Happy Independence Day!

Have a safe day whether driving home or shooting fireworks.

First Day of Summer

I can't believe the days are flying by so fast. They say as you age, time flys by and, by George, I'm beginning to believe it. lol
We had our little Shaydabug with us for a couple of weeks, her Daddy too. He was looking for a job here and finally has found construction work. Too bad we've had so much rain. Getting struck by lightning wouldn't be a good thing.
We all spent five hours over at my son's house last night since he has a basement and there were tornado's touching down all around us. It is always good to get to visit with them as our lives take us in such different directions.
Shayda bug crawls all over the place, she can walk, just doesn't do it often. She will when she is ready. No is a favorite word now and pitching fits is a thing we saw regularly. She cut numerous teeth all at once and is working on more so I do suppose she feels like pitching a fit with that pain. They are all moving here to be closer to the rest of the family and that is happening this very week-end. They'll be staying here until they can save for a place of their own. It will be fun to have a houseful, plus, my granddaughter likes to cook also. Yippie, I get some much needed help in that area.
I am going to be gone a couple of days. I am so anxious to go hear Beth Moore speak. No drop outs yet, so still 7 of us going. Hurray. I have been informed to take plenty of Kleenex. I've got lots of handkerchiefs packed.
May you all have a blessed day.

Welcome to our

much appreciated blustery rainy day. I know we needed some rain and it has given out fits and spurts so far. Yet, it looks like it will open up and pour any minute, I'm hoping for the latter.

My Uncle had to go through here yesterday for an appointment in a larger city, so on the way back he and my cousin stopped and brought a monitor. So I can once again get on the computer. Hurray!! Praise be to God for making it all possible. My old monitor, which really isn't old, it is a flat screen, anywhoooo, it just decided to up and give me lots of static lines all through while I was attempting to read. Now I do have an old, take up the whole desk nearly, monitor.........but it works and I am so tickled to have that cousin of mine just happen to have one laying around in his way. He told me, NO, he definately does not want it back. LOL

I was able to take a ride with my daughter this morning. It felt nice to be out and about with her, even when her allergies are driving her crazy. It was pleasant to visit with her for a couple of hours. We don't usually have that time together since she works the night shift, so is sleeping during the day. The Lord provides on so many levels and I am so thankful.

I was a very pampered Mom; on Sunday my daughter got chinese food for us and on Monday I was treated to lunch by my son and daughter. And the answer is no, I have not gotten on the scale since back to back luncheons. There is always time for the scale......it sits there day after day........just waiting, like a circling buzzard. Sometimes it has to wait a long time between visits from me. lol

Well fiddlestix, the sun is out....I must be off and go outside for another round of rain dancing. Picture this, a __ish woman, outside in a t-shirt and shorts holding her oxygen bag while doing a rain dance. Darn near choked on my cough drop there. lol

We have a nice breeze coming in

at 35 mph. Literally rips the door out of your hands when you open it.

I was with my sister at the hospital on April Fools day. A ripped ankle tendon had her, finally, in surgery getting it fixed. She'll be off work for a month. She didn't care that day though. Pain medication will do that to you!! lol

My children are going through an awfully hard time right now, they lost their father to cancer on the 12th of March. They had been with him then, and for a couple of weeks before. This has been my daughters first week back at work and she is just exhausted. The Lord is watching out for them as he does for all his children, I ask that you remember them in your prayers, if you would. The grief over losing loved ones is never easy for any of us.

We will be celebrating the 1st birthday for Shayda on the 1st of May. She is our little bug, my great grandchild. My first one, and the 2nd one is due in August They will run mama ragged, lol, but will be great playmates for each other in a year or so. My granddaughter has asked that I help make Shayda's cake....she is doing a Lady Bug. So I will be driving up the day before and eating frosting, oops, I mean making a cake. I am excited to do so.

Tomorrow is another quick trip to the store for some honey to make a special treat for my mama. I didn't make it up for her 80th birthday last week because we had the snow, so I will go Tuesday or Wednesday. I do so love to surprise her with a home baked gift and I know she enjoys it. Plus I get to See how my sister is doing after her surgery. I call her each day to check and so far she has gotten along all right.

May the Good Lord's gentle hands guide you where you need to be at this time in your life.
Blessings,
Marj

What a lot of fun

these past few weeks have been.
My great granddaughter, Shayda, got to spend two weeks of days with me. She went to her Godmother's house at night.
Naturally, with the crawling comes the word no, which she likes no better than the next little one.

