I Miss Mayberry

The Goblins Will Get Ya......

2010-10-31T18:04:00.004-05:00

If Aunt Tricia were sitting in your kitchen right now she would be reciting this in her mostest scary voice.

Little Orphan Annie's come to my house to stay.

To wash the cups and saucers up and brush the crumbs away.

To shoo the chickens from the porch and dust the hearth and sweep,

and make the fire and bake the bread to earn her board and keep.

While all us other children, when the supper things is done,

we sit around the kitchen fire and has the mostest fun,

a listenin to the witch tales that Annie tells about

and the goblins will get ya if ya don't watch out!

Once there was a little boy who wouldn't say his prayers,

and when he went to bed at night away up stairs,

his mammy heard him holler and daddy heard him bawl,

and when they turned the covers down, he wasn't there at all!

They searched for him in the attic room and cubby hole and press

and even up the chimney flew and every wheres, I guess,

but all they ever found of him was just his pants and round-abouts

and the goblins will get ya if ya don't watch out!!

Once there was a little girl who always laughed and grinned

and made fun of everyone, of all her blood and kin,

and once when there was company and the old folks was there,

she mocked them and she shocked them and said she didn't care.

And just as she turned on her heels and to g and run and hide,

there was two great big black things a standing by her side.

They snatched her through the ceiling 'fore she knew what she's about,

and the goblins will get ya if a don't watch out!!

When the night is dark and scary,

and the moon is full and creatures are a flying and the wind goes Whooooooooo,

you better mind your parents and your teachers fond and dear,

and cherish them that loves ya, and dry the orphans tears

and help the poor and needy ones that cluster all about,

or the goblins will get YOU if ya don't watch out.

Happy Halloween!

Hope for Haiti and Peace for the Parent

2010-06-12T19:41:00.009-05:00

I put my baby girl on a plane bound for Haiti a few days ago. I did it and only got just a little teary eyed---no full out sobbing or biting my lip to keep from blubbering. My eyes just welled up with tears and no more.

It has taken me a few days to figure this out. You see, not long ago I would have been sick to think about having her so far away and in such an uncertain place. I have always felt that I can't keep bad things from happening to my children, but if they happen, I need to be close by so I can fix them.

So even after she boarded the plane and was taxiing down the runway, and a pilot was telling me of the unstable weather that was approaching the island and that the return flight the following week was uncertain, I still did not have that familiar sick feeling.

What in the world was wrong with me? I should be beside myself. I should have tried to talk her out of it...but I wasn't and I didn't. I encouraged her.

That is what I have been trying to sort out. Why? Why am I at peace with this?

Faith. That is the answer.

Oh, I know faith is such an obscure term. We have faith in our spouses. We all know the old illustration of having faith that the chair will hold us when we sit on it. But the kind of faith I am talking about is a proven faith.

How could I not have faith in the God that has shown himself faithful to me so many times? How can I not leave Stephanie....or Chris and Kelly, Elizabeth and Rob and now my sweet Emerson for that matter...in his hands?

I have seen God work in all of their lives. He has placed them in places where they need to be at the very moment they needed to be there. He has kept them from things that they needed to be kept from and protected them from things I am sure we are not even aware of. He has allowed scary things to happen to them. He has shown Himself faithful in all of it.

Yes, my God is faithful. But can I still count him as faithful if something happens to her? Yes, absolutely. I know that beyond a shadow of a doubt that Stephanie was suppose to be on that plane, this week with it's Tropical or Sub Tropical weather pattern, and God is in control of every single second that will pass. That is why I can sleep at night. Not because her safety is guaranteed or that I can hurry down there and fix a problem should she have one. No, I can sleep at night because I know that God loves her far more than I could ever love her, and I know how much I love her. I know that He is sovereign and He will be with her every moment of every day. I am praying like crazy that she remains safe and that she can return home at the appointed time. But I am sleeping at night knowing God already has everything planned out just how he wants it. He is my strength and salvation.

Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD. I will take joy in the God of my salvation. God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer's; he makes me tread on my high places." Habakkuk 3:17-19

I Love My Doctor!

2010-05-28T21:45:00.003-05:00

So, I had a doctors appointment this week. Thought I better get a check up even though my 50 year 50,000 mile warranty has already run out.

I went to my family practice doc. The same one that we have gone to for the last 27 years. I just love him. He reminds me of Gomer Pyle. I did quit going to him for the "lady" check up cause everytime he lifted up the sheet he would holler "Surprise! Surprise! Surprise!" I really got uncomfortable when he was doing the breast exam and he shouted "Shazam!" That's when I decided I should probably find a Dr. that reminded me more of Aunt Bea.

So anyway, I was just there to have him take a look at my bum knee and have some blood work done and what not. So I go in and put on the gown that leaves the backside in a very vulnerable state and hop up on the table. In walks my doc and smiles real big and blesses my heart. He always blesses my heart. He blesses every bodies heart. He is just a heart blesser. As we chat about this and that he asks me what I think about the new tile. I mention that I haven't been in for quite some time so I really don't remember what it looked like before. He then describes the brown carpet that previously covered the floor of the exam rooms and as a visual he opens the door.....wide open....so I can see the brown carpet that still covers the hall and the entire nurses station and anyone else that happens by can see my exposed hind end. Yep...that's my Dr.

As we progress he begins asking all the routine questions. Do you smoke? Do you have any heart palpitations? Do my bowels move regularly? Then a page comes on the overhead. "Dr. Pyle, Dr. Fife on line one. Dr. Pyle, Dr. Fife on line one." To which he looks at me and somberly says, "Excuse me, I have to take that." Of course I want him to take it. For goodness sake, Dr. Fife may be calling for a very important medical consult for a very sick old lady and I would not want to delay her treatment. Now, Dr. Pyle talks VERY LOUDLY so I can hear his side of the conversation. It went a just like this:

"Hey Barn, how ya doin'?"
"Good, good. Glad to hear it."
"The Chicago Symphony? I love the Symphony. When did you say? Saturday. Yes I would love the tickets."
"That's too bad. I am sorry you can't use them, and thank you for thinking of me. I am sure we will have a wonderful evening"
"No, no I don't work tomorrow. I work on Friday."
"OK, great, just drop them off on Friday. Thanks again and tell Thelma Lou I said Hey."

He comes backs into the room and with a serious face and a furrowed brow resumes the questioning. Yep, that's my doc. I love him.

So after all the questions and the pokes, prods and peeks he decides I should probably have that knee x-rayed. So off I go to the x-ray room. But first I have to insist on a second gown that would cover the back side. I know the nurses and that man with a mole has already seen it, but I have some pride.

As it turns out, the knee looks fine and if I continue to have trouble I may have to see Dr. Otis Campbell. Golly! I hope he is as nice as Doc Pyle. And just wait until I tell you about my dentist!!

Has It Really Been a Year?

2010-05-18T20:02:00.005-05:00

Day One May, 18, 2009

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

January

February

March

April

HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Emerson Christopher Louie Cantwell

Graduation, Gambling and Grandsons

2010-05-10T18:40:00.012-05:00

Let me introduce you to my daughter...

the doctor!

Dr. Elizabeth R Burckardt, DNP, RN, ACNP

Elizabeth graduated on Friday, May 7, 2010, with her Doctorate of Nursing Practice. I am so proud I could just bust!!

THE GRADUATION

The Gambling

at Churchill Downs

The Grandson

A Word From Your Long Lost Friend

2010-04-25T18:17:00.005-05:00

So I would love to say that I haven't posted anything because I have been busy traveling the world on an adventure of a life time. But that wouldn't be true.

It wouldn't be true either if I said that I have been absent due to a tremendous project I have been diligently working to complete. You know, something like organizing 32 years of photos. I started that back in the fall, had to take them off the dining room table for
Thanksgiving and they haven't moved out of the closet since.

Another falsehood would be to say that I have been wrapped up in a ministry to the poor and needy and have not had time for the frivolity of the blog. I wish that were true, but it's not.

Nope....I have just been pooped...lazy...or uninspired.

Sorry.

I have thought of so many humorous tidbits to share, but by the time I get home and sit down, I just don't have the energy to type it. Sad isn't it?

I wanted to tell you about how I was flashed by a cop on my way to work. I suppose I could just give you the quick version. I was driving to work on the new three lane interstate and as on any normal day there was a car in the left lane and the car in the middle lane and a car in the right lane all going the same speed. Silly me didn't know that was why the third lane was added so that now we can have traffic backed up on three lanes instead of two because three people choose to drive the exact same speed. Well on this particular morning the driver in the left lane was one of Illinois' finest. I was able to stare a hole in the back of the middle lane's driver's head and scared him enough to speed up and move over to the right lane. As I made my move to break the bottle neck the car in the left speeds up to my speed. I slow down...he slows down. I speed up...he speeds up and then....then he has the nerve to speed up just enough to get just far enough ahead and flash his cherry and berry lights. (I hope your mind wasn't wondering else where with a different kind of "flashing") I had to drive the stinking speed limit the rest of the way.

Anyway, please accept my apologies. And stick with me. I hope to find a little more energy and inspiration soon!!

So Much To Talk About ....

2010-04-04T15:13:00.013-05:00

The Kentucky Wildcats lost in the Elite Eight. I was so mad I could've cussed. Some say I might have, but don't believe it. I was mad enough to though.

Spent last weekend with my girls in Nashville. What a busy, busy weekend.

I got there on Thursday and we met up with my Sister-in-law and niece and had a yummy dinner at Mafiaoza's. Loved the fried ravioli.

Friday we spent a leisurely day in downtown Franklin. Ate at Pucketts and had my favorite meal of the entire trip, a fried bologna sandwich. Oh my word. It was a thick cut of bologna, so I wasn't sure if I would like it. I usually like my FBS thin slice of bologna slit in four places and fried up crispy. But this was bologna-icious.I bought the cutest little scarf to tie on my purse. I am so glad I got it early in the trip because I think every where we went people noticed me and thought I must be a famous country singer or something because having a purse with a cute little scarf tied on to it is so trendy.

We then yearned for something educational. So we jumped into Steph's Patriot Missile and landed smack dab in the middle of the Civil War. We gazed upon the Carnton Plantation. (We weren't going to pay the $10 a head to actually through it.) We learned that the Battle of Franklin had swept right through the very spot we were standing and many a confederate soldier died on the veranda of which we were observing. John and Carrie McGavock buried those soldiers right there on their land. As we strolled through the final resting place of these soldiers, Steph got a call on her Blackberry.....but no one was on the other line. Coincidence? I don't think so. I think it was an attempt from someone on the other side asking her to please get off his headstone.

We piled back into the Patriot and visited a war memorial and then back to Steph's place to think about all we had seen.....and to admired my scarf embellished purse.

Elizabeth showed up just in the nick of time to join us for yet another meal. We feasted on steak at JAlexanders. We were going to need all the nourishment we could get for the night that lay ahead of us. With our belly's full, we bolted for the dark side of Nashville to a little karaoke place called Wanna Be's. Oh if those walls could talk. I'm not going to say too much except....I Go Out Walking..After Midnight..Out In The Moonlight. I am so sorry Patsy....so very, very sorry. It was a wild and crazy night I tell you. I didn't get to bed until TWELVE THIRTY.

Saturday was to be a 100 proof kind of day! The Patriot Missile took us straight to Lynchburg, TN and the Jack Daniels Distillery. If people knew how much work goes into making that stuff they would drink it with a little more respect and not guzzle it down like it was water! Did you know that Lynchburg is a dry county. They can make it there, but never a drop is to be tasted.

In the words of Elizabeth, we were all Jacked up and now it was time to wine down. We stopped by a vineyard on the way home to enjoy some of Nashville's famous Calypso music in the vineyard.

Now, it is about an hour to Lynchburg and and hour back so we kept ourselves entertained on the road by getting to know....da turdle man.

By then it was time to eat again. Who cares none of us were a bit hungry, but the clock said it was time to eat and ate we did. After a filling dinner of Mexican we were all wore out from our whirl wind tour of middle Tennessee so we called it a night. Hugs and kisses to Brenda and Andrea as they were leaving first thing in the morning.

Sunday morning we met Steph's room mate and her Mother for a delightful lunch at The Brick Cafe'. Good food and good friends. Elizabeth had to get back home so that left Steph and myself to fill a Sunday afternoon until it was time for me to catch my flight home.

I got home around 10:30 Sunday evening and now a week later I think I have finally caught up on my sleep.

But my scarf is still tied to my purse and looks marvelous.

March Madness Makes Me Merry

2010-03-13T16:54:00.004-06:00

The madness has begun!

I love this time of year almost better than Christmas!!
The fact that it does not require any shopping, wrapping, cooking or cleaning is just a bonus.

Here are some very important dates to highlight on your calendar so you won't miss a minute of this years Hoops Hysteria.

Selection Sunday: March 14, 2010

Opening Round Game: March 16, 2010

First Round: March 18-19, 2010

Second Round: March 20-21, 2010

Third Round: March 25-26, 2010

Fourth Round: March 27-28, 2010

Final Four: April 3 & 5, 2010 at Lucas Oil Stadium
Indianapolis, Indiana.

Need a bracket? You can get one here.

GO CATS!!

Grandma's Little Sweet-E

2010-03-06T15:04:00.002-06:00

Grocery Shopping Brings Out the Worst In Me

2010-03-01T19:43:00.002-06:00

Before you go any further, please don't think me as cold-hearted and uncaring. Don't call me insensitive. Just hear the frustration in my voice for what it is.

I am of the firm belief that there should be some type of rules for grocery shopping. I think that you should have to show a current check stub or an employee badge of some sort in order to prove that you have no other time to shop to be allowed in the grocery between the hours of 4:00 and 6:30 p.m.

I believe that if you are retired, you can turn the DVR on and record the current showing of Deal or No Deal to be watched later in the day. There is no need for someone who has ALL STINKING DAY to grocery shop to be in the mix during peak hours. I mean come on Elmer and Avis Oldfolks, if you need to study the saltine boxes that long, you need to get an earlier start. Just grab a box and get on with it for crying out loud. I understand that on nice days that Elmer and Avis just need some fresh air. But don't you think the air is fresher at say 1:30?

I believe if the only form of mobility you have at your disposal is a little rascal, you MUST obey the rules of road at all times. Riding in a motorized shopping cart does not give you license to barrel up the produce aisle at break neck speed chasing all of rest of us out of the way just so you can have your pick of the apples and mangoes.

I only have one thing to say to those who have a passel of kids.....GET A BABY SITTER! For real, if you have 5 kids under the age of 4 and are wearing pink sweat pants that you obviously purchased prior to birthin' all them babies, then you can either come first thing in the morning before boredom and over-stimulation has set in. Or you can get a baby sitter. I can get you some names if you need them. I really don't want to purchase a bag of chips after Penny the Pooper has carried them through out the store while whining "Mooooooommmmmm....I neeeeeeddddd theeeeeesssse." Only to have you put them back on the shelf just before you head to the check out.

Now I am fully aware that there are circumstances that may require those who are not at work the previous 8 hours to have to be shopping during prime time. I was blessed to see the cute little old man in the race cart being helped by what very well may have been his grand-daughter. I admired her security as she shouted to her hard of hearing friend the multiple varieties of frozen vegetables. I panicked with her as the driver of said race cart announced "I THINK THIS THING IS RUNNING OUT OF GAS....IT IS GETTING SLOWER."

So, please forgive me. I am not usually this irritable. But I just took 2 and one half hours of my life to complete what should have been a 45 minute trip to the Piggly Wiggly. I didn't even get a good look at ice cream because there was a mob of preschoolers climbing in the freezer case while the moms discussed why Oprah can't keep the weight off.

Next trip I think I will try to get in at 5:oo A.m. on my way In to work and see how that works.

Ode To A Girl Scout

2010-02-22T21:41:00.010-06:00

Oh you little sprite, all dressed in green.
You and your badges all sown on with honor and pride.
You are such a Carmel Delight to so many people.

