Wednesday, July 31, 2013

An Inspirational Hodge Podge


1. Share one way you think the world has changed for the better since you were a kid?
I'm not sure I think the world has changed for the better....when I was a kid, we spent a lot of time outdoors, we got more exercise because we worked and played hard....we learned the value of money earned and were more easily and cheaply entertained....we had respect for our elders and learned manners....on the other hand, girls certainly have the promise of more opportunities to excel in careers than we did...technology has put the world at our fingertips and communication is easier...still I can't say the world is a better place.

2. How 'bout one way it's changed for the worse?
I guess I covered that in my rant above except to say families don't spend as much quality time together

3. Starlight, starfish, starling, Starbucks...your favorite 'star'?
starlight, when we can see them

4. Name a song that's overplayed, but you love it anyway.
I don't listen to the radio that much

5. When did you last have home made ice cream? Your latest favorite flavor?
It has been over a year (mostly because of the way it wrecks my diet)....we usually make vanilla and let everyone add toppings of their choice....but my favorite will always be peach

6. What do you think is the best way to inspire or motivate people?
Well, money works....at least when you need help with some chore around the house........I think I've inspired my Granddaughter to be more like me but I'm not sure how I did that....
I will say that a good manager who respects and cares about his or her employees, seems to inspire more courteous and polite workers
7. When was the last time you were without power?
Our electricity was off for a short time a couple of weeks ago but the last major power outage was after the tornadoes of April 2011 when it was off for 5 days

8. Insert your own random thought here.
It is raining here this morning and that is a good thing since it has been about a week since we had any and it will be good for the garden and flowers.........we aren't having the extremely high heat indexes that are normal for August and that's a good thing, too.....

Pop over to visit Joyce at "From this side of the Pond" to play along.
Thanks, Joyce.

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

A Simple Woman's Daybook


FOR TODAY...Tuesday, July 30, 2013, 8:02 am

Outside my window...a tiny vole ....a young rabbit.....sunshine...a Cardinal on the feeder and pretty blooms

I am thinking...time for another cup of coffee

I am thankful...for sunshine...cooler temperatures...friends....a loving partner.....fresh tomatoes 

From the kitchen...a basket of ripe tomatoes and a basket of peaches....looking for peach pie recipes.....BLTs for dinner

I am wearing...pink pjs

I am creating...this blog post....plans for other projects

I am going...to Publix this morning

One year ago today...the high was 94....we were getting Okra from the garden, enough to put in the freezer......the Princess was coming to spend the day...I was reading "These is My Words" and "Heart of the Sea".....I shared this photo...

We saw the adult at the feeder this past Sunday but no baby so far...

I am wondering...if I have any frozen ground beef in the freezer to make stuffed peppers....might have to buy some

These days I'm reading..."Green Darkness"

I am praying...for Honey Bear....Genece...my children and grandchildren....Shorty Bear....

I remember when...Summer's School vacation seemed much longer

I am looking forward to...spending some time with my Daughter 

A verse for today...John 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

Discovering that....I can blog every day if I just set my mind to it...

I am hearing...the AC just clicked on....the ceiling fan....clocks ticking....it really is pretty quiet in the house


Around the house...Smokey is sleeping on the window seat beside me....Honey Bear has left for work.....I need to do something with the peaches.....laundry (always)....bed to make....

Song that stays on my Mind...



A favorite quote for today...“What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness.” 
― John SteinbeckTravels with Charley: In Search of America
One of my favorite things...fresh peaches

A few plans for the rest of the week:lunch with friends tomorrow....lunch with daughter Thursday....Book Club on Friday....WOTY luncheon on Saturday

From my photo file....

From the Garden....a few Squash and Potatoes still showing up......Bell Pepper.....Tomatoes.....a few pods of Okra.....Blackberries.....

What's happening in your world, today?
Mama Bear

Monday, July 29, 2013

Monday Quiz About Me

  
1. What is your favorite pair of shoes?
A pair of Croft and Barrow sports sandals (this summer)
2. Do you get embarrassed easily?
Sort of.

3. What makes you cringe?
hearing someone use foul language

4. July 29th is National Lasagna day... are you celebrating?  What kind of lasagna do you prefer?
Probably not...I don't make lasagna often because it is too much food for just two and there is too much leftover....I made it when my sister visited in May and sent half home with her.....I do love cannelloni and think it is about time I went to Terranova's for lunch...

My random question: Does anyone have a pattern for a penny rug?

Stop by over at Acting Balance and visit Heather if you want to play along.

