Do You Dance?

Did you watch Dancing With The Stars last night? I've been hooked on this show for the last 3 or 4 seasons, and this time is no different. I don't know who I want to win. I'm not terrible picky. The only time I've ever voted was when Dennis Smith(the football player) won. I voted for him. He was really good.

I have to wonder how much Steve Wosniak is paying people to vote for him. He really needs to go home and the one to follow him should be Steveo.

If I were dancing(and I have two left feet) which I fall over on a regular basis, I would still be humiliated if I went home before Wos.

I'm thinking the gal that was jilted by the batchelor may have a good shot, and of course the guy named Giles has a good shot.

The one who has impressed me most is Ty. Boy, he has come a long way.

Let me know what you think. I'm being inquisitive.

Have a wonderful Tuesday. Pray for our country. Love one another.

Figure It Out Friday

See these two cute little bowls. I bought the ones on the left first. I didn't have a clue what they were for when I bought them. I now have 16. Then I went back and bought the others. I have 10 of them.
They aren't very big. As you can see the one on the left is only about 6" from point to point, and the other is only about 5".
Even though my photo quality isn't very good, you can see the bowls are about 2" deep. I bought the first ones thinking they would be great for dip and stuff, but couldn't think of why I would need the others.
Then I began thinking of other things they might be used for and thought about individual tarts or maybe small individual pot pies. Then I had a sort of an epiphany. I wondered if the one with the two points might be for crab dishes, and then the other may be for oysters. But I'm certainly not sure about that.
So I took these pictures to post and ask what your thoughts might be. Maybe you have some like them and know exactly what they are used for. I thought they would be a great addition to my growing collection of white dishes.

In the event you know what they are used for and want some for yourself, I found these little gems at Big Lots. However, the Jonesboro, AR store is all out, thanks in part to me.

I hope you are having a wonderful Friday. Pray for our country. Love one another.

I Love a Give-Away

If you go to this blog you can have a chance to win some great knitting yarn and a bag. That is if you knit or crochet. The blog owner also has a scarf pattern she is sharing. With all the scarves you see right now, this would be a great addition to your own wardrobe or as a gift.

I've had a headache since Saturday along with an earache which is better, but not the head pain. I just told a co-worker that I'm thinking amputation.

Hope you are having a great Wednesday. Pray for our country. Love one another.

What I Did On Vacation

Aside from the time we spent at my friend's house, we also went to Mexico, twice. On Friday, we went to Matamoros. If you notice the sign, it is a full service stop. We bought medicine, a Coach purse and a watch here. We also had a wonderful lunch of nachos, guacamole, and shrimp salad. We had enough to take home to Bob.
When you go into the restaurant, you are served chips and pico de gallo. Their guacamole is mashed up avacado's and they have the best anywhere. There is also an oil based salsa that is really hot.
This picture is the window with some of the pots for sale in the store. You can buy about anything from really pretty jewelry to not so pretty carvings. Lots of Pewter and lots of liquor. Frogs seem to be plentiful there as well. I'm not sure why.
This is one of the street buses that run everywhere. There are also taxis. This particular day there were few people milling up and down the street. The restaurant, which is usually full had only a hand full of patrons. We thought the problems with the drug lords and police were to blame.
This is a side view of the bus. It was really quite sad at how few people were on the streets.
This picture is where you can change your US money to pesos or vice versa. We didn't change any money because Garcias was perfectly happy to take our American money.
This is one of the street vendors. On the right was corn they were grilling. Once it was done, they covered it with paprika and then with mayonnaise. I'm not sure what they were selling out of the #2 washtub, but it was something to drink. They were doing a good business with the corn.
This is the bridge with the walking area to the side. You can actually walk across about as quickly as you can drive. But being old ladies, we chose to drive. Once you get to the American side, you are subject to search. Fortunately, they just waved us on through. If we had any liquor, we would have had to pay the duty on it. It's about a dollar a bottle.
If you look closely through the wire, you can see the Rio Grande River. The ravine is quite deep, but there's not much water in it, and it is muddy. They haven't had much rain so things are quite dry.
The rest of these pictures were taken in Nuevo Progresso on Sunday. When we got there, we figured out where all the tourists and spring breakers were. The streets were crowded and moving around was slow.
These pictures were taken in a small market. The booths are tight, and each one has someone that sells to anyone who will buy. A few years ago, these people would be pressing things into your hands to get you to buy, and if you ever took hold of anything, you pretty much had to buy it because they wouldn't take it back. Now they are a bit more laid back.
The young man with my friend was selling hammocks and other woven items. As we left, I told him she would tell everyone he was her boyfriend. I don't know if he understood, but he grinned anyway.
This is a dentist office. They are on every other storefront. All have been trained in the US, and their prices are very reasonable. I had hoped to see a sign that showed prices, but wasn't able to.
I wanted to get a picture of this man, but he wouldn't turn around. He was wearing a costume with a mask. He was tooting a horn and beating a drum. There were security guards near, and they won't let you take pictures of them or of the actual border, I guess for security sake. I did get the young fellow sitting in his tank to smile and wave. They all looked like they were about 15 years old, some dressed in black fatigues and some in camo. All carried AK-47's which was scary to me.
Once we got on the bridge, we could again take pictures. If you look at the dragline in the distance, you will see the wall that is being built to keep the illegal's out. Something tells me it's a waste of time. But that's just my opinion.
This is one of the many bougainvillea plants that grow in that region. They are in full bloom as are many other plants right now. Also my friend's orange and grapefruit trees are blooming and when you go outside, you smell them immediately. I had a wonderful time visiting my friends. It's one of those trips where you don't want to come home.