You just Tag-A-Long without any complaint,
Just the Peanut Patter sound of your little feet brings a smile to many a face.
It makes us just want to Do-Si-Do with joy when we see you coming up our walk.

Oh you precious little Brownie Scout.
You are a gift to us all in your beanie.
Your Thin Mint-ens are always on your tiny hands.

You enrich our lives so.
You and Samoa of your friends are always a welcome sight at out lonely door posts.

Oh you little Daisy Scout.
You little Shortbread you!
What a Trefoil treat you bring us.

You are such special young entrepreneurs.
Many have tried to imitate, but none have succeeded.
We love you Girl Scouts.
We love you with all our cookie craving hearts.

Surprise! Surprise! Suprise!

2010-02-15T20:04:00.009-06:00

My birthday was on Friday. I turned 5....fif....49 plus 1. Yeppers, I hit the big 5 - 0. I don't mind reaching that mile stone, it just that it seems so weird, so not normal to say that I am fifty. But you know what they say....Fifty is the new Thirty!!

Before I go any further, let me first say THANK YOU to all my friends and family who helped me celebrate my birthday.

As I take inventory of 50 years of my accomplishments, my failures, my experiences both good and bad, I realize how ridiculously blessed I am to have the honor to call so many amazing people my friend. Then, when I look at those that I am fortunate enough to call family, I am so very thankful for each and every one of you.

And I want to say a very special THANK YOU and I LOVE YOU to Danny, Chris, Kelly, Emerson, Elizabeth, Robert and Stephanie. You are far and above the best gifts I could ever hope for or dream of. You make me proud in who you are and your successes are just bonuses!

Here are a few pictures from the Nifty Fifty Surprise Party!! Enjoy.

Is it wrong that I start out with the cake?

I live for cake. Cake and I have been best friends for 50 years now. Cake is the only reason I attend weddings. This cake was amazing. It looks beautiful and it tasted just as good as it looks. The top layer was lemon with raspberry filling...yummy. The middle layer was Red Velvet...my all time favorite. The bottom layer was marble with custard filling. Fantastic. (A shout out to Kirin Hertzner, the cake artist!)

Emerson was the first surprise, then Chris and Kelly....

Then Elizabeth....
Rob came a little later.

Then Stephanie.

My sneaky kids!

Here I get to beat the stuffing out of 50!

And 50 just doesn't want to die!

Here are some of the guests...who by the way are very
good at telling untruths!!

Big Mommy and Emerson
(aka my Mom)

Andrea: Hmm, so that's what 50 looks like.
Stephanie: I will never be 50.
Elizabeth: Poor Mom, won't be long until we have to move her into the home.

I was queen for the day!
Thanks to everyone!!

Emerson, The Great Debater

2010-02-02T16:59:00.005-06:00

Emerson has quite a passion for human and cat rights but holds his own very well up against Bill O'Reilly.

Film editing by CDC

The Great Calendar Shortage of Twenty Ten

2010-01-30T13:25:00.004-06:00

OMG....(and I mean Oh My Goodness....I wouldn't say Oh My God unless I was praying....that's just me....IDK) any way enough of the text talk...Did you know that there is a severe calendar shortage in the Greater Northern Illinois/Southern Wisconsin area?

Me neither! Somebody should have warned us.

I had to go to THREE stores to find a 2010 Calendar. For real people, even Hallmark said they were sold out before Christmas. Something about no one giving out free ones this year so everyone had to buy one. Is this Obama's idea of an economic stimulus? Well if it is .... it is working!!!! But really, this should have been the lead news story even before all of the H1N1 vaccine shortages and stuff. Honestly. I am so shook up right now I am shaking.

How did I find out about this lack of calendars you ask? Well let me just tell you.

My employer always gives us two calendars. One is a very nice wire bound one that is a little on the big side, but that just makes it easier for me to spot when my next day off is. It is very professional with no added gobbly gook on each date.

The other one is a Diversity themed one where every child of every employee of the entire corporation is invited to draw a picture of what diversity means to them. Then they are pasted all over this calendar. Very busy...that is all I will say about the design. It also listed every event that every office in all 4 states would sponsor. Really, I don't need to know when the Oklahoma Full Service Unit is having their Red Bandanna Rodeo to help injured Cowboys. Just really don't feel the burden for them.

I would always bring that one home to use in the kitchen. Remember my anal list making issue? Well, that is what I would use this calendar for. I make my weekly menu on the calendar after pouring over my cookbooks, magazines and recipe files. Choosing the meals that just make my mouth water and on what day to have them. Then I would have the recipe at hand for when it was time to make it and I would use the menu to make my grocery list so I didn't end up with 25 pound of ground beef and no chicken breast. It is really a very ingenious method. I may patent it and market a calender just for this use.

But, lo and behold, due to cost saving measures we only received one calendar this year. (Guess which one we got? I will give you a hint.... The Texas Tumbleweed Benefit Garage Sale for Sunburned Ranch Hands is on June 23rd.) So now I am left to my own devices on how to plot my meals. Dan-o suggested I print one off of the computer. HA! Amateur. It has to be compiled on a bound calendar so it can be saved for future reference. I have menu calendars dating back to 2004. I will not be accused of fixing the same meal too many times in a decade.

I hated to spend the money on a calendar, but it was a true necessity and was eager to pick one out and hurry home to begin my planning for February. Imagine the sunken feeling I had when CVS Pharmacy and Hallmark shot me down. I was in a panic. But the nice lady at Hallmark, who also shared my disbelief and disgust in the lack of calendaring needs, told me she thought she saw some at the Kroger. I didn't even say good-bye. Just took out of the store like a scalded cat. Thank God. The Kroger had a few precious calendars left. I was so thankful I fell to my knees and offered up a sacrifice of praise right there. I chose the Monet Garden theme. Not that I am a art aficionado or anything, it was just more my style then the Harley Davidson theme.

So now I am a happy woman. I have my calendar and life is good. If you are in the area stop by and I will show you my rare 2010 calendar. And if you stop in on Tuesday we will be having Potato Crusted Chicken, Steamed Citrus Green Beans, Garlic Mashed Potato's and Glazed Carrots.

Weight....I Have Something To Say!!!

2010-01-19T21:21:00.005-06:00

So it has been a while since I have updated the world on the elimination of the extra poundage.

Let me share a little of what tasty morsels have crossed these lips.

First there was Thanksgiving. 'nuff said there.

Then came Christmas. Cookies, cakes, big breakfasts every morning, big dinners every night and lots of snacks in case there would be more than a 45 minute gap between meals.

We had Paula Deen's Red Velvet Cake
Out of this world.

Southern Living's Chocolate Citrus Cake
Amazing!

Praline Pull Apart Bread

It was all so wonderful...so very wonderful. Sigh....like a dream.

So...now here is the final tally.....

Ladies and Gentlemen...

For 14 straight weeks....

The dreaded scale....

Has moved....

DOWN!!! 15.1 POUNDS to be exact!!!

Yes, even with all of the indulgence, I lost weight!!!

I am not bragging mind you, I am just thrilled!!!

I would like to thank the redeco project, the Wii, the long walks in the park!!!

I think I have finally stumbled on the secret to weight loss....exercise. Who knew?

Now I just have to keep the motivation going.

I think I even feel another 100 step photo walk coming on!

2010-01-06T00:01:00.000-06:00

Happy birthday to you.
Happy birthday to you.
Happy birthday dear blo - og.
Happy birthday to you!

It has been one year since I set out on this experience of blogging! I have enjoyed it and am really quite surprised that I have been faithful to it for this long.

I have enjoyed sharing little glimpses of what is bouncing around in the great expanse of my head!

Some of the posts have been about me. Some about others. Some have been sad. Some have been happy. Some have been hysterical. Some of them have been pointless. Some have actually taken some thought to put together. Some have been just a brazen excuse to show you pictures of the cutest little boy on the face of the earth!

But they are all part of my life, as simple as it may be.

I appreciate both of you that read my ramblings and hope you will stick with me as we embark on year two. I am not making any promises that things will be any better than last year, but who knows what lies ahead!

HAPPY 2010!!!!

2010-01-01T09:49:00.003-06:00

This year I am resolved to.....

Wait...I am not going to resolve anything. Today is another gift from God just like yesterday was and tomorrow will be, if He so chooses. I should be striving to be and do my very best whether it is January 1st or September 19th.

This is not to say there isn't much I need to improve on. There's more than enough that I need to work on, and I will try and try again to make those improvements. But what I am not going to do is set myself up for failure.

I am a fanatical list maker. This Christmas, as in Christmas's past, I had a list of what we would be eating for breakfast, lunch and dinner and a calendar that listed what needed to be cooked and when.

I do this for a couple reasons.

First, my memory is just not the steel trap that it used to be. I do think this is hereditary though. My Grandma Runyon would come out of the bedroom after dressing and take her both her hands and tap her shoulders (checking to make sure she had a shirt on) tap her breasts (yep, there's the brassiere) tap her waist (check - pants and panties in place) and then off she would go.

Second, it keeps me organized. Without the list, we very well could be enjoying breakfast casserole for Christmas dinner and Red Beans and Rice for breakfast because I didn't read the recipe ahead and know that the beans had to cook for 8 hours. This is not to say that this list making doesn't have it's flaws as evidenced in the multiple runs to Kroger on Dec. 23....or 1:00 in the morning Dec. 24. But hey, the pull-a-part pecan rolls were well worth the trip!!

Third, it gives me a sense of accomplishment. There is no feeling like marking a task off of a to do list. Even if the task you are marking off is making another to do list. It is something that needed to be done and it got done....mark it off.....move on to the next job.

So if I am such an anal list maker why aren't I making any New Years Resolutions? It isn't because the list would be too long (although it would be quite lengthy) it's because those resolutions are what I want accomplished. I want to loose weight. I want to be better with money. I want to exercise more......I want I want I want.

Nothing I want can be accomplished unless it has been ordained by God the Father and until I have completely surrendered my will to His, even if the things I want are good things, they can't be attained without His power. So in 2010, I will continue to seek His will and let Him make my resolution list.

I am looking forward with anticipation to what God will do for my family in the coming year. He has so blessed us in 2009 that it will be almost unimaginable to see what He can do in 2010.

Happy New Year to all of you. I pray that 2010 will bring you blessings untold!

Wait....I think I have found my computer......

2009-12-21T17:02:00.005-06:00

Oh my word, have I got lots to tell you about....but, it is just going to have to wait until next year. We have been busy, busy, busy around here.

This is what my living room, family room and dining room has looked like since the Monday after Thanksgiving.

For almost two weeks, my underwear drawer was in the living room. Now, I am sure the neighbors have often thought of me as conservative and modest, but let me tell you, if they happened a glance in the direction of the large picture window in my living room at just the wrong moment.....whoa baby....they have seen a whole new side to me!!!!

So a just a quick recap/explanation as to the silence of the blogs:

Two weeks before Thanksgiving a bedroom was born in our basement. We decided we needed another sleeping space for when all the fam was in town. Soooooo.....we added the bedroom, had the existing drywall resurfaced (can you spell DUST?). Repainted the entire basement and installed new carpeting.

Well, since the old bedroom furniture is now in the basement boudoir we need a new one upstairs, but we can't put new furniture on that nasty 1980's green carpet....and if we get new carpet in there, we need carpet in the other spare room. And if those two bedrooms get new carpet, then MY bedroom needs it too. Soooooo......we took all the furniture from the three bedrooms and stacked it nicely in the above mentioned living spaces. Painted, re carpeted and replaced all the furniture.

It looks so nice....I can't show you pictures of the results just yet, but I will when I have got everything just like I want it.

Oh yeah, in between all this redeco work, I fixed Thanksgiving dinner for around 30 people, Christmas shopped, baked and holiday partied it all out.

I am pooped.....15 pounds lighter....and pooped!!!

Well, I hope you all are sticking with me, because I will be back to my routine in January and we will have lots of stories to share then!!!

Until then Merry Christmas Santa!!!

2009-11-26T00:01:00.000-06:00

Wishing All A Blessed Thanksgiving.

With Love and Thankfulness,
Dee

Just Some Pictures of My Favorite Little Guy...

2009-11-15T19:53:00.000-06:00

Start Up the Band, We Are Gettin' Ready to Dance!!!

2009-11-13T21:58:00.004-06:00

The regular season opened up tonight for the Big Blue with a W.
UK 75 Morehead State 59
Thirty one more games until March Madness.
I can not wait. I haven't been this excited since Christmas!!

Movie Night!

2009-11-01T21:11:00.012-06:00

I have been thinking about this while I lay in bed waiting to fall asleep. It doesn't take me too long to nod off so it has taken quite some time to put this list together!

I have been trying to decide what my top 5 favorite movies of all times are.
And in answer to the question you are thinking, but do not want to ask out loud because you are alone and looking at a computer screen ... No, I don't have better things to think about.

Well, after much deliberation here is the much anticipated list.

Drum Roll Please........

Number 5:
"Cheaper By the Dozen" I am talking about the old one with Myrna Loy and Clifton Webb. Tied with "Meet Me In St. Louis"
It's my list so I can have a tie if I want to.

The original "Cheaper By the Dozen" is so cute and fun. It is also very interesting to see how the role of an intelligent woman is handled as a submissive wife. Lillian Gilbreth maintains her dignity and does not discredit her intelligence in any way while showing respect and submission to her character of a husband.

"Meet Me In St. Louis" is really just one of the movies that I enjoy of Judy Garland's. I love the time period this movie is set in and the music it classic.

Number 4:

"Lonesome Dove"

I know this is technically not a movie, but is a mini-series, but again...it is my list.

I also know this movie seems very out of place on this list, but I just really like Tommy Lee Jones and Robert Duvall and I enjoy a good western every now and again. So what's the big deal?

Number 3:

"Steal Magnolias"

What an example of true friendship. Six totally different personalities yet they are loyal, dependable, honest friends. There is never a hint of jealousy, judgment or uneasiness, just pure friendship between all of them. And the story line, ahhh....I cry every time I see Sally Field have her fit of rage at the end of the funeral. I'm a little teary eyed right now. sniff sniff

Number 2:

"Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House"

I love black and white movies and this is another movie with Myrna Loy. This movie just takes you right out of the days problems and puts you in a fantasy where money is no object and women always looked glamorous and everyone lives happily ever after.

And The Number One All Time Favorite Movie of Mine Is..........

What can you say about "Gone With The Wind"? It is spectacular. Four hours of pure southern belle drama. The movie is outstanding in spite of and because of it's 1939 special effects. In fact, that adds to the charm of the movie. The burning of Atlanta is a sight to behold.

I am deeply saddened and hang my head in shame when I say that my daughters have never seen this epic film. I am sorry girls, I have failed you as a mother. I hope that some day soon, they will take an afternoon and watch this movie.

Honorable Mention:
**Edited to spell Anne Shirley's name correctly...what was I thinking? It is Ann with an e. Duh!**
"Elf", "Anne of Green Gables", "A Christmas Story", "Driving Miss Daisy", and anything with Myrna Loy or Cary Grant.

So there you have it. Don't ask me why I felt burdened to share this with you. I guess now if they should have an open mic night at my funeral and you can't think of anything nice to say about me, you can always sigh and say "She really liked old movies...and who the heck is Myrna Loy anyway?"

October 31, 1986 Was A Very Good Day!

2009-10-31T00:01:00.001-05:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY
STEPHANIE!!

AND
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

2 Sticks of Butter, 12 oz Cream Cheese, 1 Pound of Powdered Sugar ......

2009-10-29T16:48:00.003-05:00

Obviously, from not having a post that chronicles every morsel that enters my mouth, you can assume that the scale is showing a downward spiral.

So let's recap the last several weeks:

10/7 total lost to date - 7.8 pounds

10/10 have a piece of carrot cake. just a small piece mind you, with wicked good cream cheese frosting made with 2 sticks of butter, 12 0z cream cheese and a pound of powdered sugar results in a net gain of 1.4 pounds

10/21 After a week of near starvation, the scales shows a whopping loss of .5 pounds.

