Deer Hunter

Derek finally got a deer this week, after months of hunting. This is his first one this season; a small doe. His girlfriend's family wanted one to put in the freezer. Otherwise he would not have killed it. We do not believe in killing one JUST for 'sport'.

I worry every time he goes into the woods. It must be a 'Momma' thing. I also had a grown cousin killed while hunting. I know that Derek has been through gun safety training, plus his father is very big on teaching gun safety from a very young age. It isn't Derek's ability to be careful that worries me; it is all the other people out there. At least he hunts with a group of friends and they all know where everyone is sitting. With the technology today of cell phones, they call before moving through the woods.
I also ask him to give me a call to let me know when they are coming out of the woods and for me to know he is safe. I just have to trust that he will have his angel watching over him. All the men in our family have been hunters; his father, grandfather and uncles, my dad and several cousins.

My daddy took me rabbit hunting once, thankfully we didn't jump any rabbits. I also went deer hunting with the children's father, years before we had the kids. I found it boring! So when we spent time at the 'farm' (hunting land); I would always pack a good book and sit in the cabin.

My favorite Christmas photo

This is my favorite photo made this Christmas and I didn't even make the picture! My niece, Brandy received a new digital camera from 'Santa' and she snapped this shot in front of the church Christmas tree before the morning service. Leah is 'hiding' her hands under her the long sleeves of her shirt, however, I love that Derek put his arm around his little sister. They bicker so often that THIS is a wonderful heart warming rare moment. I love it!

Family Christmas lunch

After opening gifts at home, we dressed and went to meet my family at my sister's church for their morning service. My niece, Nikki, played a flute solo during the music service. She did a wonderful job! Even though the morning was damp and dreary, spirits were warm inside their little country church.
The pastor finished promptly at noon and we drove the short distance to my sister's house. The turkey was sliced and the spiral ham placed on platters. We have for many years now done a sub sandwich type buffet for Christmas lunch, so that there is not a lot of cooking or big clean up. There was fresh roasted turkey, ham, sandwich fixings, potato salad and chips with a hot meat/cheese dip.
After lunch it was time to open more gifts. The pictures above are some during that time. The top photo is a picture of my older nieces (Brandy in the red, Nikki in the pink) with their dad, Jeff. Of course, everyone is trying to capture the memories! Under that is a picture of my youngest niece, Misty, playing with her gift from us. It was a hit! It lights up and plays music. The last picture is of my mom. Can you believe this woman is 70 years old??????
I have to admit that this year together went off without a hitch. We all enjoyed each other's company.

Christmas Morning

Just a couple of pictures of Derek & Leah opening gifts on Christmas morning. We were up a little before 8am to open 'Santa' presents. The gifts this year were almost all clothing. Each of them did get a surprise 'fun' gift. Derek, a handheld Texas Hold'em game and Leah, a country music cd. Each dug into their overflowing stockings to find the goodies.

Christmas gifts, dinner and friends...

Finally there are gifts under the tree! Got this picture tonight before the kids delivered the gifts to our next door neighbor. They have 2 teen daughters and a college son. I have been blessed to have one family of Wonderful! neighbors. They are the type neighbors where we can borrow a cup of milk or a few eggs back and forth between us. I made the girls altered frames to match their newly painted rooms. Their son received a box of 'goodies' (Dr. Pepper, oreos, chips). For the adults, a gift bag with spaghetti sauce, noodles, fresh baked french bread and a sign that reads "Good Friends, Good Food and Good Times" to hang in their house.

We have just had supper (roast, carrots, potatoes from the crockpot and hot dinner rolls). Derek's girlfriend, Becky, is visiting for supper. Right now they are playing Texas Holdem at the kitchen table - Derek, Leah, Becky and a family friend, Donna. They are laughing, loud and boasting. Music to my ears. The tree is lit and so are the candles around the house. I used my Christmas dishes (an after Christmas clearance deal from last year). In a bit, Derek and Becky will exchange their Christmas gifts. Plus I have Becky a handmade mini clipboard calendar and paper bag album from Leah and I.

There is happiness, love and fun in my house tonight. It really DOES feel like Christmas.
We are so blessed.

Holiday spirit !

I am finally feeling more in the Christmas spirit each day. Good thing, since it is just 2 days away!

Today was my last day at work until 2006! Actually we will open back up on January 5th. I always look forward to this time off, it is one of the BEST things about my job. Was able to run a few errands this afternoon, which means HOPEFULLY I don't have to leave the house again until I head out to church on Sunday.

I am busy finishing up gifts for the neighbor's teen girls, friends and still have to make the items for my mom and 2 sisters! I made a LOT of progress this afternoon and am down to 4 gifts left to make, along with wrapping everything and baking THE cake. Supper is planned for tomorrow night (roast in the crockpot tomorrow) and I have our Christmas Eve dinner planned too. Things are coming together.

Thought I would post a couple of more pictures of my tree while I am taking a short break from gift making. One is a close up of the top where I put this and that from my decorations stash together this year. The gold 'round' things are actually fabric flowers; along with ting-ting, silk greenery with gold 'berries' and gold pine cones. I think 'Martha' would be proud! One of my favorite things this time of year is to sit alone in the living room, wrapped up in a blanket in my recliner, sipping a cup of coffee with just the tree lights on. Gives me the warm fuzzy feelings.

Leah's new haircut

Leah spent the day with her Granny today (my Mom) and got a new hair 'do'. Did I mention before that my mom is 70 and STILL works as a beautician? Mom cut her hair, then one of the other hairdressers decided to flip it. Leah was thrilled with the results, not so thrilled about the picture. I just wanted to snap a picture while it was looking so adorable, because Leah most likely will not go to the extra trouble to flip it out on the ends.

Scary Santa and a Recipe

Thought I would share an old picture with you, since my children are too 'old' to have their picture made with Santa these days.
This is a picture of me with that 'scary' Santa! The picture backdrops sure have changed. See the boxes behind Santa's chair?

Thankfully I don't feel that I was terribly traumatized from being made to endure sitting on Santa's lap in 1965.

I can not believe that Christmas is almost here! I still have things to accomplish. I did today however, get a MUCH needed haircut; wrapped my co-workers gifts; checked the stocking stuffers to see if I might need to make that last minute run to get more. Looks like I am set with those. Now I am down to wrapping, finishing up some homemade gifts and baking THE cake. The cake is from a recipe I found in an employee newsletter about 5 years ago. I thought it sounded good and tried it that year, taking it to our family Christmas get together. My sister now requests this cake EVERY year as her 'gift'. I have also baked it for a church bake sale during the holidays and for neighbors. Always during the holidays. So I have re-named the 'recipe' to The Christmas Gift Cake. However here is the recipe with it's original title. It is delicious!

IT WON’T LAST CAKE

Ingredients:
1 1/3 cups vegetable oil
3 cups white sugar (regular sugar)
1 cup crushed pineapples (with juice)
2 cups mashed bananas
1 cup chopped pecans
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt

1 cup maraschino cherries (optional)

Directions: Grease and flour a 9 or 10 inch bundt pan. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix together. (optional: adding one cup maraschino cherries to mixture makes a nice fruit cake.) Pour into prepared bundt pan. Bake for about 1 1/2 hours at 350 degrees. Do not over bake.

This cake is VERY moist and easy to make. I have never added the cherries. Not a big fan of fruit cake. It does bake up 'brown' due to the cinnamon and bananas, I think. Hope you enjoy it.

Christmas Stockings

Another Sophia challenge! **I will try to get pictures tonight.

When I was little I remember getting the lifesaver candy ‘books’ in our stockings. I know we got lots of other things because they were always full and sometimes things were sticking out the top. However, nothing else really sticks out in my mind. I just know I enjoyed finding hidden surprises in my stocking every year.

When I married the children’s father, his family didn’t ‘do’ stockings but I insisted in keeping up the tradition. I would search high and low to find neat little gifts to put into his stocking. Then the children were born and Santa filled their stockings full along with one for Mom and Day too. Stockings were the only ‘Santa’ gifts that adults received.

I have carried on this tradition with my children filling their stockings; the treats usually are one of their favorite candy, a large pack of gum, chapstick, socks or gloves, a gift certificate (usually to the movie theater – which is a special treat for them, as we rarely view a movie at the theater); always a new toothbrush, a ‘toy’ – yes even my 18 year old gets a toy in his stocking. Last year it was a matchbox car because he kept saying he wanted a ‘new’ truck! The other items have changed to be age appropriate. Most everything that goes into the stockings are $5 and under items. Anything more expensive is wrapped, such as music cd’s. If they would eat them, I would go buy one of those huge peppermint sticks to go into their stockings this year; because this is going to be a hard candy Christmas (for those familiar with the Country music Christmas song).

I remember asking my mother what they got in their stockings growing up as she is the baby of 11 children. She said it was usually an apple, orange, nuts and one of the big peppermint sticks and to them that was a special treat.

O Christmas Tree...

