Countin' My Blessings

How Important is Yours?

2012-01-25T09:15:00.000-05:00

The other day I read something and thought

WOW.

What timing!

You see, things had been a little....

strained, I guess you could say.

Just a matter of life getting in the way

and priorities getting out of line.

Things seemed...broken.

Well, I don't much like broken things.

I had been making a conscious effort

to make things better.

Doing my best to pay attention,

choose words wisely,

keep attitude in check,

and stop taking things for granted.

That's when I came across this.

Then a few days later

I'm looking around on Pinterest

(Yes, I have another online addiction.)

and I see it again because

my daughter has pinned it.

I figured it was a sign that I should blog about it. ; )

So tell me it isn't only me.

Do you sometimes

(perhaps too often?)

get to that place where you take your marriage

for granted?

Where you don't work quite as hard on it

as you know you should?

I don't like being taken for granted

and I believe in that whole

"do unto others"

thing.

Ya know?

Some folks claim that a marriage

should not require 'work'.

That it should just fall into place

if it's meant to be.

I wholeheartedly disagree.

We put effort into true friendships.

We do nice things for our friends,

sometimes going out of our way for them

because we like to see them happy.

We're there when they need us.

We treat them like special gifts.

We respect them.

Why should we not do as much

for the person we vowed to love,

honor and cherish

until death do us part?

We should.

It's just that sometimes,

in the day to day ordinariness of our lives,

we become complacent.

We become less vigilant.

At times we aren't even nice.

Why? Because...

well, just because.

It's the easy thing to do.

It requires less effort

and takes less time.

And that's when it begins to tarnish

and it stops growing

and it is no longer as beautiful as it once was.

So I'm paying attention.

How about you?

Miscellany Monday

2012-01-23T09:23:00.000-05:00

Just click on the Miscellany Monday tag up there and join in the fun @ lowercase letters. : )

1. This shot pretty much sums up the weather here. Can you say soggy? I opened a window in my family room to snap this pic. This is our yard, just off the deck and behind the family room area. What a mess it is out there! And not only has it been pouring buckets, I was awakened by THUNDER during the wee hours of the morning. C.R.A.Z.Y. We're also under a wind advisory. Supposed to have 50 mph sustained winds, from what I hear.

2. This is my freshly scoured sink. I may not have stuck with The Fly Lady and her daily cleaning email reminders, but the whole shiny sink thing of hers did stick with me. She is SO right. If you keep the sink and faucet clean and shiny, it goes a long way toward making the whole room look better. I think it's mostly that if you're keeping the sink this way, it isn't sitting full of dirty dishes. ; ) But whatever it is, it works.

3. I was organizing my recipes and cookbooks and came across this note from Brie. It was tucked in among the handwritten recipe cards I keep in a tin. Brie is 25 now, so you can imagine the memories this brought flooding back. <3 I love coming across things like this and that's why I don't just put them all away in a box somewhere. This way I can enjoy them over and over again. : )

4. No pics just yet, but I'm making progress on the spare room! : ) With Mom staying here for a few days while she recuperates, I probably won't be spending a great deal of time up there in the very near future but I'll get a little done here and there until it is complete. I picked up another tote yesterday so I can pack away Perri's American Girl dolls (This makes me incredibly sad! Why did she have to go and grow up so quickly?) and her Beanie Baby collection. We'll save those for when she has kids of her own. Most of the other stuff she had tossed into that room has gone to The Hope Shop and the Resource Center, two local charities. Once I'm done weeding out and tossing, I have to figure out just exactly what the purpose of that room will be so I can decide what type of organizing will be done in there. I know that board games and crafting supplies will stay, but I'd also like to put a couple of cabinets and a counter top along one short wall. I could use it for crafting, sewing, wrapping packages, folding laundry (this room is next to my very tiny laundry room) and all sorts of other things. Now if I can just convince The Hubster. ; )

5. I apologize for not replying to comments made here. Blogger has been giving me fits recently. I'm having issues posting pics and also am unable to use the reply feature. I suppose that problem may be with Disqus and not Blogger, but either way it isn't working.

And I believe that's just about all the miscellany I can handle for today.

I'll leave you with a little something I found on Facebook.

I like the message. : )

(FB is good for something once in a while!)

This is Not Good

2012-01-21T17:22:00.000-05:00

This is my mom.

(And yes, she's gonna kill me for posting this picture of her.

She is wearing The Hubster's big, warm flannel shirt

because she is always cold and using ice

only makes that worse.)

She went to the post office on Thursday,

where she slipped and fell,

breaking her wrist.

Thankfully it was her left wrist

and she is right handed.

The only cool part?

She got a really snazzy purple cast out of it. ; )

I snapped this pic with my phone this morning

as she was trying to eat a bowl of cereal

while icing her swollen fingers.

It's pretty tough to get used to doing

everything

with one hand.

Buttons, hooks and snaps are no longer her friends.

You should have seen her attempts at opening

a ketchup packet yesterday. ; )

Even eating a cupcake is a challenge

unless one of us removes the paper for her.

She just got the cast yesterday

and she'll be staying with us for a few days.

Until she can manage some of the daily basics

a little better on her own.

Until she's a little more steady on her feet.

(She's still discovering new sore spots from her fall.)

And I have to admit that she's been

a much better patient than I expected. ; )

I've been trying to post on Mondays,

Wednesdays and Fridays,

but yesterday was a bit busy

and I put it off until today.

I knew you'd understand. : )

To Quote Emerson...

2012-01-18T09:02:00.000-05:00

“Finish every day and be done with it. You have done what you could; some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; you shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense.”
― Ralph Waldo Emerson

I love quotes. I sometimes Google 'quotes on life' or 'quotes on love' or whatever quotes I happen to be craving at that particular moment. And sometimes those quotes really strike a chord. Sometimes they really make me think. Often enough, they really make me feel.

This morning Mr. Emerson left me with that 'WOW! That's just what I needed!' feeling.

Finish every day and be done with it.

So there. Put yesterday behind you, where it belongs.

Thank you. I think I will.

You have done what you could; some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can.

Okay, so I made a few mistakes. Don't we all? Make it right when you can, apologize when you should and then put it behind you. You know, in yesterday, where it belongs.

Tomorrow is a new day; you shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense.

It's a clean slate. A fresh start. A time to try, try again. If you leave yesterday's mistakes where they belong, that old nonsense surely can't be a hindrance. Right? I think so. And with 'serenity' and a 'high spirit', what can we not accomplish?

I would love to live every single day as if it's a brand new day! To leave the past where it belongs and to see the possibility in what lies before me. If I could forgive myself my mistakes as quickly as others are willing to forgive them, what a wonderful world it would be! I struggle with that. I allow my mistakes to define me. Always have. And I'd very much like to change that.

So guess what I'll be working on today! ; )

An 'Off' Day

2012-01-16T17:59:00.000-05:00

That's what today has been. The kids were off school. We were off our usual schedule. And now I'm feeling a bit off my rocker. ; )

I spent most of today in the dreaded spare room. Did lots of sorting, lots of trashing, lots of stacking, lots of deciding what goes and what stays. I'm pleased to say that there is a great deal of stuff GOING. I am taking off the rest of the evening, getting the remainder of the house tidied up a bit, and then spending some time with the family. The Hubster has Perri at a batting lesson and on the way home they are picking up pizza, TYVM. This makes my evening much simpler than if I had to cook and will give me a chance to relax before an even busier day tomorrow. My Tuesday will be jam packed and it has nothing to do with the spare room, therefore it will have to wait until at least Wednesday before it sees any further action.

Not a very interesting or exciting post today but I promise I'll try to do better later in the week. I'm just not feeling very interesting or exciting myself at the moment! ; )

We all have those days, right?

An Amazing Evening

2012-01-13T21:02:00.000-05:00

Last night The Hubster and I had a date night and it was definitely the best one we've had for quite some time! You see, we had tickets to see these guys:

{ In case you've been under a rock for the last decade or so, this is Rascal Flatts. ; ) }

This lady was there, too:

She puts on a good show, but I was really there to see RF.

But first, before either of the big names hit the stage, there was this guy:

This cutie's name is Hunter Hayes.

THIS is my favorite song of his so far.

Love it!

Yes, he looks like he's 14 but he's actually 20.

He's also extremely talented.

EXTREMELY.

This kid can play any instrument you put in front of him.

He can sing and actually sounds a great deal like Gary Levox, the lead singer for RF.

And everyone knows that Gary is THE voice.

Basically I guess I'm saying that last night's show was...

F.A.B.U.L.O.U.S.

Yes, it was.

: )

And dinner before the concert?

Well, let's just say that it was

THE BEST MEAL

I've had in a long, long time!

I do love food. : )

We went to Tidewater Grill. Hadn't been there in a very long time

but it was just as wonderful as we remembered it being.

WOW what a steak I had!

And the shrimp?

KILLER.
The service is absolutely top notch, too.

If you're ever in Charleston, WV and you want a

first rate dining experience,

Tidewater is the place to go.

After a night like last night, it was good to have a

laid back day like I've had today.

Snow is blowing outside and fire is roaring in the fireplace.

A big pot of chili on the stove and we're about to

have a family game night.

Hope all of you have a terrific weekend!

Time to Make the Cupcakes

2012-01-11T09:17:00.000-05:00

It is dreary, drizzly and cold outside.

The sky is gray and the breeze is cold enough to turn your nose red and bring tears to your eyes.

This January morning would be a good one to start a fire in the fireplace,

curl up with a cozy quilt and a good book on the Kindle...

and maybe even a cup of hot cider.

BUT...

It's time to make the cupcakes. : )

Hungry yet? : )

Stop by.

Miscellany Monday

2012-01-09T09:31:00.000-05:00

1. Working on that spare room. AGAIN.

Yes, I know. I've posted about the dreaded spare room before. I've even started sorting and organizing the spare room before. Somehow it always ends up being pushed aside, forgotten, left as-is. Life is a busy thing and that spare room just isn't the top priority. But I am SO tired of it being....well, what it is. And what it is is a disgusting mess! It's cluttered with stacks of books, outgrown toys the kids no longer want in their rooms but don't want to give up just yet. There were piles of clothes they've outgrown, but I already sent those out of here, to the Hope Shop, where someone else can benefit from them. There are home decor items I'm not currently using but may again someday, therefore I don't want to toss them or put them in a yard sale. But what to do with all this STUFF? The mood will strike me and I will toss most of it. I love it when that feeling comes over me and then things look all clean and fresh and ready to ~~clutter up~~ live in again!

I thought about hanging this sign:

But the room isn't really that bad. Not worthy of an episode or Hoarders or anything like that. Yet. ; )

Do you hold onto things for the usefulness or pleasure they brought in the past and the good they might be again someday? Or am I the only one who does this?

Please tell me I am not alone in this. I already feel ridiculous because of it. I mean, really. Just how useful is that barnyard decor from Tucker's nursery ever gonna be again? He's 9 years old. Its time has come and gone.

I'm guessing the Hope Shop will be getting some more bags and boxes soon.

2. I am ready for all illness and extreme discomfort to leave this house. It started with the stomach virus I endured through Thanksgiving, followed by the terrible sinus infection I endured through Christmas. Then there was the strep that Perri contracted around NYE, and the sinus infection/cold that caused The Hubster to miss work on Thursday and Friday of last week. He is getting better but is still on antibiotics and cough meds. And now my back is attempting to give me fits. Lower back pain, tightness in the muscles, lack of flexibility and the inability to sit, stand or lie in one position for very long. It has been back to back to back YUCK here for WEEKS!

If we don't all get well soon and stay that way for at least a couple of weeks, you may see us all dressed like this when leaving the house:

Please wave and speak and don't make us feel awkward. I'm just tired of sickness.

I need a break from it.

Really.

3. We're supposed to get snow on Wednesday and Thursday! This, my friends, makes me happy!

A shot from last winter.

We haven't had a good snow yet this year. Very little snow at all, actually. I like a good, deep, school-cancelling snow once in a while. I don't think what is coming will really amount to enough to cancel school, but even a delay will do. ; )

4. I am going to make this a good day. I'm going to cross at least a couple of things off my to-do list. I have a little organizing project I'm going to do today, as well as the work in the spare room. Little by little, it is all coming together. : )

Hope you can make it a good Monday, too! Hang in there. Only 4 days until the weekend! ; )

It's All Good....or: What I learned this Christmas

2012-01-05T08:41:00.000-05:00

Last month, just a few days before Christmas, the feeling washed over me like a tidal wave. You know how it is. You're just living life, minding your own business, trying to get it all done. Then....BAM!!! There it is! You know it as sure as you know your own name and there is nothing you can really do about it.

You're. Getting. Sick.

And just four days before Christmas! So I did what any level-headed (that point is strictly debatable), red-blooded American woman would do.

I acknowledged it's presence, started drinking lots of orange juice, and I dared it to take me down. (Oh, and I also bought lots of OTC remedies. I now have a mini pharmacy in my medicine cabinet.)

