Bittersweet Memories

Hello my friends and Happy New Year! Another year gone by - Christmas is over and we're off to make plans to make this year better (I hope!). I've started Weight Watchers (again) only this time I'm going to the meetings because doing it by myself just on line did not pan out for me last time. I failed miserably. Obviously, I need the support meetings give you. My next meeting is on Tuesday morning, so we'll see how well I did. I gained a bunch of weight over the holdiays and my blood pressure was over the roof and that really scared me so that I can no longer afford not to go to Weight Watchers. I know it works because every time I stick with it, I lose the weight ... I love this plan better than anything else because you are not restricted and can have anything you want. I don't have to buy supplements or special foods unless I want to and it's ok to use with any foods that you like, be it vegetarian, low carb, even the Paleo diet. You can do it all with the help of Weight Watchers. It's just a matter of being reasonable and accountable. I'm an impulse eater and often over eat, so now I'm mindful of what I put in my mouth and it seems to work because as a bread addict, I have not eaten any bread (except a few whole weat tortillas to make some wraps) I do not miss it. It's all a matter of establishing good habits. I suppose only time will tell because I'm in it for the long haul.

I hope you all survived the holidays relatively unscarred and made some good memories. Mine were quiet and somewhat melancholy. I had some health issues (as usual) but for the most part, I'm ok. I look healthy, so if I ever drop dead unexpectedly, people will say: "oh, my gosh! I just saw her the other day and she looked so healthy!" well, that's me... I rarely look sick unless I'm dying or under general anesthesia ;-) Must be all the water I drink and the veggies I eat, they give me a healthy glow. I'm lucky to love fruits and veggies, that makes losing weight easier. My problem is carbs and portion size, but I'm getting that under control.

As you know, I live on Facebook now and if you ever want to visit, just type in Doris Sturm (in Lakeland, GA) in case there are other Doris Sturms and even my dogs have pages. My Weezie Mae and Mr. Ted E. Barker (aka Teddy Ruffhausen).... and I still keep Gizzy's page up ... I miss him so much and it's been two hears since he died.

Another reason I hardly blog is that every time I come here, I remember my boy and all the wonderful times we've shared... this blog isn't about crocheting at all (as it turns out) but a memorial to my Gizzy and it just hurts me so much to remember those times of us together - even though I should be over it by now, especially since I have two other fur babies to love. But, so be it!

Again, I'm on Facebook, but will try to check in from time to time. I can barely keep up with my friends on Facebook, so blogging on top of it would eat up all my days... I'm trying really hard to get away from computing so much. I enjoy it, but it really takes up most of my time if I'm not careful.

Oh, by the way, I'm in a new apartment. They refurbished/redid all our units, so I'm living in another location, but same complex. I love it. We have a much bigger kitchen now and a dishwasher (my new best friend) I love cooking and baking because clean up is so easy now. They also provided all of us with a Whirlpool energy efficent front loading washer and dryer, so I sold my Kenmore set and they're working on making us a community carden. We each get a 4' X 4' bed to grow what we want ... a lot of people won't want to gaden, so who ever wants that space, can have it. Also, our Social Hall has a computer room with three computers with internet access and a small gym with two recumbent bikes and a thread mill...so I'm pretty happy about that :-)

Tomorrow is Holy Three Kings day, or the Epiphany, so that's when I'm taking down all my Christmas stuff, so here's a photo of my little 4' tree and some decorations. I made it look cozy for myself and the dogs. I had no company, but got lots of cards and a few packages in the mail, including a new digital camera from a friend in Singapore. My Fujifulm Finepix finally broke and the cell phone photos just did not cut the mustard (so-to-speak) All in all I feel blessed and wish you all a happy and healthy 2014!

 Weezie Mae, the sweetest and calmest dog in the world.

Teddy Bear (aka Ted E. Barker, Teddy Ruffhausen, The Tedinator, Teddy Kreuger, etc)

Teddy loves the squeaky doggy toys I crochet and here he is chewing on a drumstick I made for him.

A collage of my apartment with the decorations.

Weezie wearing her pink hoodie she got from a friend in a Christmas gift exchange.

Teddy wearing his hoodie he got from a friend in a Christmas gift exchange.

Happy Cinco de Mayo

Greetings from Lakeland, Georgia!

Enjoy your day!

We Remember You! - Memorial Day 2009

The true reason for Memorial Day is oftentimes forgotten as families indulge themselves with an extra day at the beach or a barbecue with friends. But President Barack Obama is hoping to change that this year with the National Moment of Remembrance, which he hopes will become a new American tradition. At 3 p.m. Monday, Americans everywhere are asked to stop what we are doing and reflect on the sacrifices made for the freedoms that we now enjoy. In Flanders field the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields. Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields. ~Major John McCrae, May 1915.~ Miss Moina Belle Michael, an American War Secretary with the YMCA and herself a writer of verse, on Nov. 9, 1918, the Saturday before the Armistice was signed, read Col. John McCrae’s poem "In Flanders Fields" and it made such a impression on her, that she wrote this poem in reply to it: Oh! You who sleep in Flanders’ fields, Sleep sweet - to rise anew, We caught the torch you threw, And holding high we kept The faith with those who died. We cherish too, the poppy red That grows on fields where valour led. It seems to signal to the skies That blood of heroes never dies, But lends a lustre to the red Of the flower that blooms above the dead In Flanders’ fields. And now the torch and poppy red Wear in honour of our dead. Fear not that ye have died for naught We’ve learned the lesson that ye taught In Flanders’ fields. Written by Miss Moina Belle Michael Please, allow me to share with you pictures of 20 American Cemeteries in Europe (including Flanders Field) where our fallen Soldiers lie (in numbers): 1) Aisne-Marne, France (2,289) 2) Ardennes, Belgium (5,329) 3) Brittany, France (4,410) 4) Brookwood, England (468) 5) Cambridge, England (3,812) 6) Epinal, France (5,525) 7) Flanders Field, Belgium (368) 8) Florence, Italy (4,402) 9) Henri-Chapelle, Belgium (7,992) 10) Lorraine, France (10,489) 11) Luxembourg, Luxembourg (5,076) 12) Meuse-Argonne, France (14,246) 13) Netherlands, Netherlands (8,301) 14) Normandy, France (9,387) 15) Oise-Aisne, France (6,012) 16) Rhone, France (861) 17) Sicily, Italy (7,861) 18) Somme, France (1,844) 19) St. Mihiel, France (4,153) 20) Suresnes, France (1,541) ...YOU DO THE MATH! As you know, Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service. "Let us, then, at the time appointed, gather around their sacred remains and garland the passionless mounds above them with choicest flowers of springtime; let us raise above them the dear old flag they saved from dishonor; let us in this solemn presence renew our pledges to aid and assist those whom they have left among us as sacred charges upon the Nation's gratitude,--the soldier's and sailor's widow and orphan." General John A. Logan in his General Order No. 11 of May 5th, 1868, Decoration Day! Read the notes and lyrics to this old timey song called Kneel Where Our Loves Are Sleeping by clicking the link.