Going To Googoo's

Summer Sewing

2011-08-05T08:00:00.001-05:00

Since it's so hot outside, I've spent a few hours in my cool sewing room this summer. I made this cute little monkey blanket using a kit from JoAnn's. I used a half-off coupon to get it at a good price and it was so easy to put together. It made a great shower gift for a recent baby shower I attended.

Next, I took some of the leftover flannel and made a matching burp cloth. I purchased a little onesie and embroidered it with a monkey and the baby's name.

In addition, I made these little toddler bibs. Each one just takes an 18" square of fabric and a washcloth. I think they will be great for baby Jonah when he's a little older.

Then I made a pair of ruffled bloomers for little Emma's six month photo shoot. These are my very unprofessional photos of her wearing them. I plan on making a matching onesie for her to wear with them.

I love the matching big bow her mama made!

I'm also working on a two-piece outfit for Lilly. Hopefully, I'll finish it up next week. But, if this heat wave continues much longer I may just have to make another trip to the fabric store!

Thankful Thursday-Students of God's Word

2011-07-07T01:00:00.003-05:00

This summer we are having a Bible Bowl study from the book of Esther. While it has required many hours of preparation on my part, I'm thankful for ten little five-to-seven year-olds who show up every Sunday night to study from God's Word!
Here's a closer view of what they are learning...

Wordless Wednesday - Ouch!

2011-07-06T14:20:00.000-05:00

Anniversary Weekend

2011-06-21T11:38:00.000-05:00

Yes, I know it's been a ver-r-r-y long time since I've posted anything on my blog, but it's been a ver-r-r-y busy summer so far! So my next few posts will be all about our summer activities.

Mickey and I recently celebrated our 38th wedding anniversary with a trip to Granbury, TX. This was our second trip to Granbury, a quaint little town located on Lake Granbury, just south of Ft. Worth.

Since we both love staying in bed & breakfasts, we reserved a room at the Pomegranate Inn & Cottages, a few blocks off the town square. It's always a little scary to reserve something sight unseen, but this B& B didn't disappoint. It was so cute and not so overdone with "fluff" that Mickey would feel uncomfortable. Here's a few pictures of the inn and courtyard....

I loved this old live oak tree that provided a canopy over the whole courtyard...

This was the interior of our little cottage...

After we had dinner at Babe's restaurant, we attended a musical at the Granbury Opera House. "Smoke on the Mountain" was playing and it was so entertaining! It's an off-Broadway production about the musical Sanders family playing gospel music and giving their "testimonies" in the Mt. Pleasant Baptist church in Mt. Pleasant, NC. The audience participated as the "congregation" and the whole thing was hilarious. This show alone was worth the trip to Granbury! What talented young performers!

On Saturday, after a big breakfast at the Pomegranate Inn, we walked around the town sqare area. Mickey enjoyed several bookstores and antique gun displays while I found a quilt shop and a couple of interesting boutiques.

This little quilt was up near the ceiling in the quilt shop, but caught my eye. I would love to be able to make something like this. I can't even imagine the hours it took. It was so high up it was hard to get a picture of it, but if you look closely, you can see that it has little miniature dresses on it, each one very detailed....

Wouldn't if make a great gift for a little baby girl?

Granbury also has a gorgeous old courthouse in the middle of the square. I loved the clock tower. The whole building is under renovation at the present, but it makes a perfect centerpiece for the downtown area.

It was a great, relaxing weekend even in the Texas heat!

Wordless Wednesday - A Miracle at Googoo's!

2011-03-22T22:06:00.000-05:00

A first! All three grands were asleep at the same time!...

And yes, Michael is in a hammock........but I'll save that story for another post! :)

Wordless Wednesday

2011-03-09T01:00:00.001-06:00

I always feel safer with a grandson "packin' heat in the backseat"!

Friday Family & Friends - Emma's Homecoming

2011-02-10T21:02:00.000-06:00

I have spent the past two weeks at my daughter's helping with the new baby. Of course, I kept my camera handy to document Emma's homecoming and Michael's excitement of having a new sister.
To welcome them home, Michael wanted to make a sign. His original idea was to make a huge banner and have them drive through it on the driveway. Since the weather was in the teens, I vetoed that one and suggested he do something on a smaller scale...

After the sign was ready, he decided to wait by the window and watch for them. Of course, no one ever gets dismissed from the hospital quickly, so he waited...............

And waited...........

And, after several phone calls to them, they finally arrived...

He was so glad to see his mom.........

But the first thing he did was hold that baby sister...

What a lucky little girl she is to come home to so much love! Welcome home, little Emma!

Happy "Birth"day, Emma Faith!

2011-01-31T17:43:00.000-06:00

Our newest grandchild was born this morning at 10:00 a.m.. Thanks to my youngest daughter, who came and stayed with the other two grands, I got to be there for the birth. Here are a few pictures taken right after Emma was born.

Emma weighed in at a dainty 6 lbs., 1 oz and looks a lot like her older brother and sister.

And here she is with her proud mommy and daddy.

Thanks to everyone for all the prayers offered on Emma's behalf. Please continue to keep her in your prayers during the next few months as we watch and wait, knowing that she might possibly have the same condition as her sister. We know that whatever the outcome, our God is in control and that little Emma will be a blessing to this family. Welcome to the world, sweet Emma Faith!

Wordless Wednesday - The Fisherman

2011-01-19T08:00:00.001-06:00

As a boy grows, so does his tackle box!

Tasty Tuesday - Hearty Chicken Tortilla Soup

2011-01-18T08:00:00.001-06:00

Yesterday, I made this wonderful chicken tortilla soup and wanted to share it with you. It tastes a lot like On The Border's recipe!
These are the ingredients you'll need:

3 uncooked,boneless chicken breasts, cut up in thin strips
8 cups of chicken broth ( 2 quarts) I use fat-free broth.
3/4 cup of uncooked regular, long-grained white rice
1 tsp. ground cumin
1 can (11 oz.) Mexican-style corn
1 cup chunky salsa
1 Tbsp. chopped fresh cilantro
2 Tbsp. lime juice
fresh zucchini
crisp tortilla strips

I realize those aren't zucchini squash, but this is all I could find at Walmart. I'm not really sure what they're called, but they tasted just like zucchini. Here's a picture after I got all my ingredients measured and cut up. Aren't the colors pretty?

Step 1: Spray a saucepot with vegetable cooking spray and heat it for one minute. Add cut up chicken and cook until white, stirring often.

Step 2: Add the broth, rice, squash and cumin. Stir well and heat to a boil. Cover and cook over low heat for 20 minutes.

Step 3: Stir in corn, salsa, cilantro and lime juice. Heat until desired temperature and you are ready to serve!

Add some tortilla strips and cheese. Yum-m-m! Just perfect for a winter evening!

Family & Friends- "Blogger" Friends

2011-01-15T08:59:00.000-06:00

   One of the fun things about blogging is meeting lovely people from all over the country. One of those sweet bloggers, Valerie, sent a package this past week to my oldest daughter. Valerie lives in Georgia and her blog, Life's Little Garden, is a delight to read!
   Last spring, Valerie announced on her blog that she would like to do some random acts of kindness (RAK's) for three people who were complete strangers. She encouraged her readers to send in the names and stories of someone they knew who could use a little encouragement in their lives. I decided to send in my oldest daughter's name and told Valerie of how Lilly, my granddaughter, was born with many disabilities and how Mendy lovingly cares for her each day.
   A few weeks later, I received word that Mendy had been chosen to receive a RAK and this week I got to present her with Valerie's gift!

Valerie sent Mendy a real sweet letter telling her how she was chosen and why Valerie was sending the gift.

The gift was a beautiful quilt made by Val's dad! You might remember the story I wrote about "my granny quilt" last year. Even though Granny has passed away, her son is now quilting and selling his quilts on Val's blog.

I know Mendy and her children will spend many hours snuggled up under this comfy quilt! Thank you again, Valerie, for your "random act of kindness"!

Sewing With Children and Grandchildren - Making a Tissue Holder

2011-01-10T15:09:00.000-06:00

Teaching a child or grandchild to sew can be lots of fun if you choose the right project. When selecting that first machine sewing project, try to choose one that:

gives the opportunity to just sew some straight seams
can be finished in one session
is something useful that can be enjoyed or shared with others

This simple tutorial for a tissue holder meets the criteria above and can be made from any fabric scraps you might have on hand. Once mastered, these make great little gifts to share with family and friends!

Making a Tissue Holder:

Step 1: Choose a colorful fabric and cut a piece that measures 6" x 9".

Step 2: Cut a piece of lining fabric the same size. This could be a coordinating color, the same fabric or a solid color lining fabric like I used.

Step 3: Placing the right sides of the fabric together, sew the two pieces together with a 5/8" seam, on the two short sides of the rectangle. (Use a 5/8" seam on all seams in this tutorial.)

Step 4: Turn right side out and press the sewn seams.

Step 5: Bring the sewn, pressed sides together, meeting in the middle of your fabric. Pin in place.

Step 6: Sew the ends, reinforcing where the pieces meet in the middle.

Step 7: Turn to the right side and insert a package of Kleenexes. (Leave the plastic cover on your Kleenexes)

And that's how easy it is to make a tissue holder! I embroidered an initial on mine before sewing it together, but they are cute plain, with ric-rac, buttons or any scraps of trim you might have on hand.

Tasty Tuesday - Betty W.'s Sausage & Corn Chowder

2010-12-28T01:00:00.001-06:00

If you're looking for a quick, easy soup recipe to warm your family on these cold, winter nights, I have a great one for you! It only takes a few ingredients, about 15 minutes to assemble, and 30 minutes later you'll have a chowder to die for....

Ingredients:

2 rolls of your favorite sausage (I use Jimmy Dean "less fat" variety.)

2 cans of whole kernel corn (I use one can of each type of corn because my family prefers less corn, more potatoes.)

2 cans of cream style corn

4 cans cream of potato soup

1 quart of half & half cream ( I use the fat-free one.)

Step 1: Brown the sausage in a skillet. Drain and put the cooked sausage in a large soup pot or crockpot.

Step 2: Add all of the other ingredients to the sausage.

Step 3: Mix all ingredients and heat on low for 30 minutes on stove or if using a crockpot, until mixture is very hot. Do not boil. If heating on the stovetop, stir frequently.

Step 4: Serve it up and sprinkle with a generous amount of black pepper. Compliment with a nice, warm wedge of buttered cornbread or some saltine crackers and you have a wonderful, easy dinner.

