McDonald's Rage

This is a weird story. On my way to the bank, I stopped at McDonald's to get a drink. Now this particular McDonald's has two separate drive up lanes, side by side. I'm sure you've all seen them. Anyway, as I pulled up there was a van, followed by a car in the first lane, and the second one was empty. So naturally I pulled into the second one...I mean, who wouldn't right? So I pull up to the speaker just as the van was pulling out of the first lane. The "lady" in the car behind him then pulled up to give her order. However, I was already in the process of saying "one medium coke please". All of a sudden, I heard her screaming at the unsuspecting McDonald's employee, very loudly - "Hey you! I was here before "that" woman over there." I quickly look around and realize of course that she must have been talking about me, because I was the only other person there. So I continue on my merry way, feeling sorry for the employee who would have to deal with her rage. All I could think of was "Give that woman her food!" So I pull up to pay for my drink, and she comes flying up behind me, literally, doing at least 60 miles per hour to go only 10 feet. I thought I was a goner! Now I'm thinking this woman is not only hungry and desperately needs her McDonald's nourishment, but she is nuts! The best thing to do in a situation like this is TAKE OFF EH! So I purchase my drink and head out. I pull out onto Redwood Road and head south, because after all, I still need to hit the bank. About 2 yards before the bank's driveway, this crazy lady comes screaming down Redwood Road and cuts me off and pulls in front of me. She was laughing at me as if to say..."see, now I'm in front of you." And at that exact moment, I quickly turn right and pull into the bank. I turned to look at her and she was gesturing some kind of signal with her finger, I'm not sure what! But I walked into the bank with a smile on my face, and a gratitude in my heart, that I never leave the house hungry, only thirsty.

10 Things That Make Me Happy

#10 - Clean Sheets
There is nothing I like better than crawling into bed and snuggling into clean crisp sheets. I just lay there and get so excited, that I even get butterflies in my tummy. And I sleep so well on nights like that. Ahhhhh!

#9 - Sunday Drives
We don't do this as much as we used to, but I love love love Sunday drives, especially in the Fall. No TV, no house to clean, no meals to fix, just driving with the family. I find it very relaxing and I love having the opportunity to bond with the fam!

#8 - Rain
I love the rain. I love the feel of the rain on my face (oh I think that's a song), and love the smell of rain, and love the fresh feeling of rain. I love rainstorms, especially back east. They have the best rainstorms...Nova Scotia, Massachusetts and New Jersey!

#7 - Quilting
I love to quilt. I love to make quilts and give them away. It's an artful creation that I enjoy seeing in my mind, then putting together.

#6 - Painting
I have discovered a new love - oil painting. Who would have thought! But I can't get enough. I go to classes once a week and I wish it was 5 times a week.

#5 - Pajamas
One of my favorite things to do when I come home from work, whenever possible, is to climb into my pj's. Total comfort is what life is all about at those moments.

#4 - The Smell of Coconut
I spend a lot of time seeking out lotions and shampoos that smell like coconut. I love that smell, and I breath it in deeply when I use those products.

#3 - Scrapbooking and Pictures
I think these two go hand in hand, because I can't scrapbook without pictures. I take pictures whenever and wherever I go, and I am constantly writing stories in my mind as I am taking pictures.

#2 - MY CAT, TOPAZ!
I love my cat and he loves me. No, really he does! He is so spoiled and practically runs the house.

#1 - Cape Breton Island
My heart is there and always will be. I love my heritage and where I came from. My roots are deep in that island and my heart will forever long for its beauty and serenity.

So to sum things up, I would be at my happiest, cozied up in my pj's, somewhere on Cape Breton Island, painting a picture, while Topaz sits on my lap, and I had a coconut candle burning in the room, while NCIS is on the tv (snuck that one in there...I couldn't resist). Charlene is right, I had a hard time thinking about my favorite 10, but once I got started, I could have kept going and going and going.

Cape Breton Tear Jerker

My friend Myrna said to me on facebook, "go to my blog and see some pictures of Cape Breton and that will really make you cry for home." So I did. I watched this video and, yes I did cry, and want to get into the car and drive straight to where my heart lives. So what could I do but to snag it from her blog and put it on my blog also. Now I can watch it and cry everyday. What is it about Cape Breton Island? Once it gets into your heart and under your skin, it's there forever! And every time I drive home, it doesn't matter what part of Cape Breton Island I am on, it is HOME! As soon as I see the Causeway, I am HOME! There is a deep, strong heritage there and definitely a Welcome Mat for all. I absolutely love who I am and where I came from. I thank my Heavenly Father for giving me such a special and permanent ground for my heritage and who I am. I've often heard that "pictures don't do a place justice" but...what can I say. Cape Breton is not just a place, it's a state of mind, an inner peace. Maybe you have to be a Cape Bretoner to get it. This video is true to the core. I LOVE CAPE BRETON!