She had pneumonia while she was here and was in the hospital for 24 hours. Praise the Lord for her only being there that length of time. Then the real fun started. Trust me when I tell you it is no fun when you have to give a 9 month old a breathing treatment. We all found if we sang to her it would go so much easier. Except for Old McDonald, for some reason Shayda did not like that song and would screech at ya if you tried to stick it in there.

My daughter works nights so she gets to Wal-Mart really early. She hit the motherlode of Shayda clothing at $1.25 apiece. We have one of the best dressed little gals, in Valentine marked down clothing, that you ever saw. LOL

The church I attend has been so nice in including me in the things they do and I do so love it. It is always nice to be asked. The live gospel music we went to hear didn't turn out to be gospel after all but it was a birthday celebration get together for one of the gals, so we didn't mind. I thank God for pointing me to this church when I moved here.

My oldest grandson is 16 now and has his license. No car yet. I suppose that means he'll be looking for a job that might not lay him off during the off season. He is taking the Driver's Ed course anyway to keep the cost of insurance down a bit. My youngest granddaughter is taking this course right along with him. She turns 16 in August so it is all a necessary evil. lol

Tomorrow is a town day.....just need a few things for the chicken enchiladas. No, not the chicken. That is the one thing I have. But have no tortillas or sour cream and they are an absolute must.

Good nite and God Bless.

The Sunshine yesterday was

oh so gorgeous. We were in the 50's. It is amazing what the good Lord gives us.
We are scheduled for snow on Sunday night thru Tuesday but even then, it is beautiful. (as long as we don't have to be out in it) lol

I made Oatmeal Quick Bread today. I knew in my gut that the 1 1/2 TBSPS. of baking powder was a misprint(and I am old enough to know better) but I followed the recipie to the letter. It is pretty bitter, but nothing a little honey or peanut butter didn't take care of. I tried both. lol
Mercy! I think you have to have a "misprint" recipie every now and then to make you appreciate all the good ones you make. Last night I fixed a recipie my son gave to me and it was really good. Tonight is a Chicken and Rice Baked Casserole and you can't mess that one up. I'm fixing heavy meals two days in a row so we can have leftovers for tomorrow. After ss and church we can just have a lazy, movie watching day.

My daughter is out vacuuming the living room. This is a chore that is her nearly 16 year old son's job. She told him to do it this morning as if she really thought it was going to get done. Dang. It is none of my business but I sure don't think she is teaching him how to be an adult. I feel so bad for both of them. And I pray for both of them.

Sewing is on my list for this next week. Since I was blessed with a suitcase of blue jeans, I think I'd best get at it or Christmas will be here already. Wish me luck as I certainly am not a seamstress but it is Homemade With Love.

Have a peaceful evening and a Blessed tomorrow.

If I Only Had

a brain. Remember that song in the wizard of Oz?? I asked a gentleman if he knew what time it was today, b/c I don't wear a watch. He pulled out his cell phone and told me the time..........very nice gentleman. I am just so glad my cell phone did not start ringing as he was telling me. LOL I can't seem to remember that my cell phone is dual purpose. It is so funny now.

I spent the morning grocery shopping. (Yes, I have to take a list.) Do any of you take lists with you? Fess up, I surely can't be the only one. lol

I spent quite a bit of time in Wal-Mart pricing things as well as doing the shopping. I have a menu for the week and wanted to be prepared. Mercy, I have not made Menu's for quite a few years. I see so many blogs posting their Menus and I am so grateful. They give me such great ideas. I can float between 4 or 5 blogs and have my Menu done in 5 minutes.

We had a very small gathering at church and sunday school yesterday. I didn't mind a bit. I got to know one couple rather well as a result of our small size. I really enjoyed yesterday.

Our weather is holding. None of the predicted snow. It is actually 34 degrees out and the sun is shining. Beautiful!

Have a gourgeous evening with your families.
Marj

We have more snow today.

I'd say we have 4 inches of new fallen snow already. I swept off a path on the porch, down the steps and a place on the sidewalk for my toy poodle to do her business. (I have C.O.P.D. so my air hose becomes brittle in the cold and I huff and puff easier.) You won't catch me out there making any snowmen. It sure sounds like fun though......maybe I'll wad up a snowball next time I'm out.....don't want to lose the knack. LOL

We have our golden retriever at the vet, he got sick and dehydrated and some kind of infection in his blood. We are praying that he will be Ok and home soon.
We all become so attached to our animals. They are like another child and we worry and fret. God gave them to us and we must take care of them.

I have an easy recipie for you to make if you like peanut butter.

