cooking

Had an absolutely amazing day!
The Edwards family had a new baby boy.....
so I did what I do...made lots of food!
Chicken Divan, zucchini casserole,
taco soup (thanks mom), corn casserole.
One CARE member is having surgery next week,
so she brought her hash brown casserole with sausage,
and fluffy orange pie to me so I could deliver.
Another meal is going Monday and one Thursday.
In between I'll take them a Papa Murphy Pizza.

The family was also "blessed" with some desserts I was experimenting on.
I am making whoopie pies, mini cheesecake bars and tres leche cake for a
wedding of a friend on July 4.
The Edwards got to taste the trials!

Think I'll reduce the milk in the three milk cake tho...
otherwise, I don't know how I will serve it!

God truly does bless me with this ministry.
I love the little babies, I have a great team,
and it really is the only time I cook such good meals.
I save a serving out for me.
I'll be eating well for the next few nights too!

Ripping out the rest of the carpet in the family room.

Baptisms at the YMCA tomorrow!
I'm greeting.
Then off to Allegan county for antiques with V!
Fun fun!
Loving life!

all at once!

The big storm of 2010 hit us and this is day four with no power.
My refrigerator is clean and cleaned out.
The shower is nearly cured and waiting from me to christen it on Wednesday.
It make be a shower by candle light!
The weeds are taking over because the mosquitoes are back.

And I think Charlie gave me poison ivy.
All over my neck and face and hands.

However, with no power for tv, computer, radio, or dog clippers,
I have been reading and spinning and studying.
Going to bed REALLY early and waking before 7am.
I actually thought this morning that when the power comes back,
I may just keep things quiet.
I like my own thoughts and the silence.
The oriole family has been busy feeding on grape jelly and meal worms,
chasing off blue jays and crows, and singing joyfully all day.
I have been enjoying early morning hours on the deck with my bible study.
One morning I was in my nightgown until 11:30am relishing in the garden.
The colors are ever changing and I am finding so much joy in the garden this year.
I am blessed beyond what I deserve!
God is good to me.

Just why all the crappy stuff at once...no shower, no power and itching....
Making me relish the great times more, I suppose!
I am His bondservant today....use me Lord!

change in direction

I am feeling the need to spin today.
I have way too much going on to take the time for such a luxury
but I suppose that is one blessing of an empty nest artist.

For the past 4 days I have been dealing with the bathroom.
One tile from the shower fell out while I was travelling with Terry.
It didn't get replaced until I got home.
I was worried about mold.
I took one tile out, which turned into four which turned into the WHOLE shower.

Good thing I did this because the roof at some point had leaked
and I did find mold starting to grow at the ceiling.

I also discovered that when the folks built on my family room,
there was a window in the bathroom.
No mold/water proof wall board was used at this time.

So I am remodeling my shower.
23 years ago Terry and I remodeled a beach house in Crystal Beach TX.
A shack really.
Very close to the Gulf a ferry trip away from Galveston.
We took one room and made it into two bedrooms and a bath and kitchen/dining/livingroom.
I LOVED that place.
High up on stilts. Listening to the waves constantly.
Veronica was born there.
I digress.
That is where I learned to tile.
I really enjoy tiling.
It has been very peaceful sitting in the bathtub with my tools
and tile, and adhesive, listening to my music.

All the tiling is done that I can do.
Daddy is cutting the funny cut pieces.
This leaves me with a day before I can grout and finish the shower.
I think I already have a new shower curtain.

I will go into the craft "area" and pick and choose bits.
Card together and see what happens.
I am looking forward to the energy of it.
The mystery.

Tomorrow I will finish the shower
and after the rain I will work in the garden.
All this rain has revitalized the weeds.

Thank you Terry.
For everything.

sunburst

I walked the 5K race today in South Bend.
This was the first time I have been involved with this activity...but for reading all the names and their placement in the Sunday paper...looking for names I know.

Veronica, Karen, Kimberly and I walked.
Cute Tshirts.

There seemed to be hundreds of walkers.
Old folks, young folks, folks on crutches, and others with canes.
Big bottoms and anorexic souls.

We all stayed pretty much together until the third block.
Karen and Veronica picked up the pace
not wanting to be behind the out of shape folks.
Karen was the alpha dog the whole walk....pushing us to go faster!

We stopped once when Kim needed to use the bathroom.
Fell to almost the last people.
Karen and Veronica started sprinting ahead.
Cut corners, passed on the outside,
I wouldn't be surprised if they kicked the
crutches out from under that poor man.

Yes, they finished 20 minutes before Kimberly and I did.

I had a very nice walk.
I am not competitive.
I was very happy with 3 mph.
I wasn't out of breath, didn't need an inhaler once,
enjoyed the scenery and neighborhoods,
and the conversation with my friend.
We both have feet problems.
Kind of a pain,
I know Kimberly would have liked to walk faster.
Such is life and we make the best of what we are given.

