My sweet hubby drove his giant trailer that he hauls our tractor on to a friend's stable and brought me a huge trailer load of horse manure for V Day. He also got me a potted tulip and a turquoise ring, but the best by far was the manure. We are all so weird. The really ridiculous part is we have cows and horses, but they just don't "go" enough to satisfy my manure requirements.

I’ve never been to either place. My daughter spent some time in Lima on the way to a hiking trip elsewhere in Peru. They did a one day culinary tour while there and enjoyed it. But her opinion is that Lima didn’t have much more to offer than that. She was happy to pass through for a couple days, but would not have wanted a whole vacation there.

I have experienced so many kind gestures over the years and they all equally made my heart swell with love. I have been blessed with a wonderful family, friends and neighbours and people I have never met in person. Neighbours Ken and Freda for one. After my Mom was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer which caused her to have diabetes I had to learn to give my Mom insulin shots. After my Mom came home from the hospital and I had to give her the first insulin shot I couldn't do it. I called Freda and she came right over and did it for me. All the kind cards and gifts from people here at the KT isent to my Mom in her last few weeks to help brighten her days meant the world to me. She held onto the doll, she loved the cards, was warmed by the colourful lap quilt that she stroked to name a few. After my Mom died, Ken came in with his crew and painted and plastered the walls in my house and Freda decorated my bedroom with reversable handmade bedding and table cloths from material based on Monet's water lily and garden paintings. They also gave me the emotional support I needed. My younger brother has surprised me over the years with wonderful gifts chosen because he knew how much I would love them. When I was a young teenager he gave me a set of the Tolkien Trilogy Lord of the Ring and Hobbit books because he knew how much I loved to read. (I still have the boxed set). Another time he asked me to go for a ride with him because he had to pick something up. We stopped at this window place and he came out with something in a big box that he put on the car seat next to me. Driving home something in the box started making a noise and when I looked inside it was a tiny purebred black lab puppy and Paul said he was my birthday present. Amos was the best gift ever! One Christmas season I came home to find a huge wrapped box under my Christmas tree. I pushed it with my toe and it was really heavy. I thought maybe my brother brought the gift over for his girls and left it so they wouldn't see it. I even remember coming to the KT and telling the size of the box, and how heavy it was and they guessed what was inside before I even knew the gift was for me. The gift sat there for a few days before my brother asked me if I peeked at "it" I asked him what "it" was and he said the present. I said of course not, I didn't know who it was for. He then told me it was an early gift for me. I came home and opened it and it was a Kitchen Aid mixer. Again another gift from him that knocked me over. haha he said because I was the family cookie baker he thought it would help me out. He also surprised me over the years by leaving filled Christmas stockings left hanging on the front porch or sneaking inside and hanging them on the fireplace for my sister and I Other kind gesture after my Mom passed away was the gift of a kitchen and bath remodel. My out of town cousin called me and said she wanted to give me something for all the years I took care of my Mom and even though I told her it wasn't necessary she wanted to do something. Anything I wanted. I told her the only thing I would want was to have the outside kitchen wall replastered because of water damage under the window. She told me to find a contractor (neighbour Ken) and have him call her. Next thing I know I was getting new cupboards and countertops, flooring, and also a bathroom remodel with a new floor and walls replaced around the tub so a shower could be put in. I couldn't let her do everything so I bought the fixtures, toilet, vanity and sink in the bathroom and I already had my kitchen appliances. And if the gift of a kitchen remodel blew me away what came next was even more surprising and so kind. The members of the KT held a kitchen shower for me. haha what a shock it was when Dances and Ed (Joyfulguy) showed up at my house bearing all kinds of kitchen gifts and cards from Kters. Everytime I use one of the items and I still have them all I think of is who sent it. Kters were so kind and generous. The best gifts are being asked to share special moments with friends and family.

Robb, I'm glad you posted the screenshot of the words, because I'd never read any of his works (despite also being a Bowie fan!). What beautiful, deep thoughts. You are very loved to have your father and your child choose that passage to honor you.