Second Hand Headstone

I know that if you read my blog, you are aware of my rather warped(some say morbid)sense of humor. However, if it fits in with accomplishing a task and saves a buck at the same time, so be it.

Four years ago, while shopping for a headstone for an uncle that had passed, my cousins and I stopped in at a monument place near where we live. When we arrived, there didn't seem to be anyone around(like who'd carry off a headstone?) so we looked around. As I did, I noticed a stone that was a single headstone(for one person) that had my last name on it. I have a very common last name. It was gray, about 5 feet tall and quite nice. I also noticed that it had a lot of mud and dirt around the base.

It seems this headstone had been reposessed. Can you imagine going to the cemetery to pay respects to your dearly departed, and the headstone be gone with just a hole in the ground where once had stood the nice tall engraved stone?

Whoever had ordered it and had it set, had not paid for it, so the monument folks went and got it(can't say as I blame them). I didn't think too much about it at that time, but now four years later, that headstone is still leaning up against the monument building.

So here's what I'm thinking--are you with me already? I should be able to get a real deal on that stone. The last name is correct. All they'll have to do is grind off the first name and the date of birth and death, and I'm good to go. I'm seriously considering making them an offer. And I think it would just fit where I'm going to have my ashes scattered.

So what do you think? Would you consider buying a used headstone? If not, why not.

Hope you are having a great Thursday. Pray for our country. Love one another. And last but not least--Happy Fourth of July.

I'm Thick, Are You Thad?

Unless you read the title of my post with a lisp, it won't make much sense, but that's my sense of humor.

I had what I thought was an upper respiratory infection last week. My co-workers had it and had been diagnosed with it, so when I got the same symptoms, I decided that's what I had. I self medicated with a ZPak, and by Thursday, I felt pretty good.

In fact I felt good Thursday, Friday and Saturday. I even cooked all day Saturday, but when I woke up Sunday Morning with a throat so sore I could hardly swallow, I knew I was in trouble. I went ahead and got ready for church, but by 7:45, I was back down for the count. By noon, I was running a low grade temp and couldn't get warm. But do you think I gave any thought to going to sick call? It never even crossed my mind--even after I looked at my throat and realized it was covered with white spots.

Monday morning I called my Dr, but couldn't see him until 4 that afternoon. So I patiently waited and was in his office by 3:30. He verified that I had a strep infection, told me to start another ZPak and if I still had a sore throat when those were gone, start 5 days of Amoxicillin, which I don't think I'm going to have to do.

The yucky stuff has just about all gone from my tonsils, and except for a cough, I'm feeling much better. I may even get to celebrate the 4th with my family.

Hope you are having a better summer than I am. Pray for our country. Love one another.

Another Friday

Yipee!, it's Friday. That means two days of rest and recuperation--yeah right. It means some cleaning and laundry. Fortunately I don't have a bunch of yard work to do. Thank you my son.

I think I'm going to do some cooking tomorrow. My little neighbor lady has been sick for several months. Pneumonia in March in one lung, slowly got better, then had it in the other lung. She has 5 girls. One in Arizonia, 3 in Little Rock(2 1/2 hours away) and one about 30 minutes away. She only gets to see the one in Arizonia every couple of years. Those in Little Rock about once every 3 months or so, and the one closer about once a month.

She hasn't felt like cooking so the daughters laid in a supply of soup for her and I have decided she's slowly starving to death. I was sick one day last week and ate soup two meals and decided I couldn't hack that. The next day I took her two pieces of chicken and a biscuit from Popeyes, and she was so excited.

So, I've decided to make some mini meatloafs and some other things, put them in serving size containers and take them to her. I've been wanting some tamales so I may make up a batch of them and give her some of those also. I can't feed her every meal because I don't cook that much, but if I can supplement, maybe she'll gain some strength and get to feeling better.

She's such a nice lady. Her husband was a minister, and I think she is as intelligent in the Bible as he was. I take her to church on Sunday morning when she's able to go. We both are members of the Church of Christ, but we worship with different congregations, so I drop her off, then go on to where I attend, then when I get out, I go back and pick her up. It takes about 25 minutes to get to and from church, so we get to visit.

She always thanks me for taking her, but I thank her since I am the one who is reaping the benefits of her wisdom and knowledge.

Even when we get old and think we can't be of much service, God puts a seemingly small insignificant work before us from which we get so much more than we give.

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

ps. I have a new line under my signature on my email. I thought I'd share it with you: "Dear Lord, Keep your arm around my sholders and your hand across my mouth. Amen" I've already gotten some comments on it.

Clematis Trivia

This is a picture of another Clematis that grows beside my front steps. I had a lady drive up in the yard and ask if it was real. When it was fully open, I called it my caskit piece because of it's size and the way it covered the entire foiliage.
It took me several years to be able to grow a Clematis. I would buy them in the spring, baby them and do everything I knew to do with them. They died. I bet I've laid at least a dozen or more to rest at one point or another.

