Happy Fourth of July

 

 

I can't believe how fast this Summer is passing.  I like Summer so much better than Winter.  So I am taking in the sunshine and enjoying the heat, though not the humidity.  Happy Fourth.

Our Christmas Tree

Merry Christmas, Y'all

Our eldest son and his family came to visit.

 My beautiful grand daughter, Ali and my DIL, Cj and me.

 Ali and I making teacakes.

 We are having so much fun together.

 Ali mixing up dumplings

 Ali cooking chicken n dumplings

 My grand daughter, Ali.  I have been teaching her a few things to cook.

Ali by the tree

Past Halloweens

The grand kids are all but grown up.  I love these photos from the past.

Happy Memorial Day

Thank you to all that served and to all that made the ultimate sacrifice.

Happy New Year!

Wishing everyone a Happy New Year.

 

 

 

 

Happy New Year Everyone! I wish you all the happiness and contentment your heart can hold! May God richly bless each and every one of you throughout the coming year!

Merry Christmas to all.



2012 Thanksgiving photo

It's officially over with the 2012 Thanksgiving family photo.  We were missing nine members of our family. We had a perfect day and everyone behaved and had a good time.  Our oldest son and wife and kids didn't make it this year because my DIL hurt her back while she was volunteering for the Red Cross in New York.  Our youngest is coming in tomorrow for a late Thanksgiving meal.

 

Happy Thanksgiving

I am so thankful to have so many wonderful reason to be grateful. You know I have been working hard at it. Thankful for family, and good health.  I hope this season finds you in good spirits and gratitude.

Happy Thanksgiving to all.

Things that have kept us busy

Capodimente rose basket from my grandmother.  It's always been one of my favorite pieces since a was a young girl.


I finished my Santa stocking

Dining room

My tree top



Santa and Snowmen




Our new flooring.  All of the furniture was moved to the bedrooms and living room.

Santa

Kitchen with new floor and no red walls

Breakfast room and dining room



Dining room
What is on that farthest wall?  Looks like someone needs to paint.

Happy New Year

Well...so it is here. New Year's Eve...

I'm not going to make any New Year's resoultions. Rather...I am going to continue last year's goals.

1. Continue working on me.

2. Eat healthier.

3. Exercise more.

4. Study my Bible.

5. Organize my house, again.

6. Take the high road and the road less traveled in all situations.

7. Continue therapy.

I think that is plenty. Don't you?

Happy New Year to everybody and may 2012 be better than last year.

City of Stars

While this might seem strange to some of you not familiar with oil wells, in my former town, oil was the way most people made their living. Oil is king here. This is one of my favorite views of Kilgore, TX. It reminds me of a string of colored lifesavers on the tops of the wells. It is a long honored tradition that I adore. I never tire of this view. I miss the sense of community where I live now. I appreciate small towns and the friendships that I made while living there. May you enjoy the slide show.

It's officially over with the posting of the official Thanksgiving photo of our family.

These three are working for food from Jane. Such beggars. I think she spoiled them. LOL!

While we had more animals than this...these three are the social critters. I can't believe that Bruno, our cat stayed out in the crowed all day. The other two cats stayed in the bedroom.

This amazing woman is my SIL and she does most of the work on Thanksgiving Day. I don't know what I would do without Jane. I love her so much.

The official family picture. We were missing eight family members this year. I don't know where we would have put them.

I had a great time this year because a certain BIL behaved himself. I hope all of you had a great day as well.

It is finally here...

Oops...I pressed the wrong button again. I have now lost my post. Guess I'm having a brain freeze. I am having a time getting my pics to load. I'll be back later.

I'm back and I am going to try to add a picture of this neat little snack mix that I made for the holidays. I found this recipe on Pinterest. You make the Santa hats from caramel flavored bugles, drop into red melted disks, then let dry. Then dip into little beads and add a marshmallow for the hat. To make the rest of the mix add peanuts, pretzels, nuts, craisens, M&M's, rice chex cereal, melted almond bark and mix together and you have this yummy Santa snack mix.

I am excited that the week is here...finally here and I can start chopping, slicing,dicing, cooking and baking. It has been a while since I was this excited about Thanksgiving.

Honey, I need your help?

I have been thinking a while about my house. Things aren't the way I want it to be arranged. I know it is a pain in the neck to have to be so precise about my furniture and how it works together. Why is it that it takes me so long to arrange it how I really like it and how it works the best for each room? Every thing was made for my former home. It took me a while to decorate it after the remodel, but it was perfect. I think it takes a while to get the feel of a new place before it all feels just right.

I need an extra storage room and it would be great if we (I mean my Hubs) would take down the trundle bed and move it to our computer room. We gave my niece and nephew our elliptical and treadmill and kept the Total Gym. The fourth bedroom is where we decided to put the littler box and the things that never get used. I will work on that room later, but for now, I am happy with the change. In my former house, we had built the perfect place for the litter box in the wash room. The cats are too afraid to go outside here. The old home had a screened porch for the cats with a little door for them to go outside. We need something like that here. Just not sure where to put it or if I want it.