This recipe was given to me by Betty W., from Katy, TX, who happens to be having a birthday tomorrow.

Happy birthday, Betty, and thank you for sharing this wonderful recipe!

A Holiday Trip

2010-12-22T23:24:00.000-06:00

   Since our family wasn't able to all be together this year for Christmas, we thought we might add a little excitement to the season by taking a short trip to San Antonio.

   We arrived late in the day on Monday and the first thing we did was drive by the house where we once lived. It's been sixteen years since we owned this house, but it still looks pretty much the same. It's nice to know someone is enjoying and caring for it.

Next, we stopped for dinner at one of our favorite Mexican restaurants. The Alamo Cafe makes some the best tortillas in San Antonio!

Of course, no trip to San Antonio is complete without a trip to the real Alamo....

I love the unusual way the limbs grow on these trees in the Alamo courtyard...

After a few pictures around the fountain...

We headed over to the Riverwalk Center to do a little shopping...

and people watching. I love to watch the barges full of tourists float by...

We did a lot of walking up and down the riverwalk....

Then headed over to Houston Street to see the building where my husband used to work.

After his company's move to San Antonio 18 years ago, bricks were purchased with their employees' names to help pave the walk during the downtown renovation. So of course, we had to find my husband's to see if he was still making his mark on the city.

Yep! There it was! Right on Houston Street...

We also made the perfunctory trip down to El Mercado, the Mexican market. I don't think we've ever purchased anything there, but it just wouldn't be a trip to San Antonio without dropping by. Maybe we just enjoy the trolley ride!

And finally, we spent an evening having a steak dinner on the riverwalk. It was so beautiful with all the Christmas lights!

I hope you enjoyed our little tour of San Antonio. As George Strait would sing, "There may not be snow in San Antonio, but it's a Texas Christmas to me!"

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Sewing Saturday - Adapting a Coat for a Special Needs Child

2010-12-18T09:01:00.000-06:00

Every little girl, whether she's standing or sitting in an adaptive stroller, needs a pretty church coat. Up until now, my granddaughter Lilly, has been wearing a regular coat which we could put on her after picking her up out of her carseat and then, let her wear, while we carried her into the church building.

But now, even though we are glad she's finally putting on some weight and growing, we've found it's difficult to take her out of the car, put her into her chair, and then put a coat on her.

I looked online for an adaptable coat for special needs children, only to find that most of them were made in other countries and consisted of a tent-like cape that would slip over the child's head and drape over the child and chair. Not very attractive for a cute little three year old!

I decided to try making one, so I purchased McCall's pattern #5968 and some black fleece and made the little coat I have pictured above. I put velcro closures on the front, so that it's easily opened, if necessary.

Then, when the coat was completely finished, I turned it over and cut it all the way open up the back. I then contoured the back so that it's more of a jacket length and there's no bulk that has to be tucked under Lilly. I edged the opening with a fleece, double-fold bias tape that I found at Joanns Fabrics. I put a velcro tab at the neckline and now we can sit Lilly in her chair, slide the coat on like a "snuggie" and velcro it at the neck. From the front, it looks just like any other little girl's coat! We can do the same thing once she's fastened in her carseat.

Of course, when I took it to her, she was sound asleep and I didn't get to take a picture of her wearing it...

Merry Christmas, sweet Lilly Grace!

My Early Christmas Gift

2010-12-17T09:41:00.000-06:00

   This year I got my Christmas present a little early and I'm so excited about it!
   Back in November, I decided to try having a fruit smoothie each morning as a healthy way to start my day.  Then I read that adding a little raw spinach to a smoothie would make it even healthier, so I tried this in my blender and while I could drink it, it just never seemed to blend real well.
   So, I did a little online research and decided I would really, really like to have a Vitamix blender. It's as close to a commercial blender as you can get for home use. It will even make hot soup!
   Well, on one of my many regular trips to Costco they just happened to have a Vitamix demonstration going on and since I knew they were going to be demonstrating for ten days, I went back three times and watched them before I actually bought one. In the meantime, I had to convince my husband of the magical qualities of this product and how useful it would be. His first response was, "You want to pay $$$ for that? It's just a blender!!" But after promising that I would really use this amazing appliance, we decided to make the investment.
   And I can tell you, I love, love this machine!

This morning I made a smoothie for us using a cup of red grapes, some baby carrots, a whole tomato, a wedge of purple cabbage, an orange, a banana, a cup of frozen blueberries and a handful of raw baby spinach. I added a few drops of stevia for a little sweetness and some ice cubes to make it nice and cold.

I blended this all for a few minutes, first on low and then on high and I got this wonderful, smoo-o-o-th drink!

I won't have to worry about getting our five servings of fruits and vegetables today!

And you know it's really tasty when a certain little six-year-old, who's not real fond of vegetables, will drink it!

That's a real seal of approval!

If you think you might enjoy owning the Vitamix blender, then hurry over to this site http://moneysavingmom.com/msm/2010/12/christmas-gift-guide-a-vita-mix-and-win-one-too/

where Crystal is giving one away next week!.......Good luck!

Jan Hagels, One of Our Favorite Christmas Cookies

2010-12-16T19:14:00.001-06:00

Every Christmas my sister-in-law brings jan hagels to our family gathering. They are a very rich, Dutch Christmas cookie. They are pronounced "yon hah-gles" but living in northeast Texas, we call them "yon hay-gles". :) This year, I took them to a Christmas treat exchange and thought some of you might enjoy the recipe.
You will need these ingredients:

1 cup of softened butter or margarine
1 cup of sugar
1 egg, separated
1 tsp. almond extract
2 cups of flour
1/2 cup toasted, sliced almonds
1 tbsp. sugar
1/4 tsp. cinnamon

Step 1: Beat butter and sugar until fluffy and light in a large bowl with electric mixer. Add egg
yolk and almond extract, blending thoroughly.

Step 2: Stir in flour, a little at a time.

Step 3: Place the almonds on an ungreased cookie sheet and toast in a 350 degree for 10 minutes. This brings out the flavor in the almonds.

Step 4: While the almonds are toasting, turn the dough out onto an ungreased, 15 x 10 x 1 jelly roll pan and using your fingers, spread it evenly to the edges of pan. Then use the spatula to smooth it out.

Step 5: Beat egg white until foamy white and then spread evenly over the unbaked cookie dough.

Step 6: Spread the nuts on top of the egg white, then combine the tablespoon of sugar and the cinnamon and sprinkle over the nuts.

Step 7: Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove from oven; let cool in pan for 10 minutes.

Step 8: Cut into 6 lengthwise strips, then into diagonal cuts to form diamond shapes.

Step 9: Cool thoroughly in pan, then remove carefully with a metal spatula. Store in an airtight container.

Yum-m-m! Don't they look great? Enjoy!!

A Fall Luncheon

2010-11-27T21:05:00.000-06:00

The week before Thanksgiving, a friend invited me to a luncheon at her home. I was so excited because she really loves to decorate for the holidays! I thought you might enjoy seeing some of her beautiful antique pieces all decorated for Fall.
This is a picture of her entry way...

These pieces were in her diningroom...

We told her we felt like we were dining in a tea room! The details on her table were so lovely...

We each brought a dish to share and everything tasted great...

...especially the desserts!

Thank you so much, Teresa, for a very special day! I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving with family and friends!

Real Homeland Security

2010-11-23T17:08:00.066-06:00

A few weeks ago my husband, Mickey, and I visited some good friends in Oklahoma City. While we were there, we spent a day in downtown OKC. We got to go to the site of the 1995 bombing at the Murrah Building and visit the memorial. It was very sobering to view the chairs that honor those who died there.

On the wall overlooking the reflection pool, is the exact time that the bombing occurred...

The brochure given to us when we entered the memorial, stated that at this moment, 9:01 a.m., our country was changed forever and our age of innocence ended. Of course, this bombing was then followed by the attack on our country on 9-11 and we've been on alert against the possibility of terrorist attacks on our own soil ever since.

We also saw the wall in front of the museum where children from across the country sent hand-painted tiles to comfort the survivors and those affected by the bombing...

The area right in front of the museum included a sidewalk where children can write with chalk and express their feelings of sorrow, fear and uncertainty that might occur after their visit.

My thoughts while viewing all this were that we will never be able to reassure our children again that our nation is an entirely safe place to live, but, that most children aren't all that aware of the safety of our country anyway. They only care about their immediate security, their home...and we do have the power to do something about that.

I looked at the couple we were visiting and thought about the life they have lived. They met and married while still young teenagers. Next spring, my friends will have been married forty years. They've raised four children, lived through prosperous times and lean ones, and cared for one child following a life-changing car accident. Through it all, they've remained faithful and loving to each other, creating a safe haven for their children.

Danny & Leslie Loftin

Too often today, we see young couples give up after a few years of marriage and their children have the rug pulled out from under their security. "New moms" and "new dads" move in and out, as children are shuffled from house to house, suitcase and stuffed animal in tow.
Just as our nation's homeland security is worth fighting for, so is our family's. God created marriage and the family for a reason. Are you fighting for yours?

A Scarecrow Cake

2010-11-20T09:02:00.000-06:00

Here's a really cute cake that would be fun to make with children or grandchildren. My daughter found it online and took it to a party recently. I don't have step-by-step pictures, but here are the directions for making it.

You'll need these things:
1 cake mix (any flavor)
1 tub of white frosting
1 box of fruit roll-ups ( the plain ones without a stamped design)
1 box of small waffle cups ( used for ice cream bowls, there should be 10 in the box)
1 tablespoon of choc. syrup
Step 1:
Bake your cake according to the box directions in a bundt or tube pan. Turn out onto a plate and cool thoroughly.

Step 2: Add the chocolate syrup to your white frosting. This gives it a slight beige tint. Frost the entire cake with the frosting. Reserve a little frosting to use for glueing the hat pieces onto the cake.

Step 3: Unroll all of the fruit roll-ups and using scissors, cut each strip lengthwise into smaller strips up to about a half-inch from the top, so that your strip is still connected. This will be the straw hair.

Step 4: Lay the hair onto the top of the cake, around 2/3 of the cake, leaving room for the face, draping it over the edges and down the sides of the cake.

Step 5: Lay one waffle bowl upside down on the top of the cake to create the hat. Stack four more on top of it for height.

Step 6: Break the other 5 waffle cups into large irregular pieces and attach them with extra icing around the hat to form the brim of the hat.

