Linda's Life Journal

Tuesday! Popcorn, Movie and Cokes!!

2012-02-14T19:40:00.000-06:00

Today was a good Tuesday all the way around! After a lazy morning I enjoyed a trip to my favorite store - HEB - while Amber got a massage. Since her headache had eased up some we decided to grab some Wendy's burgers and fries. They start out as Jr. Bacon Cheeseburgers! Then she and I do what we have ALWAYS done! Amber takes off her lettuce and tomato and gives them to ME! I take off the meat patty and cheese and give them to HER! I end up with a great BLT and she has a double cheeseburger! Win! WIN!!

Since we were on a roll.....and Amber needs to get out of the house while she can....we decided to take in a movie!! After all - it IS Tuesday!!

This was our movie of choice! Amber and I have both been to Hawaii a number of times - once she and I were there together for 17 days! We LOVED the scenery, the music, and of course GEORGE CLOONEY!! The story line was sad but even that had a silver lining. Amber leaned over and whispered, "I'm glad to be dealing with THIS instead of THAT!!" So true!

It was a good day. Amber is always saying if we lived closer she would go to the movies with me every Tuesday.

Another blessing from this day - Amber got the blood results from July's trip to the vet yesterday!

It seems that her soon to be 20 year old cat is actually getting healthier!!

Her thyroid was DOWN and her kidney functions were UP!

AND she had gained a pound and a half!

She is good to go! A follow up visit in a year!

The vet said she may live for years to come!

Have I said this already?

It has been a GOOD day!!!

Rainy Days and Mondays!

2012-02-13T23:42:00.001-06:00

I love them both! It was cold and rainy outside and warm and cozy inside today.

I am still at Amber's and this is what we made for a late breakfast this morning.

Fried potatoes and onions are favorite comfort foods for us!

I have been here a week today.....and it has been a GOOD week.

Except for last Tuesday (it was a ROUGH day!) Amber has felt better and had a bit of an actual appetite - or at least until this afternoon! This was her 7th day of taking in a normal day's worth of calories.

Hopefully she will continue to eat well and put on a little more weight. This will be SO good for the babies and give Amber some more nourishment and maybe more energy!

Saturday and Sunday were spent in Amber's booth at the Katy Craft Show.

She designs AND handmakes all the jewelry.

This was her last craft show!

She will continue her Texas Take Etsy Shop

That's something she can do even after she is on bed rest!

This is her 14 week pic!

I dressed for the part of a Texas Craft Fair Vendor lady!

Wore my favorite Chico skirt and some vintage boots!

The weekend turned out to be COLD down here!

We enjoyed the fireplace each evening as we came in and wound down by watching some favorite movies. Amber and I both LOVE movies!

Snowball will NOT leave Amber's side when Amber is feeling badly.

She has a critter's 'sixth sense' about such things.

Every morning when Amber opens her eyes Snowball is sitting by her bed looking up at her! Amber had a headache all night and still had it this morning. I massaged her head and it backed off a little. Even on a good day Amber tires easily and I can tell the bed rest sentence is not going to be far away!

We took July - Amber's soon to be TWENTY YEAR OLD cat to the vet this afternoon. With two elderly cats and three dogs there is quite a bit of care taking going on! I told Amber is she and Mike took care of their CHILDREN as well as they do their critters - these kids will be just fine!! July has a thyroid condition and has to have blood work, a special diet and medication twice a day. Snowball has to have a DIFFERENT special diet and insullin twice a day! Talk about high maintenence! Then there is Shiner - their white lab - who is on a vegetarian diet. I cooked a big pot of rice this morning. He loves a bowl of rice mixed with a mashed banana. Bananas are the dogs favorite treats!

By the time we got back from the vet Amber was going downhill FAST!

Even though she was feeling sick we attended the first meeting of a local 'Moms of Multiples' this evening. Amber is THE only one pregnant with or has had quads. Mostly it was moms of twins and there were some of triplets. Amber didn't last long. The lights and noise was already killing her head. At least they connected with a local group. They totally understood when we had to leave early.

We made it home and poor Amber was in pretty bad shape by then. Bless her heart!

You know what she said? "Well, at least I had a break from all this for a few days."

She is still on Zofran and a 'good' day for her means she is not FEELING good....just less badly! She had a cracker and water and I massaged her head again. She couldn't eat dinner and had to go on to bed. Even on the couch she was uncomfortable.

Praying tomorrow will be a better day. There is just no rhyme or reason to it!

This is indeed a VERY difficult pregnancy for her. She tries not to think past the 'now'....there's just too much and it is overwhelming!

I'll close my post with a picture of Reese taken this afternoon.......

......and of Jersey.

They seem to KNOW when Amber is feeling bad and they want to be right there! Jersey just sits and looks at her through the window.

Rolling With the Punches.......

2012-02-10T18:10:00.000-06:00

This was Amber last night! She is so excited to be able to EAT and keep it down!

I picked up Arby's Beef and Cheddar WITH Curly Fries AND an order of onion rings -

of which I admit to eating over HALF! We were stuffed!

Today we had lunch at The Olive Garden with her good friend and college room mate, Lisa.

Lisa is 26 weeks pregnant - Amber is 14 weeks and 1 day.

Plus Lisa is having ONE baby!

Amber is having FOUR!

They were so cute together!

We have had a good day!

Just having lunch out tired Amber so it was back home to rest.

Mike is putting in new Pergo flooring.......WITH the dogs at the window supervising!

This was a good reason for us to leave the house for awhile.

He had a couple of friends help him - all of them engineers so you know they are doing a bang up job!!

I went for a walk after we got back from lunch. It rained earlier and was dark and cloudy. By the time I walked the sun had come out and the clouds were scurrying away.

While I walked I was thinking about the events of the past year in Amber's life. First - she and Mike made the decision to start their family. Then pregnancy and miscarriage followed. Not once but twice. A life long problem solver, Amber found a doctor and after two surgical procedures to fix the problem - they were ready to try again. Praise God pregnancy came soon and not long after that the news that she was carrying quadruplets. The doctors think there are two sets of fraternal twins. Twins run in our family every other generation so twins would not have been a surprise. But TWO sets???

Plus this is a high risk pregnancy where she has basically been sick as a dog from the very beginning! AND she has continued to run her two businesses.....

Amber Bell Creative Freelance

Texas Take Etsy Shop

She is one tough little lady that rolls with the punches!

She's in there now preparing for a craft show where she will feature her hand made custom jewelry designs.

If ANYONE can handle this quad pregnancy and being a mom to four at one time.....

Amber can!!

When I was pregnant with her the one prayer I prayed specifically - over and over -

was that God make her 'mighty in Spirit.'

And he has! I am sure everything is going EXACTLY according to HIS plan!

Moving Right Along.......

2012-02-09T17:18:00.003-06:00

I haven't been taking many pics of Amber since I have been down here.....she was still recovering from a nasty cold. Snowball and July do not often sit this close to each other! They are rather antagonist towards one another even though they have been together all their lives! But Amber was there on the couch and so they were, TOO!

Yesterday we enjoyed a Starbucks treat together - courtesy of my older daughter, Summer. We did it up with with a drink AND scones!

For dinner last night I made beef stew. To my delight Amber had TWO bowls!

(And she kept them down!)

Sometimes there's just nothing like 'Mom's Cooking' to make things better!

I never get tired of watching the GRAND dogs playing around......one of life's little pleasures.

I have been busy today getting some things ready for the QUAD parties!

Instead of baby pink and blues we are going for a Texas QUAD theme!!

I am going to use these on the tables - and covering the tables with painter's drop cloths.

I stocked up on dried pinto beans and black eyed peas for the jars.

Pondside, watch for a package to arrive in your mail sometime next week!

Directions for cooking on the bag!

Wondering about adding a button to the jute but I may just leave them.

