Rising Like a Phoenix From the Frag-Ashes

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I have been in absentia from blogland for over a week due to circumstances beyond my control - namely recovering from the overhaul and rearrangement of my inner workings.

Aside - why is it that a young whippersnapper doctor who looks about 12 has the audacity to tell an oldie goldie like me that since it is ONLY outpatient surgery you will be right back on your feet the day after???   Hmmmmm???  What in the world was SHE thinkin???

Howsomuchever, I  am RISING like a Phoenix from the frag-ashes of my sickbed just in the nick of time to join Mrs. 4444 (oh I KNOW she says to pronounce it "fours" but I just can't do it, to me she will always be Mrs. 4, 4, 4, 4!) for her wunnerful Friday Frag party.

I surely do hope you ALL missed me last week while I was groveling in my own ashes.
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Well folks, she did it again!  And by she I mean my MIL Robin and her gift-giving gift.

Wednesday I was lower than the underbelly of an anaconda just wishing my throat would stop hurting for even one moment when THIS appeared on my front stoop.
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Everyone needs some chocolate band-aids for the lacerations of life, no?
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If I can't survive with the help of all this, I'm quite hopeless.

Thank you, Robin!  You are better than a personal life coach!
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We're planning a trip to Indiana soon to see our kids and our grans - - - only we'll miss these two, Korie and her hubby Chris.

Korie is a marathon runner and had she been in Boston last week it is highly likely she would have been coming across the finish line right about at the "fateful hour."

I am one grateful momma that she wasn't there.

I am also a momma grieving for the mothers and their families who were not as fortunate as I.
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We will however see these two while we are in Indiana.  This is our oldest son, Kelly and his calm sensible wife, Cathy.

Kelly needs calm and sensible - - - trust me on this.

Remember, he's the one who skied right off a cliff a few short weeks ago.
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This is brotherly and sisterly love at its finest.  

Not sure what our grans were watching here, but their momma said this is what they did and how they got along all afternoon that day.

Precious.

Even if I DO say so myself.
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It is brat fry season in Central Wisconsin.   That is pronounced Br-ahhh-t and not like a mean unruly child.

We are from staunch hardy German and Scandahoovian stock 'round these here parts and we do love our sausages.   We care not how many calories nor how many fat grams they contain.

To us they ARE health food.  We eat them for our health. 

All we care about is their succulent deliciousness.  This one was embellished with Swiss cheese, mustard, and dill pickle relish.   

YUM.

It was my first brat of the season but it shall NOT be my last.
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This little angel is about to be in her first full ballet EVER.  She will be a little "bad fairy" in Sleeping Beauty.

Here she and her mommy were practicing getting her stage make up just right.
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For a modest investment you too can receive refrigerator art masterpieces.  Just click over to Keri's blog and place your order.  ;-)

Does refrigerator art give a whole new connotation to the phrase "starving artist" I wonder?
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Fisherhubby's been at it again.

He found this ecard on Pinterest or something, posted it on Facebook and said it was for me.

(No, I do NOT like to answer my phone, thank you very much.)

Our friend Shawn saw it and gave the original version a little "facelift" so to speak.

I was singing in case you wondered.
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Our Indiana friends, Mark and Annette, are arriving here this evening to spend the weekend.

We have ulterior motives for inviting them - - - we want them to MOVE here near us.

We don't ask for much.

Perhaps one day I shall say more about that.
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And that's all the frag-ash rising I'm capable of for tonight.
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Please hurry over to Mrs. 4444's place

Where you will see LOTS of other frag-ashes

AND where you can do some rising of your own,

Should you so choose.

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