And that, my friends, is how I ended up sitting in the doctor's office Christmas Eve morning. Luckily I had managed to get most everything done prior to the onset of ~~THE PLAGUE~~ the nasty sinus infection that I let go a little too long before getting antibiotics. Still, there were lots of last minute things that I just didn't feel like tackling.

I'm usually the cookie baker. I have always baked pretty much all of the cookies for our family Christmas celebrations, and that means dozens and dozens of different kinds of cookies. This year I managed to get one kind mixed. Brie did the others. And you know what? It was all good.

The Hubster stepped up and took care of several of the last minute preparations for Christmas Day dinner. He pared and prepared potatoes, carrots and onions. He kept up with the messes being made in the kitchen and washed dishes and did whatever he could to keep it under control. And again, it was all good.

My MIL brought her usual array of sweets and treats, as well as a tray of fresh veggies and dip and all manner of pies and cakes. And it was all good.

I felt like doing very little and that's pretty much what I managed to accomplish. I made the oyster stew and the homemade blueberry muffins. I did not manage to make the Scotcharoos or the pineapple tartlets. But you know what? It was all good.

The one thing I can say about Christmas 2011, even though I was physically incapable of truly enjoying it the way I normally would:

It was all good.

I have so much for which to be thankful. I have a family who kicks in and picks up the slack when I'm unable to do my usual stuff. Our Christmas was saved even though I wasn't able to do my fair share. And this after I had already ruined Thanksgiving! I managed to come down with a terrible stomach virus the night before and ended up being sick for two days. Brie ended up picking up that slack and having everyone to her house for dinner while I remained quarantined in my bedroom.

Yes, there is just something about holidays and me choosing them as the perfect time to be sick. This makes three Christmases/birthdays in a row that I've been under the weather. (My birthday is on the 27th and always falls prey to either the illness itself or the process of recovery.)

The morals of this story?

1.) I am capable of letting others pick up the slack. I have not always been able to say that. This is MAJOR.

2.) The world will not stop turning if the Scotcharoos don't get made. Figuratively speaking, of course. You may certainly insert any long standing holiday tradition into this sentence and know that it is the truth. I can't think of a single thing that could truly stop the REAL Christmas from coming. Just like Dr. Seuss said:

It came without ribbons.
It came without tags.
It came without packages, boxes or bags.

It's just not about the stuff.

Not that I didn't already know this. But this Christmas was my personal reminder. : )

A New Year... A Clean Slate?

2012-01-03T16:56:00.000-05:00

Maybe not.

I know that most folks look at a new year as a great time to start anew. If the previous months have been tougher or less promising than usual, they may be desperately grasping at straws, searching for any promise of better days ahead. And that, my friends, is typically a recipe for disaster. Or at least a great deal of disappointment.

Like most folks, I've done the whole New Year's resolution thing.

Also like most folks, I've failed miserably.

Exercise more, eat better, be kinder, spend more time doing something I love...it doesn't matter. Any time a person pins that much expectation on someone (even herself; especially herself) it's like having this huge thing hanging over them. It can't/won't be ignored. It defines every move they make, every thought they think. Its presence is felt in every moment of every day until finally, one day (usually a couple of weeks into the new year), the pressure of it all becomes overwhelming and SNAP! It's all over. You stash the exercise DVDs where you don't have to see them, indulge in a bag of Hershey's Miniatures, snap at the next person whose attitude is less than perfect and you forget that 'me time' you were going to spend on the great book you started reading because you have too many other things that need done.

It isn't pretty.

I have decided to stop looking at a new year as being a clean slate. After all, who is really starting everything perfectly fresh? The same people, the same situations, the same responsibilities that were there on December 31st...they're all right there looking you in the eye on January 1st. As much as we'd like to forget some of those things, it just isn't that simple.

So I've decided that I'm not going to view 2012 through that same pair of rose colored glasses. It is not a clean slate and not even a completely fresh start. Sure, there are advantages to that train of thought, but the fact of the matter is that at some point (typically sooner rather than later) that train is gonna jump the tracks. I simply don't want to set myself up for failure and then have to deal with the guilt, disappointment and feelings of defeat.

Here's my new way of thinking:

I will look at the past year's successes and continue to build on them in 2012.
For instance, I've changed some of my bad eating habits and I feel so much better than I have in a long time. I'm avoiding artificial sweeteners and many dairy products. After a little research and a few hours of Dr. Oz ; ) I discovered that some of the symptoms I've been suffering could be eliminated by making a few changes on my own. And it's working! Plus I've dropped a few pounds due to the fact that I'm just eating more healthily. My tastes have changed and many of the rich and fattening foods I used to enjoy no longer appeal to me. I am, however, craving fresh vegetables and foods that aren't heavy with grease. I don't do deep-fried anything (except for the occasional small order of french fries from Burger King...don't judge me, please ; ) ) because I simply can't anymore.

I will allow myself to enjoy these little victories without the 'do more' pressure that resolutions cause.
Whatever I manage to accomplish, I will be happy. If I don't happen to reach a particular goal exactly when I hope to, I won't feel defeated. I will relish the progress I have made, just like I've been doing the past few months. It's a long-term goal; a lifestyle change. It isn't going to happen overnight. The old habits took years to form and they won't be undone in the blink of an eye.

I will treat myself the way I want others to treat me.
Yes, that's what I said. TREAT MYSELF THE WAY I WANT OTHERS TO TREAT ME. Why oh why do we have such a difficult time being good to ourselves? It's bad enough to let others treat us in a way that brings us down, but it's even worse when we do it to ourselves. I've been trying to practice this one over the last several weeks by cutting myself some slack. I expect too much of myself because I don't want to let anyone down, especially my family. Then I proceed to wear myself down to the point of uselessness. I make myself ill, emotionally and even physically. The thing that is most difficult for me to remember is that if I don't take care of myself, I can't take care of everyone else. Period.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So how about you? Did you make resolutions for this brand new calendar year? There is nothing wrong with that! If it works for you, go for it! But do me a favor: DON'T be too hard on yourself if you don't make it to the gym 5 times a week or beat yourself up if you don't drop 20 pounds by the end of January. In other words, don't make unrealistic goals that put you under so much pressure that it breaks you.

*A little footnote: I guess the last few weeks I've spent away from my blog have been productive in more ways than one. : ) Yes, we've been busy with the cupcakery and there have been days when I've barely had time to breathe. But I've also had the opportunity to create and to see that there are things outside of my comfort zone that I am perfectly capable of doing. I've had a chance to see myself in a slightly different light and to realize that there is more to me than what meets the eye...even my own eye! And while I may not look all that different on the outside, I'm definitely growing on the inside. Right where it counts. : )

Well, hello there! : )

2011-12-22T15:54:00.000-05:00

I miss my bloggy friends! There just aren't enough hours in the day and my need for sleep outweighs my need to blog, I'm afraid. A bakery will sure wear you out, I tell ya! ; )

I wanted to stop in and wish all of you the merriest of Christmases and a most prosperous 2012! I miss interacting with all of you, reading your posts and keeping up with what's happening in your lives, so between now and the end of the year I am working on a schedule for myself. I want to get back to my blog, find the time to write about my day and share my experiences with you. I want to read about your families, see what new things you're doing in your homes and learn from your amazing insights and experiences.

We are busy getting ready for the big Christmas weekend and have plans to enjoy the time with our families. I have so much for which to be grateful, not the least of which are my kids and grandkids! We'll all be here, along with a few other family members and friends, eating too much good food and opening too many presents and, most of all, enjoying the blessing that is Christmas. How I LOVE this time of year! : )

God bless each and every one of you and may you have a most joyous Christmas and a safe and healthy New Year! : ) I'll be back soon!

Miscellany Monday...and it's about time!!!

2011-09-19T09:52:00.000-04:00

Yes, I've been gone for too long. But I tell ya, it's been a crazy few weeks in my little world!
Here's an update on what's happening in the Land of Kelli:

1.) The Tasty Cupcakery is now up and running and boy oh boy...is it EVER doing well! Our wonderful friends have helped spread the word and we are in awe of the way things are going. It is AMAZING. Already she has outgrown the space she's renting and at this rate she'll be looking for new digs in less than a year. The sandwiches, soups, and certainly the sweets, are so good that people just keep coming back for more! She hasn't even started week 2 yet and already she has catered a business luncheon, received several large orders for cupcakes, is doing a wedding cake and cupcake tower, and just doing her best to keep up with it all! : )

2.) Of course there was plenty of work to be done before the shop could open, so all of us chipped in and worked our little tails off until the place was ready for business. I made two of these valances and I'm pretty pleased with how they turned out:

The space is small but it sure looks sharp with the colors and designs Brie chose. : )

And of course we had to build an entire kitchen. The room was just an empty space when we started and we had to be really creative in working with the layout, placement of sinks, etc. based on the plumbing and electrical locations. I don't have a pic of the kitchen or I'd share it with you. It works....for now. ; )

3.) Perri is now playing fall softball with the girls on her high school team and we're spending every Sunday afternoon in Buffalo, a town about 30-40 minutes from us, for tournaments. I'm glad she's getting this opportunity to improve her skills so she's ready for the high school level of play when softball season rolls around in the spring.

4.) Brie and I had our girls' night out last night. Haven't done anything like that our midnight movie adventure last fall. : ) This time it was to see Colbie Caillat (click the link and sit through a very short advertisement to see her latest video single) and it was AMAZING. The Clay Center in Charleston, WV provides a wonderful and intimate venue for a concert. We were pleasantly surprised to find out that Andy Grammer (click on this link to see the video of my FAVORITE song he performed last night) was opening for her...even though we really didn't know who he was. ; ) The dude walked out on the stage, said "Hi! I'm Andy" and started singing and we were totally blown away! And he is not just a singer but an entertainer. He had the audience pretty much wrapped around his little finger. I was so impressed that I came home and bought his album on iTunes. And I just know it will be on 'repeat' quite often. ; )

I am so glad that this was what Brienne got as her FIRST EVER CONCERT EXPERIENCE! : )

5.) Brie and I made apple butter at a fundraiser for a local fire department on Saturday. That is an ALL DAY job, ya know. And after the week Brie had with the shop just opening and everything, I think this officially exhausted her. ; ) PURE CRAZINESS...that's what life has been these past few weeks.

6.) And that just about sums it all up. Lots of bakery time, delivery time, time with the grandbabies, etc. It's been crazy and I've barely had time to think, let alone blog. But I have definitely missed you folks! I'm going to try to carve out a little more time for myself so I can post a little more regularly. It's all about routine, I know. Just gotta work it in. ; )

A Bee-autiful Weekend for Some Honey

2011-08-30T08:29:00.001-04:00

This past weekend was a-buzz with activity.
There were bee beards, beehives

and honey products out the wazoo.
We were bee-yond excited to take part in the

31st anniversary of the West Virginia State Honey Festival.

(Okay...enough bad puns already.)

Before Brie was able to find a location for her cupcakery,

she had booked a couple of fairs/festivals where she could set up to sell.

She has decided to not set up at the one later this month
because it will mean closing the store for two days
and it is less than two weeks after she opens.

But I'm so glad she decided to go ahead and do the Honey Festival!

We had gorgeous weather, sold lots of stuff,
and met some really nice folks. : )

I snapped a pic of our tables so you can see some of Brie's handiwork.

The small containers are homemade marshmallows
and next to them are the honeybun cupcakes.

YUMMY!

These are my pepperoni rolls, with and without cheese.

Starting at the bottom: pineapple upside down, strawberry rhubarb, black forest,

s'mores, peanut butter and chocolate, pancakes and bacon.

Some of my faves...the strawberry rhubarb is killer!

She had to bake several dozen more on Saturday night after we returned home from the festival.

The peanut butter-chocolate, honeybun and white wedding cake disappeared quickly!

And I'm pleased to say that I had to bake more pepperoni rolls, too!

It was nice having customers return on Sunday before we closed

because they had tried them on Saturday and wanted more. : )

It was definitely a crazy/busy weekend and I missed my kids,

but it was also a good weekend and helped us get an idea of

which items need to be more heavily stocked.

Grand opening is less than 2 weeks away! : )

5QF

2011-08-26T08:32:00.000-04:00

I'm hookin' up with MamaM for Five Question Friday. It's always a good time so why not join in? Just click here and link up. The rules are simple and you never know...you just might make some new friends! ; )

1. Did you make any fun purchases this week?

Ummmm.....let me think......NO!!! I haven't BEEN ANYWHERE to make any purchases this week! Being a bit of a homebody lately.

2. If you could go to any musical concert, what would it be?

My dream concert was The Eagles and thanks to The Hubster, I got to see them! He paid WAY TOO MUCH for the tickets when they came to town and I have to say, it was worth EVERY. SINGLE. PENNY. ; )

If I need to choose one that I still haven't seen, I think I'd have to say either Billy Joel or Elton John. I've had a love affair with Billy's 52nd Street album since it was released back in....oh my. 1978. SERIOUSLY??? 1978???