We are kicking the preparations up a notch since Amber came back for today's doctor appointment. At 14 weeks she is the size of a 24 week pregnancy. The game and rules change for multiple births! ALL FOUR babies looked - in the doctor's words - "REALLY good!!" Praise GOD!!

While everything is proceeding along on course for QUADS we were made aware of a few things we were not quite prepared for.

Within just another 2-4 weeks Amber will be on bed rest.

The party scheduled for March here in the Houston area is still a go since it will be at their house. HOWEVER......

we had planned on a big Open House (shower) in March.

She won't be able to travel by then so the doctor said if she wanted to go to Dallas it would have to be SOON! And in February!

After a flurry of phone calls to my husband, sisters, and my other daughter - our family is AMAZINGLY supportive - I want all our local friends and family to know

we will be having the party in February. 'Evites' are in the works as I write! No time for snail mail invitations!

Now, I DID take pictures today and I can't wait to show you.

Always stylish - no matter what!!

Things are going by at lightning speed around here!

Another day is done. I think I will fix me a cup of tea and sit by the window and watch the dogs play for a little while. They don't have a CLUE what is coming their way!! I am certain all three dogs will be as devoted to the four little Bells as they are to Amber and Mike! STILL! Even their lives are in for some real changes and excitement!

Smoothie KING! The HULK!!

2012-02-08T16:53:00.002-06:00

Amber has had a tough pregnancy thus far. She has entered the second trimester but is as nauseas and tired as she was during the first. Every day is up for grabs. Some are better than others.

Most mothers-to-be are watchful of gaining too much weight but mothers pregnant with multiples have just the OPPOSITE problem! They NEED to gain weight so the babies will all weigh enough since they will be born about two months early. Yesterday she had a decent amount of calories. NOT as much as she needs but at least she didn't lose ground. So far she has gained 4 pounds but then lost 2 of those!

These Smoothie King Hulks are loaded with good things! They are designed to HELP you put on some weight!

Ingredients:

Weight Gain, Butter Pecan Ice Cream, Bananas, Egg Protein, Soy Protein, Non-Fat Milk, Carbohydrate Mix, Vanilla, Wheat Germ, Turbinado, Honey

They 'weigh in' at 1200 calories.

I picked up one for her yesterday and another one this afternoon.

Amber was a synchronized swimmer for 11 years and used to drink these on a regular basis! They did the trick for her back then so hopefully they will work for her now.

In other news of multiple births - my friend who was expecting triplets - now has three precious babies!!! They are all doing well and not even on oxygen as I write. Each baby weighed three pounds PLUS a few ounces! She delivered yesterday afternoon and we are basking in the glow of pure joy over her little blessings!

I have four other friends expecting babies but they are doing it the old fashioned way -

ONE AT A TIME!

I have a lot of denim crib quilts to make! Some will be for the one year old birthdays!

I am cooking beef stew and baking sugar cookies so I best get back to the kitchen.

I am happy to report Amber is out in the front yard right now getting some fresh air and putting new flowers in the garden. The sunshine is bound to be a much needed tonic for her!

It has been a GOOD day in Texas!

Being a Mom to a Mom-to-BE!!

2012-02-07T12:24:00.000-06:00

Yesterday morning I packed up my little Ford Fusion......

.....gave Louis Dean a last hug as he attempted to take our picture. He has such long arms it should have been a snap! But he was seriously intent and it was NOT as easy as it looks! That's his 'studious' look!

I pulled out of the driveway, popped an audio book in and I was OFF!!

The key to arriving at my destination in a timely manner is this: Stay IN the vehicle!

I DID make one stop at Bucee's in Madisonville......which is on the home stretch into Houston. I SO wanted to buy these little booties back in December when we first found out Amber and Mike are expecting QUADS! I dashed into the store frantically looking for them because just because Bucee's has something one day does NOT mean they will have it another. JACKPOT! They had all sorts of things A&M! I will be a regular customer on my trips back and forth. But for now I bought booties - one of every color! And those pacifiers!! How cute! I heard Amber wants some Dallas Cowboys ones as well! I had so much fun!!

Rolled on into Houston by 2:00 pm.....just as I planned.

However, once in Houston does not mean you are there yet! Houston is HUGE!!

But I am here now and we are having a good time.

I teared up when I saw Amber as she came out to greet me.

She is adorably PREGNANT!! This was the first time I have seen her since Christmas.

I immediately showed her all the baby clothes I had brought and made....

she showed me the nursery and all the changes they are making in their house.

I am so very glad to BE here! You know how mothers are!

We went to our favorite nail salon later in the afternoon. I had my nails done and Amber got a massage. She LOVES spas and salons and has been to some pretty glamorous ones - both here and abroad. However - at this point and time - the little shop by HEB is her current favorite! They have this awesome chair and she gets all comfy - they cover her with a heated blanket. It reminded me of a little turtle. First the lady rubbed her head and worked her way around to her arms, hands, legs, feet. This was much more comfortable for Amber than having to lay on her side on a traditional massage table. I could tell she felt SO much better afterwards!

We then did what we love to do best after getting our nails done.

Shop HEB!

I bought more of the hamburger patties LD and I love so much.

I will take them home frozen. I could spend hours in that store and always find such 'cool' food items!

I fixed chicken and rice plus a green bean casserole for supper.

By the time Mike came home the house smelled good with dinner baking.

I had fun showing him the little booties. Mike is an A&M grad.

Texas State is Amber's school.......but harder to find things from there.

Wonder if I could ORDER something? That's a thought.

I am actually wearing my 'Texas State Mom' t-shirt today!

I know I have said it before but I will say it again........

I am SO glad to BE here!

Except for missing Louis Dean of course!

I told him to do everything he wants to do that he doesn't get to do when I am there while I am GONE! Because I will be BACK!!

The one thing I asked him to do - fix the wobbly ceiling fan in the guest room - was done before I ever reached Houston! He got that right off his list so now he is free to PARTY!!

We never outgrow our need for our Mothers. I haven't and I am glad Amber hasn't either! I know there is at least ONE girl in Bell Quad Squad so I am grateful she will get to experience some of the special joys of the Mother/Daughter relationships.

Now, let me see!! What do I want to do now? Play with some baby clothes?

I Must Have BLINKED!!

2012-02-05T16:11:00.002-06:00

I finished sewing the baby gowns and have them all packed up! I will leave for Houston tomorrow. I haven't seen Amber since Christmas. She is now in her second trimester of the Bell Quad Squad Pregnancy! I can't wait to SEE her!!

I am taking a bag of Hugs and Kisses.

Recently we had to move things and clean up after a seriously heavy rain resulted in water in the den. My house is so 'highly occupied' that there are no 'empty' spaces!

When we pulled the sofa away from the wall I discovered all these photos!

Seemed like a perfect place to store them at the time!

This is the first family picture of all four of my children.

Benjamin is three months old here.

I had been nine months pregnant at my oldest son's high school graduation in the spring of 1988. Bless his heart! He is now the father of three! An EXCELLENT father I might add!

This last one of all of us was taken the next year - 1989.

I had been diagnosed with an aggressive strain of thyroid cancer in October and had just recovered from surgery.

This is my favorite. Poor Amber! Just LOOK at that huge bow in her hair!

I am SO sorry, Honey!!

(Wonder what horrors SHE will do as a mother?)

I usually managed to put some kind of bow or headband in her hair!!

Hard to believe my little girl is all grown up and expecting children of her own. While these pictures are dated - I am still so glad to have them. Louis Dean even wanted me to frame and hang them! (As if we had the wall space!!) He and I did not meet until I was well into my 50's! At least we don't remember meeting. As it turns out, he and Ellen often visited here in Irving because that's where Ellen's sister lives. Still does. They would go out to eat, shop, browse garage sales. We both have memories of the same places here in Irving. Our paths probably crossed at one point in time or another for all we know.

Lifetimes ago for both of us.

