CELEBRATING ANNA BELLA'S HEAVENLY 16TH BIRTHDAY

 Today our sweet 

ANNA BELLA

would be

16 years old.

WHERE have the years gone?

We held her for moments

in our arms but she is

forever in our heart.

Would she get her driver's license today

and take her friends for rides

one by one?

Would she have a special "boy" 

in her life that would make her

shyly smile and say

"No, Nana!  He is NOT my boyfriend"....

Would she be bucking 

Mom and Dad

about curfew and screen time?

Sadly, we will never know.

We do believe that she is

in Heaven with other

angel babies sharing

sweet, happy moments.

That is what keeps us going. 

On earth

she would be nestled in between

three special girls

The would champion her causes

and fight over who used the

last bit of shampoo.

You are loved and missed,

ANNA BELLA!

Hold every child/grandchild

tightly because you never

know how long they will

be yours -they are just

in the world

on loan.

~Blessings~

TIME IS RUNNING OUT FOR FEEDBURNER!

 

Hi blogging friends~

You that know me know that I am an

ABSOLUTE IDIOT

when it comes to techy stuff with

my blog.

Anyway,  I told my friend, Linda,

Life & Linda Blog,

My Fairy Blog Mother,

that I would post something here for those of you

that need help like I did!

She will help you change your 

mail over from feedburner

to use an alternate FREE service/MailChimp.

I did this 

so that my followers could follow me

(straight to the crazyhouse).

Linda switched me over to 

Mailchimp because, 

I know y'all don't want to miss my

heartfelt, crazy, funny, endearing posts.

This is the sidebar subscribe widget she designed for me.

She will also design the email campaign that y'all

 receive.  Linda always matches your blog.

So, click on the links and pop over

and ask for help.

There is a very reasonable fee if she does the 

switch for you, but trust me,

you won't have to take out a loan,

and she will walk you through whatever

you have to do for the set up.

Here is what I know-

IMPORTANT!

Linda has found a way to remove your address from your Email campaigns.

Also feel free to use an old address, an P.O. box.

Feedburner in July will not be sending out your email, so you have to switch to something so your readers won't miss out on your new posts.

Linda from Life and Linda- also My Fairy Blog Mother has been transferring bloggers over to the FREE Mailchimp email marketing for a fee.  Mailchimp is free for up to 2,000 subscribers. Mailchimp is the most popular marketing program and Linda knows all the ins-and-outs of it.  It was so worth it to pay her a very reasonable fee to make the switch over.

She has also provided a link to a Mailchimp video tutorial for those who wish to make the transition themselves. AND GOOD LUCK WITH THAT -Maybe YOU can figure it out---

I didn't because I am lazy, dumb, camping.

Linda wrote a tutorial for those using Feedburner on how to export your subscribers using the CSV format.  You will need that if you using another email marketing service.

While you are in your Feedburner account, you will want to pay attention to some subscribers mostly with the Outlook.com email.  Those are usually spammers.

She had to lead me through the process

to even check into my Feedburner account.

Yep- I am that un-techy.

No, I am not leaving Blogger!

Just switched to Mailchimp for your email updates.

So--while y'all are doing that,

Scruffy and I will be walking through

the quiet woods of the campground,

sitting around a campfire 

and scaring off anything that looks 

remotely like wildlife-

including the grill.  It

has a black cover on it and apparently

looks like a black bear.

It has been barked into submission

so we're good!

This is how the men in my life

like to lay around

in the camper when they are tired.

At least the two-legged ones

wear pants---usually~

Have a wonderful week

and reach out to Linda for help!

You'll be glad you did!!

YOUR CHOICE-THE HOTEL OR THE CAMPGROUND!

Gotta love those old hotels.

We have stayed in a few of the 

really old hotels over the years.

NOW we have taken to camping...I think.

Anyway-

One of the most photographed hotels

around here

is the old Maribel Caves Hotel.

Before that there was another old hotel and

people used to go to be cleansed and healed

by the sweet spring waters that flowed there.

Here is the only picture I could find of 

The Maribel Caves Hotel

when it was still in use.

It has always kind of fascinated me.

It was built in 1900 and 

supposedly visited by Al Capone.

It went up in flames in the 1920's,

was rebuilt  and burned again in the 1960's.

It was reported to be haunted and 

singing could be heard

along with sightings of  a child 

dressed in white.

