Friday, July 29, 2011

I Miss Mama

Today is the anniversary of my Mother's Home Going.
Its been 6 years.
At times it seems like forever.
I miss her so much.
Sometimes I have dreams that are so real.
And I wake with a smile 
and just lie there and appreciate
the blessing of seeing her as
if she is still here.
Toward the end of her last few months,
she was suffering so.
I know she is with the Angels 
and Jesus and Daddy.
And that she has a brand new body.
But sometimes I feel as if
she is right here with me.
And I talk to her.

I'm sharing a few photos of her.

That's her behind me at my bridal shower.

Here she is with my granddaughter, Marisa who is 14 now.
 With me and my daughter at her bridal shower.
 With my sister and my niece at her bridal shower

 And here with Wonder Boy. Daddy's holding The Princess.


Thursday, July 28, 2011

Thursday This and That

Hello all,
I know I've been MIA this week but everything is fine here. Its just been busy. I have made plans to go to Memphis next week for 4 full days so I've been gearing up for that. Finally, got back to tracking my food. Yesterday, I chopped up some tomato and cucumber, added a small pouch of water packed tuna and served it all to myself with 6 Fat Free whole grain crackers.....only 2 points for lunch. This was good since I went to eat dinner at church where there was Chicken Casserole over rice, green beans, and strawberry shortcake for dessert. The most difficult part of the first week on WW for me is going to sleep when I go to bed. Did you know that all that unhealthy eating and snacking is like a drug? When I stop eating at dinner, by bedtime, I'm hungry. No worry, it will all settle down after the first couple of weeks.
Last week, we didn't see the Red Headed Woodpeckers at all after they came to the feeder on the weekend with their offspring. We thought maybe they'd migrated already. Then on Saturday, we saw the adult catching insects and feeding the wee ones in the pine tree out back.


We had another workshop on Tuesday to get ready for our County Wide Card Workshop. We now have all 911 card kits ready to go. There will be a little trimming on some of them but mostly just some gluing. The supplies for each card plus a photo of the finished look and all instructions are in a zip lock bag. I hope we have a good turn out for this event.

I picked up the Princess on my way home that day and she  finished her patchwork basket. The lining was a little large for the basket but she did a fantastic job. I was so proud of her. I did some stitching on my TTS blocks while she was at the sewing machine. I am almost finished with the embroidery and will begin putting it all together soon.
Yesterday, I worked on two Pinwheel table runners. I finished the blocks for both. I followed Fiona's tutorial here. She is an awesome instructor.
Late today:
 I had to take Wonder Boy to his Orthodontist appointment so I didn't get to finish this post earlier. We were only there for a few minutes. The Princess went with us. I called and asked their Dad if I had time to have lunch with them before he left for their vacation near Atlanta. He said sure so we went to my favorite place for Chicken Tenders, O'Charley's. We had to wait awhile for them to open but it wasn't too hot with the doors and windows open in the van and I got to chat with both of them. I spend much more time with her than with him so this was a treat. The restaurant opens at 11:00 but we were able to go in a few minutes early so we were finished by 11:30. I had broccoli with my chicken and no rolls.
While we were sitting there, I made a date with him for dinner the week before school starts.

So, now I'm home, don't want to do anything. Are you like that? I am going to do a little embroidery and hopefully finish this wreath so I can go put the 5 blocks together.

Discovered another blogger in my area this morning and she's a quilter, too.
Tomorrow, I have to go walk two dogs in the afternoon, Yoshi and Gloria. My daughter is keeping Gloria for a friend. I'll wait until then to go to the grocery store.
Hopefully, I'll be back on schedule next week.
Mama Bear
:0)

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Outdoor Wednesday

Its time for Outdoor Wednesday 
with Susan. Please drop by and 
pay her and the other participants a visit
to see some super photos of nature.



This is a Brown Thrasher or Thrush
we don't see them often in our
yard but I was able to capture
this photo on Sunday.
I have a busy day today and just don't have time to do
the answers for Wacky Wednesday this morning.