Sunday, July 28, 2013

Sunday Morning Coming Down


Let's see what did I do yesterday....
     Honey Bear and I always cook breakfast together on Saturday morning....we enjoyed bacon, scrambled eggs, juice, toast for me-biscuits for him and coffee....I always have one cup of coffee prior to cooking breakfast.......He does the bread, sets the table and pours the juice....I scramble the eggs and cook the bacon...We say grace while holding hands and then as we eat, we look out the window at the flowers, the garden, the birds and whatever other wildlife happens to be hopping or scurrying around out there....
     I worked a little while in my studio.....attached the flap and lining onto the bag I'm making and then realized I had put the flap on the wrong side so I had to take out all of that stitching and do it over....Have I mentioned here that I hate do-overs?
     Honey Bear went out and worked some on the garden shed....He has the decking on the roof now and needed to make sure it was square and then place more nails in the boards....next is the shingles and then the walls....he is not in any hurry to finish and just works on it whenever he is in the mood.....Since most of the material for the shed was picked up on the curbside, it is costing very little to build....I'll show you photos soon....when he tired and sat down by the chicken tractor to rest, I carried out to him a glass of Gatorade.
     Meanwhile, back in the house, I cleaned the kitchen, made the bed, washed and dried his uniforms and then started in on some prep for dinner.....I sauteed the last of our squash with some onion and a little olive oil.....put a pot of peas on to simmer, made a Blackberry Cobbler and a bowl of slaw.....after Happy Hour, I baked some Parmesan Pork Chops....we also had fresh tomatoes and cornbread.
    After dinner, Honey Bear wanted to watch a documentary on Netflix.....It had been over a year since I'd used the Wii and the batteries in the remotes weren't charged so I had to borrow some from my camera....then it seemed my Netflix ab on Wii was outdated and updates had to be downloaded....it was 8:30 before we finally were ready to watch: Happy........I have to say here that we seldom turn on the television......I would kind of like to get a flat screen but since we watch it so seldom, I'm not sure we can justify the cost.....It sure would be nice to have one when we begin watching football every Saturday afternoon and evening.....we'll see....
      We decided we wouldn't go to church this morning and slept in until around 7:00 am......we've just been lazy since then....I did finish the bag and am ready to start on a couple of other projects that I have in mind before time for our annual Cultural Arts contest in September......
     Now, I'm contemplating whether the two of us should get in the car and go for a drive or just continue to laze around here the rest of the day....
     Hope you're having a wonderful weekend.......believe it or not, this makes 7 posts for me this week......incredible, I know.
Mama Bear

Saturday, July 27, 2013

Green Day


I have a few outdoor photos to share this week...



Okay, this wasn't taken outside but the vegetables in the soup were once growing outside.


Here is my Mandevilla after repotting....I've had this one 3  years.
our zone is too cold for it in the Winter so it has to be taken inside when the 
temperatures fall....

It has just started to bloom and is such a blessing to me.....

And this guy was seen recently, outside a shop in Franklin, Tennessee...

Friday, July 26, 2013

Funny Friday


Good morning, all
Little Bear here
reporting in Wil's absence 
as he is still away at 

We all went up for bearants day last weekend...
we had loads of fun walking the trails

canoeing and tubing on the lake

And seeing Wil surrounded by all his friends...


Thursday, July 25, 2013

Thankful Thursday


Today, I'm thankful for 
simple things:
Coffee first thing in the morning
Two Rabbits playing in the back yard
Honey Bear and me dining out last night
Hearing from my son 
A good book
A cool house
Fresh produce
The love and companionship of a good man
A clean house
Peace that surpasses all understanding

What are you thankful for today?

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Hodge Podge Vol. 144


1. July 24th is Amelia Earhart Day.  Earhart was the first female to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean.  What's something you've recently accomplished solo? 
prepared and canned 14 quarts of soup

2.  What's one product you use that never ever fails?
Clorox Disinfectant Wipes

3. Have you found your place in the world? Where is it?
Yes, anywhere my Honey Bear is....

4.  Worst movie you ever saw?
Training Day......I didn't watch more than 15 minutes....the language was so bad, I've always enjoyed Denzel Washington's movies but this one was disappointing.

5. What's the last fun thing you did?
Honey Bear and I sat on the back porch Saturday evening

6. The month of July is named for Roman Emperor Julius Caesar...ever been to Rome? What's your favorite Italian dish?
Chicken Cannelloni from Terranova's

7. What is one piece of advice you'd offer new mom Kate Middleton?
Try to keep your children out of the public eye.....the world is obsessed with the Royals

8.  Insert your own random thought here.
Anybody seen the movie: Red 2?

Thanks, Joyce for coming up with great questions every week which makes us put on our thinking caps.