TWO WEEKS LATER-----on 10/28 the scale shows a loss of 1.6 pounds

Bringing the total loss to 8.5 pounds!

Moral of this story.....stay away from Carrot Cake......it will kill you.

Can You Stand the Cuteness?

2009-10-22T21:04:00.002-05:00

Just little Halloween preview of the cutest little chunky monkey you have ever seen!!

A Fall Full of Fun, Family and Friends

2009-10-18T18:33:00.014-05:00

In case any of you (or should I say either of you) have missed me, I sincerely apologize. I would like to say I was off on some exotic vacation, or I would even be pleased to tell you that I have been busy accomplishing great things, but neither would be true. Truth is, I have just been lazy and haven't had the gumption to hop on here and update you on my very interesting life.

Actually, lots has happened since I last posted. Let's see if I can remember.....

Well, I had the entire first week of October off from work!! That was wonderfulabulos!! I got all my closets cleaned, grocery shopped for the entire month, cooked several dinners for the weekend and worked up a little fall display for the neighbors to enjoy.

I can hear your gasps of wonder and amazement now. I will come and create a vision in your front yard if you want me to. Just give me a jingle.

Then on Thursday, I went in to Chicago to spend the day with this little guy:

Maybe you don't recognize him with his entire foot in his mouth. Try this one...

We had loads of bouncy fun....

Then that evening, Steph and her friends flew in and spent the weekend.

All the boys in Nashville are big for their age. Any way, we had a lot of fun. We went shopping in ~~Kimono~~ ~~Kinswansna~~ ~~Kemoshino~~ Kenosha. We went to the Kenosha Outlet Mall where all three of us brought home a little something or another.

Then, on Saturday, Chris, Kelly and Emerson joined us.

We spent a very cold morning at the Apple Orchard and The Pumpkin Patch but had lots of fun!

On Sunday, I fixed Steph's Birthday dinner. Our little girl will be 23 years old on October 31. Everybody say it together....Ahhhhhhh.

Emerson also got his first taste of yummy rice cereal.

Oh yeah....I gained 1.4 pounds. Stupid carrot cake with crazy good cream cheese frosting made with 2 sticks of butter and 12oz of cream cheese and 1 pound of powdered sugar.

This week isn't looking any better. So, if by Wednesday, the scale isn't showing some kind of a loss, you may get another bite by bite post. But I am NOT giving up or in.

So that is my life for the last 11 days in a nutshell. You are now up to speed on the craziness I like to call life. Hope you have enjoyed it as much as I have!

Weighing In With Some Good News!

2009-10-07T08:29:00.006-05:00

I know that all of you have probably lost sleep wondering "How much will Dee lose this week?"
Well, my dear insomniac friends, toss and turn no more. As of this morning, I am down an additional 1.4 pounds. This brings me to a grand total of 7.8. I of course would like this to go a little faster, but I like to think of it this way.... it's always gonna be an uphill battle. Sometimes I'm going to have to lose. It doesn't matter how fast I get there, it's the climb. Yes my friends, it's the climb.

In my quest to loose the extra poundage, I have been in search of some things that will help curb those times I just need a bite to get me through. Since the Bacon/Egg/Cheese Biscuits from McDonalds, the Lofthouse Cookies, and all the other goodies were adding pounds I had to locate some alternative snacks. Here are a few that have helped me over the last month:

I think this was ingenious, I make my own Bacon/Egg/Cheese Biscuits. On Sunday I will scramble the entire carton of egg beaters, fry up about 1/2 of this package of turkey bacon and then divide it among about 5 little plastic containers with 1 1/2 piece of bacon in each container. Then when I get to work, I toast my English Muffin, microwave the container of egg & the bacon, and then assemble it with a slice of no fat American cheese. Easy-peasy! And really it tastes pretty good. This week I got crazy and found some turkey sausge patties to try.

These yogurt parfaits are yummy. I especially like the lemon one. They come in several different flavors like Chocolate/Raspberry and some kind of Carmel something or another. They are 100 calories which is perfect for a snack and taste like dessert.

Two of these Wheat Thins, one triangle of Laughing Cow cheese, a cup of grapes and a can of tomato juice and there you have the perfect afternoon snack. The Wheat Thins really don't taste much different than the little ones, but just because they are bigger it fakes you out and you think you are eating more. It's all a mind game, that's all weight loss is, just messing with the mind.

I LOOOVVVEEEE Red Velvet Cake. Now these Weight Watcher one point bars will never push a real RVC off the buffet table, but it will fulfill the need for a bite of something sweet. They really do have that red, kind of velvety, cream cheesy taste to them. The down side to these are they are very small. You have to nibble them to feel as if you have actually had something. No need to wear the stretchy pants to eat one, but they hit the spot when you are hungry for a sweet.

Love this. Smartfood Popcorn Clusters. So far I have tried the Cranberry Almond and the Honey Clusters. Both are good. Small servings, so eat slow and they are just enough. Not enough to get you through Gone With the Wind, but enough to get you through 1/2 of a show of Toddlers and Tiaras.

Let me know if you have any other goodies that would help fill in some snack gaps!

Grrrrrrrrr.........

2009-10-01T19:48:00.006-05:00

So, it is with less than an enthusiastic yelp I post this week's loss.

I lost...... .7 pounds.

Look again, not seven pounds but POINT seven pounds.

Very frustrating.

Grrrrrrrr

I was oh so very careful to eat my veggies, drink my water, and even got in some really good walks. That Cranfest was a day long walk-a-thon. I went to a new walking path near my house unaware that it was a roller coaster kind of path. Up and down, up and down, but I made it and was fully expecting to drop at least an extra two pounds this week because of the energy I exerted. But nooooooo, I only lost .7 pounds.

Grrrrrrr

Well, I am not going to give up yet. I must keep plugging along and look at the big picture.

.7
plus 3.4
plus 2.3
equals
minus 6.4

Well at least this little guy sees the bright side!

It Was A CRANtastic Weekend!!!

2009-09-27T20:49:00.010-05:00

After what has seemed like the quickest summer on record, we found ourselves with a beautiful fall day and nothing to do. So we loaded up the Blue Pacifica and traveled up north to a land called Wisconsin. We dropped in on Warrens, Wisconsin's Cran Fest. And my oh my what a CRANtabulous festival it was.

This festival was just chock full of crafts, produce, food and flea marketers. It was a veritable crafter's/flea-marketer's CRANtasy! If you were in need of a wrought iron coat tree in the shape of a huge eagles nest....they had it. Looking for baked goods made special for your pet? Look no further, there was plenty at the Cran-Fest. How about any kind of Indian dreamcatcher you could imagine. Yep, two booths of those much sought after adornments right there on Main Street. Always wanted your home to smell of cranberry? Then the tables full of cranberry pot pourri would have had your senses tingling.

And the food. You could get cranberry ice cream, cranberry cheese, cranberry sausage, cranberry fritters, cranberry juice, cranberry fudge, cranberry wine, cranberry smoothies, cranberry salsa, cranberry muffins, cranberry apple sauce, cranberry BBQ sauce....just throw a cranberry on something and call it good!

Oh, and the best part, we got to tour an actual, working cranberry farm. Are you green with CRAN-envy? It was very CRAN-ucational.

So if you ever get a chance, I would highly recommend the Cran Fest for a day of fun and adventure. It is one that we won't soon forget!!! Enjoy some of the scenes from our CRAN packed day.

Welcome to Warrens

Just a glimpse of the humanity roaming the streets
in search of anything cranberry.

We ate lunch in the basement of this Baptist Church.

This was lunch, notice the green beans.
Yep, you guessed it, cranberries.
They actually were quite good.

This is our bog tour guide, Bill Heffener
(No relation to Hugh.)
Bill is an agent with the UW Ag department.
He serves the farmers in Monroe county.
Here he is telling us that
"We will be goin to da cranberry bog
and lookin at da equipment and what not dat dey use
ta grow da cranberries."

This was our Cranberry Chariot.

This is a field of unharvested cranberry bogs.
They don't flood them until they are ready to harvest.
Huh...who knew?

This appears to be a sweet, little old lady
enjoying a beautiful
day at the cranberry farm, but DON'T BE FOOLED.
She was a wild woman. I watched her step on some
girls toe while trying to
snap pictures of the farm machinery.
Here she had just elbowed her way
up from the back bumping
into me and nearly sending me down the hill
into the irrigation ditch.
She was CRAN crazy I tell ya.

This is my attempt to get an up close picture of
the cranberry in it's natural habitat.

More berries than you can shake a stick at.

Here Agent Bill mesmerizes our little group with his
vast knowledge of all that is cranberry.

This is a new bog in the making

I wasn't close enough to hear this conversation, but this is how I imagined it:

Dano: Say a guy wanted to build one of these in his back yard, how much do you figure it would cost?

Bill: Oh, I would say a pretty good penny sir. You would hav ta hav da land excavated and sand brought in. Den you would hav ta buy the plantin's, install da irragation system, build yourself one of dem reservoirs. It would be quite expensive.

Dano: But if I could do the digging my self, or say get some friends over, buy some pizza and get them to help. That would cut down on the cost don't you think. I have some friends that own a bob cat that I think I could get to come over and do some of the excavating. My friend Dan Wade, he builds houses and remodels on the side, has his own bob cat and I think he could knock something like this out in oh say a day or two.

Bill: Well, yea, if you got somebody ta help. That would cut down on the cost.

Dano: I don't think I need a cranberry bog, but my wife, she is always watching HGTV and coming up with little projects for me to do. She will probably start wanting one of her own so I just wanted to get an idea of what it would cost a guy.

Dano: So you do much fishing in the reservoirs?

My Kind of Math!

2009-09-23T19:54:00.003-05:00

3.4 pounds
plus
2.3 pounds
equal
minus 5.7 pounds
of fat no longer on my hips

woo hoo!!!

I Go Out Walking.....After Midnight (Not really)

2009-09-20T16:35:00.008-05:00

So this post was going to be about the fun time we had when we babysat ECLC this weekend. But, #1 I forgot to take my camera and #2 as soon as we got there he went to bed. Yeah, went to bed and slept the rest of the night. What's up with that? We did have fun though. He was alert and chipper the next morning and it is always nice to visit with Chris and Kelly.

Since there are a lack of Emerson pictures, I thought I would take you all on a walk with me. I read about this on another blog where every 100 steps you take you are to stop a take a picture of something.

I am not going to torture you with some of the ridiculously boring things I took pictures of. And to be quite honest, I was hoping none of the neighbors were watching and wondering why in the world was I taking pictures of their trash cans and garage doors. I will just share the highlights.

Got your tennies on? Here we go then!

I sure hope this walks gets more interesting than
the first 100 steps.

A green cone on a driveway. Who needs a green cone
on their driveway? Apparently one of my neighbors.
And where do you get a green cone anyway?

Nice mailbox landscape. Not HGTV standards, but nice.

You know it is fall when the harvest decorations come out.

A view of the river just down from our house.

Look really hard....it's a chipmunk.

There were at least eight squirrels in this yard.

When I got closer they all ran up the trees.
Look how bushy their tails are.
That means a long, cold winter ahead.

A summers worth of grass clippings.

100 steps and this is the best I could come up with.

Ok, this was just 89 steps, but I wanted to show you the
difference in color on the pavement. The lighter part is under the tree.
The darker part is not under the tree and is wet. Wet with RAIN.
The rain that I was walking in.
The rain that I was walking in counting every 100 steps.
The rain that I was walking in, counting every 100 steps and taking pictures in.

A gate that goes no where.

A moment of silence please for a fallen comrade.
It won't matter to this guy how cold the winter gets.

100 steps later, this is what I see.

And these are all the people that just got a
good look at my be-hind while I bent over
and tied my shoe.

100 steps to home.

Thanks for walking with me. It's always more fun when there are friends walking with you!!

A Journey Begins With Just A Single Step

2009-09-17T06:16:00.000-05:00

You might want to grab a snack and a beverage cause this one is gonna be kind of long.

So my journey begins......

Thursday, my first full day, went very well. The girls at work ordered breakfast pizza, but I refrained and stuck with my low fat, sugar-free yogurt. I made sure I ate a serving of vegetables with my Lean Cuisine at lunch. I get those single serve frozen veggies they are just the right serving size and easy to heat up in the microwave. Then for dinner I made spaghetti with whole wheat pasta and a salad. So far so good.

So on Friday they decided to hand out cookies at work as a sort of Thank You for pitching in and helping out after they "reduced the workforce". I didn't leave mine sitting on the desk to think about or to just take a nibble on every now and then, but I gave mine away immediately!!! At dinner I even ordered a side of steamed vegetables. I also got in about 32 oz of water today. Still need to work on getting in some sort of exercise.

Saturday we had a cook out with our friends from our church. Even though I know what I ate wasn't "healthy", I took small portions, stopped once they were gone and moved on. I had a hot dog with chili and cole slaw (it was to die for), calico beans and a small slice of strawberry jam cake . Not what I would call a Weight Watcher meal, but one hot dog instead of two was a success. A small slice of cake instead of a slice of cake, a taste of pie and two or three chocolate oatmeal cookies (my favorites...you know the kind you make with cocoa, peanut butter and oatmeal and drop on wax paper) was certainly a victory in my eyes.

Sunday - Baked Tostitos and homemade black bean and corn salsa for lunch. I thought that was a reasonable lunch. The beans were protein, the corn, tomatoes, onions and cilantro were the veggies. Dinner consisted of a PBJ on diet bread, an apple with a dollop of peanut butter and a handful of reduced fat Kettle Cooked Lays. This could have been better....but it also could have been Pizza so I am chalking that one up on the success side.

Monday was a reasonable day for food. But the thing that wins the most points is I went for a walk. Wasn't long, wasn't fast and furious, it was just a walk. But that is certainly a "step" in the right direction don't you think?

Are you bleary eyed with boredom yet? I hope not. Because this has been very therapeutic for me. I promise it won't be like this every week! Just two more days.....just two more days to hang with me here. Stick with it. You can do it, I know you can!

Tuesday was a somewhat disappointing day. I was suppose to get my hair done, but it got cancelled on me but not before I had killed 2 hours before finding out it had been cancelled....1 1/2 of which I sat at Panera Bread. I had 1/2 of an almond chicken salad sandwich, which by the way is very tasty but loaded with mayo I'm sure, and a cup of the chicken and wild rice soup which is thick and creamy - which equals loaded with calories. Couldn't walk because I had a blister....and you know if you can't walk there is no other kind of exercise you can do. Oh well, tomorrows another day.

As bad as Tuesday was, Wednesday was as good. The free lunch that was served at work today was just the beginning. Apparently I am a free food magnet! Just hang with me and food just falls in your lap! We just started with new vendors for the vending machines and as a customer appreciation they served free grilled chicken sandwiches complete with a side of fruit salad and a cookie. I DID NOT take the cookie and only ate half the bun. Fixed myself some of my single serve veggies and had a very delightful lunch. For supper I made shrimp quesadillas on the barbie. Walked around Kohl's for over an hour while saving money....not only did I SAVE money... I MADE money....it was Kohl's Cash day. I'll be going back in a few weeks to spend the $50 I earned!

So that is the end of my first week. And as a result of the sacrifices and exercises I lost 3.4 pounds! I know that is probably just water weight, but at least that's 3.4 pounds of water that isn't sloshing around on my butt! It isn't much but it is a start and hopefully will be the first of many I loose.

Thanks for indulging me in my week long food expose'. I promise next week won't be as long and hopefully more interesting!

Watch My Weight

2009-09-09T21:09:00.000-05:00

I am 5 months away from being 50. I don't mind being 50. I do mind that I am as overweight as I am at 50.

I haven't always been heavy. As a matter of fact, I used to be thin. How did I get this way? Let's take a look.

Here I am in 1972 -- 12 years old--- I was probably heavier
than I appear because you know how vertical stripes on your pants
will always make you look thinner.