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

A Simple Woman's Daybook

Outside my window...Its 78 °F, (26 °C) expected to reach 95 today with a heat index of 99....we've had a few days of lower humidity and temperatures in the 80s but looks like that was brief....the sun is shinning...the Hummingbird and seed feeders both look empty....We saw the baby Red Headed Woodpecker for the first time this weekend....Also, Butterflies! While my sister was visiting she commented that last year we had lots of Butterflies when she was here but none this year....well they were just a week late because now they're here.  
Hearing...only the AC
I am thinking...about Honey Bear's imminent retirement..they have hired his replacement finally
Feeling thankful for...answered prayers...we closed on Daughter's house late Friday afternoon and believe me, getting everything approved and ready went right down to the wire...it was so stressful..the closing was set for 4:00 and at 2:30 we still did not know the amount for closing..we decided to go on to the bank and wait so that we'd save time...it was after 3:00 before we heard and then we barely made it to the lawyer's office on time.
She had 10 friends from church show up to help move at 7am and they had moved all of the furniture and most of the boxes by 9:00.
I am remembering...Yesterday, Daughter and I loaded both our vehicles with clothes and other things and moved those to her house...we moved the Princess's bed, her Dad will buy her another one for his house..
Creating this... this is the Princess modeling the completed prayer shawl

The puzzle we put together the 
week my sister visited

I am currently reading...Beach Trip by Cathy Holton...there hasn't been much time for reading lately
One year ago today...it was hot...I was working on the genealogy scrapbooks and Gardener's Journal...reading: The Day the Falls Stood Still by Cathy Marie Buchanan...planning to see 
"The Sorcerer's Apprentices" with the 'grands'...remembering that July 2005 was Mother's Home going... 
I am hoping...to do some work in the studio today after I go pick up the Princess and she and I go to Walmart..she is making a patchwork basket...I am working on a table runner
On my mind...Honey Bear and I sat down together and worked out a budget for retirement(on Sunday)..our monthly income will be less than half of what it is now so some items we spend money on now will have to be cut out...it will be challenging but we will be all right...I will have to take out some medical insurance for myself, he will have medicare but will need a supplement..Our county club is having a coupon workshop next month and I hope to learn some ways to cut food costs.....Also, my club is having its annual salad luncheon Thursday, I'm giving the program this month plus I'm President and had to plan the business agenda so I've been working on all of that......getting through here so I can get ready to leave by 10:00
Noticing that...I'm not following my food plan or exercising......some of my fingernails got broken during the move and I need to shape all of them up.
Pondering these words."One of the most satisfying feelings--more satisfying than the temptation itself is when one can say, ’I could have, but I didn’t!" ..
From the kitchen....I made the Chicken Salad Brunch Ring on Sunday(recipe here)so here are the photos I promised....First: the way I layout the
crescent rolls on the
pizza stone and add
scoops of the Chicken
salad

you do that evenly all the way
around then
second: is a photo
after I've folded them over and
tucked them in...
ready for the oven...
Last night, I made dinner for Daughter...we had baked Talapia, Long Grain & Wild Rice, Green Beans, and some leftover okra & squash...she brought Strawberry shortcake for dessert.
Around the house...Smokey is asleep in the chair beside me, the bed is made, the floors vacuumed, the kitchen is tidy....there are at least two more loads of laundry to do and one load to fold up...a few pieces of ironing, also
I am praying for...my Uncle Tommy who recently had a hospital stay, cousins Rita & Bynum, Kayren, My family...myself
A few plans for the week...Spend day with the Princess, Walmart today...Hair appointment tomorrow, then lunch with my friend, Rene, later prepare food for Thursday's luncheon, fellowship dinner at Church....Club meeting and lunch on Thursday...Hopefully spend some time creating
One of my favorite things...sitting by the pond with Honey Bear and watching the fish...we have 12-15 young fry and they are changing color now from the brown of birth to whatever color they'll be..interesting to see 
From my picture file..Adult and Baby Red Headed Woodpecker
I'm linking up with Peggy and all the other daybookers as we  take the time to really think through what is going on around them and reflect on the simple things of life.....she has something new coming: Daybook Bingo...can't wait to figure out what that is.


Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Wednesday HodgePodge

No lie....Time for Wednesday Hodgepodge #35
1. How has your hometown changed since you were a kid? What has changed most about the neighborhood you grew up in? This is a hard question for me because we moved back there when our children were little and stayed 15 years. At that time, there were lots of changes and more during our time there. The one that I noticed most was the roads. Although we were only 5 miles from the nearest business district, we were still in a very rural area. Most of the roads were unpaved when I was a child and when they later paved them, some were rerouted or straightened so that the landscape and familiar landmarks were changed. When I was a child, we didn't have street signs, when one gave directions, one used landmarks such as churches, stores, houses, etc. to tell where to turn or stop.
There has been some land development in the area but it has largely remained the same. There isn't as much crop farming going on as when I was a child. There are more poultry farms. When we moved into the community, I was 10 years old. The high school was still a wooden building. They tore that down the next year and built a brick, two story building that connected to the elementary school by a hallway. Sometime around 2009, that building was replaced with a new school. Back when I was a child, almost every community had its own elementary school, small grocery store and gas station. We didn't go to "town" very often. Most of our groceries were still "homegrown" and we picked up the few items we bought at the small grocery store. Few families owned more than one automobile. Most mothers stayed home and raised their families while the fathers worked. Stores and businesses were closed on Sundays. There wasn't much travel except to church and visiting relatives. Bridges over creeks on rural roads were wooden, small and narrow. Two cars could not cross at the same time and the creeks often flooded over the bridge when we had heavy rains. Now those bridges are concrete. Some roads were rerouted over the creeks to higher ground to prevent flooding. There were no veterinary offices where you carried your small animals. Veterinarians came to your farm to "doctor" the animals. People still shopped at the locally owned businesses in town. Now most of those are closed and the larger chains are located on a state or federal highway on the outskirts of town.
2. What song makes you laugh? Are you familiar with the Ray Stevens songs? The Streak? My daughter used to sing "Mississippi Squirrel Revival" and it would crack me up. Lots of songs make me cry or smile but few make me laugh.
3. Are you a fan of Harry Potter? Read all the books? Seen any/all of the movies? Will you be standing in line somewhere close to midnight later this week? For those of you playing along who live outside the US or UK is Harry Potter a phenomenon in your part of the world?Let's See, I think I read the first two books but they were written for juveniles and I think that came through in the writing. The movies were better...Some of the churches in our area were concerned with the witchcraft and magic and warned parents so Honey Bear and I went to see the second movie just to see what all the hoopla was about. Then, I guess I've watched the first two several times on DVD. I own them all but I wait until they come out on DVD to see them so no, I won't be standing in line to see the latest.
4. If the truth hurts will you tell a lie? Are we better off as a society in a world that allows no form of deception whatsoever? If I'm asked a question outright, I tell the truth....In the case of my opinion about a personal issue such as fashion and food, and not wanting to hurt someones feelings, I try to find a way to answer which isn't a lie but doesn't seem as harsh as the truth; if that makes sense. 
In Joyce's example, when the hostess asked if she enjoyed the meal(which she didn't), perhaps she could have answered that question truthfully if she had enjoyed some part of it or even if the company and conversation, while part of the meal, was enjoyable, then saying yes wouldn't be a lie, would it?
I think, if you don't want the truth in these situations, then you probably shouldn't ask. Whenever I ask my husband questions like that and he tells the truth, I wish I hadn't asked.
5. What is your favorite 'sauteed in garlic and butter' food ? Or garlic and olive oil if that makes you feel better.Sauteed mushrooms are wonderful. I seldom do any of these types of foods. I do love garlic in recipes like Scallopini and Amazing Pork Tenderloin though.
6. Attending any reunions this summer/year? High school/class? Family? Other? Do these events stir up excitement or dread?I haven't been to a High School reunion since our 20th. I don't think they've held one. Recently, there was some query about one but not much interest. We used to attend more family reunions than we do now, but distance and time for travel has cut out most. My Mother's side of the family get together several times a year as I've posted about here. The annual one is in September at a park and we will be attending. I always look forward to them. My brother and sisters do not all get together very often now that our parents have gone home and I don't see my nieces and nephews often so it is an opportunity for that if they all would come.
7. lilacs, hydrangea, peony...pick one. If I were going to plant one of the three, I'd pick peony. I like the way they look. I enjoy seeing hydrangea in someone else's yard. I don't think lilacs grow well in our climate.
8. Insert your own random thought here.
*I recently purchased a new swimsuit and have been meaning to post about that experience. Anyone else done this?
*Also, I've been meaning to ask about advertising on blogs. How do you feel about it. If you're doing it, how is the experience and do you have any tips.
I'm joining Joyce for this blog hop.


