Full House

Recipe Review #2 for 2012

2012-01-17T08:16:00.000-05:00

Hey All,

We were wanting something different to eat. You know when you want something but you don't have a clue as to what you want. Jene` had some stuffed mushrooms at a friend's house over the holidays so I decided to see what I could find. I came across some that had sausage in them but I have one that won't eat sausage. I finally found one over on allrecipes.com that sounded like my family might eat. It was made with stuffing and had imitation crab meat in it. I had all the ingredients except the imitation crab meat and mushrooms so that was also a plus. That night for dinner we had spaghetti, stuffed mushrooms and garlic bread. I should have made more mushrooms because that is what all but one wanted to eat. They were gone in no time not a morsel left.

The mixture was made from a stuffing mix and had cream cheese and imitation crab meat in it. Shhhh we don't want the little munchkin to know it had the crab meat. He ate the stuffing mix out of the mushroom but wouldn't eat the mushroom. Oh and he also didn't know that there was also some mushrooms in the stuffing because I had chopped up the stems and put into the stuffing. I know I'm such a bad mom for tricking my child like that. But he ate it!

There was a lot of the mixture leftover and we liked them so much that I bought some more mushrooms and made them again. This time I put a blob of the stuffing mix in a corner of the pan so the little munchkin could enjoy it without wasting the mushroom. This recipe is a keeper!

You can find Gary's Stuffed Mushrooms here on allrecipe.com. The only change I made to the recipe was I decreased the butter. It just seemed like it a lot of butter so I cut it in half. There wasn't any complaints. The kids are already asking when I am going to make them again.

Take Care :)

Random Thoughts

2012-01-13T22:28:00.000-05:00

Hey All,

I planned on blogging every couple days and look at how that has worked out. It's been one of those weeks that nothing has gone as planned. But it hasn't been a bad week just a busy one. At the beginning of the school year I had started volunteering at the school library once a week for a couple hours. The least I could do to help out with all the budget cuts. Once a week turned into twice a week and sometimes more. It was getting bad right before winter break and I just thought after the break it would get back to normal. We only had school 3 and a half days this week and I worked in the library all 4 days. That sounds like a lot but I was only there about 11 hours.

I remember going to the library in elementary school and you picked out a book and went back to your classroom. Our library wasn't even a room the halls had shelves lined down them filled with books. Today the librarian has more to do than check in/out books and reshelf them. Our librarian teaches every grade level from kindergarten to fifth grade. Let me rephrase that our media teacher teaches. Because the library is no longer called the library it is the media center. Our librarian is no longer the librarian she is the media teacher. I have seen the 4th graders learn how to use an atlas and a phone book. The kindergarten kids learn the parts of a book.  The 1st grade students learn what a fable is and the 2nd graders learn how to use the computer to find a book.  The 3rd grade kids learn how to use a dictionary and 5th grader's learn how to use reference books or to look up information on the computer.

Maybe someday when the economy gets better and the schools don't have to worry about budget cuts I could get an assistant job.  The way I see this new experience is I'm learning a new skill. Maybe someday I can get paid for the skills I'm learning. I help the students find books and check out, check in books and reshelf.  Run copies, lament, and cut for different projects that are going to be done. Do the displays on the tops of the shelves.  There is still a lot more I need to learn but I am enjoying every minute of this new experience.

Now to get the weekend underway. The teens are spending it with grandpa and to visit with their aunt and uncle from Florida. The little munchkin has a history project he has to work on and study for a huge social studies test. So I think I'll try to work on this ornament project I started. I have it pictured in my mind what I want now it's just doing it to see how it turns out. I also need to raid hubby's closet and find a shirt that he won't miss. Hmmmm.... still trying to figure out that one. Hopefully next week I will have two projects to share.

Tomorrow my baby girl turns 20. How can my little princess be 20 already?  Ya know what I think we will skip her birthday this year. I know I have tried that in the past without success but she isn't going to be here so we will just pretend the day hasn't come. She will just have to stay 19 for another year or two.

The little witch is impatiently trying to get my attention so I guess I had better go walk her. Buuuut it's cold out there!!!!!!!!!

Take Care :)

Recipe Review #1 for 2012

2012-01-04T23:00:00.000-05:00

Hey All,

I have two recipes to tell you about. Sorry no pictures I forgot to take them. The first recipe is from Grandma's Vintage Recipes it's a Spinach Casserole I made to take to our family Christmas dinner. I love spinach and wanted to make something different to take this year. This yummy spinach has sour cream and onion soup mix in it.  Out of 7 adults only 1 didn't like it but then again he doesn't like spinach to begin with.  The 3 teens liked the spinach but they didn't like the bread topping. The 4 tweens wouldn't even try it they avoided that dish as if it had poison in it.

I will be making this again but I might try putting french fried onions on the top instead of the bread topping to see if the kids like that any better. But I thought it was very good just the way it was.

The second one is a chicken sandwich recipe I found over on allrecipes.com. I was looking for some crockpot recipes and came across this and had to try it. Savory Chicken Sandwiches and let me tell you that word savory should be yum-a-lishous. I did make one change to the recipe it calls for bone in chicken breast and thighs and to take them out after cooked and shred them and then put the shredded meat back into the pot. I used a 2.5 lb bag of frozen chicken breast instead and about a half hour before I was ready to serve I took a fork and shredded them right in the pot.  Easy Peasy!

This recipe will be going onto the 2012 menu often.  Everyone loved them and it's a good thing it makes a large batch because we each had 2 of them. And still had enough leftover for lunch the next day.

If you are wanting something different for dinner both these recipes are worth checking out.

Take Care :)

What's for Dinner?

2012-01-01T12:43:00.002-05:00

Hey All,

Do you have a meal you fix every year on the first day of the new year? Is it a tradition or a superstition? Or maybe now has become a little of both? We will be having our usual southern style New Year's Day dinner it is has become a tradition for me but a superstition for my hubby. He believes if you don't have collard greens, black eyed peas, and pork roast you will have bad luck all year.

New Year's Day Menu:

collard greens
black eyed peas
pork roast
mashed potatoes & gravy
green beans
mac & cheese
cornbread

Whether it be tradition or superstition the good news for me is I won't have to cook tomorrow. Leftovers!

Happy New Year's and may 2012 be good to you!

Vickie

Happy New Year!

2011-12-31T10:51:00.000-05:00

I hope everyone has a safe and Happy New Year!

Take Care :)

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-22T00:25:00.000-05:00

I hope everyone has a wonderful Merry Christmas!

Take Care :)

Memorial Weekend and Bandana Pocketbook

2011-06-04T22:11:00.000-04:00

Hey All,

The kids are out of school! Where oh where did the year go? I swear they just started if time starts going by any faster than it already is there won't be any reason to get up. Of course the boys are excited about no school and wanting the summer to stroll along slowly. Colin is not looking forward about the 4th grade but Dale is excited about his senior year.

Memorial Weekend was a fun filled time. We spent the long weekend on the go and only came home long enough to eat or sleep.

We spent Saturday afternoon at the YMCA for the first day of the season of the pool opening. It was HOT! Colin had a blast.

Sunday afternoon we went to Riverwalk Carolinas which is a new walking trail to walk next to the river. Sadly part of it was closed because of all the downed trees from the storm we had a few weeks ago.

After returning home we decided to go to a friend's house at the lake.

As you can see we weren't prepared to go swimming. I didn't even think about taking his swim trunks I thought they were going to fish. But there were so many boats and jet skies out that it wouldn't have done any good. So they decided to go swimming instead.

Monday we went to Columbia and went to the zoo. One advantage to having a large family is sometimes it's cheaper to buy a season pass for a year. That is what we did so now we can go back whenever and it's paid for. It was going to cost more for us to get in than a family season pass cost. Duh! Family pass it was. Jene` even showed up to spend the day with us and she brought one of her friends to hang out with. It was a fun filled scorching hot day!

Oh Dale you and your texting! Colin, Zac, Jene` and Dale

Oh my this was so cool!!!!! You got to walk in with the kangaroos. It was a blast watching them hop along with you.

Oh yes there is even a Botanical Garden to go through. It was beautiful! I can't wait to go back in late September when it's a bit cooler so we can enjoy it more.

Crazy kid couldn't wait to sit on the elephant. Dale won out on that one.

Look at the size of this turtle! If we wasn't standing there watching it eat the grass you would have thought it was a statue because of the coloring.

Oh yes then it was time to sit on this little turtle. Just look at how good they are getting along. It was a wonderful family day!

Today we went to a birthday party for my niece. She has decided at the ripe old age of 7 that she is too old for baby dolls, tea parties, and anything associated with being a little kid. So I made her a pocketbook out of a bandana and filled it with bracelets, beaded necklaces and silly bandz.

I cut a bandana in half and folded one half together wrong side facing. Sewed down the two sides and then turned it right side out. I took a shoelace and cut it in half and used one to sew each end to each inside seam. The other half I placed in the middle and sewed to attach it on the inside of both sides. I then cut it in the middle so I could tie it to close the purse. So with one bandana and one pair of shoelaces you can make two of these little purses.

I better go see what everyone is doing it's too quiet.

Take Care :)

What Can I Make With These?

2011-05-02T15:12:00.000-04:00

I pulled out a bunch of stuff from the crafting closet to try to do something with it. I mean what good is it doing just sitting in the closet. I pulled out a little of this and a little of that at random. There is some odd and end fabric, some shirts the boys have outgrown, a top sheet (I don't even remember having it),and an old dress. There are also some pipe cleaners, craft sticks, a couple hoops, and a couple of old picture frames that really need some kind of makeover. There are some recycling things I've collected like lids from jars and bottles, jars, light bulbs, puzzle pieces, and some foam trays. So the question of the day is what can I make with these? My goal is to find something to make with the majority of this stuff during the month. Put it to some good use instead of sitting and taking up space. And not to mention my crafting closet needs a good cleaning out and this is the way to do it. If you have any ideas please let me know.

Take Care :)

Blog Catchup

2011-05-01T19:48:00.000-04:00

Hey All,

Do you remember a couple months ago when someone had ran into Colin and he went flying onto the pavement at school? Three of his teeth were broke and he had to have 2 root canals. Here is the final fix they used a compound to build up the 3 teeth because he is too young for crowns. He has to be careful because they will break easily. But for now they are fixed.

Geeze a year has gone by already he went for his yearly eye exam and these are his new glasses. It's hard getting a picture of this child with his eyes open.

We spent some of Earth Day at Lowe's. Colin and daddy made this birdhouse that attaches to a window in the build and grow clinic.

They gave each child a reusable bag to go along with their kit. They were also giving away one tree per family. Got to LOVE it! We gave our tree to a friend who was getting ready to move into a new home. It's not like we need another tree with the also 100 or more that we already have.

I wanted to get these pictures up before another day slipped by into another month.

Take Care :)

A Surprise Package

2011-04-30T00:16:00.000-04:00

Hey All,

Who doesn't like getting a surprise package in the mail? I do!!! I went to my mailbox yesterday and pulled out what seemed to be a letter from my cousin. I opened it and instead of a letter I found this...

It's a Streak-Less Wiping Cloth The Next Generation to wash almost anything with. You just wet it with warm water and wring out and wipe off whatever. I only had about a half hour before I had to leave and go to school for pickup but I couldn't wait to try it out. I washed the sliding glass doors, bathroom mirrors, a small part of the bathroom tiles. I didn't have to use any windex or cleaners. WOW! And the best part when it dried NO STREAKS!!!!

While waiting in the carpool lane I called my cousin to thank her for the wonderful gift. I asked her where she had gotten it from and she said from their local furniture store. They purchase them from the Amish when they go to pick up furniture in Lancaster. I'm going to have to do some searching and see where I can get these.

Thanks again Mel I love it!!!

Take Care :)

Dinosaur Laid To Rest

2011-04-20T23:59:00.000-04:00

Hey All,

There was no hope for my ever loving PC. It finally had enough abuse from this family and decided it was time for a long rest. I guess it was time it was old, very old. I now have a laptop that hubby surprised me with. Thank You Honey!!!! Now I just have to figure out what all it does. I discovered this cool thing with sticky notes so now my screen is full of reminders. The thing I am having the biggest problem with is the keyboard. My fingers don't fit this like my old keyboard. I also need a chair a bit taller because I'm having a hard time with the computer desk. Oh well I'll get it all worked out in time.

I have a few projects I'm working on but these will take a while to complete. One project I am having to wait on toilet paper rolls to become empty. Seems to be taking forever to get enough of them. The other project I am collecting caps from soda bottles. Another thing that is going by slowly. I need a project that I can see the results of and after reading a post over on Blessings Overflowing I have decided to try to make some napkins to cut down on paper ones. Once I'm finished I'll take some pictures and then try to figure out how to load them into this new machine.

I better get to bed I need to be up early to make sure this teen is all packed and ready to go to the beach with his friends. Brave parents taking 3 teenage boys to the beach.

Take Care :)

It's April

2011-04-04T22:31:00.000-04:00

Hey All,

Today I spent the morning making out the new calendar. I know a few days late. I love finding things for the little munchkin to do that is free or doesn't cost an arm and a leg. This month is the book fair at school and they always have one evening that you can go and look at the books. During the fall they had story time with cookies and milk which the little munchkin LOVED! For the spring book fair they are having family fun night. You can go play games and wonder over to the book fair if you like. That is this week and we are looking forward to it.

The library holds a themed craft session once a month and you have to be fast to get your child registered for it. Only 25 kids can participate. This month is Earth Day Crafts and he can't wait to see what they will be making. Then during the week of spring break they are having a family game day and who ever shows up can play. Got to love the library!

Lowe's Build and Grow Clinics are wonderful. We are going to be making a birdhouse that sticks to your window so you can watch them up close. There was another class this month but we couldn't make that one it's making a pinball toy. If your child is into building these clinics are great. Oh and Home Depot also has one the first Saturday of the month.

Tomorrow I have to call the Garden Center they are holding a kids day. They will be planting herbs and there will be sno cones and face painting. I do think this one will have a fee but hopefully it won't be much. It sounds like it's going to be loads of fun. Now to see what else I can come across for the month.

I've rambled on enough now back to surfing for some crafting inspiration.

Take Care :)

Ugh!

2011-03-30T22:30:00.000-04:00

Hey All,

It's been a cool gray rainy day. I won't complain about the rain we do need it badly but I will complain about the coolness. When it's 80 one day and the next it's 20 some degrees colder that is a big change. Today it was 51 when we woke at 6:30 and then started dropping from there. Let's just say I warmed my rice pad many times today.

My computer is broke. I don't know what the kids did to it the only thing I do know is I haven't been able to use it for the past few weeks. We all have had to use hubby's laptop and the kids have had top priority for homework. They were using up that air card pretty fast so hubby has brought it out here and hooked up to the DSL for them. Now I really don't like the laptop I seem to make more spelling errors and have to keep backtracking because I can feel my fingers hitting the wrong keys. I miss my keyboard my fingers fit it perfectly. lol And I also like my mouse it goes where I guide it and doesn't wander around like this does. Oh and hubby says I don't want you loading it down with pictures. WHAT?????? That is what the computer is for! Geeeeeze how do you expect me to blog without pictures? Fine I won't put any pictures in this posting. hehehehehehehe But I can't promise about the next one.

The little munchkin went last week and they fixed his 2 front teeth. They can't put crowns on him they said he was too young so it's just a compound that looks like a tooth. He has to be very careful and bite nothing hard. He is only suppose to drink out of a straw so as not to bump his front teeth. He has to wear a mouth guard to recess, P.E., and any physical activities. He goes tomorrow afternoon to have the 3rd tooth fixed and then for now he will be done. I will get pictures and get them posted soon. hehehehehehehehe

SCREAM!!!!!! This arrow has a mind of it's own and keeps moving my page. It needs to stay put!

I have to start blogging again seems if I don't blog I don't do my crafting. So does that mean blogging and crafting go hand in hand? I have some recipes to share also that were oh so good. So yeah I need to sit down with this thing and start using it more often.

I guess I had better get going and get things ready for morning.

Take Care :)

Pictures To Go Along With Previous Post

2011-03-06T10:46:00.000-05:00

This is what happened at school. Waiting for his mouth to heal so they can start fixing them.

Take Care :)

Child Hurt At School

2011-03-03T11:11:00.000-05:00

Hey All,

It's been a time here. A week ago Wednesday I get a phone call around 11:00 saying your son tripped and fell and chipped a couple teeth he may need to see a dentist. I get to the school and his 2 front teeth are broken. One is half broken off and the other almost half. A third tooth is badly chipped. I get him to the dentist they do x-rays and said there is nerve damage and sends him to an endodontist. Both asked what happened and I told them they said they were going out to recess and he tripped and fell on the sidewalk. BOTH said there is no way that happened. Then endodontist starts asking Colin questions and he says I think I was pushed but I really don't know. He looked at me and said we only see this kind of trauma in a child when they flip over handlebars of a bike and hit the pavement. They did 2 root canals on the two front teeth. They need to let his mouth heal before they start to restore them somehow.

I went into the school the next day and wanted to know what exactly happened. I was sent to the nurse and she said I don't know I can't fill out the injury report because I can't find out what exactly happened. She said ... I was told he was running on the sidewalk going out to the playground and he tripped and fell on the sidewalk. I said it couldn't have happened that way and told her what both dentist said and that Colin said he thought he was pushed. She called the vice principal and we talked and I asked to see which playground they were going to because there are 3 of them. We walked out a side door and he said it had to have happened in this area. Neither teacher knew what happened because they didn't see it and were unaware that Colin was hurt until some kids ran and got one of them. He said let's see if this was caught on video because we have cameras out here but I'm not sure if it will show this area or not. He pulled up the day before and the time frame and it showed all the kids walking on the sidewalk no one was running and no one fell. He said maybe it happened in this area we can't see. He pulled up a different section and was looking at the top of the footage when something at the bottom caught my attention and I gasped and said there. He backed it up and we watched. Let me explain they walk down a sidewalk then across the pavement to a fenced in area once the kids get inside the fenced in area they are permitted to run it's all playground area. The first thing in the fenced in area is a basketball court that goes all the way across and then after they cross this section there is a play area with swings and stuff. Colin was WALKING across the basketball court area a couple kids had ran past him to get to the playing area. Then it shows this child on a fast run and plows right into the back of Colin and sends him flying and he hits the pavement face first. The child helps him up and he wonders over to some other kids holding his mouth and crying. Still no teachers at this point. He turned off the tape so I don't know when an adult did appear. Then I found out that he was sent to the nurse's office by himself!!! I know accidents happen but to me he should have never been sent alone. I also aked the vice principal if the kids were not allowed to run on the sidewalk or the pavement crossing to the playground what the difference was once they got into the fenced in area with concrete to cross to get to the playing area? He of course had no answer.