Okay, I feel old now.

3. What is your least fav/ most fav house chore?

I hate scrubbing toilets. YUCK. But seriously, most favorite chore? Is there really a favorite chore? I guess I have to say I don't mind laundry too much. Especially since my laundry room is now a sunny yellow and I have my super fantastic new washer and dryer. : )

4. Would you prefer new appliances or clothes?

Right now I'd have to say new appliances. Not because I don't like the ones I have! I really do. I love my double wall ovens and my five burner gas cooktop. They make me happy. : ) But I'd love to have a commercial kitchen. I'm green with envy when I see Pioneer Woman's 'lodge'. Oh, to have that at my fingertips! The stuff that dreams are made of.

5. Miracle Whip or Mayo?

Two words for ya:

KRAFT MAYO

'Nuff said. ; )

How DO YOU do it? A Plea for Tips, Tricks and Ideas

2011-08-25T09:34:00.000-04:00

Okay.

It's that time of year again.

School is back in session and so are all the after school practices,

football games (they start this Friday night),

homework time,

LOTS of routine.

So many things to keep track of, get scheduled, etc.

So, I bought a BIG dry erase, one-month calendar page

that will stick to the fridge.

The spaces are large enough to write in everything we have to do,

everywhere we have to be.

I hope.

Anyway, I'm working on getting that filled in

and I'm also getting back to my meal planning

and putting to good use my meal strategies

that make my life a little easier.

I always try to keep 1 lb. pkgs. of browned, crumbled

ground beef in the freezer for quick meal fixes,

and the same with Italian sausage.

It makes it so easy to whip up a fast dinner.

But right now I need to stock up on...

well, pretty much

EVERYTHING!

So, all you busy moms out there,

share your secrets with me!

What is it that you do to keep it all

running smoothly during those busy times?

Also, I have another issue I'm attempting to tackle.

Tucker has always carried a lunch from home

more often than he's eaten hot lunch at school.

Between his food allergies, texture issues

and just plain and simple picky-ness,

it's always been easier to assure that he had enough to eat

by packing his lunch.
Some days I just wanna say:

But now, with dietary guidelines being enforced,

school lunches have gotten so bad that even Perri

is packed most of the time.

Let me tell you,

if Perri won't eat it...it's pretty bad.

So I'm packing a LOT of lunches these days

and I'm really sick of packing the same ol' things.

This is me most days:

See the confusion?

Is there anything unusual that you pack for your kids?

Any ideas you'd be willing to share?

Breakfast ideas are most welcome, too,

I'm currently on the lookout for recipes for nutritious

but tasty muffins, breakfast bars, and any dishes

that could be made ahead of time to serve them before they

leave for school. If they can hold it in their hands and eat it on the run,

so much the better! Some of our mornings are rushed.

But we also have mornings where there is time to sit down

and eat a good breakfast before we leave the house.

If you've previously posted this sort of thing on your blog,

just leave me a link in the comments!

If not but you're interested in hearing about the ideas

I receive from others, let me know.

I think it would be great if we'd all band together

and share what works for us when it comes to

streamlining our busy mornings

and keeping our kids healthy and well fed. : )

Weaving Threads

2011-08-22T09:56:00.000-04:00

I have something I want to share with you.

Unless you are a relative of mine or you have some

other connection to my family,

I know this won't mean nearly as much to you as it does to me,

but I feel the need to convey to you the importance of family treasures.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It seems I'm feeling quite sentimental here the last few days.

A very dear cousin recently sent me a video of a

family get-together that took place in 1960,

five years before my birth.

I have to tell you.

I bawled like a baby.

It opens with my Daddy, smiling and enjoying his birthday celebration

with all the folks he held most dear.

There are many aunts and uncles, most of them gone now.
Aunt Mayme fussing at Uncle Bob to get the camera away from her
and Aunt Matt running from him. : )

The almost-five-year-old version of my brother (he was 10 when I was born)

sitting with an ultra thin, oh-so-young version of my Mom.
Lots of cousins dancing and acting silly.

It was a pivotal moment for me, seeing these people in this way.

One of those uncles I don't recall ever meeting.

I'm sure I did as a very young child, perhaps even a toddler.

He and his family moved away and then he died rather unexpectedly

when I was still young.

Until watching this video, he had been merely a handsome face

in a handful of still photos stored in a cardboard box at my Mom's house.

But this video, this treasure, allowed me to see him

really LIVING.

Laughing, joking with his siblings, having fun.

And most importantly to me, there was my Daddy.

Alive again, looking young and vibrant and happy.

The same with all those aunts and uncles

who are no longer with us.

It broke my heart...

but in a very good way.

I miss these folks and I wish they were still here.

I wish I could have realized at a much younger age

what a gift it is to have a large and loving extended family.

I wish I had spent more time in their company,

listened more intently to their stories,

paid a little more attention.

It's just a few threads in the fabric of my life.

A snippet of time that I'm sure my Uncle Bob (the man with the camera)

never imagined would mean so much more than 50 years down the road.
But what an impact it has had on me.

I hope that when you watch this

it will make you stop and think.

The next time you have a chance to spend a few minutes

with an aunt or uncle or grandparent...

TAKE IT.

Enjoy it.

Savor it.

REMEMBER IT.

The older I get, the more important

those fond memories become.

When loved ones pass on,

those memories sustain you.

Those little threads we weave create a warm cocoon

which will warm our hearts even in the coldest of winters.

The Picture Door

2011-08-20T09:53:00.000-04:00

In my kitchen there is a door.

It is a plain ol', ordinary door just like all the others.

It conceals a coat closet that has storage that runs deep under the stairs.

This door is made of poplar and has hinges and a doorknob and matches all the others in the house.

There really is nothing special about this particular door,
but I daresay we have a better recorded history of it than any other door on the face of this earth.

You see, around these parts this door is simply known as
The Picture Door.

The beautiful picture quilt my Brie made for me,

photographed in front of The Picture Door.

How appropriate.

In all the excitement surrounding the engagement ring,

we nearly left out poor ol' Picture Door! ; )

(There it is, just behind her thumb.)

Okay, so it didn't start out that way. We built the house in '98 and moved in on Thanksgiving Day. And it isn't like we walked through the house trying to find the perfect door in front of which to take pictures, but doggone it...this door was just handy. ; )

Sometimes it's quite by accident, too. This is from an outdoor birthday party

that ended up at my house due to some really gusty winds.

Chairs were set up wherever they would fit

and STILL we end up with a shot in front of The Picture Door!

The lighting is usually pretty good there. The French doors leading onto the deck are directly across the room from The Picture Door, therefore the subjects in front of said door are bathed in natural light.
Or, if it happens to be dark outside when we're needing to snap a shot, the light over the table is to the right and the lights over my kitchen island are to the left, leaving The Picture Door right there in the middle with no harsh light to ruin the photo.

Well, except for those pesky sidelights on the front door.

You have to remember to avoid having them in the shot. A bit much back light at times.

And a bit much glare on the floor. ; )

BTW, this was Halloween.

We're not just a bunch of weirdos.

PLUS, this door is in the heart of the main floor of our home. If you are entering or exiting the kitchen/family room area, you will pass this door. Therefore, if an adorable child is passing through the room ~~he/she won't be able to~~ ~~escape~~ ~~the tortures of~~ you won't miss another photo opportunity, because they're always within easy reach! You can be grab them and ~~force them to stand and smile~~ encourage a pose right there in the perfect lighting by The Picture Door.

This particular smile is saying "Mom, PLEASE. Snap it already!"

So you see, it was never planned that this would be the spot for all snapshots taken in this house. It was, in fact, only pointed out to me in the last few years that we sure had a lot of pictures of the kids taken in that very spot. And that, my friends, is how this ordinary, unassuming, six-panel hunk of wood became known as The Picture Door.

Obviously when Brie snapped this one, she didn't pay enough attention.

She almost didn't get the door! ; )

Now do tell. Is there a particular spot in your home where it seems you take an awful lot of pictures?* Flip through that ~~shoebox of photos you haven't gotten around to organizing~~ lovely family album and see if you find a common theme.

*This question does not apply to those camera wielding goddesses who always post those great, spontaneous shots of their kids. I am in awe of you. I bow to you. I am not nearly so organized or coordinated as to always have my camera in hand, nor do I have the skills. My pictures pretty much stink, as you can see by the above shots. ; )

Confession Time

2011-08-18T08:18:00.000-04:00

It's a fact.

I am the world's worst mother.

It's the kids' first day of school and who forgot to take pictures?

Ahem....*hand going up*.....that would be ME.

And no, it isn't just the first day of school. It's Perri's first day of high school.

Such a momentous occasion and I, being the forgetful person that I am, forgot to snap pics.

Sheesh.

How do you picture snapping moms manage?

I mean, my intentions are wonderful.

(And yes, I know what they say about good intentions.)

My photography skills are minimal at best, but I try to remember to grab the ol' point and shoot.

Then somehow I end up breezing through the occasion,

just living it and doing what must be done,

forgetting that I have the perfect tool to capture those moments right there within reach.

Therefore we got not one single, solitary shot in front of

*The Picture Door.

Sorry, Amanda. I'll try to do better next time. ; )

{*The Picture Door is a family joke. I'll fill you in on that one at a later date.}

Since I didn't think of it until we were on our way to Tucker's school

to wait on the bus to pick up Perri,

I snapped a couple in the parking lot.

Sad, I know.

I managed to coax a smile out of her before she got out of the car.

She'll probably kill me for this one.

My long and lanky fourth grader.

Yes, he was in a good mood.

He's my morning person.

Perri?

Not so much.

So there we are. You now know the truth.

My parenting skills are sadly lacking in some areas.

My shame is deep.

Now, on with your day.

And don't forget your camera.

The Last Day

2011-08-17T09:00:00.000-04:00

Today is it. The last day of my official summer. Tomorrow the kids go back to school and this household will resume ~~something that resembles~~ a routine. There are both good and bad aspects of this annual occasion.

The Good:                                                      The Bad:
Up at 6 every morning.                                    Up at 6 every morning.

Structure to the day.                                         A little less structure never
                                                                        killed anybody. ; )

Kids will be with friends.                                  I'll miss having them at
   home.

More time for me to write.                               *No bad side to this!

For now I'm going to leave you with a few of my favorite shots from this summer. And I'm going to go and enjoy this last day and try to not think about the fact that it is, in fact, the last day of Summer 2011.

Morning on Myrtle.

Don't know the person in this shot...I just loved the way the light

was reaching down through the clouds.

Beautiful.

Tucker's first experience with All Stars. : )

He was so thrilled to be chosen and had such a good time.

A boy and his fishin' pole.

My Tucker Man does love to go fishin'.

Any day spent in the ballpark is a good day.

Any day spent watching my Yankees is an excellent day!

The peaceful beauty of Amish Country.

Wow.

Planking Perri.

No, I don't get the appeal of it.

No, I don't know why it became THE thing to do.

Yes, I find it slightly amusing.

Her gymnastics muscles sure paid off in this one.

I'm outta here.

I have ONE LAST DAY of summer to enjoy.

A Teasing Visit

2011-08-11T11:19:00.000-04:00

She stopped in last night for a brief visit.

I was a little shocked by her arrival. I hadn't watched the news

or even read the newspaper recently to hear of her pending arrival,

therefore I was pleasantly surprised.

It felt like an old friend returning home

after spending far too much time away.

I was afraid that when I opened my eyes this morning

she'd already be gone,

but she actually decided to stick around for a bit!

It is so unusual for her to visit us in August

but after the summer we've been having,

I am ever so grateful she's here.

Her name?

AUTUMN.

And she's my favorite. ; )

Last night's low was right around 60* and today we'll not even reach 80*.

I can't begin to tell you how happy this makes me! : )

The sky is blue, the sun is shining, a gentle breeze is blowing

and all is right with the world.

Well, sort of.

Okay, not all.

But this sure beats the 90+ temps and high humidity we've been battling

ALL. SUMMER. LONG.

I know this is just a tease.

It's far too early for Autumn to stick around

in all her cool, colorful glory,

but I'm enjoying her visit as much as I possibly can.

I've already been fighting the urge to break out the fall decor

for both the inside and outside of the house.

I LOVE DECORATING FOR FALL!

But I keep reminding myself...

It's only August.

All I can say is

LOOK OUT, SEPTEMBER 1st!

I sure am ready for you this year.

Uniformity

2011-08-10T21:52:00.000-04:00

It's now very real. My baby girl is starting high school. Guess I was able to not think about it too much this summer even though I've been busy running her to various high school sports clinics and practices, band camp and practices, etc. But yesterday it became a glaring reality. She got the uniform.

I can't tell you how much this uniform has been discussed in recent weeks.

Would they have one that would actually fit her?