Yesterday, my plans for the day just flew out the window when I had to gather some information and drive to a store to fax it to the mortgage people concerning Daughter's house purchase(by the way, please pray that this will happen Friday..if we have another delay, I'm not sure the sellers will agree to it)....then the princess and I ate lunch and watched 'A Christmas Carol' on the DVD player. Nothing much got accomplished at all after that.
It got cloudy in the late afternoon and we had some thunder but no rain. Its cloudy again this morning. Hopefully, it won't be as hot.

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

A Simple Woman's Daybook

Outside my window...83 °F, (28 °C) already and it is only 8:30 in the morning...the heat index today is supposed to reach 115...we have been issued a severe heat advisory...its cloudy..we've had some rain most days in the last week which is good for our garden....on the feeders this morning are Goldfinch, Purple Finch, and Cardinals...The Cardinals have a young one they're feeding(she has no top knot and her beak is still black)...Squirrels are quiet right now, there is only one in the yard.
Hearing...thunder, I think but in the distance
I am thinking...about my daughter's move...thinking about how hot it will be Saturday for the men helping
Feeling thankful for...my marriage, Honey Bear and the strong bond we have formed through the years, how much we enjoy being together.....Friends who are willing to help pack and move, their support
I am remembering...other moves...seems most took place in hot weather
Creating this...1000 piece puzzle we put together last week while my sister was here...not much other creating took place....The Princess is coming today to work on a patchwork basket...maybe I'll get a table runner cut out and trace the last two TTS stitcheries.......mostly, I just want to create a tidy and appealing work space(the studio is in a mess)
I am currently reading...Beach Trip by Cathy Holton
One year ago today...we'd had lots of rain and were gathering veggies from the garden..I was working on scrapbook pages and preemie caps...planning a trip to Memphis....struggling with weight and exercise
I am hoping...to make progress on some of my projects this week in between helping Daughter and granddaughter
On my mind...the agenda for next week's club meeting
Noticing that...there's a breeze ruffling the flowers in the back, maybe there will be a shower soon........my grands are growing up so fast
From the kitchen...my sister brought me some zucchini and I made a quiche which we enjoy in the summer...the recipe came to me from a friend in Pittsburgh when we lived there...I will share it at the bottom of this post.....I made lasagna Friday night and there's a little left......veggies in the fridge prepped for cooking......and we made homemade ice cream on Sunday
Around the house...the usual chores for the beginning of the week..the house is a mess but it will get cleaned on Thursday.....Have to schedule a carpet cleaning but I hate having to clear off the tables, etc so they can move the furniture
I am praying for...everyone who has to work outside in this heat: praying they are taking precautions...cooler weather in August.....a smooth move for my daughter and that the closing on Friday goes well....she is under so much stress right now....the children(they don't talk about what is going on but I know they must be saddened by the changes taking place)...my son and his family
A few plans for the week...spending time with the Princess today and tomorrow...the closing on Friday and the move on Saturday...grocery shopping somewhere in between plus a trip to the bank.......prepare an agenda and some other paper work for club....work in studio....start keeping my food tracker
One of my favorite things...a quiet house
From my picture file...for those of you who asked: I did make a photo of the prayer shawl and will post it soon.

