Mary Louise Eklund

Tag: family

  • Monday Marginala – We Visited The Kids

    Here we are on the road and wondering if the little dark cloud up there near the Batman building in Nashville is following over someone.
    Here we are on the road and wondering if the little dark cloud up there near the Batman building in Nashville is following over someone.

    Well hello there!  I know, I know blog fade got me as RL intruded.  But yet again I’m back just like a bad penny.  So shall we carry on as if nothing happened.  Yes why don’t we…

    Over the 4th of July weekend we went to North Chicago and stayed in the Navy Lodge at the Great Lakes Naval Base to visit our son Aaron and his fiancee Sara.  Aaron home at their apartment in Kenosha after a lay off at the civilian job and then injury during his Army National Guard drill weekend.  So he was free to hang with us and Sara was free Sunday for a tour and Monday for dinner. (more…)

  • Throwback Thursday – The Best of Frienemies

    1991-pc-and-belle

    The year is 1991. This is Popcorn the Siamese and Belle the Carolina Dog (it wasn’t a breed then but got her in South Carolina and she had the traits). Popcorn came first by several years then we brought home this stinky puppy. They both grew into fine loving pets but as much as Belle smiled and call Popcorn her buddy. Popcorn all Siamese regal acted put out with the dog. Yet, should Belle be gone guess who was yowling and looking for her? Who wouldn’t eat and fretted? Yep, Popcorn. They were the Odd Couple of pets. Belle the happy go lucky smart dog version of Oscar and Popcorn the clean fastidious Felix (what an appropriate name for a cat eh?). Still to this day I dream of them most often of my pets that are gone now.

    Oh and yes Popcorn wore a harness and leash when we traveled.  She had a litterbox in the car and used it and roamed about at will, except on the driver.  We’d worked hard with her on that from a very young kitten knowing the Navy life would have us traveling.

  • Thursday Throwback – Niagara Falls in the Winter

    1974 Niagara Falls
    1974 Niagara Falls

    Welcome to Niagara Falls in winter of 1974. From Left to right it’s Mark, Len, and Mike (my husband). The Eklunds were moving from Ohio to Carthage, New York which is way upstate New York. Apparently along the way they stopped by the falls. Don’t they look warm and happy. Really Mark, I’m sorry you look like.  “Fine take the picture now can we go get in the warm car?”

  • Thursday Throwback – Mom, Dad, and Me

    Sidney, Sylvia, and Mary Louise Bright about 1968 Chattanooga Tennesse
    Sidney, Sylvia, and Mary Louise Bright about 1968 Chattanooga Tennesse

    Okay I love the fashions it’s about 1968. Also I don’t know where we were going so fancy probably just out as people dressed then. I am surprised Mom doesn’t have her gloves on. I’m guessing since she doesn’t we weren’t going to church. To the best of my memory (you can see how small I was so take this with a grain of salt) Mom wore gloves to church during this time. Oh and I didn’t know my Dad was an MIB… shhhh… don’t tell.

  • Monday Marginalia – Congratulations to Sara!

    20161218_150713

    This beautiful lady is Sara. She’s my son’s fiancee. Yep, this month he popped the question to his long term girlfriend. The marriage is in a few years. I’m getting a wonderful daughter without all the mess of raising one. But that’s not why I’m congratulating her. I’m congratulating her for graduating college. She’s now a physical therapist going on to medical school! That she worked hard for and made it! We are all so proud.

    (more…)

  • Throwback Thursdays – Eklund Thanksgiving

    Thanksgiving 1997

    For years our Thanksgivings at Mike’s parent’s house included his maternal grandparents the McAllisters. They were Michigan snowbirds that joined the great grey migration to Florida every year. On their way down they’d stop and have Thanksgiving at Donna’s. So here we are around the table one Thanksgiving in the late 90s. I’m not sure why we all look so sunburned maybe because the house was kept so hot to keep the snowbirds comfortable.

  • Throwback Thursday – My Little Pilgrim

    Eklund Aaron 2nd grade 1999

    First off let me say I texted my son and sent him the picture asking his permission to publish it. He was fine with that. So here’s my son Aaron when he was in second grade. Yes he’d made this himself at school and wore it to our Thanksgiving dinner. Sadly he did not make one for each of us. **SIGH** Maybe this year.

  • Happy Birthday Mom!

    Mom and Sean Connery - Photo from her Facebook page
    Mom and Sean Connery – Photo from her Facebook page

    That’s my Mom, Sylvia Bright. It’s her birthday today and I ask that you go give her good wishes on her Facebook page. She’s there often. We live about a 13 hour drive apart so I don’t get to see her often. Still I’d like to make her birthday special so stuff her comments with well wishes. If you aren’t sure let me tell you a bit about my mother.
    (more…)

  • Things Are Returning To Normal

    Things Are Returning To Normal

    An old picture of Mo and Rappy...
    An old picture of Mo and Rappy…

    It’s been over a month of careening from one family crisis to the next. Things are finally starting to settle down. Mo is doing much better and can even jump up on the bed and chairs without assistance. Her back left foot is finally correcting itself.

    Rappy has improved leaps and bounds. She can go potty by herself now and walk about on flat ground. Stairs we still have to lift her up and down most the time. However a few times when she is well rested she has taken them down without help and up with us steadying her back end.

    I am slowly recovering from my back injury. It’s set back by the lifting of the dog but whatcha gonna do but deal with it.

    Mike’s black eye from the doggie slinging her head in pain as he carried her to the car for the initial vet visit is healing. His back is fine but now he has a bad head cold. Poor man, he kept quiet this weekend while I worked Saturday and we both rested Sunday.

    Aaron is doing well in his AIT school. He actually called this week and we got to hear his voice. He’s making arrangements for his classes in the Fall.

    That’s it in a nutshell. We’re still the family with half of the members in physical therapy but we’re healing as best as aging cat, dog, and woman can.

    Until Next Time.

  • A Tale of The Box

    A Tale of The Box

    DSC_5655

    Okay I have to say I’m exhaustipated (too tired to give a sh**t) today. Doggie rehab is tough when one is working. Today is my first day off since we got back. She goes in for e-stim today and then when get her physical therapy info today. Though she is improving. She met me on shaky legs when I got home from work last night. She now gets her front end up when I sling her back end.

    So I don’t have the energy right now to go though the trip pictures so I tell the tale of the box throne last night…

    As you know Mr. Blue belongs to the box of the month club and he thoroughly enjoys his boxes. However, they are HIS boxes being the alpha of the animals. Last night the wannabe alpha Mr. Red got into Mr. Blue’s current box! I know, I know, I hear your gasps of horror, shock, and indignation. I too was astounded at the outright gall it took. I watched as I did Rappy’s massage therapy. Mr. Blue stood up from his chair and yowled at the usurper.

    That led to a big cat fight of screeches, yowls, growls, and posturing. He hopped down and went back to claim his cardboard throne. There was much noise and odd body postures that led to a few slaps (no claws). Red went from “what, what?!?” to challenging then to submissive and slinked out of the box and away to take the cat bed in the office.

    Mr. Blue being triumphant sat in his box throne for a long time before settling in for a nap. Yes we think no less of our feline alpha for napping in his box with his catnip mouse. He had show regal restraint while asserting his authority after all.

    Time for the vet trip. Until next time!