Amber is such a gifted photographer. I will be so interested to see how she does pictures of her family. I feel certain she won't do studio shots.

Both Jesse and Summer keep the photo memories of their little ones all up to date.

They will never regret this.

All this reminiscing reminds me of that Kenny Chesney song.......

I turned on the evening news

Saw a old man being interviewed

Turning a hundred and two today

Asked him what's the secret to life

He looked up from his old pipe

Laughed and said "All I can say is."

Don't blink

Just like that you're six years old and you take a nap and you

Wake up and you're twenty-five and your high school sweetheart becomes your wife

Don't blink

You just might miss your babies growing like mine did

Turning into moms and dads next thing you know your "better half"

Of fifty years is there in bed

And you're praying God takes you instead

Trust me friend a hundred years goes faster than you think

So don't blink

I was glued to my TV when it looked like he looked at me and said

"Best start putting first things first."

Cause when your hourglass runs out of sand

You can't flip it over and start again

Take every breathe God gives you for what it's worth

Don't Blink

So don't blink

So I've been tryin' ta slow it down

I've been tryin' ta take it in

In this here today, gone tomorrow world we're livin' in

Don't blink

So Don't blink

Naw, don't blink

Life Goes Faster Than You Think

Morenci Candles

2012-02-04T12:42:00.000-06:00

There is a little upscale boutique resale shop next to where Mother gets her hair done over in Fort Worth.

They also sell Morenci Candles! Oh, MY!! They are THE most fragrant candles EVER!! I bought one in December and burned every last drop of wax in it!

The Morenci Candles burn slow and evenly and ONE candle can scent your entire house! Seriously! With the all the water clean up from the den flooding recently - it wasn't ENOUGH that my house did not smell BAD! I wanted it to smell GOOD!

A Morenci Candle did the trick. They are a family owned and operated business here in Texas. The Yankee candles are wonderful but Morenci ones are even BETTER!

I know Scentsy things are all the rage and I have a couple of those as well. My DIL gave me one for Christmas which I keep safely plugged in my bathroom. The other one I have moved from plug to plug looking for that perfect place where neither Louis Dean nor I will bump it and send wax everywhere! I THOUGHT I had finally found it! A plug by the kitchen table. LD seldom does anything but walk by this table! Alas, when I came home yesterday there was wax all over my lamp shade, place mats and the glass table top. He bumped THAT plug on his way to another one he wanted to use for his phone charger! I removed it until I find a more secure spot!

Back to the Morenci Candles! I went in yesterday and chose one based on simply sniffing! Today as I lit it I wondered about the NAME of the fragrance.

Guess what it is?

BABY POWDER!!!

How appropriate!!! I am off now to finish those little preemie nightgowns for the quad squad! Perfect atmosphere for sewing baby clothes around here today!

A BUMPER Crop!!

2012-02-03T20:14:00.000-06:00

Today was a great Friday! I have missed my mother! I KNOW! I am 63 years old.......she is 86! I still miss my mother when I don't see her for awhile. AND I have been sick lately. I always miss my mother when I am sick. Well, today I was back in the saddle again! I headed west to Fort Worth for the Beauty Shop Run. It rained all the way there as well as during our lunch and visit. The rain worried me since our den flooded recently when we had a downpour of over SIX INCHES! No worries. LD said it only sprinkled here at home. Plus he has hauled out MANY wheelbarrows of dirt so the water SHOULD be running AWAY from the house instead of INTO it now!

While Mother had her hair done I did a few errands and made a thrift store run. It was the McCart Thrift store and MAN! Did I hit the jackpot!!!

31 Onesies!! At $0.66 each! WOW! I impressed myself on THIS score!

We know there is at least ONE girl in the mix but we also know Amber is NOT fond of pink! So only TWO were pink and most were 'Amber Friendly' colors!

With Quads it is a given they will be born early and small. So I was fortunate to find ALL 31 of these in newborn or preemie sizes!

They are so small that the whole stack fit in a SMALL grocery bag!

Mother helped me take the tags off and snap all the Onesies up.

I uploaded pics to Facebook when we finished. Now that I have a 'Hot Spot' from AT&T we can browse and visit our Facebook and blogging friends ANYWHERE.

Before I had to combine lunch with our online visits since I could NOT get CLEAR in at Nita's house. Now? NO problem!!

We had lunch at Red Lobster and Mother was telling me all her news! I was 'getting' most of it but then she started telling me about......?????

She kept saying - very distinctly - 'Nita!' I said, "Yes!! Nita!!"

Then she would say, "Her MOTHER!!!"

Well, I could NOT follow that and was coming up blank.

I told Mother to wait til we got back to her house and she could show me who she was talking about on her family name list.

(I took this pic later in the afternoon.)

Well, she did NOT want to wait and kept telling me over and over.....

"You LOVE her!!!"

FINALLY I put it together and came up with LEAH!

Leah is Nita's sweet DAUGHTER.

Mother threw her hands out and said, "YES!!!!"

She had really worn herself out trying to get me to understand WHO she was talking about! To diffuse the situation, I looked at her and smiled and said, "Well, why didn't you just SAY so?" We both laughed and laughed and she said, "I wish I COULD!"

Names are what really throws her for a loop.

So this was a good Friday!

It is the weekend.

I am well!!

Life is good!

Happy Weekend, Friends!!!

Spring Fever!

2012-02-02T19:25:00.000-06:00

We worked outside for hours and hours today! Yesterday we saw the first sign of spring......bud droppings from the elm tree littered the front porch. Spring can be a messy season early on! I tackled the flower beds across the front of the house. Pruned the roses and cut back lantana and honeysuckle. Pulled up yards and yards of MINT!

In the spirit of using what we have - we hauled three wheelbarrows of good rich black dirt from under our deck - and spread that over the freshly weeded and worked bed.

I spotted a fresh flower and a few buds on the pot of mums.

The Carolina Jasmine is blooming! LOVE the fragrance!

The birds were singing and flying back and forth like crazy!

This honeysuckle bush was FULL of birds! You can't see them but I counted dozens of them as they flew into the branches! When something startled them it was as if the whole bush exploded with buck shot as they flew out and OFF!!

All of our bird houses are already occupied! Even this old gourd. A neighbor made this one for me 20 years ago. The hail storm last year took a piece or two off but birds still seem to love it! I cleaned it out a couple of years ago and you should have seen all the nesting material! It filled a white trash bag. Amazing how those little critters can pack that stuff in there!

We took a break to eat some fresh oranges and sit in the sun for a few minutes.

Louis Dean was changing the oil in my car while I was working. It felt good to be out in the fresh air!

Lucy enjoyed it, too! Yesterday I was sitting out here talking to Amber on the phone when a lady came by walking her giant husky dog! Lucy was NOT on her leash - I KNOW!! LD is always fretting at me if I let her come out with us without snapping her leash on! She tore off across the street to 'meet' the dog! I told the lady Lucy just wanted to play. She said, "That's the problem! HE doesn't!!" Neither dog was hurt but it was a little scary and it took ALL that woman's strength to pull her dog away from us and on up the street. So no more freedom for Lucy! She will enjoy spending time down in south Texas with Amber and Mike's dogs this summer!

I gave my tired wreath a bit of white spray paint. I plan on tearing up some white sheeting to make a big bow for it tomorrow. Everything is looking a little better around here!

So our day is done. We are eating light and going to bed early.

As much as we did today......there is so much MORE to do!

Isn't that always the way? We never wake up and wonder what in the world we are going to do today! There are so many choices! So much to do!!

As I leave you I want to share the latest video of the Bell Quad Squad!

The video is at the bottom of her blog post.

It made me tear up to see all four little Baby Bells in there!

25 Random Things

2012-02-01T19:00:00.031-06:00

I love reading about my sister bloggers! I even learned a few things about my own daughter when she posted HER 25 Things recently! Here are mine........