Ahhh, to be 16 again.

Here is a young, seventeen year old
showing off her engagement ring.

Here is the 18 year old bride on her honeymoon.

This was 1979...still thin.

If this picture from 1983 were a full body shot,
you could see where the weight was starting
to creep in on the behind.

Here is where the trouble really begins.
Around 1996.

1998

By 2001 I had it under control. Lost almost 50 pounds at Weight Watchers.
I keep this picture in a frame. Not because this
vacation was particularly memorable, but
because I was thin again. It gives me hope.

Here in the fall of 2002 it is starting to creep back on again.

By 2006 it was back to square one.

So, the question is....What am I going to do about it now? It is not going to be easy. I have tried and tried and tried again only to fail. So in attempt to hold my self even more accountable, you my dear friends and family are going to walk with me down this road of de-blubbering.

It is my intention to post regular updates. I really don't have any idea what those updates will entail. I just know that typing it and announcing my successes or failures to the world might make me a little more aware of my eating habits.

So today, Wednesday, September 9, 2009, begins the journey. I would appreciate any encouragement you can give.

I figure I have nothing to gain and everything to loose!!

Thanks in advance for your support and prayers.

Start watching for a thinner Grandma Dee!!

The 3rd Annual Burckardt Labor Day Cook-out

2009-09-07T17:27:00.006-05:00

Summer is over and we all said goodbye to probably the shortest one of my life at Elizabeth's and Rob's annual Labor Day Cook-out.

It was a success, in spite of a few sprinkles here and there. Rob was the usual Grill Sargent filling us with his masterfully prepared brats and dogs. We feasted on baked beans, various salads, a yummy concoction called burgoo. Burgoo is a Kentucky thing....you Yankees might call it stew, but it's not....it's burgoo. The recipes vary, but it is basically, two to three kinds of meat, most often one of them will be mutton, veggies and tomato puree and seasonings. It all cooks slowly for a hours and hours until the meat is tender. After our fill of burgoo and brats we had a table-o-desserts to choose our sweet treat from!

But, food and feasting aside, we had fun just being together. Chris, Kelly and Emerson was there all weekend. On Saturday night we went out to dinner to the Brown Hotel and enjoyed Hot Browns....again, a Kentucky thing. Click here to see the history of the Hot Brown and for the recipe.

Steph and her friend joined us on Sunday for the cook-out. She couldn't come for the whole weekend because you know how those darn things called JOBS just get in the way of your weekend plans. It was good to see her if only for a short while.

Here are a few snapshots of our weekend of fun!!

Here is Rob helping Chris boil the brats in beer before grilling.

In this one, Elizabeth is helping Chris prepare what is now his nation-wide famous guacamole.

This is a shot of Chris getting some help from Elizabeth and Dano setting up chairs.

Sorry, after the party started, I forgot to take pictures. But imagine if you will, about 35-40 people sitting at these tables enjoying food, fun and friends!

These have nothing to do with the cook-out, they are just too stinking cute not to share!!

Me and My Sista Peeps Take A Road Trip!

2009-08-30T13:46:00.016-05:00

Oh we had us some fun this weekend!!

We even got a FREE steak dinner!! It was "Friends and Family" night at the Longhorn Steakhouse and because we are friends with Jorge the busboy, we were invited. Everything on the menu was free PLUS we got two free desserts! I would like to give a shout out to some very special waitresses...."Hey Alisha! Great Job! Great Back-Up Mara!"

Anyway, a couple car loads of my favorite girlfriends piled in and headed up nort cross the border to Green Bay, WI to see Beth Moore at the Living Proof Live Event. And we were NOT disappointed.

My man T.C. (Travis Cottrell for those of you who are not close and personal friends with him ;0)) was on top of his game in leading us in worship. Wow! That just about explains it. He can take you to the throne of heaven in no time.

Do it Lord! Do it Lord!

Then my BFF, Beth, brought a word from Psalm 37. She got all up in our business about the desires of our hearts and delighting in the Lord. The next time I am tempted to get irritated that I am not getting the "desire of my heart" I will remember Caaaaaaaaaakkee. I will remember that God is after the heart of my desire. The thing that is my destiny. The thing that will bring Him the most glory and sometimes the desire of my heart is not the way to go.

Beth put on a Green Bay Packer Jersey, but we still received her message knowing that our God can and will forgive even the dirtiest sinners!!

I am so blessed to share this with Christian friends and family. I missed those who couldn't make this weekend and look forward to when we all can go again. (Lexington '10!)

Here a few snapshots of the posse.

From left to right: Andrea, Sally, Mom, Brenda, Me, Tricia, Cindy and Pat

Tricia and Mom during Praise and Worship.

Sally, Cindy, Andrea and Brenda during Praise and Worship
Brenda doesn't have her arms crossed cause she's mad...she was cold! For some strange reason the temperature dropped down into the 60's in August and Bab's did not come prepared.
It was a bit chilly!

This is a video of the wave that was going around the room while we waited for the 2nd session to start. Watch the lower left hand corner and you will see us as the camera follows the wave.

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Here we are on our way home having a little ice cream snack at the World's Largest Culver's.
Yes, you heard me correctly. The World's Largest Culver's is just minutes from my house!

Yes, Baby Emerson, you can go with Grandma next time!

Sometimes You Just Need Your Grandma

2009-08-15T19:48:00.006-05:00

I WANT MY GRANDMA!

I WANT MY GRANDMA DEE --NOW!

For Real? She's going to be here tomorrow?

YEA!!!! I love my Grandma Dee!
That makes me happy.

For Kentucky Basketball Fans Only

2009-08-13T21:19:00.004-05:00

I apologize to those who don't follow College Basketball. But those who do, especially those who are UK fans, will appreciate this.

I Never Should Have Left UK

I Never Should Have Coached the Celtics

I REALLY Shouldn't Have Spent So Much Time With Billy Gillispie

And I Really Really Should Not Have Had an "Indiscretion" With That Woman.

Don't Just Go Back To School....ROCK Back To School

2009-08-09T13:08:00.004-05:00

It's back to school time and that means new school supplies!!! I love to buy me some school supplies. There is just something about a new box of crayons that holds so much hope for the future. There are no broken tips, all of the colors are still in the box and the possibilities are endless. There will be pictures to be colored. Maps to be drawn. There will be cards made for special people. And don't get me started on a new spiral notebook! Oh to think of the stories and journals that will be written out on the 8 x 10 1/2 wide margin ruled papers just thrills me

There is one item though I have never really understood the need for; the protractor. For years and years I bought each my kids one of the plastic half-circles with a ruler on the bottom and numbers going around the curved top and they were never used. I have come to believe that the Teachers Union was in cahoots with the protractor makers and received some under the table cashola for putting it on the school supply list year after year.

I haven't had the opportunity to purchase school supplies for quite some time. After Stephanie's freshman year in college she finally cut me off. Told me that SHE would buy her own notebooks, pens, markers, pencils and planners that she hadn't even used crayons since the 4th grade. I was so sad. Took me weeks to pull my self together. I would often find myself wondering the aisles of Wal-Mart just breathing in the sweet smell of colored wax lost in the memories of years gone by.

But wait!!!! There is a new student in town!!! That's right, Miss Amber is a newly inducted kindergartner! I am back on the school supply trail once again!!! I was so excited to take Amber out for the necessities of kindergarten! Oh the choices --- There are boxes of crayons that come in 8, 24, 48, or 64 crayons. Oooooo I just got chill bumps thinking about them!

So off we go. Our first stop is Target. We got the crayons, pencils, glue, glue sticks and a perfectly rockin' Hannah Montanna lunch box.

This is just ONE aisle of Crayola products.

Then we darted over to Kohl's where we searched and searched for the perfect first day out fit. It is of the utmost importance that you look your absolute best on the first day of school. How you look on the first day will set the course for how the entire year is played out. Go to school on the first day in just any old out fit and you will be eating your PB&J by yourself in the art teachers storage closet for the rest of the year. Start the year out with a bold fashion statement and you are a shoe in for homecoming queen. Or at least won't have to be best friends with the lunch lady. Take a look at Amber's first day outfit.

Stunning don't you think.

Didn't need any new panties. Definitely didn't need a new bra because in the words of Amber "I'm not a woman yet."

But did find a Hannah Montanna back pack to match the lunch box of course.

Here is the whole ensemble. I think Amber will do just fine in kindergarten!

But this little guy has a few more years before Grandma Dee takes him to get his school supplies.

To Market To Market To Buy A Fat Zucchini!

2009-07-25T19:04:00.003-05:00

Yeah for Farmer's Markets!!

I love going to farmer's markets and county fairs. I think it makes me feel like I have some kind of soul connections with people who grow their own food! If someone offered me the chance to move out into the country and live on a farm and grow cows and pigs and my own vegetables, I would do it in a heart-beat. I would even turn Amish if I had to.

But that is not likely to happen, so I will just be satisfied with my trips to the local farmer's markets.

Today we went to the Beloit Farmers Market. It is really very nice and has a lot of vendors. There are vegetables galore along with crafts, flowers and homemade goodies. Love the Dutch Apple Pie from Kauffmans Country Store!!

Nashville, TN has an awesome market. It is three buildings full of everything you could dream of. Franklin, TN also has a nice one. They even offer a $3 glass of homemade lemonade!! Ithaca, NY has a quaint market as well. I have no favorite I just enjoy them all.

So here is a snapshot of today's bounty. Notice that the Dutch Apple Pie is not pictured, that is because I thought it would be rude to show a picture of a half eaten pie. But trust me, it was a work of art!

Tonight, we enjoyed the fresh, vine ripened tomatoes along with the juicy corn on the cob and zucchini fixed on the grill. Yum! I fix the corn by husking it then wrapping it in foil with a few pats of butter, throw it on the grill and in about 10 minutes it is ready to eat. With the zucchini, I just slice it into quarter inch thick circles, throw it in a plastic bag and drizzle it with some olive oil. Sprinkle in some salt and pepper and some grill seasoning, shake it up so the seasoning is well distributed then put it on the grill for about 2-3 minutes on each side.

We will look forward to the green beans later this week and the home made granola will be in my yogurt tomorrow!!

Next Saturday I might get a little adventurous and buy a kohlrabi....if I can figure out what it is and how to cook it! Until then...Bon Appetit!

Nairy a Hairy Leg

2009-07-18T13:01:00.005-05:00

So since it is the middle of summer we have been wearing shorts or capris for a few months now. Are we all tired of shaving our legs yet?

I am. Shaving my legs brings back so many repressed memories.

Who out there has never had a near death shaving experience?

The hair on my legs was so long and thick that my mom often would assume that it would keep my lower extremities warm enough that she wouldn't bother to buy me tights to wear under my dresses. Of course, as I grew older and wiser I figured out that not every girl in the fifth grade had dark brown, fur covered legs and it was because they shaved them.

So the beginning of an era soon ensued. I began shaving/nicking/severely slicing my legs with my dad's straight edge razor. Oh how I rejoiced when Schick introduced the safety razor!!! My legs now were smooth and scab free and tetanus was no longer a threat. Before long I even started buying my own razor!! Yes, I loved the Lady Schick.

Let me ask you....has any of you ever received an Epilady as a Christmas gift? I did. It was one of those memorable gifts that my husband thought I would really like.

For those who have never experienced the Epilady, it is a coil that vibrates and pulls the hair from your leg at the root. As I understand they have been pulled from the market until the investigation of them being used as torture devices at Guantanamo Bay can be completed.

You can't tell me that if this was coming at your sensitive legs and underarms you wouldn't start singing like a bird!

That gift was quickly returned and never spoke of again.

Yes, shaving your legs can be dangerous to your health. You especially have to be very careful while playing with a razor in the bathtub. As I understand it, if you drop the razor while stirring the water in your play tea cup it, will bounce up and cut your shin about an inch long. Just ask one of my daughters. It happened to her.

So as I close, let me just say to all my leg shaving sisters....Keep it smooth, keep it soft and keep it safe.

I TOLD You He Could Read!!!

2009-07-13T17:53:00.004-05:00

Emerson, Daddy's new research assistant.

He had some reading he had to catch up on while we were there on Saturday.

And of course, you know how it is, every time you start reading you get sleepy....So, he had to take a little nap with Grandpa.

Then after a little snooze, he visited with his buddy in the mirror of his play mat.

And then spent the rest of the time just being cute!

July 12, 1982, Was A Very Good Day!!

2009-07-12T00:01:00.001-05:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY
ELIZABETH!!

Summer Vacation Part One

2009-07-08T20:55:00.001-05:00

I am tired.

Since May 15th my life has been a whirlwind of events that just melt a women's heart.

I marched through the graduation of my youngest daughter with pride and a smile.
I endured 30 hours with only a few stolen moments of sleep to welcome my grandson into my life with pride and thankfulness
I observed the 5th anniversary of my Daddy's passing with sadness and tears.
I watched with happiness and gratefulness as my Mother married her friend and began a new chapter of her life at 70 years old.

I am overwhelmed.

How do you wrap your heart and mind around any of these? How do you internalize the significance of each blessing as they happen within weeks of each other? How do you accept the changes that each one brings to life as I have known it?

I am blessed.

I know that God's timing is perfect. He knew exactly when each event needed to happen and orchestrated lives and situations to meet his perfect will. He knows how much my little heart can bear and how I will relish each precious moment in my mind for the rest of my life.

I am thankful.

I count it great joy to be able to share in my little girls future.
I understand what a miracle it is to have a happy, healthy baby join my life and our family.
I trust that those gone before us are rejoicing with the angels.
I am thankful that God cares for us when we are lonely.

I am at peace.

Life is good.

31 Years, 3 Kids, 1 Grandchild and 4 TV's....

2009-07-01T21:53:00.004-05:00

THEN

AND NOW

Emerson - The First Four Weeks! (about a week late)

2009-06-27T14:44:00.006-05:00

Here Comes the Bride

2009-06-25T20:39:00.005-05:00

I had planned on writing this post on Monday, but just didn't feel it appropriate. How can we celebrate and rejoice in another's happiness while the world mourns. I, myself, considered calling to work Tuesday just so I could work through my hurts and disappointment. I am of course talking about the devastating break up of.......

So do you think that Jon just couldn't take Kate's hairstyle any longer?

I had a friend in 7th grade once. She had a nasty cowlick right in the crown of her head. Of course, kids being kids, teased her mercilessly. So, she thought she could tame that nasty cowlick and took scissors to it. Cut it right off, even with her scalp. The end product was exactly what Kate Gosselin, or TLC, pays good money for. Of course, she (my friend, not Kate) only got teased even more. Poor Debbie Maybe, that was her name, she was just a few years before her time I guess.

But honestly. Did they really think that they could live their lives as television fodder and not suffer any consequence? I hate that the pursuit of fame, fortune and ego destroyed a marriage, but I am even more concerned about 8 little kids who know of no other life other than always being the center of media attention and living a "reality" life that is no where near reality. Let's just hope somebody takes a stand for them and soon.

Any way now that I have that off my chest.......

Saturday June 20, 2009, was a special day.

Lanita J Smith married Charles M Brown.

The ceremony.

The happy couple

Charlie and Lanita plus 14.
Sounds like a future reality show to me!

The best part of weddings.....CAKE!

And just for good measure, here is a picture of the cutest baby in the world!

Emerson's Meet and Greet

2009-06-21T12:29:00.009-05:00

Another event filled weekend in my other wise boring life. I gotta start spreading all this activity out over a few months and not bunch it all up in one weekend!

During the past three days we have entertained the entire Cantwell Clan, attended my Mom's wedding and celebrated Father's Day.

In order to spare you one long painful post with pictures from each event, I will spread them out over a few days! Lucky you!

Let's begin with the Emerson Meet and Greet!

So, I thought it would be fun to have the family over for a cook out to meet Emerson. Good idea...bad turn of weather. It not just rained...but the sky opened up with buckets!