Is it going to be as hot to wear as it looks like it will be?

How uncomfortable will the shoes be?

Yesterday all those questions were answered.

(1. Pretty much. 2. YES. 3. Not terribly.)

Reality has set in...my baby girl is now a high school student.

I'm so proud of her I could just burst! : ) Ya see, I was a total bookworm/nerd in high school. The only things in which I participated were student council, honor society, front office and library assistant, etc. I am too uncoordinated to be an athlete and I was utterly terrified of making a fool of myself in front of others. It sure did keep me from having much fun. And every single day I am grateful that Perri is a confident, outgoing, eager young lady who is not afraid to put herself out there and take chances. : )

Just had to share this pic of her in her beautiful new uniform and I promise that

one of these days I'll snap one of her in FULL uniform.

You know, including that really cute hat-of-a-thing she gets to wear. ; )

Miscellany Monday

2011-08-08T11:17:00.000-04:00

Gettin' it Together

Or at least trying. My house. My schedule. My family. And anything else that might be falling apart around here. ; ) School starts back on
and we began our practices this morning. You know, practicing getting out of bed before 10 or 10:30? Got them up a little after 8 this morning. That time will move back a little each day until we make it to six a.m. *sigh* I can't believe summer is over and we're back to this. :(

The Guest Room is Currently Occupied

My mom is visiting us for a few days. Tucker is thrilled because that means a new ~~victim~~ person to play games with him. One after another after another after another. Board games, card games, you name it. That boy is a game playing animal! He can go for hours at a time without a break, even when his opponents are begging for mercy.

Gettin' Down to Business

My girl is, anyway. Brie has started her own bakery business and after only a month it is really taking off! : ) For those of you on Facebook, you can find her at The Tasty Cupcakery and you may feel free to 'like' her page. ; ) Her website is currently under construction but as soon as she has it up and running, I'm sure she'll post the address. Be sure to take a look at the photos of her creations! Not only does she make beautiful and delicious cupcakes, but she also makes salted caramels, marshmallows, graham crackers, and all sorts of yummy stuff. One of our faves is when she takes a couple of her graham crackers, sandwiches a homemade marshmallow between them, and then dips the entire thing in chocolate! Sort of a homemade 'Moon Pie', if you will. GOOD STUFF. : )

Here are a couple of shots of the cupcakes she made for a Hello Kitty party this weekend:

She cut out those fondant Kitties freehand...no cookie cutters involved.

Just Peachy

Just wanted to share a pic of my latest kitchen creation. I've told you all before that I make the ugliest pies known to man. I just don't have that touch when it comes to making crusts and they never look terribly appetizing. They don't taste bad at all, but they're UGly. That's with a capital UG. ; )

Anyway, when I make a pie I like to have fun with it. I did just that this weekend. I got a little creative with some pastry and a sharp knife and this is what I ended up with:

I think that's just about all the miscellany I can handle for today.

Wanna join in the party?

Head on over to Carissa's

and link up!

This is Some Good Stuff

2011-08-02T09:01:00.001-04:00

Do you ever read a blog post and just know beyond the shadow of a doubt that it was written absolutely, totally and completely from the heart? I have. Many times, actually. Several of my bloggy buddies are just the kind of writers who are so completely open and honest in their writing that you can actually feel their pain, their joy, their sorrow. I love it when someone's writing grabs my heart and my mind and doesn't let go. Or perhaps it's that I don't want to let it go. Either way, it's good stuff.

I sometimes think that my writing is at its best when my heart is hurting the most. Terrible to think that I have to be in emotional turmoil in order to crank out something worth reading, but that's often the truth of the matter. In the two years that I've been blogging, I have written only a handful of posts that I consider to be truly decent prose. The kind that cuts deeply and bares the soul. Number one on that list is this one. I wanted, needed and was compelled write that. Sometimes that's just the way it is.

And then you have someone like Rachel. It seems that to write something touching and beautiful, Rachel requires only to get out of bed in the morning. Perhaps not even that. Perhaps she simply props herself with pillows, pulls out her laptop and proceeds to tap out the amazingly/simply/touchingly honest stories of her life each morning before her 7 children are up and about, ready to begin their days. I don't know how she does it. I only know that I love reading how she continues Finding Joy in everything she has and everything she does.

Rachel's post today is about life lessons. If there had been blogs all those years ago when I started my family and there had been someone like Rachel sharing her words of wisdom, I would like to think that I would have read them, taken them to heart and used the things she had learned through experience to better my own life. Contrary to what we think when we're young and ready to take on the world, we don't know everything and we don't always even know what's best. They say you can't learn from another person's mistakes, but I believe we can learn if only we really, truly listen. As in listen with your heart.

For instance, I wanted desperately to be a great mom. There was nothing I wanted more...ever. But I was young and still had a lot of growing up to do, so I definitely made mistakes. Patience was not my greatest virtue. I would worry and fret over what I now see as small stuff. Yes, I thought I knew everything, thought I knew what was best for me and for my family and that no one else could ever truly understand the things we had facing us. I may have been right and I may have been wrong. I'll never really know. But I do know that if back then I could have read Rachel's post from today, it would have definitely touched that place deep in my heart and I would have made these things my goals. Many years later, after divorce and remarriage, I was given another chance at this thing called motherhood. I had learned many lessons from that first time around and I'd like to think I'm doing a better job than I did all those years ago. I do know that I'm trying. And, every single day, I'm still learning. Life really is one big classroom.

Do yourself a favor. Read this post, especially if you have kids still at home. Or if you are thinking of having kids. Or if you have no intention of having kids but simply want to read some really good writing. Print it out. Hang it on your fridge. Read it every morning over breakfast. Share it with your spouse. Many of these things, I'm happy to say, I had already learned for myself. There are a couple I'm still working on and I suppose I'm happy to say that, too. That means I haven't given up hope of being the best I can be. ; )

Follow Directions Much?

2011-08-01T08:58:00.000-04:00

We were in the breakfast area of the hotel Saturday morning

grabbing a bite before we hit the road.

Totally surrounded by families, older couples and

the occasional sleepy-eyed teen

seeking a waffle and a glass of juice,
we perused the offerings and made our choices.

Needing to warm a cinnamon roll,

I went to the area where the

microwaves and toasters were located

and that's when I saw it.

I was laughing so The Hubster

had to come see, too.
And of course it was necessary to

pull out my phone and snap these pics,

'cause I had to share it with you guys!

Pretty simple instructions, ya know?

This would be WHY:

Really???

WAY TO GO!

Wanna see?

2011-07-31T10:54:00.001-04:00

A Continuation of Yesterday's Post
I put together a couple of collages of the Amish Country pics.
(Click on the collage to enlarge it, then hit your 'Back' button to return.)

This first one is from some of our shopping.

Yes, we went to a Christmas shop,

Tis the Season.

Christmas in July, ya know! : )
Christmas makes me happy and I'd even do a Christmas shop in January.

Yeah, I'm one of those people.

I never get sick of Christmas.

Clockwise from top left:

NUTCRACKERS!

I love them.

I think they're beautiful.

I have my own little collection of them.

A person can never have to many nutcrackers.

I. WANT. THESE.

; )

A shot from the second floor of the shop.

This is a big ol' round building

and the interior is very dramatic.

All the lights, all the trees, all the glitter and glow.

It's truly spectacular.

Bins and bins of decorations are divided

according to theme.

Several small rooms all around the perimeter

of the building cover everything from

traditional to hunting/fishing lodge,

Wizard of Oz to teddy bears,

primitive to modern.

They have EVERYTHING.

The Big Guy himself. : )
I love me some Santa/Father Christmas/Saint Nicholas.

Whatever name and form of the legend you choose,

he's my homeboy.

Love that guy. : )

And now, on to some more shots of the hotel.

Lots of shots from lots of perspectives.

The library just off the lobby. A lovely, quiet place to

browse the shelves; a comfy chair to sit and read;

a cozy corner to work a jigsaw puzzle.

The second floor breakfast and sitting area.,

complete with a Baby Grand.

The beautiful, sweeping staircase.

A bright and inviting area with board and card games.

The beautiful flower beds out front.

I can't begin to tell you how beautiful and inviting

The Carlisle

really is.

*You may remember that last year I did a post regarding the Inn at Amish Door.

We have always stayed there but this trip was rather last-minute and they had no vacancies.

The Carlisle was a wonderful substitute and
I'm sure we'll go back. : )

And a bit more of our shopping excursion.

(Yes, we shopped a whole bunch.

Is that not one of the reasons you go to Amish Country?)

As I mentioned in a previous post, most places aren't

wild about you taking pics in their shops.

I managed to sneak a few. ; )

Do you not LOVE this stuff?

There will be more on that sign in the bottom right pic in a future post.

*If you love any of it enough to want it, just check HERE.

Pretty and Peaceful

2011-07-30T19:35:00.000-04:00

This is just the tiniest snippet of the beautiful scenery

I've enjoyed this weekend.

How could a person not be at peace

with a scene like this laid out before them?

And this sunset sky.

Is it not breathtaking?

The Hubster treated me to a couple of days

in Ohio Amish Country.

We stayed at The Carlisle at Dutch Valley

and this is the view from our balcony this morning.

When the fog clears, the rolling countryside

seems to go on and on forever.

And in the fog at the top of this shot

I could see something trying to peek through the misty air.

I zoomed in and this is what I saw.

Just beautiful.

And this was our room.

The quilts on the beds were simply beautiful

and the artwork throughout the room was lovely.

Isn't the furniture pretty?

Love this little corner.

I'm not sure why the colors in these pics do not look true

on my computer screen, but the carpet was a

very pretty dark shade of green.

Not the ugly pea soup shade that I'm seeing here. ; )

And the walls were a light sage.

Very tranquil.

Very tasteful.

The bathroom was SPOTLESS.

That's a must for me.

I detest a nasty hotel bathroom.

The dressing room/closet.

(The closet area was to the left of this scene.)

Notice the mini-fridge under the counter.

LOVE having a mini-fridge in the room.

When you have dinner in the Amish Country, it's extremely difficult

to save room for dessert. That handy little icebox enabled us to

order fresh, homemade pie to-go.

Midnight snack, ya know? ; )

I have a ton more pics on my phone that I hope to share with you in the next day or two.

I took a few shots of the rest of this lovely hotel

and snapped several when we were out shopping.

Some places frown upon picture taking when it comes to

craft or decor items,so I wasn't about to attempt it with my camera.

Hope the phone shots are okay.

Perri and Tucker left yesterday morning for King's Island and Great Wolf Lodge for the weekend.

Brie, Josh and the boys took them for a little getaway

before school starts back.

They won't be home until tomorrow evening sometime.

I hope they're having as good a time as we did.

: )

Feelin' a Little Bubbly?

2011-07-26T13:17:00.001-04:00

I am!

Allow me to explain.

Know her?

This is my friend, Colbie,

Well, okay.

So she's not really my friend friend,

but I just know that if we ever met,

we'd surely be the best of buds.

We have so much in common!

She has long, beautiful hair...

and I wish I had long beautiful hair.

That girl can SING.

I always wanted to sing.

She's in her mid 20s.

I'd kinda sorta almost

give my eye teeth

to be in my mid 20s again.

Okay.

So we don't really have all that much in common.

But I reallyreallyreally

love her voice (so smooth and sweet),

her songs (which she writes herself),

the fact that she plays the guitar

(how cool...I do well to play a stereo)

and the happy feeling I get

when I listen to her music.

For me,

MUSIC = MOOD

and when I need a lift,

I can listen to a little

Colbie Caillat.

So, Colbie is coming to Charleston

in September and tickets went on sale

this morning at 10 a.m.

Guess who had her computer fired up,

fingers perched on the keyboard,

anxiously awaiting that moment of truth?

Yep.

This girl.

And I did get tickets.

Row L.

Yes, you read that right.

Row L, a mere 12 rows back.

I am one happy girl.

And guess who else is happy!

Well, yes.

I suppose she is happy.

But I don't know her,

so that's not who I meant.

I meant this pretty lady:

That's my girl, Brie.

Brie has never ever,

in the history of the entire universe,

EVER

been to a concert.

It just so happens that her

25th birthday is about 3 weeks or so

after this concert.

Brie also happens to be a Colbie fan.

It only makes sense that this should be

her birthday present this year, right?

Yeah, I thought so, too. : )

So we'll go out to dinner

and then to what I just KNOW

will be a fantabulous concert!

And, just in case you've been

living under a rock and you have

no idea why I titled this post what I did,

here is a link to the video for

Colbie's first big hit,

BUBBLY.

Have a listen.

And get to feelin' happy!

: )

ATBOC Syndrome...and those who suffer with it

2011-07-25T09:51:00.002-04:00

‎There are two types of people...those who come into a room and say 'Well, here I am!'

and those who come in and say 'Ah, there you are!'

