Best/Worse &What did I learnt today/Chat with Friends #101

Weed or treasure...a zillion of them so they must be weeds..any ideas..

Found a closer one...

Drats just heard a bang..must go check

Betty, so sorry to hear of Mona's passing! Sending hugs and prayers!

LK

Betty sorry for the lose of friend

Here is a story my DD Shannon just sent..
Wouldn't it be nice to know if it is true...

The SON

A wealthy man and his son loved to collect rare works of art. They had everything in their collection, from Picasso to Raphael. They would often sit together and admire the great works of art.

When the Vietnam conflict broke out, the son went to war. He was very courageous and died in battle while rescuing another soldier. The father was notified and grieved deeply for his only son.

About a month later, just before Christmas,

There was a knock at the door. A young man stood at the door with a large package in his hands.

He said, 'Sir, you don't know me, but I am the soldier for whom your son gave his life. He saved many lives that day, and he was carrying me to safety when a bullet struck him in the heart and he died instantly. He often talked about you, and your love for art.' The young man held out this package. 'I know this isn't much. I'm not really a great artist, but I think your son would have wanted you to have this.'

The father
Opened the package. It was a portrait of his son, painted by the young man. He stared in awe at the way the soldier had captured the personality of his son in the painting. The father was so drawn to the eyes that his own eyes welled up with tears. He thanked the young man and offered to pay him for the picture. 'Oh, no sir, I could never repay what your son did for me. It's a gift.'
The father hung the portrait over his mantle. Every time visitors came to his home he took them to see the portrait of his son before he showed them any of the other great works he had collected.

The man died a few months later. There was to be a great auction of his paintings. Many influential people gathered, excited over seeing the great paintings and having an opportunity to purchase one for their collection.

On the platform sat the painting of the son. The auctioneer pounded his gavel. 'We will start the bidding with this picture of the son. Who will bid for this picture?'
There was silence
Then a voice in the back of the room shouted, 'We want to see the famous paintings. Skip this one.'

But the auctioneer persisted. 'Will somebody bid for this painting? Who will start the bidding? $100, $200?'

Another voice angrily. 'We didn't come to see this painting. We came to see the Van Gogh's, the Rembrandt's. Get on with the

Real bids!'

But still the auctioneer continued. 'The son! The son! Who'll take the son?'

Finally, a voice came from the very back of the room It was the longtime gardener of the man and his son. 'I'll give $10 for the painting..' Being a poor man, it was all he could afford.
'We have $10, who will bid $20?'
'Give it to him for $10. Let's see the masters.'
The crowd was becoming angry. They didn't want the picture of the son.
They wanted the more worthy investments for their collections.

The auctioneer pounded the gavel. 'Going once, twice, SOLD for $10!'

A man sitting on the second row shouted, 'Now let's get on with the collection!'
The auctioneer laid down his gavel. 'I'm sorry, the auction is over.'
'What about the paintings?'

'I am sorry. When I was called to conduct this auction, I was told of a secret stipulation in the will. I was not allowed to reveal that stipulation until this time. Only the painting of the son would be auctioned. Whoever bought that painting would inherit the entire estate, including the paintings.

The man who took the son gets everything!'


FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, WHO SO EVER BELIEVETH, SHALL HAVE ETERNAL LIFE...

God Bless.

Boy am I whooped! Just popping in - back later...

up at 5am! Betty - I haven't seen 5am in quite some time - unlike you!

Betty - so sorry to hear about Mona. I'm still waiting for some memorial service for my friend Drew, who passed away last Saturday. Not sure why the family is waiting but Drew was a unique individual....I'd describe him as an old hippy...very strong political convictions....a wonderful guy....but different. He possibly has them cremating and spreading the ashes over some symbolic piece of nature....But I still have no 'closure' I feel.....without a memorial service of some kind....

Love "The Doctors" ! Wish I had one like that - I usually pick females....maybe I need to change that! :)

Well - today was a lovely experience for me. Unfortunately DS was matched on his first match with the State's #2 player....so he really didn't get good playing time....

But the whole tennis team went to a Thai restaurant together and then met up to watch our best player play his second match....and was just a nice day for me - relaxing....

On the way home mentioned to DS my little ('drop by Orlando') idea...he Loved it! Which was exciting for me since I wasn't sure how a 17 yr old boy would feel about spending time with just Mama.....