One Wednesday night after Bible Study, I was lamenting my latest dead Clematis and a visiting minister's wife overheard my conversation. She said she had also had problems growing this particular flower and like me, she thought they were just beautiful.

She told me that an older lady had given her a piece of advice that had allowed her to have a yard full of them for years. She simply told her to 'keep their feet cool'. So, short of putting ice cubes on the roots, I figured the best thing was to pile as much mulch around the roots as possible. And that's exactly what I did. And it worked.

If you've never grown these flowers, try them. You'll get lots of compliments.

Hope you are staying cool on this very warm Thursday. Pray for our country. Love one another.

June 24th, 2009

I have a couple of pictures of my clematis that is blooming so beautifully in my yard right now. I just have to share them with you.

No more complaints about the heat. And thank you all for your comments about the dress and the princess wearing it. She spent the night with me Sunday night. She is an easy child to take care of. She doesn't complain. She doesn't cry, and best of all, she entertains herself. She has a bit of a stubborn streak, but at the age of 2, it more funny than annoying.

Lena, I'll take you up on your deal about the heat and cold, and Twisted, I hope you are right about being a mild July and August after this intense heat.

As we speak, my friend Carolyn is on her way to Seattle to meet up with her daughters and grandson. They will explore the area for a couple of days and then board a cruise ship for Alaska. I told her when I spoke to her the other night that in the event I win the lottery tonight, she'll have company on that cruise. I'm so jealous.

Memaw on a Hot Tin Roof!

Well, you all have heard me complain about the heat. I know it's hot where you are too, but here's my next installment of the Heat saga.

Today we have a heat advisory. I went out at lunch to run a couple of errands, and I fully understand why we are under a heat advisory. Does anyone remember back several years ago(and I'm talking over 20 here)when people were putting food in aluminum foil packets, putting it in either the back glass area of their car or under the hood, and having their dinner slow cooked when they got off work?

Remembr when people used to fry eggs on the sidewalk to show how hot they were? Well, people, let me tell you, they are that hot again, and it's only June. What will July and August be like?

Enough about heat.

I finished the sundress for my granddaughter and I think it turned out pretty well, especially when you consider I had to sew many of the stitches more than once. Had to fall back and regroup a couple of times. And I think I promised to show it to you when it was finished. I actually have two pictures to show you. One of the dress, and one of the little girl in the dress. She spent the night with me last night and I took her to school this morning. Her mom, dad and brother are canoeing today. Her brother was very excited. She kept saying, Bubba in the 'reever'.

I hope you are staying cool on this very hot Monday. Pray for our country. Love one another.

June 19th 1969

I know you may think I'm going back in time, but this is a day that I'll never forget. Forty years ago today, my mother died in an automobile crash.

She was 42(my brother and I disagree on her year of birth), but it doesn't matter. She was way too young to be taken from us. She had three children. A 22 year old son, a 20 year old daughter, and a 12 year old son. She also had a 2 year old granddaughter and a 1 month old grandson.

They were never given the opportunity to know this wonderful lady. I often say, 'if I could be 1/3 the person she was, that would be enough'. If you've read my blog, you've seen a picture of her as a young woman.

There's not a day that goes by that I don't miss her and grieve for the time I should have had with her.

I know this is a time to reflect on Fathers(mine has been gone 15 years) and I miss him dearly. It was as if I didn't really know him until we lost mother. I think he expected her to be the liason between us and him. He wasn't home much, and I saw or talked to her every day.

I miss them both, but I miss her most. I love you mom, and I shall never forget what you meant to me then and what you still mean to me now. I wish all children had a good mother just like you.

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

Hot! Hotter! Hottest?

It's a hot sunny 91 degrees here in lovely NE Arkansas this afternoon. I'm sure the heat indeces is over 100, but I refuse to find out. I went out at lunch(big mistake). The hot wind that is blowing just seems to drain everything out of you

One of the girls brought us all a cool treat for snack this morning. Did you know that McDonalds has a small yogurt cup that has strawberries and blueberries in it. There is also a small package of granola to sprinkle on top. It tastes like cheesecake. It is to die for! I'm not a 'can't live without my yogurt' person, but this was good enough to get hooked on. And it was only a dollar. I may have another one before the day is over.

Superhero's school is presenting a play on the school grounds(I may actually melt) at 6:30 tonight. You are supposed to bring a picinc lunch and I'm assuming, sit on the ground. I know it will be worth it, but I really dread the heat and that someone will have to help me get up when it's over.