Frederick L. Collins

A friend of mine (thanks, Mendy!) posted this quote on her FB page and I immediately ~~swiped~~ borrowed it. What a lot this little quote has to say! Really packs a punch, doesn't it? I would much rather be the latter type of person and I strive to not be the former, but I often wonder how I come across to others.

I love to laugh and I like to talk and I can be loud at times.

Does that mean I want to be the center of attention?

No, not at all.

I'm actually quite uncomfortable in that position.

Quite.

And I certainly don't think that I'm 'ALL THAT'.

You know, that person who thinks they're God's gift to humankind.

The one who feels that the sun should rise and set on him/her.

The one with ATBOC Syndrome.

(All That and a Bag Of Chips)

I'm not even a fan of that type of person.

They annoy me.

I hope to make others around me feel that I'm happy to see them.

That they are valued people in my life.

That my day has just been made better

because they have become a part of it.

As for those with ATBOC,

I could do without.

And sometimes I'm sure those folks can tell

beyond the shadow of a doubt

that that's exactly how I feel.

Guess that's something else I need to work on, huh?

; )

Random Shots on a Saturday

2011-07-23T10:22:00.000-04:00

Just going through the shots on my phone and found a few
I think are worth sharing.

I snapped this one quite early this morning.

Brie is working at the Farmers' Market

and she dropped off the boys

on her way out.

Hayden was still pretty sleepy

and decided that my legs would make

a comfy place to stretch out

and watch a movie. : )

I didn't argue.

Sweet, quiet moments like this

are few and far between with this

active little guy.

Ever had this?

If not, you MUST try it.

SO. DOGGONE. GOOD.

Tastes like summer.

This is one very exhausted Perri shortly after she returned

from band camp and took her first really hot shower

in almost a week.

(I guess the hot water supply at the camp

can't quite keep up with more than 140 band members.)

The adorable (?) head gear she is sporting

is the famous (infamous?)

TRUMPET HAT.

Each year one freshman is honored with this glorious chapeau.

It is adorned with mementos from each person

who has ever worn it, so this means Perri

gets to add her own special touch, too.

It has to be something that reminds her of her first band camp.

I think it's pretty cool that she was chosen. : )

I just don't want to go anywhere with her

while she's wearing it. ; )

And this, my friends, is Bob.

She's being....well, Bob.

She's a good ol' cat

who brings us 'presents' on a regular basis.

Presents I at first found

somewhat disturbing.

(Mice are gross. Disemboweled mice are even more so.)

But I know she gives them with much love.

She's looking out for us.

And keeping those pesky little rodents out of our house. : )

The Complaint Department is Open

2011-07-21T09:31:00.000-04:00

I've gotten a few emails recently from some of you out there in Blog Land saying that you're unable to leave comments here on Countin' My Blessings. I'm not exactly sure what to do about it, but I'll mess around with the settings and see if maybe I need to reinstall Disqus or something along those lines. I know I've had the same issue when trying to comment on a few other blogs (I can't get a cursor to appear in the comment box) but the problem seems to come and go. Sometimes reloading the page helps, sometimes it doesn't. And it isn't always blogs that use Disqus.

If you're one of the folks having a problem leaving comments, I just want you to know that I'm now aware of it and attempting to find a remedy. In the meantime, you can feel free to click on my profile and drop me a line via email. : )

Climbing Over the Hump

2011-07-20T11:25:00.000-04:00

Perri is at band camp this week. Her feet hurt (from marching), her lips are bruised (from playing her trumpet so much), the food is bad (so far I've delivered Hot Pockets, Timbits, iced vanilla coffee and Burger King fries and shake) and I worry about her in being out in this heat so much.

Tucker spent the night at Brie's and will stay there today to swim. (Guess he has it pretty good.)

Phil is at work...outside...in this horrendous heat. Temps in the mid 90s but will feel like well over 100. With the high humidity it's like breathing soup.

My shoulder is acting up. Again. Don't think I'm up to tackling the housework that needs done. It will just have to wait another day.

I think my Humpday will consist of putting together a pan of lasagna and reading on my Kindle.

It's a tough job, but someone has to do it. ; )

So what is in store for you on this hot and humid Humpday?

A Blast (or two...or ten) from the Past

2011-07-17T18:17:00.000-04:00

Yeah Flashback!

If you've never seen this site, you must go take a peek. Drew, my oldest son, is a bit of a nostalgia junky just like his mom. ; ) He sent me this link last night and I confess...I sat and looked through all 58 pages. Too cool.
Some of the things were familiar from my own childhood (late 60s and into the 70s) and others from those of my two older kids (mid 80s and into the 90s).

For instance, remember these?

Yes, I was a hair crimper.

Everyone had their fair share of bad 80s hair, right?

RIGHT?

Perri think that Jellies are the most hideous shoes she's ever seen.

I had at least four pairs.

White and clear, to appease my practical side.

After all, those go with anything.

And a couple of colors just to be cool. ; )

One of my favorite toys EVER.

Loved my Spirograph!

I also loved Shrinky Dinks, Colorforms,

paper dolls...

you get my point.

We had all the COOL toys when I was a kid.

They required more imagination than batteries.

Go take a look around YeahFlashback

and see if you don't see a few things

that bring back some cool memories for you, too. : )

5QF

2011-07-15T21:45:00.001-04:00

Yeah, I've been trying to get in here all week to write a post. I feel like such a slacker, but honestly...I have been busy! Really!!! So this is my first opportunity and I'm joining in, once again, over at MamaM's.

1. If you knew your best friend's spouse was cheating on her or him, would you tell her (him)?

Wow. That's a tough one. That is SO not a place I want to be. But I've also been the one being cheated on (not by The Hubster, TYVM) and I know how much I wish someone had told me at the time.

Instead of finding out later.

The hard way.

Even though I had my suspicions.

Let it suffice to say that there really is no great answer to this one. ; )

2. Soda in a can or a bottle?

Okay, I'm with MamaM on this one. It's called 'pop' around these parts. ; )
And I don't do cans unless there's nothing else around. Not that I mind pop in a can, but I do prefer it over ice.

Except for my daily diet Dr. P. I like that in a twist-top bottle that I can carry around with me. All day long.

Not that I'm addicted or anything.

3. What do you wash first, hair or body?

The hair is washed first. Always. Don't know why. Kind of like I don't know why the left sock always goes on first. Or why eyeliner goes on the left eye first, but mascara on the right.

I know. I'm odd.

4. What advice would you give to any new mama?

R.E.L.A.X.

You do know how to do this. It's instinctual; second nature. And if you're really stumped, there is always someone around who is more than happy to give advice. And there is never just one right way.

One other thing. Remember that your baby will usually let you know what you're doing right. Even if it's not what the book says to do or when the book says to do it, you are the mommy and you know that baby better than whoever penned the particular wealth of knowledge to which you are referring. Trust yourself. : )

5. What is your best hangover remedy?

Well, I don't do hangovers. Actually, I just don't drink. At all.

So I guess my best hangover remedy is DON'T DRINK! ; )

Miscellany Monday

2011-07-11T09:39:00.000-04:00

Ahhhh, another Monday. And this one will be spent at home sweet home! : )

Vacations are wonderful...coming home is, too. Even when it's a day earlier than planned.

*Dental appointment for Perri today. (Better her than me! ; ) I'd pretty much rather birth a child than have someone prodding around on my teeth.) Then on Wednesday Tucker sees the orthodontist. We're hoping the lip bumper gets removed, so cross those fingers. But we also know that when it comes out, the bottom braces go on. Not sure we should be celebrating...

*When we returned on Friday night, the laundry room became the busiest room in the house. I started the first couple of loads and The Hubster kept it going until pretty much everything was washed, dried and put away by the time Saturday evening rolled around. That's a good feeling, too. : )

*On Saturday my Tucker Man turned 9 years old!

Here's a pic of my happy little guy at the beach. : )

He requested Olive Garden for dinner, so as the inlaws were heading for home, we hopped in our car and followed them as far as Parkersburg so we could all help him celebrate. He was so excited to have the waitstaff sing happy birthday to him! There was no hiding that big ol' grin! : ) I videoed the whole thing and I'd love to post just a snapshot of him with the cake in front of him while they were singing, but I can't seem to figure out how to pull a snapshot out of the video. :( One of these days I will not be quite so technologically challenged. Maybe. ; )

*It's gonna be super hot this week. Today we're seeing mid 90s but humidity is making it feel like 105*. NOT my kind of weather. And since I pack The Hubster's lunch most days, these temps make me a little uncomfortable packing anything that includes mayo. I pack it with ice packs, but in these temps even they don't always make it to lunch time. So yesterday I made my Sweet and Sour Veggie Salad. It contains no mayo and the dressing on it is oil/vinegar based, so it's a safe bet on hot days. I'll be posting the recipe over at Kelli's Kitchen in just a few so be sure to check it out. : )

I believe that's it for this edition of Miscellany Monday! Join in over at carissa graham's by posting a link to your own Monday ramblings!

The Key to Ruining a Vacation...

2011-07-08T09:06:00.000-04:00

...is the key held in the evil hands of a person with no conscience and the inability to control his/her childish impulses to lash out, in secret, at folks he/she doesn't even know. Meanness personified. :(

Yes, someone keyed our truck. In the parking garage at the hotel. At night. And there are no security cameras.

Then, within hours of this discovery, we get another shock. At 3 a.m. there is a knock on our door. It's my father-in-law and it seems that he had gotten up to go to the bathroom only to step in water above his ankles. A water pipe under the sink in their room had burst. They had to evacuate at least three rooms. The good news? Tucker said it made a really pretty waterfall flowing over their sixth floor balcony. ; )

And this morning the sky is looking dark and vicious. So I believe we're heading home a day early. Better than being stuck in the room all day while the rain pours outside our window.

Catch you folks when I'm back in my own cozy little cow pasture! : )

A Little Unsolicited Advice...things I've learned on vacation

2011-07-06T09:17:00.000-04:00

And like a post from earlier this week, there will be no pics.

You can thank me later.

I'll apologize now if I offend anyone who reads this. But hey, it's my blog, a place to express my opinion. And while it is never my intention to hurt feelings, some things just beg to be said. ; )

Unsolicited Advice

Offering #1:

This one is for grown women who should know better.

If you are going to wear a two-piece bathing suit, please make sure you purchase a bathing suit that is the correct size. No, the front of your suit bottoms are not supposed disappear beneath your 'muffin top' (or BUNDT CAKE, if you will) and you should not have to constantly readjust those two microscopic slivers of fabric that you call a 'bikini top' in order to keep them on The Girls. Know what I mean?

Unsolicited Advice

Offering #2:

This one is for grown men who should, too.

I understand that there are different body types. I understand that sometimes an unattractive physique is a matter of genetics. But I also understand that how you cover that physique on a public beach is a matter of choice. Let's use a little common sense here. If you appear to belong in the latest edition of Ripley's Believe it or Not! due to the fact that you look to be roughly 38 weeks pregnant though you are quite obviously male and well beyond the age of new parenthood, a shirt would be nice. If you really don't want to wear a shirt, then please, I beg of you, at the very least you should not wear the waistband of your trunks below that hefty guy. Pull 'em up. Around your waist. Or at least where your waist should be. It's back to buying the correct size. The trunks you wore as a skinny 15 year old kid aren't really intended to fit you as a heftier, middle-aged male.

Unsolicited Advice

Offering #3:

This one is for all those boys/young men out there trying to look 'cool'.

Gentlemen, PULL UP YOUR SWIMMING TRUNKS! That section around the top is called a 'waistband'. It does not, I repeat NOT, belong down around your butt cheeks or, worse yet, your upper thighs! No one wants to see your underwear or any part of your anatomy that belongs within the confines of those swimming trunks. Just remember: CRACK KILLS....and it singes the eyeballs when you glance up from your comfy beach chair only to get an eyeful of it. Plus it makes me want to tell you to go take a bath. You look dirty. Yuck.

Unsolicited Advice

Offering #4:

This one is for all those young girls out there, trying so hard to grow up too quickly.

Leave a little to the imagination. Yeah, the skimpier the bathing suit and the more you swing those hips, the more attention you'll get from those young men wearing their waistbands down around their thighs. But it also draws the attention of guys older than you; guys whose intentions are maybe not so honorable; guys who should know better. And one of these days in the not so distant future, you'll come to realize that you should have spent a little more time enjoying growing up rather than rushing it.

And that is it for this edition of Unsolicited Advice.

But trust me, I'll be back with more someday.

And you probably won't want to hear (read) it either.

; )

Happy Fourth of July from Myrtle Beach!

2011-07-04T23:14:00.000-04:00

I must admit, it's a pretty terrific place to spend the Fourth of July.

All along the beach, as far as the eye could see,

fireworks hissed and blossomed in the night sky.

Red, white, blue, green, gold, purple.

All colors imaginable were well represented.

We are too far from the pier to really see the BIG ones,

but it seems that every hotel along the beach

has their own amazing display.