2 cups of instant non fat dry milk
1 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup honey.

Stir it all together and roll hunks of it into balls the size of walnuts. Store in an airtight container in the fridge. If you haven't tried these.........they are yummy. Hope you have the ingredients on hand.......your kids will love you for it.
We call them Peanut Butter Kisses. Hope I haven't posted that recipie before. I'm like that, ya gotta watch me. LOL

Blessed be your day and all you do,
Marj

Happy New Year.

What??? I'm a little late you say?? I'm a lot late, not just a little. lol

I ended up having a lung infection that took 3 courses of antibiotics to get rid of. All gone now though..............and good riddance.

I missed the after Christmas sales too......(boo hoo). I still scored big, my daughter hit a couple different sales and got me 3 pair of flannel p. j.'s and a warm purple hoodie. She just seems to know when to get to the stores at the right time. I was so thankful. She is a wonderful gal, my baby gal who weighed 5 pounds at birth. I miss the cuddling now that she is all grown up. Still lots of hugs though.

I have a little toy poodle.............with no teeth. I had been using a pair of pliers to crunch up 2 tiny dog food kernels at a time, my daughter suggested a coffee grinder. WOW, let me tell you, that did the trick. She mentioned it last summer when I sat on the porch and used a rubber mallet to smash em on the sidewalk, (in a towel). I said nay, this is fine....I just hadn't thought far enough ahead.
That gal thinks ahead like nobody I've ever met. She sure didn't get it from me. lol But I'm thankful the Good Lord gave her that ability.

Just wanted to pop in and let you all know I'm still alive. Let me know what you did for your Christmas Vacation, or was that when the kiddos went back to school? lol

Marj

Frosty the

hands and feet. Mercy it is cold out and we have no snow yet. We have had heavy frost on the windows that needed scraped before I could do my errands. Although, I will gladly take that until Christmas Eve. Then I would love to see a skiff of newfallen snow. I'm sentimental that way. I see the snow coming down and think of the shepherds (and sheep??) coming to Bethlehem. Such wonderful thoughts of seeing the King.

My youngest grandson turned 10 yesterday. There was a party for the family at 1. Plenty of time to get home from Sunday School and church. He has a "childrens" party at an arcade on Wednesday. I remember making cut-up cakes for my kids, to go along with ice cream and that was so much fun doing the cake.

My oldest grandson, 15, got a job recently. He does not like to work, but like the rest of us, he enjoys a little spending money. It took many applications and months until someone needed help.......but, hurray, he is happier now.

I still have not wrapped a single present. They are all boxed up and labeled..and then I stopped with that, so I'll feel like a last minute shopper in the wrapping department.

My fun part of Christmas has already started. Candy Making!!! I don't make cookies very well.........so I do Candy and love the response it gets. Thank the Lord for giving me that talent. It makes unexpected gifts too.

Here's wishing you a very Merry Christmas Season. Get out your talents, we all have some, and enjoy them.

Marj

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

I have not forgotten you all and I am thankful for each one of you who sticks with me through all my absent times. There are reasons for the AWOL, lol, I just don't think my blog is ready to hear it yet.

Besides, today is a day for Happy thoughts and actions. So as you gather with your family and friends speak out loud and tell each other why you are thankful for each other. You may be surprised yourself.

Blessings to you all for a safe and happy Thanksgiving.

Marj

Oh What Fun It

was after the garage sale. It was such a cold day in their town and the sun had been shining when I left home. So I wore shorts. Here I sat, the cashier, with a borrowed hoodie, a blanket around my legs and my sister even went in and got me gloves. LOL, what a sight to see. I had two of my friends show up to visit a bit and that was when the laughing got started and it didn't stop. So cold it was but oh the fun we had. It ended up being only a one day sale. They told me they had a storm that night and it was raining. But they were happy with what they made and that is all that counts.
I was able to bring one of my friends home with me. So we had two days to giggle, play card games and laugh ourselves silly. We even went to a Huge Craft Show on Saturday and OH what a lot of wonderful things there were. If I had more room, I would have bought a few of the beautifully done gourds. Then we went for a late lunch which we enjoyed immensely. Her husband came and got her on Sunday and I sure hated to see her go.
I received an unexpected gift in the mail this week. My cousin from South Carolina sent me a box of SHELLED pecans. This makes the 3rd year I have been a recipient of these yummy pecans. I already used some in the brownies I fixed for a church gathering this evening. It is an outside gathering and it is cold out, so I won't be going. What a Halloween. The Jump-A-Roo is surfacing again and the kiddos should really enjoy that. So, here's wishing you all a Happy Halloween and a Great November beginning tomorrow. Almost a whole month to get that shopping done before Thanksgiving. Enjoy!

