the name game...

I have been tagged by Martha over at Elizabeth Hill Cottage! It's the game where you list one fact that is somehow relevant to your life for each letter of your middle name...Mine is Marie, short but sweet. M. of course I automatically think of my husband's name Mark...we met when we were 9 months old in the waiting room of the doctors office,(no joke) my Mom loves to tell this story.., I was shy and not walking and Mark was walking all over the place and came up to say Hi to me.. love at first sight? we met again in second grade when we were in my sister's and his brother's wedding, years went by and he asked me to a basketball game when we were fifteen. We always knew we would end up married. (no we are not Amish). I love him more now
after 28 years of marriage!I would have to say he is the kindest person I have ever known. A. apples They are everywhere around here this time of year! they remind me of my Dad who passed away last winter...He would go to the apple orchard and get a ton of apples and drive all over the place leaving them with friends and family...when I would come home and there were apples on my counter I would know Dad was there! R. railroad tracks We live about three blocks from the railroad tracks that wind threw our little town...everyday at four o clock you can hear the whistle of the train making it way thru town. Every once in awhile the train will stop and the conductor gets out and goes to the meat market (which is next to the tracks) and picks up dinner! ( No I do not live in Petticoat Junction!) I. Itchy! I came across some poison ivy while picking bittersweet a few weeks ago and I am still itchy! E. Everything everything I love...my husband, Mom, nieces and nephews, sisters, FALL, antique hunting with friends, decorating, the north shore, shopping, reading and creating!!! and a Snickers with diet coke. yewh! I am thankful my middle name is short. The picture posted on today's blog is of my birdbath(pumpkin holder) in my garden...I wrapped some fresh grapevine around it. I love the simplicity of it!Thanks for tagging me Martha! I decided not to tag anyone, You probably have been tagged already but if not consider yourself tagged!

Four Generation picture...

My family was flattered to be asked to pose for a four generation picture for a brochure promoting my Mom's assisted living facility...Isn't Addi the sweetest? on the left is her Mommy and me in the back and my Mom...It was really nice to have this professional picture done for us. But it was bittersweet...Instead of me in the picture it should of been my sister who passed away 15 years ago. Addi is her granddaughter and Addi's mommy is my sister's daughter. When my sister passed her daughters were 14 and 18 and she asked me to always look after them.I promised I would...this came very naturally since I was very close with my nieces since they were babies, well fast forward 15 years and both of my nieces are beautiful women who each have two children of their own (one of which is Addi) I am looked at as their Grandma and not having any children of my own, well all I can say is I am blessed! I feel guilt sometimes, especially at really important moments with my nieces(their weddings, births, four generation pictures,etc.) that my sister is not there and that I am. As I write this my little niece Addi is playing at my feet...my sister would love her so!