Bryant Turns 25 - February 24, 2010

A cake for Bryant and what else would it be....the Boston Red Sox. Made by his sweet wife Elisha, but Bryant says he made the "B".

Elisha's niece...her ONLY interest was the cat!


Bryant with Grandma Joyce and mother-in-law Geri. (Isn't that the coolest thing, he has 2 Grandmothers named Joyce. And here's another thing, this Grandma Joyce has a son named Gordon...so does the other!


Parker, Elisha's nephew couldn't wait to get into the "B" cake. He is very proud of his blue tongue.


Bryant and his good friend, Nolan.

Attempting to get a good picture of Bryant & Elisha. Nolan steps in...

Jake steps in...

And finally...thank you for your patience!

Bryant and Andrew (best buds and brothers).


Andrew and Nolan cutting the cake. Is there something wrong with this picture?

Hmmmm, we must always be joking around...

Bryant and Charlene ("Big Sister")

Bryant and neighbor Nick. Howdy neighbor! (Nick just had to have his picture taken too).

Bryant and Tricia - sweet little sister.

And then there's Jake. What is it with the Jake's in our family??? No problem here for Bryant, but...

Jake looks constipated! Hold on JAKE!!!

Bryant & Elisha's Wedding, Oct. 8, 2009

I need to step back in time for a moment, but not too far back. Since I am behind in posting, I thought I'd better get some wedding pictures on here. The day turned out beautiful for October and we couldn't have asked for anything better. Everyone was happy and this wedding was a blessing to both families. Welcome Elisha, our new daughter-in-law, into our family. We love you and hope that you feel as much a part of this family as we want you to be.


Just coming out of the temple, Elisha hugging her Mom.

Jake congratulating the groom.

Is that not the best look of relief on Bryant's face?

Families and friends.


The Brown Family - growing in numbers.

Bryant & Elisha with Bryant's Grandma & Grandpa Brown.

Ooo, la, la!



I LOVE this picture!

The wedding cake was gorgeous!

This is the quilt I made for Bryant & Elisha. I think it turned out pretty good!


The table centerpieces were beautiful.

Bryant, ever hungry, needed to eat before the reception got underway.

Handsome groom and groomsmen!

Spencer, all gussied up.

Thinking about Memories

Isn't thinking a wonderful thing? I find myself doing just that quite a bit lately. If I let myself, my thoughts wander to things of the past, memories almost forgotten. I also find myself in the present, thinking about ways to make memories for my loved ones. And then, just to keep myself from getting bored, I will allow my thinking to jump to the future, of dreams and hopes, always looking forward.

When my thoughts wander to the past, the first things that come to mind are family and friends. I don't remember, nor do I care to think about material things. Always people. That's me, I guess I'm just a people kind of person. Although, my thoughts do bring me to blueberries, and the Atlantic ocean, and roller skating, and shopping (there is always shopping in every thought). But even each of these brings a memory of someone dear.

Shopping - with my grandmother, affectionately known to everyone as Ma Gillard. How she loved to go to "the K-mart" on Friday nights! Before I left to pursue my own life, I spent a lot of time "shopping" with Ma. I can't ever remember her buying anything, but it was the highlight of her week to climb into my little Mustang Cobra and head to Sydney on Friday night. How many teenagers spend that kind of Friday night time with their grandma? Well...I wouldn't trade those moments for the entire world and so, I think about her often.

Blueberries - what can I say? It's almost a way of life in the summertime. But then there was the time that I had picked an entire roaster full (I used a roaster because I thought it would be easy to carry). It wasn't. I set it down and went to investigate a beautiful bush of berries that had just caught my eye. When I turned back, there was Pops, our loyal dog, eating the berries from the roaster. How he loved blueberries. But he liked them best when someone picked them for him.

The Atlantic ocean - I remember spending many, many moments standing on the cliff, just staring out over the Atlantic. My most vivid memory however, is the day I took my grandfather, Da Gillard to the hospital. As we pulled away from his house, he asked me to please stop the car for a minute. He got out of the car, and stood as close to the cliff as possible. He very carefully scanned the horizon of the Atlantic from his home, a scene I'm sure he wanted to impress into his memory forever. After a few minutes, he got back into the car and said, "I'm ready to go now." Da never came home again after that. When I have the opportunity to gaze out over the Atlantic, whenever I am home, I am brought back to that moment in time, and I can feel my grandfather standing beside me.

So many other memories also. I feel the need to start writing them down, to keep a journal of them. So this is my promise to myself, and to my children so that they will know who I was, who I am, and hopefully who I have yet to become.