1. I enjoy housework. When I get upset I think if I can just get something
CLEAN everything will be all right!

2. I married when I was 14 years old.......and then when I was 57.

3. I was married for 41 years. Louis Dean was married to Ellen for 41 years.

4. I am a cancer survivor. (thyroid)

5. I gave birth to two children when I was in my teens and two when I was in my late 30's.

6. I LOVE salt! Always have! I even drink dill pickle juice!

7. My favorite fruit is watermelon. I can eat vast amounts of it......with SALT, of course!

8. I grew 2 inches and one shoe size after I married.

9. I sleep with a fan on high and a noise machine on and the window or door open and a pillow or heavy cover on my feet. I love to sleep in a cold room!

10. Louis Dean and I met on eHarmony. We met in April and married in June. We have been married 7 years in June.

11. Fall is my favorite season.

12. I have kept a Christmas tree up year round for over 30 years. NOT the same one, mind you! I upgraded a few times.

13. I decorate for all seasons and most holidays. I decorate a LOT for fall and Christmas!

14. You would find it hard to place your palm with fingers spread on just about any wall in my house. I never had to clean fingerprints off the wall when my kids were growing up - there was no where to PUT their hands!

15. I have four sisters and one brother. We have the same mother but different fathers.

16. I home schooled my youngest two children and learned more than they did!

17. I cannot imagine life without books.

18. I carry a book with me virtually EVERYWHERE!!! Always.

19. All four of my children are avid readers.

20. I am looking forward to being 65.

21. I used to be painfully shy. I have improved with age.

22. I take things OUT of the packaging! Staples I put in canisters or jars. Teas and coffees are in containers. Mouth wash is in a pretty decanter. This drives Louis Dean crazy! But I have always been like this. I can't stand to leave things in the packaging. This is why I do not know the name of the tea or flavored coffee I serve you. I threw the box away! Perhaps I should see someone about this disorder.......

23. I drink a pitcher of iced tea every day. All year round. WITH whatever fruit I have on hand as garnish. And MINT! I usually always put mint in my tea. I have so MUCH of it!

24. While I drink coffee nearly every morning - I don't really have to have it and it doesn't bother me to NOT have coffee. But I pretty much HAVE to have tea!

25. I do not have pierced ears. Yet I put earrings on as soon as I get out of bed in the morning and do not take them off til I go to bed at night. I wear them even if I keep my nightgown on all day.

Well, that was fun!

Good Medicine!

2012-01-31T16:35:00.001-06:00

It is a beautiful last day in this month of 'JUNE-uary!' The weather has been more like JUNE than JANUARY over much of the country. Not that we have had 100 degree plus days here in north Texas as we experienced last June! But it IS beautiful and we have all our doors and windows open. This will help air out the house after last week's flooding! TOO pretty to stay IN the house!

I threw a denim shirt on the grass and lying on my back gazed up through our pecan tree!

After being ill for just about a full week - it felt GOOD to breathe fresh air and see blue skies!

I think a little 'sit in the sunshine' was just what I needed!

While I was lying in the sun.......LD was shoveling dirt!

He is working on his SIXTH wheel barrow full! The deck has been there about 25 years. That's a lot of 'new' dirt that has accumulated. He is using it to fill in the low spots in the front yard.

He will put a drain in next fall. It will be a big job as the roots of the pecan tree will pose a problem.

He is thinking about the situation and believes that the dirt he hauls out will allow the water to again flow AWAY from the house instead of INTO it!! It will take him all week to get this done but has proven to be a good exercise program! He says his heart is just about the only thing that DOESN'T hurt!

Last night we decided to pass on the blood and gore TV programs and watch an old movie......

This was hilarious!!!! Louis Dean and I both laughed so hard our sides hurt!

So in keeping with the dose of good medicine - we watched a half hour of cartoons this afternoon!

The old fashioned Tom and Jerry kind! Louis Dean said, "If people could just see us now! A couple of old folks sitting here watching cartoons!!" It makes me wonder though.......life can be so difficult I wonder why we choose to be 'entertained' by ever more violent TV shows! I am certain we will be watching the latest episodes of Hawaii Five 0, NCIS and other favorites soon. But for now I think we will sit back and enjoy some wholesome children's programs!

"A Merry Heart Doeth Good Like a Medicine."

Proverbs 17:22

Sunday Sunshine!

2012-01-29T17:47:00.000-06:00

I woke up this morning to sunshine and birdsong! How perfect for a Sunday! And to make it even better......after being sick for FOUR days......I was able to get OUT of bed and even make it UP! Louis Dean was as happy to SEE me up as I was to BE up!
Since the den flooded Tuesday night he has pretty much had to go it alone. He has been a real 'Knight in Shining Armor!' Friday morning he dashed off to Fort Worth to take my mother to the beauty shop and then out to lunch while I stayed in bed. They have fun together and I think Mother enjoyed being the center of a handsome man's attention! Who wouldn't?? Everyone agrees my mother is a charming lady so it was win WIN!

When he came home he found we had more water damage in the den than we originally thought. He pulled out my big heavy organ, pulled up carpet and set up a fan. I stayed in bed. The fungus had done a number on my allergies and I could NOT go in the den!

My left eye was - and still IS - all red and swollen. Looks like I have a sty but it is just allergies.

We had to find some way to get rid of the mold and that awful musty smell!

OdoBan was just the thing! I have used it for years and years!

This was such a BIG job, though, that Louis Dean went to Sam's and bought a fresh supply. He mixed and sprayed it right on the carpet.....

....pulled the wet padding out and sprayed that.

WHAT A MESS!!!

This deck area is the source of the flooding problem.

Apparently the water doesn't run AWAY from the house but TOWARDS it!

Yesterday afternoon - after dealing with the INSIDE - he tackled the OUTSIDE!

In about an hour he had taken all the boards up!

Not bad for a 75 year old guy!

He has more get up and go than anyone I have ever met - regardless of age!

He and I camped out in the bedroom last night avoiding the den altogether while it dried out. He has a penchant for BIG TVs but had to make do with the normal size one in our bedroom. We finished up the 'Meet Joe Black' movie. I am amazed at the movies he has NOT seen! But then again - he is the first to tell you he doesn't have a very long attention span!

During the course of this day he has already put the carpet down and put the organ back. (We are getting a LOT of use from those furniture lifting things!)

The den is slowly coming back into focus again.

He has his work cut out for him this week. He will haul out some dirt and put in a drain before replacing the deck boards.

It seems there is always something going on around here!

That's the way it is EVERYWHERE I am sure.

We call it LIFE!

I am just up from a Sunday afternoon nap and I think I will do a bit of work in the den before we call it a day. There is a Hallmark Movie on TV tonight........

"If you spend your whole life waiting for the storm, you'll never enjoy the sunshine."

Morris West

Preemie Layettes are 'SEW' Tiny!!!

2012-01-26T19:49:00.000-06:00

I think I finally got the sizing down for the Preemie Layette!

The first one I made seemed HUGE!!

This is Amber's baby doll she received for Christmas when she was two years old.

I am using her as a guide to a preemie size.

Amber says preemie's may be even smaller.

I had to take it up a good bit!

I now have four little 'foot print' gowns and four little 'kitty cat' ones.

Plus four little caps.

Not sure how true the hats will fit.

Will make four more caps to match the latest gowns tomorrow.

Next week I have little teddy bear fabric to sew.

I am holding off on the blue train fabric until we know the genders of the the quads.

For now anything 'baby neutral' goes!

We had some light rain this morning but for the most part it is over.

I changed sheets, washed my hair and did some more 'drying out' in the den.

Sucked up as much water as we could so now we are laying towels down and then drying them and starting over. Laundry was done in between loads of towels.

Poor Louis Dean has had to take up the slack the last couple of days.

He has walked Lucy and 'kept house' as much as he is capable of doing.

