Whatever Wednesday - Ray Retires - Onward to 2021

Over 40 years in electronics - Ray Faries says goodbye to the drive  - approximately 728,000 miles driven, way too many hours in a car.  He says farewell to "punching the clock". 

As of 12/31/2020, Ray Faries says adios to selling fans and electronics.  What a career!  What a life - he's met a lot of great people and solved a lot of engineering problems. 

Now - he won't be sitting around. Heck no - he'll be solving home engineering problems (that I probably didn't know we had). He's got plenty of golf to play, plenty of miles to put on his RZR sweet ride, and lots of books to read.  Jigsaw puzzles await, and (hopefully ) new recipes to whip up in the kitchen.  "Dinner better be on the table when I get home from work," I say with a wink. 
 

Congrats Ray - love you and I know you are excited to explore new adventures. Enjoy this newfound freedom - you earned and deserve it. 

Happy New Year one and all. Stay safe and let's see what happens in 2021.  I'll be back on Monday , January 4th. Until then, cheers!

Monday Moment - Ray's a Bit Older

Happy August and that means Happy Birthday Ray - his day was Saturday.   We were off on a social distant jaunt to Mena, Arkansas. Staying in a cabin and riding in his zoom zoom RZR.  I'll post some pics from there at a later date.

Meanwhile - it's all about Ray. The man knows how to have fun. So, it's been a quiet 2020 for adventure. Ray's saving up his energy and no doubt when we can bust loose again...he'll be ready. Older, wiser, and crazier!

Love ya, Ray!

Leap into March Madness

What do you do on the bonus February day that is 70 degrees?  Leap into Ray's RZR and go for a trail ride. 

No sitting at home indoors reading or watching television or writing a book review for my blog. Nope - popped that dramamine, buckled up, and held on for a brain jounce.

This was our first outing without son Kevin and his expertise. Ray was a tad nervous, but he did great. We have all of our limbs, and nothing broke on the equipment. Success!

Now onward into March Madness.....the winds blow, plague and pestilence and politics scour the lands. But we'll always have Costa Rica (the TX version).

Zoom,zoom and good luck with your week.

Thirty Years

Today, September 1, 2019 is our 30th wedding anniversary. It's also the opening day of dove season. Yes,  I got flowers (so pretty) and Ray went dove hunting. It's a successful marriage.  We had a wonderful anniversary lunch on Friday at Chef Point - I'm talking gourmet, melt-in-the mouth food. And we shared dessert - key lime pie. I'm good for 30 more years.

Just hard to fathom - the time has gone by fast. We met and did not text all day. We talked in the morning. We talked at night. On a land line. I created mix tapes for him. Then moved to CDs.
We'd go to Blockbuster together and pick out  a movie to watch.

We laugh. We love to travel together. And he's still a darn good cook - those sour cream chicken enchiladas are to die for. And we can just sit in the same room and breathe. Well..yeah, then I have to talk, and yeah he nods at the right time and says, "hmm, okay." 

Lots of teensy moments that add up to the real deal.  So, happy anniversary Ray. Thanks for putting up with me for 30 years and vice versa. Have fun hunting...just don't bring home any victories.

Seriously - I'm good with just looking at my flowers.

August is all About Ray

Happy Birthday Ray.  Today. August 1st - the man is a Leo

He golfs, hunts, bowls, swims, laughs, reads, likes margaritas. Loyal family man, hard worker, hard player, sports enthusiast - fantasy baseball, fantasy football, cheers his Cowboys, constantly shaking his head over the Texas Rangers.

He's my cabana boy, weed plucker, project man extraordinaire - knows how to use tools.

He makes a mean batch of sour cream enchiladas, and grills a steak to perfection.

Ray's my sweetie pie hubby.  Treats all day and all month - the goal is a decent cobbler tonight and I'll sing Happy Birthday off-key.

Cheers to Ray on his birthday.

Happy Valentine's Day (that's for you too, Robyn)

 To my Ray - Love  you lots

Stole the pics from a friend in Victoria, BC.   They are awesome.

And I know Robyn Engel doesn't like Valentine's, but I appeal to her core - you can't deny that these pics  make one feel a tad mushy, say
Aw..............golly gosh

Now go to her blog and enjoy anti-Valentine's humor. Our blog world is very clever. 

Cheers and chocolates my friends

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Anniversary Ray

Happy 29th Anniversary, Ray.   

Love of my life

We have so much fun with more to come

Enjoy your dove hunt weekend.

We can celebrate any day of the year, and we do!