My mom got moved into my sister's house!

She has been working on packing up her 2 bedroom apartment all this month. Praise the Lord for all the help my Aunt and my sister have been with the packing.
I know this is difficult for mom and she really didn't WANT to go, but she knew she needed to. She had been falling a lot and just up and made the decision to do this at the beginning of this month. Others out there will understand and some will wonder why I write about it. I just guess I need to.

This Friday and Saturday there is a garage sale and I will be able to go for the beginning of it on Friday. We all live in the same state but I live in another town.

Ok out there in shopping or crafting land...........How are you coming on your Christmas Shopping? I have 2 gifts to get yet and I just can't come up with the ideas, but they will come before Thanksgiving......I hope. I sure don't like to set foot in a store after that. Thought I was all done and up popped these 2, how could I forget. lol

I am active in my church and last Sunday the women did a Soup lunch and craft. We made decorative Friendship scarves. Everyone brought a fall colored skein of yarn. We measured off the length we wanted then matched that length off all the skeins. Sometimes we stuck in more of the colors we really liked best. The last step is when you get the amount of yarn you want just tie a knot (I think it is called a slip-knot) about half way down on each side. They really look pretty and you can add more yarn later or move the knot anytime for different length looks. When you wear it you remember everyone and all the fun you had.

With that "tuitorial" lol, I think I shall hush. Have a Happy Halloween all.

How do your allergies grow?

Wow, a wonderful fall season is upon us......and so are the allergies. Mercy, I thought the spring allergies would be the last till the furnace got kicked on. Boy was I wrong. Crawling around under my bed today probably didn't help. Ya Think?? Oh well, I can at least rub my eyes in cooler temperatures. lol

I sincerely hope your Labor Day Celebrations have all been pleasant. We had relatives stop in to visit on Thursday and it was nice to have the company. Otherwise, it has been quiet here with just a tad of cooking and working tossed in for good measure. Soup time is so close. I am anxiously awaiting it too. I had my "I want to try this" soup recipies out earlier today. Nothing better than a pot of soup and cornbread or crackers. Yum!

I had officially started my Christmas shopping last March. Then it got put on hold during the move and getting settled. I put it into high gear two weeks ago and am doing price checks and such. I've also had a little luck in the area of winning giveaways..so that has crossed off two. I know our church will be helping out where needed with families this year, and the giveaways are being good in that area also. It helps when you know the age and can enter accordingly. Thank you Lord for allowing me to get a leg up on your Birthday for this year.

I have a toy poodle who was just jumping up and down and scratching my legs, looked at the clock and sure enough.....it was her suppertime. Amazing that they know when it is. Or could it be they just can't stand the empty stomach any longer??? (We'll never really know.) lol

Have patience all you moms out there. School resumes tomorrow. So when you get the wee ones off on the bus, sit on back and take a little nap before you tackle that ceiling high mound of laundry. EWE. Better make that a long nap and maybe it will be gone when you wake up. I hear tell of a Laundry Fairy and I will always hope.
Have a good evening.
Marj

Can you hear the bones in my neck cracking?

That's from hanging my head in shame..........again.
No excuse, Summer just took over. I can't believe I have not posted in over 1 month.
I need jailed. Can we use those big noodle swimming things as bars on my cell???

I am getting ready to go visit my mom next week. It's just a little over an hour from here and I miss my mama. We always have a good time together. It is such a blessing to have her still with us. My sister is in the same town so I think we will be kept busy. Plus, I love their Goodwill store, it is awesome and reasonable. How many of you folks out there are Goodwill, etc. shoppers??? I just grew up with this and it is the thrill of the hunt for me. Do I need any clothing..No....will I buy anymore....Probably. LOL Nor do I need anymore wooden surfaces to paint on although I will likely get a couple. (I am so bad)

Last Saturday was the 40th Anniversary of my girlfriend and her husband. Wow, when you see the number it is a BIG wow. Lots of folks don't stay together that long. My daughter and I were the "surprise" and boy she sure was shocked. Her husband's 2 brothers came from another neighboring town. They say women run off at the mouth a mile a minute when they get together.............so do these 3 guys, it was good to see him have a good time too. Plus, I got to see 2 other friends that I have not seen for a long time.

Sickness did grab us all like a Ferris Wheel there for awhile during this past month we just spread it around and around. Sure am glad it is done with.