The atmosphere is positively electric down on the sand!

Everywhere you look there are families,

couples, groups of friends;

all excited and enthusiastically

celebrating this All-American holiday!

So this was my first Fourth on the beach

and it was amazing. : )
But... I miss the rest of my family back home.

And the fantastic Fourth celebration

we always have in Ripley.

And the food and fun we enjoy

back at our house, after the huge parade.

And the fireworks display that night,

when we all go back into town

and find a great place to park the truck,

drop the tailgate

and let the little ones have fun

with sparklers until time for

the BIG SHOW!

Next year. : )
Next year we'll be home for

"The Nation's Largest Small-Town Fourth of July Celebration"

The First Full Day

2011-07-03T20:32:00.000-04:00

This will be a pictureless post. I think you'll understand why when you read on.

I set no alarm for this morning, deciding I'd get out of bed when my body said it was time and not a moment before. It's time to relax and recharge. That's what vacation is all about, right? ; )

I began to come alive around 8:30 and was nearly human by 9. The others got up when I told them I was heading down to the beach for a stroll. We all love mornings on the beach! The original plan had included a walk and then The Hubster, my MIL and I were going to leave the kids with their Papaw and head into town to pick up groceries and supplies for the week. (We learned last year that Saturday evening was most definitely not the time to go! We stood in a checkout line for more than an hour. Not my idea of a good time at the beach. So we opted to bring enough munchies to last through Sunday morning and then go shopping.)

Well, as they're prone to do, plans changed. We were enjoying the beach far too much to go back to the room and get ready for a trip to the store. We decided to put it off and go in the hotter part of the day, when we'd probably be wanting to get out of the sun for a while anyway.

I ran back up to the room, got my Kindle, my chair, my phone and headed out. I was ready to relax and enjoy, I tell ya! R.E.A.D.Y.

And then I struggled to do so.

I love sitting at the water's edge, letting it lap at my ankles. What if I dropped my Kindle? Oh my! So I put the Kindle back into my beach bag and decided I'd read at night, in my safe, dry bed.

Then I thought I'd check my email and maybe take a peek at Facebook.

Well guess what. My iPhone cost more than my Kindle! What if I dropped it into those same teasing waves? NOT. GOOD.

I did read a bit when the kids decided to move from the ocean to the swimming pool. The reclining chair on the pool deck seemed much less fraught with danger.

And then the kids would come to get their towels or something else in the bag and I'd worry that they would drip on my phone.

I mean, really. How much more could I find to stress me out?

Plenty, I'm sure. ; )

When we returned from our shopping expedition and I got myself ready to hit the beach again, I decided instead to leave in the room anything that isn't ocean or pool friendly. If it requires a charger, has a touch screen or any sort of processor, it is going nowhere near that sand and surf. Period.

And you know what? The rest of the day was quite relaxing.

And that's what vacation's all about, right? : )

Oh yes, I am...

2011-07-02T20:47:00.000-04:00

I am here.

This is the view from our room.

I have sunk my toes into the warm sand,

listened to the rhythmic lull of the ocean,

breathed in the salty air

and let the sun warm me.

(See, toes in sand. Gotta love those funky tan lines from my sandals.)

I have found my peace.

And for a few days,

I will soak it in,

drink it up

and let it fill me.

I really needed this.

5QF

2011-07-01T10:42:00.001-04:00

1. If you had the opportunity to bungee jump, would you?

Not. On. Your. Life.

Period.

This is a girl who can't go more than three steps up a ladder, ya know what I mean? Asking me to attach a big rubber band to myself and jump off a bridge or something is like....well, it's like ASKING ME TO JUMP OFF A BRIDGE!!! ARE YA NUTS???

2. Would you rather go to the movie theater or to the drive-in?

I love going to the movies and I haven't been to a drive-in in years! But I do remember the last one I went to and I have fond memories of it, indeed. : )

Confession time: As a teenager I was attracted to bad boys.

Okay, not 'boys'...just a particular bad boy. One that my parents really wanted me to leave alone. So when threatening me with being locked in the house didn't work, they sent me to live with my aunt and uncle for a few weeks one summer. In another state. I was not happy. But my cousin Caroline, who is just a few years older, was determined I'd have a good time and forget all about that bad boy back home. Bless her. She had some cousins from the other side of her family coming to visit while I was there and she promised we'd all have fun.

Did we ever! : )

Those cousins had a cool car and one evening we went to the drive-in. I don't even remember what movie was playing, but I do remember laughing and having a really good time, and discovering that not seeing the bad boy was not the end of the world. And that that good boys could be fun, too! And that one of Caroline's cousins was super cute and I really enjoyed spending time with him. ; ) And that gave me hope that someday there would be a good guy in my life.

And that's my drive-in story. : )

Still didn't really answer the question, did I?

3. Do you have your groceries delivered?

Ummmm....I live in a cow pasture.

Short answer: NO. : )

4. Eyebrows: Do you wax, thread, pluck, or stay au naturel?

Pluck. When I have to. And not a moment before.

But one good thing about middle age for me...that isn't as often as it used to be. Actually, I'm almost afraid that someday I may have no eyebrows at all!

5. Would the people you went to high school with be surprised by your life today?

I doubt it. I was always pretty clear about wanting to be a wife and mom, have lots of kids and a house with a picket fence...all very 'Donna Reed', ya know? I doubt that any of them ever expected much else of me, really.

In other words, I think they'd be more shocked if I'd become a career woman, climbing the corporate ladder, shattering the glass ceiling and making a name for myself in big business. Now that, my friends, would have blown them away! ; )

Join in the Five Question Friday fun over at Mama M's! : )

They Almost Always Come Home

2011-06-30T15:37:00.000-04:00

No, I'm not trying to horn in on Brie's territory over at The Book Brieview, but I just read a most amazing story. Gotta tell you about it. :) (By the way, if you haven't been to Brie's, you really need to check it out!)

I recently read a few good books all in a row and suddenly found it extremely difficult to really 'get into' anything else. I started 7 or 8 novels and got no further than the first few pages of each before moving on and trying something else.

Then I grabbed this little number on my Kindle.

<p>&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br /&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br /&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br /&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;</p>

Best move I've made in a long while. ; )

This is probably classified as Inspirational or Christian fiction. I was completely unaware of that when I started reading it, but it also never felt preachy. Even if you are not into this type of novel, I urge you to give it a shot. Ruchti has taken some less than pleasant subjects (yes, more than one) that would have had some authors crafting a depressing tale of woe, and penned one of the most hopeful stories I've read in recent years. Her conversational writing style is a thing to treasure...she writes the way I think. Scary? I'm sure The Hubster would think so. ; ) But there are plenty of you out there who just might get it.

This is the very realistic story of a marriage and what can happen when men communicate like men and women communicate like...well, women. Lessons learned? Neither is exclusively right or wrong and (as I've preached for years) perception is reality.

This is not a book of answers for troubled marriages and I certainly hope that none of you ever has to experience the things that Greg and Libby do on these pages. However, I do think you'll be better for having read their story. More understanding; more willing to listen with not just your head but also your heart; better able to find some way to reach out when you know you should; more willing to accept a helpful hand, a shoulder to lean on, the support of someone who loves you.

Yes, this story is about all that. And then some.

*One word of warning to Kindle users though: The formatting of this novel on the Kindle is definitely less than ideal. I'm not sure why but the page breaks are in awkward places, the authors name and the title appear on nearly every page. Some sentences are centered and others are not. But it is certainly readable and definitely worth the minor aggravation.

Oswego Tea...Bergamot...Monarda

2011-06-29T09:02:00.000-04:00

Or just simply BEE BALM. When my friend Tonia gave these to me, that's what she called them.

Obviously, with a name like bee balm, the bees love it. But so do butterflies and hummingbirds! How could they resist? Those bright and beautiful blooms seem to draw you in and once you get close enough, the fragrance will do the same. And you know what else? Those blooms are EDIBLE! Not that I've ever used them in my cooking, but I do like to read up on the plants I have to find out their history, uses, soil and water preferences, etc. Bee balm happens to be related to mint. The leaves can be used for tea or to add flavor to jellies and the flowers are good in salads, or so they say.

I visited here and found this info regarding medicinal uses:

Bee Balm leaves and flowers and stems are used in alternative medicine as an antiseptic, carminative, diaphoretic, diuretic and stimulant. An infusion is medicinal used internally in the treatment of colds, catarrh, headaches, and gastric disorders, to reduce low fevers and soothe sore throat, to relieve flatulence, nausea, menstrual pain, and insomnia. Steam inhalation of the plant can be used for sore throats, and bronchial catarrh (inflammation of the mucus membrane, causing an increased flow of mucus). Externally, it is a medicinal application for skin eruptions and infections. Bergamot's distinctive aroma, found in both the leaf and flower is wonderful for use in potpourri.

Are you a brave enough soul to try such things? I mean, I know I use and eat plants (or portions of them) every day of my life. We use vegetables and herbs all the time! I just have trouble considering ingesting something out of my flower bed, ya know? Something I planted for the sake of decoration. Like pansies. I've known for years that they're edible but that doesn't mean I've eaten a ton of them. They're really pretty when you sugar them to decorate cakes and such, or even thrown into a salad, but I can't bring myself to actually eat them!

So tell me, what do you grow and eat that is

a little out of the ordinary?

Miscellany Monday

2011-06-27T11:05:00.000-04:00

1. Another week has begun and I'm feeling like I'm running behind. Again. We've been so busy running here and there to watch our local Little League All Stars that there hasn't been a whole lot of downtime recently. Oh well, that's what summer is for, right? : )

2. We spent Saturday visiting some of my family in Glasgow. It's only an hour's drive but we don't make it down there often. It was good to have a semi-relaxed day of catching-up. My Uncle George was telling me all sorts of family stories and I have ~~politely requested~~ begged and pleaded for him to start writing these down! I told him that if he would even just sit down with a tape recorder and record them, I would gladly transcribe them. What a treasure to have! He's among the last of my Daddy's few living siblings and he has a wealth of family history stored in that loveable head of his! : )

3. Okay, I confess. My guilty conscience is eating away at me. I smuggled illegal contraband into 4H Camp. It consisted of this:

and this:

What can I say. Perri texted me (from her cell, which she's also not supposed to have at camp...) and she said 'please'. But I also must admit that I'm not alone in this smuggling operation. I happen to know another mom who carted in scads of McNuggets from the Golden Arches and 10 packs of tacos from Taco Bell. (Don't worry, Lisa. I won't tell. ) ; )

4. I have much work to do today. Bathrooms that need scrubbed, a refrigerator that needs cleaned out and a lawn that needs mowed. And here I am. Writing a blog post. Kick me outta here, will ya?

Join in on Miscellany Monday

over at Carissa's.

And have a

Mom + Perri = An 18' Reptile

2011-06-25T08:05:00.000-04:00

Okay, not literally. But we did use our time together yesterday to make this:

We went out in search of jungle related items

to decorate her 4H Camp cabin.

The theme this year is

Welcome to the Jungle

and I think he fits right in!

He really is 18' long, too! And when I left them at camp, he was stretched out across several beds:

(that's one of Perri's cabin mates standing by the door)

He pretty much took over the cabin. ; )

Perri's counselor, Michele,

had already done an awesome job of decorating!

She had hung streamers

across the ceiling like vines

and had clusters of

leaves here and there around the cabin.

She had also brought in several blow-up

jungle animals and had them scattered about.

Plus there were safari hats on each bed

and other cute touches throughout.

Their room just has to win the decorating contest this year!

We did have a good afternoon together.

I hope she will treasure the memories we made today.

I know I will.

: )

She's a Little Busy This Summer

2011-06-24T11:04:00.000-04:00

Perri's calendar looks something like this:

Softball clinics, volleyball clinics, marching band practices, softball scrimmages, Youth Leadership Academy, 4H camp...these are just a few of the things that are occupying her time this summer.

(This is a shot from last night's scrimmage. Wicked sky, huh?

It was beautiful and frightening, all at the same time.)

I love that she's busy and involved and enjoying this time in her life. Really I do. At her age, the most I did in the summertime was hang out at the city pool with my friends and keep my nose buried in a good book. (Yeah, I was kinda geeky...)

That being said, there is also something I must admit.

I MISS HER.

She leaves for 4H Camp this evening and won't be home until late Tuesday night. And today, since Tucker is gone with Brie and her family to see Cars 2 and do some other fun stuff, I do believe that this will be a Perri and Mom day. : ) Not gonna do anything special. I just want to enjoy her. She is fun and she is funny; she is smart and she keeps things interesting. She makes me laugh and she makes me think. She is part me, part The Hubster....the good parts. She is my Perri.

So for now I'm outta here. Gonna go enjoy my girl for a few hours and hope that it will do until she can pencil me in again. ; )

Darn Near Perfect

2011-06-22T20:10:00.000-04:00

That's the best way I can describe my day today.
I spent it here:

Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Reds territory.