Again I know accidents happen but I have to wonder is this a safe place for my child? No teacher saw what happened and it took several minutes for one to reach him. He was sent to the nurse by himself without anyone with him. His mouth bled for 6 hours so you know there was a lot of trauma and he was in a lot of pain at the time of the accident. Oh yeah someone did go and find the pieces of broken teeth and they handed them to be in a baggie when I picked him up.

Of course they are all being nice and helping Colin make up all the work he missed for the 3 and 1/2 days he was out. He is under restrictions of no recess or PE until further notice so he won't bump his mouth and cause further damage before they can be fixed. I told them I didn't want him sitting and watching others play because it's not his fault so they have made arrangements for him to have extra library or computer time. He can only drink out of a straw because they are afraid that a bump with a cup or bottle could cause more damage. This weekend he will be able to try some cold foods he hasn't been able to eat anything too hot or cold. He isn't allowed of course to bite down using the front teeth. Oh it's been a time around here!

I'm not one to carry my phone with me everyplace I go. I never carried it when I walk the dogs or when I go into the library. Most of the time if I'm running errands I leave it in the car. Now I carry it with me at all times. When I'm cleaning I take it into whatever room I'm in. I take a shower and it's on the counter. I'm scared to death he is going to bump his mouth at school and need to get there fast. I have to send him to school. Maybe next week we will know more of when they will be able to start reconstruction of his teeth to get them fixed.

Off to finish the laundry.

Take Care :)

Happy Valentine's Day!

2011-02-14T07:56:00.002-05:00

Making Valentines

In February, what shall I do?

I'll make some valentines for you.

The first will have a cupid's face;

The second will be trimmed with lace.

The third will have some roses pink;

The fourth will have a verse in ink.

The fifth will have a ribbon bow;

The sixth will glisten like the snow.

The seventh will have some lines I drew;

The eighth, some flowers--just a few.

The ninth will have three little birds;

The tenth will have three little words:

I LOVE YOU!

Volcano, Musical Instrument, And Some Rambling

2011-02-07T23:45:00.000-05:00

Hey All,

A couple weeks ago we pulled out the volcano kit Colin had gotten for Christmas. He was so excited and bugged and begged until I was finally able to help him with it.

We got everything out of the package and ready to make. He sat there and looked at it and said... this is going to be a volcano?

We got it all mixed up and poured into the mold. He was so excited! Until he found out that we needed to let it set till the next day. The next day it still wasn't dry and the day after still not dry finally on the third day it was dry.

I found some paints so he could paint it.

Finally the next day it was ready to make eruptions. Oh my he was so excited and he also had his sister and her boyfriend there to watch. We put in 5 little tablets that came with it and the club soda as it called for. Me with camera in hand waiting for it to explode with fizzy stuff. NOTHING happened! He said lets put in a couple more tablets maybe there isn't enough. So we did. And NOTHING! Big sister went and grabbed the baking soda while I went and got the vinegar and we had the volcano erupting all over the place. Sorry with all the delays and then excitment I had put my camera down and had forgotten all about taking pictures. But I can tell you he was very HAPPY! And now he has a volcano he can erupt anytime he wants.

He had to make a musical instrument for a science project. They were doing a unit on sound. When he came home telling about this he had already a basic idea of what he wanted to do. He went through the recycle bin and pulled out cans. A green bean can, a soup can, a mandrin orange can and a can of canned chicken. I washed them out so he wouldn't cut his hands and we let them dry. Over the weekend we had some really beautiful weather and I had some spray paint left over from another project and he painted two red and two blue. After they dried he then glued them into a shoe box lid made a sign with the name of his instrument... Drum a Phone. He then got a wooden spoon and just put wrapped some pipe cleaner around the handle of it to give it a different look. Then he went to town hitting the cans making music. He discovered that each can because of it's different size made different sounds. By accident he also discovered that the two cans that have ridges along the sides if you rub up and down on them that also makes a different sound. These are the kinds of projects he loves to do. I can't wait until tomorrow to see what kind of grade he got on it.

Now onto other happenings.

Two of the kids have been sick. Jene` had to come home she was so sick and then Dale got it. Luckily knock on wood no one else has gotten it. They both tested negative for both strep and the flu but they had all the syptoms. I guess we caught it in time before it was full blown.

I haven't been crafting. My creative juices aren't flowing. Saturday I needed to take some books to the library and wandered around the crafting section and found a Woman's Day Crafts at Home book. Many ideas in that book! A picture frame table... a garden guy... a bandanna quilt... peach & pear cross stitch... to name a few things. I have also been browsing around the internet finding some different crochet projects. Anyway back to this book it has this table that they used a vinegar paint recipe to paint it. Have you heard of doing this? It looks really nice. Then there is a garden bench that they used Rit Liquid Dye and dyed it. Have you ever heard of this? I do like the look! For now I need to go through my crafting stuff and find something on hand to start making. Oh that does remind me I never took a picture of the cover I made for the microscope. I will have to do that.

How much beef jerky does one man need?????? That is the question of the day. They had london broil on sale and a friend wanted to know if we would make jerky for him. He went and bought two london broils now we can only do one at a time. Got it ready and started it Saturday. Saturday night Tony comes home with two more london broils. I said did that put you in the mood for your own? He said.... Jamie went and bought two more he wants them all done up. Do What???? Is he crazy? Anyway number 3 is in the dehydrator now and number 4 is marinating. As all I have to say is he should be jerky'd out before it's gone.

NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO!!!!!!!!!!! Does Mother Nature not listen to the Groundhog? They are forecasting that "S" word for Thursday. Only about an inch but still that is an inch too much!

Last week I didn't exercise yeah I know bad. I went this evening and rode the bike worked on the seated leg press and the abdominal. They were packed and it was hard getting a machine to work on. I had gained and I guess that put me over the edge and I didn't workout last week. Today I weighed in to see how much more I gained and was shocked to see that I lost 2 1/2 lbs.

I better get to bed morning comes too early.

Take Care :)

Rubbery Legs!

2011-01-17T20:06:00.001-05:00

Hey All,

After a week and half of no gym time I finally made it there this evening. The little munchkin had Tae Kwon Do and I went up to the gym. Why they put the gym on the second floor is beyond me. Ya know I never think of that until I'm done working out and have to walk down them. Since the first of the year it's been packed in the evenings and it's hard trying to get to a machine. The only thing available was a bike when I first got there no biggie the bike is my normal routine. I decided to set it at 3 to start off with and had intended working it up to 6 which is where I was at a week and a half ago. Yeah that didn't happen! The 3 setting was a workout and I started feeling it right away I had to keep pushing through the pain in the thighs. After a mile I turned it down to 2 and did another mile still pushing through with the chant going in my head... 2 miles 2 miles 2 miles. Not my 5 miles I was up to! Once I completed the 2 miles I went to get on the leg press but it was sadly taken so I jumped on a treadmill. I decided I better take this slow also since those thighs were already burning and gradually got it up to 2.8 and did a mile. Rubbery Legs!!! My intensions were then to do the bosu for a bit but there wasn't any floor space for another person to work over there. Went back to check out the leg press and still taken. So off to the rowing machine and by this time I only had about 5 minutes but I can't say what I did do in those 5 minutes because the monitor wasn't working on that one. Oh well it was only about 5 minutes worth but still enough. It was time to go downstairs to get the little munchkin and oh those stairs... RUBBERY LEGS! In my head I could hear this little voice... Weeble Wobble BUT Don't Fall Down!

The little munchkin is down with his shower and now I'm off for mine.

Take Care :)

Woooooooooo Hooooooooo Aldi's!!

2011-01-16T16:10:00.000-05:00

Hey All,

WOW oh WOW I went to the new Aldi's today that is only 5 minutes away. They had some awesome opening deals!!! Bread .25, eggs .79, and salad mix .69 plus a $5.00 coupon that came in the mail. To start off with I took my coupon and left got there and had to drive around the parking lot twice in order to get a parking spot. Oh Yeah jammed packed with people! This one is bigger than the others I go to and a lot nicer. I know of course it's bran spanking new. I picked up a lot of things I dread getting at the grocery store because of prices like vegtable oil and cooking spray. Fresh veggies!!! We are going to have salad tonight! I also picked up a head of cabbage I have been craving this chinese dish that I would always order and it's a veggie dish with cabbage, celery, and onions. But I had this idea of making a soup so I picked up the things to go in that and I'm going to make it one night this week. I hope it's good! Ya all can help me out this is what I plan on putting in it so far...
cabbage
onions
celery
carrots
chicken stock
garlic
a few splashes of soy

Anything else??? Anyone have any ideas???? I thought I would make some corn bread to go with it. I still have a couple days to think about this I will probably make it on Tuesday.

I better get going I still have laundry to do and get things ready for tomorrow.

Take Care :)

Cabin Fever or Winter Blues

2011-01-15T23:10:00.000-05:00

Hey All,

Today was the first warm day we have had in many. We still have some snow and ice left that hasn't melted. The kids missed 3 days of school and then had a 3 hour delay on Thursday and a 2 hour delay on Friday. The road coming down into our neighborhood is all wooded so the sun has a hard time melting the roads. They sent vans in here to pick up the kids instead of buses. Good thing there aren't many kids leaving down here. Today with the high at 50 we started having a good melt down. It seems good to be able to walk outside and not slip and hope you are not going to fall.

This has been a long cold winter and I don't know how much more I can take of it. I am so ready for spring! This past week has put me into a winter blue mood. Not being able to get out and go to the Y or the library. I need some new projects and getting on track with my exercise program. Monday the kids have school for half a day and I am going to take advantage of it. Look out YMCA I will be there ready for a workout early Monday morning. I miss the bosu ball and the leg press machine. Those are my favorites!! I also need to go check out the new Aldi's that opened up Thursday and I think I'll do that tomorrow afternoon.

I do have some possible happy news. Jene` came home yesterday for her birthday and wanted to know if she could come back home and go to York Tech next year. She has found out that living in an apartment with 3 other girls isn't what she thought it would be like. She has found out it's no fun working to pay for rent and food and not having anything left over for fun is all it's cracked up to being. She has to make her final desion the the 1st of Feb because that is when the apartment complex needs to know if the kids will be staying or leaving for the next school year. Right now she can't wait for May to get here so she can come home. I said you had to try it your way but isn't this what we wanted you to do to begin with. She said I know but I thought it would be different and I would like it. I've got to say she has done good so far keeping her grades up, working, paying her rent, putting gas in her car, fixing her car, and buying food. She has had a small taste of the real world and would rather not make it so complicated for herself for the next couple of years. I told her you are going to have your whole life to pay bills so right now enjoy life while you can. Now to get through these next few months with good grades and keeping her rent on time and then she can come home.

I guess I had better go get a kid into bed. It's been a long day and I'm ready for him to go to sleep so I can head there.

Take Care :)

SNOW????

2011-01-10T01:10:00.001-05:00

Hey All,

They say it should be here in a couple hours. I got the phone call hours ago that they canceled school already. They say it's to last through Tuesday morning and not only snow but ICE! YUCK!!! They say anywhere from 3 to 6 inches!!! NOOOOOOOOOOOO

long underwear...check
water...check
batteries...check
crochet project...check
hot chocolate...check
candles...check
bread & milk...check
phone charging...check
animals inside...check

What else??????

Take Care :)

A New Year And New Beginnings

2011-01-02T21:16:00.000-05:00

Hey All,

Happy New Year!

It has been a wonderful start to the new year it felt like spring today. I have been busy today destroying my house. Ok, I didn't plan on doing that but it's the way it has ended up being. First I started the laundry because you know there is always laundry to do. Then I started taking down all the Christmas decorations and placing them in front of the fireplace. This way they will all be in one spot when I get all the boxes out to start packing them. I can't tell you how many times I have gotten everything packed up and put away to find something I had forgotten. At that point hubby decided that he would go take apart Colin's bed to move into Jene`'s room. That room is still a mess! She was home for a few days over Thanksgiving and Christmas and I had asked her to go through some of that stuff and either take some of it with her or get rid of it. I mean there are bottles of perfume and lotion. Do you want those? Well, they still sat there after she left. Of course it didn't help that Colin had already taken a lot of his stuff in there already to add to the mess. Now that bed that was just set up is piled high with STUFF. Today I cleaned the ceiling fan and windows. I have swept and taken a few things out that I know she doesn't want. It might take me all week but sometime or another I will get everything done.

I am going to work in each room and get rid of a lot of clutter and get organized. It doesn't take long for things to stack up and get disorganized. I need to finish up some painting projects I'm spray painting a couple stands and the rods in that room black because the white looks too girly. I am going to get 3 twin size flat sheets and make them into curtains. I hope they turn out okay!!! But that will be a lot cheaper than buying 3 sets of curtains.

Oh the cool thing about this new year and new beginning is we have started a family support group for exercising and getting fit. Since we are all scattered all over the east coast it's not as if we can all get together and work out. We started a family exercise challenge on facebook for all of us that wanted to be in it. I was totally surprised at all the family members who wanted to join. My beautiful daughter in-law said... I'm in and I have never exercised a day in my life. My sister who is busy with work and her children has also decided that she needs to make more time for herself and get active. We each have different overall goals but we will be there for each other to encourage and give a push if needed.

I have many craft projects on the list for 2011. Of course there are many Christmas decorations I want to make that I ran out of time to make this past year. My first project is getting Jene`'s birthday presents made. She needs new rice pads...the child loves them! I am also going to go over to my friend's house to make her a couple more pairs of earrings. She loved the ones we made her for Christmas. I love it when I make something for my kids and hear... oh mom this is awesome.

What do all of you have planned for this New Year?

Here are a couple pictures from Christmas...

Dale, Justin, Jene` and Colin

Kelli, Dale, Caroline, Justin, Jene`, Micah and Colin

OH MY GOSH it started snowing Christmas night! It said on the news we hadn't had snow here on Christmas since 1947.

Having fun playing in the white fluffy stuff!

I better go get the kitchen cleaned up so at least I can say I have accomplished that much for the day.

Take Care :)

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-25T00:36:00.001-05:00

Merry Christmas!!

I hope everyone has a wonderful day!

Take Care :)

Brrrrrrrrrrr

2010-12-05T00:08:00.000-05:00

Hey All,

So much for keeping up with that weekly menu! If you all thought I have been using the same one every week think again. Week one I did do pretty good with it. Week two never got out of the planning stage. I am going to try again. lol What do they say.... Try, Try, And Try Again. Have you ever looked at all the cookbooks in the kid's section at the library. There are times when we find ourselves looking at them. Today was one of those days Colin likes to help me cook and I like to get these books to help guide him. We found 3 books that we brought home today... Paula Deen's my first cookbook... Emeril's There's A Chef In My Soup! Recipes for the kid in Everyone... Emeril's There's a Chef in My Family! Recipes to Get Everybody Cooking.

My little chef started going through these books as soon as we got in the car to come home. As we were driving home I heard this coming from the back seat... Oh man Chicken Pot Pie....... Honey Butter with Homemade Bread I want Honey butter...... Stone Soup See mom I told you stone soup was real. Those recipes are out of Paula Deen's book. Upon getting home he had to take a break from the books daddy surprised us with dinner ready to eat. Homemade chili and homemade cornbread! Yum it was so good!! I need to go to the library more often on a Saturday. lol After dinner we quickly looked through the other two books and Emeril also has some yum-a-lishous recipes to try out. I told my little chef to pick out one recipe from each book and we would try to make them this week. Sorry I can't tell you what they will be because he still hasn't made a decision yet.

It has turned cold here!!! I have had to pull out my slipper socks and fuzzy pj's. Found the rice bags and electric blanket. It did get into the 40's today so they say but you could have fooled me. It felt a lot colder than that. The sky looked like it wanted to snow but we got rain. It did snow about an hour away at my sister's house. My nose is cold! My hands are cold! My feet are cold! I'm ready for spring!!!! Ya all know I freeze if it's below 60 out and I consider it winter when it does drop below 60. Oh I have to tell ya all what bright idea my child came up with today. I was talking to my sister she had called to say it was snowing. I told her it was raining here and it was too warm to snow. My child said just put some fans out there to cool it off then it will snow. I busted out laughing how does he come up with this stuff?

I'm going to go snuggle up with my book. Night All!

Take Care :)

Menu: Week 1

2010-10-17T17:12:00.001-04:00

Hey All,

Let me try a menu once again! I'm bad about following them or making them they take a lot of time. I have been through the freezer and the cabinets seeing what I have and this is what I came up with. Now these will not be in any kind of order because it will depend on the day what is made.

Cheeseburger Potato Soup and Rolls... this I'm making tonight.

Slow Cooker Chicken and Gravy over Rice... Found over here on Eat At Home Cooks. And biscuits.
The only thing different I will be doing to this is instead of using chicken breast I will use thighs. I have them on hand.

Mac & Cheese with Broccoli... Found over here on Eat At Home Cooks. I am going to add some chicken to this for a complete casserole.

Tater Tot Casserole and garlic bread.

Vietnam Fried Rice... Found here on Eat At Home Cooks. And Denise's Fast & Fabulous Egg Rolls... Found here on $5 Dinners.

2 leftover nights which one will be on Tuesday that is a must. I'm hoping the other will be Friday.

Other items this week...

Muffins
Brownies
Mayonnaise Cake... Found here on my blog. This is a favorite my mom always made this when we were young.

Take Care :)

Craft Day!

2010-10-16T22:46:00.001-04:00

Hey All,

Last week, no I can offically say the week before last I went over to a friend's house for a craft day. She pulled out her beads and was showing me how to make earrings. Let me tell you it's not as easy as it looks! Trying to make a little loop looks easy enough when someone else is doing it. Yeah Right! Oh and lets not forget all those little gadgets you have to use I kept picking up the wrong ones to use. I told her I need to mark them to tell them apart. The fun part was deciding which beads to use and if you wanted to use wires or hoops.

Here is a pair for the princess. I hope they won't be too heavy in her ears. She likes long and dangling and they are just that.

This pair is going to one of the nieces. I thought mixing up and putting a little of this color and that color so she could wear them with many outfits.