Amber is smart and brings her Hannah Montana umbrella.

Amber's Dad didn't plan ahead so well!

But no fear...we just moved the party into the garage and the house! There were hot dogs and Cantwells EVERYWHERE!!!

Cantwell party in the garage....

Cantwell party in the house....

Cantwell party on the couch!

Emerson and Great Grandma.

Emerson is shocked at the score Great Aunt Brenda says she got the last time she golfed.

Great Aunt Pammy tells Emerson why she should be his Favorite Aunt.

Oh Geeze, Holy Cow, Great Aunt Tricia has Emerson.

Great Aunt Sally tells Emerson to not talk to strangers, always eat his vegetables and DO NOT ever spit up on the quilt she made him.

Emerson is amazed at the white things in Cousin Cindy's mouth and wonders if he will ever have teeth.

Emerson tells Aunt Steph and Cousin Amber about all the strange ladies that have been talking to him.

Uncle Rob tells him not to get all worked up about it, they are all really pretty nice people once you get to know them.

Daddy's friend Matt tells him to be thankful that he should meet his family!

Hair Today....Gone Tomorrow

2009-06-11T21:07:00.011-05:00

I have been studying about the economy lately. I have come to conclusion that it's downturn is directly linked to the lack of hair products we use today. Yes, that's right, I believe that back in the late '80's early 90's there was enough wealth and prosperity to go around and even extra to send over to the balding people of foreign countries. And how did we wear our hair then? Just like the Cantwell siblings did. Full of chemically processed curls and hairspray.

For real, today's hair styles are flat. No one ever uses a "curling" iron anymore. No, we all use "flat" irons. I believe that the Dow Jones index reacts to how much hair-spray and perm's we as a nation consume. GM and Chrysler will come out of this thing just fine, but who is going to help the Suave's and the White Rain's of this great country? It's up to us folks. It's entirely up to us. If we don't get behind the companies that kept our coif's fluffed, fried and fixated they too will start migrating overseas and then where will we be? Limp and lifeless, that's where. I have lived that way before friends and it is not a pretty sight.

Just take a look at these pictures from back in the day when we proudly raised our bangs for Uncle Sam.

Now do you believe me? I thought so. So people, for the love of God and America, go out TODAY and get yourself a perm, some heavy duty hair spray and mousse it up for the old red white and blue.

2009-06-06T20:30:00.006-05:00

It has been a whole week since I last held Emerson. It seems like such a long time!

I imagine he is walking and talking now. I believe this first because he is just that smart and far advanced for his age!! Second, because it seems like it has been that long since I have seen him!

I guess I will just have to keep looking at the pictures from last week when I got to stay with him for a few days and just wait until he gets to visit Grandma and Grandpa's house for the first time!!

Isn't he just the cutest?
(Please take note of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield advertisement and purchase your health insurance coverage from them! Grandma Dee would be ever so grateful!)

He is Grandma's boy.

ECLC frightens Aunt ERCB!

But after a day or so Aunt Liz bonds with Emerson and they become great friends.

Yes, he is a thumbsucker!

Emerson is not enjoying is first bath at all!

But Dad gets him dry and warm.....

...and comforts him after such a traumatizing ordeal!

Walking With His Jesus

2009-05-31T00:01:00.004-05:00

It is said that we wear many hats in our lives. I think that we also wear many shoes.

Some shoes teach us how to walk. The little white Stride-Rite shoes that hold our ankles steady as we learn to take our first steps are precious.

Others, like our Converse or Nike's, help us run faster and jump higher.

There are those that make us fashionable. Or, haunt us because of the fashion failures they were!

The shoes we wear every day are the ones that help us earn our livings. They might be high heels or they might be work boots. Either way, they are part of the job.

Today, as I think back five years ago, I am remembering the last day my dad was with us. I am thinking about how he wore all of these shoes in his lifetime.

He learned to walk in a little, backwoods town in West Virgina. He moved to another little town in Kentucky where he wore his tennis shoes as he played basketball. Actually he was the manager, he wasn't near tall enough to play for the John's Creek Bearcats!

I can remember the dress boots of the 70's that he wore. You know, the kind that zipped up the side and had a square toe.

I also can remember his work boots. They were always right beside the door going out to the garage. He wore those boots for 30 plus years to Chrysler. Then, when he came home in the evenings, he would wear them in his own garage while he worked on cars. He always called them his brogans....go ahead, look it up, see what a brogan is!!

He wore a lot of shoes in his lifetime. They took him to places that many would think as simple or even boring. But the journey that he took in his shoes is what made him the man he was.

He wasn't perfect. He had a temper that would ignite in a moments notice. But he was genuine. He was who he was and he didn't try to be anything different. That is what I remember and admire about him. How he wanted to be the best he could be, but he wasn't going to try to be something he wasn't just to impress others.

He didn't care that the outside of our garage door was multi colored because of the over spray that covered it from the cars he painted. He knew that was just a result of his hard work that provided for his family.

He was just as happy with a fried bologna sandwich as he was with a juicy steak. He enjoyed nice things, but didn't put much stock in them. And the thing is, that even if he was around someone who had more material things or maybe was a little more refined then he was, he didn't care. If it were lunch time, he would offer to make them a fried bologna sandwich right along with his and not even bat an eye.

He walked through his life in his different shoes leaving his footprints where ever he tread. The most permanent one is the print he left on my heart. I miss him. That is why I cherish these shoes of his. They remind me of the kind of man he was. Simple, classic and genuine.

I would never wish that he was still here. No, he fought his battle and now is resting in his reward. But I do wish I had just a few minutes to talk with him.

I want him to know how smart and cute Amber is. I want to see the pride in his face as he looks on Chris, Elizabeth and Stephanie. I want to see him hold his great-grandson and smile at him the way he smiled at my babies. I need for him to snatch Brad up by the collar and tell him how much he loves him and how he knows he can beat his problems.

Yes, I miss him and want him to be here with us. But I will wait. I will wait until I can walk with him in the new shoes he wears now. The ones that he wears as he walks with Jesus. I will tell him all about it then.

Congratulations! Congratulations! Congratulations!

2009-05-22T09:49:00.004-05:00

Before Baby Emerson burst on to the scene we celebrated MY baby girl's college graduation. Stephanie graduated with honors on Saturday, May 16, from Belmont University in Nashville, TN.

I could not be any more proud of Stephanie. She has worked very hard and deserves every good thing that God has planned for her. I have said that I never thought that Stephanie would move to far from home. She has always been so shy. It wasn't until she was 12 or 13 that she would finally order her own meals instead of leaning over to me and whispering what she wanted so I would tell the waitress her order. But here she is, she currently lives the farthest from us and has become so independent and self sufficient, it sometimes makes me a little sad.

She had a wonderful college experience and has made some lifelong friendships. She will begin her new job as a Registered Nurse at Vanderbilt Children's Hospital in the pediatric residency program in July. The way that works is she will work in several different units in pediatric critical care and will then decide which unit she prefers. Then, after she has decided which units are her top choices and requested to work in them, the management will choose which nurses they want to have become part of their team.

Dano and I are absolutely thrilled that for the first time in eleven years we have not had to fill out a FAFSA form!! And Dano is even more excited that come Monday morning, we will not have a high risk driver on our auto insurance!!! Life is good here folks. Life is just darn good!!

Stephanie L. Cantwell, BSN

Being pinned by one of her instructors.

Taking the walk!

Fours years and thousands of dollars for a blue folder with your name embossed on it!

Steph is the one wearing the funny hat!

Two wild and crazy nurses!

And once you have become a college graduate and are now officially on your own what do you do? You go out and buy a car!!! Steph's little red car was less than reliable and had to be replaced. She is now the proud owner of a 2009 Jeep Patriot!!

Signing for her very first loan.

Notice the chrome grill. This was the deal maker when they threw that in at no extra cost!

Bye, Mom!

After you have birthed them, raised them, and graduated them from college, they just leave.
Bye, Steph!
I Love You!!

Did I Tell You I Was A New Grandma?

2009-05-21T16:11:00.004-05:00

So peaceful in Grandma's lap.

Ok....so I am a new grandma....you are just going to have to indulge me and look at more precious baby pictures of the most adorable little boy you have ever seen!

These are from yesterday when Steph and I were in Chicago for a visit. And if you are curious as to how many pee pee's or dirty diapers Emerson had, just give Chris a call and he will check his log. He is keeping a detailed time line of anything going in or out of ECLC so that they can make sure that all is well with the digestive system!!

(I have not forgotten about graduation weekend. There will be a post coming soon on that event!!)

That isn't his hair on top of his head, but a brown star.

Our little Baby Burrito.

Something smelled funny to him I guess!

I think he is disagreeing with his Dad's politics here.

So comfy in Grandma's arms. And that IS his hair not a star!

Time for a nap...in Grandma's arms.

Time for another nap....on Grandma's shoulder

Yes, this diaper change got duly noted in the in/out book.

Just hanging out with Grandma!

So happy to see Aunt Steph.

INTRODUCING.....

2009-05-19T12:07:00.008-05:00

Emerson Christopher Louie Cantwell

The name Emerson was chosen because it is classic and not widely used. Christopher is of course his fathers name. Choosing the fathers name as the middle name is somewhat of a tradition. My husband father was Elmo Edmund, my husband is Danny Elmo...Chris is Christopher Daniel and Emerson is Emerson Christopher. The Louie is in honor of my dad, Louie Smith. I think that he would be so very proud!!

Baby is doing very well. Mom is doing great and Dad is just soaking it in! The plan is to be home by tomorrow. Kelly's mom is staying with them this week. I am planning on going in tomorrow for a vist and then going in next week to stay for a few days.

Here are a few more pictures. You can also check out Chris and Kelly's blog by clicking here for more pictures and updates.

About 30 minutes old!

Mom, Dad and Emerson

Grandma and Emerson

The Cantwell Men

Grandpa and Emerson

A Baby To Be Named Later

2009-05-18T10:57:00.003-05:00

**UPDATE**
He has a name now....

Emerson Christopher Louie Cantwell

He's here! We don't have a name yet, but he is here and he is healthy. He weighed 8lbs 15oz, 21" long. Kelly had a pretty rough go of it and they were just minutes away from a c-section but she rallied in the end and pushed him out with NO pain meds and NO epidurals!!

Thanks for all your prayers, God has blessed beyond belief.

I will update with the name when we know!!

Little Man Is On His Way!

2009-05-17T19:50:00.003-05:00

I have so much to share about a wonderful graduation weekend, and I will sometime later this week. But for right now, I am sitting at the hospital patiently waiting for my grandson to be born!!!

Yes, that is right! Thanks to all who prayed that Little Man would wait until after Steph's graduation before he made his arrival. God has so abundantly blessed. As we were loading the car this morning in Nashville to come back home, we got a call that Kelly's water had broke. All day long she had just a few and minor contractions. We were able to get here from Nashville and say hi just before they administered the first low dose of pitocin which seems to have done the trick.

Now the pains are coming regularly and stronger....it should be soon!!

Keep Kelly, Chris and Little Man in your prayers and give HIM praise for all he has done so far!!

I will try to update as I can.

2009-05-11T18:48:00.005-05:00

Rockton is Gorges!

Well, here is the finished product. Lake Tidy Bowl. Isn't it beautiful? Isn't the sound so serene? Why is so stinking blue?

Here is the story. Dano finished the water pond fall and I was admiring it. And in passing I just happened to mention that it might look nice with a blue tint to the water. Dano, always aiming to please, went straight away and found some pool tint. Dropped about a half gallon (he says it was a half a cap full...I don't believe it) into the small puddle and voile! Tidy Bowl Blue. I am just hoping the many cats and critters that lurk around at night don't piddle in it to make it green. Yuck!

But any way, it is be-a-Utiful. I love it. Go ahead and click on the video above and just close your eyes and you can just feel the burdens of the day wash away. Ahhhhhhh.

So this is what we did all weekend....we went from this:

To This:

We are both sore, but for just a few weeks, our yard will look like a magazine and that makes it worth it. Then it will get hot and I won't want to get out and water cause it will make my hair flat and by the end of July, first of August we have brown sticks all around the yard were buds and blooms used to be. Oh well, what are you gonna do? Just pray for rain I guess!!

Welcome To My Home-Living/Family Room Edition

2009-05-08T20:47:00.008-05:00

Here we are at week two of the Show Us Where You Live To ur hosted by Kelly at Kelly's Korner.

This week it is Living and Family Rooms. I have both but really only use one. So come on in and take a look. You are always welcome here!

This is the Living Room as looking from the Dining Room.

And this is from the entry way looking to the left.

We were actually looking into having the wall behind the couch knocked out and have it all open with just one great room kind of thing. But, with the economy so uncertain we decided to hold off on that.

This is my favorite piece in the living room.
It is a little glass table that holds lots of little treasures.

This is the family room as looking from the entry way.
The rocking chair to the right of the fireplace was "retrieved"
from the trash by my Dad and refinished.

This a view as standing in the kitchen door.

The wall behind the couch is the wall we want to knock out.

This is my my grandmother's hope chest. My dad found it buried
in a pile of junk while he was cleaning out an old shed and refinished it.

This is an old pie safe my Dad found in someones barn. He pulled it out and refinished it. The tin covers on the front had to be replaced, the tin on the sides are original. The quilts on the floor and on the top are all passed down from family members. There are a few more, but those are on our beds still cause it still chilly here at night!

This is what I keep inside. I don't know if you can see but on the top and middle shelves on the left are some mason jars of canned goods that were put up by my Grandmother. She has been gone now for about 20 years so I don't think I would want to sample them!! I also keep the rest of my cookbooks there along with some other keepsakes and what nots.

Thanks for stopping by and come back next week to find out what room we will be visiting then!

What Are The Odds?

2009-05-04T18:39:00.004-05:00

This is a true story. It's not my story, but it is way too funny not to tell.

Saturday my two daughters and son-in-law got to go to the Kentucky Derby. Elizabeth lives in Louisville and Steph is three hours away.

As they arrive and enter the track they decided they would stop and go potty before moving on to their seats. The only available option was a Porta-Potty. So Steph steps in and goes about her business. While straightening up her garments she DROPS HER PURSE INTO THE POT. I will wait a few moments while you respond with your yucks and eeeeewwwwws...............got it out? Yes, you read that correctly. Steph dropped her clutch into the only hole in the Porta-Potty. And I quote "Mom, there was a turd floating right next to it."

She said she reacted quick enough to get one little corner of the bag that had not become immersed and fished it out. (the bag, not the turd) She retrieved her debit card, drivers license and cell phone. She said she left everything else, like the bag, her cash and her make up laying there.

After hand sanitizing the heck out of the rescued items. They proceeded to their seats only to realize that the other half of her ticket was needed to enter into their seating area. And of course hers was kind of crappy. She had to humble herself and explain to a security guard what had happened. Fortunately, Elizabeth had seat 52 and Rob had seat 54 so the guard was a little more understanding. She had to be escorted to her seat by security and was told that she could not leave her seat because she would not be allowed to re-enter.

So the moral of this story. If you are ever at Churchill Downs and see a cute clutch just laying on the ground with a $5 bill sticking out of it, LEAVE IT ....just let it alone and walk away.

Saturday in Chicago

2009-05-03T13:39:00.004-05:00

Well this weekend has certainly been very different from last weekend! I was busy, busy, busy!!

Yesterday we drove into Chicago to take a tour of where my grandson will be born. He should be here within the next 17 days or so and we are very excited.

OK...I know this is selfish but even though I try not to be, I can be that way sometimes, but if you are the praying kind, could you please pray that Little Man will not make his appearance between May 14-17th. You see my youngest daughter is graduating on May 16th in Nashville. That is about an 8-9 hour drive from Chicago. I am so excited to see her graduate and want to enjoy every moment of my last child's graduation weekend. She has worked very hard and deserves a fantastic finale to her undergraduate years. I also do not want to miss one single moment of my first grandchild's birth. I am going to be needed there when my very queasy son comes face to face with the reality of birth. Somebody will need to be there to splash cold water on his face to keep him from fainting and his wife is going to be a little preoccupied, so it needs to be his mama!

