Thank You Mary Striley!!

I received this picture of Mary, and her son Jake a couple of weeks ago. And now, Mary and her little boy are dead from a murder/suicide. Her son Jake was shot in the head while sitting in a high chair, and Mary was shot in the head in a bedroom. Her boyfriend took full responsibility, and then killed himself. I watched the news the other morning and they mentioned something about a murder/suicide in Orange but there were no names mentioned. Then that night when I picked up the newspaper, and saw a photo of Mary, my heart dropped. How does this happen to someone that is so positive. I don't pretend to understand these things. It's taken me a couple of days to write this ,so please be patient with me as I struggle through this. I didn't think this would grab my heart the way it did, hurt the way it did, but I just couldn't let it go.

How do I know Mary? She was a customer at Country Roads until her MS made it difficult for her to shop. The first slide show I sent out to my E-Mail Express customers with lots of pictures of the store, she responded so positive with an email telling me how much she enjoyed the pictures because of her disability she wasn't able to come into the store as much as she use to and this made her feel a part of the store. Then our friendship kind of grew from there. She would make comments on my blog and would often email me. All positive, each and every word!! She would send me pictures of kittens and puppies. When she found out we had a cat in our gardens that had just had kittens, Mary emailed me to give information on a vet that was low cost and could help us. She loved animals and a few weeks back she asked if I would do a post on my blog about a low cost pet adoption that was coming up in Orange County. Because of Mary, this little dog found a home with one of my dealers and friend, Cindy Finch. Because of Mary, this little dog also found a home because of Mary. Bill, Cindy's husband, went back to the shelter a week later and rescued Gay Oscar!

I hope, with all my heart, Mary knew what a difference she made in people's lives. Her kind heart, the smile in the picture above, illustrates the Mary that I knew through emails and blog comments. You know, I do this blog for a couple of reasons. Of course, being in business I do posts to promote Country Roads. I also write this blog to encourage myself to "write" each day! But what I've found out with both owning the store and having a blog, this has given me so many opportunities to reach out to people when I can, to help when I can. I'm a big believer in "paying it forward" and the "giving back" thing. And Country Roads, and my blog have allowed be to do this.

It will be awhile before the ache goes away in my heart from what happened to such a beautiful person. I have the above picture posted on my bulletin board to remind me of the person Mary was; kind, caring and compassionate. I'm very grateful I had Mary be a part of my life, even if it was only a short time. Every email she sent me ended with this quote, "Just when the caterpillar thought her world was over. . .SHE became a butterfly"!! I now know that Mary has finally become the most beautiful, loving butterfly ever!

My Mom

Above is my mom in elementary school. With Mother's Day just a couple of days away, I thought I'd share some photos of my mom. She was born in Temple, Texas in 1928 and passed away a few days after her first great-grandchild Riley was born in 2006. She just hung on long enough to know the baby arrived in this world safe and sound before she let go. So, this is my tribute to my mom, "Johnnye Merle" "standing by her folks car"
"with her mom, Madge Durham" "what a cute, young lady she was" "on her wedding day with the love of her life" "me and my dad with her" "she's lovin my dad at Christmas" "she's showing Brande on Dec.17th,1981,her new baby sister, Katie Noel"
My mom, she was one special lady. There are times I really miss her, like now. Her second great-granddaughter is due in three weeks. I know she'll be watching over Morgan like she does Riley. Happy Mother's Day mom, we all miss you!!


FAVORITE FAMILY FOTO FRIDAY
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Riley Time!!

Riley hasn't been over too much the past few days. Potting training time, and she is doing well. I got to spend some time with her today, as did Leonard, her buddy. The photos below really don't need words when it comes to Riley!!













This was the truck my mom had given Bryce when he was Riley's age. My mom's dad use to drive a Texas oil truck for a living.

As you can tell, we're done with picture taking for the day! Sorry, I'm just one of "those" Gramma's, I can never, ever take enough!

My Memory Corner

This is a little corner in my family room, kind of tucked out of the way, but it is sort of like my "memory corner". After my folks died, there were many small things I wanted to display, that I could see daily, instead of putting it all away in boxes. I've got a collection of little hanging cupboards with drawers. You know once you have "three" of anything it's a collection. Those are Bryce's cowboy boots my mom gave him when he was a little guy. My mom, being proud of her Texas upbringing, had to give her baby boy cowboy boots! I just remembered I've got my grandpa's spurs someplace. I need to dig those out and add them in. I have a lot of antiques and vintage stuff. But, most of it I use, rather than have a museum in my house, if that makes sense. If I have all this stuff, it HAS to be functional! This "milk delivery" advertising was actually on top of an old milk truck. I stuck it onto of an old pencil leg table so I could use it has a table. Framed is the only picture of Riley and my dad together. As soon as Riley began to talk, she would look at the picture and just say, "Papa". No one ever told her that was her "Papa", she just knew. It is still kind of spooky. I keep a lot of my folks stuff in this little memory corner of mine. The cat and dog photo above hung in their home for years. Also, the two dried roses I brought home from the cementary after each of their funerals. Sometimes those bug me, so not sure how long I'll leave them sitting out. I really enjoy having the cat and dog photo hanging in my house after a lifetime in my parents house. The blue case like bulletin board was the very first thing I bought from Country Roads, the day before we opened. The back is metal, so believe me, it's "hebby"! I just have a collection of stuff my folks had: mine & my sister's baby shoes, the New Testament that my dad carried during WWII, my folks wedding picture along with a newspaper clipping that ran in the local paper about my mom getting married. My dad is from Joplin, Missouri and that is his "letter" he got in high school for playing football and baseball. Then there is a variety of black and white photos of me and my sister as kids. Sometimes when I'm having a crazy day, and I happen to be in that part of the house, the little memory corner, I just stop for a few minutes and "look", and for some reason it calms me down and I know my day is going to be a whole lot better.