Step 7: Cut triangles from one fruit rollup and attach a nose and eyes to the cake.

There, you're all finished! Won't that be cute for a fall party or Thanksgiving table? Enjoy!

A Cowboy Birthday

2010-11-17T09:53:00.000-06:00

Recently, my grandson Michael celebrated his sixth birthday with a cowboy-themed campout in his backyard.

He and his friends enjoyed stick horse races...

a cowboy boot bean bag toss...

birthday cake and wishes...

pictures with friends...

hotdogs on the grill...

a bonfire with s'mores...

and a night of camping...

Happy birthday, pard'ner!

The Craft Box

2010-11-08T16:12:00.000-06:00

If you're looking for a fun way to entertain your grandchildren, you might want to assemble a craft box. When I was teaching first grade, I quickly discovered that the most popular activity at center time was my art center. This area contained everything from paints to buttons and the children were allowed the freedom to create anything they wished. It was so much fun to watch how excited they got over just a little Scotch tape and a stapler!
When I became a grandmother, I purchased a big plastic container and began to collect items so that I could create a craft box for my grandchildren. First, I looked around the house and found things in my sewing room, my pantry and my desk that could be included. Then I began to look in the clearance areas at craft stores, fabric stores, and Walmart. My box and some of the items can be seen below.

As you can see, it contains a wide assortment of items and I continually add to it when I find things on sale.

It's provided hours of fun for my grandchild and as he grows, the items he creates become more complex and imaginative.

Here's a suggested list of items for your box: children's scissors, construction paper, Scotch tape, watercolor paints & brushes, crayons, stapler, glue, glue sticks, yarn, cotton balls, buttons, yarn pompoms, wiggly eyes, felt, toilet tissue and paper towel tubes, beans, glitter, colored pencils, playdoh, jingle bells, pipe cleaners, string or thread, scraps of fabric, old Christmas and greeting cards, washable stamp pad and stamps, stickers from junk mailings, old magazines, paper plates, dry macaroni and washable markers.

Many of these items can be purchased for very little at the back-to-school sales.

Here's a few guidelines for use:

1. If you use the craft box, it's your responsiblity to clean up after yourself.

2. Always put a shoebox lid under anything being glittered. (This prevents a huge mess and allows the discarded glitter to be collected and reused.)

3. If more than one child is involved, sharing is a must! "You get what you get and you don't throw a fit." is the motto at our house! :)

Happy crafting and, grandparents, don't forget to display all the wonderful art work! That's what those refrigerator doors were invented for!

Wordless Wednesday - A Five-Year Old's Burglar Trap

2010-08-18T08:40:00.000-05:00

Notice the cotton ball hanging from the yarn. The burglar slips on it...

...and then

...gotcha!

Summer Days

2010-08-13T09:10:00.000-05:00

   I love, love, love summer! I love the unexpected little rainshowers, the long days, the fresh fruit and produce, road trips with my family, and yes, call me crazy, but I even love the heat.   Of course, I know it will end soon.  Children will go back to school, cool crisp winds will blow and I will be just as excited about the fall.

   But for now, I'm going to bask in the sunlight and cram as many little trips and summer activities into my schedule as is humanly possible. This week, I gathered my little chicks together and we headed over to Paris for a day trip. We spent the day with my sisters-in-law and my brother-in-law and had a great time!

   Here's Michael enjoying the pool...

His mom and Aunt Melanie had a great time, too!

And then, yesterday, Michael and I took one last trip over to Ham's Orchard in Terrell. The orchard is only open from May 15th through August 15th, so this was our last chance to pick up some nice, sweet peaches and eat some of their delicious peach ice cream.

Even in the 100 degree heat Michael really enjoyed the treat!

I brought back a whole box of peaches and today I'm going to freeze some, make some jelly and a nice big cobbler...

After we came home, we got to spend the evening cuddling with sweet Lilly...

You can't beat that for a fun, summer day!

Monday Musings - Blogger News

2010-08-09T09:21:00.001-05:00

Two of my favorite bloggers are holding special events this week. Teresa over at nanahood.com is having a big birthday bash on Wednesday to celebrate the one year anniversary of her Nanahood blog. Check out her blog all day for some great prizes!

Also, Laura over at heavenlyhomemakers.com is celebrating with a Back-2-School bash this week. Laura will be having several giveaways and all of the "school type" items in her store will be on sale at 20% off!

Laura has just created a new preschool curriculum for children ages 3-7 that focuses on letters and letter sounds while teaching children to serve others. I've reviewed her sample lesson and it looks like excellent material that could be used by parents, grandparents and Bible school teachers. You can check out this great sale by clicking on the link at the top of my side bar on the right of my blog. When purchasing, just add the items to your cart, then enter the code: BACK2SCHOOL to receive 20% off your purchases!

You'll want to check out both of these blogs for daily tips on parenting and grandparenting, along with some healthy recipes from Laura. Both of these women will inspire you to be a better parent or grandparent!

Tasty Tuesday ( a day late)- Simple Brownie Crunch

2010-07-28T11:31:00.000-05:00

Here's a great, easy brownie recipe for true chocolate lovers!

You'll need these ingredients:
your favorite basic brownie mix and whatever ingredients it calls for
12 oz. bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup on peanut butter
7 oz. container (small container) marshmallow creme
3 cups of Rice Krispies

Step 1:

Make and bake your brownie mix according to the package directions.

Step 2:

When the brownies are completely cooled, spread the marshmallow creme over the top of the brownies.

Step 3:

Next, melt the chocolate chips and the peanut butter over low to medium heat in a large saucepan. Stir constantly until all the chips are melted.

Step 4:

Now add the Rice Krispies to the melted chocolate mixture and stir gently until all the cereal is mixed in and coated with the chocolate.

Step 5:

Immediately spoon the chocolate mixture over the marshmallow creme and spread evenly over the brownies.

Let these brownies cool completely before cutting and oh yeah, for best results....

be sure you have a little boy available to lick the spoon! Enjoy!

My Return From a "Pregnant Pause" in Blogging

2010-07-22T07:30:00.000-05:00

   I'm returning from a pregnant pause in blogging..............to announce a pregnancy!!  Our daughter, Mendy, is expecting their third child! If you are aware of Mendy and her family, you will realize the significance of this announcement. You can go here to read about their daughter, Lilly.

   Please join us in prayer for the next year, until little baby Rucker arrives safely and it's determined that he/she is healthy. This pregnancy came about after much prayer and a great desire to provide another sibling for big brother Michael and big sister Lilly. We know that whatever the outcome, this baby will be welcomed into a loving home and God will provide Mendy and Erick the strength and love to care for him/her.

   Congratulations, Rucker family!

*Oh, and Michael wants a boy so he can get bunk beds!

Sewing Saturday - Pillowcase Dresses

2010-06-26T21:24:00.000-05:00

This week I completed two pillowcase dresses. The first one was for my granddaughter Lilly. This one was made from a pillowcase set that a dear friend made for me about ten years ago. The matching one was torn, so I decided to recycle the remaining one. I love the way it turned out!

The second one is for a friend's granddaughter. I really like the boutique style and the huge rickrack.

Next week, I plan on starting a baby quilt. I'm not really a quilter, so I'm not real sure how that project will go. Hopefully in a few weeks, I'll be able to post a picture of it.

Picking Blueberries

2010-06-24T21:08:00.000-05:00

Well, we did it! Another year of picking blueberries is behind us and I can't say I'm really sorry. It was so, so very hot this year. And someone had the gall to feature our blueberry farm in the Dallas Morning News the week prior to our going. That made 150 people rush out there on Saturday and pick those bushes bare! But, anyway, it was a great experience for Michael. How many little five-year-olds can say their grandma made them get up at 6:00 a.m. and drive 60 miles to pick little tiny berries in 100 degree weather? What a lucky little boy he is!

Just see how happy he looks...

Here's the only picture of me you'll see....

Shortly thereafter I was sweating, I mean glistening, so much that I looked like a heat stroke waiting to happen! While Michael and I frequented the water stand, Mendy did a lot of the picking.

But we made sure that she had water, too!

Michael ate a lot more than he picked this year!

But that's okay. With a cute little smile like his, he's just fun to take along!

After paying and putting our berries in a cooler, we headed down the road to the Edom Bakery & Cafe. We had a great lunch of southwest turkey rolls and a spinach, strawberry salad while Michael enjoyed a PB&J sandwich on homemade bread! Yum!

Reflections on Jelly Making

2010-06-18T21:33:00.000-05:00

A few weeks ago, I picked blackberries at a local farmer's patch. I spent several hours there and picked about two gallons. The berries were just beginning to ripen and I had to work pretty hard to find them ...

but it was certainly worth it! I brought them home and froze them and today, I thawed some to make jam. I love making jellies and jams because it reminds me of my mom and all the canning she used to do. My dad grew a huge garden and Mother was expected to can or freeze as much as she could. I don't think she enjoyed it the way I do, though, because for her it was a necessity and for me, it's just a hobby.

Several weeks ago, I found this sieve in an antique shop in Mineola.

My mother had one just like it, so I had to buy it. I used it today and it worked great! I was able to make my jam without all the seeds. I made sixteen jars and next week I plan on making blueberry and peach.

I guess to some, it's strange that I would make something that I can buy so cheaply at the store. I think that besides the fact that it reminds me of my childhood, I enjoy knowing that I can be a little self-sufficient. I mean, I didn't grow the berries, but at least I know what to do with them. I'm trying to pass that on to my grandson. Next week, I'll be taking him to Edom, Texas for our annual blueberry picking trip. I love watching him carry his little basket and pick those tiny berries. Hopefully, our trip will give him some great memories and more importantly, the experience of working to provide his own food, because a little pioneer spirit just might be good for us all!

Wordless Wednesday - Won't Someone Please...Please Take Me Fishing?

2010-06-16T01:00:00.001-05:00

Friday Family & Friends - Old and New Friends

2010-06-11T07:59:00.000-05:00

Last Friday, we had a visit from an old church camp friend of mine and his sweet wife. Even though we became friends about 43 years ago, as teenagers, and I had only seen him once since (about 16 years ago) we renewed a great friendship. I had only met his wife once, but felt very comfortable around her also and made a new friend that I cherish. My husband also enjoyed our time with both of them and we hope to spend time with them again soon.

