I had my one year exam with the heart surgeon this past week. And, they said my heart looks…..terrific!!!! Yippee. That is great news. I’ve been feeling really good but it feels even better to hear it from the surgeon after my echo-cardiogram results. I don’t have to see them for another year when they will repeat all the tests again.
Our 35th wedding anniversary is today, July 4th. Yes, we were married on the 4th of July. There were plenty of fireworks and lots of rain. Everyone told me rain was good luck on your wedding day and they appear to have been correct. I have some fond memories from our wedding day…….we decided to drive around and waste a little time to allow our friends and family to get to the reception hall. We were on some back roads and yes, we got stuck in the mud. Joe and me all dressed in white. I, of course, stayed in the car while Joe and Scott got us out of the mud and to the reception just in time for the first dance. We were able to get all the mud off of Joe’s nice white suit, too.
For our anniversary this year, we talked about going some place. But, honestly, I travel so much with my job, which I love, that staying home seemed like more fun to me. With two aging dogs….Sasha at 17 1/2 and Tillie almost 16….who knows how much longer we’ll have them. So, we decided to stay home. We also decided that it was crazy to purchase gifts……just to purchase gifts. I think we made the best decision. We really wanted to get back to doing some bicycle riding so….. we bought each other bikes! Which bike do you think is mine? I LOVE my new bike. We already rode on the Rails to Trails between Newville and Shippensburg and it has been awesome.
Here is a view of the trail. So far, we’ve seen deer, a whole racoon family, lots of bunnies, hundreds of birds and a truckload of groundhogs. It has been fabulous weather for riding and no hills!!
I am so lucky to have married my best friend. I am looking forward to lots of bike rides and many more memorable experiences.
By the way, I also received this beautiful bouquet of 35 white roses. Oh, he’s a keeper.
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I have to share two new additions to my studio which I found during my recent travels. I love bugs, under glass. Just the ones under glass. Did I mention….only under glass? OK, and in the garden. Just not in my house please.
She is the world’s largest insect, about 10 inches long. She is a “jungle nymph” from Malaysia. If I were in charge of giving bugs names, I would call them what I think I’d say if I saw one in the jungle: “scaredapoopis outaus”
This little lady can be found in Guiana in South America. I’d name her “beautius hopperus”. These bugs are not alive, but professionally preserved in great display cases. Aren’t they beautiful?
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Joe went out fishing in the mountains this week and here are a few things he saw:
Mountain Laurel in bloom (it’s Pennsylvania’s State Flower)
A female Ruffed Grouse (it’s Pennsylvania’s State bird) and her chicks
and, of course, a native Brook Trout (yes, you guessed it, Pennsylvania’s State fish)
Happy Birthday America and happy quilting to all!!