Another pair for the princess. I know she will like these with those little mirrors... sparkle.

This is for another niece. A pair of blue to go either with jeans or a dress.

And this pair for the teen niece. I love these! You can either wear them all dressed up or with a pair of jeans. I want to make more of these in different colors.

I had a lot of fun making these with Lynette's help. I think we talked more than we did anything else. The time flew by and it seemed like we had just started and almost 4 hours had went by. I'm going to go over this week and we are going to make some more. I can't wait! I can already tell this is going to be another addicting craft and I'm going to have to stock up on some supplies.

Thank You Lynette for a great crafting day!

Take Care :)

PS... I linked this up with Have A Handmade Christmas over on Proverbs 31 Living. Abbi did this last year and it was a lot of fun and I got a lot of great ideas from what everyone had posted.

2 Football Players + 2 Helmets =

2010-09-23T07:40:00.000-04:00

Hey All,

So now if you add 2 football players + 2 helmets together what do you get? Come on now it's easy math!!!! Do you think you know the answer? Have you given up? If you guessed..........

Are you ready for the answer? No you are still working on the problem. Ok, I'll give you a few more minutes.

The correct answer is... One Broken Hand!

Or atleast that is what the doctor thinks. From the xray and the motion of use of the thumb and fingers that is most likely. He put him in an immoblizer brace for now until the swelling goes down. He goes back on Tuesday for another set of xray's and then maybe a cast. Turn your hand over so you are looking at your palm. Follow the thumb down to the meaty part of your palm. He thnks the break there.

The good news it's his right hand and he is a lefty so he can still write. But he thinks the good news is.... are you all ready for this.... he's a chick magnet now because he's hurt. lol I told him oh shoot you was hurt during practice and that doesn't count. lol

Yep it's never ending around here!

Take Care :)

HUGG, Freecycle, and Curtain I made

2010-09-20T14:38:00.000-04:00

Hey All,

Last week was our elementary school's kick off for HUGG (Help Us Go Green). They put out bins once a month to put your donations in. Used cell phone, empty ink cartridges, and egg cartons. We had been saving egg cartons all summer and was glad when we could go drop them off. They are given to local farmers. We also turned in our box tops and labels. Now to start saving once again.

The other day I saw a dresser on Freecycle and was lucky enough to get it.

It matches Colin's bed perfectly!

I also for the first time posted a wanted item on Freecycle... Fabric. A nice lady responded and gave me some fabric, ribbon, and a couple patterns.

Thank You Judy!!!!

I couldn't wait to find something to make or try to make. After doing the cover for the sewing machine I have been wanting to make something else. After washing, drying, and ironing some of the fabric I couldn't help but think kitchen curtains with this one piece of fabric. Saturday evening I went and took down one of the boys curtains for something to go by. Just something easy to do. Between Saturday evening and Sunday I finally had a pair of curtains.

close up of what the fabric looks like.

Now what to try to make next????????

Got to run to the bus stop it's that time already.

Take Care :)

Sewing Machine Cover and Happening of the past couple weeks

2010-09-10T08:50:00.000-04:00

Hey All,

The past couple weeks have been filled with one family crisis after another. Get a phone call.... mom my car won't start... make a trip to Columbia to find it needs a new altenator. Get a message on facebook... mom my phone is broke... get another message... mom lost my debit card. I call to cancel her card and the next day give her permission to use my upgrade to go get a phone since I was the only one that had an upgrade available. During these couple days I also had to take one to the urologist and good news he can start going to recess and PE. Next week he should be able to start back with Tae Kwon Do. Took one to the orthodonist. That day after the appointment I dropped him off at school and thought I am going to grab something from Burger King before I finish running errands. Order my food and gave them my debit card and they said.... you need to call your bank. I left and came home and called the bank they said you need to call this 800 number so I did. They informed me that my card had been reported lost not my daughter's card. No I gave them her account not mine. I'm sorry we will order you a new one and you can go to the bank and get a temporary card until that one arrives. I head to the bank and am told we no longer issue those and haven't for many months. Ok ya all really need to communicate with your 800 numbers. First they cancel the wrong card and now they give the wrong information. So he checked the accounts and they still hadn't blocked her card so they went ahead and did that and ordered her a new card. Then he they have already issued you a new card so we will leave it at that. Her card came in the mail last Friday and we took it to her over the weekend but I still didn't have mine yet and called and they said give it a few days with the holiday weekend and all. Yesterday after the mail ran I called them again still no card!!!! They went in and said ummmm I'm sorry but one wasn't ordered. Now they are suppose to overnight one to the bank and since it was late in the day it will be Saturday....... I'M HOPING. Now let's back up to the day I gave her permission to use my upgrade to get a phone. I have had my phone for 6 or 7 years. No problems with it and I love my phone. That night I was talking to my mom and the cat wanted in. I went over bent down and as I was lifting the bar out of the sliding glass door my phone slipped and hit the floor and the flip top came completely off. The next day I went and was told I'm sorry you will have to pay full price you don't have an upgrade for 2 more months. I said you can't help me since there is only 2 months left? No. I've been a customer for almost 12 years and have 4 phones and 1 internet service and you can't give on 2 months of a 2 year contract? No. I left because I wasn't paying $160 or more for a phone. One of Dale's friend's had a phone so I am using that one for now. Anyway my stress level is high from all this. But I did find some time to craft.

I cleaned out closets and there was a t-shirt of Colin's that he has worn out it won't come white anymore after a few years of wearing non stop. It's way too small and he was still trying to wear it. I told him let me make it into a pillow for you and then you can sleep with it everynight.

I had been surfing around for an easy project that was not in a pillow form. Sewing and I have not worked out well in the past. I never had it in school and was never taught anything about a sewing machine. Since getting this little machine several years ago about the only things I make are in a pillow form. I found a sewing machine cover over on Chez Larsson's blog. It only took me working on it on and off a day to finally get it cut out and pinned. The pinning part was not going well and I almost gave up on it. Finally by 11:00 that night I had it pinned. The next morning I got up and sewed it and it's not perfect but I did it and it fits. This is my new cover made from a pillowcase Jene` no longer wanted.

Other happenings around here.... Dale got his number for football...

Go number 8!!!

I think Jene` has lost her room. The room that NO brother's or animals was allowed to go into.

I see a boy, dog, and cat all in her bed. While he was in there watching TV he had yelled out... Hey mom I like the brown walls but this PINK stuff has to go. She had called and was talking to him and he said... oh by the way I don't like your pink stuff so I'm going to change it. She said you better be staying out of my room. He said ummmm...... too late it's mine now I put my toys in there. I could hear her yelling.... PUT MOM ON THE PHONE. Ahhhhhhhh the joys of being mom!

I better get this day started and get something done.

Take Care :)

My Dollar Store Challenge

2010-08-27T08:41:00.000-04:00

Hey All,

I saw a while back a site that was doing a Dollar Store Challenge and thought I need to challenge my self. I am going to try to make something once a month but sometimes I know that won't be possible because of the this or that. I decided to do something for fall since it's fast approaching.

Everything for this came from the dollar store and I ended up spending $4.00. Now to find the perfect place to hang it in the next couple weeks. If you make a dollar store project please let me know I would love to take a look at it. One item or more has to come from the Dollar store that you use in your project.

Take Care :)

What's Been Going On Here

2010-08-22T23:33:00.000-04:00

Hey All,

It's been go go go around here. Hopefully with school starting things will settle down now. We have Jene` moved into her apartment and she starts her first day tomorrow. Dale started school last Wednesday and Colin starts tomorrow. He had surgery a week ago Friday and was thrilled to miss the first few days. Maybe now I will have a little more time for blogging. I've missed it and all of you. Tonight I'm going to give a little update on the past two weeks and I do intend on finishing my summer of fun while the little ones were here in the next few days.

Here is the shelf that I posted about some time ago that I wanted to do some kind of update on. I was tired of it the way it was and wanted to give it a boost. I ended up painting it a dark red. Not sure if you can see it that well. You can find what it looked like before over here on this posting. Just giving it some color made was all it took.

Here is the beautiful little quilt Colin got from the hospital. I couldn't believe when they brought it in and said this is for you. He has slept with it since. He thinks it's the coolest thing with boats on it.

Just beautiful! The wonderful people who makes these beautiful quilts for children are totally awesome!

Jene` is washing her new car a 2001 Taraus. She saved and bought it and I'm hoping and praying that it will last for the next 4 years while she is in college. Oh I'm not suppose to refer to it as the new car his name is Terrance.

Moving day came and I cried and cried while she was excited and couldn't wait.

This is only part of the stuff waiting to be hauled out into the cars. She still had the other side of the room with stuff all over and her bed covered it clothes to be taken out.

Her new home for the next 9 months. With the exception of when she comes home on weekends and holidays.

Getting her room fixed up.

Taylor taking a break after helping haul all her stuff up a couple flights of stairs.

These were in the I don't want pile. Wonder what I can make these old sheet sets into??? Any suggestions?

My sister gave Colin this Duck Tape kit to make a wallet.

We got it made and he's putting his dollar in it. There is enough tape left to make one more.

Went to the Dollar Store and now I need to sit down and see what I can make with this stuff.

Oh shoot let me go ahead and add a few pictures of our summer of fun while Brendon and Kaylee were here. We went to a workshop at Lowe's to build UFO's and you would have thought that was the best thing ever. They loved it!

The cool thing was that the little red button on top you push and it lights up with flashing lights.

I better get ready for bed so I can get this child to school on time tomorrow.

Take Care :)

Part 1 Happenings of The Past Couple Weeks

2010-08-01T23:14:00.000-04:00

Hey All,

It's been extremely busy around here. I brought the little ones home for a week and we had a blast. On the 18th we went to the Museum of York County and they loved it. It's a child's dream for interactive play especially on a very scorching hot day.

Brendon playing in a tube.

Colin building.

Little Miss Kaylee playing with the magnetic board.

Look at there old time toys.

One of the animal exhibits.

Out on the nature trail.

I do have a lot of pictures I skipped because I know you don't want to spend the day here looking at them. We played in Tinker Tim's playroom and then went on down and looked at some animal exhibits. We have fun trying to find all the animals that were small and hidden in the scenery. Then off to the picture gallery and on down to some more animal exhibits. We then made our way to a room filled with ways to learn how to keep our earth clean and to recycle. Lots of games in there to play. Then we went out on the nature trail to finish up our afternoon of fun. We didn't make it in time for the planetarium we missed it by 2 minutes!!!! Next time they are here we are planning on going back because if you go on Sunday it's free. Oh yeah got to LOVE that! The kids had a blast and can't wait to go back. I think it's wonderful that we have these kinds of learning places for our little ones.

I have lots more to share of our week so come back soon.

Take Care :)

Cruise Wedding

2010-07-19T22:17:00.001-04:00

Hey All,

The day finally arrived for our oldest to embark on a new journey and start a family of his own. They had the wedding they wanted aboard this cruise ship and now they are enjoying 7 days on their honeymoon.

Colin and Dale walking to the ship.

Dale, Jene`, Colin, Brendon, Kaylee, Bryson, and Mikayla

We were killing time while the bride and groom dressed for the wedding.

Jene` and Dale with their big brother Josh

Kristin and her dad walking down the aisle

The wedding party

My two new little grandchildren!!! Don't they just look precious?

Brendon, Jene` and Kaylee dancing

Got to take a break from eating and dancing!

Geeze what can I eat next? The chicken kabobs or those little roast beef thingies?

Kristin and Josh

May your days together be happy!

May your life together be joyous!

Woooooooooo Hooooooooooooo

I have a new beautiful daughter and two more precious grandchildren to add to our happy family!!!!

Take Care :)

Summer Fun

2010-07-07T00:22:00.000-04:00

Running and Jumping on the air bag at KOA

Gotta be at the pool!

How long can I hold by breath?

Learning to drive the boat.

Beautiful!!

Loving the speed, bumps, and feeling the breeze.

Trying to make it to the dock before the sun sets.

Tae Kwon Do Class

Don't mess with me!

Gonna be a black belt before ya know it. lol

Take Care :)

Happy 4th of July

2010-07-04T23:27:00.000-04:00

Take Care and Be Safe :)

I Closed My Eyes and Now Tomorrow is July... How Did That Happen?

2010-06-30T20:08:00.000-04:00

Hey All,

Can you believe it's time to change the calendar already? It seems like yesterday I started filling out this...

now it's time to erase it and start all over with a new month.

What to do? Oh what to do with this shelf that holds some of my salt & pepper shakers. It really needs a makover! I'll have to get back with you when I decide what to do with it.

YUM YUM YUM

I was in the mood for some meatball soup. I rarely ever make meatball soup the same way. I just start throwing whatever is on hand in the pot. In this one...

2 cans beef broth

a can diced tomatoes

onion

3 beef bouillon cubes (I like beefy)

salt & pepper

garlic salt

Brought to a boil and then let it simmer for about half hour.

Then through in some...

frozen cheese tortellini

a couple handfuls frozen spinach

and took out some meatballs from the freezer and put those in

added maybe a cup and half of water

let it simmer for about another half hour.

It was yummy!

Now this reminds me I need to make up some more meatballs because there are not many left in that bag.

We made a crystal rock garden the other night. We got the idea over here on allcrafts for an easy science project. Colin needs to practice observing and recording and this is just the project for that.

After collecting some stones and pebbles he rinsed them off.

I boiled a 1/2 cup of water and then stirred in 2 oz. of Alum and poured into a bowl. He then added his rocks.

Then it's waiting to see if they form crystals.

He checked it a couple times that evening but it hadn't done anything. The next morning he got up and it started to form little crystals around the stones. Today there are a few more crystals and he has been recording the difference each day. Sorry no pictures of that yet I tried but the camera just isn't picking it up yet. We are hoping that in a few more days we will be able to see a lot of crystals.

The kids have begged to get the Y membership back so I gave in and did it. It really did need to be done so Colin could get the exercise he needs since during the summer his outside activities are limited due to the heat. We both have put on some weight (okay more than some) over the winter and need to start doing something about it before it's out of control. Right now during the summer they offer boot camp on Tuesday morning for a half hour. He loved this before and started back in like he had never left it two years ago. He also takes it again on Wednesday for an hour and will be able to continue it after school starts. He wanted to take Tae Kwon Do so he is also doing that once a week. While he is at those classes I have been working out. First it was just the treadmill to get this body moving again. Then after a couple weeks I added the bike and now today I have added the bosu balance trainer. Right now I am only doing 3 different exercises with it and as soon as I get a little better I will add a couple more to that. Trying to decide what else will be added to the routine. Dale had begged for months to get the y membership back and since we have gotten it he has only had a couple times free to go football practices wipe him out and he is useless the rest of the day. Jene` takes Colin a couple times a week to the pool to practice swimming and then there are days she sneaks off without him so she can go for a workout. She doesn't like to go with us because she only does the ellipical for about 20 minutes. Okay now I don't see how anyone can do that I can't make it 2 minutes before I give out on that thing. And if you didn't notice that is not part of my workout routine yet.

I better get going and pull down that calendar and start filling it out for July.

Take Care :)

I Thought I Was Growing Potatoes

2010-06-26T23:21:00.000-04:00

Hey All,

My cousin did the potatoes in a garbage can last year and it worked out so well for her that I thought I would try it this year. I did everything as she said. I don't understand what went wrong!!!!! I don't understand how I put potatoes in the can and grew a possum but here is the proof...

That darn thing got in there and ate all my plants they were growing very nicely until it came along. And then when I discovered it instead of a thank you it hissed at me. Hmmmmmm... it must be a teenager!

Yesterday Colin and I did a project that I found over on Disney Family Fun and the best part we had everything we needed to do it. I love those projects. These spinners are so easy to make! I forgot to take pictures while we were doing it. We had to use Elmer's glue because that is the only glue left in the house so we left them dry overnight and this morning tested them out.

Colin wants to make more of them with his own designs this time. But we will have to wait until we get some more larger marbles. I printed out the templates and he colored them with crayons and cut them out. Then he glued them on old CD's. Then we and found some bottle lids in the recycling bin and glued those on. Turn it upside down and glued the marble in the hole. Let them set overnight and this morning we had new toys to play with.

We went to Columbia this morning to check out the apartment complex the girls are wanting to rent. It's very nice and has things like a pool, volleyball court, basketball court, gym, yoga room, tanning booths, and computer room. I want to know with all that when she would study????? They have a shuttle bus taking them to school and picking up if they want it. I don't know we still have more to discuss about this. Let you know more in another month.

I'm off to see if I have everything for my next project I'm wanting to start.

Take Care :)

Project Started & Finished

2010-06-21T23:45:00.000-04:00

Hey All,

The other day I was surfing around the net looking for something to make. I had this itch to make something and didn't have a clue as to what. Not like I don't already have crochet projects sitting and waiting for me to get back to them. I just wanted something different to do. I found it!!! I found this site called The CSI Projects and they have challenges to make stuff from the Dollar Stores. Now I know some of you already know of this site because I saw some familar blogs on there. *****Note to self.... if you would check your blog more often these days you would have seen this stuff over on your side bar when it was first made. So hop on over to The CSI Project and check out all the cool stuff everyone has made. I saw this kitchen craft I just had to make and GUESS WHAT? If I had been checking my favorite blogs out I would have seen it already! Over on Crap I've Made check out the Kitchen Art she has made. Here is what I did today...

I thought about putting some red ribbon around the frame but I don't have enough hot glue sticks left. Now to find a different spot to hang the clock I took down to hang this up on the wall.

Now off to find what I am going to make next.

Take Care :)

Happy Father's Day!

2010-06-20T15:11:00.001-04:00

Hey All,

It's hot here too darn hot. Kids don't want to go out to play but I can't blame them. Too hot to go for a walk. We have been going to the YMCA to the pool and while Colin has kids boot camp class I go and work out. He is also wanting to take a taekwon-do class. Ok not sure about that spelling! Dale goes and works out when he's not at football practice and Jene` well she just likes the pool. I'm thinking about taking a beginners yoga class but that is still in the thinking stage. lol

Happy Father's Day Daddy!

I love you!!!!

These pictures are from when we went to Andrew Jackson State Park over Memorial Day weekend.

Colin couldn't believe that every grade level went to school in this tiny schoolhouse.

Here are a few of the pictures we did up for Jene`'s senior pictures. I'm not going to post all of them because we did about 60 0f them. lol

Jene` and Taylor getting ready to leave for graduation.

