blessing I'd received and asked for His guidance as I held her so close to me.  I whispered, "I love you, my sweetie,."  As she slept in my arms, I cried tears of joy!

I received a call today and was serenaded with a 'Happy Mother's" song and when I asked to hear it one more time, please?  My eldest son's entire family joined in and sang both verses!  When we said "Good~Bye and I Love You" I cried (I cry when I'm happy!)  My son also made a surprise visit on Friday and stopped by and joined us for a quick dinner on Friday!  He was on his way home after being away from his family, and I was so thankful for his personal wishes for a Happy Mother's Day!

My Sweetie and I slept in today, and he awoke with banging on the front door.  He was handed this from our youngest son and his beautiful wife, who live states away!
For me, the love of family, I love you's, hugs and kisses, songs from the children, pictures and cards, happy memories ~ not just today, but every day, I am most thankful for.  I've come to know so many wonderful people here in Blogland, and I know these are the things that are most important to you as well.  As one of our bloggy Sisters said today, 'I remember when Mom would say "always wear clean under panties, you never know when you'll get in to an accident!"  Or "If everyone else jumped off the bridge, would you jump, too?"  I know you remember these, too!  How about this one ~  my dear Uncle Fred used to say, "you always hang your hangers over the bar and all in the same direction!"  Why you ask?  Well, what if there was a fire!!??  I guess in the old, old, old, old, old days, it took longer for the houses to burn!  Oh, and just in case you're wondering, every single hanger, in every single closet is hung OVER the bar - no, no, I'm not rescuing any clothes if there's a fire!   Me, I'm making sure before I run out the door I have clean panties on!  Just sayin'!

This is my favorite, my sweet loving Granny, who was one of the most important people in my life, use to say, "Watch out who you are friends with - birds of a feather, flock together!"  As I grew up, I learned what she meant.

I'm glad we're all in the same flock!  Chirp, chirp!

Love to each and every one of you Chicks!
Blessings, and hugs,
Donna

Saturday, April 21, 2012

Gifts That Remind Us Of Love

As I cleaned and straightened after the Easter Holiday and packing away all of the decorations, towels and miscellaneous eggs and bunny items, I came across our favorite gifts given to us this year. 

I've shared with you many times our little granddaughter's loving hand made gifts, and this holiday was no exception!  And ~ these really are 'hand made' gifts!

These Easter Lilly's are an outline of her little hands, traced around the edges with yellow for definition, signed inside, "Happy Easter 2012 Elise" with a yellow pipe cleaner for a stamen.  

Each one sits on a straw and  has a vase made of a toilet paper roll, covered with tissue paper.  I just couldn't pack this away, so it sits next to the fireplace for now.  Sitting with it is this darling little book ...
Our crafter really took some time creating Grandpa's Shooting Star Flip Book.  I have to tell you, this girl has the crafting gene!  She loves crafting and she's got quite an imagination!  The 'Ultimate Crafter' can begin a project and complete it using almost nothing but her God given talents, and she already qualifies!  This book is pages and pages long, bound with tape, like a real book, and stapled so it won't come apart!  And - it actually tells a story!  Here is a brief version of the book ~ ~


The 'Shooting Star' as it begins it journey across the vast oceans of space from way far away ...



Skip ahead several pages to the shooting star entering Earth's atmosphere!  Look at the detail of the star's tail and the continents and oceans of Earth!

Closer, ever closer . . .

Grandpa sees the shooting star!  Do you see the Man in the Moon in the upper right hand corner?  And, take notice of Grandpa's face (click on the photo) as the shooting star gets ever closer . . .

Uh-oh , closer . . .

Aaaah!!!!!

Always wish upon a star, as Wishes Do Come True!!!

Is this the sweetest book ever?  Thank you, Elise!  You bring so much joy and love into our lives, into our hearts.  All of our grandchildren and children do, but you always make sure you bring us a little something to look at, to hold in our hands!  We love you, Sweetie!

Our older grandchildren use to do the same - in fact, I hang Christmas ornaments every year that my children, Connie, Albert and Jeff, made for me while growing up!  From Ryan and Jeff, Connie's boys who are already grown, and now from Albert's children.  There's no greater joy then the gift of Grandchildren!

I hope you are all having a wonderful weekend!  We are enjoying a weekend of 90+ degrees before another round of storms next week.  Although it's only supposed to get 25 degrees cooler, so a warm rain this time!

Blessings to all, and thank you for taking a look at my treasures.  I'd love to hear what your children and grandchildren make for you!

