Thankful Thursday

Today is Thankful Thursday. This week I won't be quite as serious...I am thankful for the fact that I didn't have to cook tonight. My daughter gave us a pot of baked spaghetti! Yum.

So, what are you thankful for?

Darn Those Flashes

Today as I was sitting in church, it happened...yes the hot flash...OMG! I wonder...if you turn red, look hot and start "glowing" in church, do the others think "wow, she must have committed a truly awful sin!???"

This post is dedicated to Mental Pause Mama. (Because I know she can relate!!)

Thankful Thursday

Another site I read has Thankful Thursday. (Another Chance Ranch...link on the right of this page)

What are you thankful for today?

I am thankful for (in no particular order):
My Mom
My Sisters
My Dad
My Daughters
My Son
My Grandchildren
My Friends, especially...M, R, J, S, S, S right now
All of my other friends..so wonderful
My extended family, all of them
My Husband
and of course, Sissy, Sammy and Shelby

How Our Week Started

Saturday night we attended a "Christmas" dinner/dance for my husband's job. We came home about 11. Which means we didn't get to sleep until fairly late for us old folks! :-)

Five a.m. Sissy HAD to go outside to potty. I got up, put her out, etc.

Six a.m. Phone rings. I look at the caller ID (squinted thru my sleepy old eyes). I see it is our local police department calling. ADRENILINE RUSH...yikes! My heart just speeds up by about five hundred percent.

I answer phone. The dispatcher says that our vehicle has been in a minor accident. I said what vehicle? She said...the one in front of your house. PANIC, ADRENILINE, HEART RACING.

My first thoughts race to the eighteen year old daughter. She was asleep when we went to bed. What the heck? Her car was in front of mine in the driveway. Did she take my truck and wreck it? What the heck?

Panic, Adreniline, Heart Racing.

I jump up, look out window. My husband has yet to get up. Oh, crap, it's not my truck. It is the 64 Ford Falcon we park on the street in front of the house...my husband's work car. Oh, gosh. No one was driving anything...daughter is still sounds asleep, unaware that I thought she'd been driving and wrecking. I yell to my husband that it is HIS car.

Some guy had rammed into our parked vehicle on his way to work. In looking, I could not figure out how he did this...it looked like he turned right into our car! Of course, that can't be.

He said he looked down to change gears and ran into our car due to ice or something. Our car isn't even on the street...it is moved onto the parkway and the side is rammed into the light pole. His truck is not even driveable...the tow truck has to move it. (Come on, how fast was he going????)The pickup directly in front of our car that belongs to the neighbors is sitting happily with no damage.

The guy says he has good insurance, but getting parts for a 1964 Ford Falcon can be a real problem.

Another day in the life...

Sammy Sighs

Hi, it's me Sammy. It is too cold out. We can't play outside much with our ball or anything. We can't even go on a walk. It is not much fun here!

Just thought I'd show you all a couple pictures of my sisters: (mom's phone doesn't take very good photos):

Sissy and Shelby in Shelby's Bed

Sissy

Visiting Older Friends

Today Tina and I visited two very dear friends, one in a nursing home and one in assisted living. The first one was somewhat confused, and told us some very tall tales. But, she also had moments of complete lucidity, and was so happy we were there. She did know us, and you could tell she loved us, as we do her. I left there with a feeling of sadness and loss, while yet feeling so happy that we had gone to visit. We will continue to do so, for her and for us.

The second visit was one that was treasured as well. We were welcomed and she talked, laughed and remembered with us. We will also return to visit there.

We all need to remember what a gift our older generation is to us. I truly feel that. I know that just a kind word or touch can mean the world. Take time to reach out to someone you know.

Have a great week!

Winter

It is cold. Really. I think we are being paid back for complaining about being so hot this summer. How cold is it????

