Peggy's Ponderings at the lake

Celebrating Valentine's Day is just about sharing a little LOVE. It doesn't have to be about spending a ton of money. It doesn’t have to be a big, spectacular thing. And it’s not just for romance and couples. Although my wonderful husband always thinks of me on Valentine's, he also thinks of his mom, his grandma, and our daughters. Same for me. I will send a wish to my son and treats for all of our grandchildren.  Valentine's Day has always been celebrated in my house in some fashion. When we were young, my mom and dad gave us the boxes of Sweethearts. I don’t remember them being a big deal, but I remember always having them.   It wasn’t until elementary school that the pressure was on. Would I get any Valentins? This was before it was required to bring enough for everyone in the class, and before everyone was required to bring Valentine cards to exchange.  I remember this is when I started practicing and caring what my signature looked like. It needed to be cute b...

Barn on 7th Street Hello everyone! Have you been watching the forecast? Get ready for some SNOW! I love snow and can’t wait for it to come this weekend. Some of my favorite memories and pictures are from snowy days here, like the old barn down the street. It’s so peaceful and timeless. The barn is beautiful, and I need to thank them over and over again for saving it. I love what the owners have done to the old original house and property. But back to snow!   According to AI, Loving snow, a trait sometimes called being a chionophile, means finding joy, peace, or magic in winter landscapes, often linked to childlike fun, quiet beauty, or a chance to slow down from daily stress. It can represent purity, new beginnings, or the coziness of winter activities, activating a sense of wonder and nostalgia for simpler times, says Stylist and Time Magazine. Ok, fine. I am a chionophile. Joy and peace? Count me in! Dirt road in Grove covered in snow Snow is why I will always own a Je...

 Today, January 15, is National Hat Day. The hats. They can sometimes overwhelm me - the hats. I have so many that I wear. I am a mom, wife, grandmother, City Councilperson, Realtor, dog mom are my most important daily hats. I have a mom hat that I wear proudly. I have two of my own kids and I am a stepmom also. I wear a wife hat. Roman and I are still trying to figure out why God put us together, but he did and it works. We love each other. Entertain each other. Support each other and yell at each other just like all other marriages. He drives me crazy. I drive him nuts. I’m not just a wife. I am a FIREWIFE. Trust me, it’s a whole different hat than the normal wife hat. Cock your hat - angles are attitudes. Frank Sinatra Fire helmets that need to be retired get to be displayed in our dining room I am a grandmother, a Mimi. The BEST HAT IS THE MIMI HAT. Joy and laughter are my first thoughts. Their appreciation for me being there to see them, pick them up after school, go ...

  Yes, 2025 was a crazy year!   Our life is blessed with seven grandchildren & four energetic mini dachshunds, Happy New Year! also fill our home and our laps. It’s never a dull moment at our house.   We are incredibly proud of our kids as they each work hard at their choice of career and continue to grow and succeed as they create their own lives and families. It is so much fun watching the grandkids at their school and sporting events. FaceTime lets me chat with my California granddaughter Cora forever if she’s in the mood, or allows me to be at one sporting event while my daughter Kelly is at another, and share a big hit or get last-minute encouragement from Uncle Aaron or grand(Pa) at a football game. This is the new way we can all participate in all of it. Sometimes we even get to play cousins since my sisters' families are here and doing the same thing. The new mix of digital and real life, in person and far away, all mixed together. We are learning how to util...

Happy December, wonderful people,  This week, my ponderings revolved around digital vs. print/paper. I am one of those types of people who stick with many traditions, especially when it comes to the holidays, and one of my greatest pleasures is sending Christmas Cards.  I always send as many as possible. As many as my hands will allow me to write, and my bank account as well. This year, the cards will still be hand-signed, but more will be addressed with labels.  I will still have as many paper and ink cards as I possibly can, however, if you don't receive one this year and you want one, please know it was not for any intentional reason.  There is nothing like receiving a Christmas Card in the mail. It's still special! Even when you are as old as I am. I surveyed some friends and fellow Realtors for their thoughts about this. Many were more business-oriented when discussing the effectiveness of the internet. So when dealing with important papers, maybe it's best, but...

Hello again, my few but loyal readers, this is another happy to be in smalltown Grove. Happy, positive, feel good Pondering. Giving you a warning from the beginning. It's Grateful November after all so get ready for lots of greatefulness! Friday, my grandsons and I waited downtown for the parade of buses with football players and coaches, and the caravan leading and following them to their playoff game 4 hours away. Schools were closed. The streets were lined with people and kids, and the Cheerleaders were right in front of us! How much more traditional can this get? Talk about a Hallmark movie! Just as we all get excited as we hear the sirens from the many fire trucks and police cars in the parade, my phone rings. It’s my son calling from California. I answered the phone, and he asked what I was doing. When I told him he first said what? It’s a Friday. Don’t the boys have school? I said welcome to our small town honey! Our varsity football team is in the state playoffs! A...