They chose this particular time to visit because it was the weekend of Canton First Monday. If you've never been to the trade days at Canton, TX, you've really missed out on a great adventure! This event is held the weekend before the first Monday of every month. It dates back to the days when a circuit judge would come through town the first Monday of each month and everyone would choose that weekend to come to town and trade vegetables, guns, chickens, etc. while entertaining themselves with the local court proceedings. It has continued through the years and grown into acres and acres of crafts, flea market items, and yes, even some animals.

Here's the statue at the entrance...

It reflects the spirit of the early trade days very well.

Since our friends, Danny and Leslie, really like antiques and the retro look, we headed out to the back of the trade grounds where we found lots of old glassware, guns and well...just about anything else you could imagine. We even saw this...

Is that a bed pan that deer is playing?

We spent most of the day at Canton even though the temperature was close to 100 degrees. Leslie bought a beautiful quilt for their bed and some jewelry for their daughters.

On Sunday, we went to church and had a mexican dinner before they headed back home to Oklahoma.

We had a great time introducing them to our family and friends. Danny and Leslie, please come back anytime. It was a pleasure renewing an old friendship and beginning a new one!

A Little of This and a Little of That

2010-06-01T21:39:00.002-05:00

Yesterday, we returned from spending four days at the lake. Mickey did a lot of fishing while I worked on the trailer, read, watched movies and went shopping. Here are a few pictures from our trip:

I painted the little kitchen area "cabin red" and put up faux tin tiles. Now, with the curtains completed and the chairs reupholstered....

I'm ready to move on to the teeny, tiny little bedroom you can see in the background. Not sure what I'll do with it, though.

Friday night, we cooked hamburgers on the grill, then went out in the boat for a few hours. It was really a lot of fun after dark, with all the stars out.

Mickey had some friends over to fish with him on Saturday, so I decided to drive in to Mineola and take a look at the downtown area. I had heard there were some cute little shops there, and I wasn't disappointed.

I spent several hours just looking around and I plan to go back when my daughters are with me. Here's a sneak peek at one of the cute little antique shops.....

On Sunday, after church services, we tore all the lattice work off the deck and raked up six bags of leaves.

On our next trip we plan on putting up new cedar lattice work. Every evening I sat out in this chair with my diet Dr. Pepper and this little guy joined me.........

Mickey caught a lot of nice fish.....

So, all in all, we had a great Memorial weekend and today celebrated our thirty-seventh wedding anniversary.

Happy anniversary, sweet husband! I hope there are many more to come!

Just a side note: I don't like blogger! It has eaten one of my pictures and my text is all over the place even though I aligned it with the left margin!

Tasty Tuesday - My Favorite Chicken Salad Recipe

2010-05-25T16:19:00.001-05:00

One of my favorite summertime dishes is chicken salad. I have two recipes that I make quite often, but this is my favorite. These are the ingredients you'll need, along with a secret one that I'll share later:

three boiled chicken breasts
celery
onion
seedless grapes
pecans
seasoned salt
pepper
mayonnaise or salad dressing (Miracle Whip)

Step 1: Cut up your cooked chicken breasts into very small pieces and put in a large bowl.

I cooked lots of chicken because I'm going to freeze some for a Sunday chicken dish later. That's also a great recipe that I'm going to share in a few weeks.

Step 2: Add 1/2 cup of chopped celery and 1/2 cup of chopped onion to the chicken.

Step 3: Next, add 1 cup of sliced, seedless grapes and 1/2 cup of chopped pecans.

Step 4: Mix all of these ingredients and sprinkle on 3/4 to 1 tsp. of seasoned salt and 1/2 tsp. of black pepper. Mix well. ( I like to sprinkle half of the seasoned salt, stir, then sprinkle the rest to make sure it's distributed well.)

See, I told you to use a large bowl. I had to transfer mine to a larger one!

Step 5: Oops! I forgot to take a picture! Add 1 cup of mayonnaise or Miracle Whip. I prefer Miracle Whip, but I also ate Miracle Whip and white bread sandwiches after school when I was a child, so what do I know? And, oh yes, another confession....on days when I'm feeling really overweight, I use fat-free Miracle Whip. :)

Now, for my secret ingredient.................

Hot Sauce!!!!

Step 6: Add 1 tsp. of hot sauce and mix well. If you like the taste, add another 1/2 tsp. Refrigerate and give all the flavors time to mix. Serve as a salad or make a sandwich. Enjoy!

Monday Musings - A Visit From Lilly

2010-05-23T22:45:00.002-05:00

This weekend we had a precious little house guest....

And she brought everything but the kitchen sink (luckily, we already had one of those)....

A weekend with Lilly is always filled with ...

lots of hugs and kisses
late night talks and songs
walks in the neighborhood
dressing up in cute little clothes and hairbows
listening to sweet little squeals
lots more hugs and kisses, and...
a real appreciation for all parents of special needs children!

Come back any time, sweet Lilly....just give me a few weeks to catch up on my sleep. Googoo loves you!

Wordless Wednesday

2010-05-19T09:21:00.000-05:00

Oh, my! Would you look at that? It seems like only yesterday you were using training wheels...Hey, wait! It was just yesterday! Way to go, Michael!!

Friday Family & Friends - Walking the Dog

2010-05-07T17:22:00.000-05:00

I'm so excited! Yesterday, while driving home, I came up behind this.....

I got so excited because I've been trying to catch a picture of this for a long time. This is my neighbor, Bob, "walking" his dog. He does this every day, but I always run to grab my camera and by the time I get back he's too far down the street to get the picture. When they turn around to come back, the dog is on the other side.

So.... yesterday, I just stopped my car and chased them down. Here's the picture of Bob and his dog. And I feel bad because I don't even know the dog's name....

If you look closely, you'll see that the dog is carrying an Easter basket with a stuffed cat in it. He carries something in that basket every day! Around Easter it was full of plastic eggs! Isn't that the cutest thing you've ever seen?

Wordless Wednesday - Movie Stars

2010-05-05T08:49:00.000-05:00

Friday Family & Friends - Daddy's Garden

2010-04-30T08:56:00.001-05:00

   During the entire fifty-four years that I knew my dad, he always planted a garden. Until I was thirteen, we lived in town on just a small tract of land, but he managed to have a garden, along with a few chickens, quail and rabbits. Oh, and I forgot to mention the hunting dog that barked a lot at night. I'm sure we were ~~despised~~ dearly loved by all our neighbors. :)

Later, to the relief of most of them, we moved to the edge of town on an acre of land and my dad was in heaven! Our plot of land was long and narrow, and the back half became his garden and orchard. He planted tomatoes, onions, okra, squash, beans, peppers, corn, strawberries, sweet potatoes,cucumbers, watermelons and cantaloupes. He grew apple, peach and plum trees and had a few blackberry vines along the fence.

   Each evening, he came home from work, ate his dinner and headed out to the garden, where he stayed until dark. He plowed, hoed and watered it lovingly. The rows were straight, the plants grew tall and strong, and it was impossible to find a weed anywhere. After he retired, he would sometimes be out there even before he had his breakfast. In the afternoon, with the sun bearing down, he would remove his shirt, drink a little water, and just keep hoeing and plowing that garden.

His garden yielded enough that we had to buy a large, chest-type freezer to hold it all. He took boxes of tomatoes and squash to church and left them in the foyer so that others could share his bountiful harvest. He took vegetables to all of our relatives and neighbors. Our window sills were always full of ripening tomatoes and our plates were a rainbow of healthy, beautiful fruits and vegetables.

   Every year, my mom, tired from all the work of freezing and canning, would tell him that his garden was too large. But every spring, after much planning and thumbing through the gardening catalogues, he continued to plow up the whole plot and start again.

I wish that I could grow a garden like Daddy's. But our soil is nothing like his rich, Oklahoma dirt. We live on sticky, mucky, blackland and I would have to bring in a lot of dirt and build up beds to have much of a garden. But this year, I've decided to plant some tomatoes in those new Topsy, Turvy planters. I plan on hanging them from hooks on my patio.

Yesterday, I went to Walmart and bought all the things I'll need. Or rather, all the things the side of the box said I'll need. The total came to $34.00 for just two plants! Those two plants are going to have to produce a lot of tomatoes for this venture to be profitable!

I'm sure Daddy would be rolling his eyes and chuckling if he were alive to see this. But that's okay, because I know he would be proud to know that I at least tried to grow something on my own. And he did pass on some of his heritage to me. Every year, I go out and pick blackberries, peaches and blueberries. I fill my freezer and share my homemade jellies with friends and neighbors.

If you check back in about sixty days (according to the instructions with the plants) I might just have some tomatoes to share with you! Happy gardening!

Thankful Thursday

2010-04-28T22:43:00.000-05:00

Today, I am thankful for stares. Yes, I said stares. You see, when we take Lilly, our special needs granddaughter anywhere, often we notice that some people do a little more than just glance at us. Last summer, my daughter, Lilly's mother, said "I hate it when people stare at us." I started thinking about that and these are the reasons I am thankful for their stares:

First of all, if people ignored a beautiful little toddler who obviously cannot see or even hold her head up on her own, they would be very calloused. I know we read about people in big cities who watch a crime being committed and do nothing, but I choose to believe that most people are compassionate and that when they look at Lilly, that is what they are feeling. Compassion makes us better people and is necessary in a civilized society.

I also hope that when they look at Lilly it makes them appreciate their own healthy children or grandchildren. Sometimes in the midst of living our busy lives, we forget about the blessings we have. If Lilly's presence causes one parent to say a little prayer and thank God for their own child, then she has taught a beautiful lesson.

Their stares might also mean that they are reminded that there will always be people who are completely dependent on others for their needs and that it is our responsibility, as individuals and collectively, to see that these needs are met.

They could just be admiring my daughter and her husband. and the way they handle their trials. It might make them realize their problems pale in comparison, or it might be an encouragement to someone who's handling similar difficulties.

And some people are just curious about her condition. But, they may know of someone who has similar symptoms and it could lead us to a diagnosis for Lilly.

And finally, a glimpse of Lilly could make someone more appreciative of their own sight and mobility. It might cause them to lead a more productive life and make use of their time and energy more wisely.

So, yes, even though I'm a person who would prefer to just blend into the crowd, I'm thankful for every stare and every person who stops and comments on how sweet Lilly is. And even though I would never have chosen this path in life, I'm always praying that others will benefit from the walk that God has chosen for our family.