He sang the songs for the play to me last night on the way home from Bible Study. And he is very excited about it, so I wouldn't miss it for the world. He attends Montesorri here, and since it's a year round school/day care, they have promoted the 5 year olds to kindergarten. He's really excited about that. He thinks he's getting a head start on his cousin who starts school with him in the fall. They'll both attend the same school, which is the one in the district where they live.

It's entirely too hot to think about anything else to post. And I hope you are staying cool.

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

Oh Where, Oh Where has Memaw Been?

There are several answers to this question. Some might say, she's gone off the deep end, others might say she was never really here. My children would probably say she's been in one of those 'moods'.

Sometimes I get really depressed about all the wonderful things I see others doing in their blogs. Some of you make really great pictures that are quite professional, some of you are really creative with crafts or needle and thread, knitting up beautiful projects and sewing aprons and bags. Many of you cook and bake and have such scrumptious recipes on your sites.

And I sit and think I used to do many of those things, however, I never could take a decent photo, it seems that anything I attempt to make turns out to be a mess, and if I made all the recipes I find, I'd be in a coma or weigh more than I already do.

So, all that being said, it's time I got off my duff, quit feeling sorry for myself and got back into the blogisphere.

Today is my youngest granddaughter's birthday. Her party is Saturday, and I'm attempting to make her a smocked sundress. I don't think it's turning out as good as I wanted it to, but hopefully I'll have it finished by Saturday. She's a cute little red haired girl like her mama, and I'm making the sundress in turquoise and white dots. It will have a pink heart in the center with pink rosebuds around it. If I can finish it, I'll post a picture of it.

Her party is at the park, I hope it's pretty and cool(this is Arkansas, cool is a relative term) and everything turns out ok.

Have a great day--what's left of it. Pray for our country. Love one another.

I Think Everyone Should Laugh

Someone sent me an audio the other day entitled Left Brain's Grocery List or Left.mp3. I intended to share it with all my friends, but, well, you know, just because I have a degree in computer information systems, doesn't mean I can make things work here. It is a lady named Jeanne Robertson. My thinking is that she is a speaker for Women's conferences probably christian based. It's an mp3 file and I don't have a clue how to make it work in my blog. If someone wants to send me instructions, I will attempt to make it work because it is definitely worth listening to.

By the time she finished her story, I was in tears, I was laughing so hard. She has a southern accent and a husband who obviously gives her lot's of material worth sharing.

That's all I've got today, just thinking of you, wanting to make you laugh, not being able to. Such is life. As JD Clampett would say, "Makes me feel lower than a snake's belly in a wagon rut".

Have a great Friday(and weekend). Pray for our country. Love one another.

Rumors of My Demise

As Mark Twain once said,'Rumors of my demise are greatly exaggerated'. Now I know that none of you thought I was dead, but some of you have contacted my daughter expressing concern for my conspicious absence. Let me express how much I appreciate you all for your concern and I'm genuinely sorry for the worry I've caused.

Well, everyone, it's just one of those things. I'm in a strange phase, mood, funk, something. I haven't much had a desire to do anything except hold my recliner down for fear it might float away.

And along with that, I just plain ole don't feel well. My bp is high, my glucose levels are high, and I just can't seem to get a handle on them. Oh, I'm working with my Dr, druggist, and a diabetes nutritionist, and hopefully in the next couple of weeks we can get me all straightened out. But it just gets so frustrating. Do I hear an AMEN on the frustrating.

Why isn't there a magic pill that will level everything out, make you thin and beautiful--well maybe beautiful is a little much to ask? I just get so dab burned, downright mad that I want to spit. Then I get to feeling sorry for myself, like that's going to help. Then I get to thinking about all the people who are much worse off than I, then I get ashamed of myself. It's some sort of viscious circle. One of those Catch 22 things. And who wants to hear about it all? I've probably lost everyone who started reading this by now.

But if you made it to this point, I hope you are having a great Wednesday. Pray for our country. Love one another.

Ten Questions To Ask Your Mother Now

My oldest daughter sent me an article from CNN.com, with questions to ask your mother, and I decided to post them here. I don't know if she's planning to ask me these questions or not, but they seem hard. I know that there are a lot of questions I would have liked to ask my mother who died in an auto accident when I was 19.

Anyway, here they are. See what you think or go here and read the article. Oh and my smart alek answers.

1. What's the one thing you would have done differently as a mom?
Absolutely nothing, I was perfect.

2. Why did you choose to be with my father?
I was young and stupid.

3. In what ways do you think I'm like you?
None, you are more like your uncle John.

4. Which one of us kids did you like the best?
Whichever one I was talking to at the time.

5. Is there anything you have always wanted to tell me but never have?
Nope, I've not held too much back over the years.

6. Do you think it's easier or harder to be a mother now than when you were raising our family?
Yes, I was able to be at home with you when you were little.