It was a bit muggy and threats of rain the whole time.
The folks cheering for the marathon runners were so cute and inspiring.
Almost made me want to run!
Almost!

I forgot to bring a towel, so I was stuck using the kleenex
I stashed in my pocket to mop away the sweat pouring down my face.
Kimberly let me know at the end of the race,
before we saw the other girls,
that the Kleenex had disintegrated into tiny pieces all over my face.
I looked like I had been stuck in the dryer
after a cycle with a box of tissues.
In fact, before my shower,
I was still blowing and shaking off bits of tissue from my hair and face.
Thanks Kimberly!
So glad you kept this info to yourself for so long!

We were going to walk back, but rain was predicted.
We took the shuttle back to our cars.
Not before the rain began though.
Bless Kimberly's heart....she packed ponchos for us...
in her dufflebag full of goodies to eat, drink and chew!

We had a wonderful lunch at Lepeeps and
skuttled in our ponchos in the pouring rain, back to the cars.
The goodbyes were ones like I have never experienced with these girls...
a flap of the plastic, and a see ya later...into the cars we went.

Very nice morning.

After my shower, I washed wool and taught Chuck a few tricks,
washed the couch cushions and vegged out in front of the tv.
I wathched Revolutionary Road (kind of depressing)
then saw Lara Croft: Tomb Raider.
I'm such a dumb movie junkie!

Pizza is on the way.

Very nice afternoon.

I am blessed.

Sex and the City 2

Had a wonderful day yesterday visiting.
Lunched with a new friend and heard and commiserated about the south.
Then another friend stopped by and we visited on the deck and had a boca burger.
Good thing I didn't have any plans or motivation yesterday, or I find that I would have been a bit miffed at wasted time!
God does put me in a state of mind for what he has coming my direction.

I bought a "comfy chair" for the deck. Of course I put it together backwards and as I was tightening the bolts, I thought I should keep them loose in case......I will spend sometime today redoing the chair.

V and H and I went to see the opening of Sex and the City 2 last night.
It was a pretty good movie.
All the actresses look much older.
The clothes and shoes and city were glittering!
Makes me want to travel...but maybe not to Abu Dhabi!
The middle east seems a scary place to me in these times of war.
The older I get, the less I am willing to risk the unknown.

After the movie, we three went to Houlihans to have a girly drink.
I am such a novice at this stuff!
Hil had her gin and tonic and V had the Sex and City Cosmopolitan.
I had no idea of course...so the waitress got me a key lime martini.
Graham cracker crumbs on the glass!
Interesting and very strong of vodka!
Should have gone the cosmo.

When I got home, I had a hard time falling asleep.
Too many glitzy things swirling around my head.

Liza Minnelli was in the movie and she danced and sang very surprisingly well for being an old broad! She is in great shape!
Only Sex and the City could get away with such blatant gay stereotypes...but it was fun.

I am in the middle of redecorating the family room and the movie made me take a second look.
As I discovered, I am a very pale, earthy colored calm person when it comes to decorating.
Before last night I really didn't think much about that.
After last night I had visions of cool, uptown, funky styling!
I loved her apartment! Always have!
Wonder if I could pull that off?
Maybe in just one room.
Then again, is there anything wrong with calm?
It will take me a while to make the preparations.....tearing carpet up, redoing floor, painting, furniture etc.
I suppose I have a bit of time to ponder.

Lazy day

I am a feeling a bit lazy today.


Charlie did not want to get up when I woke at 7:30.
So we both lay in bed a bit longer...me scratching him and he snoring soundly.
I worked really hard in the yard the past two days and feel very satisfied.
I was hoping for a bit of rain yesterday so I could clean around the house.
It was too beautiful outside.
Charlie and I pulled all the grass from around the garage and side of the driveway.
I have too many perennials crowding the back yard and needed to make some room.
I think it will be beautiful!
Plenty of room for some annual flower seeds, and maybe a plant or two from the farmer's market!
However, today I am not feeling anything!
Playing and surfing the web.
Lunch with a friend at Granite City.
Should get some mulch and do a bit more planting.
Really should clean my floors!
Have been hacking at my familyroom carpet...getting ready for a new floor this fall.
Until then, I have to get rid of the carpet, pad and all the gunk underneath.

Now I see why I'm lazy!

Probably will wash some wool this afternoon.
Going to see Sex and the City 2 with V & H tonight.
Cosmos afterwards! Don't know if I like cosmos. We'll find out!

Better get off this dumb ball and get started!
Have a nice day!~

WHEW!