Hugs,
Donna

Sunday, April 15, 2012

Easter - A Tad Late In Posting!

Hi Everyone!  Sorry to be so late in blogging about Easter and being off the computer for a week ~ Right after Easter festivities, I left to take care of the little ones at their home.  The school they attend takes the week after Easter off instead of the week before ~ Anyway, please indulge me while I show my Easter off!

In addition to being one of the two most important holidays for me as a Christian, growing up we always looked forward to Easter as it was the beginning of Spring in California.  Days were warmer, drier and sunny!  I loved the times growing up, going to Mass, then heading over to Granny and Baba's house and meeting up with all of our cousins.  There were hundreds, it seemed, but really only about 15 of us kids, sometimes more depending on family friends who joined in.  Granny's home was open to everyone, and there was always enough food, no matter how many came!

That's where I learned my love of cooking, from my Granny.  This year, it was rather quiet with just my sweetie and me, our daughter in law, and the wee ones.  No problem though, whether 2 ~ 6 ~ or 16, we eat a great meal and have lots of fun!

Little Leila is always ready for eating - no matter what meal it is, just say, "It's ready, come to the table!" and she is the first up there and ready to eat!

Along with a nice pork loin roast, and a nice big turkey!  All three kids wanted a leg - a - ever seen that three legged turkey?  Grandpa to the rescue!  Top part of the wing is pretty close and just the right size for this little one!
Yep, our grand kids are carnivores!  Elise really enjoyed hers, too!  And Isaac - he started with the pork roast and by the time he got around to the turkey leg - well, there wasn't any room - not that he didn't enjoy dinner!
Notice that bowl of Grandma's home made sour dough stuffing next to him?  This guy loves Grandma's cooking, for sure!  I can't believe he's another one who is almost as tall as I am!

Mom and Grandpa thought dinner was finger lickin' good!

Easter Sunday turned out to be one of those grand sunny, warm days.  Blue skies, great temps so Karla and my sweetie did the egg hiding for the Egg Hunt.  "It's because the Real Easter Bunny is really busy and they don't have time to really get the eggs hidden for everyone!  Sometimes he must need the help, cause it's not magical like Christmas, ya know, Grandma?"  Well, I know now, Miss Leila!

This year, Leila had a 20 second head start, which she really didn't need since she spent most of it trying to catch a lizard!
 Then Elise got a 20 second head start before Isaac,

Now it's time for counting!!  Who found the most???
Elise counted 35!!


 

Isaac also counted 35!!

And, Leila counted 53!!












Everyone had a great time, Isaac said our Easter prayer at dinner,  we were so proud of him because he thanked Jesus for dying on the cross for our sins, and rising up again so we could go to heaven with Him when we die!  And, this from an 11 year old! 

My favorite photo of the day?  Our precious granddaughter, Elise.  She is so pretty, so smart!  Caught her off guard here, sometimes these make the best shots!

Thanks for sharing my Easter with me, even though late.  While I was gone, I couldn't down load any photos at all!  And, as you can tell, I had many to share with you!

Blessings to you all - may this next new week be wonderful!
Hugs,
Donna

Saturday, December 31, 2011

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

I would like to wish all of my wonderful blog friends a Happy New Year!  May 2012 bring you love, joy and happiness.

Is this just one of the cutest little postcards?  This is an actual postcard I have in my collection of family heirlooms.  This card was sent by my Great Grandmother, to my Great, Great Grandmother for my Auntie, who is my God Mother.









This was mailed on December 31, 1908, and the cost was only ONE CENT !!  Can you believe it?  One cent to mail a post card!  I'm sure many have seen the postcards of old, they are embossed, and many vibrant colors were used.  You can actually see the embossing on the back side of this postcard.  And, they were sent as we would pick up the phone and call, or send an email today.  They were mementos, just as they are today!  Also, if you notice, there is no address!  Just a name and city.  This one at least has Long Island.  Many just say Babylon, Hoboken, "City" and don't give a state unless it was leaving the state.  Or if it was coming in from outside of the US  it would say on the left hand side of the address, United States of America (or Amerika).
This one was also sent by my Great Grandmother, to my Great, Great Grandmother, for my Granny - she would have been around 5 in 1908, her sister, my Auntie was a babe of only 3 months (who is still alive and living on Long Island in sharp as a tack at 104!)

Happy New Year to all my friends!  May the Lord bless your New Year with good health, love, joy and happiness. 