Leah made pictures of our tree tonight. This is the picture I like the best. I have 2 more, that I will try to add later. I love having the lights on in the evening and the reflections they cast along the wall and ceiling. I wasn't able to use my falling bow topper due to the kitty. So I improvised and used a little of this and that out of my stash of decorations! Leah said she is happy with the results and that is what matters most, since she is the youngest.

The Santas on the fire place are gourds. My mother painted one of them and a friend of hers painted the other. I did not get out all of the Santas that I have collected over the years (the fireplace is usually full of them!); again thanks to a spaz cat. LOL! Oh my tree skirt is just a white sheet wrapped around the bottom. Kinda looks like snow.

Christmas Traditions....

Per Sophia's challenge I thought I would blog our family's Christmas traditions.

I have tried over the last 12 years to make the holidays a 'special' time for my children. Since they have to split the time between my house and their father's. For about the last 10 years, they have always been home on Christmas Eve and Christmas morning; leaving in the late afternoon to finish up the holiday with their dad.
Here are our traditions:

• Decorating the tree - We usually put it up in the first week of December, for a couple of years I did wait until after Leah's birthday, thinking she should have her 'day' before the Christmas decorations were everywhere. However, she doesn't mind and is usually begging to put the tree up soon after Thanksgiving. Everyone HAS to be home and participate. Derek's participation usually amounted to dragging the tree into the house for me for the last several years. This year he did however 'set it up', as it is an artificial tree. Leah and I do lights and ornaments.
• City of Bethlehem - For the last 3 years we have toured a community church's City of Bethlehem before Christmas. It is put on by the church and is really a wonderful family night outing. There is entertainment in the church until your tour time, then a narrator takes you around the 'city'; complete with the greatest story told. After a chilly walk, there are refreshments and fellowship in the AWANA building.
• Homemade Fudge - it wouldn't be Christmas without my Mom's homemade fudge. She has fixed it as long as I can remember to share with her customers at the beauty shop and friends of the family. We took it in as teachers gifts when we attended school. Now, I have the recipe; Leah and I make fudge for sharing with our neighbors, as gifts and save some for us to munch on Christmas Eve.
• The "Christmas Gift Cake" - I tried a new recipe on an employee newsletter 6 years ago to take to our family gathering. My sister fell in love with this cake and now requests it every year as her 'gift'. So I renamed it because I only bake it at Christmas. For the last 6 years I have baked this cake for holiday office gatherings, a church bake sale at Christmas and for family and friends as a gift. It is now one of our 'traditions'. My sister would be upset if I showed up at her house on Christmas Day without this cake!
• Christmas Eve - Our Christmas Eve is FILLED with 'traditions' - First is our family dinner. The menu changes per the children's requests, but we always are home and sit down to have dinner together. When Derek worked fast food, we have even delayed dinner time to make sure everyone would be there at the same time. Sometimes we invite family friends that don't 'do' Christmas celebrations on Christmas Eve to join us. Second are photos of Derek and Leah in front of the tree. I've done this every year. It's neat to see how much they have grown. Third, we open gifts to each other - there is always one gift for each child under the tree from me, there is always a gift from each sibling to the other and most years there is a tiny gift to me from the kids (sometimes it is something they made themselves, sometimes it is just something small and inexpensive). Everyone takes turns opening one gift at a time. Then we play games or watch movies together until bedtime. Often there is a gift in there that IS a game or movie that we can instantly enjoy together.
• Christmas Morning - first one up has to wake everyone before going to the living room. Then I hit the coffee button, grab the camera and check out the gifts and stockings. Since my children are now older, 'Santa' started wrapping gifts last year. Leah said she likes this and so it shall continue. We have a LIGHT breakfast - usually muffins or cinnamon rolls.
• Christmas Day 'Lunch' - We head to my sister's house for Christmas with my family around noon. Lunch is easy - homemade deli sandwiches, hot cheese dip with chips; along with all kinds of baked goodies (cookies, candies and cake). We eat, then exchange gifts with the family.
• Day after Christmas shopping - I have gone shopping the morning after Christmas Day for lots of years. It IS a tradition. You can not get me out on 'Black Friday' but this is my day. Usually I am standing in line at Walmart about 15 minutes before they open along with about 20 other freezing and crazy people. I am in and out of there in less than 1 hour, with Target next on the list. After that it is a break for some food and deciding if I head home or anywhere else. The plan works well. I stock my 'gift closet' for the coming year for birthdays and such. It has saved me bundles of money and TIME racing around to find that gift for the "oh mom, so-and-so's birthday party is tomorrow night". I may not get to continue this year with a son in college funds are tight.

I've enjoyed reading everyone else's Christmas traditions also. Again, Thanks Sophia!

My 'baby' is 14 today ....Dec. 7th

It is my daughter, Leah's 14th birthday. One more year before she will be driving (Lord help us all) and this is her last year of Jr. High. I love this child, however, I am also thankful we have made it this far. She loves to try my patience!

This morning her Aunt called her birthday in to a local radio station. Leah won flowers from a florist here in town. How neat is that? I picked up the certificate and the flowers on my lunch so that she would have them today.

We had a dinner together and then celebrated. Leah opened her new Old Navy black shirt, a 'puffy' hooded vest and a new thermal blanket for her bed. She also received gifts from family and friends: new 'cool' purse, bracelet set, Christmas pullover, blue pullover and a $10 Micky D's gift card. Her 'away at college' brother even called her to wish her birthday greetings.
One of my co-workers brought her in a dozen cupcakes to share - there were plenty leftover, so we opted out of baking a cake and did a candle in a cupcake. With it being just Leah and myself, we didn't need a cake around to munch on with the holidays coming up.

I hope she enjoyed her day and she still has 'celebrating' to do this weekend with her father - dinner out!

5 things that made me SMILE this week....

I was tagged by Sophia! Ok, so I'm a little 'late' as it is a new week, but just pretend - o.k.?

1. Chocolate Chip Cookies - my favorite. We had a birthday 'celebration' for two of our student workers in the office this week. I took chocolate chip cookies in to go with the other goodies. I didn't have time to make them, so the next best thing to me are the ones fresh from the bakery at Publix. Mmmmmm good!

2. The entire family plus going Christmas shopping at the mall on Saturday afternoon. Derek was home for the weekend from college. A friend of mine called to see if we would be interested in a mall run. Derek agreed to go; so I said yes. We all met up, along with Derek's girlfriend, Becky, then headed to the mall. I got about 80% of Derek's gifts, which is what I was most worried about finishing up. Found some good deals. And had some fun shopping with family and friends.

3. My tree is up! Ok, so actually that was today! I am so happy to have it up. Derek helped move the old trunk to make room for the tree in the living room and then put the tree together for me; before heading back to college. Bonus! I still need to put the finishing touches on it, but I have the lights on now and love that warm glow in the room.

4. Music. Leah's 8th grade band concert was Thursday night. Beautiful music from such a young group of students. Leah looked so pretty in her new band shirt and black dress pants. She even wore her hair down (which I love & it is usually pulled up in a pony tail).

5. Mail. I got 2 Christmas cards in the mail this week. I also recieved a homemade beautiful thank you card from a new scrapbook buddy. So thoughtful and sweet. I LOVE getting snail mail. There is just something about opening the mail box and finding something addressed to you in there that is NOT a bill or junk. Always puts a smile on my face.

Thanks Sophia!

Where is my Christmas 'spirit' ?

I wish I knew! Leah wants to put up our tree. I have no desire to do that. I have the bah hum bugs.

I have a HUGE list of things to get accomplished in time for the holidays - orders, gifts to make, cards! I have done a little shopping with Leah, so I have pretty much 90% of what she will get for Christmas purchased; all of which is clothes. Next week is her birthday, so she will get a couple of the items then. The rest will go up until Christmas, with just a few more things as 'goodies' - like maybe a new music cd. I have ONE item for Derek. I bought it back in the summer on clearance. I have no idea what to get him and will not shop for clothes without him going with me. I have no idea when he might be able to fit me into his busy schedule!

Maybe my spirit is dampened because I know this will be a very slim Christmas. I know it's not the gifts that make the holiday. However, I enjoy the blessing of GIVING and it's a bit sad not being able to do that. Not just for my immediate family, but for others too. Then there is the fact that my children are older and there is no 'magic' left surrounding Christmas night and how those gifts appear. I really loved knowing Santa would visit each year! Then it could be the fact that Leah, Derek and I have all had a round with bad sinus, cough and just feeling yucky. I would have gotten many of my projects done in the last 2 weeks if it wasn't for sneezing, coughing and blowing my nose. Not to mention the horrible headaches!

Please pass my holiday spirit and quickly!

What I did Thanksgiving, etc.

Thanksgiving was a nice and BUSY day. First stop was my sister's house for my family lunch together. There was a lot of good food; everyone was there and just a tad bit of drama. At least we were all together, right? And the drama....was over pictures of all the kids together of all things. I didn't get one good shot with my digital; hopefully the film picture will turn out ok.