It has been quite a while since I signed on.
I was riding in Terry's new truck for the past 17 days.
We went to St. Cloud Minnesota,(have you seen the new tempurpedic commercial from there?) down to Laredo Texas, (with a stop to see the grandbabies) to Houston TX, to Modesto CA, (I was only 1.5 miles from a yarn shop...didn't get to go)to Los Angles, (I only got pictures of the street signs of Hollywood, etc) then to Reform Al where Hilary picked me up to come home through Tennessee, Kentucky, and Indiana.

All in all, I had a wonderful time...and only gained 4 pounds of my lost 20. Since being home I have lost 6 pounds. I credit that to plain old moving!

I was on a cross country trip with Terry about 5 years ago on our 20th anniversary.
We went up through Idaho, Washington, New Mexico, Texas, and Tennessee.
I saw and took over 300 pictures that time of all the interesting rocks, deserts, area 51, cactus, etc.
This time, I took a few pictures. Lots less than the first time.
It just wasn't as exciting as the first time through the desert.
I have decided where I DON'T want to retire to!
I always imagined Albuquerque NM. Nope. I am so tired of desert. No people at all.
Only sand and rocks and snakes. Hundreds of miles of it!
I am definitely a mountain or beach girl....and by beach I mean Maine! Possibly Oregon....

Since being home I have sewn with abandon on Hilary's 80's punk prom dress, and worked in my garden and slept! Alot!

I am attending the 80's prom, but I am going as I used to dress when in High School
I am dressing flash dance!
I had completely forgotten how I used to dress, how things were decorated, etc. Mainly because I was not Madonna. I was very comfortable in cut off sweatshirt and leggings. Also the flipped collar on polos, usually with a sweater tied over my shoulders.
Not really remembering the blue eye shadow...but it's a party....I'm going with it!

Will post pics next week. Hopefully I can figure out how to get them from my phone!
Like...for sure!

traveling by 18 wheels

I am getting homesick!
I miss my dog.
I miss my garden.
I miss my girls!

I am having a good time tho.
I enjoy going with my hubby on the road once or twice a year.
He got a new truck (newer) and it has a table instead of bunk beds.
I really like sitting at the table, cause the passenger seat is REALLY uncomfortable.
It's pretty comfortable too, as a bed.
REALLY not used to the snoring anymore though.
We have discussed that when we retire, we will have two separate houses!
One for us and one for him!
Being confined to a ten foot box for a week... with the potential of another week....is a bit confining!

This really hasn't been a vacation, folks.
The first two days, I helped him organize and move from his old truck into this one.
Not a pretty job in the old truck....I let him do most of that!
I felt really proud of myself tho, for setting up his new home so well!
Met the folks from ATS and his driver manager.
I must have made a scary impression because they comped us a king size room for the night!

Then it was on to Larado TX by way of Beeville TX.
Terry's son, wife and two kids live there.
I was so excited!
We watched 5 yo Brittany play Tball...
HOT in Texas and on a baseball field!
It was so cute!
All the coaches and anyone standing around her were told..."that's my Banana over there!"
They looked at her, then at me... and smiled.
Brittany didn't think there was anything weird or wrong with what she said.....I don't either!
Beau is 3, and is a bit shy. All boy tho! He is such a cutie! Loved hanging on and around Papa Terry!
Papa Terry loved it too!

After the kids were bathed and in bed, Andrew and Bridget and Terry and I talked until midnight. It was so much fun!
Andrew remembers so much stuff about when he would visit us in Alabama....stuff I had forgotten.
He is still dealing with alot of baggage and not really sure of our relationship with him let alone the kids....but he will have to get over that.
Once banana gets ahold of her grandbabies...there ain't no taking that back!

Now, on the road trip part.
In a truck, it is a working truck. This is our lively hood. If he doesn't drive, we don't get paid. He has little choice into where we go. And trucks drive on the highway. It is very rare that I get to shop or sight see but from the window...and a buggy window it is!
Every once in a whole, when he needs to rest, he will park at a nice rest stop where I can read, knit and exercise.
Once in a blue moon, he will park at a mall and I can wander a shop.
That hasn't happened this trip so far!
And the radio he listens too!
I don't really mind the politics, but the gospel bluegrass and 60s music can be a bit much. He's not one to let me listen to contemporary Christian too often.
So I knit and read!
I am almost done with sock #2, and may need to find yarn somewhere in California!

We have not had any fights.....thank you Lord!
The only time I got testy was when there was 16 hours inbetween meals!
9PM Burger King is not that appetizing!

So, the adventure continues.
I am getting some meals out to people over facebook and emails.
I love my team!
I check facebook often!

Right now I am having a cobb salad at a flying J truckstop while Terry is getting his load to CA. It is at a port in Houston and I am not secured for being there.
I don't mind. Getting caught up with stuff.

Have a wonderful weekend!

weeds

It is a beautiful, rainy, spring Sunday.
After a good church service,
and a great breakfast with my oldest,
I ventured outside to look at my garden.