Last night we watched a Hallmark movie starring Shirley MacLaine -

'Mrs. Winterbourne.' LD LOVES Shirley MacLaine! We are trying to watch a few less blood and gore TV programs and a few more wholesome and uplifting movies.

I recorded 'Meet Joe Black' for our next TV watching session. Anthony Hopkins is another favorite actor. And, of course, I can always watch Brad Pit!

I am still not feeling well and am about to head off to an early bedtime.

Louis Dean gets lonely when I am out of commission. I am happy he is not ill but he does get antsy! He thawed some steaks from the freezer and asked me if that was a good idea for dinner. I told him it was a GREAT idea and if he wanted them he could cook them and some baked potatoes as well! Then I took a nap!

He did indeed make a marvelous dinner! AND he changed out the laundry and cleaned the bathroom! Will wonders never cease!! He is such a good guy!

I know he will be glad when I am back pumping on all cylinders!

Tomorrow is Friday and I am back to the beauty shop run with my mother.

Hopefully I will wake up feeling like my old self again.

And I mean 'old' self in a GOOD way!!

When it RAINS - it POURS!

2012-01-25T19:34:00.000-06:00

And I don't mean just Morton Salt!

We have had a major rain event here in Texas the last couple of days! It started late yesterday afternoon. A friend and I had just come back from the movies where we had see 'In Time.' As we were going into the show we were talking about being SO busy and there not being enough TIME to do all we need to do. Well, this movie gave us a whole new perspective on 'time.'

As we were winding up an afternoon art session the thunder and lightning started and the rain POURED!! It let up just long enough for my friend to load her art in the car and get back to her home before starting up again. By this time I had started a new seascape.......

....one I had promised to paint for a friend a long time ago! I am pretty sure he thought I had forgotten about it!

While I longed to paint a good while longer I started feeling extremely nauseous.

I think the hot dog, popcorn, candy and coke may not have been the best choice for lunch. Pretty sure that hot dog had seen better days! I know I have!

So at 7:30 I went to bed. It rained all night and though I was up several times being sick - I still love sleeping in rainy weather! I didn't get up till 9:30 this morning and then it was because Louis Dean came in asking for help!

He had been up for a few hours sucking water out of our den with the big shop vac!

We were used to it getting wet when we had a LOT of rain in den area just as you go to the utility room. But THIS time it was wet over three quarters of the den floor!

Soppy wet! The kind that when you step down on the carpet the water comes up on your feet!! Suffice it to say we have had a 'berry bad' day! We have taken turns sucking up the water, laying down towels, drying towels and laying down MORE towels!

We sucked up over 30 gallons of water in the shop vac! That's a lot of water!

At least now it is just very WET but no more standing water!

Poor Louis Dean has had to go it alone most of the day as I kept returning to the bedroom to nap. Have I mentioned I feel sick?

Then to make matters worse.....

I felt too bad to put art away last night so I simply stuck my brushes in the turp and left the art table as is. I always freeze my palette so there was no PAINT left out. However.......Maggie our cat must have hopped up there and somehow got some of the viridian green oil I am using in the seascape......and tracked it all over the dining room and hall!! Thanks to my Artist Pink Soap and a little turpentine and a LOT of elbow grease Louis Dean and I got it all up! WHEW!

I truly has been 'one of those days!'

Then my daughter posted a video of the little quads she is carrying!

I wish I knew how to share it but the best I can do is put her link in!

The Bell Quads at 11.5 weeks!

Seeing the miracle of these four little babies definitely gave me a shot in the arm!

While I am still not feeling good and am about to head off to bed again - I KNOW! - it is 7:30 - I have a much lighter heart now!

It never rains but it pours.

English proverb

Louis Dean's Doll Collection

2012-01-23T21:18:00.000-06:00

Yes......Louis Dean DOES have a doll collection! Yesterday I spent a few HOURS dusting the doll cases! It was a good opportunity to admire them as we took each one out - cleaned all the mirror and glass - and replaced them.

The collection began in 1990.

Louis Dean taught second grade for 18 years and used 'The Little House on the Prairie'

in his unit studies. His wife, Ellen, would gift him with a doll for his birthdays and Christmas.

Who would have thought a great big 6' 2" 200 pound man would love DOLLS!!

Louis Dean does!!

This shelf is his favorite!

He and Ellen were both very much involved with Karate.

The top shelf holds some of her favorite 'Gi's' as well as patches from the Karate Federation - founded by their son. LD and Ellen were both on the board of directors.

His son and Ellen designed the patch.

The collection of Oriental figures were among Ellen's personal favorites.

One shelf features Louis Dean's Indian dolls. He is a bona fide Native American!

He put the John Wayne cup Amber gave him for Christmas with the dolls....

AND his Alamo belt buckle!

(The Leopard dressed angel is mine!)

An 'I Love Lucy' collection with a 'Job Switching' doll that has never been out of the box!

Some elegant Dolls.....

and a couple of Royal Doulton Petites (which belong to my daughter, Summer)

Then there is the odd and end pieces........

Coffee cups that belonged to Ellen

A bottle of white sand taken from White Sands National Monument where Louis Dean and Ellen went on their honeymoon.

(They collected this before it was illegal to take!)

A silver cup from their first born

The old Mammy doll an elderly friend gave me which had belonged to HER mother!

Lots of memories are to be found here.

Louis Dean and I often sit in the living room with our coffee, tea or wine -

looking at the dolls and talking about happy times.

I have these resin paper weights I made many long years ago of my oldest daughter and son tucked away safely in a corner by the dolls.

When LD and I married, moving these cases with all the glass shelves and doors....

not to mention the heavy cherry wood - was one of the HARDEST things we did!

But we DID it! And not one thing broke!

Thankfully there are glass doors on both sides to protect the dolls.

All I have to do is dust everything a couple of times a year!

I love it that Louis Dean has a soft spot in his heart for all his DOLLS!

Calendar Art!

2012-01-22T14:11:00.000-06:00

I love Lang calendars and ESPECIALLY the ones featuring the art of Lisa Kaus.

In 2011 I had TWO of her calendars and enjoyed every month of her coffee art illustrations! I could not BEAR to throw them out so........

I used a few of my favorite pages and embellished them with a bit of lace edging and a button.

I attached the 'art' to meitenes boards and hung with ribbons.

Adds a little bit of color to the plain kitchen cupboard doors.

And I DO love COFFEE!!!

My decorating style is 'MORE is always BETTER!!'

The little straw wreathes I made years ago with fabric yo yo's and buttons.

Louis Dean is no longer surprised to see things hanging on doors, knobs and the sides of cabinets. My motto is 'cover every square inch!' if possible!!

We are enjoying a Simple Sunday here at the Chapman home.

A pot roast is in the oven and the whole house is smelling heavenly!

Louis Dean is in the kitchen peeling potatoes to add to it now.

He has the football game 'paused' on the DVR and the last of our morning fireplace is still glowing.

"It's a GOOD day!" as my mother would say!

Quilts for TRIPLETS! Done!

2012-01-19T21:54:00.001-06:00

A 'little girl' I have known since she was two years old is having triplets any day now!

She is really not a 'little girl' anymore but an awesome young lady.

Her mother and I have been friends for a LONG time!!

I wanted each quilt to be different.

This was the first one I made. Black and white denim squares with a solid black quilted fabric backing. Thanks to my sister, Deanie, for the BOLT she gave me! I am finding all sorts of ways to use it! I did the binding on this one with strips of white denim. Then I simply tacked it here and there to hold the layers together.

Even though this is the sturdiest quilt - it is for a girl!

I appliqued a few hearts here and there and added a pocket for her to store her pacifier!!

Another 'girl' quilt with a bit of country charm. The top and bottom rows I made from the 'farm' squares - and then simply sewed right sides together and left an opening for turning inside out. Then I machine stitched around the entire quilt.