Sammy Sighs

Today Mom took me and Sissy to see Megan and Jada. They are our "stylists" in our doggie world. I was happy because I'm supposed to be, right...after all they are making me more handsome than usual. Silly Sissy whined in the truck all the way there. Silly Sissy. But, we got all done up, but only this time, we didn't get our hair cut...just trimmed around our paws and face. That way we won't be so cold...it has been really cold this week here....it was below zero, I guess. Silly Sissy has been cold, so she's wearing a sweater. But, I'm such a manly man, top dog, that I don't need no stinking sweater. (This picture is not from today).... Anyway, we look good, smell good and are back home safe and sound this evening after our afternoon outing. One last thing, though, Jade put these little scarves on both Sissy and me...stupid Valentine neck scarves. I think it's ok for Sissy, but it pretty much ruins my image.

A Good Book...

I read this book Sunday night after my pie making.

My mom loaned me this book. It was awesome, and I recommend that you all read it! THANKS MOM!!!

This review is pretty much right on:


"If you had the chance, just one chance, to go back and fix what you did wrong in life, would you take it? And if you did, would you be big enough to stand it? Mitch Albom, in this new book, once again demonstrates why he is one of my favorite writers: a fearless explorer of the wishful and magical, he is also a devout believer in the power of love. For One More Day will make you smile. It will make you wistful. It will make you blink back tears of nostalgia. But most of all, it will make you believe in the eternal power of a mother's love."
--James McBride, author of The Color of Water

Starting the Week Right

On Sunday morning I woke up and decided to get around for Mass. I haven't been wanting to get up and be there for the 8:00 AM mass lately. Call me lazy. But, I prefer that mass over the 10 AM mass, and never seem to get done with my weekend chores in time for mass on Saturdays at 5 PM.

So, I got up, and first had to decide what to wear. I picked out a new sweater my mom had sent me, but the pants were a pain..this pair too big, this too small, etc. What drama I have getting dressed lately. Well, anyway, got dressed and walked the four 1/2 blocks to church, braving walking over the icy intersections. (Well, it was not all THAT treacherous...ha!).

Anyway, I got in early, and it was so beautiful and peaceful. The Christmas decorations are still up (I think this is the last Sunday) and the church was dark, with the alter all lit up with the twinkling lights, trees, poinsettas and greenery...so beautiful. I felt so at peace and at home. It was a good start to my week. If I had been thinking I would have snuck a picture then, but didn't think of it until later. So, this photo didn't capture that magic I felt as I arrived, but you can still capture a bit of the beauty.

I don't think its any sacrilege to sneak a cell phone photo of the church's beauty...at least I hope not. I couldn't get the whole area that I wanted to, but this gives you an idea. Our church was renovated a few years ago, and really, it is absolutely gorgeous.

The homily was good, and I just got the jump start I needed for the week.

I did it!!

I did it! I made pies. I didn't even get any reading of my book done yet this weekend, and here it is Sunday night. I DID clean and organize and even cleaned kitchen carpet, etc. yesterday. I seemed to get a lot done. I need to take a room each week and do that to each room until I am done, and get the house back in order. One thing I did NOT do was organize my junk drawer. I got a comment from a blogger telling me about a contest for junk drawers. I did not enter a picture of my junk drawer, but it would have been right in there with the junkiest of them all. You can see the junk drawer contest at: http://connorchronicles.blogspot.com

As I sit here typing this, I see that my computer desk should be next weeks organization project. But, wait, I should go from room to room, so dining/living room would be next.

Well, anyway...I did it...I made pies today! I was thinking I should give it a try. I ended up making three pies...apple, peach and banana cream. So, I invited a friend over to eat early supper and pie, and Tina and Adam too. Adam was hunting, but Tina did come. I made meat loaf (Yuk...but my husband and daughters and friend liked it), baked potatoes (hey, those two things are my mom's favorite meal), berry muffins, veggies and cabbage salad. Now, before I get to the pie making, let me tell you about this salad...my Grandma Helen (Grandma Mac, as we called her) made this salad. It is cabbage, peanuts and bananas, and then some miracle whip/sugar dressing. It may sound weird, but I just love it. Even my friend and my husband both liked it. One daughter wouldn't touch it and the other liked it, but not with bananas. Well, you just cut up your cabbage, do a dressing of miracle whip (I use light) and sugar ( I used splenda). Mix in diced banana and peanuts. Let me tell you, it is good. Really!