September 1, 1989 - September 1, 2018

Dang, that's a long time

Happy Birthday Ray

Today's the day  - Hip Hip Hooray........Ray's my guy and it's his birthday......

Happy Birthday, Ray!!!

Love you lots.  We have SO much fun

Joanne

Father's Day Weekend Wheelin'

 Ray with youngest son Kevin

 clean and tidy and ready to roar

and the results of Father and Son 4-wheeling weekend.   I told Kevin, "Bring your father back in one piece."

Happy Father's Day to all!

 I chatted with my dad. My sister is there doing yard work - weeding, mulching, etc. My brother will join her this afternoon to make my dad's place respectable.
  I'm the lazy far away daughter.  There's one in every family!

Wednesday Wow

While I enjoyed a weekend of art museums and local theater, Ray was tramping the countryside in San Saba.  He enjoyed a visit to his aunts, did not see snakes, and took some artsy pics there.

For a brief period, the cactus are in bloom - wow!  Bursts of color

And after an all day rain on Friday, his Saturday dawned clear. Ray looked up while walking and was struck by the sky, the tree, and the composition. I am dang proud of him.  Thanks, Ray for sharing.

That's our Wednesday wow........

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day one and all, and to my love, Ray!!!

Here's my little tablescape to honor the day.  The sculpture was given to me by my dad on my last trip. I had admired it - dancing figures - and he gave it to me. So cool!

The picture is from our wedding party - we threw quite a bash. Oh so young!

And assorted valentine stuff adorn the table.

So enjoy some chocolates everyone and Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Anniversary, Ray

This sums up 28 years of marriage.       September 1, 1989 - we said "I do"

Ray and I went out to breakfast awhile ago. We unwrapped our silverware and Ray handed me this. Awwww!

It must be love. He makes me laugh. I make him laugh. At this juncture, we wouldn't want to have to try to train anyone else to put up with our quirks. We can sit in silence, and enjoy it.

Happy Anniversary, Ray!

Love
Joanne

Happy Birthday Ray

Happy Birthday Ray!! Today's the day, my husband, lover, best friend, buddy, and all around great guy turns 61. Yikes!   So fun, so energetic, so opposite of me. Always up for anything, always laughing at my crazy crap. We just can hang or go travel and find adventure. He's up for anything I concoct, and believe me I'm always stirring up something.

Happy Birthday Ray

Love you loads!!!!
Joanne

Stumble into 2017

I shall ramp up and start writing and posting reviews again. I saw a variety of movies and read an assortment of books over the past few weeks, in between working. Plenty to recommend.

However, after reading posts reflecting on 2016 and oozing into 2017, I decided to begin my blog year with my Ray of sunshine.  He sent me this picture on Saturday, New Year's Eve Day and said he was thinking of me. Aw shucks!!! I know I broke into a grin at seeing it, and it makes me smile still.

Yes, he was at his deer lease (his aunt's place) and having a grand time. I was home and quite content with Netflix and books. After twenty seven years of marriage, we can be apart for a holiday. Frankly, I've never been keen on New Year's, so this was fine and he came home Sunday late afternoon.

A cactus piece shaped like a heart.........sorta sums up love.

You've got to treat it with respect.

'Nuff said.

Happy Birthday Ray

 A salute to Ray as he turns 60 today  - August 1st.

Sixty looks good on Ray

cowlick sticks up like a little boy

hair a tad tinged with gray

knees creak a lot

step’s a bit slower

not eager to sleep on a cot

he leaps up to hunt

maybe ooze is a better term

many activities deserve a grunt

but Ray is game for fun

a chuckle, a laugh

text a pun

oh he counts down to retire

so many projects in his brain

he’s ready to perspire

I wish him birthday joy

Ray’s much loved

he’s still Joyce and  LD’s little boy

sixty notches in the belt of life

what’s in a number

as long as there’s no strife

happy birthday Ray we loudly sing

eat cake, drink a toast (or two)

Be Sixty, You are our King

Love

Joanne

My Boy of Summer

glorious Sunday afternoon at the ballpark
blue skies, slight breeze
free t-shirt giveaway
does it get better?

why, yes it does
quick game under three hours
coca-colas never tasted so good
dot race on the Jumbotron

root for the home team
crack of the bat
leaps in the air
a win

(double win - it was not 100 degrees - Hoorah!)

Happy Anniversary Ray

 26 years ago we said "I do" in front of a Justice of the Peace. We've had a lot of adventures since then.

 Ray is my Looney Tune

 He's my laughter

He's my mountain.

Happy Anniversary, Ray. Thanks for sticking by my side. More crazy adventures ahead.