An "opinion" question!!

So tell me....where would YOU rather be? First photo or second? You all know my opinion on that one and it was solidified this morning when we lost our electricity. Energy company says to expect a possible 2-3 days before repairs are made to the lines. Something about "being swamped". I believe it. Worst storm we have had in a decade, or so the weather man told me. We do have a small generator that runs my internet connection and the furnace. Two essentials. Hopefully your weather is better than mine.......

The case of the purloined photos......

Since there is nothing but bleak snowy landscapes to take pictures of down on the farm, I hopped over to Megan and Andy's website and stole these from their online album. The first two pictures show their backyard before any professional landscaping was done and the BB court was still there. The other photos show the recently finished product. Drew is going to love that section of grass.....I can see many games of catch on this turf in the little guy's future. I have a feeling their pooch Sox will rather like that grass, also. The pool is all that remains to be finished. They cannot do that until the new gate to their yard is in place so neighborhood children cannot get to the pool. Eventually they will put a fence up around the pool so granny nanny doesn't accidently stumble into the abyss. Actually, there are lots of laws and regulations regarding private pools and that is a "good thing" in Arizona.

As for Iowa, a rather big winter storm is on the horizon for today and Sunday. Our home is right on the line of how bad it could be......worst case scenerio would be ice first and high winds to whip our electrical lines and the consequences that would bring. :-( I am not looking forward to the next two days. On a brighter note, we get to see Matt next week-end in Omaha and the following Friday (March 9) we leave for Los Alamos, NM to visit nephew Erik and daughters Kadin and Gracie for two days, followed by our return trip to Phoenix to see Drew and house sit for Sharon and Arne. Mark will fly home at the end of the month to begin preparing for the planting season and I will remain in AZ to read to my grandson and perhaps do a few other things........
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I gotta get back to the desert........

Andy sent me these today and it has me longing to hold my grandson. Of course, this god-forsaken weather in Iowa is another thing pushing me back towards the southwest. I have been in the house since Tuesday. I am starting to go stir crazy. I even asked Mark to take me to a movie and the last theatre movie I saw was Casablanca. Actually it was Titanic, which is about as old. Mark didn't think he cared to go to a movie, though. He told me to get outside and shovel snow. His tenderness and love were shining through with that particular statement. :-) I will "shovel" something, but it won't be snow....enjoy the pics of Drew! Email me!

Home a day early

We left Milton's yesterday morning instead of today. The forecast sounded a bit foreboding and we decided to try to beat the winter storm. We were successful. The southern Iowa schools are all closed today and that is right where we would have been driving had we waited a day. Mark went to pick up a month's worth of mail. It will take a couple of hours to sort out. Oh well, just look at my pictures and you will see I have nothing better to do and won't be going anywhere today! It is almost 80 degrees colder here than our weather just a few short days ago. Toto, we're not in Arizona anymore........

In my few remaining weeks in Iowa I hope to finish going through closets and weeding out unnecessary items and clothing. Way too many clothes. Wish I had the money I have spent over the years on clothes to spend on my grandson's college fund. A much more worthy cause!

We also plan to make a week-end in Omaha before we go. I am not certain how often I will be seeing Matt in the future so every time is special when I do. I will hound him to death about flying out to AZ sometime to see me and especially his new nephew!!

Well, our pipes are making very strange noises in Mark's absence so I best go check it out! Merry Christmas everyone!!!!

A beautiful day again....surprise!

It was another gorgeous day in Phoenix. We have spent all day at the Thiel's and are now babysitting as Megan and Andy enjoy a dining out evening. Drew is sleeping so I can't even spoil him while they are gone!!! He is due to be fed in 15 minutes but I am betting that his mamma gets home before I even get to do that. :-) Oh well, her feedings are a bit more nutritious than the powedered stuff I feed him.......

Tomorrow is our last day here. We leave Friday morning for Tucumcary, NM which is our first pit stop on the drive home. From there we head to Mark's brother Milton who lives in Pea Ridge, Arkansas. We plan to stay with him from Saturday through Monday and leave Tuesday morning for the farm. I should be so excited about getting home but I am anything but that!! It has to do with several things: Drew, cold weather, Drew and Drew. It will only be about a month until I get to hold him again, but he could change a lot by then. :-) One thing I do look forward to is seeing Matt. We plan to go to Omaha one week-end while we are home and we always enjoy time spent with him.

Pictures are from today.......

Drew on a Monday

Super Bowl Sunday

I know our Sunday at home would have been way different than it was here today. Started the morning out with a hike up Black Mountain, which you can view from Sharon's back yard picture. We followed up the hike with chipping and putting on Terravita's practice greens. For the game Sharon and Arne had Lisa and Taylor, Megan, Andy and Drew over for a family gathering. Some in the group went to the Roadhouse down the way for the first half and watched the second half here. Some in this group were quite happy with a Colts victory, others not so much. It was a fun game to watch regardless of your allegiances. I personally was happy to see Coach Dungy and Peyton get this victory. I know Matt will be happy with this win after working with Dungy at Tampa. He respects the guy immensely.

The rest of our stay looks to be wonderful weatherwise. Monday, 79-Tuesday, 80-Wednesday,80-Thursday, 80. It shall literally KILL ME to return to those subzero temps back in Iowa. But, I guess I must........

Cyndy, I saw Freddy today......

I thought of you, Cyndy, as we trekked across the TPC golf course at the FBR Open today. We were in heaven.....Phil Mickelson, Fred Couples, ViJay, you name it. So, so much fun. When I saw Fred teeing off I could only think of you and your life size cardboard cutout of Mr. Couples!!! His swing is as SMOOTH as ever. It was really cool at this event today. Clouds and just enough wind to go brrrrrrr. But, I know it is worse in Iowa. :-) I would love to go back on Saturday to see another round. We shall see. It is only $20 for some awesome golf sights. Crowds will be horrendous over the week-end though. Sounds okay to me!!

I did miss Drew today, though. It is the first day that I did not see him at all since our arrival. What a cuddler!! Tomorrow I will make up for this missed day.

May all my friends and loved ones keep warm in the midwest...........