The children and I then went to the farm to visit with Paps, MeMaw and the rest of the Smiths. Derek ate another huge plate of dressing (his favorite dish!), Leah and I settled for a snack. Mine was a slice of pound cake. Mmmmmmmm mmmm good. I enjoyed visiting with everyone. It is always such a warm, inviting and casual atmosphere.

I brought the kids back to town, so they could get ready and go to their Dad's house for the evening. They had a get together with their Step-mom's family.

Friday was leftover lunch, then out to ride around hunting pictures to make for the photo of the day. Also, because I have decided to do a few Christmas presents that include photographs of different subjects. My best friend drove me around the countryside down in her neck of the woods. We did find one good barn and a windmill; however I STILL have not had the time to load the pictures onto my computer from my digital.

While I was taking the photo of the windmill, I noticed a grove of pecan trees. As luck would have it there was an electric fence around the pasture. So we decided to pick up the pecans from the road side. We laughed and laughed as cars passed by; imagining what they were thinking about us with our noses to the ground hunting pecans. They are about $7 a bag here this year and I need just enough for a cake and some fudge! LOL

The ride brought us back through town, where we did stop off in a few stores. This was late afternoon and most of the Black Friday shoppers had headed home it seemed. I picked up a couple of small gifts. Nothing much, however, it will be a small Christmas at our house this year!

I have a few orders for Saks of Memories that I have been working on and a LONG list of items I want to make for Christmas presents. I just wonder where I will find the time for all of it!

The day before the feast....

First I have to say WOW! 11 comments on yesterday's post. I am honored that so many read my story and enjoyed it.

Today has been a busy day ~ errands, preparations, laundry (is it ever ALL clean?), the annual 'mix up the dressing' and some baking as I am typing this. I am baking up a recipe shared by Sophia Corbridge recently on her blog; Pumpkin Gooey Cake to take to my sister's tomorrow.

Today was beautiful and sunny here, even if it was a bit windy and cool. Leah and I hit Big Lots searching for some tin pans. I was hoping there would be a tad too much dressing made up this evening and I would have a pan for extras! We didn't find any small pans at Big Lots, so we went across the street to the Dollar General (It was ALL about staying out of the big stores today). I picked up some pans and headed home.

I packed up the crockpot full of pinto beans that had been cooking all day and headed down to the 'farm'. The Farm is actually my best friend, Donna's, house about 15 miles out of town in the 'country'. This is also where we board our horses. For the last 9 or 10 years we have a tradition of mixing up the dressing for Thanksgiving together. My 'job' is to debone the chicken. After a dinner of pintos and cornbread, we set out to make the Thanksgiving dressing. Leah was initiated this year and got to mix it up! This is done in a HUGE dishpan by hand. We had 2 small pans left. Did you know you can freeze 'raw' dressing and cook it later? It tastes JUST as good; you'd never know it had been frozen. We froze one pan for Christmas Eve Dinner this year and I brought a small pan back to cook up just for my son. Chicken Dressing is his favorite dish, period. He loves it so much he put it on his Christmas wish list! That is why we saved a pan for then. Could it be he is missing home cooking off at college? If all works out, I will be cooking this small pan on Sunday and sending it back with him, along with a can of cranberry sauce. It really was a blessing to visit with friends and share recipes, stories and fun this evening.

Tomorrow it is off to my sister's house for Thanksgiving 'lunch' with my family. I am taking the Pumpkin Cake, which is cooling now and smells MMMMMM mmmm good! plus pinto beans. My 71 year old Mother still does most of the cooking. Hey, she still works a job 5 days a week too! There will be way too much food, as Mom loves to cook. In the afternoon we will drive down to the farm to visit with Donna and her family. Her Dad says they have just 'adopted' me, because I've been around so long. I am truly thankful to feel a part of 'another' family. Since I lost my Dad eleven years ago, 'Paps' (as we call him) has really helped fill that void.

I hope each and every one of you have a wonderful Thanksgiving and can find the large and small things in your life in which to be thankful.

God and Miss Mae

Yesterday was a yucky miserable day with sheets of icy cold rain pouring down from the dark sky, amid strong gusts of whipping frigid wind cutting right through to your very bones. A day when most will agree they would rather stay in their warm beds.

After work, I had to run by and pick my daughter up from school. She had stayed after to make up a test she had missed when out sick last week. The wind literally rocked my SUV! I needed to stop by the grocery store but decided against it and pulled into McDonald’s instead. So it wasn’t the most healthy meal choice, but it is cheap. The bonus is a friend of mine runs this store and I caught her right before she was leaving for the day. She sat and chatted as Leah and I had dinner. We were just finishing up when a feeble elderly lady wondered in to ask for directions. The young employee at the counter was unsure, so my friend, Donna, stepped up and asked the lady where she needed to go.

The lady said the name of a town about 10 miles from here. She wrote down the directions as they were given then turned to go. As, Donna returned to the booth where my daughter and I were sitting, she noticed the elderly lady crying as she was leaving. Donna caught her and said it was much too bad of a night for her to be upset and driving to please sit down, have a cup of coffee and talk a bit. As we listened from the adjoining booth this lady could not even give her home address to Donna. She said she had been visiting with her son in a local nursing home and must have stayed a bit too late. She wasn’t familiar with the area and it had gotten dark out. The lady introduced herself as Mae. Donna glanced over her shoulder at me. I knew the thoughts running through her mind and just nodded.

Donna told “Miss Mae” that I was her friend and this was my daughter with me and that we would be more than happy to drive her to the next town to make sure she got home safely. Miss Mae broke down into sobs. She replied that she knew if she kept praying hard enough that God would send someone to help her. It is a very heart wrenching sight to see an elderly woman sit there and cry. I felt the tears well up in my own eyes. Donna excused herself from Miss Mae for a moment and I followed her out the side door. She started by saying that she knew that Miss Mae would never make it to the next town tonight and hoped it was okay to offer our assistance. Of course!

We went back in where my daughter had been keeping Miss Mae company, while she still searched her purse for her address. She did say she would recognize the area near home when we got there. I hoped so too. Donna helped Miss Mae to her car and our little caravan started out in the driving dark rain. I am not fond of driving on rainy nights myself and the wind wasn’t making the job easy. So I tucked a little prayer in myself for all of our safety.

We delivered Miss Mae to a cozy little apartment complex that is set up especially for the aging. Her tiny white poodle met her at the door. She hugged both of our necks and said she would never ever be able to repay us. In fact, she said, surely there is something around that I could offer you. We declined and said we were just thankful she was home safe. We said our goodbyes and hurried into my warm vehicle.

As soon as we pulled back onto the road, I asked Donna what she had found out about Miss Mae. I could tell they were having a conversation while behind them at one of the red lights. Miss Mae said as they had pulled out of McDonald’s that she might as well share her life ‘story’ as they traveled up the road.

Miss Mae is 83 years young. She is from West Virginia and has only lived here for about 3 years. She has a son that lives close and another that is in a local nursing home. She raised 7 boys, after her husband walked out on her ~ never to be heard from again. Four of those sons graduated from college, while Miss Mae worked three jobs. Miss Mae also said she had recently been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Usually a lady drove her to the nursing home for her visit; however she thought it was a simple drive and that she could make it on her own. Like I said previously mentioned, she hugged our necks at the door. Giving me that feeling that she was just a warm, giving and loving soul you were blessed that you had crossed paths. Then she laughed and said the ladies at the Senior meeting will get a kick out of this story and really have fun with me tomorrow. Little did she know how she had brought a bright spot into all of our hearts for the night. I think we met an angel wandering into a McDonald’s and I am blessed today to share her story.

Rainy days & Mondays always get me down....

It is POURING rain out today here. I mean buckets; cats and dogs ....ya know - a LOT! Thankfully it is a short work week - 2 days. For the first time in 16 years I am off the day before Thanksgiving. I called my sister on Saturday morning, she wasn't home; now why would any sane person be up and gone by 9am on their off day? So I left her this message on her answering machine: "I'm dying and making the funeral arrangements, ya better call me for them." I really was feeling awful and I know I sounded like a frog on the phone. Sometime Friday afternoon at work I started coughing and didn't stop. Saturday morning - add to that cough, a stuffed up head, sneezing (non-stop!), running nose, headache. UGH!

It has REALLY been a busy, crazy, strange, wild couple of weeks. Gen's surgery and 2 weeks worth of pampering him; my back went out last weekend - so I was back on meds all week for that. Leah had a sinus infection and we visited the doctor for meds for her. Gen's follow-up visit and then I end up sick. If I wasn't living it; I wouldn't believe it! I am so ready for 5 days off in a row.

I have several 'Saks of Memories' orders in line. So I HAVE to feel better in order to work on those. Plus I have several Christmas gifts I would like to make for family. Christmas. It could be the weather today, it could be the fact that for the last 2 weekends I have actually been under the weather myself. But I am NOT looking forward to the holidays. I don't want to decorate. My cute little house kitten has become the Tazmanian Devil. You know the cartoon one that whirlwinds through everything. Every day is an 'adventure' when I come home from work to see what she has gotten in to and how much of a mess has been made. So I can not even imagine my tree with it's glass ornaments and this little wild kitten.