7. Is there anything you regret not having asked your parents?
Not so much regret, as just things I'd like to know.

8. What's the best thing I can do for you right now?
Set up that appt with the nursing home, I'm tired of working for a living.

9. Is there anything that you wish had been different between us -- or that you would still like to change?
See answer #1. I think everything's still perfect.

10. When did you realize you were no longer a child?
What? You are saying I'm no longer a child? I have Peter Pan Syndrome. I'm never growing up.

My answers are all tongue in cheek. I have a hard time being serious. The questions, if answered in the way they are meant, are very thought provoking. But I can also see where they could cause one whopper of a family fight.

I've been thinking about working on an album for each of my children that chronicles their individual lives, and adding pictures of myself and their father when we were the same age of their pictures. I hope this is something I can work on at some point. I think it would be something they would enjoy.

Can you think of any other important questions you'd like to ask your mother?

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

DWTS Upset

Do you watch Dancing with the Stars? I have watched since season 3(I think) when Emmett Smith won. I enjoy watching all the dancing, but I could do without all the prep time they show on the first night and I could really do without all the stuff on the second night. Lets face it, the second night could be finished in a half hour.

But I was really shocked when Ty and Chelsie didn't get eliminated, but I think they were even more shocked. It was obvious that Lil Kim was in total shock, as was the look on everyone elses faces.

I just can't believe there are that many rodeo people voting for Ty, and I have no idea of the fan base for Jewel(I can't even tell you anything she sings). But evidently, it's pretty big for him to get to stay. I really like Ty. I bet he's an absolute hoot to be around. He seems to have a good sense of humor. He's just a good ole boy, who happens to be good at riding bulls, but I just have to agree with Len and the rest of the judges, he just doesn't have the smooth moves needed to dance.

If he gets past the next round, I'll be really surprised, just as he will I'm sure.

Have you watched the new show 'Cupid' about the guy who is from Mt Olympus and has to make 100 matches before he can go back. I think it's really cute. It's mushy, sappy and always has a good ending, but watching the interaction between him and the Dr. is really cute. She thinks he has some deep seated trauma that makes him think he's really Cupid, and he keeps trying to tell her he is. Me, my suspension of disbelief tells me he really is Cupid. Makes the show more fun.

I also watched the two oldest princesses play T-ball yesterday afternoon. They are on the same team with several other kids they already know. It was cute, and they had a great time.

Hope you are having a wonderful Wednesday(Superhero is spending the night with me). Pray for our country. Love one another.

I Have to Brag

My middle grandson is 11 going on 12. He is in 6th grade and says he hates school. We take that statement with a grain of salt because he says that about everything, and says it with a smile on his face.

He brought home his report card last week and had A's in all his classes except one and that was a B in Language. His mother told me she grounded him because of it, but she was only teasing. He is a very smart kid. We think he gets that from his father, cuz ain't nun of unins to brite.

Anyway, I called him when he got home from school and asked him if I could take him out to dinner for his good grades, and he said yes. We went to the Brick Oven which I have decided makes the best pizza in the whole world.

He's growing up on us, and it won't be many more years before he doesn't have time for us old folks, so I'm trying to take advantage of every opportunity to spend time with him. When he was a baby, he came and spent the weekend with me a lot. He doesn't do that any more, so I just get to see him at church or other special occasions. He always sits by me, and usually puts his head on my shoulder and tells me I'm comfy. I love it.

His birthday is the 16th of this month, and unbeknownst to him, I've ordered both he and his dad Cub's shirts. His dad is taking him to a Cub's game toward the end of the month, and I thought it would be nice if they both had shirts.

Are you as proud of your grandchildren as I am of mine? They are all very special.

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

Sleepy Monday

If you work a five day work week from Monday through Friday, which day are you the most sleepy at work?

The young lady who cleans our offices came in this morning while I was in the midst of a long yarn. She told me to quit that or she'd start. I got to thinking about which day is hardest for me to stay awake, and I decided it was definitely Monday.

So assuming I'm correct, and I'm more sleepy on Monday than any other day of the work week, there must be a reason. And I've figured it out.

I always manage to take a nap on Sunday afternoon. Doesn't matter if I've got laundry to do or floors to vacumn. Doesn't matter if I need to be sewing or anything else, I'm gonna take that nap. I think it's a tradition in my family. My mother always took a nap on Sunday. Truth be told, she may have taken a nap most days when we kids were at school, but I know for a fact, she always took one on Sunday afternoon. She deserved hers. I can't say that about myself. I don't and have never worked as hard as she did.

Back to the reason for my inability to stay awake on Monday. Once I have snoozed for an hour or two on Sunday afternoon, I have a difficult time sleeping through the night. I don't have any trouble going to sleep, it's the staying asleep that is hard. Then by the time I have to come to work, I haven't had restful sleep, and if you come by my office, you might just catch me nodding.