They did it!

Jene` and Grandpa

Jene` and Mamaw

Colin, Jene`, Josh, and Dale

I better get going and go check the bean soup.

Take Care :)

It's June ALREADY!

2010-06-01T23:45:00.000-04:00

Hey All,

It's hard to believe it's June already! It's hard to believe that in 2 days my kids will be out of school for the summer! It's hard to believe that in 3 days Jene` will be graduating! And it's hard to believe that in 47 days my oldest, Josh, will be getting married! It's been a busy time here in the past few months and has taken up most of my time with something or another and I don't get to my blog or to check on my blog friends. There just isn't enough hours in the days here lately.

I hope everyone had a wonderful memorial day weekend! We took it one day at a time since the rain came and went throughout the weekend. Saturday morning we were going to get up bright and early and go to the garden to work BUT we had a lot of rain during the night and when you tried to walk in the garden you sank. Sunday afternoon we took Colin, the teens didn't want to go, to the Andrew Jackson State Park for the afternoon. It's a small park but with charm. We enjoyed a picnic lunch and then went through the museum and Colin was in awe at all the OLD time stuff. Once he asked did you have this when you were little? No munchkin but ask daddy he probably did. lol I know I'm bad! lol After looking at all the neat things of the past and looking at the pictures of Andrew Jackson we went to the little schoolhouse. Colin couldn't believe that all the kids could fit into such a small place and not to mention that every grade was in there. He got to ring the school bell out front and thought that was totally awesome. Then we ventured down to the lake and took in the beauty. That actually made me beach sick!!! I'm in desperate need of a beach trip and it doesn't matter if it's for a week or if it's for a couple days. Anyway then we walked and found the playground so Colin could play for awhile. It was a very relaxing afternoon!

I do have some pictures but I will have to do a picture update because they are on Jene`'s new camera.  I broke hers taking prom pictures and then she wanted to use mine and somehow that one broke. The lens won't open.  So she went and bought herself a new one. Maybe I can pin her down sometime in the next day or two or I can load them onto the computer.

After we returned home late Sunday afternoon Tony went down to the garden to see what it was like. Still too wet!!! But he did manage to get some of the summer squash that was ready.  Last night for dinner I couldn't make up my mind if I wanted squash casserole or fried squash so I fixed them both. Ohhhhh Soooooooo Gooood!!!!! Today I froze up the rest of the squash and got 2 gallon bags and 1 quart bag. I can't wait to get some more! I really can't wait for those maters... fried green maters... ummmm making my mouth water just thinking about them.

I have to go to the school bright and early in the morning. All Colin's test results are in and they are going to go over them and the special writing class he will be taking next year. He has had a hard time this year and luckily we caught it now. He can't seem to get his thoughts from his brain to his paper. What he writes doesn't make sense at first. You really have to study it to make anything out of it. So they have tested him to see if he qualifies for special writing. I know from the call he does but will have to wait until tomorrow to find out everything.

Once I get the pictures on here I want your opinion. We didn't order the school announcements they were too darn expensive. You couldn't just order announcements you had to order this huge package deal and 3/4 of it Jene` didn't want. So we made up our own. It cost me about $10 and of course that doesn't count the ink from the printer but we really didn't have that many to send out. I don't believe in sending to everyone that you know. We only sent to close family members and friends. I have heard a couple say that they thought they were really good they seemed to have more of a personal touch to them but then again I don't know if they were just saying that. Jene` was happy with them and I guess that is what matters. Oh and we also did our own pictures and she really loved them better than what the school had set up and done. We had a blast that day taking pictures just the two of us. I've decided that I'm going to do that instead of ordering school pictures.  I had wallets made up at WalGreens, and now I can't say how many but there had to be close to 75 wallets maybe more for about $15.00. Not sure exactly because I had some 4x6 done also. Still it was a HUGE savings!

I am just tired of paying out the butt for things that we really don't care for just because everyone else is. So what if we can do our own and if the kids are happier with them that is all that matters. I don't know how many times I have bought school pictures and heard how they didn't like it because they didn't like the background or it wasn't their good side, or the smile wasn't just right. But I have bought them just because the school had it set up and paid the photo company that large fee for a small quanity of pictures that my kids didn't like. So now we will have our own photo shoots whenever we want and not feel the pressure of the photo company.

I'm done rambling and better hit the hay cause ya all know I really hate mornings. I was always meant to be a night owl.

Take Care :)

Picture Makeover, Colin's Building Projects, Journal # 3

2010-05-01T22:39:00.001-04:00

Hey All,

I was going through a box of pictures that I had taken down a couple years ago when we were remodeling. Things that never made it back up on the wall. There is a set that I really like the pictures but I just wasn't crazy about the gold frame. I have had these for years!

So I took them apart and found some spray paint...

This picture looks blue!!!!!!!!!!!! I painted them white.

Ok, this picture looks a little dark but I was trying not to use the flash so it wouldn't show up in the glass in the pictue. They now have a new place on the wall with a fresh new look.

Here are a couple of things Colin has made. The butterfly house he made at the beginning of April at Home Depot and the schoolhouse today at Lowe's.

He is going to give the schoolhouse to his teacher. One side of the roof lifts up so we will have to think of something to put inside for her. Maybe get some post it notes and stack in there.

I have never been a yogurt person. I've tried many different times and just didn't care for it. Today Jene` was wanting some Yoplait and was naming off some of the flavors. I have seen them advertise many many times on TV but never thought to try them because of others I have tried and didn't like. We went to Harris Teeter because they are having a triple coupon week and I did have a coupon for this. They were on sale 10 for $5.00 and then a coupon 50 cents off if you buy 6 of them. So we ended up getting the 10 of them for $3.50.

Colin had the Strawberries 'N Banannas. Jene` had the Red Velvet Cake. And I had the Boston Cream Pie. We took samples of each of them and I couldn't believe it I liked all 3 of them. I still have another coupon so I had better go back and pick up some more while they are on sale and it's still triple coupon week. Gotta love triple coupon week!!!

-------------------------------------------------------------

Journal........

Tell about any exciting experiences while camping.

We used to go to Watkins Glenn to camp several times during the summer months. We kids loved going there because it seemed like the same kids came every year and we had made many friends. Once there was a group of us and we were bored and wanted to do something that we hadn't already done. So we went through the woods and started going down and ended up in the gorge. People were walking up the paths of the gorge looking at us while we were down in it. We finally found a spot where we could get up to the path and finished going down into town. We went and got an ice cream cone for each of us then had a taxi take the lot of us back up to the camping entrance. I can't remember now if he couldn't take us any further than the entrance or if that is all the money we had enough for. lol

That was the first time I had ever done anything that adventerous. Me to go walking in the woods during the summer was totally unheard of. I think I had to have been about 11 maybe 12. And it was the first time I rode in a taxi. Where we lived you didn't have taxi's!!!! At least back then I don't know about today.

We had a blast that day and it's a memory that I will always treasure of my childhood.

Take Care :)

Garden, Prom, and Other Happenings

2010-04-27T08:59:00.000-04:00

Hey All,

Oh I'm trying to figure out this new editor. Having problem right now but maybe once I figure it all out it won't be bad.

Lots has been going on around here! To start off with I was sick a good three weeks and did nothing except sleep. You wouldn't think pollen could have such an affect but this year has been wicked. Then after feeling some what better I spent a week cleaning up because ya know that no one else knows how to vacuum or mop. And holy cow to think if someone would actually scrub a toilet that is just unthinkable. But I'm feeling much better now. It's hard catching up on everything I had over 2000 emails to weed through talk about exhausting. Anyway let's move on.

Jene` went to her senior prom this past Saturday and wow all the kids looked awesome! There were 21 in their group and they rented a party bus for the night. They had a blast!

Orange yes her dress is orange!

Getting her hair done. For some reason my flash is not working so a lot of the pictures turned out dark. Mark had her come in at 12:30 to start curling her hair. Well, spray, curl, spray, and more spray.

I don't know what we would do without him. This is the only person she will allow to touch her hair. He was as sad as I was at the thought it was her last prom.

All ready and waiting for Taylor to come. Oh and Colin doesn't see why she needed to go to the prom he said... proms are for ugly girls. What does he know he's 8!

Wiping the tears away while trying to take these pictures!!!!!!!!!!

Beautiful! Handsome!

Had to get a close up of the hair. I love the flower in it!

Still wiping the tears away while taking pictures!

The gang! Well most of them I couldn't get all of them into the picture because a pole was in my way. They were all very beautiful and handsome. If you notice the boy with shorts and jacket on in the picture no he's not trying to make some kind of fashion statement. lol He had surgery on his knee and is not able to wear pants yet. The boy behind him is helping steady him up so he didn't have to have the crutches in the picture. lol

All didn't go well while taking pictures. Jene` ran and got her camera and wanted me to take some with it also. I had one in each hand and the strap on my wrist. Trying to get in and out taking pictures so all the other parents could get them also. Her camera came off my wrist and hit the pavement. She was so upset with me and I felt horrible for breaking her camera.

We got the garden put in the week before and I can tell you it felt so good getting outside. It was the first day I spent more than a few seconds out there. We have what I call a community garden. We don't have enough sunshine here with all the trees or enough land that is level to have one. We tried a couple times but it just didn't produce. An elderly lady we know, and if she saw I just called her that she would have a fit, lets a few of us use her land to plant a garden. We decide what we want to plant and go in half buying the plants and seeds.

Bob showing the boys how to put the plants into the ground.

Brenda helping Dale.

Dale doing it on his own.

Daddy helping Colin with the seeder.

We put in corn, tomatoes, okra, green beans, snow peas, brussel sprouts, yellow onions, red onions, green peppers, yellow peppers, orange peppers, hot peppers, banana peppers, yellow squash, zucchini, cucumbers, watermelon, cantaloupe, and a pumpkin. I can't wait!!!!!

I better get busy I need to charge batteries, yeah I know that is going to take me all day putting them into the charger and plugging them in. lol Start some laundry... never ending! Vacuum dog hair... never ending!

Have a wonderful day!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Take Care :)

Signs Of Spring :)

2010-03-21T00:08:00.003-04:00

Hey All,

The past 2 days have been beautiful! In the 70's, sunny, warm and just plain beautiful. With that said the next week won't be as warm but then again I can handle a few days in the 60's. Just hoping we don't see any more low temps because I'm more than ready for more days like today.

Signs of spring...

I see buds up in that tree. Now if only the other couple hundred we have would start budding.

Oh yes the peach tree is budding! Just look at those pink blossoms :)

A sure sign of spring is the clothesline filled with throws, curtains, sheets, comforters, and blankets. I love that fresh air smell! Windows cleaned, mattresses vacuumed and flipped, patio table scrubbed, fireplace cleaned out, leaves blown away, and flowerbeds cleaned out. Oh yeah it's been a busy couple days around here while we enjoyed these beautiful days. Now I'm waiting and this is the hard part I'm waiting to plant some flowers. I could have gone and put some in today but it's still a couple weeks too early. I do have the hummering bird feeders cleaned and ready to hang and I just might do that tomorrow. It might be a bit early but we will see.

Anyone else getting into that spring sprucing up?

Take Care :)

Some of This and That and Journal #2

2010-03-15T07:57:00.003-04:00

Hey All,

I'm hoping to see the sun today it's been a rainy and chilly 4 or 5 days around here. Need that mud to dry up so it's not tracked through. These floors look pitiful! Dogs, cats, kids, and hubby tracking through and ya know I don't know who is worse the animals, kids or hubby!!

These were taken a couple weeks ago. Dale helping Colin with his golf belt loop. Once they left the driving range area they went to practice chipping but Dale decided to put them in the sandtrap to start off with.

Needless to say we were there for quite a while! Everytime it looked as if Colin was going to get it out it would roll back down again. Oh well he didn't mind I mean it was sand.

We also had the Pine Wood Derby race. He didn't place but it was a morning of fun.

I let him have the camera on strict instructions that he was to be careful with it to work on his photography belt loop. He did good taking pictures of this or that and then I noticed he had let his friend use the camera and this is what he got a picture of...
Colin's eye!!!!

Look! Look! I made bread bowls!!!! Okay before you get really excited ya all know I've had trouble with making bread and it never rises. No matter if I do it by hand or by machine it's flat. I've been talking with Sandra over on Keeping it Simple and she has given me some tips to try. But until then I had bought some frozen dough to make her garlic pull apart bread and on the package it told how to make bread bowls. Yesterday I made these and a pot of potato soup. Now the kids normally don't eat very much of potato soup but last night they ate every bite along with all the bowl.

Even Colin and Dale who normally would only try to get away with eating a few bites ate every bite. Yum!!

Oh I've got some news to share! I thought we were done with pageants since Jene` only seemed to be interested in doing the school pageant. She went into work Saturday she only works a couple days a week so she hadn't been there in quite a few days. She was handed a piece of paper about the Strawberry Pageant and told you are already signed up, registered, and sponsorship paid for. Her boss did this! She was not thrilled when she came home showing me the paper because for one she has only done the school pageants and for another her two best friends who work there who also were in the school pageants were not put in it. They are upset about it and it has upset her now. As the boss tried to explain that Jene` has been there the longest and has been in 4 pageants they wanted to give her one more to do before she leaves for college. This is the first time we have had a Strawberry pageant so we will see how it goes. Sunday the girls were over it and trying to decide what Jene` should wear. She has to have a different outfit for....... interview....... fitness wear.......... casual....... and gown. I told her that she really needed to try to find things out of her closet first because we already have a lot of expenses coming up with prom and graduation and didn't need to be buying more stuff right now. I said you have 6 gowns hanging in your closet use one of those. She has already picked out her outfit for casual and hopefully the interview but she isn't sure if it's dressy enough. It's the fitness she is going to have to buy something for. They would probably kicked her off the stage if she wore her old sweats and tees that she normally wears.

I finished reading Where Are You Now? by Mary Higgins Clark and as all her books I've read it was a can't put it down book. Now I'm starting Laced by Carol Higgins Clark but before I get too involved in this one I need to do some cleaning first. lol

*************************************************************************************

Journal #2

What are some of your favorite smells?

My all time favorite smell is the ocean. If I could bottle it up and bring it home with me I would. Spring rain, flowers blooming, bread baking, popcorn popping. The smell of a new born baby or the smell of hubby after a shower. Onions and garlice dehydrating... okay I know I'm weird!

What's your favorite smells?

Take Care :)

Journal #1

2010-03-08T08:27:00.004-05:00

Hey All,

I had found this long list of journal questions a few years ago and I wish I could remember where I had found them so I could send you the link. I did copy them and have from time to time used a few of them in my private journal that's when I remember to write in it. I came across that list last night and thought this would be neat to do on my blog. To start off with I'm going to do an easy one...

Do you have a favorite author? Who? Any favorite books as a child?

For the past several years my favorite author has been Mary Higgins Clark. I can get so wrapped up in her books that it's a struggle to put it down. The mystery and suspense keep me wanting to know more and I will think after this page I will start dinner or after this chapter I will go to bed. I haven't found a single book that I have read to be disappointing. Right now I'm reading Where Are You Now?

Carol Higgins Clark also ranks right up there with her mother and I also love her books. Her series of Regan Reilly a private investigator can keep me trying to figure out who done it through the whole book. As soon as I finish her mother's book I will be reading her book Laced.

One other author that I came across a few months ago is Sara Rosett and she is getting up there on my favorite list. I have read three of her books about Ellie and how murder and mystery just seem to find it's way to her door. The newest of the series was just released and it's hard not to go out and buy it and wait for it to come into the library.

For the last part of this journal question... Any favorite books as a child? As I sit here thinking back through my childhood I don't remember being read to. I don't remember reading being important. That's sad!

Who's next? Do you have a favorite author? Who? Any favorite books as a child?

Take Care :)

A Little Catching Up :)

2010-03-05T23:25:00.003-05:00

Hey All,

I decided to come and post while I wait for the boyfriend to go home. We do have to get up early in the morning so hopefully he won't be staying late. We are going over to Concord Mills in the morning to go prom dress shopping. Tony said........ What's wrong with ALL her other gowns? Ummmmm she has wore them once already! And some of them are pageant gowns and wouldn't be good for walking around in or dancing they have a long train on them. Colin said.................. Has she gotten too fat to fit in them? Oh child you better not be talk'n like that in front of your sister. No she hasn't gained an ounce in the past couple years. Colin said................ Then why can she get new clothes and only wear them once? Because it's a special occasion. And then the little munchkin said..... Oh yeah she's a spoiled brat! Yeah you can tell he has all older siblings. Then I heard....... Are you going to buy me a toy? No I have to buy you a clock with the hands on it so you can practice telling time. And his big response was.......... OH MAN THAT'S NOT FAIR!!!!

The other night I made spaghetti & meatballs and made garlic pull-apart bread to go with it. I found the recipe over on Keeping It Simple and the kids loved it. I was lucky enough to get a small piece of it before the whole thing was devoured with not a crumb left. You can find the recipe here for the garlic pull-apart bread. They were disappointed the next evening when I didn't make some for dinner so I will have to work it into the menu sometime in the coming week. From the little piece I did get to taste it was scrumptious! Hmmmmm... maybe I should make two the next time.

In case you are wondering I didn't really make anything in the month of February to post for my Christmas All Year long. I started a couple things and ran out of material. I started one thing and it didn't turn out well at all. But I'm on a roll and should have a few things to post for the month of March. I've been working on a couple different projects and they are almost complete. I've done some surfing and found a few more that I'm hoping to start soon. If all goes well at the end of March there will be many Christmas presents completed.

My oldest son Josh is getting married in July. We will be going to Charleston for the wedding and I can't wait. I not only will be getting the sweetest daughter in-law ever but officially have two more beautiful grandchildren. I can't wait! Then in September we will have another addition to the family. My sister in-law, ok if you want to be technical she isn't my sister in-law any more but under the circumstances she is and will always be, anyway she is having a baby. The kids are so excited and hoping we can make a trip to Florida sometime in the fall. I've started a baby afghan and can't wait to finish it and send it to her. I've got to figure out what to do for the kids for their wedding. They have two of everything right now and are in the process of trying to figure out what they are going to keep and what they are going to get rid of or put into storage.

Enough rambling for one night it's time to get to bed so I can be up at the crack of dawn on a Saturday morning. lol

Take Care :)

Are You Sure It's March?