May your blessings be many and your troubles be few!
Donna

**I'm sharing these wonderful family heirlooms, and I ask you don't copy them and pass off as your own.  Thank you!**

Thursday, December 29, 2011

A Lasting Gift

I can finally post this picture of the afghan I made for my Son and Daughter in Law. We will be celebrating Christmas this evening with them and our wee ones, and I can hardly wait for them to open this.


I started one for them over a year ago and it just never came together right, and I couldn't get my mind in to it to figure it out. I prayed over the situation and finally figured out what was wrong. These are their colors ~ they love the warm tones, I on the other hand like cool tones and the first one had bright summer and winter colors, yellow, pink, lavender ~ you get the picture. This one is sage, with a warm brown and a matching variegated color. 

Afghans are something I truly enjoy working on.  I almost always have one in the works, and I already have the yarn for my next project!
 
Thanks for taking a peak!  I'll show an "after" photo later this evening or tomorrow!  I can't wait to see their faces!
 
Blessings to all,
Donna

Monday, November 28, 2011

The Tree Is Trimmed, The Stories Told

. . . we're beginning our Christmas season!  I love Christmas!  It's my favorite time of year!  I love everything about it, except the commercialism.  Our son and his family visited this weekend, and time just went by so fast! 

Oh my, we need some fluffing and straightening on the top!  And maybe a little on the bottom.  Wait!  Who's that peaking around the tree? 

Why it's Grandma's Lisey, as pretty as can be!  Oh my, Elise is growing into such a beautiful young lady!  Daddy is going to need a good, sturdy stick to beat off the boys!  A cute little girl becoming so beautiful right before our eyes!
And, what's this present underneath our tree?  "It's me, it's me, it's me!"  Our baby, sshhhh don't say that out loud, because, "I'm not a baby, don't you know now I'm five!?"  We won't tell her she'll always be our baby!  Besides, she's our present, don't you know!?
Big ones on the bottom, medium in the middle, and little ones on the top - but there are all of these hand made ones - just put them where the look pretty!  That was the go ahead to put everything everywhere!  No matter, they will look beautiful where ever they are.  "Is this one OK?"  "Just perfect, I'd say!"


This one was my Granny's, it's over 100 years old!  And this one Aunt Connie made, and Daddy made this, Uncle Jeff brought me back an Angel from Hawaii.  And these, and those, and this one and that - Isaac and Elise always want to know about family history, which I love sharing with them!

Not really sure these are where they should go.  I think on the tree would be a better spot!  Boys - ever the goof balls!  We had lots of fun, learning where some of these are from, who made which one, even Grandma made a few!  Even their cousins had made a couple. 
I'd love a few more from you, you and you!  The tree is finished for now - I need a box from the shed, and it's dark and cold.  It will wait a couple of days - maybe as I get some of the empty boxes out before bringing any more in! 
Let the games begin!
So Serious!
The games are over, the fun was had, every one was fed, and fed, and fed!  Now I'll start cleaning little by little, a bit here and there.  Look at my photos, read some of my Christmas stories, talk and write to old friends.  This really is my favorite time of the year!

How is your Christmas coming along?
Blessings,
Donna

Friday, November 11, 2011

Veteran's Day - A Day of Rememberance

Today is a day we honor our Veterans with a special holiday, a day we can all say, "Thank you for your service to our Country.  We want you to know how much we appreciate what you have done for us.  Thank you for our freedom, our way of life.  Thank you for your sacrifice.  God bless you."
We lay wreaths and post flags on known grave sites of known American Soldiers all over the world today.  We hold parades, some restaurants still offer a free meal to Veterans and Soldiers in uniform today. 

Something I have done for years is walk up to Soldiers in uniform, extend my hand and thank them personally.  I do this every day of the year, not just today.   If their wives or families are with them, I thank them as well.  I have had more than a few wives cry on my shoulder and hug me after saying, "Thank you, too, for your service to our country.  Many forget the families left behind.  The wives who take on role of both mother and father, left to do all of the chores, raise children, stretch the budget.  YOU keep the home fires burning, encouraging your soldier to go on while in a strange country fighting for our country.  Thank you for playing this important role for my family.  I want you to know how much we appreciate you!  God bless you." 

It's important to me to let these honorable men and women know how much my family and I appreciate them, today and each and every day of the year.

If you are a veteran or service member, a wife or mother of some who has or is serving, "Thank you, thank you for your sacrifice, for all you have done, for all you do for my family and me, keeping us safe, keeping us free.  Thank you for your service to our Country!  God bless you!" 

Blessings,
Donna