I love the farm fabric. It used to be a broomstick skirt I wore back in the day.

Those broomstick skirts have YARDS of fabric!!

I used the last of my squares in this quilt.

The third and last quilt for the triplets is for the boy!

Solid denim squares with a green sheet used for the backing.

This one I sandwiched together.....backing, batting and then top.

I machine stitched 'in the ditch' from the center out to the edge.

Then again center to OTHER edge and did the same in the each direction.

To finish I folded the backing to the front creating a nice border.

I stitched along the edge and mitered the corners.

I always add a pocket somewhere on the denim quilts.

This square had a loose edge I noticed in the photo so I went back and

'mended' it!

They are DONE!! They all turned out to be a little different in size!

These should last a long time and can later be used for picnics and TV watching.

Moving on to the QUADS now!!

Louis Dean and I have enjoyed the mild Texas winter we are having. He has been 'playing outside' a lot lately. Making a storage space for the things he is currently storing in the camper. We will be ready to tackle THAT job in another week or two.

We start our days off with coffee in the den and read. This year we are reading through the Old Testament. 'The Comanches - Lords of the South Plains' by Ernest Wallace and E. Adamson Hoebel is our 'out loud' reading book right now. LD likes this one since he is a card carrying authentic Native American.

Afterwards we head to our projects - joining back up for a late lunch and perhaps a little TV. I love the DVR where we can watch - AND pause - programs at our own pace and time. Then more 'project' time until we meet up again for an evening glass of wine in the gazebo. Somehow we always end up on the driveway where we can see the stars and let Lucy roam about the yard. We are LOVING these winter nights. They are so mild we can sleep with the back door open.

It is already on the late side for dinner but I am going to make a light salad for us before we head to bed. That's the beauty of retirement! You can stay up late and sleep in the next day! Louis Dean and I are neither one 'Morning People' so this suits us just fine!!!

"I always write 'Wake up' on my To-Do- List so I can at least accomplish one thing a day."

Real Rooms - Real People

2012-01-17T20:57:00.001-06:00

This will not be the prettiest post I have ever done. It may well be one of the most REAL ones, though!
My wonderful husband and I have been married for 6 1/2 years. He often tells people he moved into a Barbie Doll House! I have lots of pretty things .......LOTS! He calls my pretty things 'debris!' Imagine! Now I have pretty much lived my whole entire life loving 'pretty.' As a little girl I would look at the lace curtains in my Granny's window and think about how lovely they look with the breeze fluttering them. I loved the drives my mother would take us on through pretty neighborhoods so I could look at pretty houses. WE did not live in a pretty house and WE did not have pretty things but she knew how much I loved 'pretty!' I love fragrance. When I was little I would unwrap a bar of soap and carry it around with me so I could enjoy the smell of CLEAN!

It's funny how - even as children - we come into this world with certain tastes and preferences. Some people don't care about housework and some people are neat freaks. I am not the militant driven person I used to be.....when my mother would tell people you could eat off my floors - you probably COULD! I am a little more relaxed these days.

All that being said.......Louis Dean has a different set of mind when it comes to housework. He tells me housework never bothered him OR Ellen. They could sit and look at it all day!! They were both educators and busy and housekeeping was never a priority for either one of them. Then he married ME! He has adapted remarkably WELL! I have actually SEEN him shut a cupboard door......once or twice! To MY credit I have actually LEFT his glass on the counter for over two HOURS!!

This is Louis Dean's room.

He has his computer........

.......music books, some instruments......

and whatever! He also brings in dirt and pots plants, saves seeds from bell peppers and old envelopes and inserts from bills. I am certain there is a lot of important STUFF in here. AT least it is important to HIM!

(and MY stuff is important to ME! I get that!)

He tries to organize and clean. He really does.

He says he has so many things sticking out in there it reminds him of a porcupine!

So he asked me for help and since he is so gracious to me and never (or SELDOM) complains about our Barbie House.......

I cleaned it all up for him! Took out a black sack FULL of trash!

It really doesn't look much different, though, does it?

At least the dust and most of the DIRT is gone.

You can sit IN the chairs instead of on top of all the clothes that were piled up!

He is happy and so am I!

I have to remind myself sometimes that HOME is where we LIVE!

I turn the dining room into an art studio every Tuesday - complete with the aroma of turpentine! And that's where I am going now. I am still working on LAST year's Santa painting! Louis Dean is already in there waiting for me. He plays the guitar and practices whatever music he is currently working on while I paint. Tonight he is playing 'After the Ball'......an old Foster and Allen song.

We are glad we are 'real' people who live in a 'real' HOME!

Freedom of SPEECH!!

2012-01-15T17:33:00.000-06:00

I am THRILLED to finally get to share what I have been so excited about!

My youngest daughter and her husband are expecting!!!!

QUADRUPLETS!!!!

She has always been an over achiever - she started college at 15 and was editor in chief of a luxury magazine at 22 and has done more in her short 26 years of life than I ever thought about doing!

Of COURSE she would do pregnancy in a BIG way!!

You can read all about it on her blog: Texas Tales/Blessed With FOUR!!!

NOW you know what my exciting plans for 2012 are!!

Sewing preemie layettes.......

....and baby clothes.....

...and MORE baby clothes!!

As I recall, a baby goes through about four little outfits or gowns a day

Times that by FOUR and it is SIXTEEN little gowns or shirts per day!

I know you can't tell - but I am SO excited!!

The camper will be our home away from home this summer!

Since Louis Dean lived in it for four years after his wife died.......

we have a lot to clean out, repair and spruce up!

With multiple births you do not have the whole 40 weeks to prepare.

We need to get it ready to roll by late spring for sure!

SO! THIS is what I have been wanting to tell everyone!!

I think there is a wonderful ring to

'The Bell Quad Squad!'

Don't you???

Finished!!

2012-01-15T16:43:00.000-06:00

The bedroom is finished! Floor is a done deal! I have cleaned it all up and lit candles.....took pics and am ready to move on! Every time we work on a project it seems the rest of the house gets trashed!

We stopped work yesterday in time to clean up and go to church.....then back home to put the trim down and set the bed back up.

My daughter in law had given us an oak headboard and I had planned on painting it shabby chic style as I have done the other pieces in the room. However, after moving it out I don't think we will use it after all. The room is small as it is and the headboard cut out some precious inches. Now I am back to figuring out what we want to do. Make a headboard? And what kind? But for now......I am DONE with this room!!

I have always had carpet in the bedroom. Perhaps some pretty cushy rugs will be in order for those chilly mornings when our feet hit the cold hard floor!

The door ( on the right ) opens to the back yard and Louis Dean goes in and out a good deal.

I moved my clothes rack out of his way. I can't tell you how many times he has knocked it over. But it WAS on his side of the bed! No longer!

This is HIS side!

He requested I not clutter up his table. Imagine THAT!

This is my side......

I love mirrors.......

......and lamps ..........

..........draped with vintage lace and a hat.

I still have little things to do in here but all the hard work is done.

I have so much 'debris' I stack it to the ceiling!

Louis Dean is a good sport and seldom complains about living in what he calls

'a Barbie house!'

Because he has been so wonderful I am going to do something special for him....

clean HIS room!

Right after I take a little nap!

"The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul!"

Proverbs 13:19

We are FLOORED!!

2012-01-14T11:25:00.001-06:00

It has been a cold and wintry week here in the DFW area. Louis Dean and I have kept the fireplace glowing in the den and used lap blankets as we read, watch TV and have our coffee. Yesterday we decided to tackle the bedroom floor. Now that the holidays are over we need to wind up LAST year's projects before we start any NEW ones!

Since our bedroom has a door to the backyard I KNEW we could not put carpet back in.......so we opted for a simple, washable and easy to do it yourself floor covering.

I used this in my bathroom so for the last few months I have had PART tile and PART carpet in the bedroom!