Tasty Tuesday - Southwestern Breakfast Casserole

2010-04-26T22:07:00.003-05:00

A few weeks ago, a friend emailed this recipe to me. I love breakfast casseroles so I decided to give this one a try. I think you'll like it! You'll need these ingredients:

1 lb. of spicy breakfast sausage

10 eggs

3 cups milk

2 tsp. dry mustard

1 tsp. salt

6 slices of bread, cubed

8 oz. (2 cups) shredded sharp cheddar cheese

1 can of cream of mushroom soup

1/2 tsp. black pepper

1/4 cup chopped cilantro

1 med. tomato, seeded & chopped

1/2 c. black olives

1/2 c. thin-sliced green onions

* To make this with fewer calories and less fat, I used lowfat Jimmy Dean sausage, skim milk, reduced fat soup, and 2% milk shredded cheese.

Step 1: Cook the sausage, stirring frequently and breaking up any large chunks.

Step 2: Once done, drain, then set aside to cool. In a large mixing bowl, combine eggs, milk, mustard, pepper and salt. Stir well.

Step 3: Lay slices of bread in the bottom of a greased or sprayed 9 x 13 baking dish, then cut bread into cubes. I added a couple more slices of cubed bread.

Step 4: Pour egg mixture evenly over the bread. Top with the tomato, olives, green onions and cilantro.

Step 5: Pour soup over all, then add sausage and cheese. Place into refrigerator overnight. In the morning, preheat oven to 325 degrees and bake uncovered for one hour or until the eggs are set.

Enjoy!

Tales From The Trailer Park

2010-04-24T21:32:00.000-05:00

We just returned from spending a harrowing night at the trailer. You know, my husband's "dream come true" on the best fishing lake in Texas. Well, as I was driving over there yesterday morning in the rain I had no idea that storms were being forecast for the night. Just before bedtime I heard on the radio that there was a possibility of storms in Dallas. Since we were about an hour and half from there I decided to check the weather using my new iPhone. (I don't have that flat screen yet, so my only communication with the world is by phone or the trailer's built-in radio.) Sure enough, we were in a tornado watch for most of the night.
About 1:45 a.m. it started to rain a little with some occasional lightning. Since the window next to my side of the bed was almost touching a tree and was only about two feet from me, I was a little nervous. So as the storm got worse, I got up and looked for a safer place. Of course, everyone knows THERE IS NO SAFE PLACE IN A TRAILER WHEN IT'S STORMING! Finally, I talked my husband into getting up and sitting with me in the little hallway between the bathroom sink and the door that leads to the commode and shower.
   As the hail began to hit and we could hear things blowing around outside, he jokingly mentioned that at least the water along the bank is only about three feet deep. At that point, it hadn't occurred to me yet that we were only about 10 feet from the lake and that if a tornado did hit, we could actually be blown into it! Not a comforting thought since I'm not a good swimmer! And if the whole thing was blown in, do trailers float or sink?
   After about thirty minutes the winds subsided and we were able to get a few hours sleep. This morning I awoke with a new appreciation for sunshine and calm skies.   And if I can help it, I don't intend to spend another stormy night in the trailer. That was one of several lessons I've learned in my two nights in that trailer.
   If someone offered a course called Trailer Living 101, I'd be the first in line to take it. Did you know that the little pedal on the bottom of a trailer commode doesn't open the top like the one on a trashcan does? It's the flusher! Imagine that!
   And to get hot water, you have to push a switch under the kitchen sink.   Then you only get 6 gallons of hot water at one time! That means that to take a shower you have to turn it on, turn it off, suds up, then turn it on again to rinse off. Don't even think about shaving your legs!
   This morning I heated the water and started to take a shower only to discover that there was no water coming out when I turned on the hot and cold handles. Once more, I knew I was missing something and just needed a handbook to make everything right. Sure enough, later in the day I mentioned to Mickey that I hadn't been able to take a shower because something was wrong with it and he showed me a little button on the shower nozzle that has to be pushed for the water to come out. How was I supposed to know that?
    I did accomplish a little while I was there. Since this is Sewing Saturday on my blog, I'll show you the finished curtains. All seven of them are now done!

Notice the mismatched kitchen chairs? After I finished the curtains, I started reupholstering the chairs. They are going from country blue....

To this.....

After I complete these, I'll be starting on the kitchen area backsplash. Of course, that does mean I'll have to go over and spend another night. But at least now I know how the commode and the shower work. If I could just figure out where they put the storm shelter....

Monday Musings - Aged or Ageless?

2010-04-19T16:40:00.001-05:00

Last Friday, I attended a benefit fashion show and luncheon at a local retirement center. The funds raised will help support the many outings the group takes in and around the Dallas area.
   While some of the models in the fashion show were young employees of the retirement center, many were actually residents. A retired accountant who appeared to be in his early eighties looked quite charming in a pair of khakis, plaid shirt and white sweater vest while a pretty, white-haired former flight attendant showed off a coral top, matching overshirt and a flowing, flowered skirt. Both appeared in fairly good health and seemed to enjoy their moment in the spotlight, as did all the other resident models.
   As I watched them, I started to think of all the older friends I have. What makes some seem so much younger than others? I know there are some things we don't have as much control over, like dementia and some genetically inherited disorders and diseases. But some perfectly healthy seniors still seem to age mentally much earlier than others.
   So, why do some still seem so youthful? Is it the way they approach life? The desire they have to keep learning? The health choices they've made along the way? The socio-economic level they've achieved?
   I'm not sure I have the answers, but I know which group I'm hoping to belong to.   What do you think?

Almost Wordless Wednesday - Fundraising for Friends

2010-04-14T14:15:00.002-05:00

Michael selling cookies at our fundraising garage sale to help his buddy, Austin, get some siblings! Please pray for the Stevens family as they try to adopt more children from Russia!

Giveaway Winner!

2010-04-13T09:20:00.000-05:00

The winner of the Amazing Hope Through Betrayal book giveaway was sponge423! Please email me your address within 48 hours and we will get the book to you quickly. Thanks to those who entered and a special thanks to Vonna Lovett for sharing a copy with us!

Monday Musings - Now Spring in Texas is Really Here!

2010-04-05T00:13:00.000-05:00

   Yesterday, while driving home from church, I caught my first glimpse of this year's bluebonnets! It was just a small patch along the highway but it was so exciting to see them!
   Before moving to Texas seventeen years ago, I had never heard of or seen these beautiful wildflowers. The first time I saw a whole field of them it literally took my breath away! The color is so vibrant and sometimes stretches over an acre or more of an open field.
   Every child in this state has at one time or another had their picture taken in a big patch of bluebonnets and many a mantel boasts a large, hand-painted canvas of this native flower.
   Nothing says Texas like the bluebonnet!

Sewing Saturday

2010-04-03T20:59:00.000-05:00

We just came home after a two day trip to the lake. Yesterday, I sewed all day on new curtains and cornice boards for the trailer. I completed four and I have three more to go. I think they look a lot nicer than the ones that were there.

Before (circa 1994)....

After....

Next time I go over there, I'll finish the curtains and reupholster the dining chairs. While I was hard at work on the curtains, Mickey was hard at work catching these...

Wordless Wednesday - I Know We're Trying To Be Greener...But Pet Recycling? Ewww!

2010-03-31T07:27:00.000-05:00

Tasty Tuesday - Spring Tarts

2010-03-30T07:19:00.000-05:00

Last Friday I attended a wonderful Spring luncheon at a friend's home. I hope to have a few pictures of her amazing table to show you soon.
My contribution to the luncheon was a dessert. So I searched through some recipes on this blog until I found these pretty little tarts. They are so easy to make!

Ingredients:
mini pastry shells (in the grocer's frozen foods section)
one 14 oz. can of fat-free Eagle Brand sweetened condensed milk
1/4 cup of lemon juice
one 8 oz. container of fat-free whipped topping
one small can of mandarin oranges (drained)
one kiwi
a few strawberries or raspberries

Directions:
Bake the pastry shells as directed on package.
Mix the Eagle Brand and lemon juice in a bowl. Fold in the whipped topping and fill the cooled pastry shells with the mixture.
Put a little slice of each fruit on top and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Wasn't that easy? Your guests will love them!

Happy Birthday, Mendy!

2010-03-26T08:20:00.000-05:00

Thirty-two years ago today I gave birth to this precious little baby........

Who grew into this beautiful woman...

Happy birthday to our firstborn! We love you!

Wordless Wednesday - Our New View

2010-03-24T07:20:00.000-05:00

Tasty Tuesday - My Favorite Honey Wheat Bread

2010-03-22T22:45:00.004-05:00

Here's my all-time favorite bread recipe! This can be made as loaves or rolls and I guarantee your family will love it!

Ingredients:
3 cups of unbleached flour
2 pkgs. of dry yeast
1 & 1/2 tsp. of salt
1 cup of water
1 cup of small curd cottage cheese
4 tbsp. of butter
1/2 cup of honey
2 eggs
2 & 1/2 cups of whole wheat flour
1/2 cup regular oats (uncooked oatmeal)

Directions:
Step 1-
In a large bowl, mix two cups of the unbleached flour, salt and dry yeast together.

Step 2-
In a saucepan, heat the water, butter, honey and cottage cheese, stirring constantly until the butter is melted and the mixture is warm. The temperature should be about 120 degrees if you have a thermometer or just stick your finger in and it should be warm, but not hot.
Heat this only until the butter is melted. Do not boil or let it get too hot! If it gets too hot, it will kill your yeast and the dough won't rise.

Step 3 -

Add warm liquid and slightly beaten eggs to the flour mixture. Mix well.

I also added 2 tablespoons of milled flax seed. That's the dark stuff you see. Someone told me it was healthy, so I threw some in. You could also add sunflower seeds or nuts for a little more texture.

Step 4 -

Next, add the oatmeal. Then add the whole wheat flour and the rest of the unbleached flour and mix. Your dough will be pretty thick now and ready to turn out on a floured surface.

Step 5 -

Turn out on the floured surface and add more flour, as you knead the bread, until the dough is no longer sticky and forms a nice mound.

Step 6 -

Place the mound of dough in a large greased bowl. I usually spray my bowl with Pam and then I spray the Pam on the top of the dough after I place it in the bowl.

Step 7 -

Now cover the dough with a towel and let it rise until it's double in size. This usually takes about 45 minutes.

Try to set it where it's warm and it will rise a little faster. I usually put it on the stove top ( don't turn on the stove) and turn the vent hood light on to make it a little warmer.

Step 8 -

When the bread has doubled in size, punch it down several times with your fist.