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

A Simple Woman's Daybook


FOR TODAY...Tuesday, July 23, 2013, 9:34 am

Outside my window...wet! We have had some showers every day or night recently....most of these just pop up in the afternoon and evening....I see a Squirrel on the ground under the feeder as well as a Dove and on the feeder is a Blue Jay.......I can see the two hens as well...the Butterfly Bush and Honey Suckle are blooming and there are buds on the Mandevilla which makes me happy because it didn't bloom last year until I brought it inside for winter......I was thinking of giving up on it but now I plan to re-pot it and continue to take care of it......I just spotted a Rabbit hopping across the yard....

I am thinking...that I need to do some more work in the studio....I've been in there this morning straightening up...

I am thankful...that I have no obligations away from home this week....for the unexpected check from the IRS, we overpaid our taxes.....

From the kitchen...planning to make crockpot chicken and Dumplings

I am wearing...purple pjs

I am creating...clean work spaces....plans to sew a label on my last quilt....and begin to work on a Michael's project

I am going...to look harder for the photo copies I made for the photography contest and maybe print out some others

One year ago today...no post

I am wondering...where my motivation has gone

These days I'm reading...Green Darkness by Anya Seton........a book I've read many times before

I am praying...for Honey Bearfor my friend, Rene and her Mother....for Genece, Freda and Carol.....for my children and Grandchildren....for Shorty Bear

A verse for today...2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

I am hearing...only the ceiling fan

Around the house...Smokey is sleeping on the sofa....the floors could use a vacuuming......dishes are waiting to be unloaded from the dishwasher and the bed needs making

Song that stays on my Mind...



A favorite quote for today..."One of the hardest things in life is having words in your heart that you can't utter." James Earl Jones

One of my favorite things...the wildlife in our yard

A few plans for the rest of the week: no plans

From my photo file....



Monday, July 22, 2013

Monday Quiz About Me


1. Wednesday, July 24th is Drive Thru day - do you have any drive thrus that you have a hard time passing?
No, but I love the drive thru Cleaners, Bank and Pharmacy
2. Other than signing your name, when was the last time you physically wrote something?
Wrote my son a letter on Friday.
3. What was the first movie you saw in a movie theater? the latest one?
I can't remember that far back....it was most likely at a Drive-in......I remember seeing these: Wizard of Oz (came out in 1939 but I saw it when I was 6 or 7 so it was much later than that), April Love with Pat Boone, GI Blues with Elvis, The Dalton Girls (I looked that one up,it came out in 1957), I Want to Live.....We used to go to the movies often when Mother was shopping in town on Saturday.....

Oh, and the last one was Now You See Me
4. Have you ever visited Disney?
yes but it has been many years

If you want to join in, visit Heather.

Friday, July 19, 2013

Funny Friday


Its Funny Friday....no Wil here.
Its me....Li'l Bear
jumping in to fill the gap, Yey
That's Bear Lake in the top photo
Bear Lake is at Camp Good Bear, where
Wil and his friends are having loads of fun...
We'll all visit him next weekend for
Bearants Day...
Meanwhile,
Mama and Papa and the rest of us
are trying to stay cool
Mama says if she was a bear
she would hibernate in the summer
instead of the winter
because she just doesn't like it
when the heat index is 100+
as it will be today....
Have a Funny Friday
Li'l Bear

Thursday, July 18, 2013

Thankful Thursday


Yesterday I ran errands with Daughter and the Princess so there was a lot of getting in and out of the car. The heat index reached 101. Needless to say, I was pretty exhausted by the time I returned home. Today, it is cloudy and the predicted high is 88 with a possibility of an afternoon thunderstorm.

I'm thankful for simple pleasures:
Walking barefoot in cool summertime grass...
Smokey sleeping on my lap....
Hummingbirds and Butterflies in my back yard...
Watching baby birds being fed by their parents...
Fresh veggies from the garden...
BLTs for dinner...
Honey Bear's smiling good morning hello....

What are you thankful for today?


Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Indulging in Hodge Podge


1. Picture postcards were first printed back in the mid-1800's and deltiology is the official name for postcard collecting. When did you last send a postcard?  Receive one? Do you save postcards sent to you? Do you collect and/or send postcards when you travel?
It has been several years. When I was traveling with Honey Bear, I sent post cards to my grandchildren and even gave them an album to collect them in. Again, it has been a few years but I think I've received one from my Daughter on vacation. I save some of them if I like the photo and I also save some that I buy.

2. What treat do you most like to indulge in while on vacation? 
Occasionally, I might have a mixed drink or a dessert but nothing specific.

3. Are you good at hiding your feelings?
No, If I get emotional, it shows

4. Does your town/city/county still deliver telephone books to your home? Do you check the yellow pages when searching for a local business number or has the internet replaced the phone book in your home?
yes and they usually go into the recycle bin. We do not have a land line telephone so I don't know why we still get the directory. I use the internet to find business addresses or phone numbers

5. Would you rather be first or last?
If it is a short line, I don't mind being last

6. July is National Park and Recreation Month (in America, but everyone can still play along)...where and when were you last in a park?  Did you participate in any recreational activities while you were there?
This Spring on a trip to Nashville.......No, just took a short cut through it. 