I have neglected my blog. However, with all that was going on, it was all I could do to keep up with working and my household chores; which have also suffered. Thank goodness I am NOT hosting Thanksgiving dinner this week! My house would not be "Mother" inspection ready.

I also planned and taught a class at work on Friday. We employ 6 student workers in my office (University). I held a customer service class for them, at the request of the Associate Director. So last week I was planning, typing the handouts and getting ready for my 'speech'. (Teaching a class is like a speech to me - I have to read, re-read and know the outline; so it will go smooth). I am not sure it went over as well as some of my previous customer services classes; however, it did recieve positive feedback. So that is ok by me.

One of my high school friends emailed me last week that her daughter would be on TBS this past weekend; during movie and a make over. So Leah and I settled in to watch for her. We actually got to see the clip and she did a GREAT job. I actually "know" 2 famous people now! Make that 3 - my uncle was recently on a lawyer commercial too. *giggles* This was the highlight of our weekend! Pretty sad eh?

Childhood Christmas memories....

It’s really past time to update my blog! I do have the “I’ve been busy excuse” for this last week. Gen continues to do well, but I am babying him just the same. Leah has been sick this week, so we spent 2 hours in the Doctor’s office on Wednesday afternoon. Ugh!

I have orders for 8 mini albums, with one I am currently working on to finish up in time for the weekend. The rest are pretty much anytime before Christmas, but I want to get them out of the way because I have projects of my own to make as Christmas gifts.

I answered a post yesterday about budgeting and spending for the holidays. It really made me think of this question – “What do you remember for your childhood Christmas?” Was it the amount of presents you received? Was it the ‘cost’ of the presents? In 30 years from now (for my children) will any of that matter or what will be their most vivid memories? As I thought this over, I decided to share some of my memories of Christmas over the years of my childhood. I remember before I was 7 years old that we always waited to see what Santa had brought until my Granny Velma and Papa Jim arrived to enjoy our excitement with us. It was shear torture waiting at the top of the steps knowing that in the formal living room all the goodies were waiting for us. I remember the HUGE train track set that my Dad built and put together himself for me. (I didn’t know at the time that Dad did it, of course *wink*). The summer of my 7th birthday we moved to “the country”. Oh yes, old farm house kind of country; icky green paneling on the walls, hardwood (and cold) floors, space heaters, kind of country. LOL
I remember one year having a tree that was shorter than I was. I am almost positive it was an artificial, as we rarely had live trees, due to my sister’s severe allergies.
We put our tree up every year on Thanksgiving Day after lunch. Dad would climb up in the attic and pull down the tree and decorations, then retire to a chair to watch football while we put up the tree. Granny Velma and Papa Jim were usually there and helped decorate too. My sister, Sonya, still puts her tree up at Thanksgiving (sometimes the day before because we all eat Thanksgiving lunch at her house now).
Christmas morning we were up bright and early! We waited until all 3 of us (all girls) were in the same room to see what goodies Santa had left for us. Mom snapped pictures; Dad sat watching in his t-shirt and boxers! After we had squealed about our gifts and emptied our stockings, Mom went to the kitchen to make up a huge Christmas breakfast feast of homemade biscuits, grits, scrambled eggs, bacon or ham with assorted jellies (some even homemade). After the dishes were clean, we usually all got dressed and then after a light lunch we headed out the door. Christmas afternoons were spent visiting my cousins to see what they had gotten under the tree.
My mom is a hairdresser, she went back to work when I was around 9 years old and has worked ever since. She is currently STILL working at the age of 71! I remember her baking goodies for her customers at Christmas; her famous fudge is my favorite. I now make a least one batch of fudge every year. Mom still makes it and takes the fudge along with other sweets into her shop for customers at the holidays too.
I hope that in the years to come that the memories my children cherish are of our annual Christmas Eve dinner and game/movie night, our Christmas lunch at my sister’s house, the annual tree trimming, the visit to a City of Bethlehem (put on by a local church) and not the amount of money I did or did not spend on their gifts.

Thankful !

Tonight as I sit to type, my Gen Man is laying on the floor beside my desk snoring (Yes, he snores! He is truly the 'man' of the house!). He did remarkably well with his surgery and afterwards. The news, so far, has been better than expected. The vet said the tumors (yes, they found an additional one) were not inside the anal glands as first thought. Both were still encased and had not ruptured. The largest of the 2 has been sent to the lab to be tested.
I am so thankful that I will still have my companion and guardian around, hopefully for many more years. He is as much a member of our family, as I consider my own children.
It is so hard to explain how different this breed is from domesticated dogs to people who have not experienced them in your life. They are different.
Thank you to each and every one for their thoughts, prayers and well wishes. I appreciate them beyond words.

Heartache ~

My heart hurts tonight. Yesterday I found out that my dog, Champion American Legend, "Gen" (pictured a few years ago at a Dog Show), has a tumor. He will be having surgery tomorrow morning. The vet said it couldn't wait. I was in a state of shock as my daughter and I left the animal hospital. Gen has been part of our family now for about 6 years. He has been my constant companion. Where I go, he goes ~ numerous camping trips, Washington D.C., soccer fields and just for rides around town. Gen is a Tibetan Mastiff. To understand a bit more about him I am including this information from the AKC history of the breed:
The history of the Tibetan Mastiff - the large guardian dog of Tibet - is hidden in the mists of legend, along with the people of the high Himalayan Mountains and the plains of Central Asia. Ancestors of today's Mastiff breeds are believed to have accompanied the armies of the Assyrians, Persians, Greeks and Romans and later, traveled with Atilla the Hun and Genghis Khan as far west as Europe. During these centuries, it is believed that the Tibetan Mastiff remained isolated on the high plateaus and valleys of the Himalaya to develop into the magnificent animal so highly prized by the people of Tibet.

Tibetan Mastiffs are traditionally kept tied to the gates of the house or monastery, or tied to stakes in the nomad camps, they are let loose at night. In addition, when the flocks are moved to higher pasture, the Tibetan Mastiffs were traditionally left behind to guard the tents and the children The dogs are expected to defend the flocks of goats, sheep and yak, the women and the children and the tents of their masters against predators such as wolves and snow leopards, as well as human intruders.

The close relationship of the Tibetan Mastiff with man throughout the centuries has given the dog a almost uncanny "human" understanding. Generations of working as a guardian of yak, sheep and, more importantly, women and children, requiring always a protector and not a killer, has produced a disposition and temperament of controlled strength, initiative, and fearlessness, tempered with patience, loyalty, and gentleness.

Gen has been our guardian. He is truly a 'gentle giant' with a huge heart. He has looked after my children with soft watchful eyes. Gen is a show champion dog taking many Best in Show awards at Rare Breed dog shows. He has sired champions and family pets. When Gen goes anywhere with me I always get asked "What kind of dog is that?". He 'commands' attention with his stature. He wins hearts with his gentleness.
I first met Gen at a local dog obedience class. I was there with my lab, Blaze. The lady teaching the class brought in one of her dogs...Gen. I was amazed at how well he tolerated my daughter rolling around on him in the floor. She used him for a pillow! After getting to know the teacher really well, I found she owned Gen, his father and his grandfather. Several months later she offered to let me take Gen home for a weekend to see if I really thought I would want this breed of dog. After 2 weekend visits, Gen became a member of our family. He still attended shows, winning more Best of Breeds and Best in Show. He also bred 2 more litters of pups. Over the last couple of years, Gen has been a happy couch potato. I've never known a dog that was this close to being a 'human'. Tonight I took some pictures of him in his favorite spot - lying in the hallway of my house where he can see every entrance; ever watchful. I have said a little prayer that we will still have many more days to share.

My son - the Telemarketer

Derek came home Friday to work a NFL flag football tournament here. Of course, he dropped in my office to bum some money for lunch. He also told me he had gotten a job making phone calls. I freaked out! My first thought was that some company was recruiting on his campus for telemarketers and that he would be sitting for endless hours being cussed out. How fun is that?
He was like “Chill Mom, it’s with the school”. Oh, ok. So he is making phone calls for the alumni association for the next few weeks for their annual drive.

Last night I was cooking when he called. He was talking a mile a minute about making phone calls. (Last night was the first night of calls). He was on break and wanted to tell me that they get a ‘bonus’ if they get 7 donations in one night. He had already raised $500.00 from 9 people!! He said, “All it takes is being nice”. Of course, he was quite impressed with himself, as no one else had raised that amount of money in donations. He said he was saying “Happy Halloween” when the phone was answered. *Laughs* He said a few thought it was a ‘prank’ call and there were just a couple of old finicky folks. Too funny! However, apparently 9 people decided to make a donation.

It’s just amazing to me to hear his ‘tales’. Seems he turns out to be ‘successful’ at almost anything he tries. Makes a mom proud!

Oh and I will be a bit nicer to the next few telemarketers that call with a polite "No thank you".