Step 9 -

Divide the sough into two pieces with your hands and place each one into a greased loaf pan, shaping as you go.

Step 10 -

Now cover these and, once more, let them rise until double in size.

Step 11 -

Next, place the loaves in a 350 degree oven for 30 to 40 minutes. Hint: If the bread sounds hollow when you tap it with the handle end of a table knife, then you know it's done. Remove from the oven and enjoy! I like to take a stick of butter and run it over the top of the loaf while it's still hot. This gives it a nice, tasty crust that stays soft.

The white you see on top of the loaves is the melting butter. Yum-m-m!

Thankful Thursday

2010-03-18T12:07:00.002-05:00

Today I'm thankful for my sweet son-in-law, Erick. Not only is he a good provider, but he's also a great husband and father. This weekend he is sending his wife on a trip to visit her old college roommate, for a much needed break, while he stays behind to care for a busy five year old son and a two year old daughter with special needs.

   While my daughter is shopping and getting a pedicure, he will be home changing diapers, inserting feeding tubes and playing "cowboy". He will give baths, have devotionals and stay up nights with a crying two year old who's having a seizure. He'll do all of this with a patient and kind spirit.

   Since entering our lives ten years ago, we have watched Erick grow into a mature, Godly man who provides a secure and happy home for his wife and children. He has become the man he is through his love of the Lord and because of Godly parents who set a wonderful example for him.

Erick's mother once told me that when he was a high school senior, he was asked what his goal was and he replied, "to be a good father". He's achieved this goal along with being a great husband, son and son-in-law!

   We love you and appreciate you, Erick. What a great blessing you are!

Sewing Saturday - New Window Valances

2010-03-13T06:56:00.000-06:00

This week I made new valances for the breakfast room and kitchen. I decided to try sewing with grommets and really like the way they turned out! The contemporary look that they give is just what I wanted and they were quick and easy to make. No special tools are needed to attach the grommets to the fabric. They just snap in place! Sewing Tip: If you decide to make some, remember, always use an even number of grommets! I learned this the hard way! :)

Home, Sweet Trailer Home

2010-03-12T11:26:00.000-06:00

   Several months ago, while fishing at the lake, my husband saw a used travel trailer for sale. He has always dreamed of having a cabin, trailer or actually his home, on that lake. When he said this trailer was only $1800 I couldn't believe my ears. I thought he must mean $18,000. So the next day we rushed to the lake because surely a deal this good couldn't last for long! All the way over there, we talked about how we could go down for a weekend, he could fish, while I sat on the deck and read. How relaxing it would be!
When we arrived, I realized that we were experiencing two different dreams! The trailer was ancient, had a distinct musty smell and had visible cracks in the walls. And oh yeah, he failed to mention it sat on the parking lot of the marina restaurant. Wouldn't I look great sitting on the deck in a parking lot reading my book? Even at $1800 it was definitely overpriced! But even with all these obvious flaws, I could still see the hope and sparkle in my husband's eyes. His own fish camp, a place to bring our grandson on weekends, a place for him and his buddies to stay! What more could a man want?
   I could really see the disappointment in his face when I pointed out that our daughter would never let her five year old son stay in that fire-trap of a trailer and that I would really be embarassed if he brought any of our friends down to stay there.  But as we drove away, I realized that this man deserved to be happy and we were now destined to become the owners of an RV, so I might as well get used to the idea and find us one that was livable.
After several weeks of scouring craigslist, I found a couple in our price range and once more we headed to the lake to find "our" dream retreat.
Trailer #1 looked like something out of the movie Deliverance. It was right on the water's edge, in a trailer park that wasn't paved and had many ancient trailers nearby. Beer bottle lights were strung everywhere. Even my husband ran from that one pretty quick!
Trailer #2 was a fifth-wheel trailer, also on the water's edge, but in a nicer park. It was older, but still in good condition and ready to use without a lot of work. So, to make a long story short, next week we will be purchasing his, I mean, our trailer on the lake.
   As he dreams of a fish camp with his buddies, I'm thinking maybe this thing just might work if we install a flat screen TV, get some cute dishes and placemats and maybe some monogrammed towels. What do you think?

Here's a picture of the trailer before it was placed on the lot. Aren't you envious? Feel free to come down any weekend! :)

Thankful Thursday

2010-03-11T08:49:00.000-06:00

Today I am thankful that we are standing on the threshold of Spring! I know there will probably be a few more cold days, but I can't wait to enter into this glorious and hopeful season! My body seems to thrive on sunshine and warmth.
   Spring promises growth and new life. Yesterday, while driving into town, I noticed that the grass along the highway is beginning to turn green and soon the beautiful Texas bluebonnets will start to appear everywhere! The trees in my yard are budding and it won't be long before the birds will start searching for little nooks to build their nests.
   Daylight savings time will begin next week, bringing longer evenings to enjoy all these wonders and restless students will begin to squirm in their seats, dreaming of baseball and soccer games, swimming lessons and trips to the beach. Eager adults will make trips to the nursery to buy little seedlings, bags of soil and new garden gloves to use as a pallette for painting a canvas of color, scent and texture in their yards.
   Yes, it's almost here and I rejoice and thank the Lord for allowing me another opportunity to marvel at the beauty of His creation!

"For lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth: the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land" Song of Solomon 2:11,12

Wordless Wednesday - "Someone To Watch Over Me"

2010-03-10T01:13:00.000-06:00

Tasty Tuesday

2010-03-09T05:04:00.000-06:00

Today I want to share a recipe that I got at a church dinner. It's so simple, but tastes great!

Peanut Butter Sticks

Ingredients:

5 thin slices of white bread*

1/2 cup of peanut butter

1/4 cup of sugar

1/2 cup of vegetable oil

vanilla wafers

Step 1:

Take the pieces of bread and remove the crust from each slice. Then cut each square of bread into 4 long strips.(You can remove the crust and slice them quickly with a pizza cutter.) Place the strips on an ungreased cookie sheet and place in a preheated 200 degree oven. Leave these for 2 hours, remove from oven, but leave the oven on.

Step 2:

Using a spoon, blend the peanut butter, sugar and oil.

Step 3:

Crumble(real fine)vanilla wafers, put in a bowl and set aside.

Step 4:

Dip the toasted bread strips into the peanut butter mixture, then roll each strip in the vanilla wafer crumbs, coating well.

Step 5:

Place each strip back on the cookie sheet and put the sheet back into the oven. Immediately turn the oven off, but leave the cookie strips in the oven until cold.

Remove from oven and enjoy! Store any uneaten strips in an airtight container.

*Note: We don't eat white bread, so I made these with wheat bread and they turned out great!

Blogging with Purpose

2010-03-08T12:32:00.000-06:00

While I've enjoyed blogging the past few months, I'd like to feel that this area of my life has a little bit of organization and purpose. So after some thought, I've decided to post on specific days, with these thoughts in mind:

Monday Musings- just anything that comes to mind, reflections, quotations, etc.
Tasty Tuesdays- recipes, hopefully some that will be new to you
Wordless Wednesdays- those photographs that need little or no explanation
Thankful Thursdays- blessings in our lives
Friday = Family & Fun- grandparenting, celebrations, travel, friendships. etc.
Sewing Saturdays- posts about projects I'm working on

Will I post about all of these things every week? Heavens no, I'm not that organized! But, hopefully, you'll check in frequently to see what's going on at Googoo's!

A Granny Quilt!

2010-03-01T10:26:00.000-06:00

Don't you just love coming home to find a package by your front door? One day last week, I found this one waiting for me on the front porch.

I was so excited because I knew my "granny quilt" had arrived! If you don't know who Granny is, you can read all about her on her granddaughter Valerie's blog. Granny is a precious 96 year old lady who makes at least one quilt a week. Can you believe that? What a blessing to be so active at that age!
I tore my package open and spread it out on the sofa to get a good look...

Isn't it beautiful? Granny's quilts are all machine stitched and machine quilted. She says they give her a reason for getting up in the morning. I wonder if she knows how much people enjoy her quilts and if, while she's sewing, she thinks about where they might be going and how they might be used.

I'm going to send her a copy of this picture because I think Granny would be very happy to see this little boy all snuggled up under her quilt!
Thanks, Granny and Valerie!

A Dallas Winter Wonderland

2010-02-12T09:36:00.001-06:00

After a full twenty-four hours of snowfall yesterday, we are now enjoying this...

Remember the picture of my neighbor's backyard? This is how it looks now. I'm not sure those palm trees will survive!

That's my car under there. Good thing I'm not planning on going anywhere!

The mailman is going to earn his pay today!

Oh no, I just saw a big chunk of snow fall from a tree! It's already beginning to melt. So, back to reality.After all, this is Dallas, and like I said yesterday, soon we will all be asking "Did we really have snow?"

Finally......A Snow Day!

2010-02-11T10:55:00.000-06:00

Yes, it's finally happened! After months of viewing blog and facebook pictures of snow all over the country, we finally have our very own snow day in the Dallas area! I had to hurry outside and take some pictures to post because by tomorrow it will probably all be gone. But at least, for today, this is my view.....

our snow-covered house....

the neighborhood...

our neighbor's backyard (notice the snowy palm trees around their pool)...

and snow-covered branches!

And do you know what the best thing about a snow day in Texas is? Tomorrow we won't have piles of dirty snow all around our light posts because............because........it will all melt away and by Saturday the temperature will be in the fifties again and we'll all be saying, "Did it really snow just a few days ago?"

Giving Thanks for Courageous Kids and Those Who Care for Them

2010-02-10T08:25:00.001-06:00

Today I'm featuring a very special guest post from Teresa at nanahood.com .

I am so very blessed that sometimes on Gratituesday it’s hard to know just what to give thanks for. That isn’t the case today.

Approximately two years ago a medical camp for seriously ill children was built in Scottsville, Kentucky. The facility is located on 168 acres and it’s about 45 miles from where I live. The camp is called The Center for Courageous Kids.
The mission of the camp is this: To uplift children who have life-threatening illnesses by creating experiences year round that are memorable, exciting, fun, build self-esteem, are physically safe, and medically sound.

When you take a closer look at what went into building this facility and the people behind the scenes that care for these children, you realize that a one sentence mission statement is just the tip of a very, very large iceberg of dreams.

The first thing I noticed when I drove through the gates at The Center was how beautiful the white buildings with the blue roofs were. They were even more beautiful on the inside.

The Communication Director, Stormi Murtie, met me at the door and gave me a tour of the facilities.