Regardless of when he comes, my first prayer is for the health and safety of Little Man and Kelly. But I really, really want to be there.

Back to the tour....the hospital is amazing. It is a women's hospital so it is all about the whole process of labor and delivery and new born care. There are a few of the rooms that have the most amazing view of Lake Michigan. I don't know how much a woman in labor would be able to enjoy that, but they are there if she should get the chance. There are Bose stereo systems and large screen TVs in every room. You can choose to have a tub brought into your room where you can soak during labor and even opt to have a water birth. I tell you something for sure, birthin' babies sure has come a long way from the day when all you were given was a bullet to bite on!

After the hospital visit we made our way back to Chris and Kelly's which by the way included a long walk from the hospital to the train, a train ride, a long walk from the train to the car, a car ride and then back upstairs to the apartment. Oh and Kelly's mom, Grandma Kat as she will soon be known as, was with us too. I guess this was kind of like a mini-grandma training weekend!!

My Mom and Charlie met up with us and we all visited the Lincoln Park Zoo. We went to dinner...twice. What happened was my Mom had a gift card that Chris & Kel had given her a couple years ago for Christmas for a restaurant that was near the apartment that they were living in AT THE TIME. Well, there was a restaurant near the zoo by the same name and we thought we would just go there instead of driving all the way across town to go to the other one. All seven us walked in and sat down, drunk some water and determined that this was NOT the same restaurant. Called and made reservations at the Andersonville restaurant. We all got up...all seven of us, and left to go to the correct restaurant!! I am sure the waitress was more than a little confused. But we made it to the right Ranalli's and had a wonderful dinner. We of course needed a little bite of something sweet and stopped and got some ice cream before we had to leave and head back home in the most northern parts of Illinois!

So that was my Saturday. Today, I am tired and my feet are sore, but I had a great time yesterday. I didn't get any pictures from the hospital but here are a couple from us on Michigan Ave.

Isn't Kelly's belly cute?

I only got half of Grandma Kat in the first picture
so here is all of her with Kelly!

Welcome to My Home- Kitchen Edition

2009-05-01T20:27:00.008-05:00

Ok, I admit it, I am a peeping tom. Not the naughty kind. But the kind that if you are so inclined to leave your curtains open, then I am so inclined to look inside as I drive by. I am not looking at you! That would be perverted. I am looking at your walls and trying to see your furniture. If it is a large picture window without any kind of a blind or sheer obstructing my view, and I can spy a knick knack or two, I am tickled to death.

But Kelly, over at Kelly's Korner, has made it so much easier. (FYI, this is not MY Kelly, this is a different Kelly.) She is hosting a Show Us Where You Liv e Friday. Every Friday she will have pictures of a certain room in her house and ask you to link up and show pictures of your home. This week it is kitchens.

So, here ya go. Take a look at my kitchen. And you don't even have to drive by slowly, I will even give you some close up shots!!

When you have peeped into my kitchen, go back up and click on the blue Show Us Where You Live link and it will take you to Kelly's blog. Then at the bottom of her post are almost 200 other kitchens you can look in on. Just think of the gas we are saving by not having to drive around and sneak peeks into these rooms!

This is looking from the dining room.
Sorry, it's kind of dark.

On either side of the sliding glass door that goes out to the deck, there are
two small walls. On one side I made this shadow box that has some of the spoons, forks
and knives that my kids used when they were babies and toddlers.
Each kid had their own special place setting. One was Mickey Mouse, one was
Sesame Street and one was Strawberry Shortcake.

I don't know if you can tell but all of the spoons from those sets are missing.
They all got thrown out when the kids would empty their cereal bowls into the trash,
spoons and all. I lost so many spoons that way.

This is the other side. The bowl with the yellow flowers belonged to my Great Aunt Elfie.
It is sitting on a small bookcase with just a few of my cookbooks.
The three pictures on the small wall on the other side of the sliding glass door are pictures of the three kids in their own kitchens. (I bet they have all THEIR spoons.)

The view from the sliding glass door looking into the dining room.

The chicken is an antique that my dad gave me and it is where I keep my salt.
I like to throw a pinch in here and there, it makes me feel like Rachael Ray!
The salt and pepper shakers were my mother-in-laws.

This is an antique desk and an old crock that my dad found.
He and my brother used to have a small antique business.
Somehow all his good finds managed to find their way into my house!

The sink.

The rolling pin was my mother-in-laws.
The sifter belonged to my grandmother.

I hope you enjoyed the tour. Come back next week and see what room we will be featuring!

Life In The Fast Lane

2009-04-27T16:41:00.004-05:00

I don't want to brag or make y'all jealous of the way I live life on the edge, but thought I would share what my weekend looked like:

Saturday:
Woke up.
Rolled over.
Woke up again.
Got up.
Sat in Recliner #1 with glass of tea and a Rice Krispie treat.
An hour later, washed face and brushed teeth.
Took a break, sat on Recliner #2.
An hour later, got dressed.
Took a nap.
An hour later, feet were cold so put on slippers.
Grab a bag of Reduced Fat Kettle Cooked Lays.
Had a snack back on Recliner #1.
Had to get up and get more tea.
Exhausted, I lounge on sofa.
I think I dozed off, not sure, but if I didn't, I have blocked an hour of the Food Network from my memory.
Stepped out side and pushed a wire through the floor of the Gazebo. (Dano made me)
While I'm up I'll grab a Weight Watcher Cookies and Cream Ice Cream Bar.
Sat in Recliner # 1 again.
Become engrossed in a book and read until it's time to move to Recliner #2.
Time for dinner. Put on real clothes, combed hair and waited in Recliner #1 for Dano to get dressed.
Went out for dinner.
Came home, put left overs in fridge.
Put on jammies.
Went to Bed.

Sunday:
Woke up after Dano hit me square on the head with his elbow.
Laid on couch and seethed with anger.
Woke up.
Sat in Recliner #1 with glass of tea and bagel.
Watched a Betty Davis movie from start to finish.
Showered.
Dressed for church.
Went to church.
Went out for lunch.
Came home, changed into sweats, took a nap.
Woke up and read more of my book.
Woke up again and read more of my book.
Got dressed for evening Bible Study.
Went to Evening Bible Study.
Went out for Pizza.
Came home.
Put jammies on.
Went to bed.

It was just a blur. Just a frenzy of activity. And I enjoyed every last minute of it.

The Proper Perspective

2009-04-21T19:44:00.003-05:00

I had a crummy day at work today. People were grouchy and argumentative. And it seems like the harder I work the less I get done.

They raised the interest rate on my credit card. If I don't use it ever again, the rate will stay the same but that means now that I have to go through all the automatic things that I have it linked to and update them. That is irritating and really makes me kind of mad.

I got a stain on one of my favorite shirts. Dang it. It's not like I have a closet full of clothes to choose from and besides I really like that shirt.

I came home and caught up on some of my favorite blogs and read this one about Stellan.

Yeah, my stuff is nothing. I'm sorry I even mentioned it.

Oh How I DON'T Miss Bowling

2009-04-17T08:00:00.000-05:00

Last weekend when we weren't eating cake, we were eating out! Usually when the kids are home I try to cook at least once or twice but I just didn't have it in me this time. I did make Lynn Wades Amazing Cheese Soup for their Easter After Church Farewell Gotta Get On The Road Dinner and it was good and not nearly as time consuming as the typical ham, potatoes, deviled eggs, salad, two vegetable, dinner rolls and Paula Deen dessert kind of meal that I would have liked to prepare!

So it ended up that we were very International this visit.
Wednesday when Steph got here we had Fiesta Cancun. I tried the Tacos Carnita's and it is now my favorite thing there. You just can't go wrong with pork!
Thursday, Elizabeth and Rob didn't get in until later so we went to Chili's before they got here. Friday, after Chris and Kelly got in, we went to Thai Basil. I had the Shrimp and Asparagus and Mushroom Trio and I give it a big thumbs up.
Saturday, after the shower Chris wanted to try a Moroccan Bistro we have in town for his birthday dinner, but we heard some bad reviews so we opted for his second choice San Jose. I know Mexican two nights in one week, but you just can't go wrong with tacos, burritos and quesadillas. Because it was Chris' birthday he got a free dessert and of course he had to wear the obligatory sombrero and so did everyone else that sat at his booth. (We had to sit a different booths because they were so busy.)

Then after dinner, for entertainment we went bowling. Let me fill you in on the root cause of my deep seated hatred of bowling. When Dano and I started dating he was on two or three bowling leagues and either because of his deep love for me or his attempt to demonstrate his masculinity, he always wanted me there. So because I was young, in love, and wasn't old enough to drive yet, I went and sat through endless hours of strikes, spares, splits and pick-ups (bowling pins, not me!). So here I was back in the bowling gallery again. And let me just say that the bowling atmosphere has not changed one iota since the mid 1970's.

It was fun to see the kids trying out their bowling gene's that was passed on to them through their father's gene pool. So with these last pictures, we close the chapter on Easter Weekend '09. It was a fun filled weekend of Baby Showers, Birthday's, Bowling and Blessings!

Dano The Bowling Legend

Liz the Budding Bowler

Steph does the bowling dance.

Chris contemplates what color ball to use next.

Rob takes this next attempt at a spare very seriously.

This is what you do when you can't bowl, you don't have your own car, and you are in love.

Party for the Little Man

2009-04-15T16:49:00.001-05:00

Last Saturday was Chris and Kelly's baby shower. It was given by Aunt Liz, Aunt Steph and Cousin Vicci. They did an amazing job....a "Martha Stewart Approved" kind of job. Great Job Girls!

The cake was beautiful, the decorations were adorable and the games were HARD!! But it was fun and Little Man Cantwell got so many nice things. The generosity of our friends and family always humbles me. Thank You from the bottom of my heart.

Here are a few pictures from the party...enjoy!

The Cake

The Diaper Cake
(one of four!)

The Games

Some of The Gifts

The Guests

We Are Family.....I Got All My Sisters and Me

2009-04-12T17:51:00.006-05:00

It doesn't take much to pull all of the Cantwell women together for a party!! But throw in cake and gifts and not one of us would miss it for the world!! I will share more about the Baby Shower later in the week.

This picture is a picture of all the women from my husbands side of the family. When I see all of these smiling faces it just blows my mind at how fortunate we are. That's not to say that there hasn't been difficult circumstances in these lives because there has been. There have been some very devastating losses and some serious health concerns. There has been heartbreaks and heartaches. But in spite of the sad times, we have remained family. We have also shared an abundance of joyful times. We have celebrated graduations, marriages, births, new homes, new jobs even new landscaping! (Remember...it doesn't take more than a reason and cake for us to celebrate!)

I count it such a blessing to be included in this group of women. Their strength, courage, kindness and love has encouraged me as much as my own flesh and blood family has.

We don't see each other nearly as often as we should or would like to. But we are always in each others hearts and prayers and never more than a phone call away. I thank God for this group of Cantwell Women.

I love you girls!!

He is Risen, He is Risen Indeed!

2009-04-12T15:30:00.004-05:00

He is risen! The tomb is empty! He Lives!!

Christmas in its miraculous splendor was only the beginning, the best was not to be realized until almost 33 years later after three days of great anguish, sorrow, pain, suffering, mourning, and hopelessness. Not until the third day when the tomb was discovered empty and the One who had come to save the world had won the battle over sin's grip on humanity was the reality of what the birth of that baby really meant to the fallen world.

It's the empty tomb that allows me to say I am forgiven. Its the empty tomb that allows me to say the debt of my sin is washed clean by the blood of the one who is no longer in the tomb. Its the empty tomb that offers the hope of salvation to every person willing to accept the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the Risen Savior as a gift of mercy.

He lives...He is Risen....I am Saved.

I hope that today has been a blessing to you. It has for me. My children were all here this weekend and have now all gone their separate ways to their separate homes to live their separate lives. But just for a few days, they were all here together. I don't take these times for granted for one moment.

I have lots to share about all the things we got to do together, but for now I will just leave you with a picture of Easter present!!

April 11, 1980 Was A Very Good Day!

2009-04-11T00:01:00.003-05:00

Happy Birthday
Chris!

Put on Your Easter Bonnet

2009-04-08T17:24:00.006-05:00

Easter 1963
Me and my basket!

Easter is just a few days away. There is still time to get out and get that extra special Easter frock. I don't know if we were rich or poor when I was growing up. Didn't know if I missed out on anything that all the other kids had or not. But I do know that every Easter we were guaranteed a new Easter outfit. I even remember one my mom made for me when I was 12 or 13.

I continued that tradition when I had children. Every year Chris would get a new suit, the girls would get a new dress, a bonnet, gloves and white patent leather shoes. And of course new hair doos. The pink sponge rollers had to go in about 3:00 Saturday afternoon in order for the hair to be good and dry by Sunday School time the next morning. Oh how I miss those days. But I am sure Chris would rather die than let me pick out his Easter duds. And the hair.....my girls would tie my hands behind my back and put me down with a strong sedative before they would even let me near their hair with sponge rollers. But I am thrilled to have them all home this weekend to celebrate Easter with me. I will take them with their unmatching, non-frilly outfits. I don't even care if they don't wear bows in their hair. I will just remember them the way the were and love them for the way they are.

Easter 1955

Danny's family minus Danny---He didn't come along for another 4 months

Easter 1983
Chris and Elizabeth

Easter 1985
Still only Chris and Elizabeth

Easter 1988
Ta Da!! Chris, Elizabeth and Stephanie

Easter 1989
Will they ever forgive me?

Happy Easter to All!!

Just Doing My Part to Stimulate the Economy!

2009-04-04T21:03:00.006-05:00

I have been a shopping maniac this week. When we first found out that my son and his wife was expecting their first baby, our first grandchild, everyone was expecting me to hit the stores and start building his wardrobe right away. But I refrained. From the results from this past week I think that was a very wise decision.

Monday I was at Babies R Us.
Tuesday I hit Target.
Wednesday I was in Kohl's (had a 30% off coupon!!).
Thursday was a trip to the mall and hit several stores there.
Friday was Walmart.
And today I went to the other Target and Kohl's.

I have requested a new debit card because the numbers on mine have been whittled down to just nubs.

I have had so much fun and wish that I could show you all the goodies I bought but I don't want Chris and Kelly to see them until the shower next weekend. I will just have to give you an idea of the amount that was purchased with this picture.

I will have lots of pictures to share after the shower.

Oh, and just so you don't think I have become selfless and turned all my Kohl's Cash over to the Little Man, I picked up a few things for myself! These are my favorites.

A Delay in Construction

2009-03-29T14:11:00.004-05:00

I know...I know...two posts in one day! How crazy can I get?

But I just wanted to fill you in on the progress of the waterfall/pond/hole-o-water. Last weekend the weather was so nice and Dano decided to start in and fulfill my heart's desire to have a waterfall next to the gazebo. Well after discussion and compromise, he dug the hole that was to soon be my pond where a small waterfall would trickle into. I was excited!!! We covered the hole with the liner and filled it to the brim with water. After a week of some heavy rain, the hole-o-water runneth over to say the least.

THIS weekend...yesterday to be exact.....he shows up after work with a pick-up full of rock that will need to be strategically placed in and around the hole-o-water. Here is what went down as he walks into the house:

Dano: "You want to come out here and help unload this rock?"

Me: "It's 30 degrees outside."

Dano: "I know, but I got the truck from work and the yard was solid enough to drive on."

Me: "But it's 30 degrees outside. And there is a winter storm warning."

Dano: "Fine, I will do it myself then."

So, in the interest of marital bliss, I donned my ear muffs, gloves, and winter coat and went outside in the wind and the 30 degree weather to help unload the rock.