Well - Betty you know I'm an amateur...but your 'weed' looks like my Gazanias....(Flower)

DH almost home...I'll be back on soon...

Hugs,
Mary

Now about Dr Hot & Dr Hotness..I did some on line research investigating
I found some important info..This is what I found..ROFLOL

Hey Tubby, how you doing?
Sorry, can't see the picture very well, it does not get any bigger.

LK

Hi LK I be fine..If the pic would enlarge you'd see a #3 shaved in his back.
Just being ornery..LOL

EWWWWWWW!!!! That is nasty!

Everyone please be careful, if you have to go out in public! That new flu is hitting hard, and fast!

LK

My condolences Betty on the loss of your friend. It seems the older we get the closer we feel to them and the loss seems harder to bear. My prayers are with you and her family. Hugs Barb

Here is the lastest addition to the backyard. Our Banana's by our pond flowered! It's a close up because....

Unfortunately if you are looking at it....you are also looking at the "Sanford & Son" part of my backyard....

Hugs,
Mary

Sorry about your friend, Betty. That is so difficult, I know.

I had my little guy this weekend. We kept pretty busy in the yard.

Wow! Don't think I have seen a banana bloom before.....it is beautiful!!

And I have lovely blooms, finally...nothing like Mary's, but still lovely to me.

And rhodies....

Sharon, he is such a cutie!!!
I love Iris, they are probably my favorite flower....grandma always had beautiful Iris.

Tubby....I think #3 was my ex-husband...yep, sure looks like him. Could go totally naked an no one would notice for the fur! hehehe My bad!

Love the flowers. Betty...no idea weed or flower. Looks like some of my thick daisies that come up in clumps....but also looks like the weed DH keeps pulling out of the driveway.

I hope your able to rest tonight. Again, I am so sorry about Mona.

Debbie

And roses....

Also have others of the same, and columbines, but I'll stop here. My family stayed till today, so I am ready to drop in my tracks.

Sharon, Beautiful flowers....you need to get some rest.

I'll get a long day tomorrow...it's my son's birthday so they will be here for dinner tomorrow after he gets off work at eight.

Then they leave for Chicago on Wednesday and guess who gets to take them to the airport...haven't found out what time yet.....just hope it isn't one of those 0'dark thirty flights.... It is a combination of research for a school project and visiting my future daughter in law's parents.

evening all,

betty so sorry to hear about mona
and your stained glass big hugs to you and mona's family

Beautiful flowers...thanks for posting them and about Helen (Mona)..just am sick to my tummy..had a little nap, had called another friend Ann, she the girlfriend who drops in all the time when here for the weekend..we both love painting and have much in common...friends for about 30 years I guess...anyway she's been having problems in her family, you'll probably remember me telling you about Mike (another one) who has a growth on his arm, been to see 2 other doctors since before Christmas regarding it, nobody seemed too concerned, well, it has grown 5 cm since mid March, total growth of 16cm..just got the results and NOW are concerned so he goes on Thurs to see what can be done..given the name of a specialist who works out of Princess Margaret and Mt. Siani...both well know cancer hospitals..her daughter sees her specialist re date for operation for the growth in her throat..Ann is frantic but dealing with both issues with a great amount of courage...she's prone to depression...she feels comfortable enough over the years to confide in me and for that reason alone we've bonded...

So all and all not a good day..

Only bit of good news and Ann was so laughing when she told me, the extra unit next door which I've seen them cleaning will shortly be a 'Family Restaurant'..they are hoping to have it open by July..imagine, a variety store, a pizza restaurant and now a family restaurant..who could ask for anything more...


Shar can't believe how much he's grown..they quickly lose their child like appearance don't they..but, he has kept his interest in gardening and helping grandma out..can see you smilling ear to ear...great that he got to spend the weekend...

Must tell you a little story..when Jeff was here on Saturday, playfully he asked what I was doing letting the boys watch such movies as Sex In the City...guess his boys said while waiting for pizze one night the movie came on, grandma had fallen asleep on the channel changer and they didn't want to wake her up...come on now, these are 4 growing boys! What ever happened to the up and down button on the remote control...I'll have to have a talk with these lads...

Your gardens are so colorful, how lucky you all are to walk through such beauty..

Best not pull out all those patches..although I can't see them being flowers but who knows, those frilly crazy daisies might have dropped their seed..

I had just moved this can that Mona was painting onto the table for Wednesday class..she said she had birdseed all over the place and this would be an excellent place to store it...