Because this is a medical camp for children with serious disorders and health issues there are exam and critical care rooms. There is a place for a helicopter to land, an infusion therapy room, and a hospital right down the road. The picture above is the T J Samson examination room.

Stables and Equestrian Center

There are eight gentle, noise-proof horses for the children to pet, ride or just enjoy watching.

Bowling Alley with bumpers and adaptive devices

One of my favorite buildings was The Fun Center. There were ping pong tables, pool tables, and much, much more.

Indoor pool with zero grade entry, aqua lift and warming room

There was an indoor pool, a rock climbing wall, basketball court (with adjustable goals) an art room, beauty salon and a lake for boating and fishing and that’s not all, but because this post can not accommodate pictures of everything there is to see and do, you are just going to have to take my word for it….it is awesome!

The Center hosts Summer Camp and Family Weekends throughout the school year. Some of the illness groups served include: asthma, autism, cancer, epilepsy, diabetes, spina bifida, and many, many more. My tour was wonderful and I so appreciate Ms. Stormi for taking the time out of her day to show me around. What’s missing, of course, from these pictures are the children themselves.

Hand prints (and heart prints) of campers

When I stopped to look at this wall I imagined all the little faces that made these prints and the people who helped them. Not only are the kids courageous but so are their parents, the medical staff, camp volunteers and folks who run the camp are heroes as well.

After my tour I drove home lost in thought, my mind literally spinning with all the wonderful things I had seen. I couldn’t help but wonder how such a great organization could exist for two years practically on my back door step and I had never been to see it. I thought about the founder of the camp, Elizabeth Turner Campbell, and how much I admired her for dreaming the dream and then using her passion and resources to turn that dream into a reality. And finally I began asking myself, “What can I do to help?”

What follows is what I thought of on the way home, but thoughts are still pinging through my brain like bolts of lightening.

1. I can tell friends who have children with disabilities and health problems about the camp. There is no cost to the families and the whole family can attend one of the weekend camps if they so desire.

2. I can make The Center for Courgeous Kids NanaHood’s Charity of Choice. As soon as Char (my friend and web go-to girl) can I have asked her to place a permanent link from NanaHood to The Center’s web site.’

3. I can donate to The Center and ask others to do so. They have a long list of needs and suggestions for volunteering on their site.

4. I can pray for these courageous campers, for their families and for all the folks who donate their time and talents at the camp to help a sick child have a fun, safe, camp experience. Thank you Lord, for the blessing of this camp and for all those who help these precious children and their families!

Please visit the camp’s site at http://www.courageouskids.org/ and help me spread the word about the wonderful work these people are doing. There are families (probably near where you live) who have children who would love to spend time at this exceptional camp. I am sure there are parents who could benefit from the comraderie of other parents going through similar experiences.

Note: Being the grandparent of a special needs child, I am so thankful for wonderful facilities like these that meet the needs of so many special children and their families. Thank you, Teresa, for sharing this wonderful post!

Caught in the Act.........of Kindness!

2010-01-24T23:14:00.000-06:00

We have the world's best neighbors! You know. The kind you can borrow a cup of sugar from or better yet, the kind who will loan you their riding mower when yours has a bent blade and craters in the middle of the front yard. We've even had a neighbor approach our unsuspecting son-in-law, thinking he might be a burglar, when he came over to the house while we were away on a trip. It's always nice to know someone has your back!
Several years ago, while I was still working full time, I would put my garbage container out every Monday and Friday morning, only to find it emptied and back up by my garage when I came home in the evening. Since we have a lot of neighbors who are home during the day, I was never sure who was doing it. And even though I no longer work outside my home, these sneaky little helpers have continued to put my garbage can away, saving me that second trip out to the street twice a week.
Well, I finally caught them in the act! When I heard the garbage truck coming last Friday, I planted myself by the dining room window with my camera in hand. And sure enough, about fifteen minutes later, this is what I saw...

This is Bob, my neighbor who lives across the street. And he's rolling my cart right up to my garage! And then, this is what I saw next.........

That's Betty, his wife, driving the cart! Don't they make a cute, sneaky little couple? We're not sure of their age, but we think they might be in their early eighties. Twice a week, in the heat, rain or cold, Bob and Betty are out there with their cart going from house to house making sure everyone's container gets rolled safely back to the house. Sometimes when it's really cold or wet, Bob just stays on the back of the cart, grabs the garbage containers' handle and Betty drives them both right up the driveway!

Aren't they the best? Thanks, Bob and Betty, for showing us all how to be great neighbors!

The "Ugly Quilt" Dilemma

2010-01-11T10:56:00.000-06:00

Yesterday, while cleaning out my closet, it resurfaced once more. The quilt top. The one thing that I can not seem to dispose of. It's been folded away in a box for thirty-seven years just waiting for the day when I will lovingly remove it, send it off to be quilted, and then proudly display it on a bed.

The problem: It's UGLY! I mean reeeally ugly!

In 1973, months before my husband and I were to be married, two sweet, little elderly sisters at my church pulled me aside and said they would like to present me with a gift they had made. They went on to describe a beautiful quilt top that they hoped I would love and be willing to finish. Being a budding seamstress, I excitedly thanked them and promised to finish and cherish their gift.

When it arrived, I opened the box with great anticipation and this is what I pulled out:

The ugliest quilt top I had ever seen!!!! Notice those big, brownish-reddish stripes through the middle? U-G-L-Y!!! With great disappointment, I returned it to the box, wrote the perfunctory thank you note and promptly forgot about it.

A few years later, when "country really was cool" I took it out again, tried to imagine it on the bed, on the table, on the wall, on the windows, but even in that "country decorating" decade, it was just UGLY. Oh, how I wanted to suddenly have a decorating inspiration, to make those little old ladies proud, but it just didn't happen. So I sadly folded it back up, tucked it in the box and stuffed it in a dark corner of the closet.

Over the years that quilt has moved to seven different cities and seven different closets. Every few years, usually during spring cleaning, it resurfaces. I take it out once more, hoping this will be the time that I will finally see its hidden beauty. I know it must be there, otherwise why would those sweet little ladies have spent all those hours stitching it together? Or were they just trying to get rid of a really ugly mistake? I guess I'll never know since I don't even remember their names and they'd be over a hundred years old if they were still alive.

So I've finally come to the conclusion that the only reason this quilt is still in my closet is GUILT. I'm carrying it around because I feel guilty. I made a promise to two little old ladies that I don't even remember and who probably forgot all about me shortly after getting rid of, I mean giving me, this quilt top! How sad and pathetic is that? So, this week, I'm finally going to decide..........do I take it to Goodwill,.... throw it in the dumpster, or.........just leave it to my daughters and let them carry on the burden of guilt?

Any suggestions?

A Treasured Chest of Memories

2009-12-26T19:53:00.000-06:00

In my granddaughter Lilly's room stands a simple little chest that has been in my family for about seventy years. This small chest, with four drawers that tend to stick when opened, stands firmly on four little legs, the front two spindled, the back two straight. If sold in a garage sale it might bring twenty dollars, but to me it's priceless.

It was purchased by my newly wed parents when they found out they were expecting my oldest sister, Shirley. With a very small income, I imagine they had to miss a few meals to pay for it. But what joy they must have felt as they painted it and lovingly filled it with clothing and bedding in expectation of their first child.

As time passed and they added three more children to their family, each baby, in turn, was to use this little chest in his or her nursery. Finally, when it was no longer needed, the little chest was relegated to the garage, where it held some of my dad's tools and some of mother's old magazines.

Years later, when my sister, Becky, married and then found out she was pregnant, the little chest was emptied of tools, loving dusted off, and carried to another nursery to eagerly await the birth of her first daughter and my parents' first grandchild. My sister then had two more children and with each new birth, the little chest was painted a different color and filled to the brim with blankets, bibs and booties.

Years passed, the children outgrew the small chest and once more it was returned to its neglected spot in mother and daddy's garage.

In 1977, after five years of marriage, Mickey and I found out we were expecting and once more it was time to pull out the old chest and haul it all the way to Duncan, Oklahoma where we had just purchased our first house. Mickey removed five coats of old paint and gave it a fresh white one. Back then, we didn't get to find out the sex of our child ahead of time, so we painted the drawers an avocado green and placed it in our jungle-themed nursery of orange, yellow and green to await the birth of Mendy, our oldest child. Our second daughter, Melanie, came along four years later and once more the chest was painted and filled with frilly little clothes, shoes and hairbows.

The chest remained in Melanie's room until she was about five years old and years later we were to discover that she had placed a whole collection of stickers on the side nearest the wall. When she got her "big girl" bedroom set, we moved the little chest to a storage room in our basement where it returned to its former life as a tool cabinet. That little chest traveled with us to Topeka, KS., St. Louis, MO, and then to the Texas cities of San Antonio, Katy and finally, Dallas.

In 2004, we learned that our first grandchild, Michael, would be born and once more the old chest was stripped of its paint (and sticker collection) and given a fresh coat of white paint with blue and red drawers to match a new nursery.

Three years later, in anticipation of our granddaughter Lilly's arrival, the drawers were repainted with pink and green butterflies and now it's full of sweet little girl clothing.

So far its been used by eleven children, spanning three generations. My parents and my oldest sister have since passed away. But hopefully, this little treasured chest of memories will remain in our family and will continue to add to the anticipation and excitement of young parents for many years to come.

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-24T09:22:00.000-06:00

Wishing you a Merry Christmas!

Oh My,Have You Tried Oreo Truffles?

2009-12-19T09:36:00.000-06:00

Here's a great recipe to share with family and friends this holiday season.

Ingredients:
a bag of double stuffed Oreos
a block of almond bark
a block of cream cheese

Step 1:
Place the bag of oreos in a food processer and and completely crush. I had a small processor and had to crush mine a little at a time and then place them in a bowl.

Step 2:
Place the crushed oreos in your mixer and add a softened block of cream cheese. Mix on medium speed until completely blended.

Step 3: Place the combined mixture in the refrigerator or freezer until it is well chilled. Take it out and form small balls about one inch in diameter. Place these on a waxed surface.

Step 4: Now chill the balls until firm. Next melt the almond bark in the microwave for 90 seconds. Take it out and stir it until smooth. If necessary, continue to microwave and then stir in 15 second intervals until it is nice and smooth. Dip each ball, using a toothpick to pick it up, in the almond bark. I used another toothpick to then help me remove it and drop it onto the waxed paper.