Zucchini Quiche
3 eggs(I use egg beaters)
1/2 cup oil
1 cup Bisquick 
2 cups grated zucchini
1 cup sharp cheddar cheese
1 small onion, chopped
salt to taste

Beat eggs, oil, and Bisquick. Add zucchini,
cheese and onion. Pour
into a pie plate sprayed with non-stick spray.
Bake at 350 fro 40 minutes.
I serve this with cantaloupe or fruit salad. The two of us eat all of it so if you're serving more people, you might want to make two.

Here's another favorite summer recipe that I serve with fruit also.
Chicken Salad Ring
1 cup mayonnaise 
2 Tablespoons Dijon mustard
2 T. chopped parsley
1 T chopped onion
1 can chopped white chicken, drained and flaked
4 slices bacon, cooked and chopped(I use bacon bits)
1 cup grated Swiss cheese
2 packages refrigerated crescent rolls

Mix first 7 ingredients together. On a pizza stone 
or sprayed pizza pan, arrange the crescent rolls
in a circle 
with points toward outside
there should be a empty center section 
about the size of a saucer
where the rolls meet
and the points will hang over the edges
of the pan about half way.
Scoop chicken salad and place evenly on top of rolls
 along the center where they meet. 
bring the points over the salad and tuck in.
the salad should be pretty much covered with
dough.
Bake at 375 for 20-25 minutes.

I will try to post photos the next time I make this.

I hope you're having a good week.
I'm joining Peggy at

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Wednesday HodgePodge

Houston we have a Wednesday Hodgepodge-Vol 34


1. What is the most useful book in your house? I tried to think just what is meant by this question...the book most often used? I think that would be the little book where I keep things I want to remember when I'm on the computer....then I have two Bibles that I keep near my favorite chair, one is literally falling apart but it is tabbed, bookmarked and written in so its my favorite and is a New Living Translation, the other is a combination of the King James Version and The New International version.....but the place I go most often for reference is Google Maps.....also there is a cookbook which contains all our favorite recipes handwritten which I use quite a bit, although some of those I know by heart so I don't have to look them up.
3. Share something that made you smile this past weekend. We always go in a side door at church which enters near the place  where we always sit on the second or third pew....Wonder Boy and the Princess were already there when we arrived, Daughter was on stage with the orchestra warming up...coming in this way, we always miss the person handing out programs....I said something about not having a program and Wonder Boy slides over and asks his sister to go get me one...this made me smile because he was being thoughtful but desires to be as inconspicuous  as possible so he passed off the deed.
4. How do you like your hamburgers? Or don't you?well, I don't eat plain hamburgers, I eat cheeseburgers so that would be the number one ingredient...then I like tomato, lettuce, mayo and mustard....sometimes onion, pickle too and if I'm buying it out, I usually have bacon on it.
5. What's your summer beach read? If its not summer in your part of the world then tell us what book you're reading while curled up in front of the fire sipping hot cocoa.Well, I don't save books for the beach or for summer so it would be whatever I am currently reading which in this case in 29.
6. How was your birthday celebrated when you were a kid?We didn't always get a present and if we did it was usually something we needed like clothes or shoes....but Mother always baked us a cake....I can remember three or four Birthday parties which were celebrated together with my older sister whose Birthday is a month after mine. The first one was when I was 4, I remember Mother invited the neighbor kids who were all older by 5+ years or more..She must have invited some closer to my age but I only remember the older ones.....the next party was when I was 11..I even remember the new dress she made for me--it was royal blue....then when I was 15, we had a wiener roast for our Birthdays, together we must have invited 30 people, and we played spin the bottle....then when I was 17, I invited a few of my friends and their sweethearts over for cake.
7. What is something that is totally uncool that you love anyway? I can't think of anything, although I am sure my children would have a few to add.
8. Insert your own random thought here.at is something that is totally uncool that you love anyway?
I am not a big fan of summer..I like the beach in the Fall and Spring before they get too crowded...I remember the last vacation I had with my family before I married...I've even got a photo of myself with my younger brother and sister...they must have been 8 and 10, I was 16...in one of those things you look through to see the picture.....the first evening we were there it was cloudy and I got on a float and just floated around for a while in the shallows since I can't swim.....well I literally cooked myself and the rest of the vacation, I stayed covered with a sheet under an umbrella.