When there was a new moon it "glowed".

The floors have been gone for several years

and this is what it looked like from the first time 

I ever saw it.

This was considered to be haunted

and was often called Hotel Hell because of the 

red stains on the walls of the cellar

and there were accounts of moans

and cold spots when it felt as if you

were brushed by cold hands.

There used to be doors from the basement

that went into the Maribel Caves,

some of which were located below the hotel.

This place has scared generations of kids

that would go there at night.

Including my son who swore he heard 

"something" in the old stables.

We had had some bad storms over the past few years.

Bad storms with high winds.

Sadly, when I went by the last time,

this is what I saw.

Gone- All Gone-

Only the door facade stands intact.

No one will walk those haunted halls again.

No more reason to be scared.

Or is there?

This is what you see just down the road.

Camping anyone?

We don't camp here

but it is a really cool campground.

We are on a permanent site now

in Door County, WI.

It's a great place; quiet & peaceful.

We have made friends with some

of the other campers our age.

Many of them have dogs there.

However---

WE HAVE THE CUTEST

SMARTEST, SWEETEST,

DOG THERE~

I might be a little prejudiced.

As you can see-he is also ambitious.

Stay tuned-

I am just getting the camper set up

and will share some pictures soon.

We sadly said 

GOOD-BYE

to our Minnie 

and she is being loved by a new family.

With hubby's health being what it is

we were unable to travel with it

like we had hoped.

Some dreams are just not meant

to be realized.

Remember that~

Have a wonderful week.

Bear with me if I don't get around

to visit you.

When we are at the campground

we have NO internet and 

very limited phone service.

Good or bad?

Good for the quiet and disconnect-

BAD when you can't google something

you need to know...

like....where is the back-up breaker

for the AC unit?  hmmmmm...

Thank God I have a son that

is only a phone call away-

he is like the 

mastermind of 'Mr. Fixit'.

I should try to figure out how much

money he has saved me over the years

and leave him a little extra in the will.....

And on that happy note-

see ya soon!

WISHING YOU A BLESSED HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY-2021-LEST WE FORGET

I wrote this for Memorial Day

a few years ago but I think it is

relevant every day.

This means even more to me after I

volunteered at the VA Center here

before Covid hit. 

Memorial Day

Memorial Day is here once more,

We fly the flags above our door,

We plant our flowers that mark the grave,

Of every soldier that was so brave,

They fought for freedom for everyone,

Many lives snuffed out by a sniper's gun.

We proudly march in our little bands,

As daybreak filters across our lands,

But I wonder if we can truly see,

What cost it was to make us free.

Confederate soldiers fought the Yanks,

Some brothers fought brothers in those ranks,

To free the downtrodden that were lost,

To free all men at any cost.

My father was a medic in World War One,

A war not talked about by anyone,

Some men lost limbs and some were gassed,

Some picked up by comrades, others  bypassed.

World War II! How tragic indeed,

People standing by watching others bleed.

Souls thrown to the winds with no remorse,

Foreign government standing on their own course.

Vietnam was not a war they said,

Then how come so many soldiers ended up 

dead?

No heroes welcome for them in sight,

They slunk home in the dead of night.

Should I go on-with Korea & Desert Storm?

Iran? Afghanistan? Are you getting warm?

Do you feel the pain you see in their face?

Does it make you squirm in your warm, safe 

place?

I've just one more thing I'd like to say,

It's about celebrating Memorial Day,

Look around and everything you see,

Was paid out in blood so that we are free.

Put your hand on your heart,

For the blue, white and red,

Raise your eyes to the flag,

Say a prayer for the dead.

Because of a soldier I can have my say,

So ~God Bless you this Memorial Day~

A special thank you to my late nephew, Scott, 

my father, my Uncle Samuel, 

my foster brother, Eugene,

my old schoolmate, Tom Babcock and

my friend I met blogging, Kurt Keys.

And To All Our Soldiers-

 

PICK YOUR FAVORITE SPRING WEDDING TABLE RESULTS!

You did it! 

We are wrapping up another

PICK YOUR FAVORITE RESULTS!

Here you go~

PLEASE FORGIVE ME IF I MISSED ANYONE!