The Many Sides of Christie Repasy

Many people know Christie for her rose paintings, which are beautiful. But there is SO much more to Christie than just her rose paintings. I didn't have a lot of time on Sunday to take pictures, but above is just one shot of Christie's space at Country Roads. She displays beautifully and with ease, there is no struggling when it comes to talent with this girl! The dresser you are looking at was also painted by her, and I love the little beach painting that is sitting on the dresser. I actually have one myself. Christie is in at least twice a week working on her space and it always has an inviting look to it. The thing I love best about my business is the people that are a part of it. We are all like a patchwork quilt that has been sewn together, we just "fit" together if you know what I mean. I'm very selective in regards to who becomes a dealer at the store. You can have a person that will make lots and lots of money, but if they are hard to work with it, at the end of the day, it's just not worth it. I think that's why so many people like to shop with us. It's a fun store, people actually "like" each other and I think that shows. The majority of our dealers have been at the store over ten years, which means a great deal to me. Country Roads. . .its all about the family. If you haven't been in to see in awhile, stop by. The store has all the colors of Spring, and Johnnye Merle's Gardens outback is overflowing with has new plant arrivals. See you soon!!

Spring at Country Roads

Yesterday while I was at work, I noticed how "Spring Like" the store looked. I was able to take a few quick pictures, and then you know, you gotta take care of those customers, what can I say. I'm a fan of "contrast", like above with the vintage old mailboxes that has a Repasy painting on top with a parasol. Stacey threw together this display on the ledge of her space. Yesi said it best, "I want to buy everything there, it looks so good together". This is one of our display areas of the store by the front door, along with the mailboxes above. We always like to keep changing it up so our customers will enjoy it! I've had the old wood potting table by our front door for years. It makes a great display area and we change it with the seasons, or our moods. It's an easy area to work with. This is inside of Stacey's space. I like the contrast here too with the vintage linen cart and the fancy chandelier. If you haven't stopped by to see us at Country Roads lately, come on by. We're always changing this or that!!

It's Not About the "Need", It's About the "Want"!!

Okay, I now realize what you are looking at! Three dolphins on my farm table in my dining room, and you are thinking, what the hell? This trio of dolphins are not permanently going to sit on top of my farm table in the dining room! Tomorrow, since I just got home from work, they will be in my backyard, by the pool, in Club Med Long Beach! They will fit in perfectly! But yet, I ask myself, who in their right mind would buy three dolphins?? We all know the answer to who that real dumbass is, ME! But when do you ever come across such a trio as these three? And, btw Gloria, if you are reading this blog, thanks for the NO discount on the price;0) Check back soon to see how totally cool they will look out by the pool, seriously. Off course, that is assuming they don't FALL into the pool! Again, I have to ask myself, "what are you thinking girl"?

"Leonard, I DID It"

Yesterday was Riley's first day of potty training. When my kids were young, if I had to pick one thing I hated the most, it was potty training! After about three or four "accidents", I got a phone call. With excitement in her voice, I hear Riley say to me "Gramma, I DID it, I DID it, and I got stickers". Then Riley called her Uncle Bryce and Aunt Brande with the same news. As I write this I can still hear her little excited voice on the phone. As I say over and over, I never, ever take for granite that I get to spend so much time with Riley since she lives so close to me. Riley also got to discuss her big news with Leonard yesterday on the phone. That's when I pretend I'm Leonard and meow into the phone like a fool!! But when I hear Riley giggling, I don't feel as much like a fool, just happy to know I can make her laugh!

"I Need Followers", I Shamelessly Ask!

So, sometimes I'm not the brightest crayon in the box when it comes to the blogging world. I've been doing it a long time, but you know, there are just things that don't always "click" in this head of mine. Anyway, I'll explain in a few weeks the why's of why I'm asking, but I need some "followers", you know the "click to follow". So, if you could do me that favor I shamelessly ask, you are the best!

TJ in the 50's!!

I've been trying to go through stuff of my parents and organize it for the past couple of years. And then it gets overwhelming or my mind strays as I spend time looking at all the old photos. I found this souvenir photo the other day. There is another one similar to this one that my parents had taken right after they were married, which is a classic if I can find it! Once again, as my dad always did, he wrote everybody's names down for this photo. That was Pat Moore, the historian before his time! My dad is "Pancho" and my mom is "Kiss Me"! And the poor donkey is painted to look like a zebra! Yes, that was and still is Tijuana!! I haven't been down that way for at least fifteen years now. I guess that's kind of a draw back as you get older from those carefree days of our youth.
My dad was always such a smart ass, I'm surprised he didn't get kicked out of TJ! But, wow, it looked like they were all having fun in the photo, except for the poor ass! Don't worry, this time I'm talking about the donkey, not my dad!
FAVORITE FAMILY FOTO FRIDAY
To participate: contact Deborah at cashgirl_56@yahoo.com