Hope you are having a great Tuesday. Pray for our country. Love one another.

And the Winner is!!!!

Before I went on vacation, I had a little contest dealing with my sense of taste and a rooster figurine. Now I think I have excellent taste, but my daughters aren't quite so sure, and my DIL is too nice to express an opinion.

Four of you answered my question of whether you thought the rooster was bought at Tuesday Morning, Big Lots, TJMaxx or Dollar General. You didn't have to be right, just a response.
Well the little rooster came from Dollar General. I had four responses, and I try to always be fair, so I put everyone's name on a slip of paper. Those who responded were Lisa, Amy, Tipper and Laura'Peach'.

Then I carefully folded them.


And had my co-worker draw one from my John Wayne coffee mug.

I know this is hard to read, but Lisa is the winner.

Oh and what did you win, you ask. Why another rooster just like the one in the picture above. I'll be mailing it in a day or two.

Hope everyone is having a great day. Pray for our country. Love one another.

Progresso on Sunday

We got up Sunday morning and headed to Progresso. First we stopped by to see some friends that I have come to love through my friend. We visited with them for about an hour, then headed south.

We saw that Progresso was crowded. Remember I told you that Matamorous was almost like a ghost town, well, we found all the people. They were in Progresso. It was sholder to sholder walking down the streets. We parked at Arturo's, walked down to Angels, bought more drugs and ate. We had some of the best pico de guio I've ever eaten. It had avacado cut up in it and just the right amount of cilantro. The nachos weren't as good as those we got at Garcia's on Friday, but the pico more than made up the difference.

Then we went down the street and checked out the vendors. I'll have some pictures in a day or two.

Today, I think we are just going to hang out and relax. Carolyn is going to try to get her husband in at the doctor's office this morning. He has an ear infection and since he wears hearing aids, he doesn't need to let that get out of hand.

I've had such a wonderful time here. I always hate to go home, but then I have to get back to my rat race.

Hope you are having a wonderful Monday. Pray for our country. Love one another.

The Best Laid Plans of Mice and Men

I know most of you can finish that little poem and have had it happen to you on occasion. That was us yesterday. Remember our problem tire from day before yesterday? It got replaced, and then we ended up at AT&T trying to get Carolyn a new phone. They didn't have what she needed, and would you believe, they sent us to Wal-Mart to buy a replacement.

By this time it was getting late, so we ate linch at Julia's and came home and watched tv awhile.

We've decided to try again today so there's no telling where we'll end up.

Have a wonderful Sunday. Pray for our country. Love one another.

Greetings From The Rio Grande Valley

I arrived in Harlingen, Tx Thursday afternoon about 5:30. My wonderful friend Carolyn was waiting for me there. We came to her house where her husband, Bob, the dog and the smell of home cooked food greeted us.

We had a lovely time catching up and getting me settled in. Yesterday morning we decided to go to Matamorus, Mexico. It has been in the 50's here which is unusual and the Spring Breakers are hating it. And it was threatening rain, but we decided to make it to Garcias and do some shopping.

I had a list of some things to pick up and we got that out of the way. Then we ate in the restaurant there. They have wonderful pico de guio(spelling?). We had shrimp coctail, avacado salad and nachos with meat. What we couldn't eat, be brought home and finished off last night.