Sibling relationships

I'm not referring to my sisters, I want to talk about the relationship between my 2 children. There are five years between them. This picture is one of my favorites of them from 1992. It sits on my vanity. Leah was almost 1 year old and Derek would have been almost 6. He REALLY loved his little sister back then. Derek always wanted to help out with her and was ever watchful over her. He always held her hand. I knew things would change as they grew older, I just never understood how much! This weekend he took his little sister deer hunting in the wee hours of the morning. She had been begging to go for weeks. I thought it was very sweet of Derek to do this for and with his sister. Leah of course, froze to death. She told me the entire deer stand was shaking from her shivering. Derek finally offered to bring her home, even though they hadn't had much daylight time to look for deer. He was compassionate about the entire deal. It gave me those warm fuzzy feelings to hear them chatting away like friends, instead of siblings. I know there are still days ahead where she will get on his nerves, they will have their squabbles, etc. But at least I got a glimpse into the future on Sunday morning to see how it possibly will be one day down the road. It also made me realize how much they are growing up. I know there will be that time ahead where they grow into close friends, sharing holidays, births of their own children and so much more. Leah looks up to Derek, however she is also very jealous over the fact that he gets to do so much more than her and a lot faster than she can do those things. She doesn't see the years that separate them, she only sees that there is a difference. Their father is an only child. I was pretty content with having just Derek for several years. When I was growing up, I'd always thought I would have at least 2 children. Yet, once I'd had Derek and was fortunate enough to stay at home with him for his first two years ~ I realized I would be fine with having just him. Those thoughts changed when their Dad's father passed away. I watched him dealing with his loss and his frail mother pretty much on his own and with me. I began to rethink having another child, being the oldest of 3 myself. So we decided that we would try for number two; hence them being a bit further apart than I would have originally planned when thinking through our family. Both of my children are very different from each other. Each have made me learn new things about life and about myself. I am thankful for each of them. And this weekend provided me with the knowledge that in the years that lie ahead, they will be there to help take care of each other. That gives me a great sense of peace.

Super Mom ?

Why in the world is it that we put SO much pressure on ourselves to be Super Mom's or should that be Super Everything to Everyone?
I know that I have tried for years to be a 'Super Mom'. I've worked outside the home since my oldest was 2 years old. Still managing to multi-task my life every day. Luckily I've always worked an 8 to 5 job. I've always said that I left that job to start the 2nd shift - doing all those Mommy duties. Pick up the kids, race home to make dinner, assist with homework assignments, attend the band concert, or soccer, karate, dance practice, etc and more!
I would think that things would have slowed down a bit at my house with one off at college and just one here, but they really haven't. This weekend I thought I was going to have a bit of leisure time; however, it is 10pm on Sunday night and I still didn't get everything accomplished that I wanted to finish up. I did have a busy weekend though - Friday night I came home from work to find my son home with his bag of laundry. I did get to have dinner with a friend. Both kids attended a local football game. Saturday morning I got up and did sip coffee while checking out 2peas. Then I got ready and went to a Rare Breed Dog Show in town. Quick lunch at Chick-fil-a, errand to Verizon to have my daughter's phone repaired, a stop by a department store for my base makeup and a great buy on a dress jacket for work. Gotta LOVE those sales and a combo of a gift card I hadn't used yet. Home to watch a rented movie with a friend. Doing laundry in between it all. Sunday was an early morning with the kids coming in from deer hunting. More laundry, then grocery shopping. Oh joy! I really don't care to visit the grocery store. I've gotten to the point of trying to make it an every other week 'chore'. Lunch was picked up on the way back and late afternoon at that. Help with a homework project. Call from my sister - fair warning that my mother was on her way over - frantic quick sweep of the house. Mom stopped by to show off pictures of her recent 14 day trip up north and brought us some trinkets. More laundry (mine finally!). Call from my son back in his dorm tonight.
I made some AWESOME caramel popcorn, recipe compliments of Sophia C's blog (the link is on the left here). The student workers will be happy campers tomorrow at work! Thanks Sophia!
More laundry (does it multiply like rabbits at your house too?). Loaded the dishwasher.
I really wanted to get some scrapping time in here somewhere but it just didn't work out. Maybe next time!
I put so much pressure on myself to 'do it all'. I have learned to give myself a break every now and then. If it doesn't ALL get done, then there is always tomorrow.

I've seen this 'super' syndrome in my son too. He tries so hard to visit everyone that wants to see him on the weekends he is home - me, his dad, his girlfriend, his buddies. He has even mentioned trying to keep up with everyone and everything. I'm glad to know that at least every now and then he slows down at college and slips in some afternoon naps.
So the thought for today is don't forget to stop and smell the roses!

Heirloom .... Heritage

This old chest was passed from my grandmothers estate to my father. When my mother sold our childhood home, she moved into a small apartment and didn't have room for all of the furniture and such. This old chest now sits proudly in my living room. I've always loved this chest as it sat in my parents bedroom filled with handmade quilts that kept us warm in the winter. I have no clue where it came from originally. My father passed years ago and with him any information that might have been known about it. It used to have leather handles on the ends which have worn away. Someone told my sister that it could be worth a good bit. However, to me it is only of sentimental value; I would never sell it. The chest was really the only thing (besides pictures) that I wanted out of my childhood home.
My grandmother was really quite the character. She had 'henna' red hair until she died, when I was a child. In today's terms she would be described best as a very imaginative 'drama queen'. Often fraining some illness to get my father or uncle (her only 2 children) to drive one hour from their homes to see her. Only to smile when they arrived. She had 'won' the game. She had an old time name ~ Hattie Mae. Which I have been called throughout my growing years by my mother when we had disputes; due to the fact that my mother and her mother-in-law did not see eye to eye often. I also inherited her 'auburn' hair.
Tonight Leah was having to write a paper about a 'character' in her family. To also tell a story.
Here is a story I told her about my grandmother: My father played football in high school. He actually was the captain of his football team. Apparently at this certain game, he was running the ball when he was tackled by an opposing team player. My grandmother standing on the sidelines, proud I am sure to be watching, ran out onto the field and proceeded to beat the other player over the head with her umbrella because he had tackled her son! Obviously Granny didn't understand the rules of football. I laugh everytime I hear this told. It speaks volumes about my grandmother's personality. She was a short woman, with red hair and the temperament that goes with it! She was something else. When I was a teen, I would get ill when my mother called me 'Hattie Mae', because I knew it was because mother never got along with her very well. Now, I'm a bit proud that I am really a lot like her. Strong, not afraid to speak my mind, sassy, proud and supportive of my children and thankfully not quite looney enough to beat someone over the head with an umbrella ~ yet. *wink*
Every night when I curl up in my recliner to relax after a long day; I sit across the room from this trunk. Not only is it filled with blankets, but it is filled with memories.

Mother & Daughter time....

Mom and daughter time is very important. Much more so in my house where my son is the oldest and there is 5 years between my two. "Derek gets to do EVERYthing" is often heard here. He IS almost 19 (yikes!), in college and pretty much on his own to an extent. So yes, he gets to do a lot of 'everything'. Leah on the other hand, is almost 14, in Junior High and still very much too young to do a lot of things. So it feels like to her that her brother gets to "get away with" more than she does.
Yesterday, she and I spent the day cleaning and de-cluttering the house. She was a big help and we achieved a bunch! I now have my living room and kitchen area back to an organized manner. I'd let things slide a bit getting ready for the arts & crafts show. So the junk mail had piled up and things just seemed in disarray. Leah even swept off the back deck and tidied it up without being asked. Then we both pitched in and cleaned the kid/guest bathroom. I made taco's for a late lunch/early dinner meal.
After all of our hard work, I decided she and I needed a 'treat'. So we both showered and headed to town. First stop was by Blockbuster for some movies. We haven't rented any in a while so there are always several 'non-seen' movies to pick. We settled on 'Monster-in-law' and 'Miss Congeniality 2'. Chick flick movies! We headed from there over to the local Diary Queen and grabbed some chocolate treats. Mmmmmmm good!
Last night we watched 'Monster-in-law'. It was fun to just relax and enjoy a movie together.
Her brother came in right after we had finished up viewing the deleted scenes. He was full of tales of the mornings deer hunt.
I really can't relate to being a 'younger' child and feeling the things that Leah feels from being the 'baby' in the house, because I was the oldest growing up and got to blaze the trails of life first. I didn't have those 'left out' or 'too young' feelings. So I am trying to be mindful of hers. She however, likes to make that as difficult for me as possible! *LOL* I love that she is very much her own person, however her 'attitude' gets between us often. We work on it constantly. I try to hear her out and she really does try to curb it at times.
I think it is very important for us to have our 'girl' time - doing something fun - like movies and a treat. She is also a big help, when she is in the right frame of mind. There have been many discussions about the 'difference' there is between her and her brother. Maybe I do expect a little more from her. Derek is easy, non-confrontational - has always applied himself to school work with very little followup. Leah needs more direction, but is argumentative ~ always needing to get that last word. I think it has to do with clashing hormones!
I've told her just again this week, that I really want us to have a close relationship to merge that friendship and the fact that I am STILL the 'parent'. It is an ongoing project. I enjoyed our team work effort yesterday and the 'girls' fun of the evening. Hopefully we are making strides.