So which day is it for you?

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

What is Your Generation?

We hear about the X-generation, the Baby boom generation, and others. And as I was plugging money into the drink machine this morning, it dawned on me which generation I identify with most. I am definitely a part of the Pepsi generation. Now that doesn't mean I won't drink a Coke on occasion. I think it basically means that I was raised on cola's, or as Yankees say, 'Pop'.

Here in the South, where Coke originated, any type of carbonated drink is a 'coke'. I started drinking 'cokes' when I was a kid and they cost a nickel, and I remember all the hula-ba-loo when they went to six cents--yes, you heard correctly, six cents. Before too long they went to a dime and at that time, my dad said when they went to 15 cents, he'd quit drinking them.

If the truth was known, he probably had one days before his death in 1993, and I know for a fact they cost more than 15 cents by then.

Back to me and what I love most. If I'm hot and really thirsty, don't come at me with a bottle of water, unless it's to pour on my head. If I'm not feeling well, don't come at me with Pepto to settle my stomach. If I'm needing to get woke up in the morning, don't come at me with a cup of coffee. I simply need a 'coke'--whatever brand it may be. A cold coke will quench my thirst. A cold coke will settle my stomach, and a cold coke wakes me up in the morning. Oh yeah, I don't want a diet anything. Don't like em, can't stand em, might as well drink muddy water from a hoof print.

But here in lies the rub--I'm not supposed to have them. I have diabetes and high blood pressure. Not supposed to have the sugar, caffiene or the sodium that are part of the ingredients. But do you for one minute, think that makes a difference? Nope. When I try to get on a healthy diet, I will exclude cokes. And I can make it for a while drinking caffiene free tea sweetened with Splenda, but that only lasts a couple of weeks at best, and then something will happen, and I absolutely, positively have to have a coke, and one leads to another.

In other words, I'm totally addicted. Is there a 12 step program for people like me? Does Weight Watchers qualify as one--not that I'm a member or anything, but that comes to mind when I think of 12 steps.

I guess I'm just a total failure when it comes to being able to stay away from cokes. It's not like I have to have them to live. When I fail at a diet, I always say it's because I can't go cold turkey with food.

So here I sit, swigging on my Pepsi this morning. Enjoying it immensly. Knowing it's not good for me. I guess you should be praying for me.

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

Who Ordered This Weather?

Last week it was the wind. Oh and let me tell you, I hate when the wind blows. I live in an area that is mostly a sandy loam mixture of soil. When the wind blows, that stuff gets up in the air and lands smack dab on my furniture and floors. It's not as bad as it used to be before I got new windows and doors, but it still manages to get in.

This week it's the rain and thunder. And boy has it rained. This started yesterday, and continued all night. Now it's raining again today and probably will for the next couple. You may not get any dust, but I did get a surprise this morning(should have taken a picture). I walked through the living room and noticed something on the floor, then noticed it was moving, then realized it was two of those red worms that come up on the concrete during and after a rain. How they managed to get into the house is beyond me, but there they were. They now reside in the garbage can outside. They gave me the creeps.

In these pictures, you can't really see the rain falling, nor can you hear the thunder, but you can see the amount of water standing in my yard. We've gotten about 3 inches so far, and will probably get another 2.


Enough about the weather, here are a couple of pictures of my favorite girls. The one with Tiger belongs to The Contractor, and the two in my recliner belong to Daughter#2.


I hope you are having a great Tuesday. And I hope you are staying dry. Pray for our country. Love one another.

Show and Tell

My grandson, aka Superhero spends most Wednesday nights with me. This is something he's done for a while. Nothing new.

This morning as we were leaving for work/school, he said he didn't have anything for show and tell today. In the time we've been practicing this ritual, he hasn't needed a show and tell item. But he did today, and wasn't too happy that he had nothing in his posession.

So with his lower lip quivering(and melting my heart), I began trying to think of something worthwhile for him to take. I suggested he tell the story I had told him the night before about the spring frog that landed on my forehead one night after I'd turned the light out, but he just didn't think he could regale the class with that story unless he actually had a frog.

I thought for a minute and finally asked if he wanted to take one of my stones with him(I collect rocks). He wanted to know which one and what was special about it. I told him it was a Petoskey Stone that it was actually a fossil and it came from Michigan. You can read about them here. I know you are wondering how a country girl from Arkansas came to be in posession of such an interesting piece of history(coral that lived 350 million years ago in the Devonian age). It was given to me by my friend Jan who is actally from Michigan, and probably collected them as a child, and she was nice enough to share with me. I keep it in a shadow box along with some of my other favorite trinkets.