And I wore this:

(That's my Tucker Man, also wearing his Yankees garb.)

And you know what?

All was well because Cincy is a classy baseball city.

There were no rude remarks or gestures

and no dirty looks from the locals.

As a matter of fact, people were friendly,

polite and eager to be of assistance...

much like the last time we visited this city

for a Yankees game in 2003.

I gotta say,

we have visited other baseball cities

to watch my boys play

and I can't say the experiences were quite as nice.

Thank you, Cincy, for being such a gracious host.

I know that most of you probably don't give a hoot about baseball,

but I just gotta share a few pics.

Bear with me. ; )

Stretchin' before the game.

Can you say 'flexible'?

The men in black.

These dudes can make it or break it.

This man has struck fear into the hearts of many a batter.
It is always a thrill for a Yankees fan
to watch him take the mound.
Mariano Rivera
aka: 'Mo'

And this, my friends, was the final pitch of the game.

Yeah, we won! : )

And my boy gets to tell his kids and his grandkids

that he got to see,

live and in person,

the GREATEST CLOSER in

all of baseball.

Darn near perfect, I tell ya. : )

But I guess you're wondering

since the threatening rain held off

and we had decent weather

and we got to see Mo

and we won the game...

why wasn't it perfect?

Well, someone didn't give

the powers that be at

Great American Ballpark

the memo regarding Cracker Jack and baseball.

You know, they just go together!

It seems the folks in Cincy prefer this:

And that, my friends, is just not perfect.

Teaberry

2011-06-21T12:11:00.000-04:00

Mama Jones always had a pocket. Her house dresses all had at least one on the front and if she was dressed for bed, she wore a robe with pockets. And no matter what she was wearing you could rest assured that in one of those pockets there would be a folded Kleenex tissue and one of these:

That little packet of gum is so many things to me.

It is a hug from my Mama Jones, and the sweet memory of her soft voice telling me stories of her childhood.

It is remembering my little 7 year old legs climbing into her oh-so-high four-poster bed

when we'd have sleepovers.

It is the aroma that always enveloped her.

It is, in many ways, some of the best parts of my childhood.

For many years it was impossible to find Teaberry in our neck of the woods. Then one day a few years ago, while visiting the Amish Country in Ohio, we happened into a little general store with a huge selection of candies and gums, and lo and behold...there sat a box of Teaberry Gum. Right alongside the Black Jack (that strong licorice gum for which I could never develop a taste) and many other brands and flavors of long ago.

And you know I bought some. : )

Nowadays I see Teaberry here and there when we're out and about. Like all good things, it is making its way back around for yet another generation to enjoy. If you've never tasted it, give it a shot. It has a unique flavor and I really can't compare it to anything else.

What is it that brings back sweet childhood memories for you?

I'm Feeling Quite Scentsible

2011-06-16T14:16:00.000-04:00

I am walking through WalMart, attempting to remember the things written on the shopping list I left at home, when suddenly I am swept away.

No, not by the nice looking young man stocking the shelves. And not literally swept away. It was more of a little mental vacation.

In reality I was here:

In my mind I was here:

Not a bad trade, ya think?

And now I'm sure you're wondering how I went from the torturous aisles of Wally World to this fantastically relaxing beach scene. That's fine. I'm more than willing to share my secret.

You need only two things, the first of which I'm pretty sure you have at home.

Or wherever you might happen to be.

The second thing you need is this particular aisle:

It also helps if some shopper before you has attempted to sniff

(or perhaps apply?)

some of the potion inside of one of those bottles and just happens to have spilled a bit.

I love it when a scent evokes a powerful memory or feeling. Same thing with certain songs. To this day I can't hear anything by Chicago (circa late 70s/early 80s) or The Commodores' Brick House without being at the Glasgow Pool of my childhood.

I say 'of my childhood' because I took my kids there last summer, for old times' sake, and it really just didn't feel the same way it did when I was growing up there. Which is another lesson learned: Our fondest memories are often glorified versions of the actual happenings. Time tends to soften the rough edges and polish each to a gentle glow. It also eliminates any unpleasant aspects that may tarnish the recollections of our good ol' days.

But that's a whole other blog post. Back to the business at hand. ; )

Another scent that will take me away is Downy softened towels

hanging on a clothesline in a gentle spring breeze.

There I am, in the backyard of my childhood, grass tickling my bare feet as I weave my way through the damp towels, hoping Mom doesn't peek outside and catch me. Touching the laundry on the lines was a no-no. But what kid could resist that damp, sweet-smelling labyrinth, especially in those first barefoot warm days of springtime?

So tell me, what scents take you away? Where do they take you? What is it you'd love to smell right this minute, just so you could experience that memory/feeling? Come on...spill it! Inquiring minds want to know! : )

My Bloomers

2011-06-13T16:37:00.000-04:00

NO!

Not that kind of bloomers!

I'm referring to these:

and these

and these, too.

Then, of course, there are these...

I also have a question for you

flower lovers out there...

What is this

and what can I do to rid my flower bed of it?

A friend of mine gave me

many beautiful flowers

and she also gave me

great advice about what

to plant in my beds and

what to put elsewhere.

Unfortunately,

I didn't remember what was what.

You guessed it.

I planted in my beds

a couple of things that really shouldn't

have gone there

and now they're taking over

EVERYTHING.

I've been pulling things up

left and right

only to find more growing

the very next day.

So any advice?

Or better yet,

any volunteers to come

weed for me?

Wanna See Happy?

2011-06-12T22:28:00.008-04:00

This is happy.

Need a better view?

Maybe just a tad closer?
That's my Tucker Man
and he is a very happy camper today.

The reason?

Well, see this base?

That is THIRD BASE.
And my Tucker Man had just reached that base
by running his little heart out.

And he ran his little heart out
shortly after swinging his
bat just as hard as his
little arms would allow.

A TRIPLE!

And this triple, my friends,
came during an ALL STAR game!

Tucker's team went on to win
13-3
and we play again
on Tuesday.

Wish them luck!
:)

5QF, just a little late in the day...

2011-06-10T20:58:00.003-04:00

1. How close to your childhood dreams is your life now?
Ya know, when I think about it just a little, I have to say pretty doggone close. I wanted six kids...I have four. (Had two, ended up divorced, remarried and had two more. Just went a little too long between husbands... ; ) ) All I ever wanted was to be a mom, a wife, a writer. As a young girl I would dream of a house with a white picket fence (corny, I know) and I had names chosen for all of my children, including the twins I planned to have. ; )

2. What is one must have item for the summer?
A good book. Or two. Or maybe ten.

3. Do you have your kids stay up on school stuff during summer vacation? (Or, if you don't have kiddos, did your parents make you keep up on school stuff during summer?)
We are one of those families who enjoy learning all the time, and while the kids are young and still sponge-like, we teach them at every opportunity. So yeah, we even do some learning during the summer months. Especially when we get to travel. Lessons learned by seeing and doing are lessons well learned. So while we don't actually sit down and do worksheets or anything like that, we DO continue learning in fun ways. : )

4. Do you can or freeze fresh produce?
Of course I do! Doesn't everyone? The Hubster works the land and I put up the harvest. Bushels of potatoes go into the cellar, I fire up the canner and break out the Mason jars for the green beans, the peas...

Oh, who am I kidding? We don't even have a cellar and I'm not even sure I still have a canner. What's more than that...I DON'T HAVE THE TIME OR THE ENERGY FOR IT AT THIS POINT IN MY LIFE! So here's the truth of the matter:

I used to do more than I do now, but I still try to put up some fresh things for the winter months. We love fresh corn so I always try to freeze several quart bags. We also grow bell peppers and I blanch, stuff and freeze those. Wrap them individually and I just pull out as many as I need, mix up some sauce, and throw them in the oven. Quick, easy, fresh tasting meal on a cold winter's day. : ) And I put up freezer jam in the spring when strawberries are in season for us. YUMMY!

5. Do you get ready for the day first thing in the morning?
Usually, but right now the kids are out of school and on the days we have nowhere to be and nothing important to do, you just might catch me in my pj's a little later in the morning than is typical. Or maybe even a lot later. Maybe. In other words, you might wanna call first. ; )

I'm SO Excited to Share This With You!

2011-06-07T21:41:00.006-04:00

Well folks, there's an NBOTB.

No, that's NKOTB.

And though I still love these guys,
that's not what I'm here to talk about.

Not today, anyway. ; )

I'm referring to a New BLOG on the Block!

And here's the link:
The Book Brieview

If you live to read, this is the blog for you.

If you like honest reviews from a passionate reader,
you're gonna love the place.

If you'd really like to find a new author to enjoy
but don't want to waste your precious time
trying book after mediocre book,
this blog will be your new best friend.

You see, Brie, the author of this new blog, is an avid reader.
Her appetite for books is positively insatiable.
She devours an average of a half dozen books each week.
Yes, each week.
And another plus is that she has really good taste in books.
I should know.
I read to her most every night
of the first 12 years or so of her life.
: )

Yes, this is my daughter Brie,
so I am just a tad biased.

But don't worry about that.
Go take a look for yourself
and see if you don't think
she gives a pretty good book review.
Or Brieview.
'Cause that sounds SO much cooler.
And leave her a note to tell her
Mom sent ya.

Some Shots I Forgot

2011-06-05T07:59:00.005-04:00

The Hubster reads my blog from time to time and after reading my post about Vandalia (you know, the one where I told you how my camera died shortly after we got there?) he reminded me that I had snapped a few shots with my phone. I had totally forgotten! And while some of them aren't that great, I do want to share these four with you. They were taken inside the Science and Cultural Center.

There is Celtic dancing going on all during Vandalia.
A couple of Perri's friends have participated in this tradition for many years.

But the biggest reason I enjoy visiting the Great Hall

is to see all the beautiful quilts on display.
Each year quilts are judged and put up for public viewing.
Aren't they breathtaking?

I'm sure I'll be in Charleston again soon
and I plan to take a few minutes to
visit there again and take some better photos to share with you.
Quilting was once thought to be a dying art
but I believe the talented folks in my neck of the woods
are bound to keep it alive and well. : )

Bustin' Out All Over!

2011-06-01T10:22:00.007-04:00

Thought I'd share a few shots from my garden.
We had such a cool, wet spring and now it seems
we've moved straight into dead-of-summer heat,
so things are really popping open right now!

My Stella D'Oro daylily.
She's always so bright and pretty!
I have a few different daylilies
but Stella is my most prolific bloomer.

The one tiny bloom on my rosebush right now.
It isn't looking particularly healthy. :(

Once again, I can't remember what this stuff is called, but I love it!
It is a low profile plant, sort of a ground cover,
and blooms profusely all summer long.
Sorry this shot is blurry.
It looked good on my camera screen.

My clematis. : )
This plant always makes me smile!
So many big, beautiful purple blooms.
Just keep her feet cool and out of direct sunlight
and she'll perform beautifully.

I wish I had snapped some photos of my irises while they were blooming.
But time slipped away from me and alas,
they are all spent. :(

*Important Note*

You're getting only close-ups today for a very good reason.

Let's just say I'm a tad behind on weeding.
Just a tad.

I will welcome any and all volunteer weeders.
I will make it worth your while.
I will feed you.
Homemade stuff.
And plenty of it.
Oh, and fresh squeezed lemonade.
Or sweet tea.
Whichever you prefer.

Any takers?

History on the Kitchen Shelf

2011-06-01T08:38:00.008-04:00

This is a shelf in my kitchen.

See all the pretties up there?
The dishes belonged to The Hubster's Grandmother Williams,
as did the slaw cutter there on the left.
The other items I've picked up here and there.
The yellow pitcher is from a flea market in the Amish Country.
The chicken teapot came from a shop in Charleston.
But I'm not here to talk about those today.
Look a little more closely.

See that tiny watering can, there in front of the plate?

Yes, that little watering can!
Now look a little more closely yet.

Yes! There behind the crochet and tatting hooks...see that silverware?
More importantly, do you see that red thread tied around a couple of the pieces?
Well, that red thread has a story to tell.

You see, back when people attended old country churches
like the one at Cabin Run,
they would, on occasion, have a picnic
with their church family after Sunday services.
Not a picnic like some have today,
where you pick up some takeout
and grab a 2 liter bottle of soda.
A real picnic, where Mom got up before the sunrise
to fry chicken and bake some beans.
Maybe she even made a cake or a pie to take along,
as a special treat to share with friends.

And they didn't have plastic forks, spoons or 'sporks'.
So, early on, Mom learned that if she wanted to return home after the picnic
with all the silverware she carried out that morning,
she'd better find a way to make sure the kids
could locate it when the time came.

The Hubster's Grandmother Primm,
being a resourceful country woman,
decided to tie a piece of her bright red
embroidery thread around each piece they took to the picnic.
At the end of the day, when the parents told the kids
to gather their belongings for the trip home,
those Primm children had no trouble finding what belonged to them.

