2Homes*2Lives

Visit Tonychow.net to see his gorgeous photos of Hong Kong and Australia.

http://acreativemint.typepad.com/

After a year off from this blog, I have decided to come back. Life was slow and I was in a fog since losing sister Martha on my birthday in 2008, but now I am starting to want to live again. Thanks to Holly on Decor 8 for inspiring me tonight to reopen this blog. http://www.decor8blog.com/ She has been a lifesaver to me at times when I felt disconnected from the beauty in this world. Will be posting from time to time again.... Hope you will check back in with me. Love, Marilyn

(Perennial garden at home) ("Garden Susie" from my cottage garden) For two years I have vented and posted photos and thoughts on this blog. It began with my frustration of two homes and two distinctly different lifestyles. Then it was my solace as illness and loss set in this last year. Now retired, my days and my efforts need to go to other endeavors. I want to cut back on my computer time, and closing down this blog is a way for me to begin. Thanks to anyone who may have read my blog. Time to tend to my gardens in life. God Bless, Marilyn

Let us all stand by our sleds and sing the praises of snow in Colorado!!! John John and Eric, the Hill Champs!!! No fear when it comes to taking the slopes. You rock, John John!!! Love, Aunt Marilyn

No, It's SUPER ZIE!!!!! Photo taken by her Dad, my nephew Eric, from Broomfield, Colorado. Great shot, Eric! Zie is a gutsy, wonderful, talented little girl. One day she will be famous!!! Love, Aunt Marilyn

Martha and Me, 1970 Today was the first anniversary of the death of my sister and coincidentally (?) also my 62nd birthday. I went out to dinner with school friends Ginny N., Ginny K., Trina, Sonnie, and Betsy. We ate at Buffalo Jack's and talked nonstop for two hours...great time. Both my brothers, John (and Thister Swede) and Bob called to wish me Happy Birthday. I am totally blessed. I feel Martha with me everyday, but especially on that day....I'll always miss and love you, Sis. Marilyn

I was opening a big trunk in our bedroom to unpack the Christmas items I have saved through the years for the holidays. There are two that I will never part with from Linda (who passed away suddenly May '09). You know how you open each tissue wrapped item and get that "Oh, I'd forgotten I had these"...well, that's what I was thinking as I opened these precious bundles... One was an angel Linda found...she repainted the blonde hair to black and gave it to Beth. The other she was bursting at the seams with excitement to give to me (and Bob), was a Christmas Tree Farm Scene... . They are both reminders of how much love Linda put into everything she did. It wasn't money, but downright thoughtfulness that set her apart from others. This is a very trying month for me as my sister Martha died a year ago next Monday, on my birthday. I have decided that for me to sit around or sleep due to depression is wasting the life Martha and Linda so desperately wanted to live. S...

The grandsons were off school for the day so took them to the movies. They said viewing would be in number 13, but we saw the movie title on number 15 so went in. We had taken so long buying our by then $40.00 worth of tickets and refreshments (pop, popcorn and candy were only $6.50 ea. in a kids pack) , so the movie had already started. A half hour later it ended and we realized we only saw the end of the movie. It wouldn't start again for a half hour, so we went to number 13 and saw the middle of it. We decided to hit the video games room and buy the dvd one day to see the beginning and then view it to the end. Max was cute, but rather vapid as a character...didn't seem very connected to the story emotionally. LOVED the creatures...they were drop dead adorable. Could see the movie over and over just to gaze at their walking the sands and beaches of Australia! The music was magical. And their wood constructions were amazing!! Wonderful interpretation of the storybook by Mauric...

My wish is to... Be the kind of woman that when your feet hit the floor each morning the devil says~~"Oh Crap, She's up!"

There were days when there were not enough hours and now there are days where nothing is being done. How to motivate myself has never been a problem, as I am a curious and driven person, but now with free time to waste, I am blowing it. I've prayed to God for direction, but I don't want something like my sister's cancer to wake me from my paralysis. I think I will bore myself soon and get up to speed. This year seems like the first year of retirement, after losing Mom and Martha last year and best friend Linda this year. Wish me luck! Marilyn

http://maxattenborough.co.uk/ Photos from http://thefarmchicks.typepad.com/

Left to right: Matilda Wren, Malissa, Malissa's husband Jeff, Linda, Michael, Mackenzie, Mitchell, Grandma Besse, (family friend) Monica, George Oliver. (Friend Linda used to write reminders on her hand, so the tattoo artist who did her image included a message on her hand...this is so Linda. Linda died due to a tumor or cancer in the brain...we have not been told what happened.) How do I say good-bye to my friend Linda? For 13 yrs. we shared our highs and lows. And in that time her five kids Malissa, Michael, Monica, Mitchell and Mackenzie, her 90 yr. old Hungarian mother Besse , her son in law Jeff and two grandchildren Matilda Wren and George Oliver were family to me. Linda had been divorced since her children had been toddlers. She had raised them all by herself in a Bohemian household filled with love and artistic creativeness. All of her kids had been on Homecoming Courts, all beautiful and each a part of Linda. Malissa had her mothering skills and was nurturing to the grand...

Bob is definitely one of those "they broke the mold when he was born". He's obcessed by cars and food, and weird things in this world. Always on the go, hyper diaper as they come. The other night he went to bed early and I asked him, "Big day tomorrow?" Half asleep he replied, "Yup, I have 10 lap dances to do in my bunny suit". He actually does have a big white bunny suit he bought at a garage sale for $5. It's like living with a little kid as he is show and tell every day about things he buys or things going on with him. His mother always told me not to ever take the kid out of him...His humor does get me through many a dull day. LOVE YOU, Bob. ***I showed this to Husband Bob and he said I should be careful what I say about him, in case he wants to run for public office one day!

(Photo is from a Scottish Site)

I don't know whose baby this is, but I could stare at this picture for hours. Someone sent it in an email with baby poses. My weakness is babies. They are so innocent and beautiful.

(Photo by grandson Jake) Lose a mother, lose a sister, go on with life. You have no choice. You live for seeing them again in heaven, but concentrate on today.

(Picture above was by a 7th grade student I'll always remember..Beth Barger.)

"Hey Bob..." Congratulations Tatum and Barron....Beautiful wedding, Pat and Bob! Cheers!!