2010-03-04T19:42:00.003-05:00

Hey All,

The calendar says it's March. The bills that come in are due for March? The newspaper says March. But I don't think it's March it's way too cold to be March!!! I get up and it's in the 20's and lucky to see a slow climb up to the 40's. It's been a long cold winter and I'm more than ready for spring to arrive. I'm more than ready to be warm! Oh and I'm more than ready to see a drop in the electric bill!!! Shoot now I pay that high high bill that we have never had to pay anything that high before it's doubled from last year!!!! But I'm not even warm! Those of you that know me know I don't handle the cold. That was one of the reasons I had moved to the South oh those many many years ago. Let me tell you how cold I've been this morning I had my rice pad, one of many, in my hands and felt something looked down and I've worn a big hole right in it. Good thing I have more!

I've been MIA! I've been in hibernation! I wish! I don't know if it's the winter blues, cabin fever, or just a plain old mood. But I can only blame this partly on winter and the cold. I can look back through my blog and I can tell. I haven't done much of it for the past year. I get stressed and I don't even come here and that is wrong of me. I've made attempts but then something happens and it's a month or more before I blog again. It's nothing to do with blogging or bloggers it's just from being stressed. It's time to let everyone else worry about themselves and me to worry about me. It's time to pull myself out of this funk and get on with the things I like doing. Yes it's time!

I've got to run and go out in the cold to go pick up a teen. grrrrrrrrr

But I'll be back soon!

Take Care :)

A Year Of Christmas Crafting... January

2010-01-22T11:24:00.002-05:00

Hey All,

It's been a busy time around here since Christmas. So many things going on that at times I had to make sure my head was still attached. But I did manage to get a few things made this month to put up for Christmas.

A yellow scarf and a green scarf. I love these colors! These are for 2 of our nieces. This pattern was one of the first we did when I took a crochet class a couple years ago and the pattern is completely written out and that is the way I'm going to post it.

Shell Stitch Scarf (Child)

Materials

about 200 - 250 yards worsted weight yarn
size J hook
yarn needle (optional for weaving in ends)

Gauge 13 stitches = 4 inches

Notes
Shell: 5 double crochet in same stitch

Instructions

Chain 19

Row 1: 4 double crochet in 4th chain from hook, skip 4 chains, *shell in next chain, skip 4 chains; repeat from* to last chain, 3 double crochet in last chain, turn.

Row 2: Chain 3 (counts as double crochet), 4 double crochet in first double crochet, work shell in 3rd double crochet of each shell across to last shell, 3 double crochet in 3rd double crochet of last shell, turn.

Row 3 --38: Repeat Row 2. Add or subtract rows to make the scaf longer or shorter.

Fringe: Cut yarn 9 inches long. Taking 5 strands together, fold in half and knot into fringe. Insert into each shell on both sides of the scarf. Trim fringe evenly.

*********note: I made these two with 52 rows for a bigger child. You know long is in.

Seven rice pads of different sizes. I would have made more but ran out of rice.

I made more of these candy canes since I have to make more decorations for the tree now. Oh I haven't told you about the tree ordeal!!!! About a week before Christmas I had left to run errands and was only gone 45 minutes and when I came home the first thing I saw when I came in the house was the tree on the floor. Ornaments smashed all over the place. I was so mad and upset I couldn't even go near it to begin with. I had to get the boys dinner so I could leave to go pick up Jene` and I left everything laying right there. Finally when I had time and tried to stand the tree up the base was broke so I laid it back down and waited for Tony to get home. Oh I was upset and cried! All our name ornaments were broken. All the ornaments the kids made a couple years ago broken. My pooh collection broken as were many others I've collected over the past 20 some years. As all I could do was look at the mess and cry.

When Tony finally got home I said...... YOUR DOG!!! And he came back with... no it's your dog he follows you around and he freaks out when you leave. I then said... You brought him home. We finally got the tree standing back up by using yarn on the base and tying it around the legs. Got all the ornaments swept up and into the garbage.

So then for the next few days when I had to leave the house I put the recliners around the tree so Nietchie wouldn't get close to it.

I made another pencil holder and plan to make more of these in months to come.

That's it for this month and I would have liked to get more done but as I said it's been so busy around here that I just haven't had a chance to work on much of anything.

Now I'm off to get started on next months.

Take Care :)

Anyone have gifts or decorations that you have made? Any recipes for the holidays to share?Please link them up or leave them in the comment section.

To link up please write a post about the handmade things you are doing (gifts, decorations, food, etc.), put a link to here in your post and then add the link to MckLinky.

Pageant 2010

2010-01-22T08:12:00.004-05:00

Hey All,

These pictures are not the greatest I kept fighting with the camera. This year's theme was Carolina Girls.

Opening with all the girls from each grade level dancing.

doing the shag. Her boyfriend was one of the escorts so he was also her dance partner.

Casual wear

Formal wear

Jene` made runner up!!

Jene` and Taylor

with grandpa

with grandpa and Dale

Take Care :)

Wooooooooooo Hoooooooooooo

2010-01-21T23:25:00.002-05:00

Hey All,

I know I was suppose to do a crafting post today but I didn't realize that it was the same day as pageant when I wrote it. I will be doing my posting tomorrow or Saturday hopefully tomorrow.

Jene` won runner up!!!!!!! Wooooooo Hooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I cried, cried, and cried! It's our last high school pageant. I'll get some pictures posted soon. I hope they turn out good because as soon as I got the camera out to use it the thing started flashing at me low battery. I haven't used it Tony has had it since Christmas to take pictures of some job they are working on and kept forgetting to bring it home. I charged the batteries because it was dead when I got it so I don't know I guess the batteries are going to completely die.

Woooooooooooooooooo Hoooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Take Care :)

A Year Long Of Christmas Crafting

2009-12-27T17:19:00.005-05:00

Hey All,

I hope everyone had a wonderful and safe Christmas. We had a good day here other than the pouring down rain. Santa tried to give Colin the snow he asked for but it just wasn't cold enough for it. lol Oh well maybe we will get some in the next month so he can play in it.

I've been taking care of Christmas stuff today and cleaning up. If it wasn't for having to stop to get dinner ready and into the oven I would still be at it. But I've lost my umph for the day now!!! Got to get it all done before Tuesday when the little ones get here to spend a few days. And that reminds me as soon as I have more time I will tell ya all about the TREE DISASTER. And maybe I'll have time to catch up on everyones blogs so many I want to go read.

Are you wondering about the subject line? I'm going to do a spin off from Abbie's blog over on Proverbs 31 Living. She had a wonderful weekly posting A Handmade Christmas and it gave me that extra push I needed to get motivated. So I've decided to do A Year Long Of Christmas Crafting. I'll only post once a month until maybe around October or November and then once a week. And hopefully Abbie will do A Handmade Christmas again and I will link up with her when she starts it again. I love seeing what everyone is making and getting ideas.

I will be posting things I make for gifts, decorations, and recipes that are a must to serve or others that I come across that I would like to try. I'm putting myself to the challenge!! My goal is to have atleast one handmade gift for each of the children, grandchildren, and friends. And not to mention I need to work on ornaments because of the TREE DISASTER but more of that later. My first A Year Long Of Christmas Crafting will be posted Thursday, January 21. I hope you will join me on this challenge because I would love to see what everyone is doing.

Maybe by the 21st I can figure out Mr. Linky. I had registered a long time ago and I will see if I can figure out how to use it before the 21st.

I better go check on dinner it should be about done.

Take Care :)

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-25T15:45:00.002-05:00

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ONE AND ALL!

TAKE CARE AND STAY WARM :)

Handmade Christmas Week 6 and Habitat Project

2009-12-17T09:09:00.007-05:00

Hey All,

It's been a busy time around here the past week. The Christmas concert and I cried through it. My baby girl is graduating this year and this was our last high school Christmas concert. This is something I'm dreading and I've been emotional this whole school year. I just want to put her back into the 6th grade and do it all over again. Can I do that? Anyway with kid stuff, projects and crafting it hasn't left much time for anything else. Ask hubby and I'm sure if you ask you would hear a complaint or two.

Warning this is going to be a long posting since I haven't had a chance to get on here I'm putting it all into one. Sorry!

Lets get started with a Handmade Christmas over on Proverbs 31 Living. Please go by and look at what she has made because she is a crafty one and has lots of good ideas. And not to mention all those who link up with her I have gotten many great ideas from everyone.

This cute little snowman was sent to me by my sweet sister who knows how much I love the little things. Ya All know this adorable little ornament is going onto my crafting to do list for next year. It's made out of foam sheets, fishing line, ribblon, buttons, and the face was done in markers.

I have to share these of the past with you. I painted this clay pot a few years ago with the snowman at night. I used the rub ons. So easy to do and it's one of my favorite Christmas decorations I've made. The little candle holder with snowmen all around it was made by Colin last year at school. Another treasure to hold onto for years to come.

Colin and I were busy this past week making snowflakes to put into his gift bags for school. The first step was easy enough just gluing. Now the next step was a bit of a challenge to begin with. It called for fake snow but I decided to cut plastic bags instead. Ok, that didn't work out well at all the little pieces kept sticking to the scissors and it was hard to cut. So after about an hour and not having much luck with it I went and got some white paper and started snipping away. At first when we started adding it to the sticks I wasn't sure about it but after they were finished I thought they were rather cute. I found these here on Crafts For All Seasons. The only thing I did different was tied yarn for a hanger. I didn't put the pipecleaner on it because I had ran out and just tied it around the stick. Picture of it finished is further down.

We found these bookmarkers here on Lee Hansen dot com.
and printed them, cut them out, and laminated them. Another little thing to add to his bags he is making for school.

If you want something easy to do these candy canes are just for you. We made these while watching tv. One bag of white pipecleaners and one bag of red pipecleaners. I cut each in half so we ended up with 50 of them. And the best part of all is that for 50 little ornaments they cost $1.50!!!!

Putting everything together for school. In his bags he has a candy cane (to eat), a candy cane ornament, snowflake, bookmarker. The snowflakes wouldn't fit into the present boxes so I just tied those onto the bow.

These two are filled with candy and ready to go.

We made this pencil/marker holder for Dale for Christmas out of popsicle sticks. Good way to recycle those tin cans. Or is it upcycle? Whatever it is we had fun painting the sticks and putting everything together. Another thing made that I already had all the supplies here for.

This cute little tree I found over on Michael's and couldn't wait to make it. We had to make a trip there for the habitat project and they had the Christmas ribbon half off so I picked some up and a cone to get started on it. Of course I didn't take a list of what was needed for it so I forgot about the star on top. Mine is different I didn't use a wooden star I had some white foam stars and painted the centers red and then added white dots. Stuck two stars together and then instead of using a stem to stick it into the tree I just hot glued it on top. I was informed by the Princess that she wants this tree for her room. Yeah Right! It's staying out here. Maybe I'll make her on next year if she's good.

Now onto the stuff I hadn't had time to post about this past week.

The habitat report and poster is done. At first we were going to make the habitat into a shoebox but we were running out of time fast. We missed 4 days from the start when he had to change his animal. But anyway he/we got this finished in the nick of time. Now for an 8 year old to write a report I'm sorry but I can't read my child's writing. I would ask him a question to tell be about and then write down word for word what he said. After that he/we typed it out. He typed/finger pecked so much and then I would type a little bit for him. This is what he did...

Gray Squirrels

By Colin

Squirrels are mammals with teeth that never stop growing. They have to chew on hard stuff to keep their teeth short and sharp. Because of their special front teeth they are rodents. There are about 50 different kinds of squirrels almost everywhere around the world.

The Gray Squirrel’s coat has black hair and white hair and it makes it look gray. It’s white under it and it’s tan on it’s ears and face. And it has white tipped hair around it’s bushy tail. It gets to 18 to 20 inches long. And it weighs about 1 pound. The gray squirrel lives in the eastern of the United States. You can see them in the woods and even the city parks. They like large shade trees that have food and holes for dens.

They like to live in the woods because there are a lot of trees. They have many places to find food and shelter. It’s den is in a hallow part of a tree about 40 feet off the ground. They make nests out of twigs and leaves near their den and these are called dreys. They eat nuts, mushrooms, berries, acorns, seeds, fruit, flowers, corn, and even caterpillars. They will bury nuts in holes around it’s home and put every nut in a separate hole. They bury so many nuts that they never find all of them. The nuts they don’t find grow roots and then grow into trees. They are helping the forest grow.

They have to watch out for animals such as owls, hawks, raccoons, skunks, foxes, wolves, and bobcats. These animals eat squirrels. When they are chased they run fast and find a small place to hide. They know the forest really well and they know where all the hiding places are.

I like watching the squirrels jump and run from tree to tree while chasing each other. They run very fast about 12 miles per hour. I like watching them gather up acorns and run off to hide them. I like living in the woods because I can see gray squirrels all the time. I can see them on the deck or running across the fence or sitting in a tree. I’m glad they are all around us and I’m glad they are here.

He took it in on Tuesday and presented it and made a 100!!!

Our little Princess has been accepted to Charleston Southern. You can see she is thrilled!!! I had to remind her that there are still other colleges we haven't heard from yet. Between you and me those other places are closer to home. Ok, I'm going to start crying again. I tell ya I'm an emotional wreck! And to make it worse is that this year is flying by so fast. A blink of an eye and the first half of the school year is already over with. I know I still have the boys at home but this is my little girl. My baby girl! Ok Ok Ok I've got to move off this or else I will be crying all day.

Tonight I have to finish up one present box that goes to school tomorrow. Nothing like waiting until last minute. And Colin and I have another pencil holder to make this one for Jene`. Then I need to put all my attention on cleaning up this house and getting ready for the big day. I still have some shopping to do yet. YIKES!

It amazes me on how long it takes to do a posting. I mean it's almost 11:00 and this is the only thing I've gotten completely done this morning other than making sure everyone was getting ready and out the door on time. It's time to put it into high gear and get some things done here around the house like vacuum up dog hair. Oh yeah that's thrilling. Or clean the bathroom oh yeah another thrilling thing. Oh well somebody has to do it! While I go and whistle while I work you all have a good day.

Take Care :)

Handmade Christmas Week 5

2009-12-10T09:28:00.006-05:00

Hey All,

Another week has passed and it's time for another Handmade Christmas. But first I would like to share a couple things with you.

Look who I found in the box of decorations. He wasn't very happy when I finally made him get out so I could get into that box. But it didn't take him long to find another box to hop into for another cat nap.

These treasures are some stuff that Dale and Jene` made 6 or 7 years ago when I had them take a ceramic summer day camp. I always looked for different things for them to do because you never know if they will find something that they will enjoy. My motto is if you don't try it you won't know if you like it. They really did like it and that week in July they made Christmas decorations. Just look at the talent at the ripe old ages of..... maybe 9 and 11. Every year when I pull out the decorations they are there making sure I hadn't forgotten to put out these treasures. Do you think I would forget these cute penguins, snowmen and Christmas trees? Each piece gets wrapped extra well when they are put up for the year so that I will have them for many many years to come. The penguins light up. The Christmas trees spoon holders. The snowmen are hot chocolate holders and cup. These are by far my favorite decorations!

And now onto a Handmade Christmas over on Proverbs 31 Living. Go check out what everyone is making. I do I can't wait for new ideas and inspiration.

This standing lamp just looked plain...... dull..... boring. So I wrapped it in garland and put a bow on it. Easy enough already had the garland and bow. And now it fits it with everything else in that little corner. I just have to mention if you notice up on the shelf the little candle made from foil. That was something Colin had brought home last year from school. I love hanging onto what my kids have made and using them each year.

I wanted to make a wreath but you know there are so many different ways to make wreaths. I've looked at many ideas and found the perfect one to make over on The Pleasures Of Homemaking. A pom pom wreath! So so so easy to make. I remember as a teen my stepmom and I made pom pom cats. They were adorable and I wish I could remember what we had done to put them together. But anyway when I saw the pom pom wreath I knew exactly what my next project was going to be. I made the pom poms while watching TV and then hot glued them to this wooden circle. Found a few little decorations to put on it and that wasn't hard to find in my many Christmas decorations. I had all the supplies already on hand. I can't tell you how long that round wooden cirlce has been sitting in the craft closet. I'm going to say a few years anyway and it's good to put it to use.

It only took minutes to finish it up and get it onto the wall. I like it so much I'm thinking about making another one. Go on over to The Pleasures Of Homemaking and check out how to make the pom poms and the wreath she made.

Take Care :)

Did Ya Know?

2009-12-09T08:17:00.002-05:00

Hey All,

Did you know that a squirrel was a rodent? No, I didn't know! Ok so I just thought they were these little cute critters that I watch everyday playing in my yard chasing each other from tree to tree. Did you know that pocupines, prairie dogs, beavers, woodchucks, and chipmunks are also rodents? Yeah can you totally believe that? They are not listed as little cute critters they are rodents.

Did you know that a squirrel just isn't a squirrel? I mean there are gray squirrels, red squirrels, fox squirrels, Douglas' squirrels, Abert's squirrels, kaibab squirrels, flying squirrels, rock squirrels, thirteen-lined ground squirrels, and golden -manteled ground squirrels. Oh my so many to keep up with!

Did you know that a gray squirrel can run on the ground more than 12 miles per hour, and up or down a tree almost as fast? Or a gray squirrel's top front teeth grow about 6 inches a year so it has to chew to keep them worn down? I didn't know!!!!

Did you know that the besides nuts, berries, seeds, mushrooms, and corn that the gray squirrel likes to eat caterpillars? YUCK! And that its favorite spring treat is the sweet icicles of sap from frozen maple trees? Geez the poor little guys that live around us don't get to have that it's not that often it gets cold enough here.

That is what we have learned about squirrels so far. We have the gray squirrel here that we watch daily playing around us. That our cats love to watch and try to catch. That our dogs love to chase up the trees. Oh yes it's an exciting time around here with the squirrels.

What kind of squirrel do you have in your area? Oh and by the way if you should happen to have the Golden-Mantled Ground Squirrel in your area you need to watch it carefully!!! I'm telling you people if you have that squirrel you better watch it because legend has it that where the golden-mantled ground squirrel plays there is gold to be found.

Take Care :)

Ramblings of This and That

2009-12-07T19:33:00.002-05:00

Hey All,

I've been stressed trying to figure out a couple different projects. The first is a school project for my second grader who is 8 years old. I stress this because of the project he has to do. He brought home the paper on it Wednesday and this is what the project is...

