Today I am being prompted to post this n that… a little about a lotta things. Today would have been my dad’s 113th birthday if he were still alive. So, May 14th has a special ring in my heart. My daddy was a very special, very kind, very positive influence on my life. Happy Birthday, Dad!!
He gave the best hugs in the world!!
And today he would have loved to have been here with us in Ennis, Montana to witness the influx of antelope on our golf course’s driving range!
I am in touch each morning with our daughter, DeAna, in Switzerland, and our “adopted daughter,” Laina, who lives in Glen Burnie, near Baltimore. Today Laina sent me this photo of her “grand-dog” on her daughter’s lawn. Laina said the grass was foot high. She just finished mowing it! What a wonderful, thoughtful mama she is!
Our daughter, De, in Switzerland, sent us this picture of the flowers her middle son, Nicky, gave her for Mother’s Day. Isn’t it nice when our kids remember us on Mother’s Day and call or send flowers?
I was treated with flowers from De and Laina, and a phone call from our son in CA. Bob & I treated ourselves to a Mother’s Day buffet at “The Mint” in Belgrade. It’s a delightful restaurant not too far from the Bozeman Yellowstone Airport. I highly recommend it. Bob gave me a lovely card and the restaurant handed out flowers.
Just look at that happy smile and the beautiful plate of prime rib, potatoes, bacon, and asparagus. The Mint also had a section where there were salad fixings. All around us were families with their young children. I love watching little kids with their attentive parents, don’t you?
While we were in the restaurant, our pup Owen, stayed in his crate in the car. He is such a good traveler! On the way home he decided he wanted to travel on the floor between my feet, He usually sits in my lap. Go figure! Owen is 9 months old! He’ll be 10 months on the 24th. That’s the day we’ll get him neutered and have a chip installed.
Our waitress at The Mint was “Solaira.” Isn’t that a pretty name? She said her mom made it up. I had never heard it before. She was a very attentive, efficient waitress.
💋 Today Owen was happy to be in my lap as we traveled to the Post Office to pick up our mail. It’s a gray, cool (56 degree) day. We’ve had a little rain. Can use some more moisture here. We haven’t seen the last of our snow yet!
Well, that’s enough of my rambling this n that for today. I hope you had a Terrific Tuesday and the rest of your week goes well, too. What are your plans for this week? What are you looking forward to?
Jeremiah 29:11 ~ For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Tune in to God’s Plan. It’s definitely the one I wanna go with! Have a blessed week. Love, JanBeek
Embrace your last best place It’s where you call your “Forever Home.” It’s the place you’re destined to stay When you decide to land – not roam.
“Our Last Best Place” is written on Our Montana license plates. It’s a motto for Bozeman, But Ennis is our place that rates.
It rates a forever stay. It’s where we want to be Until it’s time to eventually Leave for Eternity.
Our neighbors have a sign – It says home is a collection. It says home is a story – One with happy recollection.
I say home is a heartfelt Place where love is true – A place where when you have you go there, They always have room for you.
It’s a place where happy memories Have seeped into the wall And everywhere you look, Is a story to recall.
Grandpa DeAngeles’ cheese press (or is it an apple press – I wonder) Reminds me of my dad who had These treasures out in rain & thunder!
We had the piece restored And found a grape press to match. They sit in dining room corners – This one came without a scratch!
If rocking chairs could talk This would have stories galore. Bob’s great-grandma used it And our grandkids rocked some more.
This clock has a great history – It hung in Bob’s mother’s school. That was back in 1908-16 His mom was certainly no fool.
When the school house caught fire And the kids were evacuated, A lot of stuff ended in a pile. His mom saved this… she was elated.
The clock is not the only thing We inherited from our folks. Our house is full of those memories – Full of love and life and hopes.
The horseshoe has a history – The mortar Dad found in Merced River does, too. The pestle that goes with it Has seen more than a grind or two!
The books that line the living room Have stories – some written by friends, And the picture from Grimentz Has Swiss memories without ends.
I love the little angels On tables, counters and floor. Each one has a story And there’s always room for more.
That first one is from Terry, A friend who has my heart. The next one’s from our Laina – It’s meant for garden art.
Up in my sanctuary, There’s an angel in a dish. She’s playing the accordion – And she came with a great wish:
I wish you happy memories In this “Last Best Place” of yours. I know you’ll live here happily, Welcoming strangers through your doors.
It’s true, we love our Last Best Place – And we’ve welcomed many a guest. And we’re not through inviting them – Come – sit with us – we’re truly blessed!
Embrace Your Last Best Place
Are you in it now? Or do you anticipate where it will be… the one on earth, that is…
Tell me about it!
See ya tomorrow(God willing)
Love, JanBeek
Roy Rogers was my favorite as a kid… And never did I imagine I’d find a Home on the Range where the deer and the antelope play as my Last Best Place someday.
Our daughter, DeAna, sent us this video this morning of her duet with Sylviane, her “Swisster.” It warms my heart to see and hear them singing together. De is the one in red.
“Syli” (as we nicknamed her) lived in our home/became our daughter and De’s “Swisster” in Modesto, CA when De was a senior in high school. DeAna then lived with Syli’s family in Sierre, Switzerland the next year. When she came home, she brought Syli’s first cousin, Andre’, home with her! They were married a year later.
Seeing and hearing these two sing together is such a joy! (Sit back a couple minutes and enjoy)
De & her “Swisster”
Our grandson, Chris, was named after Syli’s brother, Christian. Christian was our AFS exchange student in 1980-81. That’s how this whole Swiss connection got started.
If you have followed my blog for awhile, you met our grandson, Chrissy, when he came to Montana last year and attended the Job Corps program.
And you saw Chris with his girlfriend, Natalia from Colombia, in this related post:
In this next video, De and Chrissy are singing a duet to Natalia.
It’s a beautiful day here in Montana – and a wonderful way to start the day with these videos from my DeDe. I hope you enjoy them, too.
Here’s my view yesterday afternoon. Today the clouds are gone and the sky is blue blue blue:
Those antelope babies I showed you a couple days ago were back yesterday afternoon, crossing that field between us and the “next door” neighbors. We call that path “The Antelope Highway.”
Look carefully. There are four little ones with a yearling. That one trailing is not old enough to be the mama. Must be a babysitter!
One of the little ones ran on ahead. They are so cute! OK, enough cuteness for this morning… I gotta get busy.
Bob just left to go fishing, and… my Writers’ Group is coming to the house this morning. It’ll be our first meeting since all this COVID-19 stuff. We can socially distance in my living room.
I’ll tell you all about it this afternoon. Come on back!