My mother died a year ago yesterday. So many readers and fellow bloggers, friends and acquaintances sent their memories of her along with condolences. For that you have my thanks. She is missed every day I awaken to a gorgeous sunrise with hot air balloons rising across the plain, looking at the stars, or looking for her blueberry sauce recipe. I know she would love it here.
Today I secured the outside for a potential major storm that may include our first snow, another thing we had in common. Our family weathered its share of winter storms. Now I’m about to go to meet Jim for a fashion consultation (I buy his clothes but am no fashion guru as anyone can tell you). He’s getting new contacts and has to choose new glasses so that’s where I come in. If you’d seen some of the glasses he wore in high school, you’d understand why my opinion is important. I’ve also gotten him new $10 sunglasses and stomped on the old pair with no consequence. He had to finish them off.
Last year at this time we were getting over Hurricane Ike and my mother’s death. This year there is employment and stability in our lives and we are living in a gorgeous place. So if anyone knows of a 2004-2005 Volvo S-80 sedan in great condition, let us know. Jim wants the all-wheel-drive and wheel stabilization for the winter. There are only about 60 available in the country right now. He needs the older years because they have over an inch of headroom over the newer models and he’s a tall guy.
My aunts gave a bench and a wooden plank in my mother’s memory in one of her favorite places in her home country. Many thanks go to Lorna and Joan for that tribute. With love and thanks, Dee
Cooking with Dee 
I stomped on those silver-framed wrap-around sunglasses nearly eight years ago, before we were married. He had another $10 pair to replace them that did not make him look like a hoodlum.
Typical Jim. He wanted the wraparounds for sun protection, just like he wanted the biggest glasses in the shop as a kid regardless of how they looked. Today we talked about look and feel and what the glasses would be used for. Hopefully we chose well. Dee