Dear Parents,

Our class began a science unit on Habitats yesterday. We will be studying and working on this unit for the next two weeks. To go along with this study, your child is responsible for completing a home project. Please read carefully the following guidelines and information about this project.

Your child needs to create ONE of the following land or water habitats:

1. Desert habitat
2. Rain Forest
3. Woodland
4. Arctic (not the Antarctic--do NOT choose penguins)
5. Salt Water--ocean
6. Fresh Water-- pond, lake, stream, river

Along with creating one of the habitats, your child needs to create ONE type of animal that lives in that habitat. Your child will need to write a report. The report should answer the following questions:

1. In which group does the animal belong (mammal, bird, fish, reptile, or amphibian), and why does it belong to that group? What are the characteristics that help the animal fit into that group?

2. In which habitat does the animal live? (Describe the features of the habitat) How is the animal adapted to live in that specific environment?

3. What are the basic needs of the animal, and how are these needs met from the habitat?

4. How does the animal depend on plants or other animals as sources of food and shelter?

You may use any type of materials EXCEPT glass to create your project. You may draw it using poster board or build it (3-D). Be as creative as you can. Parents, please only help with the project. Your child should do the majority of the work to create it. We have discussed different ways to create these types of habitats. This project is due Tuesday, December 15th. Your child will be graded on creativity, neatness, the written report, and how he/she presents the project to the class. A rubric is on the back of this letter, which elaborates on how I will score oyur child's project.

Your child will need help locating information about the habitat and animal that he/she picked. He/she may visit the school library before school begins or during our regular library time. However, you will need to help by going to the public library or using your home computer. I hope you will have fun working with your child. Please send a note or email me if you have any questions or concerns.

Sincerely

As I said he brought this home from school on Wednesday. Thursday evening we went to the library and found several books on polar bears and the arctic. Friday he was asked by his teacher if he had picked out anything yet and he said yes I'm doing polar bears. She said oh there are already two others doing that so you need to do something different so do arctic fox. He came home and told me and I sent her an email asking to make sure he didn't misunderstand because it said nothing about being approved. I didn't get an email back until last night and yes he can't do polar bears. We searched on the library web site for arctic animals and couldn't find anything. I did respond back a little ugly to her email and tonight when I checked by emails there was one from her that said just go ahead and do it. Well, I had already taken back the books. I really didn't mean to get ugly but no place in this guideline did it say it had to be approved first. And of course I'm still not feeling that great. Still no excuse! I sent her an email a bit ago saying that I was sorry for my rudeness and that we sat down this evening and picked out squirrels to let us know if anyone has picked that one yet. If so then our other options are porcupines or black bears.

My thing about this project is that it's to be mostly by the child. The books we have found are not second grade level. So who is going to have to read them to him. And as far as the internet there is also not much information that is 8 year old friendly. The text is too much to understand. I would rather him have projects that he could really do with just some help. And a written report. Hello that's another thing! He is in the second grade it's hard enough trying to get him to write 24 sentences each week for his spelling words that make sense. Oh well we have already lost several days because he couldn't do an animal of his choice so hopefully we can get this done on time and he gets a good grade on it. We have a hectic schedule this week all the different concerts and stuff going on it's going to be tough getting in extra work other than the normal homework. So it would have been nice to have had this past weekend to work on it instead of waiting for an answer. Oh well!

Now to another stressful thing. I finally found out why I've been so sick lately. With all my allergies it only stands to reason that it had something to do with it. Ya know all that yard work I've been doing? Getting all those years of leaves and vines out of the side so hopefully to have a yard there next spring or summer. Well, blowing the leaves would have been fine other than after getting the top layer everything under it was wet and yuck. It's mold!! And it's gotten into my right lung. I've been told to stay out of it! Now for the best part of all I have to suffer through it because I am allergic or highly sensitive to everything they wanted to put me on to get me better. I have good days and bad days but for the most part I feel okay now other than some hurting around my chest. Fun Fun Fun just another allergy thing! Sometimes I feel as if I should live in a bubble.

Onto another project. I've been trying to find something for this weeks Handmade Christmas. My supply closet is getting bare. I've used up just about everything I have had sitting around. I've been thinking and looking for something to make without having to buy anything or much of anything. I finally found it this evening!!!! YES YES YES Oh yeah I'm not saying until it's finished. lol

Thanks for stopping by and listening to my rambles.

Take Care :)

A Handmade Christmas Week 4

2009-12-03T06:44:00.006-05:00

Update at the bottom of posting :)

Hey All,

It's time for another Handmade Christmas over on Proverbs 31 Living. I've made a couple ornaments and a couple present boxes. The best part of it was I already had all the supplies and didn't have to buy a thing. Got to love those projects!

First of all I made crocheted candy cane ornaments and a Christmas ball. I found these over on http://allcrafts.net/crochet/crochetornaments.htm that a friend had sent me a link for. I would really like to post the links for each of them but for some reason the site is unavailable at the moment. I guess it must get overloaded because I had this same problem the first time I tried to get to it.

These are both quick and easy projects to whip up. If I can get to the sites to post the individual pages later on I will put them at the bottom of this post. As I said they are really quick to make. I love the candy canes and want to make more of them and guess what I didn't print off the instructions because they were so easy to take right from the web site. Anyway if you want to make these I will try to find them and post them at the bottom of this posting later on.

I also made a couple Christmas Present Boxes from plastic canvas. These little gifts are going to be filled with candy and given to the little munchkin's teacher and bus driver. This is another quick and easy project that I love doing for gifts. They are great to do in Christmas colors or any other colors for a birthday.

Present Boxes

7 mesh plastic canvas in red or green

yarn (small amount) red, green, or white

large needle

The box: cut out 5 squares that are 22 squares x 22 squares.
The lid: cut out 1 that is 24 squares x 24 squares and the sides cut out 4 that are 7 squares down x 24 squares across.
The bow: cut out 4 that are 5 squares across x 23 squares down.

Trim all the little nubby thingy's off. Do you love that explanation?

And then whip stitch your pieces together to form the box and lid. Whip stitch around all sides to cover.

For me the bow is the trickest part. Seems like no matter how many times I make these I always end up getting the bow uneven and taking them back off and redoing. You whip stitch these on the top of lid. Count down 9 squares and across 10 squares to place the first bow and work your way around for the other three. As I said seems like I always have to redo this so if you end up redoing I'm sorry. Oh yeah don't forget to whip stitch around the sides before placing your bow pieces on the lid.

Well that is it for this week and now to find something crafty for next.

Take Care :)

Finally I was able to get to the candy cane site so here it is.......

http://www.allcrafts.net/f.php?url=web.archive.org/web/20030204180738/http://members.aol.com/SAG55/canwre.html

and the Christmas Ball was on a totally different site. I've looked at so many lately!! But here that one is also. Oh on the ball when finished to add color to it since I did it in white I put some green and red on it with french knots....

http://www.crochetspot.com/free-crochet-pattern-christmas-ball-ornament/

Good Morning :)

2009-11-30T08:04:00.005-05:00

Hey All,

I hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving and are safely back from traveling. The kids are NOT excited about going back to school today and a couple actually thought about pretending to be sick. But their plan faltered when they were discussing it in front of me. DUH HUH Then of course for me to get back into the swing of things this morning I over slept and Colin missed the bus so I had to take him. The other two are now leaving and I'm looking forward to the house being quiet. I have many errands to run today before the rain gets here this afternoon. Yeah rain AGAIN! Atleast we had some beautiful days while they were out of school. But it's to rain this afternoon and then again on Wednesday and Thursday.

As promised here is some pictures of Colin's owner stick he made for school. He took it in last Monday and the first picture was when he had finished it. I didn't realize that he had turned it and gotten a picture of it backwards. The second is after he returned from school with it and also his head dress he made in school.

The Owner Stick.... the sticks painted red, light blue and gold. Red because that is his favorite color, light blue because that represents the Tarheels his favorite teams, and gold, well, just because he likes gold.

The brontosaurus because he has always had a fascination with dinosaurs and the long necks are his favorite. Hey now they are plant eaters. The cotton balls at the top are to represent golf balls and that he likes to play with daddy and Dale. The sled hanging on the one side is because he loves snow. The Christmas paper hanging down on both sides because he loves presents. And the fish at one end is because he loves going fishing with daddy even though he never catches anything.

There had to be atleast 2 things or more on the stick to represent him. He had to tell about his owner stick without getting off topic. He made a 100!!!!

Okay you know how when you pack up and move there are things that never get unpacked? The other day I was looking through some boxes and what did I find but this frog I crossed stitched some 16 maybe 17 years ago. The frame it was in didn't have the glass and this poor thing looked pitiful sitting in that box. Years of dust and yuck all over it. I took it out and soaked it for about an hour and you can still see some yellowing if you look really close but it certainly does look better than it did. I found another old frame to put it in, this time with glass and hung it up. Sorry had to take a side view so the flash wouldn't be in the center of the picture. But it says........ Life has it's Up's and Down's! Someday I'll get a better frame for it but for now it has it's place on the wall once again.

Friday morning we went to leave and this is what we saw when we went out the door. The tree just snapped in half! I don't think it was windy that night.

I'm getting there! I worked out in the side yard yesterday afternoon and my goal is to get to that tree. It's a slow process but inch by inch I'm getting there. I'm determined that this is going to be actual yard come next spring. Ok, well not quite it will be a good mud pit before yard. lol

Well I had better get in gear and get to those errands before the rain gets here. One stop is the dump. Maybe I can get things done before the rain gets here and work out in the yard some.

Take Care :)

Catching Up

2009-11-17T07:31:00.010-05:00

Hey All,

How is eveyone? I've been sick I spent most of last week sleeping. First it was allergies that went into a sinus infection and now I'm feeling better but have a horrible cough that just won't go away. Hopefully I'm good on the getting sick department for awhile because nothing and I mean nothing gets done around here. Mom will do it when she is better!

I finally got my camera back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That child is not going to take it again!!!!!! So on to catching up with all the pictures.

This is a picture of the girls for the Powder Puff game. Yes, my little princess played flag football and I was amazed she was really good. I worried the whole time that she would get hurt since this was the night before Home Coming. Now let me tell you the seniors played the juniors and those juniors are MEAN girls. They were hitting, punching, and jabbing. A few of them ended up on the ground by the senior they were brave enough to hit and were told to be nice. Ahhhhh my little princess was one of those that after getting punch in the chest knocked one down and said which you could hear all the way up in the stands........ what is your problem? This is a game! BE NICE!!! I don't condone hitting back and fighting but I do think the seniors handled themselves well with a little reminder to some of those that they needed to be nice.

This is the blanket Taylor had given to Jene` right after the Powder Puff game. He wanted her to have it before Home Coming so she could use it at that game if it was cold out.

This was a week of all sorts of stuff going on. Spirit week is always a fun time around here doing different things each day. Monday was PJ day and it was a cold rainy day. But it ended up not being a normal day as planned. I got a phone call at 1:00 saying that the high school was being dismissed because of a bomb threat. Now I did get more than a little upset when I found out my children had been sitting on a bus or in the football locker room at the football stadium since 11:00. Once they decided to dismiss classes those kids on buses were told to get off and go into the stadium and the kids in the locker rooms were also put out. It was cold and raining!!! When they were told to leave the school the kids thought it was a drill and most all of them left bookbags in the school. So when they dismissed school those kids that drove that had to put their keys into their bookbags that were still in the school couldn't get in to get them. And they weren't told this until after standing outside in the rain for an hour when they were told you need to find a way home. By the time I was called to come pick up and getting to the school and waiting in the long line to pick up it was after 2:30 when they got home freezing and soaked. The good thing that we did find out was that this was a prank and a few days later we found out that it wasn't made by any students.

This day was group day. If you wanted to be in a group you decided what you wanted to do. Dale's group did Octo Mom and babies. Here is three of the babies. Awwwwwwwww aren't they cute? Just incase you can't tell the middle baby is the cutest! lol I couldn't believe Dale and his friends wanted to do this and that they dressed up and went to school like this. That his friend pulled up in his car dressed like this and they all loaded in and with bonnets on went driving down the road. I wish I had a picture of the whole group! They also wore these for halloween.

This was Jazzercise day. I think Jene` and Taylor are having too much fun during their senior year. lol This is one of the weeks that my camera was missing and I can tell you I had to spend a lot of the morning going through the pictures to upload because this child took pictures like crazy during this week of fun. And she says I'm a photo-a-holic!

Jene`, Dale, and Colin right before Home Coming and everyone went into different directions.

Home Coming Court. All the girls look beautiful!

Jene` and Tony

Ya gotta love these pictures he was really getting into the game. Because the Powder Puff game was the night before and everyone was chanting go seniors go he was chanting that at this game also. And holding up the banner and getting a better look through his scope.

Dale and his friends supporting his sister. There was planned another boy that was going to wear an E but at the last minute couldn't come so Dale had to do a little adjusting at the last minute.

Jene` and Taylor wanted to take the little alien out trick or treating. I think she is realizing that she may not be here next year to take part in a lot of different things. That she won't be able to come home for every little thing.

Whew! It's only taken me 3 hours to get to this point. Am I slow? Uploading photos.... typing... reorganizing photos. Holy Cow! But now I am to the point of this last weekend so people this posting is almost done. Okay already I hear ya yelling...... come on get it over with already!

I found a syrup recipe a while back and said I was going to give it a try. Finally the store bought syrup was used up Saturday morning so I went ahead washed out the bottle and then made this. Now the verdict is not in yet so I can't tell you if the kids like it. I can't tell you I like it because I don't even have to try it I don't like syrup it's too sweet. But I will let you know in the near future how well it was liked or disliked.

Homemade Syrup

1 cup water

1/2 teaspoon maple flavoring

2 cups sugar

Bring water to boil. Add sugar and flavoring. Stir to dissolve. Cook 1 to 2 minutes stirring constantly. Let cool before pouring into bottle.

The weekend was totally beautiful! After having 4 days of rain and wind it seemed good to get outside. I was feeling better and didn't want to spend any time inside. So with all the leaves that had fallen I decided to work outside. I have many outside projects planned for the next couple of months while it's colder out and those slithering things should be hiding someplace warm. Money is an issue right now so the remodeling as been put on hold so I can concentrate on the outside and I don't have to worry about money because it's mostly all hard labor required to get the projects done.

OH MY GOSH I don't think I'm ever going to get done. My mouse doesn't want to work right.

Mommy and Daddy's little helper. He worked hard to get that pile to play in.

OOOpppppppssssssss I guess while fighting with the mouse to move these last two pictures I took out some pictures along the way because they are not here now. Oh well on to what is left.

I decided to tackle this tree. See all those vines it's years of zudu. Since moving here we have concentrated on the inside now it's time to start tackling some of the outside mess.

Dale helping mommy.

Tony down the hill cutting wood.

Oh my gosh I just deleted more pictures out. I hate going to upload them now because I've noticed if I put pictures on here after I start typing then my layout is all out of whack. Oh well I guess I'll give it a try anyway.

These are out on the side of what is suppose to be yard. Over the spring with all the rain it was nothing but kudzu.

After hours of blowing leaves and cutting vines it now looks like this. I still have a lot more to do out there.

And after hours this is what that tree looks like out front. Yes, still more work to do here also.

I noticed six of these little critters all over the mailbox and paper box while we were out. By the time I went and grabbed the camera I could only find three of them.

Colin working on his project called an Owner Stick. After he finishes it I will post it.

It's only taken 4 hours!!!! Now lets see if it will stay like this or if it will be out of whack because I had added more pictures. I have to go now and work outside for a couple of hours. It's suppose to start raining for a couple days again so then I can work inside. It needs it!!

Take Care :)

Handmade Christmas Week 2... Crocheted Dishclothes

2009-11-16T07:59:00.004-05:00

Hey All,

I'm a little late with this but I've been sick and didn't get it finished up until the weekend. I made 3 dishclothes to give to..... hmmmmm can't say that here. All 3 are somewhat different.

I used Peaches and Creme I love working with this yarn and a G hook for the two simple dish clothes.

The first one...

Chain 30 loosely

Rows: chain 2, turn and double crochet into the 3rd stitch and every remaining stitch.

Repeat until desired size. Fasten off and weave ends.

I did 18 rows.

The second one...

I did the same as above but I only went into the back loop so each row has a ridge.

The third one...

I used a J hook and did the basic granny square.

I wanted to make these all different to see which one is liked the best.

So hop on over to Proverbs 31 Living and check out what everyone else has made for Handmade Christmas Week 2.

Take Care :)

Christmas Morning Cheese Grits

2009-11-06T23:40:00.003-05:00

Hey All,

I'm linking up with A Handmade Christmas over on Proverbs 31 Living to share some Christmas ideas. This is a good idea and it will be fun to see what everyone is making, creating, or baking. So go on over and check out A Handmade Christmas and take a look at what everyone is doing. Have some fun and link up and share your ideas.

My first posting is going to be our favorite breakfast Christmas Morning Cheese Grits Recipe. I know for some of my old blog friends you have seen this before but maybe this will get my creative juices flowing and I will have something new by next week. Or somewhat. lol

Christmas Morning Cheese Grits Recipe

2 cups Quaker Quick Grits (uncooked)
Cook as directed on grits box. (water, salt, etc.)

1 lb. Velvetta Cheese (cut in cubes)
Stir in with cooked grits

1 stick butter or margarine
Stir in with above

2 eggs- mix in a cup
Milk- add enough milk to make 1 cup

Add to grits mixture.

Pour into a greased Red baking dish

Bake at 300 degrees for approx. 1 hour
Or until you think they are done.
Sprinkle paprika over top for color.

Enjoy!

CREEPY

2009-11-06T18:39:00.002-05:00

Hey All,

Let me tell you about a couple things that have happened in the past week. Creepy!!! The other day I went to school to pick up the teens and take Jene` to work. On our way home all of a sudden there was this noise... clicking... loud clicking.... and this other noise mixed in with it. My first thought were the boys were doing something and I said... what are you doing back there? My boys yell nothing and the neighbor teen is pointing, staring, and says it's that. I look down at the radio and it's..... well it's.... trying to play the cassette player and the radio at the same time. Now it WASN'T ON it was OFF. I tried to pushed the button to turn it off and nothing happened. I tried to click the eject button and nothing happened. It did this all the way home. I turned the car off and then turned it back on it was still doing it. I then again turned it off waited a couple minutes and turned it back on and it was still doing it. So a couple hours later when hubby came home I told him about it and he went out turned it on and NOTHING!!! It hasn't done it since.