It is rather sad seeing what the problems with the drug people are doing to the flow of people there. The streets were almost empty, the restaurant was empty and there were few shoppers. Normally when we have gone there, you would be almost sholder to sholder on the street and have to wait to be seated to eat. Not the case at all yesterday. And we saw no spring breakers.

We parked in the garage at Garcias, and realized one of our tires was very low. When we came out, it seemed lower stil, so while the guards put air in it, I stepped out onto the street and took some pictues. When I get them uploaded, I'll post the best ones.

We are going this morning to get the tire repaired and then on to Neuvo Progresso, but first by to visit with some of Carolyn's friends that I have also come to love.

Hope you are having a great Saturday. Pray for our country. Love one another.

I'm Leaving On A Jet Plane

Tomorrow, I'll be on vacation for several days. I fly out of Little Rock at noon tomorrow reaching the Rio Grande Valley(Harlingen,TX) around 5pm. I won't be back to work until the following Wednesday, the 18th.

My friend Carolyn lives there and I'm going to visit her and her husband. I'm excited about seeing my good friends. I don't get to see them often even though we speak on the phone and email often. I am also looking forward to the warm days and not having to worry about the freezing temperatures that will be going on here.

I always have a wonderful time when I go visit. We relax, eat, go to the beach, eat, shop, eat, oh and did I mention we eat. If you like Mexican or Tex/Mex food, you can find the absolute best in that area.

More about the food--we usually eat Chinese or Italian in Harlingen. Then at some point, we'll go to Brownsville and eat at Vermillions. Their food is to die for. We usually go to one of the restaurants on South Padre Island too. They have some great hamburgers on the island. Sometimes we eat a samich in a place in Port Isabel. There's nothing like fresh seafood, and you can get whatever you want there. We could also possibly go by Harley's to listen to some music at some point.

After being on hold with the passport people, I found out that it was mailed yesterday and was sent priority mail. I called the post office at home, and Carletta will pull it out if it's in the morning mail and I'll go by and pick it up. If it isn't there, she will overnight it to me the next day. Then we will be able to go across the border one day. We usually eat at Garcia's or LaFagota. These places have food choices you don't see in the good old U S of A. Nothing like Anthony Boudain eats, but really good things. One time as a vegetable we got onions cooked in oil(not fried)with a bayleaf. Another time I got carrot soup. You just don't see those listed on too many menus here. But both were very good. I've cooked the onions before, but can't replicate the soup.

Now that I know my passport is coming, I'm beginning to get excited.

Hopefully, I'll get to post while I'm there, but will probably have to wait for pictures.

Hope you are having a great Wednesday. Pray for our country. Love one another.

The Miracles

Working for a university has some advantages. One is that you get to go to free events that are happening on campus during working hours. I guess they think that makes up for the pitiful pay. Anyway, we get this email each day called the Daily Digest, and it tells what is going on around.

One of the things on the digest for the last several days has been a free concert by the Miracles and the University Singers. I know you are thinking about the Miracles
who sang such hits as Tears of a Clown and they had a lead singer named Smokey Robinson. Well, you'd be wrongo.

The members of this group are truly Miracles. They come from the Beddour Center in Senatobia, MS and they are musically-gifted adults. This is a residential community that is designed for adults with intellectual disabilities. You can read more about them here.

They are truly a gifted group. The University Singers sang first, then the Baddour Miracles, then the two sang together. It was one of the most uplifting performances I've been to lately. One young lady sang 'I can only Imagine' and as she did, another performed it in sign. Four of us from our dept went, and we all came away with a renewed spirit.

And I won a door prize. But the best thing I came away with was a lighter heart.

I hope you are having an excellent Tuesday. Pray for our country. Love one another.

I'm a Sucker For A Deal

I went to Sam's Sunday after church. Needed to pick up a few things. While I was in there a man came on the speaker and said he was giving away stainless steel paring knives. I knew there would be a presentation of some sort so I stiffened up my back to say no to whatever he was selling.

Have you ever been in this situation? Since he was giving away paring knives, I figured he was selling knives, and I wasn't wrong. Remember the long Ginsu knives they used to sell(and may still)on TV where they'd show cutting veggies and then sawing a soda can into. Then they'd cut up more veggies. That's basically what this guy was doing except he sawed on a hammer head and his didn't go by the name Ginsu.