Every time I see that red thread tied around those forks,
I can't help but smile.
I never knew her because she passed away even before
The Hubster was born,
but in my mind I can see it all:

In that old country kitchen, with no running water and no electricity,
she'd be up before the sunrise packing a picnic lunch.
Then, while the children did their morning chores
and got dressed in their Sunday best,
she sat down with her sewing basket.
She snipped a few lengths of thread,
her work worn hands carefully wrapping and knotting each piece.
No printed stickers with names and addresses
and no fancy engraving to differentiate.
Just good, simple, old fashioned resourcefulness.

And more than 70 years later
I admire her creative thinking
every time I see that little bit of history
sitting on my kitchen shelf.

That Little Church at Cabin Run

2011-05-31T08:01:00.009-04:00

On Friday we allowed the kids to play hooky so we could make the hour and a half drive to Ritchie and Doddridge Counties, where The Hubster was raised and his family still resides. We feel that it's important to take the kids to visit the family cemetery, to give them a feel for their roots and history, so we go each Memorial Weekend to decorate the graves of The Hubster's grandparents and Ginny.

Before the days of sprawling, multi-acre cemeteries that are now such big business, it used to be that there were small family cemeteries. Sometimes they weren't just for a single family that shared a last name, but a church family that worshiped together and grew to care deeply about one another. For that reason, many of these small cemeteries are located in churchyards. And so it is at Cabin Run.

Far off the four-lane, out a road called Sunnyside (isn't that a pretty name for a country road?) and then out a little further than even that, you'll find a rough little road that's about a lane and a half wide. A short distance on that road (and you absolutely must know where you're going or you'll never see it) you'll find a gravel drive that takes you to the Cabin Run Church and Cemetery.

(FYI, the building on the left is a new construction.)

I wish I had a before picture to share with you. Before the congregation had moved away. Before many of them were carried to the little cemetery behind their beloved church. Before it was sold and remodeled and used as a weekend retreat. Before the satellite dish, too. ; )

I did find this photo, pre-vinyl siding, and it gives you an idea of how it looked before.

Isn't it lovely?

There had been only a few things done in this pic, so this is more the way it looked when I first saw it. I used to tell The Hubster how I would love to have that old church; to clean it up for weekends in the country and lazy summer getaways.
What a wonderful place to enjoy the peace and quiet.
What a wonderful place to write. : )

The new owners have done a beautiful job of preserving the integrity of the old church. It appears that they appreciate its history and I'm happy to say it is obvious that they love the place. It is always neat and clean and in the summer there are flowers. I'm sure they enjoy their time there, away from the hustle and bustle of their life in the city.

While we were there on Friday, the skies opened and a cool spring shower began to fall. This didn't stop Tucker and The Hubster from placing our flowers, though Perri and I chose to remain under the canopy of the shade trees.

One day this summer we'll be back up there, visiting family, and we'll revisit Cabin Run as well. I'd love to have pictures of the family headstones and share some of the really old ones with you. I've always found old cemeteries to be fascinating. Reading the birth and death dates, imagining the stories of those lives that filled the years in between.

Oh, the stories that are held within the confines of that fence...

Just imagine.

Remember that gift card I won?

2011-05-30T17:22:00.007-04:00

Remember when Alabama Slacker Mama {aka: Robin} gave away a $50 Visa gift card and (so surprisingly!) I won? : ) I told you all about it here. Well, I want to fill you guys in on what I did with that 'fun money'!

First of all, my iPhone was dying a slow and painful death. (Painful for me, that is.) I was constantly having to ask the person on the other end of the line to SPEAK UP, and most of the time incoming calls didn't even register, let alone come through for me to answer. There were black lines developing across the screen and it was sssssslllllllllooooooooowwwwwww. Slower than molasses in January, to be precise.

Then came the AT&T commercial offering the iPhone 3GS for $49. (With a 2 year contract renewal...fine print, ya know. Not a problem, since I didn't plan to leave AT&T anyway.) Now I just had to make sure my original rate plan would be grandfathered in as promised. I spoke to folks at two different AT&T stores and was assured it would be. You see, I once received a bill in excess of $700 when they 'accidentally' messed up my plan. Can't have that happening again. Heart attacks are ugly and expensive.

So I took that gift card and bought myself a new iPhone, just like this one!

I was such a happy girl! :)

Came home, synced my iTunes and got my music reloaded, plus all my apps. (Just a couple of hours and already I was desperate for my ESPN ScoreCenter app. Yankees withdrawal is also an ugly thing.) Everything went so smoothly! I felt like joining Snoopy in a happy dance!

It all just seemed too good to be true!

So of course you know this means it was too good to be true.

I checked out my account online and discovered that not only were they charging me more than my old plan, they had also taken away my texting.

I. WAS. TICKED.

Though I was promised that nothing would change, it seems that little promise didn't include my texts. Texts are no longer included in any of AT&T's plans. They're always an add-on. Apparently even when you ask specifically if anything at all will change when you upgrade phones but wish to grandfather in your current plan, texts don't count.

I. WAS. SUPER. TICKED.

Then my techno-guru (that would be Brie) made some phone calls and fixed it up, almost good as new. It ends up that the only way I could get back my texts without raising my monthly bill was to return my new phone and reactivate my old one. (Out of the question, since it was on its deathbed.) So I'd have to put on my big girl panties and deal with no texts.

Texts are such handy things. This made me sad. :(

For all the trouble they'd caused, they did credit my account with $25. That was nice.

But I still wanted my texts back.

Then we found out that the old plan I had argued to have grandfathered was actually $5 more expensive than the current offering.

Are you kiddin' me?

And then we discovered that being an employee of the company for which The Hubster works gets us an additional discount.

And...

Adding 1000 texts is only $10.

Yeah, baby!

Now, this is me:

So all's well that ends well, I suppose. THANK YOU AGAIN, ROBIN! I am now totally techno for an old grandma! ; )

Vandalia Time Again!

2011-05-28T22:49:00.006-04:00

The Vandalia Gathering is a West Virginia tradition, now in it's 36th year. It is held every Memorial Day Weekend at our gorgeous state capitol. Isn't this one of the most beautiful state capitol buildings?

When Vandalia is in full swing and you begin to tour the grounds, you will take in so much of what makes WV a unique and wonderful place to live. There are many stages set up for the various music competitions that are held throughout the weekend, but you'll also find scenes like this:Musicians come from all over and set up in the shade
of the many beautiful trees that dot the lawn.

Square dancing and clogging to live music.

Crafts and activities for children, including this gentleman dressed as a coal miner,
telling them stories about that way of life.

And this beautiful (and HUGE!) bird, along with several of his buddies
whose pictures I didn't manage to get,
were on display from Three Rivers Avian Center.

I spotted this little guy and just had to snap a shot. Ain't he cute? : )

Then there are the crafters.

Boy oh boy, does WV have some talented artisans!

Gorgeous pottery.

Stunning woodwork.

Beautiful handmade musical instruments.

And then my camera battery died.
:(

Can you believe it? These were taken with my new camera that Brie got me for Mother's Day and of course I had no idea how long the battery would actually hold out.

I just hate that you didn't get to see all the FOOD!
Another thing that West Virginians know how to do is EAT! ; )

Roasted ears of fresh corn,
homemade BBQs with fresh cole slaw,
funnel cakes,
freshly squeezed lemonade,
and the Greek Orthodox Church in Charleston
is positively famous for the wonderful foods they offer.
My favorite?
Baklava.
Yummmmmmmmmmm....

I'll be making a trip back to Charleston soon
just to take pictures to share with you.
The Science and Cultural Center
(located on the capitol grounds)
displays lovely handmade quilts
throughout the Great Hall.

They are AMAZING
and you deserve to see them!

Next time I'll take a freshly charged camera.

Promise.

So that's my Memorial Weekend to this point.

How is yours going so far?

Hangin' with Mama M

2011-05-24T06:49:00.005-04:00

Yeah, that's me.

Just hangin' out over at Mama's Personals, sippin' sweet tea and jawin' with Mama.

I'm cool like that, ya know. ; )

Actually, I am quite flattered to have been invited to hang with Mama from My Little Life! : ) If you've never paid her a visit, be sure to do so. This lady is a nurse who has cute kids, a handsome husband, plenty of stories to share, and she is Funny! (notice the capital 'F'...and the italics) Mama's Personals is a place she created to showcase the blogs she enjoys. Cool idea, huh?

So PURTY PLEASE be sure to drop in and read MY INTERVIEW! 'Kay? And when you're done there, you can check out her main blog by clicking HERE or on the words 'Back to My Little Life' at the top of the left sidebar.

Miscellany Monday and I've Got a Date! ; )

2011-05-23T08:06:00.008-04:00

~I'm sure you're all familiar with MamaM over at My Little Life. Well, last night I received an email from her asking if I'd be her Date of the Week! : ) How cool is that? I'll post a link as soon as my interview is ready for your reading pleasure. ; )~

~We had a 'Come and Meet the Newest Member of the Family' hog roast on Saturday! The weather was positively perfect and there was a TON of food! I'll try to post a few pics later this week. Ended up with 60 or so guests and I think everyone had a really good time! I know I did! We actually managed to get everyone to stand still just long enough to have a family picture taken and I'm gonna go ahead and share that one with you now. : )~

The Hubster with Tucker on his lap; Perri holding Eli; Drew with Hayden on his lap;
and standing in the back: me, Josh and Brie.
The Hubster says this photo is reminiscent of the Culhanes on HeeHaw. ; )

~The sky is growing darker by the minute and I do believe some nasty weather is headed our way. Last night we had fierce winds that rearranged the front porch for me. Then this morning I saw the news coverage of the devastation in Missouri. :( My heart breaks for all of those touched in any way by that disaster. ~

~Much to do here and I need to get busy. Hope all of you have a fabulous Monday! Post your Miscellany Monday happenings and join in the link party over at Carissa's. : )

How Sweet is This?

2011-05-18T22:12:00.003-04:00

The game is over, the final out made.
Time for the weary player
to gather his equipment into his bag
and make his way out of the park.
Just outside the dugout
waits his little buddy;
his biggest admirer;
his willing helper.
He takes the bag,
reaches for Uncle Tucker's hand
and they head for home.

That baby positively adores his uncle! : )
Brie didn't have her camera handy to capture this moment,
but managed to snap a quick shot with her phone.
I.
LOVE.
THIS.
PICTURE.
: )

Yoo-hoo!!! Mr. Sunshine!!! Where'd you go?

2011-05-16T17:58:00.006-04:00

So we found time over the weekend to hit the greenhouses. There really hadn't been much point until now because it's been too cold and rainy to even consider planting anything. Sure, we'd have a warm and sunny day here and there, but we couldn't seem to string together more than two at a time. According to the weather gurus, we are more than a foot above average on rainfall. A FOOT!!!

Thankfully Saturday didn't realize that it was supposed to be yet another rainy day (this according to the aforementioned weather gurus) and the sun decided to come out and play. After Tucker's baseball game (which they WON!!! AND my little guy caught a fly ball for the final out of the game!) we headed out to a greenhouse someone had told us about.

Let me tell ya...this place was HUGE!!! I have no idea how many greenhouses there are, so I'll just say LOTS. And the grandaddy of 'em all...well, here he is. In two separate shots.

And a couple of shots of some of the other pretties we saw.

This is the cart we were filling. Tucker was in charge of maneuvering it from greenhouse to greenhouse for us and he did a great job! Never turned it over even once! ;)

And, BTW, the prices were INCREDIBLE! Flats were $8, hanging baskets were $8, hanging ferns were $7! Can't beat that with a stick! :)

I got a our window boxes planted as soon as we got home, and also put some flowers in the whiskey barrel by the garage door, but that's as far as I've gotten. Know why? Well, as the title of this post suggests, the sun disappeared and the dreary drizzlies decided to make an appearance...AGAIN! It is a damp and chilly 50* today. In mid-May!

As soon as we have some sunshine I'll be sure to post some pics of the pretties on the porch, in the beds, etc. I just need it to warm up a tad so I can get outside and enjoy playing in the dirt.

Getting over the hump...

2011-05-11T09:41:00.005-04:00

This has been the longest week in recorded history.

Seriously. I don't know why that is, but it sure seems like it should be Friday already. Here it is, only Wednesday, and I'm not even halfway over the hump just yet. (It's still morning as I type this.)

I don't really have anything important to tell you today. No cute stories about one of the kids; no nifty little idea to share; no great epiphany regarding world peace. But I still thought I'd check in, just to let you know I'm still among the living and all is well.

I hate that when it comes to my blog I'm not feeling terribly inspired lately. Life is busy (nothing new there) and I just feel as if I'm walking on a treadmill, getting through each day so I can go to bed and then get up the next morning to do it all over again. Ever feel that way?

I will share a pic. It's something that makes me smile and I think we could all use a smile today, don't you? : )

How could I not smile with this little guy around?