One of the few things I purchased for the GYPO Spring Style Challenge was these fantastic

orange flats and I have to say I adore them and can’t wait to see how many ways I can style them…

Today’s outfit for the challenge was suppose to be a white top and bright cardigan, 

cold enough here for a long sleeved tee and another chance to wear my favorite poncho before packing it away…

Let’s face it my summers are too hot for this baby!  

I had a knee brace strapped on for the day, but removed it for photos…

That back of my knee injury from exercising feels much better when i wear a brace,

but then I am moving about a bit more,  so perhaps not the best thing…   

I don’t do well at sitting still… I vividly remember many years ago,  my broken foot when I was pregnant with my daughter and me crawling around on the floor constantly cleaning up as I was in the nesting mode…

I am taking it easier this time as I want to heal before this Vegas trip on May 16th! 

 I have been loving this challenge and am sad to say , it will be over in just a few days. 

I won’t be joining the next one as I have too many summer clothes to style and don’t any limitations. 

If interested she will start a Summer One Soon and is selling past ones on the linked page at the top of my blog post. 

Dear Readers, No close up shots today, as my eyes are swollen… not sure if that is allergies or perhaps the tears that were flowing this afternoon.  I was listening to both Journey and Neil Diamond today to get in the mood for Vegas. As soon as I put on the first Neil Diamond song, “Sweet Caroline” , the tears came on like an avalanche that couldn’t be stopped. Quite often I can tear up at missing my mother, but nothing to this level since the early days of mourning.  

Neil Diamond is so tied into my mother as he was her favorite and she played Elvis and Neil on Sunday mornings while we would get ready for church.. If we were ready early we got to dance with our parents… Smart Strategy as I loved dancing with my father.  I remember the early years of standing on his feet.   

After my father passed away, my mother played music even more, I think the silence was too much.  Neil Diamond was a huge part of my childhood.  Upon my high school graduation, I took a rode trip to Canada with my mother, blasting his songs and singing at the top of my lungs… it’s a long drive from Virginia to Canada… 

Years later a dear friend and I took our mother’s to see Neil Diamond in concert…

That was a huge deal for my mother and I know she cherished it.  So do I!  

Now if only I can get through the concert without breaking down, time to buy waterproof mascara!  

Gratitude

I am grateful for the wonderful memories that filled my head today, as I listened to Neil Diamond for a few hours today. 

I am grateful that my reluctant reader found himself lost in a book today and read twice as many chapters as I instructed him to and wants to read more at bed time!  

I am grateful that I am homeschooling my youngest and the strength I find every day to make this work. 

I am grateful that my husband came home early and took my youngest out for awhile giving me rare time alone.