7.  What was one of your worst ideas?
I'm sure there have been some, but at the moment I can't think of one.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.
This certainly ties in with vacation: I've been seeing the Coppertone ad asking what the smell of Coppertone reminds you of? It reminds me of the trips to the beach with my parents and siblings. Isn't it funny how songs or smells can trigger memories. 
Don't forget to visit Joyce: From this side of the Pond

I hope your Wednesday is a beautiful day.......
Blessings,
Mama Bear

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

A Simple Woman's Daybook


FOR TODAY...Tuesday, July 16, 2013, 7:30 am

Outside my window...the porch is wet from a night time shower...the sun is shining, it is 76 degrees and expected to reach 91....I can see the chickens, we're down to 3 now as we're slowly getting rid of the roosters....the hens aren't mature enough to lay eggs yet but soon...

I am thinking...the grass needs mowing again

I am thankful...that the AC is working...we had another problem with it on Thursday and Friday but it has run fine since then.

From the kitchen...I'll be making vegetable soup this morning and canning it.....I have almost everything cooked and prepared so it just means, mixing it all together in the soup pot, heating to boiling then putting in jars and processing.

I am wearing...pink pjs and robe

I am creating...a messenger bag in my team's colors...starting a new cross stitch 

I am going...to get dressed before starting the soup

One year ago today...there was no post on the 16th but on the 13th it was raining and the temperature was 70 degrees at 6:00 am....I was getting ready for my club's salad luncheon, planning to make apple dumplings.....I was quilting my sampler and crocheting dish cloths.....reading: "If you could see me now".....we were getting Okra and Tomatoes from the garden.....and recovering from a drought (so different this year)

I am wondering...why I woke with a sore throat

These days I'm reading...The Wedding Machine....just finished Water's Edge

I am praying...for Rene, whose Father passed away on Wednesday....for Genece who is recovering from knee surgery, Freda who is recovering after breaking her hip....for my son in Afgan. and his family

I remember when...I used to get together with Mama and can soup in her kitchen....precious memories......I wish you were here with me today, Mama, chores always were so much easier when we did them together.....Mama's kitchen was always so hot in the summer (they only had a window unit AC and it was in the living room so it didn't do a lot to cool the kitchen)....

I am looking forward to...having the soup canning finished....I know I'll be tired at the end of the day

A verse for today...Psalm 121:1 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help

I am hearing...the fan.....traffic in the distance.....an airplane

Around the house...Smokey is asleep on the sofa.....Honey Bear is listening to a book on his laptop with his earphones on......I'm still drinking coffee

Song that stays on my Mind...the one the choir sang on Sunday....the verse that says: My God will not be moved, My God will never change, My God will reign forever more

A favorite quote for today...Summertime and the living is easy....(yeah, right)

One of my favorite things...a clean house....my carpet is so in need of 
cleaning

 From the Garden ..Squash....Potatoes....Onions....Tomatoes....Blackberries.....Cucumbers

A few plans for the rest of the week:going to the museum on Thursday to see the Heritage Quilt Exhibit and then have lunch with friends

From my photo file....
 Wil is at Camp Good Bear

Another Lily from the yard
this one is not a Daylily....but is an Asiatic,
I believe.

Saturday, July 6, 2013

Green Day and Saturday Scribbles







Just a few of the Daylily colors that have been blooming at the edge of the garage....I think I have 11 different ones and they've been beautiful.....It has been raining here for the last 3 or 4 days and so far we've had over 7 inches total.....
It is lovely seeing photos and reading about all the lovely vacations my fellow bloggers are enjoying this summer.

Friday, July 5, 2013

Funny Friday


Good Friday morning to all my beary
special friends....
Wil here.
Getting ready for Camp Good Bear,
can't wait to see all my friends from
blogland.....
Mama Bear tried to shop for me but my
feet paws are just so big
its hard to find sneakers for me....
never mind, I love going barepaw...
She did get me a visor and a shirt, though....
She's been canning produce from the gardens
and 
last Monday was the girls annual camping trip...
they went to Nashville and stayed in a hotel
near all the shopping...
it was Mama Bear, Daughter and the Princess
I think their favorite part of the trip
besides being together was Cheesecake Factory...
Mama said she had a cheesecake that had 
chocolate crust, chocolate chip cake, cheesecake, 
chocolate cake and then pecan, coconut frosting 
just like on a German Chocolate Cake.....
She said to tell you she only ate half of it...
Still....she didn't weigh today...said she'd indulged
too much and needed a week of tracking her food....
She even got back on the treadmill this morning....
Have a beary good weekend!
Wil