Now before you get all gushy and think that Dano just wanted to make sure that the hole-o-water transformed into the beautiful waterfall/pond in time for the spring weather hear how the next conversation went down as we are standing outside in the 30 degree weather with the wind whipping around our ears and the cold, cold water is splashing up with each shovel of rock that is tossed into the overflowing hole.

Me: "Why did you decide to do this today when it was so cold?'

Dano: "What do you want me to do? Wait until it is 70 or 75 degrees and do it when there is other stuff I could be doing.....like golf?"

Yes, that's right, there we were working on our landscaping as the sleet and snow began to pepper down and the icy winds blowing right through us and the frigid droplets of water from the hole-o-water splattering us like ice pellets all for the sake of golf.

So where we stand as of right now, we have a snow covered hole-o-rock (he pumped out most of the water so we could better distribute the rock) and a mound-o-rock that is waiting to be spread in and around the soon to be a beautiful, cascade of clear H2O falling with the sound of peaceful serenity into the natural setting of Lake Frozen Toe.

Stay tuned for future updates!

Finally, My Dreams Come True

2009-03-29T08:30:00.005-05:00

Yes, God has smiled down on me again and created the Shoe Skirt!

Not since the amazing Ginsu Knife has there ever been a product that every home in America was incomplete without.

Can you imagine? All your shoes stored handily around your bed. Every morning you can throw your legs over the edge and slip into your shoe of choice. Not only will this help with closet organization, but time management as well! Amazing don't you think?

But wait, that's not all, if storing your shoes in pockets all around your bed isn't enough, they will also throw in a Handbag Organizer. However, I don't think this item will be necessary to those who invested in the Buxton Bag. Because who would ever need more than one bag when you own the Cadillac of handbags.

My life is now complete. A place in my purse for everything I own and a decorative way to store my shoes. It just don't get any better than this folks. It just don't get any better.

It Doesn't Take Much to Amuse Me.

2009-03-24T18:46:00.007-05:00

I am so bummed. American Idol isn't on tonight. 18 Kids and Counting is a rerun from back in the day when they were only 17 Kids. Toddler's and Tiara's and New York Housewives will be new, but it just won't be the same without the whole reality line up. Big sigh......

But I do have some exciting news. My new printer/scanner/ copier/fax arrived this weekend and I have successfully installed it! YEAH!

It will take me quite some time to figure it out, but oh the scanning fun we will have when I do! Just imagine, no family member, no friend, no vacation is off limits. The entire blogosphere will now be privy to every photo memory I own! I know that you are all just tingling with anticipation to see the way we were.

Well far be it from me to keep both of you on the edge like that so let me share my very first scan attempt.......are you ready?........hold your breath........here it comes..........TA DA!!!!

I know....breathtaking isn't it? And you may be wondering who that 1970's super model is. Well, let me just say that every overweight, middle-age aunt/mom/sister didn't start out that way. We too were thin, trendy and not afraid to bare our midriff.

Stay tuned, cause if I know you, you very well may be next on my "Scan-dalous" stroll down memory lane!

Mirror Mirror On The Wall......

2009-03-19T19:34:00.004-05:00

......Who's the Fairest of them all? Amber is!!

I got the most precious gift today from my sweet niece, Amber. She just returned from her Spring Break trip to San Diego. OK....before I go on I just want to know.....Since when did we start getting spring breaks from preschool anyway? I seriously want to know this 'cause I honestly think I was denied several good trips back in my preschool days....wait I didn't go to preschool. That explains why I can't balance my checkbook....I was not educated to my fullest potential. That's just great. Here I sit working for the man while all my friends who got their preschool diplomas are CEO's, Bankers, and Presidential Advisers. Life just ain't fair.

But back to Princess Amber.....she brought me back this adorable princess picture frame with a picture of none other than Amber herself and the most royal princess you have ever seen.
While she was working the Preschoolers Gone Wild thing she got to have breakfast with the Princesses at Disney Land and had some great photo ops with the blue bloods there in the Land of Disney. Not bad for a 5 year old who can barely read and write! Who wouldn't want to have lifetime keepsakes of you and Ariel, Cinderella and Snow White. (I understand that Jasmine was AWOL...tsk tsk even a princess needs some "me" time I guess.)

Thanks for the great gift Amber! Can't wait to see what kind of trips are planned for Spring Break Elementary Style!! South Padre Island or Bust!! Wooo Hooo!

It's A Sad Sad Day in March

2009-03-15T20:00:00.002-05:00

Normally I get quite excited about this very special day known as "Selection Sunday." It is the day that college basketball fans live for.

It is the day that for the last 17 years the dynasty known as the Kentucky Wildcats has been seeded somewhere in the field of 65 best college basketball teams in America. Today, however, it is with gut wrenching grief I must report that the once feared, once respected, Kentucky Wildcats will not be dancing this year. Oh how it hurts to say that. Please give me a moment to compose my sobbing self.

What makes this day even more humiliating is that the Minnesota Gophers will be dancing...the Minnesota Gophers that the former UK coach Tubby Smith coaches. But that is not the worst of it, if only it was, no the worst part is the Louisville Cardinals are seeded #1. I must mention for you novice college basketball fans that the Cards are coached by the former UK coach Rick Pitino. I think Rick Pitino is the Anti-Christ. Maybe that is a little harsh, I apologize, ....but if he isn't the Anti-Christ he is at least the well groomed spawn of Satan.

So, if you run into me in the mall somewhere and I blankly stare at you as though I have lost my best friend, please give me a gentle hug and remind me that March will be over soon and that there will be another March next year.

Please take a moment of silence to give honor to my beloved Cats and what they have accomplished and what they will accomplish again......soon I hope!!

Amazing Soup How Sweet It Tastes

2009-03-12T20:40:00.004-05:00

Here are the promised soup recipes from the retreat. Enjoy!!

Lynn Wade's Amazing Cheese Soup
1 qt water
1 cup diced celery
2 1/2 cups diced potatoes
2 cans cream of chicken soup
2 chicken bouillon cubes
1/2 cup diced onions
1 cup diced carrots
1 16 oz bag of frozen California vegetables
1 lb Velveeta cheese cut into small pieces (don't use lowfat!!)

Bring water to boil, add all vegetables and bouillon cubes. Reduce, cover, cook 30 minutes till veggies are cooked. Add cream of chicken soup and Velveeta. Cook until melted and warm through.

Makes 10-12 servings

Mama Mia Pat's Italian Sausage Soup
1 lb Italian sausage
1 clove garlic
2 14 oz cans beef broth
1 14.5 oz can of Italian style stewed tomatoes
1 cup slice carrots
1 14.5 oz can great Northern beans, undrained
2 small zucchini cubed
2 cups spinach, packed, rinsed, torn
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp salt

In a stockpot or dutch oven, brown sausage with garlic. Stir in broth, tomatoes and carrots and season with salt and pepper. reduce heat, cover and simmer 15 minutes.

Stir in beans with liquid and zucchini. Cover and simmer another 15 minutes or until zucchini is tender.

Remove from heat, add spinach. Replace lid allowing the heat from the soup to cook the spinach leaves.

Walking Worthy

2009-03-09T18:52:00.010-05:00

Ok, what does cute shoes, walking worthy, scrap booking, AMAZING cheese soup and praise music have in common? They were all part of our annual women's retreat last Saturday.

Every other year our Women's Ministry puts together a retreat for the women of our church. Usually, we do an overnighter with a local speaker or a friend of a friend that will lead us, but this year we pulled out all the stops and was blessed to have author and columnist Rhonda Rhea as our guest speaker.

Rhonda spoke to us about Walking Worthy in Way cute shoes....hence the table decor.

Friday night we had a little get together. Some did a little crafting, some did a little scrap booking and some watched a movie.

Then bright and early Saturday morning we started off with breakfast of yummy home made goodies.

Then it was on to Vicci and the Epips.... aka Ephiphany! Now let me tell you, they led us in some worship music. That led us right up to our special guest, Rhonda Rhea.

Rhonda got real and personal with us. Who knew authors and speakers have droopy bosoms and chin hair issues just like the rest of us?!? I don't feel so bad now! In fact, I kind of feel like....Wonder Woman!!

Rhonda brought us a word from the book of Colossians and laid the truth right out there. Anybody in the room that had an ear open heard the gospel loud and clear!! We were challenged to ask big, spend time with God so we can know Him and know his will, and to walk worthy. Preach sister!!

Then is it was lunchtime. Oh my! Two kinds of soup, salad, homemade rolls, banana puddn', and the cutest little shoe cookies you have ever seen. All made with love and prayers by our very own Pat and Jackie! I promise to get the soup recipes and post them soon.

All in all it was a good day! Food, Fun, Friends and a word fitly spoken.

Enjoy a few more pictures from the day!!
Praise Him in the back of the room!

Praise Him in the front!!

Crystal, Melissa and Bonnie.
(thanks Melissa for keeping the banana pudding IN the mouth!!)

Nancy, the top of Lori's head, Gail, Novella and the back of Kim's head!!

Nikki and Stefani
Yeah!! Stefani won a prize!!

Pat and the Honorable Rhonda Rhea!
Rhonda's the one with the poofy blue sweater.

Me and the Retreat Goddess!

Map Quest

2009-03-01T14:54:00.003-06:00

Here's a little geography test for you!! Click here and you will find a blank map of the United States then you will have to drag and drop each state into its proper place. Not as easy as you think. Who knew that Rhode Island belonged there?

Feeling brave? Click here and try it with the European Countries!! Yeah, I'm gonna need some serious GPS help should I ever get the chance to travel to Eastern Europe.

Have fun!! Let me know how you did.

Child of the Mountains

2009-02-23T20:46:00.004-06:00

I just read this post over at Annie's Blog and she is talking about the 20/20 show on "Children of the Mountains" in which Diane Sawyer, a Kentucky native, talks about the struggle the children in Appalachia face to have even the basic necessities of life.

I was born in Pikeville Methodist Hospital in Pikeville, Kentucky, so I am familiar with some of the areas Diane Sawyer visits. I still have a lot of family there and in the surrounding area and let me say that not everyone in the Appalachians fit the description, or better yet, the stereotype portrayed in this piece.

What they say is true. I have seen some of the places they were talking about. I have had family members touched by the addiction to the prescription drugs and the alcoholism they reported. I have seen first hand the economic disparity that exists in the hills of Eastern Kentucky. The poverty is real.

I realize that the piece was an attempt to bring light to a spiraling situation that seems to have no end for the young children born and raised in the hills to impoverished families. I in no way mean to demean the purpose of the report. It was accurate and hopefully will bring the much needed attention to an area that is often forgotten.

What I would like to focus on though is the heritage I have been given by my connection to my family there. I didn't grow up there. In fact, I only lived in the area the first five years of my life. But the influence is still very evident in who I am today.

I am sad for my own children who really will never appreciate how their ancestors built a life out of little or nothing. They will never experience visiting Aunt Elfie and Uncle Banner and using the outhouse, drawing water from their well or watching them throw coal on the fire used to heat their entire house.....in the late 1960's early'70's. They will never shop at a general store where the owners lived in the back of the store. They will never know a Will Pinson, an old man who had nothing in life but hard work, but still had a candy bar (albeit old and stale) for a kid from up north visiting her grandparents.

It amuses me that my kids shop "organic" at a big chain store or farmers markets when their great-grandfather had a garden near the size of our entire back yard. The size of his broccoli and the sweetness of his corn was a great source of pride for him. The produce he so tenderly cared for was not a hobby, but a way to feed his large family.

They will never see first hand some of the traditions that have long since passed on. I can remember when we would all be together for a big family dinner, all the men would gather around the table and eat first. Then when they were done, the women would sit down and eat. It wasn't as though the women were banished from the table, it was just the way it was. There wasn't enough room for everyone to sit, so the men got to first.

Coming face to face with a loaded coal truck on a narrow road on the side of hill will cause an atheist to pray out loud. And playing in the creek all day long catching crawdads is something that every kid should experience at least once in their lifetime.

One experience that will stay with me forever is funerals. Although times have changed, I can remember funerals of my great-grandparents where the body of the deceased was brought to their home and was laid out in the living room for three days. Visitors would call at the home and always...always brought food. There was so much food there wasn't room for it. Services were held every night. A service would include singing, without any form of accompaniment, and the leader would say the first line in a chant like tone and the congregation would repeat it in a tune like manner. All the while during the singing, people are going from person to person shaking hands. After the singing, two, three or four preachers would each bring a message. Not an uplifting "he's with Jesus" kind of message but a "get your life right or your a goin' to hell" kind of message. (Visit the web site Blessed Hope Services to get a taste of what I am describing.) On the day of the funeral, the body is moved to the church. Now in Pike County the congregation moves from church to church. My great- grandpa Maynard's funeral was held in Brushy Creek. My Grandma and Grandpa's funeral was at the Apple Orchard Church. But the services were the same, singing, hand shaking and preaching. After all the preaching was done the pall bearers would take the casket and carry it to the grave, if the grave yard was nearby, or it would be put in the hearse and taken to the cemetery where there would be a little more singing and a little more preaching. Then it was time to go back to the house and eat.

Yes, the hills and hollers hold deep devastation for some. But for me, they hold a wealth of memories I will forever cherish. I pray that the cycle will soon be broken for those caught in the trap of despair and hopelessness. What my prayer for those fighting this up hill battle is that they gain a victory over their poverty and lack of education without loosing their identity. I pray that the legacy they will leave for the future "Children of the Mountains" will be one of pride in their heritage, a strength to overcome adversity much like their forefathers, and new faith in the One True God that will be passed on from this point forward.

High Brow Living...

2009-02-20T20:15:00.009-06:00

My mother has been reading my blog and has taken offense to a few of the posts. In particular the bread bag ordeal and her part in the chain of hair disasters that would eventually follow me most of my life.

Lest you think that all of my humbling experiences have come at the hand of my dear, devoted Mom, let me share an embarrassing experience that happened at my own hand....or slip thereof.

Let me explain. I have always been very sensitive, almost embarrassed, by my eyebrows. I thought they were as big as woolly caterpillars. I would barely look anyone in the eye. Honestly, grown men would die for mustaches as thick and full as my eyebrows were.

Being at the very critical age of 12 or 13, I decided it was time to get these mammoths under control. Being too shy and ashamed to ask anyone for help, I thought I could trim them up myself.

Now let me first set the stage. I grew up in the 70's and full wall mirrors were quite the rage. We just happened to have a wall-o- mirror behind our bath tub. (I just realized where my totally warped sense of body image came from.) Back to the taming of the brows. As I sat soaking in the tub, staring with deep disgust at the row of fur running across my forehead I came up with what I thought was a solution to my problem.

I grabbed my Dad's razor and proceeded with my plan. I took a little off the bottom and trimmed the tops. The right side looked gorgeous!! Thin and nicely rounded at the arch. I was feeling more confident already. As I proceeded to trim up the top of the left caterpillar brow, my elbow slipped off my knee and the razor removed exactly half of the inner part of my eyebrow. There I sat in a tepid tub of water with my beautifully shaped right eyebrow and half of a caterpillar on the left.

I was too shocked to cry and too mortified to get help from my mom. I immediately got out of the tub, got dressed and found my mom's eyebrow pencil thinking I could fill the barren spot in. Well let me tell you that didn't work, it was very conspicuous. Caterpillars have a lot of depth to them you know.

The next morning as I was getting dressed for school I had no idea how to deal with this situation. The best I could come up with was to part my very straight hair on the side and swoop it down over my eye making me look very mysterious I thought. "This will work" I thought to myself. Just as long as there is no wind and I don't have to move my head to the right or the left no one will know that a decapitated caterpillar lurks beneath the bang. That is until I got to school and someone asked me why I was wearing my hair like that? Quickly thinking on my feet my reply was "My Mom.....she is MAKING me." They bought it. Or they just didn't care and made mental notes not to fiddle with their own eyebrows.

After what seemed like months, my caterpillar friend filled back in and stayed stuck to my face until my late teens when a friend showed me the finer points of tweezers and plucking.