Touched by a kindness.....

I have to share my experience today. It's a beautiful Saturday in the south. Cool breeze, sunny skies and I got to sleep in. Earlier this week one of my co-workers called me up and asked if I would like a free ticket to a BBQ being held at a church just up the road from my house. I said, sure. I thought it would make for a great Saturday lunch for me, as both the kids had plans to be busy with activities. (Leah is hiking with a school outdoor group today, Derek is hunting deer in the woods with his buddies). I planned on a leisurely day, doing laundry and a bit of housework. I sipped coffee this morning while checking out my yahoo group and 2 peas. Then started in on my college son's laundry. I tided up the house a bit and then got ready to go pick up lunch.
I drove out of my neighborhood across the main highway and then down the little road to the Methodist church having the BBQ. I was greeted by a gentleman that said I could DRIVE THRU to pick up my order. How cool is that!?! I was met by a pre-teen sweet girl with a smile that asked how many plates I wanted. I said "well, I have a ticket, I guess that is for one". She said "Oh, you can have as many plates as you would like". To which I replied, "then I will take 2". Derek had just arrived home from hunting and I figured he would enjoy a plate also.
I drove up in the line as the same smiling girl brought me my bbq plates and a grocery bag with 2 small bags of chips and 2 slices of cake. I was SO touched on the short drive home that my eyes teared up. This tiny country church is not having a fund raiser, they are having a bbq. They are giving plates away to anyone that drops by. What a fantastic act of kindness in today's world! And what a wonderful witness this old tiny painted white country church on a little hill is making to others, not just their church family ~ but to anyone that comes. Especially right now when everyone's funds are tight. I thought about how blessed I am. Even though I don't have a lavish home; I have a cute small house that suits my family ~ me, my son and my daughter. We have a roof over our head that is cool in the summer and warm in the winter. We do have food in the frig and the cabinets. I thought about all of those in the world today that are hungry. Those here in the US and other countries. Those that have suffered the pain of devastation at the hands of mother nature recently.
Not only did I have a 'free' lunch today, I have also been invited by my previous co-worker to her families house tonight for a get together. Just some other co-workers, family and friends. Her invite said she knows how crazy life gets close to the holidays, so they decided to have a 'Fall Fling'. I so miss working next to this wonderful lady! It will be fun to hang out and just enjoy the company tonight.
Both small acts of kindness. Both VERY touching to me. How blessed I am to be surrounded by a great community of people.
I plan to make thank you cards this evening or tomorrow to send to the church and to my co-worker. I hope that in some tiny way they will receive a blessing due to their kindness that has blessed me.

An Old Farmer's Advice

Someone sent this to me by email today. I LOVE most of them and how TRUE they are!
I have a 'country' friend that has 2 sayings, I think I will add:
"I'm milking this cow, you just hold the bucket" and
"Loose lips, sink ships"

Enjoy~

* Your fences need to be horse-high, pig-tight and bull-strong. * Keep skunks and bankers and lawyers at a distance. * Life is simpler when you plow around the stump.* A bumble bee is considerably faster than a John Deere tractor. * Words that soak into your ears are whispered ... not yelled. * Meanness don't jes' happen overnight. * Forgive your enemies. It messes up their heads. * Do not corner something that you know is meaner than you. * It don't take a very big person to carry a grudge. * You cannot unsay a cruel word. * Every path has a few puddles. * When you wallow with pigs, expect to get dirty. * The best sermons are lived, not preached. * Most of the stuff people worry about ain't never gonna happen anyway. * Don't judge folks by their relatives. * Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer. * Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you'll enjoy it a second time. * Don't interfere with somethin' that ain't botherin' you none. * Timing has a lot to do with the outcome of a rain dance. * If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop diggin'. * Sometimes you get, and sometimes you get got. * The biggest troublemaker you'll probably ever have to deal with, watches you from the mirror every mornin'. * Always drink upstream from the herd. * Good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment. * Lettin' the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier than puttin' it back in. * If you get to thinkin' you're a person of some influence, try orderin' somebody else's dog around. * Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.

Arts & Crafts Show experience....

My very first time exhibiting (sounds better than being a 'vendor') at an Arts & Crafts Show was this weekend. It was some more experience! I took off my full time regular job on Friday to set up at the show site. Mother Nature did NOT cooperate as the sky opened up and released a much needed rain. However, that is not the perfect show weather! I sat up a canopy tent and tables in the downpour with some much appreciated help from a friend.
Saturday morning I crawled out of bed BEFORE my normal alarm clock time to get ready. I woke up the girl child wrangling her into some cheap labor. We arrived at the site (which was in the country, middle of the woods beside a cow pasture - used for parking) at 7:30am to find out that the grounds were entirely too wet to drive to our booth location. It took 3 trips luggin' stuff down into the woods for set up. After wiping down the wet tables, we put out the pretty matching pale green table clothes, set up signs, then filled the tables with my scrapbook crafted items and photographs. A co-worker is a great amateur photographer and shared the booth with me. I have to THANK so many of the wonderful 2pea scrappers for so much inspiration on many of my items! It was cold and damp, but thankfully not raining. The day went well, with a bit of a slower foot crowd than I have seen in the past while visiting this show. By the time the show was over for the day (5pm) I was still cold, very tired with aching feet! I came home and made a pot of coffee just to warm up! Sunday was another day of the same. It was a tad bit warmer with a larger crowd.
There was a very friendly lady in the booth next to mine who sold quilts and homemade jellies. She has shown for years and was full of advice. I think I finally met someone that talks MORE than I do!
All in all, I can say it went well. It was something on my "100 things to do" list and now I can mark it off. It is a LOT of work and hard work at that. From being a hermit for weeks before the show frantically making items to standing on your feet and smiling all day, two days straight! LOL
I may do another one, I will just have to wait and see. I am really interested in knowing how my contacts from the show work out.
My mother, who is traveling Canada and New England with an 'old folks tour' called both days to wish me well and see how it went; which was a pleasant surprise. My sister and her children stopped by, along with many co-workers and friends. It was nice to be so well supported by them. Even if it was with words of encouragement!
Now I can slow down a bit, work on Christmas cards/gifts and maybe even have a lazy weekend!

My Hurricane Katrina 'relief' story .....

Today one of the student organizations were selling those colorful wristbands for Hurricane Katrina relief. The wristband is my favorite color, 'blue', so I purchased one. It brought back the memories of my weekend working with the hurricane victims. I work full time for a University. When the 'powers that be' heard about the plight of so many fleeing the ravaged areas of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama they set into motion to open one of our old dorms up as temporary housing. I was lucky enough to volunteer and work that first weekend as tired people made their way to our location. I was touched by the appreciation of the people I have been in contact with, by their stories. Today, our student newspaper again told stories of students who volunteered and about the lives they touched and how their lives were touched.

I know sitting in front of my tv watching it all, I felt so helpless to be able to do something to help. I know many many others felt the same from the OVERWHELMING community response we received when the word went out that we were opening a shelter. It was amazing. It was touching. I was touched.

I am sharing a quote from the news article today by Ralph Waldo Emerson that sums it up ~
"It is one of the most beautiful compensations in life, that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself."

Almost there....

I set a goal when I decided to enter the local Arts & Crafts show. I wanted 'x' dollar amount of sale-able inventory. I am almost there! In fact I have 5 projects still in the making; once they are complete, I will have made it. I've given up free time; I've stayed at home like a hermit for several weekends in a row; missed out on a few 'fun' things....but I will be able to say at the end of this week and the start of the show that I made 'goal'. Hopefully, the hard work will pay off!
I fixed chicken and dumplings for dinner tonight - a HUGE batch. So now I don't have to worry about dinner plans for a few evenings and can concentrate on getting everything finished up. I still have to make a few table signs - One for custom orders, a couple of prices (because I don't want to put a sticker on some things). I also have to print my order forms. After that it will be down to loading up the vehicle.
List - I probably need a '2 do' list. I am a list maker. Worse as I have gotten older. LOL I like to go to the grocery store with a list - then fly right through knowing what I need without having to 'plan' meals in the store. If I have a big project at work or even like the show, I usually do a list. I was in my daughter's room today and noticed she has a '2 do' list push pinned on her door! All for it, IF she would just accomplish the items on it. Cleaning her room should be near the top, right under Homework assignments.
That is the update for today, time to get ready for bed - that is after I can find the bed. I scrap in my room and right now all of my 'projects' are all over the bed.

I am thankful to call her a friend.....