He said ok, but his heart didn't seem to be in it, but I turned around and went back to the house, ran in and got it anyway. Once he saw it, he knew it was something that would make a bit hit. I wrote the name, what it was and where it came from so he wouldn't forget on a piece of paper as I drove down the road. When we got to school, he went straight in and showed the teacher what he had and that he wanted her to keep it for security sake.


I hope it garnered the reaction he hoped for.

If you had to come up with something off the cuff for show and tell, what would it be?

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

Mondays YUK!

I'd tell you I hate Mondays if you didn't already know that.

I hate Monday's because I have to come back to work. I try every Monday morning to come up with a reason why I'm not able to come to work. Unfortunately, Sick of work isn't a viable excuse.

That's the only reason. The sun is shining. The temp is 70. Perfect weather to be anywhere besides work.

Fortunately, I have a window so I can see what it's doing outside, which makes me hate Monday's even more because I can see why I want to be somewhere else.

Is there a day of the week you hate?

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

Strange Relatives

My 5 year old grandson aka Superhero spends the night with me on Wednesday. I pick him and his suitcase up from daycare. We go to church, where we help feed the college kids, have Bible Study, and then to my house afterward. He is usually hungry and needs a snack, and we watch a little tv.

If you are around me long, you know I have a wierd group of tv programs that I like. On Wednesday night, it's Dog the Bounty Hunter. I know these are a rough bunch of folks, but they are very family oriented, and I honestly believe they care about the people they have to catch. Now don't get me wrong, I think they love the chase and the catch too.

Anyway, I allow Superhero to watch Dog catch the bad people. This week when we were going to school on Thursday morning, from the backseat, Superhero said, 'hey, memaw, that bounty man was at my grandma's house Easter'. I said he was, and he said yes. We talked about it for a few minutes and when I got to work, I sent an instant message to the DIL, Superhero's mom, told her what he said, and asked her if she didn't want me to know she had famous relatives, or if she was ashamed of them. She replied with an OMG and the little man rolling on the floor laughing(if you IM, you know the little man I'm talking about). She said her aunt's boyfriend had long blonde hair and wore the arm bands like Dog does.

I have told everybody that knows Superhero about our conversation. It just doesn't take much to impress that little guy.

Do you have famous or infamous relatives? My claim to fame is that my mother's cousins were the Wilburn Brothers. Unless you know old time country music, that name won't mean much, but they had their own show on Saturday afternoon in the 60's out of Nashville, and even though they weren't mentioned in the movie, Loretta Lynn got her start on their program. She was their girl singer. They also toured with Elvis before he became King and was traveling around from one honky tonk to another.

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

A Sad/Funny Story

I was reading a blog yesterday that talked about a cousin's death and having to tell a brother. I, too, had to tell someone they had a loss, and it brought to mind a story about my children's father when he was a little boy.

My children's father was raised by his maternal grandparents. When he was very small, his great grandmother came to live with them. She thought this little boy hung the moon and was the only child ever born. When the other grandchildren came, she would hide this little boy's toys because she didn't want the other children to play with them. She did everything for him.

She became ill and was almost bedfast. She also had a habit of taking her medicine everytime she thought of it, so she had to have someone with her at all times. Being a farming family, everyone big enough was needed to work in the fields, so the little boy was given the job of sitting with grandma. I'm sure this wasn't what he would have liked to be doing, but sit with her he did and found this to be quite a chore.

Then after a protracted illness, the grandma passed. Having no phones, this little boy was sent down the road to tell the neighbors about grandma's death.

He, being about 5 or 6, proudly walked into the neighbor's house, propped his hand on his hip, leaned against the door and announced,'Well, grandma finally died'.

I've often thought about how much that old lady loved that little boy. I've thought about what a chore she was to this little boy and that his only thought in her death was that he could now go out and play rather than be confined. He never knew the joy he had brought to her, and he only remembered what he considered a form of punishment having to sit with her. He never knew what a blessing he was in her life. Wherever they are, hopefully they are together, and enjoying each other's company.

Who was a big influence in your young life that you may know only through the stories you've heard?

This is a beautiful day in NE Arkansas. Hope it is where you are and you are getting to enjoy it. Pray for our country. Love one another.

Spring Plants - New Life

Today is the spring plant sale here on campus. The plants are usually pretty nice, and reasonable. They have lots of flowering plants, trees and some vegetables. I'm picking up some tomato plants for the Contractor(he's got a garden going)and a flower or two for daughter #2. She has a flowerbed she's cleaned up and needs some plants for.

I'm interested in the Lantana's and wave petunias. My front porch gets a lot of afternoon sun and these are about the only things that do well that I like. Most of my flowergardening is done in containers on my porch. I'm not able to do what I used to, and out in the yard, things get overgrown pretty quickly. I do have a monkey grass border, but mostly just yard.

I'll try to have some pictures of what I buy on my blog tomorrow, then as the summer progresses, I'll let you see what a brown thumb I actually have.