The carpet was 24 years old! I guess I was looking at life through rose colored glasses back then. No more PINK!

The furniture lifter thingy (as seen on TV!!) really DOES work like a charm!

I bought two of them at our local Dollar General store.

I can move heavy things all by myself if I have a need to do so!

Once Louis Dean started working I couldn't get him to stop!

We took a couple of breaks but worked pretty steady for over TEN hours!!

He SO wanted to finish this last night but finally cried 'Uncle!'

He painted the primer over the last section and we closed the door.

The guest room was piled high with STUFF from our room -

so we cleared off the guest bed in order to have a place to sleep.

WHEW! What a job! It is so much easier to START a project than it is to FINISH one!

However, we are ready to tackle it again today!

LD is making pancakes - or 'hot cakes' as he calls them.

He never uses a mix for anything. The house is smelling wonderful....of bacon and pancakes!

Bacon - the REAL kind - is cooking and I think a good breakfast is just what we need to kick off another work day!

We need to get this finished!

We have a really big project for THIS year!

It involves getting the camper all cleaned out and spruced up and ready for a journey!

I have been so good at keeping my mouth shut about this new adventure -

but I am about to POP!!

Hopefully I will get to talk about it soon.

I would also like to thank my daughter, Amber, for sprucing up my blog! This is my second year of blogging and I have certainly met some amazing people through the world of 'Blog.' Happy Saturday to each and every one of you!

Karate Country!

2012-01-09T18:47:00.000-06:00

Saturday morning Louis Dean and I were headed down Interstate 35 early enough to see the sunrise! That doesn't happen very often! We had Lucy with us so we did not have to go home until we were ready!

Louis Dean's son is an expert in Karate and was having a testing in Mart, Texas where he lives.

Now I know next to nothing about Karate. My son is a black belt in Tae Kwon Do....

but I don't know anything about that either. One of the mothers at the testing told me that Tae Kwon Do is Korean and Karate is Japanese. All I know is that my step son is known the world over for his expertise in martial arts.

Louis Dean was also a black belt in Karate but he will be quick to tell you he was only in it because of his family. They all LOVED Karate and Louis Dean loved THEM!

His wife, Ellen, is legendary. She was tiny - 5' 2" and 110 pounds! But she was magnificent. While I never knew Ellen - I do admire the woman I have come to know through all I have heard about her.

Louis Dean enjoyed watching the sparring and competition.

After the awards ceremony Louis Dean made a presentation of Ellen's favorite GI and her belt to their son. He wanted to honor both mother and son.

Dean told the story of how his mother made black belt before he did and of her impromptu speech when he was receiving a big honor for his achievements - she said,

"Of course you know I will ALWAYS out rank him!!" After a pause she said,

"Once you change some one's diapers - you'll ALWAYS out rank 'em!"

There were other memories shared on this special day.

All of the officials in the testing knew, loved and remembers Ellen Chapman!

After the Karate part was over we all drove out to Dean's property where they hosted a big hot dog cook out! Everyone continued to swap stories all afternoon.

We ate.....and ate.......

visited.......told stories.......

It was a work afternoon at the camp.

We gathered wood from felled trees they are clearing.

This is going to be one BIG bonfire in April when Dean hosts the spring Karate Camp.

Dean and Sherry have over 43 acres and this is just one of many scenic spots!

We had a late evening bonfire with the brush gathered from around the pond.

Next time I will bring marshmallows!

We all got a kick out of Sherry's t-shirt!

She is a totally AWESOME lady!

(I THINK she was only kidding about the tractor! She already has one!)

Lots of inspiration for future art projects abound at their place!

All too soon the day was drawing to a close.

Time for one last fire to grill up the remaining hot dogs.

True to karate form - this fire pit was built from the cement blocks students broke in testing.

We had a great day out in Karate Country!

Can't wait to go back!!

A Fort Worth Kind of Day!

2012-01-06T20:26:00.000-06:00

Friday is 'Beauty Shop' Day! Summer and Raynie joined us for lunch at BJ's in Hulen Mall. We had so much fun! (Even though Raynie doesn't look like it in this pic!)

She placed her order just like a big girl!

I don't think this was her first meal out......

however......it WAS her first trip to the mall!

Hulen Mall is getting a major face lift!

Wish I could say the same for the one in Irving.

I gave Raynie a penny to throw in the fountain and she knew just how to do it!

This was her time to see the 'rides!'

(Life will never be the same!)

While I did NOT put money in them - we did let her sit in one.

She LOVED it!

But she was so funny! She refused to sit in the driver's seat at first!

She would just buckle up and slide to the floor and look up.

She was more comfortable in the 'passenger' seat and eventually worked herself up to sit behind the wheel! Oh, WONDER!!!

Time enough for her to discover $$ will make the toys MOVE!!

Next we hit the playground.

She was SO excited!

KIDS!!!!!

And BIG toys!!

They had disinfectant foam as we exited so the germs were kept to a minimum!

It is wonderful being a grandparent!

I am proud I was the one to introduce my youngest grandchild to the adventures you can have in a mall!! And to the toys and fountains and playgrounds inside.

Raynie and I even perused Bath and Body Works where Mother was able to use her Christmas gift card.

Summer and I are both thrift store junkies so we HAD to stop at the one on McCart before our day was done! I found a darling little jumper for Raynie - but I let Summer take it on home with her.

This SUPER cute vest is SUPER soft!

Not bad for $3.93.....WHERE do they get these ODD prices??

It looks like tiny little rosebuds all bunched together.

It is missing one star button.

I am thinking of alternating a stars and different sparkly buttons - which I hope to find in my rather extension button collection!

This will make a PERFECT Valentine's gift for her!

Fridays are always special but this one even MORE so!!

Summer and I talked later on the phone this afternoon and she made a comment that has caused me to think.

She said the world of the very young and the old have many similarities.

Food for thought, don't you think???

A Gathering of Angels

2012-01-05T19:12:00.000-06:00

Sewing Angels!

After taking the snowmen and all the Christmas things from the sewing room -

I decided to go with some angels.

I have several crib quilts to make this winter.

This one is black and white and I am using a quilted black backing - thanks to my sister!

Her husband has a booth at 'Juntique Alley' and she often gifts me with some of their 'loot.' She gave me a whole BOLT!

This is the first of three quilts for soon to arrive triplets!

Two girls and a boy. This one - even though it is black and white - will be for one of the girls. I am going to add some pinkish binding.....I think! It has a few girly squares scattered throughout it and I appliqued three or four hearts on some of the white blocks. It will make a sturdy play pallet for many years to come.

My son and daughter in law gave us this vintage Duncan Phyfe table a few years ago.

In the winter I usually have it loaded with plants. This year I put them on Lucy's kennel.

The only dog in town with a landscaped kennel top!

This table makes a good work space for cutting out patterns and doing my projects.

I am planning on painting it at some point in the future.

Kelly at The Essence of Home has inspired me!

Also Joy at aVintage Green! SO much talent out there in Blogland!

Our dining room is back to normal and looks a little vacant.

I am amazed how I ever got all that EXTRA stuff in here!!

The tree is down and my easel is back in place.

In another week or so I hope to be back to my Tuesday Art Routine!

It seems so late tonight.......and yet it's only 6:00!

I think an early bedtime would be just the thing tonight.

Louis Dean was 'playing' in the back yard today.

He is really turning a play fort into a storage area.

A stack of plywood fell over on him and pinned his leg under it.

I was glad I had the doors all open and could hear him calling for me.

I had to get a 2 X 4 and pry the stack of wood up so he could get his leg out.

He scraped it up pretty bad but we had a good assortment of first aid ointments and bandages. Lunch and a nap followed.....he was shaken up more than he was seriously hurt. STILL! I will be taking Mother to the beauty shop tomorrow so he has to play INSIDE til I get home!

I KNOW!!!! That means a ton of damage control for me when I DO get home!