Blessings to you all and see you after vacation.

Engagement in the family!!!

Hooray!! My oldest granddaughter became engaged on July 4th at our Family Blow Out. (It shoud be called Blow Up since that's what ya do with the fireworks.)
Stef had just taken a big bite of food and Tim got down on one knee and proposed.
We will have to look closely at the video tape to see if she actually spit food out on him. LOL We all knew it was going to happen so we could set it up with who holds Shayda while my daughter got the video. At one point you can see Shayda's hand in the picture....looks like she was waving. It was very unexpected for Stef and after she said Yes and gave him a kiss she ran around looking for her phone, she had people to call. That part was so funny. A great day to get engaged, don't you think????

I just had to pop in and share this with you all as it was pretty special. I hope your 4th of July was as special as ours was.

Come back little Shayda!!

She went home with her mama yesterday. The Good Lord let us care for her for over a week. We didn't have her all to ourselves though, my son's household tag-teamed with us to care for the little darling. We were floating in happiness and sleep deprivation. One of the days the poor little thing cried for 6 straight hours. She is colicy. We knew that, but it sure brought back old times of when our babies were 6weeks old. I adore singing to her, lots of the songs from my high school years. Sigh!!! The good ole days that I would never even want to go back to. LOL

So, are you all gearing up for the 4th of July? Menus all figured out? We will be going to my son's house. He always has a BBQ and fireworks display. That is when we get to see our little Shaydabug again too. And eat salads and cookies and burgers. Yum. We all take different dishes to share and it is always so enjoyable.

My 15 year old grandson is working at the Goodwill. Today and tomorrow, 5 hours each day of community service. Yes, it is what the judge ordered. He also ordered counseling and I wish he'd have ordered church. He'd learn a bit there too. Now, me, I was just at the Goodwill this morning. Found a skirt, lacy jacket and a neon green T-shirt. I figured when I wore the T-shirt I'd surely never lose myself. LOL
I could go to the Goodwill every day and not get tired of it.

Enough nonesense and since that is hard for me to do (never been accused of being a no nonsense person) I wish you all a beautiful Summer evening.

In The Jungle The Mighty Jungle

Whoa, lets make that: In my soft bed with all my blankets I slept good last night.
That song running through your mind yet? I went in at 9 last night and the phone got me up at 8. Every once in awhile my body says....that's it, you've had it. So sleep I do.

Worked well too. It was my sister on the phone so I went and sat with her while her hubs was getting a huge calcium depost off his elbow. It was good to see her as she does not live in the same town as I do. This town has good Drs. and a nice hospital. So they came here to have it done.

My daughter called and she had Chinese food on the brain so she treated and I didn't have to cook. Hurray. Although I love cooking its good to get a nice treat. How about all of you? Do you enjoy the cooking and baking like I do? Don't forget the Christmas Candy making? Hungry yet? LOL I love doing all of those. God gave us all gifts those are some of mine. Do you know what your gifts are? Tell me about it and let me know a bit more about you folks. I'm so grateful for each and every one of you.

Have a Safe and Happy Memorial Day.

Prayer Request for Denise

I'm asking my readers for prayer for Denise. She has Guillain-Barre Syndrome and her Drs. say it has spread to her brain and intestines. She has a feeding tube since she can't eat by herself. Please lift up this woman in Christ this evening that she might receive a divine miracle. We know Our Heavenly Father knows when we are born and when we will be with him again. We also know of the many miracles he has performed. Prayer can and has always helped. Please help Denise tonight.
Thank You.

There's A Hole In The

Loaf Of Bread I made yesterday, dear readers, dear readers. LOL I even used a bread machine. It fell so badly and is not fit to eat. Way too soggy. I shall try it again, I READ the booklet, after the fact. Folks, when they say read the instruction manual first......they mean it.

My daughter and I kept Shayda all night Saturday. It was so fun. Can we say, "Come on over Shayda , whole lotta Spoiling Goin On." Except now we're singing, "Ain't no sunshine when she's gone." Ok, enough music. (Drat)

I have moved into my daughter's spare bedroom. Sure is a lot of hassle with all the change of address things. I dislike phone calls to do those things with the automated voices.......doesn't that just irritate you to pieces. I'm old school. Give me a human voice, either that or an internet site I can do it on. So far the latter is working quite well. Praise God for the little things as well as the big.

If I am AWOL again, dear readers, I apologize....sometimes life just happens. I shall be back.

May the Son shine upon you this glorious day.