These knives are guaranteed for life. If you manage to break it or if it becomes dull, they will replace it no questions asked. That sounded pretty good, but if you had all those guarantees, then they were bound to be expensive. He said the knife sold for 39 with 6.75 shipping and handling. Out of my price range, but wait, for that price today, he'd give you a second one free. That meant you would get two knives and your free paring knife. $85 dollars worth of knives. Well, that sounded better so I was thinking this over when he said, but that's not all folks, I'm going to give you a third knife. I was HOOKED. But wait, there's more. He threw in a boning knife, two more paring knives and a hand food chopper.

He said this all totaled up to be almost $200 for the low low price of 39.95. Needless to say, I am now the proud owner of some heavy duty cutlery. My son came by and I showed it to him and said, pick out what you want. He took one of the big knives and the boning knife and one of the paring knives.

I'm anxious to find out if he thinks they are any good.

Hope you are having a wonderful Monday. Pray for our country. Love one another.

Early To Rise---

I am an early riser in my old age. When I was growing up on the farm, we had to get up early to get things done, and to catch the school bus. Then after getting married and leaving the farm, I could occasionally sleep late, which was still early since I had a family to take care of.

Then after my children were grown and I took a job that took an hour to reach by 7:30 5 days a week for 10 years, my internal clock just naturally says 'get thee out of thy bed before dayspring'. So about 5:15, my eyes spring open and I get up.

That works pretty good through the week, but I'd really like to be a lay-about on Saturday morning, but it just doesn't happen. I got up this morning, and looking out my front door, I realized it's a good thing that I get up early on weekends. There was no traffic on the street. Everything was calm, and it was barely daylight. There was just a 'peace' about everything. Like the buzzer hadn't gone off to get everyone out and about.

Now on up in the moring, the tv is on, the washer is on, the dishwasher has been running and there is traffic on the street as well as walkers and joggers. The day has officially started, and it's time I get myself in high gear(although, I've not been lazy this morning), just have to get around.

I have a pageant to attend this afternoon, then my friends and I are going to eat at one of the Mexican restaurants and then go see Hairspray.

Hope you have a great Saturday. Pray for our country. Love one another.

Spring Forward

This is our last weekend with the old time. I guess we'll do the spring forward thing Saturday night. I wish they'd leave it one way or another and not change it. I want more daylight in the afternoon.

I don't mind going to work in the dark, but I hate coming home in the dark too. It gets dark in the winter before I can get home.
This causes me great grief because I don't have time to pick up pecans in the afternoon and consequently the squirrels get them all. I'd like to have just a few little squirrels. I'm willing to share, just not let you have them all.


I'm glad it's Friday. This has been a long week. Princess#1 is in a beauty pageant tomorrow afternoon. I'll have pictures next week. Then I'm going to see Hairspray at the Convocation Center on campus with my friends.

Don't forget to leave a comment on my blog about the rooster in the March 3rd post. Remember, someone will get a surprise for leaving one. So far, I only have one, and I'm sure she'd be happy to leave it that way.

Sun is shining here today and the temp is 72. I'm getting outside for lunch.

Hope the sun is shining where you are. Pray for our country. Love one another.

My Day Has Gotten Off To A Bad Start

Yesterday was a good day. Worked, picked up Superhero, went to church, came home, got Superhero to bed, read a book, said prayers, and read to him from the novel I'm reading which bored him right to sleep.

About 2:30am, I woke with a start. Now I was sorta expecting to wake with reflux since I'd eaten Mexican for lunch and Red Beans and Rice for dinner, but noooooo, it wasn't reflux, it was a major(as in earth shaking)leg cramp. Not in the calf alone, it went all the way up the inside of my leg. I walked, which only seemed to make it worse, I stretched, which did little or no good. I took a potassium tablet, but knew it would take a while to take effect. All this had taken about an hour or maybe a bit longer.

Finally I remembered the leg cramp medicine the drugist has shown me, and I had bought. Little tiny white pills that you put under your tongue. You use two of them and can use as many as 6 in a day, but not recommended you use more. I put 4 under my tongue. Problem was, my mouth was dry and they wouldn't disolve, so I hobbled into the kitchen and got a drink of water and they melted. I managed to get back to the recliner, and the next thing I knew it was morning and I'd overslept. Superhero was still asleep too.

I got him up and while I got ready for work, he ate his breakfast, then I helped him get ready. I sent an email to my boss saying I'd be in as soon as possible, and managed to get to work by 8:30.