Be sure and visit Joyce and all the others taking part in this blog hop. Just click on the picture at the top.

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

A Simple Woman's Daybook

Outside my window...it was raining when I got up this morning...a pair of Gold Finch were eating breakfast on the thistle sock....now it looks steamy out there...77 °F, (25 °C) and expected to reach 91 today.
Hearing...traffic in the distance(probably the truck picking up recyclables)and an airplane
I am thinking...I should probably be doing something else besides sitting here at the computer
Feeling thankful for...the rain...living in America...AC(I know I say that a lot but thinking about the alternative is scary...I grew up without it so I know what that is like)...answered prayers(I'm so glad my Heavenly Father knows my needs before I ask as it says in Matthew 6:8)..
I am remembering...Sunday's church service and the patriotic music
Creating this...finished the prayer shawl this weekend and made 4 dish cloths
I am currently reading...29 by Adena Halpern
One year ago today...It was hot and dry...Honey Bear was off because it was the Monday after Independence Day...I was looking forward to my sister's visit.
I am hoping...everything works out for my sister to visit tomorrow(same week as last year)....I can get started on weight loss(I'm so unhappy with the way I look right now)
On my mind...I called the clinic for a prescription(have a little problem caused by the antibiotic I have been taking for my knee)and I have to go pick up the Princess at noon so I'm hoping the prescription will be ready then
Noticing that...I sleep later when its cloudy and it makes the day get off to a slower start
Pondering these words.....and proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof...Lev. 25:10 Did you know these words are on the Liberty Bell?
From the kitchen...for breakfast: half a raisin bagel with butter spray, orange juice and coffee
Around the house...clean clothes need to be folded and put away...the carpet needs a vacuum...bed needs made and lots of crafts need to be worked on but first I need to tidy the studio
I am praying for...like last week I'm praying that my x son in law closes on his refinance so daughter can close on her house...she was able to extend her contract 2 weeks but we need for it to happen soon....my son is back in the land of the sand, hopefully for only a few more months....my sister's visit...my weight loss & exercise program 
A few plans for the week...enjoying my sister's visit...dinner at church tomorrow night, maybe a movie...
One of my favorite things...eating...guess that explains the shape I'm in....
From my picture file...

she says:
Would you like to linger on the simple things...then join me and many others in taking a little look into the day plans and thoughts of those who are focusing on simplicity...beauty of the everyday moments. 

Friday, July 1, 2011

Funny Friday


Hello everyone(Bears)
Wil here 
with my Funny Friday 
post.
Mama Bear went on her
annual camping
trip with Daughter
and Granddaughter
to Nashville, Tennessee
Their version of 
camping is to shop til you drop 
then spend the night 
in a nice
hotel.
Mama decided 
to 
take
Little Bear
along 
and photograph
his experience.
He rode on the dash of the car
coming 



And going
 then
caught a ride in
Mama's Bag
at the 
mall


found a furry friend
in
Brookstone

Enjoyed the compfy beds at the Marriot.

and the sofa in Mama's favorite
color


Even checked out the hot tub
Oooh, that water was hot!

Notice there's no food in these
photos
He said he enjoyed the Honey Mustard from
Chic-fil-e...

A big shout out to
Thanks for sending photos back from 
Camp Good Bear.
Maybe next year, I'll join you guys.