I am about to go on a road trip with Terry next week.
I am excited about it.
I haven't seen him in 5 months and he just got a 2 month job.
Our 25th anniversary is in June, so this will be our trip!
Minnesota for a new truck, then Corpus Christi to see the grandbabies.
Flying home on Sunday.

I look forward, but also am a little anxious...
mainly because the garden is about to burst out in purple!
Glads, Azalea, Lilac, Iris, Money plant...
I see it every year and enjoy it so much!
Maybe it will wait a week.

Back to weeds....
As I was looking at the garden and all that needs to be done...hopes and visions,
I began weeding a bit.
I know, I am one of those people that do not share many hobbies most would consider fun, but a few will know what I am referring to.

I can spend hours weeding in the garden.
Cool days, maybe a bit of sun for the shoulders, no mosquitoes...blissful for me.
I sit on the grass and pull what I see, which leads me to another patch and another.
Most times my brain is silent and peaceful.
Sometimes, God and I have long leisurely conversations.
I solve all the world's problems in the garden.

It took me many years to be patient enough for weeding tho.
So many early perennials look like weeds.
I must remember what bloomed where the year before, and then leave space around it for new starts.
I have pulled many a new growth and had to wait years for it to replenish itself again.
The Money plant is a great example of that!
I feel I have a good grasp on that beauty now.

As I was pulling crab grass and chick weed (worst ever)
I began a train of thought about weeds.
Like the cockroaches, I believe that weeds will stick around forever.
No matter how you treat them, how many you pull, stomp, crush, poison etc.
they always come back.
Even digging a trench between lawn and garden only stops them for a time.
Birds and dogs carry their seeds along,
They have powerful root systems that hide from you and set up camp in your nicely mulched areas, and last year I discovered a new way of weed propagation.

As I was on my hands and knees weeding, I was scared half to death when tiny seeds jumped into my face!
Normally, when I see a spider, the weeding is done.
So I was ready for an attack of the arachnid type.
No spider this time.
These pretty little weeds with hairlike stems and tiny leaves, when touched, release their seeds into the air!
Really!
All over the place!
I have yet to figure out when the best time to pick them is without setting them off.
Because, as I know now...once they spring, you wait until next year to find hundreds more where there once was just one!

Most weeds are pretty. Violets, dandelions, chickweed, those little white thingys...those purple thingys...
Why did God make them so sturdy?
Why did God make flies so annoying yet plentiful.
Spiders....won't even go there.
Do the weeds serve a purpose, other than making me and God time?
Will they take over the world when people are gone?
What about all the manicured lawns and lovely gardens that man so tries to control nature with?
Is it a short lived preoccupation that we have?
To pretend we are in control?
What is God's perfect plan for the land?
I know He gets a kick out of our creativity.
We do try so hard to be like Him.
One of the questions I will have to ask someday!

Ballard Curse

I picked up my baby today from her boyfriends house.
I must admit that this still bothers me.
I am getting to like him, but the overnights still bother me.
Please Lord....no living together until they are married.
So much to look forward to!

Anyway.....
She and Joe went to Cancun for the week with her work.
More of a vacation, than work, but.
If you know the Ballard family at all, you must know that nothing...
NOTHING ever goes right or well or as planned.
God likes to throw situations at us.
As a family, we have managed to survive, thrive and laugh about our "adventures!"

It rained in Cancun half of the time.
Hilary caught a horrible cold.. that always goes into bronchitis with her asthma.
The day she was in the sun, her forehead and nose got terribly blistered.
The training was a joke.
She couldn't drink because her throat was sore. (thanks God)
The one day she felt like drinking at the all inclusive bar in the pool,
it closed after one drink! (Again, thanks God)
Their one trip out to snorkel, swim with the sharks and parasail...
The way she told it to me, made me laugh until I had to pee!
Four party cruise ships and one catamaran...
guess which they got stuck with.
Her flipper fell off, her life vest fell off, swimming with the sharks was a pool.
The guy held the shark, handed it to you and they took a picture.
Next!
It was a nurse shark, with no teeth.
Couldn't parasail with a catamaran!
I swear it was going to turn out like that movie where the couple gets left behind and is eaten by sharks.....which, they were the last ones back on the cat.
And finally...
Her suitcase was ripped upon returning to the US.

All I know is that Hilary and Joe made the best of a bad vacation.
They laughed and joked and had a good time with what they were delt.
They brought me huge seashells that Joe dove in the ocean at night for.
And a beautiful beaded bracelet and iguana charm.

It was good to see them again. Good to hug her tightly again.
Good to be able to get and send good morning and nighty night texts again.
I will enjoy seeing all the pictures and hear more stories!
And change my panties!

Thanks God for bringing them home safely and allowing them to laugh at your sense of humor with such character building!