Hope your garden is beginning to come alive. I'd love to hear about it.

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

How Was Your Easter?

Easter is the official sign that Spring is on the way. We get to wear new outfits, at least the kids do, color and hide eggs, and spend time with family. I'm teaching the 5 year olds at church this quarter. I had 5 little girls and one boy this Sunday. The girls all had on new dresses, and most of them were made similarly to what the girls have on in the picture, but all different designs. They were really pretty, and I wished I had taken my camera.

I took off work on Good Friday and cleaned house. I cooked on Saturday, and all my family was together for a meal on Sunday. I made crockpot chicken and dressing, a ham with marmalade glaze, Pioneer Woman's baked Mac and Cheese, deviled eggs(daughter #2 kept saying they had too much paprika on them), mashed potatoes, green beans, cranberry sauce(out of the can), Sister Shubert's rolls(they are worth the price for the trouble they save), and two Snicker's pies.

The little ones played. After we ate, the four youngest put their Easter clothes back on, and had a few photos taken. I don't know who was the hardest to pose, the older three or the youngest.

I thought the girls all looked spiffy in their matching dresses. I think daughter #2 found them and with the DIL's approval, they got all three alike. Superhero co-ordinates very well in his green shirt. I don't know if you can see the princesses feet, but they are both barefoot. They didn't go to church that way, but it was too much trouble to put their shoes back on just for a picture.

You may also notice that Superman has both princesses in a sort of head lock. He is one loving kid and any time you take a picture of him, chances are his arm is around someone.

I hope you had a great Easter. Saw those you cherish, and found the egg with the best prize.

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

Spring is on the Way

I'm looking forward to Easter. It's a signal that Spring is actually here, or at least close. I know officially Spring has sprung, but it's time for things to actually turn green and bloom. And I can start wearing my summer clothes.

How many of you remember that you couldn't wear white before Easter or after Labor Day? Now I'm not a fashion statement. I'm more the what not to wear statement. I'm not up on the latest fashions, but I still hear my mother's voice in the back of my head saying things like,'you can't wear that yet, or you shouldn't still be wearing this now.

Along with good taste, many of the fashion rules we learned have been thrown out the window along with the length of skirts and shirts. Showing your belly button when I was young caused you to be the talk of the town and gave you a reputation. Short skirts did almost the same thing. I never had to have the length of my clothes measured in school, my dad wouldn't allow me to have anything that was too short. Too long was fine with him, but never too short. And Heaven forbid if I ever tugged on a skirt in his presence. I was promptly sent to put on something longer.

My oldest daughter has a favorite saying when she sees someone in something that is too tight or short. She says that just because they make it in your size doesn't mean you should wear it.

Do you think some people have warped mirrors that even though they are fat, they look thin in them? Or maybe warped eyeballs that see things one way when they are really another>

I'm not sure what got me on this subject today, but if you have any fashion statements to make, feel free to make them here.

Hope you are having a great Thursday(It's Conasta night for me). Pray for our country. Love one another.

Nosey Ole Me

I've decided to be nosey. Now if you know me, you know that I am not a nosey person. Really, just ask my daughters. They'll tell you that I try to mind my own business and don't usually ask questions. In fact, they get annoyed with me for not knowing all the details about things.

Now there's a good reason why I don't ask a lot of questions. If you tell me something and I attempt to repeat it, there's a good chance I'll get the facts all mixed up, so I've decided the best thing is the less I know the less I can repeat incorrectly.

But today I'm going to ask a question. If it's in print, maybe I won't get it too mixed up.

Are you getting a new outfit for Easter? If you are, then please describe it. If you aren't getting a new outfit, they why not? Is it because you are busy getting new outfits for others?

I personally am not getting a new outfit. I'm going to wear the same thing I wore last year. Why, you ask, I just don't need anything. And I'm not making dresses for the girls this year. I think this is the first year I haven't been sewing right up to Easter.

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

Oh Spring Where Art Thou!

Oh Spring--You keep teasing me with warm days and pretty blooms on the trees and bushes. My daffodils have bloomed--my hyacinths have bloomed, and now it looks like there will be a freeze tonight. I'm ready for the wind to calm and the days be warm enough that I can frolick about outside.

Like I'm going to frolick about outside or elsewhere. I would like to be able to get out without being blown in every direction, and I would like for the weather to be comfortable without a jacket. Just about the time I pitch my jacket in the laundry room for a final wash before being stored for the summer, I have to go dig it back out.

The news said that the peach crop may be devastated again this year. They lost one a couple of years ago, and the peaches were so expensive last year that you could hardly afford them. I think I've found a free source this year unless the freeze tonight gets them. I may have to put out my own peach tree for future use. I have a pecan tree, but have to fight the squirrel's for them. Maybe they don't like peaches.