Yesterday I had to go to the school once again and pick up kids and I dropped Jene` off at work. We hadn't made it too far when Colin says..... mommy their is a lizard in here. That of course caused a lot of commotion in the back with the teens trying to catch it. They finally got him and I pulled over and they tossed him out the door into the grass. Well that is after he let go because he latched onto a figure and wouldn't let go at first. Freaky!!! I told Jene` that from now on she could walk to work because there was just too many things that happened when I came to pick up. She was like...... YEAH RIGHT! I know I really wouldn't do that.

I'm still not feeling all that great. But not as bad as the other day. This house is a mess during leaf falling season there is only 4 of us who go through it. lol Maybe it will rain soon and give us a break. I have to be up bright and early in the morning and be at the church by 9:00......it's going to be cold...... for the boy scout food drive. Daddy can't go so mommy has to and I'm hoping a lot of the boys show up so we can get it done and get back home. Since we are right there we should go by the library also and return these books that have been read and pick up some more.

I think I'm going to go pull out my crochet bag of many projects started and do something where I can be on the couch with a blanket. I have a few hours yet before I can go to bed Jene` and Dale are at the last football game. GO YELLOW JACKETS!!!!

Take Care :)

WOW The Projects I Have Found

2009-11-04T21:44:00.002-05:00

Hey All,

Yesterday was an allergy day from ok you know where. Sneezing, blowing nose, and itchy watery eyes all day long. I couldn't take any medicine until I knew it was safe... to be awake so I could walk up to the bus stop... to be awake if by chance the school should call saying someone was sick... to be awake if I needed to drive. I don't do well with any medicines and it does get to me at times because there is nothing more than I would like to start feeling better a whole lot sooner. Since I was feeling yucky I decided there was nothing better to do than to work on my blog. It took the better part of the day doing the side bar going through my favorite blogs and weeding out those that no longer existed or getting new links for those that moved. Added a few others that I had saved in my favorites. Now that is done.

Today I felt somewhat better still not 100% but not as bad as yesterday. Had to run to the grocery store and then I came home and started working outside on the leaves. If it wasn't for the fact that you now can see the driveway it would look as if I hadn't done anything at all. There are so many of them out there already! I'll let the boys work on the backyard this weekend. Share the fun. lol Since I probably shouldn't have been out there at all doing that with my allergeries so bad. I never said I was brightest light bulb in the pack! lol

Now onto those projects I had seen. Over on Make It and Love It she has made a sweater dress for a little one using her old sweaters. COOL IDEA!!!! Or maybe that should read.... WARM IDEA!!!! I love it! Now my little princess is of course too big so on to little Miss Kaylee and Miss Em. If I can only get my daughter and sister to measure their kids correctly or if they even have a tape measure. Anyhow go on over to Make It and Love It and take a look. So cute! It doesn't look that hard and she has done step by step so I should be able to follow along okay with it. Tomorrow I will have to go through my closet and see what I can find. The only thing that worries me is Kaylee is tiny. I might have to see if Jene` has any that she wants to get rid of. I know she got rid of a lot during the summer when we cleaned out closets. I will have to put the word out to friends and I may come up with a few to work with. It might take more than one try. lol

I've been searching for the skirt and leg warmers that I saw about a week ago. I thought I had saved it but I can't find it. It was also made from a sweater and cute. I've done a search and came up with a few but not the one I was looking for. Oh well maybe I'll come across it again or try one of those others.

For some reason I'm having problems typing stuff out tonight. My links don't seem to be working right when I go to edit them now and everytime I try to back space it takes out the stuff I don't want taken out. Maybe I should have waited to take that allergy pill! So lets try this next paragraph once again.

I found this really cute t-shirt headband and thought Jene` would love it also but I was wrong. This would be adorable to make smaller versions of it for the little ones. You can hop on over to Zakka Life and check it out. It worked that time! See I just needed to complain about it.

I better get to bed morning just comes too early!

Take Care :)

The Day Coming To An End

2009-11-02T22:11:00.002-05:00

Hey All,

The time flew by today and I didn't get much scratched off my to do list. Ran a couple errands this morning and one of them was to the library and it's never a quick trip when I stop there. Colin reads every night to record in his book log so he goes through a lot of books. He likes it when I go and he comes home from school and there is new books for him to pick from. During the summer he spends a lot of time there but during the school year he just likes to come home and pick out something to read. He likes me to find books that he can go onto Book Adventure and take a test after he reads them. But this is a chore in itself because I have to go search Book Adventure to see what they have test for then go onto the library site and see if they have the books or if I need to request them from a different library. Many books he would like to read we just can't find at the library. I have asked for permission to start making up test so we will see how that goes.

I did manage to get the living room and dining room vacuumed and mopped. The area rug shampooed. Some dusting done and the boxes of halloween and camping gear dragged into the laundry room. Have to have help getting them into the storage room. A couple loads of laundry done and the deck swept off. Washed the sliding glass door windows... all the nose prints on the lower half. Dishes done up, dinner made, and dishes done up once again. Oh I forgot I did wash the table and chair legs oh man were they disgusting!!!!!! How????? How can they get that bad without noticing it sooner????? Tomorrow is another day and more time to get more of my list done. I do need to add working on my blog to the list. lol I've noticed while trying to surf around that many of the links no longer work or they have moved.

I started cutting out this apron... hmmmmmmm... it's not a pattern it's the apron that you cut out and then sew. I had bought 2 of them a few years ago when the little princess wanted to learn how to sew for her and her friend. Ok, that sewing thing didn't last long enough for her to try anything other than a boa scarf and a couple pillows. Anyhow I have one of them cut out and ready to sew or ATTEMPT to sew but first I have to get my sewing machine back it's out on loan. Oh yeah they had that mole project to do!!! Ya all remember we had to do that one last year. And I just can't wait because we will have it to do again next year. I just hope he gets an easy element to work with like his sister did. Anyhow back to the apron I was thinking that I should make up a pattern so in the future if I want to make one I can use whatever I have on hand. Well that's if I can get this one done right. lol And I'll have to find some paper big enough to trace it. I guess they should have something like that at Hobby Lobby or Hancock's. Or maybe I could find some butcher paper to use that would be big enough. Anyone have any suggestions?

It's already 11:00 so I guess I had better walk these two mutts and find fat cat and bring him in. Since it's starting to cool down at night he doesn't like to stay out if I don't bring him in now I will be awakened in a few hours to this horrific meowing until I get up and let him in. Yeah I know all the animals here are SPOILED!

Take Care :)

Manic Monday

2009-11-02T12:45:00.002-05:00

Hey All,

It's Monday and I've started my to do list for the week. Ya know those daily task that just doesn't seem to stay done. Laundry that multiplies as fast as you can do it. Vacuuming and mopping that never ends with a long haired collie. Oh yes the little witch and the cats contribute to this as well as the kids and hubby. Not exactly sure who is worse with the tracking through when it comes to the kids and hubby. And it doesn't help matters any that the collie loves to bark and attack the vacuum cleaner while I'm trying to run it. Yeah I have gone through vacuums with this one between his hair burning out motors and with him biting holes into the hose. As my neighbor likes to say he's a little pycho. Oh lets get back to the list dusting which takes forever... did I mention a long haired collie. It makes me wonder why I do these chores at all because as soon as I'm done with one thing and move onto another the first thing I have done has hair on it. He certainly lets me know he is here. lol

I need to start getting leaves up the rain and wind have done a number around here. Also have several branches to pick up. Saturday night just as the little munchkin was getting ready to leave for trick or treating it started to down pour but it didn't last long. He was able to go out and have a fun time gathering goodies. But when the kids came home they weren't here long and it started to down pour again and lasted a few hours. I still can't believe big sister offered to take him out and about. Maybe she is realizing she will more than likely be gone next year and won't be home for halloween.

Aaahhh yeah that weekly list... take care of halloween decorations and camping gear. Sweep off deck and take care of all pots. I have some mending that needs to be done. And several errands to run the calendar seems to have something on it for everyday this week.

I better get busy the floor looks dry over there so I can move the area rug back and give it a quick shampooing. Move stuff out of the way so I can do the other half of the room. And the fight will start again with the vacuum and that long haired collie.

Take Care :)

Bloggin

2009-11-01T19:07:00.003-05:00

Hey All,

I'm going to try once again keep up with my blog and blogging friends. Seems like my days go by so quickly and I don't have time to do the things I like to do. I've decided to get back to the things I like and enjoy doing. Reading what my blogging friends are doing and blogging about what is going on around here. I apologize to all of you that I have neglected and hope you forgive me.

How is everyone doing? We are all fine here on this misty chilly evening. The weather has changed overnight once again. This morning as I was walking the dog I just looked in amazement at the leaves that had fallen overnight with the wind and rain. A big branch fell just missing my van and lay across the driveway. Fall is here and feels like winter is on it's way.

I want to share my cousin's craftiness with you all. I do know some of you have already seen this but oh wow did she do a great job making this table. Click here to go to Nickers & Neighs and scroll down to the second posting and there is a picture of it behind the couch. Then if you scroll to the bottom there is a picture of it outside while she was working on it. It so fits her home! Awesome Job Mel!!!!!

I'm still having camera issues. The pictures were turning out blue and after a lot of grumbling I fixed it somehow. Not sure how but the pictures were better. Then the princess takes the camera and had it for so long I forgot what it looked like. I've got it back and guess what? The pictures are blue again!!! GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR Maybe that has been my problem with blogging I haven't been able to take pictures.lol Withdrawal symptoms???? And as you can see there are no pictures yet. She did download the pictures to the computer that were on there but do you think I can find where they are? NO! She said but mom they are blue. I'll find them sometime or another.

I'm off to do some blog catchup and then some surfing I need some new projects. Something new to start is what I need.

Take Care :)

A Halloween Blog Give Away

2009-10-29T12:56:00.002-04:00

Hey All,

Hop on over to Days Too Short and enter the Halloween Give Away. You have until Saturday night at the stroke of the bewitching hour to get an entry in. Go on by her blog and take a look at what she has made. Good Luck All but I hope I win. lol

Take Care :)

Random Thoughts and Ramblings

2009-09-05T21:48:00.002-04:00

Hey All,

We had some awesome weather here in the Carolina's cool nights and humidity free days. A taste of what fall will bring shortly. But for now it's back to the 90's! I think we will have an early fall this year I've been saying this for the past couple months. Won't be long before I see if I'm right or wrong.

My cat Blue got out and it took 2 days to get him back in. He had only gotten out once before a couple years ago and I was scared to death that he would be eaten by a fox or chased by the neighbors dogs. Hmmmm... the little rascal would run every time he saw me and go into the woods. How in the world did he know I wouldn't follow him in there? He did stay close to home and didn't venture away so that was a good sign. Pumpkin watched out for him I was really surprised how he showed Blue the ropes of the wilderness. He had him chasing him in the yard and climbing trees. Blue finally got hungry and came up on the deck for me to pick him up and I brought him back in. A couple days went by and things had gotten back to normal with Blue inside and Pumpkin coming and going as he pleased. One afternoon I went to the grocery store came home and noticed I had forgotten to close my bedroom door. I always shut it to keep Nietchie out of there he has torn my comforter up getting on my bed and looking out the window to bark. Why he does this I don't know because he has 4 windows he can go to and look out without getting on the furniture and not to mention glass doors. Anyway I went in and relief came across me when I saw my bed in tact without evidence of my four legged pal getting on it. I noticed something... as I got closer I saw it was a wet spot. That darn cat!!!!!! Oh I was mad!!! I picked him up... rubbed his nose in it... and then threw him out the door and said you wanted to be out there and now you are. Of course he didn't want to be out there then he stood at the door with this meow that if I hadn't been so mad at him it would have been heart wrenching. Now after a few days he comes in and out with Pumpkin to eat and visit and then he goes back out.

Wednesday night we had found out that Kameron, she is like our own child, had been in the emergency room. The next morning we found out the whole story and it tore me apart to think we could have lost her. She was at horseback practicing jumping... she is in shows and has won all kinds of ribbons... when her horse faltered and went down and landed completely on her. He weighs 1500 pounds!!! He rolled over her twice trying to get up. When they got to her she couldn't move and her one side was completely numb. When the EMTs arrived they said this doesn't look good. At the emergency room they did a couple xrays and lots of testing. The numbness wore off and she started moving her arms and legs around. She was released later that night with a sore back, sore hip, and swollen knee. A miracle!!! And her horse is also going to be okay with a few days of rest. Again a miracle!!! This child is like our own it's a long story how she became a part of my life... a part of all of our lives but she has done everything with us for the past 10 years. She is treated as one of our own birthdays, holidays, vacations. Her mom who is a wonderful mother says Kam has the best of both worlds. Anyway she is going to be fine after some healing she has to go see a specialist Wednesday and get checked out just to be on the safe side but with each passing day she has improved a lot. It's amazing how tough our teens are!!! I talked to her mom Thursday night and she was having a fit... can you believe she wants to try to go to school tomorrow. Yeah I can because I have one just like her. Yep she is going to be alright! God was watching out for her!!! A Miracle!!!

Colin and I went to Home Depot this morning and made a bean bag toss game or we tried to. Now these little adventures so far has been pretty easy with easy instructions to follow. As I was taking this out of the package so we could start building there was only 5 pieces to put together and thought to myself we can do this with no problem. Big Problem!!!!! We started it and then it wasn't going together right. The predrilled holes were not on most of the pieces and the one and only one that did have it was drilled in the wrong place. After several attempts to pound the hammer and get these pieces together and that nail just wouldn't move it was frustrating. Colin was ready to just give up. Finally I gathered up all the pieces and we came home and when daddy came home from work he and Colin got it put together. He even had a hard time with it so I didn't feel quite as bad. Hopefully next week at Lowe's will go a little smoother.

Let's see the kids have only been in school for 13 school days. Dale was home sick Thursday and Friday and I suspect he was faking. I will give him the benefit of the doubt on Thursday but for Friday I strongly believe it was a fake. By 6:00 last night I heard I feel all better can I go to the driving range tomorrow. Both Tony and I spoke up and said NO. You missed two days of school your not going to go play golf. But I'm all better and we don't go back to school until Tuesday. So you missed two days of school and if you feel well enough now that you want to play golf I think you could have went to school today. He had better think about getting online and checking to see what homework he has to make up.

Toward the end of the month we will be going to tour USC. Jene` has her heart set on going there. You know it's just far enough away from home but not that far. I'm still not ready for this and still can't believe she is a senior. Oh and she found out Thursday she is in the Home Coming Court and has asked Tony to escort her across the field. She has already gone through her closet and been online looking for the right outfit to wear. At least she doesn't need another gown for this.

I better get off here and get ready for bed. Everyone have a happy and safe Labor Day!!

Take Care :)

Good Morning

2009-09-01T07:20:00.002-04:00

Hey All,

We are having a taste of fall here in the Carolina's. Yesterday I think we did make it up to 70 or 72 it was a grey rainy day. Today is to be warmer but still below the norm. It seems good to have a break in the high humidity.

School is back in full swing and going well so far. Time has gone by too quickly it's still hard to believe Jene` is a senior this year. Then in two years Dale will be a senior! Ahhhhh but I still have Colin who has many years left yet. lol Little Brendon started kindergarten and loves it. Jessie said that he couldn't wait to get to school on the first day and he did well when they got there but when it was time to go home he cried because he didn't want to leave. He didn't think it was fair that he only got to go one day the first week.

Last week I was busy making easy grape jelly and salsa. This week I plan on making easy apple jelly and some more salsa. It doesn't matter how much salsa I make it still won't be enough for this crew they can go through it so quickly. Let me rephrase that Jene` can go through it so quickly. I also had the dehydrator going making beef jerky and drying out some onions and garlic.

I better get off here and get busy a lot to do today.

Take Care :)

Back to SCHOOL! :)

2009-08-20T09:14:00.002-04:00

Hey All,

Yesterday was the first day back to school and I was in complete heaven. I took the day to do nothing!!! I took a long bath without being interrupted... watched big people TV you know like the news and The Today Show... played a computer game without hearing "I was going to get on there are you almost done"... listened to complete silence no "can you take me", " can I go", "there's nothing to eat", "he's copying me", "can so and so come over", "he won't stay out of my room", "I'm bored there's nothing to do"... ahhhhhh I love the first day back to school!

Today it's back to reality making up for things that were undone yesterday the dishwasher, washer, and dryer going, garbage gathered to be taken to the recycle center, the dehydrator is full of onions, and getting ready to vacuum. Started making my lists for fall cleaning/decluttering and outside winterizing.

After a summer of kids lots of kids I'm ready to take it easy. I had the two little ones several times. Once I got a call from my daughter and heard this weak crying voice "mom I just got out of the emergency room can you keep the kids for a few days" She fell off a skateboard and was hurt pretty badly. She is an excellent skateboarder, roller skater, and roller blader but when your little 5 year old decides you need a push while you are stopped talking to someone well things happen. I also had my niece for a few days and my nephew two different times for a week each time. It seemed like at times I had a revolving door because one would leave and within hours the next would show up. At least Colin had plenty of playmates this summer.

So for now I'm off to do some cleaning but I'll be back tomorrow to see what all my blogger friends have been up to.

Take Care :)

Made At Lowe's Build & Grow Clinics

2009-08-06T10:51:00.004-04:00

Hey All,

I wish we would have known a long time ago about the clinics because Colin loves them. Here are a couple pictures of what he has made at the Lowe's Build and Grow Clinics.

A treasure chest to hold all his treasures.

He got this cute apron and goggles for participating. And a badge and certificate showing he completed the clinic. I don't think I mentioned in the posting below about the Home Depot clinic that he had also gotten an apron and a pin there.

Don't get the reaction on the face wrong he loves his helicopter but we were at the beach for the weekend and he was mad because I had made him come inside for awhile. Daddy took him to Lowe's at the beach to make this one and he was excited when he first came back with it and I should have gotten a picture right then. But he was wanting to get out to the pool.

This Saturday is the next clinic and he will be making a powerboat. Go here to check it out and see about your area. As soon as we leave this clinic we have to head for a birthday party it's going to be a busy day. And speaking of birthday my little munchkin will be turning 8 on Sunday. He thinks it's so cool that he and his friend have birthday's so close together.