Well, anyway...I thought since it was Sunday and I had time, I'd make a meal and pies. Here is the pie making in photos:

Ready to Roll...


Crusts ready...

Apple pie ready to bake...Oops, still had to patch two places...

Peach Pie ready to bake...

Apple and Peach all done...

Peach pie, all hot and bubbly!

Well, I didn't remember to take a picture of the banana cream, and it is all gone...I then also sent pie home with everyone too, since I made three. We don't need that much! Gosh! But, I have it in containers and ready to go in John's lunches for the next few days, and still enough peach and apple for one or two more meals, if we want.

So, I am an example of you are never to old to learn. I still do not equal my mom's pies, but I probably never will! Have a great week!

Long Week

It's been a looooong week.

At least tomorrow is Friday. I think I need to clean and organize a bunch this weekend. That always makes me feel good-to get things in order.

Maybe I should try baking another pie?

Maybe I should read a book.

Maybe I should just enjoy the weekend.

An Accomplishment!

I hadn't written about this yet, but on Christmas Day, I made pies. Yea, you may have read my previous post (read it here, if not) about pie making.

But this time was different! I made them from scratch...yes, even the crusts!!

My mother guided me through making the pies--we had cherry, pumpkin and banana cream. And, my Grandma Shafer (Elsie) also helped me cook Christmas dinner all the way from heaven!


This is not an actual picture of one of my pies, but guess what, they turned out great and were quite tasty. I was so proud of me.

Is that ok...to be proud of oneself? Because I was! Thanks to my mom and grandmother!

I have to say having my mom here helping me with dinner and guiding me was really special to me, and a day I will always cherish.

Back to Normal?

Well, I broke down and took all my Frosty the Snowman things down today...I had my bathroom and kitchen infused with Frosty. I think you could have Frosty up thru some of the winter weeks, but decided I best just get everything back to "normal". If you can say it's normal...ha. I got some of the outside things down today and will finish that tomorrow. It was relatively warm today and is supposed to be warm tomorrow as well.

Other than that it was a very quiet Saturday. We didn't get around very early, I worked on the Frosty evacuation and did a few chores around the house, and watched a movie. Rather quiet.

I had a thought today. Wouldn't it be nice if we went back to good old fashioned "letter writing"? I used to actually be pretty good about writing letters. Now that I have email, I very seldom write letters anymore. Receiving a nice handwritten letter was always so nice. Maybe I should try to do better at that? At least write to some of my relatives who don't have email? That is a good idea.

One of my sisters has vowed to call one of us each weekend. We were all in agreement that she had a good idea, as now if we get a call, we all think something is wrong! How nice to get a call to share our lives together. Maybe we should all learn to do a conference call.

My mind is sure scattered tonight.

Back to Work

Vacation is over...back to work today. Blah, humbug. As much as I love my little "work family" (and I truly do), I just was not ready to go back. But, our house is quiet after having company, most of the festive decorations are gone, and it's probably better to be busy. But still.....

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year

Everyone!

Recipe for a Happy New Year

Take twelve fine, full-grown months; see that these are thoroughly free from old memories of bitterness, rancor and hate, cleanse them completely from every clinging spite; pick off all specks of pettiness and littleness; in short, see that these months are freed from all the past—have them fresh and clean as when they first came from the great storehouse of Time. Cut these months into thirty or thirty-one equal parts. Do not attempt to make up the whole batch at one time (so many persons spoil the entire lot this way) but prepare one day at a time.

Into each day put equal parts of faith, patience, courage, work (some people omit this ingredient and so spoil the flavor of the rest), hope, fidelity, liberality, kindness, rest (leaving this out is like leaving the oil out of the salad dressing— don’t do it), prayer, meditation, and one well-selected resolution. Put in about one teaspoonful of good spirits, a dash of fun, a pinch of folly, a sprinkling of play, and a heaping cupful of good humor.