Sure wish we could all finish things before the end comes..sad that we cannot..

Mary hope the family does plan a memorial...need closure don't we...

Thanks for the help..
Off to bed...been an emotional up and down day...

Hello To All;

Sharran - tried to get a peek at your little one....but couldn't get pic to come up....but he's a cutie for sure...

Love your flowers....what is a Rhodie? DH didn't know either from the pic.....

I probably can't plant them here.....it just gets so hot....

Trisha - is this a 'first time' meeting? Is the wedding soon?

Debbie ! LOL - you crack me up :)

Ah Betty - not such a great day....I am so sorry. GLad to hear you will have some "family cooking"! You are right...gardening should take precedence over cooking!

The boys were up to mischief were they! First leaving the show on and second, "leaking" the info to Dad. I'm sure if they had watched the whole thing...it sure would have been a secret from Dad....but they knew he would tease you about it :)

Back in a bit,
Hugs,
Mary

Rhododendron, Mary... Very pretty large evergreen bush.

Hey Sharran; -

well - you just answered a question that has been bothering me.

I remembered at about 9 yrs old reading my Nancy Drew book....a passage about the "Fragrant Rhododendrons" or something like that....asking my Mom what a "rhododendron" was.

Now....Mom would always say "look it up" but this time she told me......

So I, being confused, asked DH the other day if our Philodendrons ever bloomed and if so - were the blooms fragrant?

Now the mystery is solved unless you tell me the Rhododendrons are NOT fragrant at which point...I need to google the passage to see what it actually said....

What an old memory!

So...................

Hugs,
Mary

PS - and I just yelled out to DH and he says Philodendrons don't grow here due to the humidity.....

Morning, tossed and turned all night..raining here today..with a day of sunshine and a day of rain won't be long the leaves on the trees will be open then you really feel that spring has sprung..

Mary, nice to know the boys tell father everything..lol..I'll have to tease them..all 4 are very open with me and sometimes I can't believe the things they say..different generation, omg I'd never say such things to any adult in my youth..maybe it's a good thing right..

Carol must be out working in her garden..I would think it would take her a good month to do all that acreage and arrange the little rooms she has offset everywhere within the apple orchard...

Your yard must be much the same Shar..so sad we all live so far apart and cannot do garden tours..wouldn't that be a fun thing to do..

Betty, we never have leaves on the trees this time of year....let alone blooms. And we have both. My lilacs are already showing small purple buds, and the apple & cherry trees are starting to bloom.....this is never until at least mid May.
My tulips are opening, another early to mid May timing for here.

I was up most of the night myself. My bones are telling me this isn't going to be a good day. I don't even have it in my to go make a pot of coffee.

Kids are in school...and it looks like rain on the way.

Be back in a bit
Debbie

Morning Betty..sorry to hear about your friend Helen/Mona..sad news about your friends ..must have "taken the wind right out of your sails"

Yes rain here today too.
Your craft room is lovely..what a nice bright place to do all your projects.

Yesterday was glorious..cleaned my car and even shampooed the seats..did some weeding and puttering about.

I am doing a little at a time out in the Secret Garden...no rush..
a couple of primrose are in bloom.

Sharron..what a smile came over my face as I looked at your grandson with his John Deere tractor and cart....so cute. Your blooms are so pretty..I have a rhodo that looks like yours..
but of course it will be awhile till it blooms.

My grandaughter and 7 of her friends who all just graduated from university as just came back from Mexico near Cancun. She is ok..but we were worried. She said the swine flu news was very downplayed at the resort.

Bye for now

So sorry to hear about your friend Betty.

Wish we had a little of your rain! Our things are starting to look a little wilted so I guess I will be watering some this morning and later this afternoon. You would think we would be okay with all the rains we have had but it has dried up fast. Maybe that is a good thing--who knows.

Promised my self I would work in the yard some while it is still cool so later..............

Betty, batten down the hatches...we have a huge storm cloud approaching...going right over us to you. How are you doing this morning? I am sorry about your stained glass also, forgot to add that last night.

My animals are all clinging to me so bad this morning, it is driving me crazy. My 100 lbs shih-tzu just wants to sit on my lap, and the kitty in front of the computer screen won't let me take my hand off her. Perhaps they need me to take a nap so they will feel better.

Debbie

They must be worried about the storm Debbie, Sailor does that as well and yes, it is stormy and calling for quite a storm..