I guess I had better get busy! The load of clothes in the dryer doesn't seem to be folding themselves. Maybe I could try twitching my nose but that hasn't worked in the past. lol

Take Care :)

Oh My Talk About Good

2009-08-04T14:58:00.001-04:00

Hey All,

I was doing a little blog visiting and came across a couple recipes I had to try. Both of them where soooooo good. The first one was a chocolate cobbler and oh WOW it was delish. The only thing with this is it's really rich so I will make this hopefully many times for gatherings and sleepovers. The second was easy butter cookies now this recipe only made about a dozen cookies and I didn't even get one of them. But I was told by my 3 children to make some more REAL soon and make a bigger batch.

You will find the Chocolate Cobbler here. And don't forget to check out all her other mouth watering recipes she has over 500 of them. I have a list of things I want to try.

You will find the Easy Butter Cookies here. And she also has many other recipes that look oh so good.

Both these recipes gets a thumbs up from my family!!!

Take Care :)

Message Board Made At Home Depot

2009-08-01T13:56:00.004-04:00

We got up early this morning to get ready to be at Home Depot by 9:30 to make a message board. Had to get an early start so I could be back here in time to take Jene` to work. Once there Colin couldn't wait to get a hammer in his hand and start building.

First there was the sanding.

Ahhhh then some hammering! Be careful don't hit daddy's fingers.

Oh yes even some gluing!!!

And that screwdriver just about got the best of him. Remember righty tighty!

Finally the finished product with a happy builder!

Next week it's Lowe's to make another project.

Take Care :)

Finally

2009-07-31T01:23:00.002-04:00

Hey All,

I've been having internet problems. My question is why fix something if it's not broken? I'm not a person of change! Why change things all the time? I started getting notices from yahoo to update to a different version. I ignored and ignored and ignored. Finally I couldn't do anything on here at all and come to find out because I hadn't updated the new version. So I finally gave in and did and then I have had one problem after another. I couldn't get into my mail and after weeks of unlady like grumbles discovered that this had a separate update so I did it. I HATE it! It gives the option to go back to the classic mail so I have tried and as soon as I'm signed in a little box pops up and won't let me in and kicks me back to the other mail. UGH!

Anyhow our summer is winding down school registration is next week and they start back the 19th. Oh yes I'm so ready for school to start. We did make it to the beach last weekend and oh my gosh it was wonderful to be there except we picked a weekend that the rip currents were too bad to let the kids go into the ocean. But we had a lot of fun at the pool.

One quick thing to tell before I head to bed I mean it's already 1:30 am and I have to be up at 7. No summer sleeping in this year. Too much going on getting ready for the senior year.

Saturday August 1 at Home Depot between 9 and noon there is a FREE workshop for kids that range from 5 to 12. This month they are making a message board. Go take a look at Home Depot Home Improvement Club. Just thought to pass this along because I didn't know they did this until a few weeks ago. Lowe's also has a free workshop for kids every other Saturday the next will be the 8th. More on that later.

I'm off to bed. Take Care :)

First Day of Scout Camp

2009-06-22T20:25:00.002-04:00

Hey All,

Colin had a blast at camp today. He got in the car telling of everything he did all day long... shot a bb gun, played badmiton and dodge ball. Learned how to make a pretzel knot, set up a tent, ran through sprinklers, and had water gun fights. Found a rock that he just had to bring home for his rock collection. AND came home so completely little boy dirty!!! When he got out of the car and was walking toward the house I noticed the bottom of his t-shirt was nasty from where he had been sitting on the ground and when he got into the house he took off his shoes. Oh my gosh his socks were beyond nasty and I told him to take them off and when he did I started laughing. Where his socks came around his ankle from there to the tips of his toes were completely white and from his ankle up was completely brown. Jene` said look how well he tanned in one day. NO that's not a tan! He doens't tan he burns! I filled the tub and with a little bit of soap and water that tan was gone. lol He can't wait for tomorrow other than the little boy they put as his buddy said he didn't like it and he wasn't coming back tomorrow. I told Colin to wait and see he might be back. I was really shocked that there was only one other cub out of his den that went to camp. But he had a good time and made lots of friends today.

I managed to get a lot done today while he was gone and have my list of to do things ready for tomorrow. I'll be working in his room tomorrow the perfect time is when he's not here.

Take Care :)

Good Monday Morning :)

2009-06-22T09:45:00.002-04:00

Hey All,

It's been wild, crazy, busy around here. We had a complete week of kids! Had my little neice for a couple days and while she was here my son brought his soon to be stepson down for the day. Before little Miss Em left Brendon and Kaylee arrived and they were here for 5 days. I was so happy to get my kid count back down to three but I think the teens were happier about it than I was.

Thank You to all those who responded about my brother. He is doing much better now and is able to keep is sugar under control. The last I heard it was right around 100 and that is so much better than the 519 or 350 it had been reading. Since his scare we have found out that it runs deep within our family.

Hubby turned 50 yesterday!!! Now if you all remember our youngest tells all that daddy is really old and mommy is 23. Well, yesterday with everyone talking about daddy turning 50 he spoke up and said... what do you mean I thought he was 70. No he's not being a smarty he truly thought that. Ahhhh it's good having a seven year old. lol Especially when mommy is only 23.

I better get busy and get this neglected house cleaned up. I am going to have a fairly quiet week between the teens working or practice and the little one at scout day camp this week. Driving time won't be bad this week because it just worked out that Jene` has to be to work at 9 or 4 so I can either drop Colin off or pick him up when I take her. And my big plans are to get this disaster area cleaned up.

Take Care :)

I NEED Your HELP!!

2009-06-02T23:03:00.002-04:00

Hey All,

I'm asking for help from all my blogging friends. My brother just found out he has diabetes and his sugar level was so high it's a wonder he wasn't in a comma or worse. He had called the doctors office and they told him to go to the ER and they said his sugar was high gave him an insulin shot and put him on pills. Told him a few things that he shouldn't eat and should eat but no other information. He is now waiting for an appointment with his doctor. But in the mean time he is driving his poor wife crazy trying to figure out what he can and can not eat. If anyone can please guide me to the right information to send them I would appreciate it. If you have any recipes I would love to have them to share with them. Thank You all in advance!

Take Care :)

3 Full Days and 2 Half Days

2009-05-31T22:39:00.002-04:00

Hey All,

We are down to the last week of school and as the title says 3 full days and 2 half days. But the activities seem to be growing with each passing day and the calendar is about full for the month of June. Scouts, basketball, and checking out colleges are a few things among the list of things we will be doing. It never seems to end! We will also be getting the little ones for a week during this busy time. Oh and let's not forget hubby turns 50 in June and the stepson turns 21. Oh My Gosh where in the world has the time gone. My oldest baby also had a birthday in May and turned 28 but that's okay because mama is still only 23 just ask the little munchkin and he will tell you.... my mommy is 23 and my daddy is really old. Okay now I never told him to say that.

I've got to run just a short note to say Hey to all my blogging friends and let you know I probably won't be able to post for a few weeks. Can't take the laptop it broke!!!!

Take Care :)

Hey All

2009-05-21T13:57:00.002-04:00

It's the time of year that there is so much going on and no time just to stop and smell the roses. End of year projects, testing, parties, concerts, awards, scouts, and then just keeping up with everything else my children throw my way. Trying to keep up with different chores like today shampooing the boys carpet and not to mention looking after my little garden and these four legged critters that think they are human. My next project will be going around with the insect spray and doing around the baseboards I have killed 3 spiders this afternoon. I also need to fill the big sprayer up with some Clorox water and start spraying the kudzu that is growing at an extremely fast rate from all the rain this spring before we are over taken with it. Oh and not to mention the ant hills that are springing up all over the backyard some of them I swear looks like mini mountains.

Now onto this mornings excitement! I had gotten Colin up and he was getting ready for school when my phone rang at 6:15 with an automated message from the school. The buses will be delayed this morning due to vandalism at the busing garage. They didn't say how long of a delay so we went ahead and left at 6:30 as normal just in case it was only 10 or 15 minutes. We hadn't been up there more than 10 minutes when Jene` called and said mom you should come back home it sounds like the buses will be delayed for an hour or more. Some smart thinking people decided to let all the air out of all the tires on all of the buses. Wasn't that sweet of them? So I took Colin into school and waited in the car rider lane while every other parent was dropping off their children also. I then came back home and called the few kids that ride the bus for the high school and made arrangements to pick them up and take them in with my high school kids. At 8:00 we left to go pick up the others and Colin's bus was just coming down the street so it's a good thing I decided to take my children into school.

It took 3 fire departments, the police, and several mechanics to get all the tires filled with air and up and running. I feel that this was some kind of senior prank and if the little scoundrels get caught they should be made to wash the inside & outside of each and every bus. They should then be made to go to each fire station and do whatever is needed to be done there along with the police station if it's scrubbing the floors and walls. They should also have to go and help out each mechanic that gave up their time to go help out the schools. If it was a senior prank or some other school kid prank that would be a great way for those to spend their summer don't you think?

I better get going and fold this load of laundry and then head for the bus stop.

Take Care :)

A Little Of This...A Little Of That...

2009-04-25T20:54:00.009-04:00

Hey All,

I'm bad! So bad! I haven't blogged in so long and now this is going to be a looooooooong posting. So much to share so let me get started and see if I can make a short version of this.

Gone fishing. We went fishing during spring break and it was quite the experience. We tried to get Colin to bait his own hook with minnows and lets just say that didn't go over very well. He wouldn't touch them. So I asked him if he would rather have worms the next time and he said yes. The next day it had rained and when it stopped I said lets go out and gather up some worms so when you and daddy go fishing again. We went out he looked at one and said this one is too fat. He looked at another and said this is too fat. I will only touch skinny ones. Well, we never found one that was skinny enough for him to touch and he said I think I will wait until next year to do this.

We had the little ones for 4 days over spring break. You all know I love them to death but that 4th day I'm so ready for my daughter to get here and get them. But atleast this time they weren't sick and no one here was sick. Little Miss Kaylee has gotten where she wouldn't take a nap and so by 6:00 every evening it was a struggle to keep her awake. By 8:30 she was asking to go to bed and normal falling to sleep within minutes after putting her down. This one night I put her down and had to leave to go pick up Jene` from work and upon returning home this is what I found...
Yes, papa was in the playpen with her! I said... What are you doing? If you break that you are going to have to buy another one!!! He said but she kept calling for me to come get in so finally I got in and she was happy. He went to get out and I said oh no you don't you have brought this upon yourself and got the camera out. This man hates his picture taken but when you do something like this you just can't complain when I have to have a picture.

I used to make these cookies all the time some 20 years ago. They are so easy and good. Why haven't I made them in the past several years? Maybe because the recipe was in a box and had been long forgotten about. I was digging through my box trying to find a hotdog chili recipe that I used to make some 20 years ago and came across this Drop Sugar Cookie recipe and as I was trying to read it decided it would be a good day to make them. YUM......So Good! As you can see by the badly neglected paper I had to rewrite this recipe for future use.

As you can see they were a big hit!

Drop Sugar Cookies

3 3/4 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup shortening
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla

Mix ingredients in order. Drop from teaspoon onto greased pan. Bake 10-12 minutes at 375 degrees. Makes about 6 dozen.

Simon says reach for the sky.

Simon says group hug.

Now tell me what do you do when you have 2 little ones that want to run the vacuum?

I put one running the vacuum on the area rug..... AND

I go out and find the jetvac for the other to run. Hey now I'm not going to turn down any kind of help!

And this is where you run and lay down when the vacuums are running because you hate loud noises.

Gotta love these little moments. Uncle Colin reading to the Little Ones.

Some quiet time after the Little Ones went home. Looks as if they both are tuckered out!

Here is the dishclothes I've been working on. I think I have said before I will never buy another one again. I love these!

What could he be making?

A handy dandy little project to keep one little one busy with organizing. I saw this someplace some time ago and can't remember where but it's a quick and simple project. Toilet paper rolls turned into little holders for extension cords and plastic bags.

There is nothing better than making that first potato salad to celebrate the beginning of BBQ season. I have a question....... What do you put into your potato salad? Please leave a comment and let me know. This one has of course potatoes, eggs, cucumbers, bacon bits, green olives, onions, mayonnaise, mustard, relish, salt, pepper, and paprika. I like my potatoes a little chunky and love it loaded with everything. I will also add if I have them on hand chopped green peppers, chopped tomatoes, and sliced black olives. How do you like your potato salad?

It keeps getting greener and greener with each passing day.

Dale and Colin out practicing chipping.

Look at my handsome fellow all dressed up. I said you look good I really like that color on you and he said.... oh yeah I'm going to be a chick magnet. Ok, I still have some polishing to do on his way of thinking.

I saw this idea over on This Young House and just had to try it. I already had some small vases, the wooden scewers, and I used Fresh Cotton fragance in it.

Tony came home with this cat post last week. He was installing a dish at these people's house and when he was ready to leave they asked if he had cats and would like this. Their cat had gotten hit by a car and they just wanted to get rid of it. These 2 are very greatful for there new gift!

What's up with this chair? The other day I heard this... bing bing noise and it kept going off about every minute or so. That bing bing sound was loud and annoying. I finally discovered that it was coming from the chair and felt around and couldn't find anything. I tried to put my hand as far down the sides as I could but couldn't come up with anything that was making a noise. Now I did pull out magnetix, farm pieces, train tracks, baukigans, but nothing that made a noise. Tony came home and looked at the chair and didn't say a word and headed for the bedroom. It didn't take but a few minutes before he was out wanting to know what that noise was. So he tried to find the noise and wasn't coming up with anything. I got behind the chair and tried to look through the netting to see if I could see anything and it started going bing bing and this light came on inside the chair. I directed him where to go and he finally pulled out Jene`'s old phone that she had given to Colin to play with. Seems like it was letting us know it's battery was dying.

Hopefully in a few short months we will have some cucumbers and zucchini to eat. Colin has been a big help planting the seeds and helping water. So far we have 9 tomato plants, 10 cucumbers, 8 spinach, 10 zucchini, 3 cherry tomato, 1 sunflower, and some parsley and chives growing.

We went to Music Appreciation Day last week. The kids were so cute!

Guess what tonight is? IT'S PROM!

My baby girl sitting inside the sink to get ready.

And we couldn't get ready at home we had to go over to a friend's house where they both could sit inside sinks to get ready at the same time.

Sitting on the floor to do nails.

After a full day of tanning, hair, and makeup they are finally ready.

Awwwwwwwww they look so cute :) ...............................

and grown up ;(

Have fun kids but remember that prom promise and be safe.

This is it for now so all have a good night.

Take Care :)

2009-04-11T14:57:00.001-04:00

HAVE A WONDERFUL EASTER :)

Spring Break Has Begun

2009-04-09T23:24:00.002-04:00

Hey All,

Today was the last day of school for the next 10 days. The kids are excited! This means sleeping in... hanging out with friends... and no homework. But this time of year is also a reality check it means when they go back to school they only have 7 weeks of school left before summer break begins. As fast as time has been speeding by those 7 weeks will be over with before I even know it.

I went and picked up the little munchkin at school today so we could go to the library. We ended up staying there for 2 hours. We ran into one of his classmates from last year and visited awhile. Then as we were about to leave and another one of his classmates from last year came in so we visited with them. They are from Hong Kong and while we were talking I told them about Colin joining scouts and how he had one activity he could do about talking to someone from a different country. They couldn't wait to help out and we are meeting next week at the library for the interview of sorts. When we finally left he had checked out 21 books!!!

Pirates... Facts, Things To Make, Activities... by Rachel Wright
This book is too hard for him to read but he spent the evening going through it and made a hat, a map, and a sword out of it.

Magic with Cards... by Peter Eldin

Pterodactyl... by Daniel Nunn

Animal Show and Tell: Animals Around The House... by Elisabeth de Lambilly

Learning About The Earth: Rain Forests... by Colleen Sexton

Polar Plants... by Catherine A. Welch

Our Earth... by Anne Rockwell

Gorillas and Their Infants... by Margaret Hall

Learning About The Earth: Wetlands... by Hollie Endres

Animals And Their Babies: Cats and Kittens... by Anita Ganeri

Tell Me, Tree All About Trees For Kids... by Gail Gibbons

Nifty Thrifty Music Crafts... by Felicia Lowenstein Niven

Math Riddles... by Harriet Ziefert

Dino Riddles... by Katy Hall and Lisa Eisenberg

Bug Jokes... by Jacqueline Horsfall

Kitty Riddles... by Katy Hall and Lisa Eisenberg
Colin had the kitty riddle book and I had the bug jokes and had a lot of laughs asking each other questions. It's going to be a fun week.

These next five books are all from Beatrix Potter. This has been their author of the week and he has enjoyed these books and wanted to look for them. I think he would have brought all of them home today if I hadn't said we can get some next week you know.

The Tale Of Peter Rabbit

The Tale Of Mr. Tod

The Tale Of Tom Kitten

The Story Of Miss Moppet

The Story Of A Fierce Bad Rabbit

These ought to keep us busy during spring break. We have magic tricks, riddles and jokes, pirate and music crafts, and then lots of interesting books to read. If you haven't guessed my little one is mainly a non-fiction kid. Don't get me wrong he has an imagination that gets way out of control but that is everything he just makes up when it comes to reading he likes to read non-fiction for some reason. It all started when he was 4 and became interested in dinosaurs.

Jene` has already started spring break in full swing with a trip to the mall this evening. Nick is home for a long weekend so they are spending the day together tomorrow. I know they have to go by the tux place and get that ordered for prom.

Dale has been grounded for the past 2 weeks. He brought home his progress report and in one class he had 4 homework assignments he just didn't do and in another class he had a "D". He knew he was going to get grounded and it shouldn't have surprised him. He has asked if he can go to a friend's house while on break and I told him I would think about it. IF I decide that he could that he couldn't have any sleepovers and he would only be able to stay for 2 hours. He has agreed to those terms and I will make my decision tomorrow.

The Little Ones will be here Monday night and stay until probably Thursday. Ahhhh the teens will just LOVE that. I know Colin will be in heaven with them here. Hopefully it will be nice and we can get to the park this time. Speaking of the Little Ones one just had a birthday...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR BRENDON
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU

I can't believe he is 5 already! Seems like yesterday that I got a call while in Savannah saying mom come home now. And to think he will be starting kindergarten in the fall.

It's late and I better get to bed but I get to sleep in! Hip Hip Hooray!!!!

Take Care :)