 #1-PINK AND PLANKED

bobbie- first one to pick and be seated-WELL- bobbie is AT THE WRONG TABLE she said.  Moving her to Table #3! Linda/Life&Linda, Julie,

Good ol' Anonymous-whoever you are,

Laurie/Heaven'sWalk, 

Kim-likes the beaded dishes-she'd go crazy if I be-dazzled them!-

JennyThePirate-Here because of the plank?  Says not-and HATES seafood...Pirate? No seafood?!! Seriously?

ButterflyBungalow(so nice to see you here), Cecilia, Marilyn, Leena, MA,

Lorrie, Polly(theLibra-hard to pick if you're a Libra), 

Henny Penny, 

Debbie/Lakehouse & Melanie

#2- LAVENDER LOVE

Ginny, Penny, Hootin Anni, Betty,

Ann-didn't like any of the tables but liked the people at this one-

(hey-I don't make this stuff up, folks)

Kris (What?  Didn't you see that ALL WHITE table choice?)

Gert, Phyllis, 

Diane/LavenderDreams(what are the ODDs that she would pick this table)?

Jan, LowCarb, Diane/CharminglyCreative

#3-  SQUARE PLATES & SWEET TAPERS

HELLO bobbie- You are at the right table now!!!!

Babbling Brook, Jan/Jan'sJourney, Denise(the naughty one-can't make up her mind between 3 and 7...hahaha..just made it up FOR you), Fran, Judy, Janie, Buttercup, Akasha and 'last but not least-Pam S who had quite a lot to say-see for yourself---

Looks like a lot of people picked "Lavender Love'. If there is real live lavender there, I might like that one best, but it is all just a bit too purple(I mean lavender) for me. I think I like the pretty pink roses, etc. on #1, although that may be too many flowers to smell while dining...that can be very distracting, you know...So that brings me to #3, Square plates and sweet tapers, because it looks simply elegant and lends itself to pleasant conversation without being distracted by too many flowers. It was a difficult decision, because I also like the one #6, Get you some color! because of the window in the room...you know how claustrophobic I am, and I need a room with a view...but the table is just too distracting again. So back to #3. Yes, that's the one for me. It is soothing to look at and it is more my "style"..."square and sweet". LOL. So glad you are back. WE've missed you. Praying you are up and at 'em again...as much as you can be. Have a blessed week!! Can't wait to see who will dine with me.

#4 GOOD GRAY-V

Kathy, Rose the Poet, Nonnie, Lisa K, Ellen C, Mary? (Mary, Mary-whereforth art thou?:)

#5-RUSTIC WITH DEAR LITTLE DAISIES

Jack & Sherry-my travelers-waving HI- now in North Carolina

Mevely, Bonnie S, Terri D, Rita,

Cindy, Jane E & CHERI

MISSY says I MISSED her~ So - here she is!

#6-GET SOME COLOR

Susan K, Happy, Fabby, Connie,

Pat/Gypsy Heart, Louise the Card Making Lady & Doris

#7-WHITE-ALL I SEE IS WHITE

Jenn- Thought about the lavender table but really likes lilacs and NOT lavender.

Please STOP giving her lavender plants all you friends and relatives-

She does NOT like lavender- You're welcome, Jenn!

Debra/SheSeeks, Ron/The Cocktail King, 

putting BJ/SweetNothings right next to Ron because she can't have Sam Elliot...I am saving him for myself.,

Nancy-enjoying THIS white wedding because her daughter's choice is PINK--sigh--

Terri S, Denise (LISTEN-DENISE- I put you at Table 3- Got it?)

Linda C, Laura, Sherri, Nonie, Theresa

& Sweet Sheri/RedRoseAlley

So--there you have it!

If I picked on you--too bad...

Just remember- I only pick on those I love

(or hate in real life--online friends are NOT included)

For all those that asked-

I am doing well.

No pain, just restricted as to lifting and doing too much-

which is the TRUE PAIN of it all.

Hubby stays the same.

Good days and not-so-good days.

We are hoping to get up to the camper this weekend

and hang out for a few days.

No internet up there and sparse cell phone coverage

so I am forced into 

REAL LIFE!

Imagine that!

Have a wonderful wonderful rest of the week.

Forgive me for not visiting more often.

Between hubby and puppy-training 

I have limited time.

           SCRUFFY SENDS HIS LOVE!

He's a happy boy here-

just had a STARBUCKS pup cup.

If you look close you will see a 

dab of whipped cream on his chin. LOL

He would be sooo embarrassed!