Saturday, March 20, 2010


Welcome Spring! This was the view in the driveway (where Jarrett and I used to play HORSE) this morning at 7:06 a.m. CDT. Approximately 33 degrees outside. Yesterday, it was 65 degrees in this same spot!
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Saturday, March 20, 2010 - For the past three days, I've been working in the front garden which I started planting 20 years ago to keep an eye on Andrew and Jarrett. I cut down the ornamental grasses and got rid of the overgrowth and dead organic matter that grew last year. What a HUGE mess. It's pretty much out of control which is why I was out there even though I knew we were in for some snow today.

The poor little crocuses and daffodils were coming up in a mass of dead twigs and weeds. Their survival depends on my efforts to tidy up the bed every year so I have to will myself to get out there even though I know what I'm in for. Remember the motto: DO IT NOW.

Plus, I found out that the time in my camera is wrong -- spring it forward. see ya later, djb

Wednesday, March 10, 2010


Here's Andrew's side of the gravestone with his star that Karen made several years ago, with his little angel and the golf ball that someone left there last week.
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Here's Jarrett's side of the gravestone with a surprise chess piece, his star and his angel. I didn't see the chess piece until today and it made me cry.
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Here's their evergreen trees this afternoon. One short week ago, this entire area was covered in a foot of snow. WOW!
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Wednesday, March 10, 2010 - This afternoon, I drove into the post office to mail some letters and on the way back, I stopped at the cemetery to finally pick up the nativity scene and the fake poinsettia. Last week, the nativity scene was frozen to the ground!

When I moved it, I noticed a chess piece on the ground. Someone had come by at some point in time and left it for Jarrett. Maybe it was the same person who left the golf ball for Andrew? God bless them whoever they are.

later, djb

Tuesday, March 9, 2010


Andrew and Jarrett's crosses exactly 7 years to the day since their funeral (March 8, 2003). This picture was taken on March 8, 2010 at 8:56 p.m. CST.
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Tuesday, March 9, 2010 - When we drive on Killer Keslinger, we don't consciously think about it being dangerous or scary -- In my mind, the crosses mark the spot where Andrew and Jarrett went to heaven. At least, that's my take on them. Other people are creeped out by the sight of crosses anywhere by the side of the road because of the obvious reason for their placement but I've been able to switch my brain to a positive outlook. Not that easy to do all things considered.

For some reason, the banks/credit card companies are so desperate for customers, that they keep sending applications for credit to the dead boys. It's just very strange. Have you noticed all the commercials that Chase is airing these days? And did they pay back that money they borrowed yet? hmmm Inquiring minds want to know....

It's almost double digit days in March...pretty soon it will be the Ides of March and THIS month will be half over. Ay carumba! Stay safe out there. See ya later, djb

Saturday, March 6, 2010


I went into the cemetery yesterday (Andrew's day) to take a picture of the gravesite with Andrew's pink flamingo hanging from his shepherd hook. Notice the GOLF BALL sitting on the ledge near Andrew's side of the stone!
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Saturday, March 6, 2010 - So, I took this picture and a few others and I didn't even SEE the golf ball sitting there -- well, until I did which was later on. Someone apparently came by to visit the grave and left Andrew a golf ball. How sweet is that!!!!!!!! It really touches my heart.

I was so busy yesterday cleaning the house and so on that I didn't have time to download this picture. Then, last night, Norton was busy checking things out with the weekly scan. Hopefully, I'm clean.

Better go. It's supposed to be nice today -- okay, not warm but LESS cold. Some day, everyone will be complaining about how HOT it is. see ya later, djb

Wednesday, March 3, 2010


Here's Andrew's tree at the top and Jarrett's tree further down the hill. Way far away is the grave. Of course, on the upper right is my car which Andrew always loved to drive because it had a CD player.
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Here's Jarrett's tree in the front and Andrew's tree up the hill. Clear blue sky, but COLD & snowy!
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Wednesday, March 3, 2010 - Here's some more pictures I took this morning -- the trees! I love those trees. You can see my footprints in the snow.

I'm so glad that they moved the trees for me, otherwise, they may have been cut down. yikes!

We went in at two and saw Tim, Terri and Ryan. It was SO good to see them. Terri always goes over to Kar-Free in Sycamore (where Rod works) and brings a bouquet of flowers to the cemetery. Some years, we get to see her and other years, we don't.

This year, we went down to Schmidt's and had a bite to eat and chatted. A real nice time. Suppose I'd better be getting myself ready to go back into town and see the kids. later, djb

Here's Andrew and Jarrett's gravestone in 2004 -- 6 years ago. I wonder if I still have the fake anthuriums.
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Wednesday, March 3, 2010 - Wow! How did it get to be seven years since Andrew and Jarrett died? A day at a time, I guess. I haven't really let myself "feel" it yet. Yesterday, I worked on their website most of the day -- a good distraction for me.

One of the favorite and delightful surprises was seeing the Animoto video that Diane put together last year. It is so sweet. I totally enjoyed watching it. What a thoughtful gesture!

I've been so mentally conditioned to not crying because of the problems with my eye that I'm actually afraid to find my buried emotions. Of course, two years ago, I acted all brave and pretended I was fine but then my heart knew better and the shingles came and visited a plague upon me. It's a lose-lose situation.

Time for me to go to the cemetery and put the flowers around the grave. I'll take a picture of the scene and put it on my blogger page. What's really nice now when I drive through the cemetery is seeing their evergreen trees that I grew and nurtured for so long. They're beautiful and alive. It makes me happy. see ya later, djb