I went to exercise on Friday and then to work to do the days orders and then it was time to work on a wedding. The bride wanted something different and fun. My former boss, Courtney, took the order months ago. She was moving to her apartment that day, so the wedding became my job. I had a time with the bouquet because none of the colors matched. I think the wholesaler man is color blind. He missed the mark. I finally got it all together, though, it is not my taste. I hope the bride liked it. Last minute changes make me crazy. Part of the flowers were silk and the rest was fresh. I had to go and buy silk roses. Courtney planed on using something else. The bride wanted roses so she got them. I forgot to tell you that she wanted white feathers and crystals in her bouquet.

I used Star fighters, which are more burgundy than hot pink, dark pink mini Calla lilies, and suppose to have hot pink roses. The roses looked more peachy pink than the color I needed. Why do wholesalers not get it. I think the owner should call the wholesaler and tell him that he was way off on the colors. I did order the flowers, but is it my responsibility to complain? We have had nothing but bad flowers the last month. A problem with the roses not being good. It irks me to no end to get stuff that in no good. If I don't like it then will the customers? I don't think so.

Saturday, I woke up late and thought I was late for exercise and work. I thought it was Friday again. Argh...
I was so tired by the time I got home Friday that I don't want to relive that day again.


I made home made vegetable soup on Saturday. It is even better today. I also made chicken salad for lunch. My cooking has improved this weekend. I told my hubs that I think I have forgotten how to cook. You know what he said? "I think you have, too." Something about my taste buds is off and nothing taste right. It really makes cooking a challenge. I would love to have someone cook for us. I would not mind doing the dishes at all. We eat so differently now than when our sons lived at home. I no longer do large meals with two or three vegetables. I keep it simple. Just the basics. I think I am just tired of cooking and with the summer heat it was too hot to entertain the idea of cooking or grilling out.

Thankfully, the temps this week are so much cooler than previous months. I hope it doesn't get that hot again.

I decided to host Thanksgiving at our home again. Last year, hubs, told his sister that we didn't want to have it here. We host it because Hubs won't go to their homes. He hates to travel. It sure is a lot of work, but I usually enjoy it. You have no idea of the crazy things that my brother-n- law says to me. You're not going to believe this.

Every since he had open heart surgery a few years back, he has been so obnoxious. He's always spoke his mind. Last year, as everyone was leaving he came up to me and sang a stupid song to me about needing to find a map to locate all the rolls of fat. I kid you not, he thought that he was funny. Every year he gets worse. I cringe at the thought of what he will say next. One year he called my boobs grapefruits. Good lord this man is crazy. I never want to be in a corner with him. What is it about old age that he thinks he can say anything? I hope I am never like him. I have to laugh at him and his nonsense.

I love my SIL, but I feel sorry for her being married to such a man. I was so shocked that I could not say anything. I thought about it for a long time. He is an old man. I will give him that...he won't live forever. He didn't know that would hurt my feelings. So what's up with his behavior?

Our sons said that Thanksgiving is the only time they get to see all of their cousins and their families. After thinking hard on this, I decided to have it at our home. I will expect the unexpected remark from him, but this time I will have a reply ready for him.

Ya'll be blessed.

Happy Fourth of July!

I hope you are having a great Fourth of July. Leave me a comment and tell me how you are celebrating.

Happy Memorial Day

"Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty. -John F. Kennedy"

Good bye 2010 and good riddance

Looking back to last year in review it seems that I was busy, but was I busy with things I wanted to do? January, February were uneventful with no entries on my calender. NO ENTRIES? How could that be? I did not have a new calender or else I did not make any entries.

In February, I started back to therapy for my blues that hold me hostage during the Christmas holidays. For the last two years, I have not been able to shake these feelings. I don't like that I am a Grinch. I love the holidays, but I have to tell you that this year nearly choked the life out of me.
Why? I haven't a clue? I can't really pin it down, but I think it has to do with all the hype of the season.

BTW...I am still as confused as ever with this computer. I am beginning to not like some of the prompts it leaves me.

Why can't Christmas be like Easter? Now there is a holiday I can enjoy. No gifts, no large gatherings of family, just a beautiful holiday celebrating the Resurrection. Everything seemed to be a huge effort to do. My tree was never complete. I lost the tree topper angel, the lights went out on the tree, just to name a few of the mishaps this year. I finally just walked away from that stupid tree and gave up. I told myself that next year I am not going through all of this hassle. I can't believe I said that. Hmmmm....we'll see next Christmas. I hope and pray that I have an attitude adjustment by then.

In February, we had Valentine's Day. I barely survived because I was the only designer. I was in disbelief that my little boss did not have more help. We are already talking about my schedule for V.Day. The only endeavor in my life that I always thrive is in my work. I am a die hard work my self to death florist. It is all I have ever known with the exception of running a food pantry for the needy. I don't know how to do any less than my best. I wish I had balance in my life.