What a way to start the day. How did yours start? Hopefully better than mine.

Hope you are having a wonderful Thursday. Pray for our country. Love one another.

Here Chick! Chick!

See this little rooster? He's only about 8 inches tall. Smooth, shiny and I think really pretty, if you like roosters that is. I have one daughter who doesn't. Roosters or monkeys or clowns, but I digress.

I'm always looking for a bargain, and when I find one, I try to get it. My DIL has roosters in her kitchen. In fact I bought her a plate with one on it that has the same colors as her kitchen. It looks pretty on the black granite counter.

So, I bought this rooster. Now contrary to what you may be thinking, this rooster has not been shot with #9 birdshot. The holes are there on purpose. Gives it a filigree' look. And I love the color on the tips of the tail feathers. He is actually a little darker than the picture gives him credit for being.

Anyway, I think I got a good deal. Now I shop in lots of places. For instance, TJMaxx is a favorite of mine for cookware, dishes and such. Remember the Butler's Pantry dinner plates and dessert plates I bought for cheap. Well, lately I've hit a few other spots including Tuesday Morning and Dollar General and Big Lots. I paid a whole 6 dollars for this little goodie(paid 2 for the rooster plate) and even though my picture taking isn't up there with some of yours, I want you to guess whether I got my little bargain at TJMaxx, Tuesday Morning or Dollar General or Big Lots. Leave me a comment, and I'll do a random drawing(if there's more than one comment) and you will get a surprise. You don't have to be right. And by the way, daughter#1, since you already know the answer, keep your fingers off the keyboard cause what I really want to know is if my taste is really good and I can spot a diamond in the rough, or if I got took.

Whichever it is, my DIL will be getting this rooster and whether she likes my choices or not, she's nice enough not to tell me to take my 'junk' and go home.

Are you a bargain hunter? I'm not much of a shopper, but when I have to venture out, and if I find what I think is a good bargain, I try to take advantage of it.

Hope you are having a great Wednesday. Pray for our country. Love one another.

A Gnome By Any Other Name

I purchased a gnome in July of last year. He's the one on the left. Took it to dinner with my friends, and had a lot of fun with it. You can read about that in this post. The other day while I was thinking about my impending trip to So. Texas, I was thinking I will have to take Jerome with me(that's what I named him). You aren't supposed to leave home without your gnome, ya know.

Then when I was getting my friend's birthday gift ready to send, I ran across another gnome about the size of mine. I purchased him and brought him to work. It was as if Jerome had found his long lost brother. They have been inseparable since. So when I take my trip, I must take them both with me.

Do you think we'll make it through customs? I guess I'll have to either wrap them really well and put them in my checked case or take them in my carry on bag. I'll have to start an album of all the places Jerome goes. Poor fellow, if he likes to travel much, he's in trouble, cause I don't go many places anymore.

PS. My software was already loaded on my pc at work, but I loaded it again. It wasn't until I watched the tutorial that I found that I had not been playing by the rules of how to connect your camera to the pc. Seems you have to turn off the camera, insert the usb cord into said camera, then plug into the port on the pc, then turn the camera on. Four simple steps. When you do the right order, works like a charm. Kinda like most other things.

Hope you are having a great Tuesday. Pray for our country. Love one another.

No Bread on the Shelves - Must be Snowing

Funny thing happens when it snows in our area. There is no bread on the store shelves. I went out to the Dollar Store late yesterday afternoon, and there wasn't a loaf of bread to be found. Not that I wanted any. It was just something I noticed. Any time there's going to be snow, people run out and buy bread. I guess they think if they get snowed in, they'll be able to make plenty of toast.

It was in the 60's here during the week. The weather men kept telling us that we would have snow, but I don't think anyone really believed it. But yesterday about 1:00pm, it began to snow with a vengeance. Flakes about the size of a dime.

They didn't fall down either. They fell sideways.

We ended up with about 8 inches by the time it finished around 12:30am this morning. It was beautiful coming down, and the yard looks like it's been sprinkled with diamonds today. It is just above freezing, and supposed to get warmer as the day progresses.

Our first service and class was cancelled this morning. Second service will go on as usual, if people can get up the hill to the building. The roads will have cleared off enough that we can go tonight without any problems. And we are supposed to have temperatures in the low 70's by mid week.

I hope you are staying warm and dry or else are out playing in the snow.

Have a great Sunday. Pray for our country. Love one another.