Step 5: They are now ready to eat! I decided to dress mine up for the holidays by adding a little color. I melted some red and green Wilton chips in the microwave. I then cut a tiny hole in the corner of two plastic baggies and filled each bag with the green and red colored coating. I drizzled a little across the tops of each hardened truffle and placed them in little paper cups for gift giving. Note: Some recipes say to refrigerate them until serving. I found that if the balls are small enough and well coated, that refrigeration isn't necessary.

Aren't they pretty? Enjoy!

The Barbershop Mystery

2009-12-17T09:54:00.000-06:00

For the past two and a half years I have been taking our grandson, Michael, to our local barbershop for a haircut every five weeks. We live in a very small town with only two barbershops. The owner/operators of the shop we patronize are two brothers who appear to be in their forties or fifties. My husband also gets his hair cut there and occasionally takes Michael with him.

Every time we enter the shop I am mystified by the conversation that takes place. It doesn't matter which barber does the cutting.  The conversation goes something like this:

Barber: Hello, young fella. Take a seat right up here. (Looks at me) How would you like his hair cut?

Me:       Oh, just like it is now, only shorter.

Barber: Does he wear the front combed down?

Me:        No, his mother combs it over to the side when he goes to church.

Barber: Which side?

Me:       Over to the right.

Barber: Do you want a little sideburn?

Me:       Yes, and can you cut it pretty high over the ears? It grows really fast.

Barber: Do you want the back blocked or tapered?

Me:       Blocked.

Then the barber proceeds to cut Michael's hair and carries on a little conversation with him. When he's finished, Michael climbs down, gets the piece of gum the barber offers, hands him a check and we're out the door.

The mystery: Each time we go there it's like they've never seen us before. Why don't they remember us, know that they cut it previously, and just cut it the same way it looks, only shorter?   Can't they look at the back and see that it's blocked?  Can't they see the little sideburns? Can a five year old grow sideburns where there were none in just five weeks? Really, how many little boys call their grandma "Googoo"? That alone would make me remember us. Also, I never hear them ask these questions to the men who get their hair cut while we're there. They just start cutting.

Oh well, if they ever do remember us and just start cutting, I'm going to be so disappointed.  This is so much more fun. I walk in feeling like I'm entering Floyd's shop in Mayberry and I walk out feeling like I'm leaving the Twilight Zone!

Coffee, tea or hot chocolate, anyone?

2009-12-08T08:50:00.000-06:00

A few months ago, my husband and I spent the night in a cute little bed and breakfast in Jefferson, TX. Early the next morning he asked me to go down and get him a cup of coffee while he dressed. On the buffet in the diningroom was this amazing coffee brewer with a little carousel of assorted coffees in tiny containers. All I had to do was pick one out, put it in the receptacle and it magically brewed this steaming hot cup of coffee!

Weeks later I was still thinking about that beautiful, sleek-looking coffee brewer. I even looked it up online and discovered that it brews different sizes of cups, is available in red, and has two different types of carousels to hold all the little coffees. I thought about how cute it would look on my counter top and how much fun it would be to twirl that little carousel and look at all those different little K-cups. I could name it Katie (that's what I would have named my third daughter if I'd had one), but no, Katie Keurig sounded too much like Katie Couric and I'm too much of a political conservative to be reminded of her each day. Beginning to sound like an obsesssion?.

I think so. Because you see, the problem with all this is I DON'T DRINK COFFEE!!! Now I tried to justify this obsession with the fact that it also brews tea and hot chocolate. But, I don't drink hot tea and I only drink lowfat, sugar-free hot chocolate which isn't available in the K-cups. I did think about how much my husband would enjoy having me fix it for him. But really, he only drinks coffee on Saturday and Sunday mornings and downs a whole pitcher in about 30 minutes. Oh, and did I also mention that I'm extremely practical and even on vacaction I only buy gifts for myself that are functional? Hence, my big collection of cookbooks, my rolling pin from Silver Dollar City (who buys a rolling pin when everyone else on the trip is buying jewelry?), and a jar of molasses from some little town in Tennessee.

So, how, oh, how was I going to justify spending a great deal of money on a beautiful, sleek, shiny, black, magical coffee maker that was obviously calling my name? Well.........I didn't have to! Because my son-in-law's sweet, sweet mother heard about my ridiculous obsession and understood the need in my life to own something that was completely impractical. So when she showed up at my door on Thanksgiving with this big, exquisitely wrapped box, my joy was complete! I now have this ...........

sitting on my countertop! Isn't it beautiful? Then I had to go out and buy this..........

so it wouldn't be lonely!

And now of course, the only way my practical side will ever relax and let me enjoy this thing is by frequent use. So don't be surprised when you walk in my door and the first words out of my mouth are..."Can I fix you a cup of nice, hot coffee, tea or hot chocolate?"
Thanks again, sweet Gina, for understanding!

Christmas Giveaway Winner!

2009-12-05T10:45:00.000-06:00

And the winner is............................

Leslie! Congratulations and look for it in the mail later this week! I hope Makenzie likes it!

Christmas Giveaway!

2009-12-01T08:32:00.000-06:00

To celebrate my favorite month of the year.........
I'm having a Christmas giveaway this week! You can win a cute little personalized "I Spy" bag just like the one pictured below. It contains at least 30 items hidden in the plastic beads. It's a great toy for church, doctor's office visits or long car rides. Older children can read and find the items alone, while younger ones can enjoy some quality time with a parent or grandparent.
To win, just leave me a comment telling me who you'd like to give it to. You can leave a comment on this post, email me at msandlin@prodigy.net or leave a comment on my FB wall. (If you have trouble leaving a post here, just sign in as "anonymous" and leave your name in the post.) One entry per person, please.
The giveaway is open until midnight Friday night, CST and a winner will be randomly chosen and posted on Saturday.
Merry Christmas and good luck!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-27T00:10:00.000-06:00

I hope your Thanksgiving was as wonderful as mine. This year we celebrated with our son-in-law's family. We had a wonderful lunch.

Lots of great conversation........

Busy children..............

Happy children..........

Silly children............

An after dinner walk...............

Some beautiful music........

and one tired little boy who's already

dreaming about the next holiday!

The Power of Love

2009-11-20T08:01:00.000-06:00

A few nights ago my husband and I attended a fundraising dinner for Altzheimer's patient care. The keynote speaker was Michael Reagan, eldest son of former president Ronald Reagan. The younger Mr. Reagan did an excellent job emphasizing the importance of quality care for Altzheimers patients.

Mr. Reagan related several entertaining incidents from his childhood, along with the account of a very poignant visit with his ailing father near the end of his journey with Altzheimers.

Michael said that while growing up he knew his father loved him, but he never remembered his father hugging him and saying the words, "I love you". As Michael aged and became a parent himself, he realized how important it was to express these feelings openly. So during his father's presidency he began to greet his father with an embrace and the words, "I love you, Dad". Eventually, President Reagan became comfortable with this open expression of affection and was able to reciprocate.

As the President's life became wrecked with mental and physical deterioration, little was left of the strong father Michael once knew. As Michael made the perfunctory visits to the President's and Nancy's home, he knew that his time would be spent talking with Nancy and his father's caregiver. In fact, Michael could have been standing before a complete stranger, if not for the one simple gesture that allowed him to know that his father was still aware of his son. As Michael would enter the room, President Reagan would hold out his arms, ready for the embrace of his son and the simple "I love you, Dad". On one such visit, accompanied by his wife, Colleen, Michael greeted Nancy and the caregiver, received an account of his father's failing health and proceeded to leave. As Michael started the car, his wife Colleen said, "Michael, you forgot something." and pointed to the open door of the Reagan home. There in the doorway, with Nancy holding him up, stood a very fragile Ronald Reagan with arms outstretched. Even though the President had forgotten how to speak and was barely able to shuffle to the door, he still remembered the feel of his son's embrace. The power of love had transcended the depths of this crippling disease.

Have you hugged the ones you love today? Have you told them how much you love them?

2009-11-08T14:07:00.000-06:00

Thirteen people entered my drawing for the Thanksgiving apron and this little guy with the spiffy cap wanted to select the winner!

And...................

the winner is.................

Glenda Davidson from Arnold, MO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Congratulations, Glenda, hope you enjoy wearing your apron this Thanksgiving!

Thanks to everyone for entering! I enjoyed all your comments and the new recipes a few of you shared. I'm planning a few Christmas giveaways soon so I hope you'll stop back by for those.

Gobble Gobble Giveaway

2009-11-01T06:34:00.000-06:00

If your comment won't post, just leave me a comment on my FB wall or email it to me. Don't want you to miss out! msandlin@prodigy.net
Good luck!

A Gobble, Gobble Giveaway!

2009-10-31T22:30:00.000-05:00

Yes, you read that correctly! I've decided to celebrate the holiday with a giveaway. I love Thanksgiving! In our home it's the one holiday where the guest list always changes. We have been blessed to have so many friends sit at our Thanksgiving table through the years. This year we will be hosting our son-in-law's parents, his two sisters and their families, along with our children and grandchildren.

It seems that no matter how many times I plan and re-plan (is that a word?) the menu in my head, I always serve the same things. For me, it just wouldn't be Thanksgiving without dressing made from my mother's recipe. My daughter, Melanie, just has to have cherry pie. The first year my son-in-law spent Thanksgiving with us I felt sorry for him because he was away from his family, so I asked him to tell me the one dish he just couldn't live without at Thanksgiving. It was sweet potato casserole and it's been included in our holiday menu ever since.

So.......if you will leave a comment on this site telling me the one Thanksgiving dish you must have on your menu, I will include you in a random drawing to win this cute little apron made just for you. (If you have trouble leaving a comment, just sign in as "anonymous" and then sign your name on your comment.) This giveaway is open to residents of the 48 contiguous United States. One entry per person, please, and the deadline is midnight, Friday, Nov. 6th CST.

The winner will be announced on Sunday, Nov 8th. If the winner does not contact me by midnight, Weds., Nov. 11th, another winner will randomly be selected. Good luck!

Decorating...Grandmother Style

2009-10-30T13:34:00.000-05:00

My decorating style has definitely changed since I became a grandmother. I doubt if HGTV will be knocking on my door anytime soon to showcase my interior design. But that's okay! After all, what can be better than a post-it note picture of my grandson and me on my closet door?

And I'll bet no one else has these Halloween decorations on their breakfast room window...

I can't wait to see what he has in mind for Thanksgiving! Happy Halloween, everyone!