Storms, storms and more storms. This weekend is exactly one year since the floods that, in Memphis flooded my car, and in Nashville flooded our townhouse. The car was easy enough to bring back to it's original state but the townhouse took a toll on all of us. We had to gut it up four feet and virtually everything is new, including the furniture. I was able to save a leather coffee table, three tables and a bookcase. Just this month we finished it off with new countertops. I must say it is beautiful, thanks mostly to our contractor, Merrill Construction Group, and a friend who helped in selecting the furniture. We were not eligible for any assistance from FEMA or our insurance, so our 'retirement' sports car is now nonexistent!! Oh, well. We had a contract to sell the townhouse at the time of the flood but she backed out of the final sale (don't blame her) so we still own it and I'm enjoying it a lot.
So this year's storms that are devastating the south cause all those emotions of last year to re-emerge. It feels like the world is in a crazy time.
Crazy is a good word for some of the Repubs who are "thinking" of running for Pres against my man, President Obama. Donald Trump?? Puhlease! Enough said.
Now for the FUN---we are loving the playoffs for the Grizzlies, Memphis's NBA team. They are playing San Antonia Spurs in the first round of eliminations and are ahead 3 to 2 games. We have season tickets so are attending the home game playoffs and it is so much fun, not to mention uplifting for a Memphis that has lots of morale problems. To see 18,000 people swinging the towels and cheering is fantastic. We sit with other season ticket holders and have a big time at each game. Next game is tomorrow night here in Memphis and the Griz could win the whole thing. Go Griz.
Knitting and reading--not getting much done there, too much spring fever going on. We bought a rocking chair for the back porch which will be my summer perch for reading and I have a long list on the Kindle ready to go.
Knitting a few things--more about that later.
That's the way it is---stormy and sunny, lots of high fives for the team, and enjoying all the renewal of our townhouse in Nashville.
That's Memphis, never the same but always exciting.

I haven't been on here in forever so I don't know where to start. The way it is in Memphis---is gorgeous! The perfect time to visit us in NOW. Just about every street in mid-town is filled with flowers and shrubs and trees in bloom. It is sunny and bright but not hot or humid, yet. We are able to get by without heat and a/c and can enjoy the night time breezes. So, come to Memphis right now.

I've been busy knitting for all the new greats we are having--a great niece so far and two great nephews on the way. They will be born to sisters so we are excited. That is in addition to two great nephews and a great niece we already have. Remember we lost one great niece a few years ago and will forever remember our Riley with love. Her mom is one of the two having boys this summer.

Our son, David, moved to San Francisco in the fall and has found great employment and a new girlfriend we will meet later this spring.

Laura is in VA with her hubby Jonathan and is learning to be a DC tour guide--she's already giving tours at the Library of Congress. They are first time home owners and experiencing some money-pit situations. Right now they are overhauling their yard--which will take more than one summer!

Good things coming---in addition to all the babies, we will be celebrating our 40th wedding anniversary over Memorial Day weekend--May 29. All of us will be together here in Memphis. We will get to meet the new girlfriend that weekend, too.

Then in June there are two family reunions--the Bones and the Markhams, both in KY. In July we will travel back to NH for a week on the lake where we last lived.

The condo in Nashville has been completely redone and we are going to enjoy going there just for fun--no more work!

Knitting--fun continues at Knit Night. Sometimes we have fifteen and sometimes we have six. Bu it is always fun. I've been knitting baby blankets galore. A good friend whose daughter I've known since day one is also having a baby this summer. So the knitting continues. I'm working on socks--as always, a lace shawl--having just completed two shawls, one large and the other more a shawlette. I've got a years worth of pending projects so I'm working my way through that before any more purchases.

Reading some good books! Bridge of Sighs by Richard Russo and Noah's Compass by Anne Tyler.

Two more book club books to read in May, then this summer I've stacked up a long queue on my Kindle to read through.

So, that's how it is in Memphis. On other levels--Charlie Sheen is crazy; the Republicans are crazy--trying their best to deny the poor as they feed the rich; there's a mess of devastation in Japan; and other atrocities are occurring daily. Yet we carry on. Earthquakes, tsunamis and crazy weather abounds. Yet we carry on.

So, that's how it is. Hang in there.