I wish I could say that now that I am older I don't care what people think about how I look, but that would be untrue. Because now my eyebrows are thinner, but the rest of me isn't and that brings on a whole other set of insecurities.

BEFORE

AFTER

Reality Roll Call!!!

2009-02-18T17:14:00.008-06:00

I don't watch a lot of TV, but last night I was glued to my chair. It was a reality show heaven. Just let me tell you. I am so tired right now cause I was up past 11:00 watching TV. I had to, I was drawn into the fantasy lives of reality TV. Let me fill you in.

First I started out at about 6:00 with an appetizer of Andy Griffith. I know, Andy Griffith is not reality...I just wish it was. Anyway, that took me up to the main course of American Idol with a side of Duggar's 17 Kids and Counting.

AI was so sad. Those people were up there just singing their little hearts out and winking and jerking all over the stage. But even with my severe lack of musical training or talent even I could see how bad some of them were. I felt so bad for them. It was really very sad, cause they all can sing way better than me, but not good enough to face "The Judges". Dawg, I just wasn't gettin' it. In fact I really even kind of felt sorry for the judges cause they were trying so hard not to be harsh.

There were a couple shining stars though. And the guy I am pulling for was the final act. Danny Gokey is not only a good vocalist, but seems like a nice guy. Ricky Braddy, Alexis Grace, Annop Desai were also good.

There are still 24 more to hear from and that will take two more weeks to hear them. After all 36 contestants have performed, the group will be pared down to the top 12. I will spare you the details of how that will be determined.

So during the commercials of AI I was flipping over to TLC to watch 17 Kids and Counting. It is the show about Michelle and Jim Bob (not any relation to the Jim Bob on the Waltons) Duggar and their 18 kids. Yes, they have 18 children and Michelle, bless her heart has birthed every single one of them. The show is called 17 Kids and Counting because the 18th baby was born just a few months ago....I imagine they will change the name to 18 Kids and Counting, but I'm just guessing on that.

Besides Michelle the mom and Jim Bob the dad there is Joshua, Jana, John-David, Jill, Jessa, Jinger, Joseph, Josiah, Joy-Anna, Jedediah, Jeremiah, Jason, James, Justin, Jackson, Johanna, Jennifer and Jordyn-Grace. Please be amazed that I typed those all from memory....not really, but that would be impressive!!

This week the older kids got to go with Dad to El Salvador to give Christmas gifts to the orphans there. I just love this family. The make their own soap, each month they buy $1200 worth of groceries from Aldi's, buy their shoes in bulk from the Salvation Army and still have time to serve the orphans in a foreign country. They are amazing.

So as American Idol/17 Kids faded into Toddlers and Tiaras my eyes were getting heavy, but I was NOT giving up. There was still some good reality yet to come. So Tods and Tiaras is about beauty pageants for little girls newborn to teens. Oh my gosh, Puleeeeze....there was a woman on there that took a 2nd job to pay for her 11 year old daughters pageants and all the dresses that go along with it and her Dad had to walk when he golfed 'cause all the extra money went to fru fru stuff and not the basic necessities of life such as golf carts. This young girl hung her heart out on the line just to take third runner up in a competition of 4 girls in her age bracket. How and why would anyone do that to their little girl? Don't we women grow up with enough self-esteem issues, insecurities and self image problems without dragging our daughters all over the land and parading them up against teeny tiny little sprites whose only goal in life is to become Miss South Carolina and maybe even Miss America? Really.

So the only reason I tolerated the ego pummeling of pre-adolescent young girls is because at 10:00 the season opener of Real Housewives of New York was on. YEAH!!!! These women crack me up. They are a bunch of women who are true legends in their own minds. I don't watch the housewives of Orange County cause there is just too much bleach, botox and bosom for me on that one. I watch the Atlanta wives, but the New York girls are my favorites.

First you have Jill, she grew up on Long Island and married money, so now she is a serious socialite.

Bethenny, is single. It appears as though Bethenny made a visit to Dr. 10121 (that is a zip code in Manhattan...clever don't you think?) over the break. She had way less waist and way more .... um....let's just say her string bikini top runneth over.

Ramona is just a ditz. A mean ditz at that.

LuAnn de Lesseps is married to a count which makes her a countess. She really has to be careful when it rains cause her nose is so high up in the air she could drown.

Then there is Alex and Simon. Alex is the wife and Simon is the husband and they both are some serious wannabes. They are pathetic little social climbers. They had to rent their home in the Hamptons while Jill, LuAnn and Ramona all own their summer get aways. How pitiful is that.

And now there is a new wife....Kelly something, I don't know. I was dazed by the time she showed up. I will have to pay more attention next week when the show comes on a little earlier in the evening.

So now you are all up to date on my Reality Roll Call. I'm going to bed cause I can't hold my eyes open any longer!!

Happy Valentines Day!

2009-02-14T09:39:00.005-06:00

Valentine's Day.... a day set aside for love and romance. The Bible is just brimming with love stories. In fact, the Bible IS a love story. The best kind of love. The love of the Holy God of the universe that would sacrifice his only Son so that sin saturated people like myself can be made clean and pure and presentable to Himself. Yes, that is the very best kind of love story.

There are some verses in the Bible that are often read at weddings. First Corinthians chapter 13, verses 4 through 8 for instance. They are just perfect to reflect on as a man and woman begin their life together. They hold so much wisdom to help a couple/family through the good times and bad. They have that warm, lovey dovey feel to them that suits a wedding ceremony, but as I read them I see them reaching far beyond the romantic love relationship. I see them as needing to apply to every day occurrences. Let's take a look:

Verse four "Love is patient; love is kind." - Now absolutely we need to be patient and kind to our Valentine sweetie. But this verse needs to be applied to that disgruntled Wal-Mart clerk that simply shrugs his shoulders when you ask him where you can find the tapioca. How quick are we to storm off in a huff belittling this young man and spouting off "Back in MY day the customer was the priority." references. Do you think that Paul was speaking to us about being patient and kind to that person? Absolutely he was.

Verse four continues on with "Love does not envy; is not boastful; is not conceited."- Again, easily applied to the person that you share your life with. But it is essential in your day to day life with neighbors, friends and coworkers. It reminds us to keep our envy in check when our coworker achieves something that maybe we thought we deserved. Or, on the other hand, to accept our achievements humbly. Sometimes the way we succeed speaks far louder to others than the way we loose. We would do well to remember that it wasn't on our own merits we have succeeded, but only by God's grace.

Verse 5 - "[Love] does not act improperly; is not selfish;" - Love does not have road rage. Love does not stand in front of a young girl who has a candy bar and a bottle of pop with its grocery cart overflowing with a months worth of groceries. Love does not gossip. Love shovels your neighbors drive after a snowstorm. When we have an investment in someone, we find it easy to think of them in unselfish terms, but when it is a stranger, maybe even someone we have never even come face to face with, we are admonished to not be selfish with our time or our material blessings.

Verse 5b - 6 - "[Love] is not provoked; does not keep a record of wrongs; finds no joy in unrighteousness, but rejoices in the truth;" - It is easy to keep the peace and forgive and forget when it is someone that lives in the same home with you. But what about the neighbor who continually lets his dog out to do his business in your yard? Love does not gossip. (didn't I just say that earlier? Hmm....) Why are magazines like the National Enquirer or People so popular? Because we like to see others broken-ness, their failures. This is in complete contradiction to this verse. We should find no joy in unrighteousness. Brittany Spears fall from her self-made pedestal should not be considered entertainment for us. It should break our hearts.

Finally verses 7-8 "[Love] bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends" - Love has big shoulders. Love, with God's wisdom, sees the best in everyone. Love, knowing that with God all things are possible, hopes and waits through the very worst of times for the victory. And the icing on the Valentine Cake is the love of God will never end. His love is full of grace and mercy and will last an eternity. It is ours forever if we will only accept it.

Happy Valentines Day to all of you and your sweethearts!!

Happy Birthday To Me ........and Abe!!

2009-02-12T06:29:00.002-06:00

For all the advances in medicine, there is still no cure for the common birthday. - John Glenn

Wow, 365 days from now and I will be a half a century old. Can't think of anything more to say than wow. Wow.

Normally I don't like to draw attention to myself on my birthday. I feel that Lincoln far more deserves the recognition than me. I have always felt a very close kinship to Abe. We are both honest. We were both born on Feb 12. We both were born in Kentucky. We both moved to Illinois. However, the similarities end there, I am not tall and thin with a beard and I used paper and pencils in school, not chunks of coal on a shovel.

So as I pondered over my last year being 40 something, I made a list of things I want to do before I turn 50 and wanted to share them so that maybe I will be more inclined to accomplish them. I was going to try to be all cute and say these are the 49 things I want to do before I turn 50, but I have only got a year left to do them all and I'm just too tired to do 49 things!!

So anyway here is my Birthday Wish List for my 49th Birthday. There is nothing on here even close to the emancipation of an entire race of people, but then again, I'm not Abe Lincoln:

1. Loose weight.
2. Completely pay off my credit card.
3. Build a water fall in the back yard.
4. Meet at least one new person a week.
5. Take a photography class.
6. Eliminate or at least drastically reduce red meat from my diet.
7. Memorize 25 scripture verses.
8. Go to Alaska
9. Organize my photographs.
10. Increase my vocabulary.

That's ten things to work on over the next year. Those should keep me busy!

Bambi the Birdseed Bandit

2009-02-10T18:51:00.009-06:00

I have always suspected it, but had never had solid proof to confirm it. Now I do.

As part of the aging process, one is expected to do silly little things that amuse and occupy the one that is growing old gracefully. Over the last few years my diversion has been feeding the birds.

Now relax, I am not sitting on park benches tossing crumbs to the gathering pigeons.....yet. But I have hung multiple bird feeders about the yard. I started with one bird feeder out by my gazebo. Then came the finch feeder right up by the family room window. This year I added a suet cage and hung a much larger feeder in the front of the house. Now laugh if you will, but it is very comforting to see the different birds that visit my feeders. I see quite a few cardinals, chickadees, woodpeckers, doves, sparrows and finches. There have even been some that I didn't know what they were. That is the next stage...buying field guides to help identify the different species that I see. I'm not there yet, but I am sure it is just around the corner, along with bird watching clubs and vacations.

So this little hobby of mine had started to cost a little bit more than what I expected. Who thought that those tiny little birds could eat so much? But honestly as much seed as I have gone through, these birds should be as big as basketballs. Then I started seeing the evidence...the footprints. Deer. Lots of them too. But I had never caught one in action until this weekend.

Sunday morning as we were getting ready for church, I looked out the front window and see this.

So I followed them around the back of the house and right there in the middle of the morning, in broad daylight, in front of God and everybody they stop for a snack!!!

Needless to say as I sit here and type all of the bird feeders are empty right now. I have to go buy some more seed and hopefully the little birds will get some before the big, fat, stupid deer get it all. I'm sorry, that wasn't very nice. But neither is raiding my bird feeders. And if they stomped all over my rose bushes I am really gonna be mad.

As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. Psalm 42:1

Congratulations!!

2009-02-08T18:35:00.005-06:00

Congratulations are in order for my mom and her fiance', Charlie!! Charlie and Mom announced today that they are making plans and preparations to be married later this year.

I am happy for her because I know it has been a long, lonely road for her since my dad passed almost 5 years ago. Charlie is also a widower and experienced a similar difficult passing of his wife about 4 years ago. Neither my Mom or Charlie ever expected to find happiness again with another mate, but God is good and saw fit that they should find one another and begin to share their lives together.

As God would have it, they both bought condos in the same complex and met as they were out and about in the neighborhood. As cordial hellos grew to friendly chats over coffee then on to dinners and movies, their relationship grew. They both fill a need in the other for love and companionship. And the rest is not so much history as it is the future.

I wish them both much joy and happiness in the years to come. I love you Mom!

Kings and Paupers...

2009-02-07T15:05:00.015-06:00

In my post about our trip to Chris and Kelly's last weekend I mentioned we took a break in the nursery painting and visited the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago. Now before I go any further, please do not think of me of some deep, intellectual person that lingers in or around places of higher education. I am not deep or intellectual. Nor am I a historian. I have given birth and a happy childhood to one, but I am not one myself. Because Chris is very passionate about his field of history, he sometimes shares some of what he learns with me, and as a result I expand my knowledge base by teeny tiny bits. I love it!!

In the Institute we saw some huge sections of sculptured walls of the palace of Khorsabad, that belonged to an Assyrian king by the name of King Sargon II. They were huge, and very well preserved considering the era they were from was around 717 to 706 B.C. That's pretty stinking old. These sections of wall are the actual, real walls that were excavated in the late 1920's. Only three other museums have parts of this wall The Iraq National Museum in Baghdad, The Louvre in Paris, and the British Museum in London. This was very important to me, because I don't like to get too excited over imitations or replicas!!

We also saw some lions that would have graced the walls on the way out of the city of Babylon during the reign of King Nebuchadnezzar of Daniel in the Lion's Den fame. There were about 120 of these lions that were lined up on this passage way but only two were in the museum. I found it interesting that the paint on these was still very visible. This was also interesting to me to see something that would have been a part the Bible times that I have read and studied about.

I thought about the men that had to do all the carving on that wall and how amazing it was to be there looking at it so along after they had done the work. I also appreciated the fact that all of that was done by hand with very primitive tools.

So as I am looking at all of this, and some of the other exhibits, I start to think.....what would people find from my "palace" over 2000 years from now? Will people know that the one red wall on the side of my family room was very fashionable during its time or will they think I was poor and could only afford enough paint that color to paint one wall?

Will they know that I never liked the laminate floor in the kitchen, but it was practical? When they find the hundred or more cookbooks, will the think I was a chef or catch on to the fact I just liked cookbooks?

How will they explain the multiple jean sizes in the drawers? Will they be astonished at the number of black shoes in the closet? Will my Vera Bradley purses be hung in temperature controlled cases?

Will it confuse them to find the antiques that I have collected and assume that I lived during the late 1800's? That would be hard to explain if they find the antique crock that is sitting right next to the flat screen TV. Will the fact that the washer and dryer is under the house puzzle them?

I don't know what they will find. Or if anyone would even care what some of the junk is that will be left behind. I just hope pieces of my house won't end up in some Midwestern Institute of the University of Tomorrow for all the world to see, especially if I don't get the new carpet I so desperately need.

So I guess there is no more question as to my intellect. It is simple and shallow. But what can I say, that's me and that is what I want my legacy to look like. Simple, sincere and genuine. I suppose it would be an honor to have a room dedicated to my life and all the things I had acquired in it, but who wants thier stuff to go to Baghdad anyway? Not me.

Yummy in the Tummy #4

2009-02-07T14:54:00.004-06:00

Hmmm, this was good!!

MOROCCAN CHICKEN THIGHS
1/2 tsp brown sugar
1/2 tsp ground coriander
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp paprika
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1/8 tsp garlic powder
1/8 tsp salt
t/8 tsp pepper
2 tsp all purpose flour
4 chicken thighs skin removed (I used the boneless, skinless kind and also threw in a boneless, skinless breast)
1 1/2 tsp olive oil
Couscous cooked per package directions

Sauce:
2 shallots chopped
1/2 cup plus 2 Tbls chicken broth, divided
4 pitted dates, chopped
1 tsp all purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp minced fresh cilantro

In a small bowl, combine the first eight ingredients. set aside 1 tsp spice mixture; add flour to remaining mixture and sprinkle over chicken.

In a large nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray, brown chicken in oil on both sides. Remove and keep warm. Add shallots to pan; cook and stir over medium heat for 3 minutes. Stir in 1/2 cup broth and dates. Bring to boil. reduce heat; return chicken to pan. Cover and simmer for 20-25 minutes or until chicken juices run clear. ( I had to add a little bit more broth because it was getting too thick)

Remove chicken and keep warm. combine flour with reserved spice mixture and remaining broth until smooth; gradually stir into pan. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Stir in cilantro. Serve sauce with chicken and couscous.