Who? Well her name is Sophia Corbridge. I've known her for years now, mostly online. However, I actually had the pleasure of meeting her in person in Atlanta a few years ago. She is as delightful in person as her posts online. I don't think I could come up with just one word to describe her .... hmmm, genuine. Even that word doesn't convey it. She is thoughtful, caring to the point that you actually can FEEL it even through words typed on a computer screen. She emailed me this morning. Just a few lines. Simple? No they were words of praise and encouragement, about 10 short lines. Those words made me tear up. I felt like Sophia had reached out and given me a warm, loving bear hug from across the miles right into my OWN living room sitting in my computer chair. Just when I needed a little lift, there it was. Amazing huh? Yes, she is amazing! Talented .... anyone in the scrapbook world knows she is without question talented. (and I get to say I know someone 'famous' ! *giggles*). A wonderful story teller - the kind that pulls you in and makes you hold on to the last word. She is a lady - a southern one at that! Just happens to be transplanted to Utah. I know that if I ever make it to Utah I could knock on her door and be welcomed in like one of the family - she just has a way of making you feel that way. In fact, I've told her before that I would love for her to adopt me! LOL She has shared so much with me and others that she has, in my mind, broken the 'stereo type' that I had of LDS. I know so much more about her religion, that I have come to respect it. Being from a southern Baptist upbringing that is a lot! I admire her and her generous spirit.
This is just a tid-bit of what a great lady Sophia is to me and so many others. I am thankful to call her a friend. When I "grow up" I hope others will see in me just a tad of what I know others, including myself, see in her.
Thanks Sophia, for the kind words, YOU brighten my days.

TGIF!

Thank goodness it's Friday! And is it 5 o'clock yet??? This has been a long week for some reason, plus I have a monster horrible headache today. So I am ready for work to be over and the weekend to begin.
I've done very little scrapping this week, however i did manage to get a few mini journals made, a couple of altered wooden frames done and started a new clipboard. I plan to scrap away the weekend, as it is my last one before my show next weekend!
Errands and season premires kept me away from my scrappin' corner after work this week. Leah and I had to do a dog food run and then on to pick up groceries one evening. Then my college kid son called yesterday asking me to return a mushroom chair to Target before his receipt expired. (The chair broke) I was NOT impressed as he has known about this for over a month and should have handled it. I COULD have allowed him to loose $$$ on it but with money so tight right now I swallowed my pride (and my 'I want to teach him a lesson' feeling) and returned the chair.
I watched the season premire of Alias last night. I am a die hard Alias fan since it's first show. I LOVE Alias - it was my show that could not be missed, plan your schedule around show. LOL
I was SO VERY disappointed last night. I am figuring this has to be the last season, which is sad. But I also don't want to keep watching something the writers are just ripping up into shreds either. It may be the 1st season I miss a show here and there. I'd rather watch Lost or House and I'm not THAT big of a tv watcher anymore.
My college son is home again this weekend. It's homecoming at the hometown high school and his gf is on the court. He will be escorting her. He just called to ask which tie would look the best. At least I am still good for clothing information and errand 'boy'! Of course the tie I suggested he wasn't sure he could find. Hmmm, I think it would help it he would tidy his room a bit. I just keep the door closed! I had major plans of cleaning it from top to bottom, putting on a fresh coat of paint and moving the computer into his room until I started 'Saks of Memories'. Now I am making scrapbook goodies in all my spare time.
Since I haven't posted much this week ~ that is a glimpse of it. Nothing exciting, just life.
I will try to think of something interesting or profound to post sometime over the weekend! *grin*

Rainy Monday....

"Rainy days and Mondays always get me down." Remember the song? or is it I just remember this line because it is one of those things that just stick it your mind? I don't actually remember the artist. Just like the 'lines' of wisdom that your Mother passes along. Every time I was leaving for a date in my teen years she would say the same exact words before I left the house, "Behave yourself and don't talk too much". Once I even beat her to the punch. She had just called my name as I was heading towards the door. I turned and in that teenager sarcastic tone rattled that line off to her. NOT a really smart idea! It granted me the 'look'. You know the one - the stare with a set jaw, eyes cutting you into tiny shreds. The 'look' would be what was flashed during the Sunday morning Sermon from the choir loft to me, while I was sitting on or near the back row chatting or passing notes to friends. The melt you dead on the spot into a puddle that would make you desire to slide UNDER the church pew. The 'look' that would let you know that when I get ahold of you, it will not be pretty. I have a teenage girl and I think I have developed the 'look' very well. The artist of my life looks and lines I remember very well and took lessons from those apparently, as I hear my Mother in some of the same words I repeat to my own children over the past years and still daily. Today was one of those want to stay in bed and rest days. Especially since I feel like I "poured the coal to it" this weekend. Did you catch the 'line' ? *wink*

Scrappin' Weekend

I've been scrappin' away the weekend getting ready for my upcoming show. Missed getting to attend a HUGE PowWow here locally this weekend. A friend attended and said it was really nice. Lots of booths and many performances.

Have to make this short and sweet as I need to get back to work in my lil scrapbook nook (corner of my bedroom).

I will post again tomorrow from work while it's slow! LOL Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend!

ETA: Finally, got a picture to upload. Here is one of the paper bag albums (just a cover pic) that I completed this weekend. It's my new favorite of all, even though my only son is almost 19 years old!

Lost & Found ...

No I don't mean I am collecting lost items, holding on to them and trying to get them back to their rightful owner. Although, my job sometimes feels like that working with students at a University. They are young adults ready to conquer the world; they just haven't quite figured out all the 'rules' to life yet. It amazes me on a daily basis the many mature one's I come in contact with versus the others that almost still need help in tying their shoes. (OK, so maybe not that extreme! LOL)

My blog got 'lost' yesterday. The sweetest html 2peas Queen - Dawn tried to help me add a couple of side bars on here. Yes, they are there now. However, when I copied and pasted the new template over, somehow my yahoo mail account had messed them up. So trying to fix it, I deleted pretty much everything. Dawn is the sweetest and told me how to copy the template directly from her test. When I pasted it over - everything was FOUND! Back! She is a genius.

Lost - the TV show. I am so very hooked on this show. I love all the suspense and turns it tosses out at us. Makes you think, makes you wonder, makes you watch VERY close for those hidden numbers. So I enjoyed the season premier this week. Glad to have it back! Now on to Alias - yes I am a fan of that one too!

Let's hope I find some creative energy this weekend (a few extra hours in the weekend wouldn't hurt either! LOL) as I am trying to work on tons of projects for my upcoming arts & crafts show.

It's OFFICIAL !!!

I made it into the local Arts & Crafts Show next month!!!! I got my acceptance letter today, along with my location placement - near the entrance/ticket booth!! Whoo hoo! This is a first for me. Can you tell I am a little bit excited ????? Even though it's only a small show, it's one of the oldest shows in my area and this is billed as their 'last' year. The lady that does it all says she is tired and ready to 'retire'. Of course, someone else may take on the job. I'm hoping for good publicity in the local paper since they are saying it could be the last year of the show. Hopefully the weather will be nice and there will be LOTS of customers. The booth fee is cheap, so I should at least sell enough to cover that. I'm also excited about making contacts for future sales. I've taught classes at the local scrapbook store and for church groups, so this is a next major step for me. First 'show' and the first time I have sold my work. I am sure I will post plenty about it all between now and then. Plus will take pictures at the show to share.
Wish me luck!

My son, Derek & his 'home' away from home....

This was taken on move in day last month. Can you tell he didn't want to have his picture taken? He is use to it by now though and is just like 'hurry up'! Yes I miss him. However, I am also very proud when I listen to him talk about how he is handling things that come up at college; how he is being frugal and keeping up with his funds plus so much more. I cherish those phone calls where is is still asking advice.

Unexpected 'visitor' ....

Last night I sat scanning in a scrapbook item to post over at 2peas. The house was pretty quiet except the background noise of the tv on low volume. Leah had slipped out for "just a few minutes Mom" to the neighbors house for girl talk with their daughter. I hear a car pull up. For the record 13 year olds don't drive - well not legally! I knew I wasn't expecting someone and no one ever just 'drops in'. I decide to have a look realizing that Leah left the carport door unlocked. I peek out the curtain - no vehicle. I crack the door open and peek out, when I notice a figure standing against the house just past the doorway. I SCREAM and slam the door shut - locking it. Then slowly my mind registers. I open the door back up with a grin to find my son laughing to bust a gut. I laugh, then panic - "What is wrong, why are you here?" (I moved him off to college last month and he doesn't come home during the week - he should be at his dorm). He comes in telling me he had attended a local church youth rally this evening. What an unexpected surprise. I ask him if he wants something to eat and re-heat some of the supper leftovers for him. We chat about traffic woes, classes and such while he munches on a sloppy joe and drinks 2 glasses of sweet tea (they serve no sweet tea on campus). He hangs out for a bit and then says he has to get back (he has a 9am class). I package up 2 extra sandwiches and tell him to drive safe.

I thought it would be neat to tell that story last night on here, so I signed in to my blog, even added some pictures of Derek and his new 'home' (dorm room). I was typing away when out of nowhere I got a blue screen with some warning - ya know the kind - computer crash type screen. This has happened before - so next time I will be writing down the information and calling Dell. My home computer is only a few months old! So I turned off the computer, lost my post and decided to head to bed. I will have to post the pictures tonight from home.