Before I get to your posts, my morning is not going much better..
Just on MSN and another wonderful earthly angel, always there for me got on, she paints with me on Wednesday night, I even had her DH doing stained glass...

They've been having some difficulties of late, she almost came to stay with me once or twice just before Christmas but held out and things seem to go better..in fact just a few days ago they were planning a trip to Alaska..

Anyway she wasn't on msn yesterday which is rare, we always gab at least 4 or 5 times..last night I called her to tell her about Helen and I didn't feel anything was wrong, always her pleasant self...

Stacey you met her in Frankenmuth, she was my friend that came along with Suzanne and I...

This morning I start my conversation with, 'you won't be working at the waterfront today with all this heavy rain' and she comes back with 'nope, wasn't outside in that nice weather either, had an incident Sunday night with hubby'...

Without going through what she said and I said I'll just give you key points asking for prayers...

He was in a foul mood all day so she went into the basement and started to cut out squares for another rag quilt..things were pretty quiet...she came upstairs and started supper and as she looked up at the next floor level she could see DH deep in though looking out the window at the bay..he has a bottle of whiskey and is drinking it straight..she told him he best put it away and go lay down...he's not going for any of it...

Put the timer on the stove and back downstairs she went to her project..about an hour later she gets a call, it's dh, he;s outside in the little boat in the middle of the bay, crying, not making sense, saying his dad is calling him (his dad passed away late last year), she kept trying to get him to come back to shore but wouldn't..finally ran over to neighbors, they kept him talking and she called 911...police (he's one) got there and both were individuals he works with..they were able to get to him and bring ashore..ambulance took him to the hospital where they kept him overnight...

Oh no-yes I remember Rita....it seems like maybe he is depressed....

Betty-I can't believe to top of your horrific day yesterday that beautiful stained glass piece broke-it was so pretty and looked great as a floating wall on your patio!!

Her daughters got a call and were there about 1:30am, he was quite surprised at this, although they were only younger than teens when both married, he has difficulties with the bond they have..perhaps it's something lacking in his relationship with mom and dad...

The Captain and several other officers were in to see him and give him support..don't know that he knows the full story...although they are supportive, I'm not so sure they will let him back to work without counselling..

My dear friend is being brave..she'll be over tomorrow night so I'll be able to give her a hug..

Hug Rita for me too-how frustrating to see the person you are in love with go through something like this that you really can't do anything about

Thanks Stacey, wow seems all my friends are going to h..l in a handbag as they say..news isn't improving..sick to my tummy..these friends are so very special to me, all my 'earthly angels' during my time of need..ALL needing at the same time...not good...

As for the stained glass piece, I have another frame and glass downstairs just wanting to be done for same place...some things can be replaced, others not..

I worry even more for Rita's hubby..with him being in the force and having firearms it would be so easy for a disaster...maybe going out onto the lake was a cry for help without using other means...

Shouldn't say my day can only get better should I?

What are you up to today Stacey, is it sunshine in your neck of the woods...

Just got a call from Darlene..we are all meeting at the funeral home tomorrow afternoon at 3:00..ordering flowers as we speak...

Know she's hurting Stacey, but she's putting on a good front..some are always there to help others but hide their feelings when it comes to them...I might give her a call later and ask if she wants to join our group and go tomorrow afternoon, then maybe we could go out to eat afterwards..that is if she feels DH is strong enough to be on his own..

Oh my Betty, I am so sorry for all of the happenings lately. I hope they can get him feeling better and back on a positive streak.

We're having a disaster plan meeting for bombs, earthquakes, tornadoes, Swine Flu, etc. I'm not really in it but listening.

Ok, now I'm frustrated. I'm from CA, spent 33 1/2 years of 36 in CA and they're trying to figure out the safest place to go, I'm telling them under a door frame or strong table (desk) is the safest and they're not believing me, saying the brick stairwell is the safest. Trying to explain morter doesn't hold up to earthquakes because it doesn't have any give in it and will crumble, still ignorning me. That's fine, they can all go inside the brick stairwell and I'll be safe under my door frame. Now I'm frustrated, no one here has ever been in CA, let alone live there. gggrrrrrrr

no-rainy:( I will be writing today-I have to submit a story for that guy I sold the short story to...

crissy-LOL-you are 100% right!!

I'm just not worried enough I guess. Buying rations of food for yourself plus blankets, etc to live in the building for x amount of time. This building has rats...