Balance, that is one area of my life that I have been trying to improve in. I am an all or nothing kind of woman. It makes me insane, I know it does and yet I continue to live my life like a woman out of control. Some of my finest moments are my worst moments.

March, I injured my knee while leaving work. I stepped down the stairs funny and immediately I was filled with pain. This turned out to be worse than I thought. The doctors wanted to do surgery, I did not want another surgery so I set out on a different route. I started going to a Chiropractor. It has taken months to get better, but at least I am finally there. I still aggravate it every now and then, but at least I avoided surgery. I am immobilised by this injury. I am home bound for three weeks. I have to tell you this is really depressing. Pain and immobility are not my best companions. This is the first time ever that I feel like my body has let me down and I am really worried if this will be permanent. My ramblings enable me. I start to believe that self talk. I am my worst enemy.

By April, I am walking with a cane. Off the crutches and hobbling along. I am still feeling down and out. Come May, I am better. I am looking forward to Spring and getting my patio plants in order. As you can see, my calender is full. I took off from work because I could not stand and design full time. I was ready for a break from work, but I also missed it immensely.

Then the Summer from Hades arrived. This killer humidity and heat. It sucked the life out of me. I am frazzled from it. Hubs grew an incredible garden full of luscious vegetables. Me. I stayed inside. I shelled lots of peas and the meals were really good. I was a recluse in hiding from this over bearing heat. So there went the Summer. Argh! I hate this heat. I know I am melodramatic! What can I say? See why I need therapy?


By now I am ready to move to the North Pole forever because of this stinking heat. I hate it.
Wait...I feel a little cooler weather? No, it is just Fall. No cooling yet. Our weather bounces around from the one hundreds to the sixties. That can sure make me a grumpy woman. Argh! I don't want to be this way, but I am so hot that I dream of loads of snow and cooler weather. This has been the hottest summer ever. Where is Fall?

Alright it is still warm, but not scorching hot like the summer. I have to prepare for Thanksgiving. My boss ask me to come back to work. I am glad, but reluctant. Back to work I go. I don't want to relive the holidays. You know they were bad.
Need I say more?

I found out that I am diabetic. That is not good news. I am so overwhelmed with all of these emotions. I am in denial for a while about it. I am angry with myself. I am not a very happy person. I guess you all know the rest of the story.

In the bad news dept. Carmen our beloved Dobie was diagnosed with breast cancer. That is the worst thing about the whole year. I want to thank you all for the love and support and prayers you have shown Carmen and our family.

On a good note, I did loose 16 pounds. It was a huge struggle. I have thousands of pounds to go or at least it feels like that. This year, I want to continue to get healthy. Be happy once again. Enjoy my life and not feel any guilt for not doing what others want me to do. I think to much. Why don't I just beat my head against the brick wall?

This is Baby, a little orphan cat that we adopted the week before Christmas. Yes, I know...I don't need another critter, but honestly...could you say NO? Of course she has incredible luck in her young life. She was found by my sister's friend. She was clinging to life in a shrub. She did not have her eyes open and the friend took her in and fed her by a dropper. She can't have any more animals because she is in an aptartment and besides the lady has a dog. This little baby has brought lots of laughter to us.

The newer kinder me is scary. The old me was not very tolerant of others. I was impatient and very opinionated, but I had a sense of humor. Or so I thought. I am at odds with the new me. I have learned to stop, think and listen before I speak. I usually just react. Now I am learning a new way to communicate with those I love. I am trying to be aware of others feelings instead of being a bull in a china cabinet. Oh, Lord help me. Nobody said it would be easy, but little did I know it would be such a challenge, too.

In closing, I am wishing all of you a Happy New year full of possibilties. Full of hope, full of life and full of love. I happily say good by to 2010 and welcome the new year 2011.

The Official Thanksgiving Photo 2010

Hubs and I survived the on slaught of the masses. We are a motely group. They came, the ate, they visited and in a instant...they left as soon as they came. Whew... I am glad that is over!

Hubs' sisters are in the green and blue shirts. Hubs wearing the red suspenders and I am next to SIL in the green shirt. Our youngest son, Hunter is standing behind SIL in the green shirt. They are a wide and diverse group of people. We have a couple of teachers in the group, some teach high school, some teach college, some are retired and some are old. Some are in college, some still in high school. A few of them have Phd.s and for sure they all know too much and won't hesitate to tell you. LOL! The oldest is seventy-five to the youngest that is three. Toss in the odd ball florist(me), one neices's husband is a city landscaper, and hubs who works in the oil field, and a fireman(Hunter) and all in all we are a pretty nice family.

Behind us is a huge hole in the wall from a TV cabinet that Hubs took out. The carpenter could not get it done before Thanksgiving. He is coming Monday. And thus ends the yearly family get together until next year.

Happy Birthday America

Let's not forget the cost of freedom...
and the

price our soldiers have paid to protect it.

Happy 4th of July!