A daughter's point of view

I read my blog to my daughter.
Leah says, my blog entries are too long. *Laugh*
She referred me to her blog where most of her posts are just about 6 lines long. I told her because I am so much older that I have more to say! So just for you, Leah, here is a short one.

Happy Birthday Chyann !

Do you have the kind of family where when you all get together you wonder what might happen next? Well, I have THAT kind of family. Today's birthday celebration for my niece, Chyann, went smoothly. Chyann is the middle daughter of my youngest sister, Stacey. We all met at my sister, Sonya's, house after church. Sonya has 2 daughters, Stacey has 3 daughters. I am the only one of the bunch that had a boy. Mom made a huge lunch of chicken dressing, peas, okra, corn, potato salad, deviled eggs - you get the idea - a southern lunch spread. Derek was home from college this weekend and Granny wanted to make sure he was well fed! After lunch, we did birthday cake and ice cream, which I passed on eating as my lunch plate was heaped up and piled on. We opened gifts and I snapped this picture of Chyann in her 'Cinderella' outfit complete with the crown and wand, which was our gift to her. She plans to be Cinderella for Halloween this year.
Since getting home, Derek has packed up his stuff and headed back to the big city university. Leah and I have played with my new camera. She made some great pictures of 2 altered clipboards I have made to sell at the upcoming Arts & Crafts show. They are posted over at 2peas http://www.twopeasinabucket.com/pg.asp?gallery=1&cmd=display&layout_id=658713
http://www.twopeasinabucket.com/pg.asp?gallery=1&cmd=display&layout_id=658706
I have no clue how to name the links here something different, so there are the links to check out if you so desire. I think the clipboards turned out ok, but the pictures are great! Leah took the pictures and she is REALLY good with a camera. She gets that after her Dad. He loves photography and she plays around with his camera all the time.
I haven't gotten near as much done on my 'projects' for the show that I had planned for this weekend. Being a Mom, I am also the 'laundry mat' for my son when he comes home on the weekends. So I've done several loads of laundry and still have my work clothes to finish up before tomorrow. I am going to toss in a load and head to my scrapbook corner to work on another album. Finished up a Halloween one last night LATE, while my son sat on my bed yakkin' about college, classes and one of his nutty professors. Those are the precious moments to hold dear in my memories.

Good Times .... Good Friends .... Sticker Shock

Last night I attended the local high school football game, like I have done for the past 4 years. Only this year was suppose to be my year OFF! My son, Derek, was in the drumline of the marching band for the last 4 years. He graduated in May and is now attending college. However, my 13 year old (8th grade) daughter, Leah, is still in Jr. High band. I forgot that every year the Jr. High band gets invited to play the National Anthem on the field during one of the home games. Last night was that game. So of course I lugged along my stadium blanket and camera (gotta turn it into a scrapping adventure!) to sit in the stands and watch. It turned out to be a beautiful evening, not too hot, not yet those too cool football weather nights. One of my best friends, Jane came to the game. Jane and I have known each other since I was a pre-teen. We grew up in church together, taught Acteens (teen girls) together and just hung out together. Her sister, JoAnna came too. I used to work with JoAnna at the local Electric Co-op. So it ended up I had someone to chat with while they played the first half of the football game. LOL Leah thought I should stay to see this year's halftime show. So I chatted and waited, while 2 teams battled it out on the grassy field down in front of me.
Lucky for me, I saw another childhood friend, Melanie, there to attend her 25 year highschool class reunion. We engaged in a short conversation exchanging the tidbits about our children and our lives.
After the halftime show, I hugged my daughter and left with 'our' team way ahead in points. Leah stayed to enjoy the rest of the game with her father.

Today Jane and I got up WAY too early for the weekend and headed off to Atlanta to visit Archiver's and Circuit City. I have been to 3 local scrapbook stores buying up paper for my mini albums however, I still wanted a wider selection. After a few traffic woes we arrived at the mother of all scrapbook stores. I grabbed a shopping basket and began filling it with this paper and that paper. I ooooooo'd and ahhhhhhh'd over it all. Jane, a non-scrapper, followed me around amazed by all the 'stuff' and carried the increasingly heavy shopping basket, so I could 2 hand snatch the paper from it's display. Now would probably be a good time to say that I NEVER spend more than about $20 at one time in a scrapbook store. I am a divorced mom, raising two wonderful children and a budget watcher. I am ever the frugal shopper with everything.
Of course, I knew my stack was adding up, still I was shoving more paper into the little basket. I told Jane that I might have sticker SHOCK when I saw the total. Indeed I did! Jane, every the wonderful and wise friend, convinced me that I was making an "investment". LOL And even though she didn't admit it, I know she was also in shock over the amount I spent today.

After I signed over my life to the cashier IN blood, I decided that I need nourishment to just be able to make that hour plus drive home. So we headed over to Macaroni Grill. My very first visit to the restaurant. It was a good meal. Our lunch conversation revolved around 'budgets; With me telling Jane that I had blown my budget and that I really didn't think we should stop at Circuit City to look at the digital camera I had been trying to figure out how to purchase without having to eat black eyed peas and corn bread for the next 6 months. Of course, we laughed a lot about it all too. But I do think that Jane felt so bad that I had paled over the spending spree that she sprung for lunch! And what did we do after lunch but decide that I could at LEAST go 'look' and touch the camera. So off to the store we went...it was right next door to there anyway.

Yep, you guessed it. I ended up getting the camera too! Plus the extra memory AND a new camera case. It's a Fugifilm A350. Not an 'upscale' digi, but I hope at least a good one. It's a 5.2 megapixel. I am so NOT an expert at cameras. I just wanted one that worked...that I could print pictures from and usually nothing larger than a 5x7, so I was told this one will be fine. My regular 'film' camera is a Fugifilm and I've been happy with it. Yeah, I would have liked a rebel, but they would have taken my 1st born child for that amount of money! And I am kinda fond of him. So Christmas came in September for me. I'm stocked with a HUGE paper supply and a new digi camera. I enjoyed a night and most of today with a dear (and yes old, but we are really not THAT old) friend. I spent too much money, ate too much food (it might be my last 'good' meal for a while!) and I will re-work the budget tomorrow. *grin*

Now I am heading back to my scrapbook corner to work on one of those mini albums I hope to sell really soon!

A new Adventure ...



Isn't life about starting new adventures and experiences every day? I think so! I have at least 5 different routes I could drive to my office on any given day, depending on what the morning has in store.

This is a new 'route' that I've decided to explore in my life. A blog! Of course, I don't know how great of a writer I really am, or how interesting my words might be (or not be) to read, so just overlook the typos and misspelled words, pour yourself a cup of joe (or a glass of tea, grab a coke ...whatever) and read on into this thing I call 'life'.

Both of my children have their own blogs (gosh Mom is behind the times! LOL), several of my scrappin' buddies have a blog ~ it's just a thing everyone seems to be doing these days. So why not take a shot at it and see how it goes!

This is not the only new adventure I have taken on in my life recently. I've also started to scrapbook for the public. Not pages, but mini-albums. I made one of the hottest 'rage' mini paper bag albums for my niece, for her birthday. I was in the beauty salon getting a much needed trim showing my hairdresser the gift. Well, she had a fit over it and wanted to buy one for her granddaughter's birthday. Hmmmmmm, I don't really scrap for the public. I work full time, at the time was trying to get my oldest child ready to move off to college and have a teenage daughter still at home with me which adds up to having my plate full. Then my hairdresser showed off the lil album to the other gals in the salon and soon everyone was wanting one. I decided what the heck, I would give it a go. I have made about a dozen of them, so far by orders, given at least a half dozen of them away as gifts and am now working on an inventory of them. I just submitted my application yesterday for a local Arts & Crafts Show in October. I am going to sell paper bag albums and other altered items. Showing in an Arts & Crafts show was actually one of the things on my "100 things to do" list. 20 years ago, pre-children, I actually chaired a HUGE local Arts & Crafts show for my Junior Women's Club. It was tons of work, but great fun. We would have 150-200 exhibitors in the only indoor show around! For a talkative people person like myself that was right up my alley.

The name of my blog came from my other new adventure ~ selling scrapbook items. I wanted something to go on my business cards for the show besides JUST my name and information. It's not really a 'business' name; I look at it more like a description or a 'title'. *giggle* Since I don't have a business license. I can always dream BIG though. So the 'title' on my personal cards for the show is "Saks of Memories". Now you know how I came up with my blog title and a tiny bit about me. And the clipart here is from Publisher and is on my personal cards (does that sound better than business cards? LOL!)

Also isn't life about our Memories? Now that I'm 'older' I'd rather NOT be called the old bag lady so I decided 'Saks' sounded and looked a little more sophisticated ~ the way I would LIKE to look & feel; although most days that just doesn't happen!

On to the next adventure ...