Needless to say, this is a dreary Monday. The only bright spot is that the stump grinders came and ground my stumps this morning. My neighbor called early and told me they were there. She is retired, and has been holding the check I wrote to them so they could be paid when they were finished. She had stumps they ground also. She's a big help to me with things of that sort. She called me when the tree cutters came to see if I wanted mine cut, and she called when the grinders came through so I could get a deal made with them.

The other bright spot is my oldest daughter. She is on day 7 in her attempt to stop smoking. Even though she grumbles about it, she is making a hard effort to stop. I can only imagine how hard it must be. I'm addicted cokes. I can go a few days without one, but sooner or later, I break down and have one. So, to some extent, I can identify with what she's going through. I want her to stick it out for herself and for her two children. She has a son about 23 and one 12. She needs to be around to finish raising them.

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

Last Night at the Taste of Home Show

I promised I'd let you know about the show last night. I left work at 5:00, and it took all of 10 minutes to get there. We were given a bag with magazines, and other goodies in it.

I was expecting to be able to sample at the booths (that means eat-free). However, the lines were horribly long and many of the people thought nothing of getting ahead of you in the lines. Note here to my daughters: I did not break line, nor get ahead of anyone.

What we found out though, was that the samples weren't free--nuh uh. You had to pay for most of them. Finally, after standing in line for about half an hour, we got some ice cream from Andy's. If you haven't had Andy's Ice Cream, you don't know what you are missing. Creammmy! Delish! and lots of other adjectives.

They wanted everyone in their seats by 6:30--some people didn't get there until 7:30. They took up our yellow cards we'd filled out for the door prizes, and promptly at 7:00 the show started.

Janie Dunn is the gal who did the show. She's funny, articulate and very interesting. She put on a good show. She did greek turkey burgers, mexican lasagna, granola(that I might even try), ginger chicken and pasta, shrimp salad, salmon with orzo, creme brulee, a fruit tart and lemonade. These cooked items were given as door prizes also.

They gave away lots of cookbooks, bags of groceries, gift certificates, a free-standing island, a side by side refrigerator, a queen set of mattresses and more. And I won N-O-T-H-I-N-G!

The show cost $14 to get in, and I basically left a cooking show hungry. Now something just ain't
right about that. We had to go to Sonic and get a burger. It was after 10:00 by the time we got out of the parking lot, and I don't usually eat that late, but I did last night. I was definitely in peril of wasting away.

I did see a lot of people I hadn't seen in a while. There were about 2,000 people there. I was disappointed in the number of vendors, and I'm alwasy unhappy that I left unfed.

Have you ever been to a cooking show? If so, tell me about your experiences.

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

Taste of Home Cooking Show

A group of us from work are going to the Taste of Home Cooking Show tonight. It's here on Campus, and we are going directly after work.

It has been here before, then it moved to another city nearby, but has come back here. A couple of girls have been before and they say it's fun. The doors open at 3 this afternoon, but the actual show begins at 7. We are going at 5. You go through and visit all the booths where they are demonstrating their products and giving free samples. Then at 7, you watch the demos. I think it will be lots of fun.

One of my friends here at work gets the Taste of Home Magazine, then at the end of the year, she gets all of them in book form. After she gets the book, she shares the magazines with me. It has some really good recipes in it.

We paid a total of $14 for our tickets, but they say you get a goodie bad at the door that has stuff in it worth about $60.

I'll let you know more about it tomorrow. I might even share some great cooking tips if I can remember them.

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

April Fool's Day and a Funny

I love to play tricks on the people I love. Actually, I'd play tricks on strangers if I thought I wouldn't get shot. The only problem is, I'm not good at it. I don't have a poker face. I can't tell you some big elaborate story without getting tickled. And I usually get the whole thing mixed up and it ends up not being funny to anyone.

So, I guess I'll pass on the jokes today and just try to behave myself(no comments from children).

But let me tell you a couple of things I have managed to pull off. You may not see the humor in them, but we thought they were funny at the time.

On our boss's birthday one year, we ordered a cake, but we all called in that morning. Some of us began calling the afternoon before for a day's vacation, then some called in that morning saying they were not feeling well. As we sneaked into the office, we could hear her on the phone telling someone she had to cover everything that day because everyone had called in. While she was still on the phone we all yelled happy birthday.

Then one year for my friend's 50th birthday, I took her eighth grade school picture and enlarged it almost an 8x10, and made a wanted poster out of it. I put up about 40 around town and one near her house. When I went by later in the day, she had gotten out and gathered them all up. But she wasn't mad. She thought it was funny. I had put wanted in big letters at the top, and at the bottom something about birthday wishes for this 50 year old.

If you've played a joke on someone, tell me about it. I love to laugh at someone else's expense.

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

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.