But I can't take any chances!

Men!!! What would they do if they didn't have a woman to watch after them?

Red Cardinals for Winter!

2012-01-04T19:30:00.000-06:00

I have been busy UN decorating. It is a melancholy process.

I have much more fun putting it UP than I do taking it DOWN!

My collection of red cardinals seemed perfect for a little winter decorating.

Most of these were gifted to me by my oldest daughter, Summer.

This is the newest one from her.

I had enough to decorate a whole tree at Christmas!

I added a little 'ice', gold and red ornaments.

Plus I always tuck in evergreen garlands to fluff out a plain tree.

This makes it look less 'artificial.'

I just took this tree down today.......

......and moved the birds to their new winter home -

my sewing room.

Louis Dean and I do so love watching the birds.

I have kept a bird watching journal since the early 90's.

It is thrilling to discover a 'new' bird in the yard!

I bought the vintage easel at a craft fair.

With a TON of vintage forks in my possession-

I just need to get Louis Dean to help me transform them!

The lady who crafted this one said it is harder than it looks.

I believe her!

It will be nice to have a little spot of RED in my sewing room for the winter days of 2012!

This room is right in front of the gazebo.

I can see the clock in the center of the wreath from my chair out there.

Now I have been known to hang pictures on furniture.

This is the first time I have hung canvases on KNOBS!

Still trying to figure out how to get that third canvas up there!

This chest holds my acrylic paints - which I seldom use.

The wine tapestry satchel is where I store my Greek and Latin study materials.

I bought the tapestry covered canvases at Goodwill......

FOR the canvases!

AT $1.99 it was a good deal.

I can use them for future paintings and then use the tapestry for....

?????

I will think of something!

Easing into the NEW Year!

2012-01-02T18:49:00.000-06:00

It has been a slow day for me as I have eased my way into this second day of 2012. I never get as much done as I INTEND to do. Therefore I tried to whittle my intentions down to match my energy level today. It worked! Just a little bit of 'Windexing' left and I am done. Both bathrooms, the bedroom and the guest room are all back to their 'Pre Christmas' state. I enjoyed the clean guest room so much I took a little nap in there when I was finished.

Lucy and I took a walk late this afternoon. I left Louis Dean working in the backyard.

He is turning the play fort of Ben's (he is now 23!) into a storage area. He is so creative! He used old glass sliding doors for the west and east sides and has been busy framing it all in.

I love this tree! It lives down the street and around the corner.

In the summer the bark peels off in long strips.

Now the upper branches are smooth and glistening white!

It was in the 40's as we walked through the neighborhood.

The low tonight will be 26 degrees. Brrrr! I may turn our heat ON!

Lucy was SO excited to go for a walk I felt guilty!

She acted as if she NEVER gets out!

While I LOVE the sound of walking through crunchy leaves.....

I am so proud of Louis Dean for dealing with ours back in mid December.

He doesn't believe bagging is a good thing so he mows them.

Says it is good for the grass.

I remember years when it was March before I dealt with them.

We intend to spend this Monday evening in the den by the fireplace.

Maggie is already warming herself by the fire.

I still have some journal work to do.......

reflections on 2011.

And predictions for 2012.

I am glad that I have kept journals for the last 26 years.

I would NEVER remember when and what happened without them!

There does seem to be a thrill of excitement as I open this brand new journal and wonder how the year will unfold and all the blessings and experiences we will have.

"The clock is running. Make the most of today. Time waits for no man. Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That's why it is called the present."

Black Eyed Peas and Cornbread!

2012-01-01T21:18:00.000-06:00

My mother AWAYS cooked black eyed peas and cornbread for the New Year!

And that is exactly what we had today!

We drove out to Rowlett to eat a late lunch with Summer and Sabrina as well as some of Sabrina's family.

Talk about good food!!!

A great meal, good conversation and a movie - 'The Lincoln Lawyer' -

perfect way to spend a New Year's Day!

Raynie and I did a little playing around with my make up bag!

She is such a 'girlie' girl!

Not only did we spend New Year's Day with them.....

we spent New Year's Eve out in Rowlett, too!

Louis Dean enjoyed a before dinner glass of wine out in their lovely back yard.

It was a warm last night of 2011 here in North Texas.

Hard to get a picture of everyone from the dog to the baby and the rest of us in between....all with our eyes open and looking good!!

Well, the New Year has arrived. I feel a little numb from all the excitement of the holidays. It's kind of like all I really want to do for awhile is sleep. And then clean.

Sleep and clean. That about sums up my plans for this week.

"An optimist stays up until midnight to see the new year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves."

~Bill Vaughan

Lighting Up My Life!

2011-12-29T20:09:00.001-06:00

I LOVE little lights - fairy lights - and have used them year round for the last 30 years. We bought a HUGE stash of them three years ago and - after using nearly every single strand - we were in the market to replenish our supply this week at the After Christmas Sales! We scored big at our one and only stop - BIG LOTS!! What a great store! I remember when it was called McFrugal's!

Louis Dean prefers colored lights which I use year round in the gazebo.....usually! He also likes the LED lights which I find too garish for my taste!

However! I took down the colored ones (since many were burned out anyway!) and strung up these.

See how different the COOL whites are from the SOFT white of the lamp?

Well, I can handle it outside......but NOT in!

We are out here with our wine while dinner finishes cooking in the oven.

I fixed Peach-Whiskey BBQ Chicken from a recipe of my daughter, Amber!

It smells delicious!

The last time we sat out here was Sunday, November 20th according to our perpetual calendar we keep

on the outside wall. I just changed it - amazed it has been so long!

The haul I made from Big Lots should last me through 2012!

I have enough for my wine light gifts as well as the decorative lights I use through out the house.

All at HALF price!!

I told Louis Dean I saved him a lot of $$!!!!

Do you think he was impressed?

I hope so!!!

Mike's Vintage Toys!

2011-12-28T19:48:00.000-06:00

Most of us have fond memories of our childhood toys. My favorites were paper dolls, puzzles and jacks. I did not keep these toys so they are only memories to me.
My brother in law, on other hand, KEPT his!! AND he kept them in mint condition!
He has a whole room of toys! What a special room it is, too!

Mike and Nita hosted Christmas morning breakfast and I could not help but snap a few pictures. I had Louis Dean's fancy camera so they actually turned out pretty good!

Not EVERY vintage toy belonged to Mike but a good many DID!

He must have had a wonderful childhood!!

He has a special fondness for all things 'Sinclair!'

Isn't this the neatest thing??

This room is a REAL 'Talley Playhouse!'

Mike has an extensive collection!

He also puts together models of vintage planes.

I love that this one is carrying Christmas packages instead of bombs!

As is THIS one!

See the traffic light?

He has THE most interesting things in here!!

Not only do Nita and Mike have huge collections of VINTAGE toys.......

they also embrace MODERN technology!

Our little niece enjoyed playing their Wi game Christmas morning!

I LOVE this room!!

EVERYONE loves this room!

And in keeping with the vintage mood......

OF COURSE Mike would have an aluminum Christmas Tree....complete with a color wheel!!

These were popular from 1955 until the middle 1960's and continued to be manufactured into the early 1970's!

As a child, we never had one but I always thought they were so elegant!

Mother (who lives with my sister and brother in law) has certainly enjoyed this Christmas season!

We ALL enjoyed Christmas Morning at my sister's!!

Thank you, Nita and Mike, for hosting!

Chapman Christmas 2011

2011-12-27T12:03:00.003-06:00

Christmas 2011 is now past.

I am still enjoying the glow of the holidays.

The table was set for eight adults with Summer holding the youngest grandchild.

This was the GRAND children's table!

They are now 5, 7, and 9 years old.

For our Christmas Eve meal I prepared every favorite dish from other Christmas Eves in years gone by!

Baked ham.....the whole ham....NOT the honey glazed spiral cut variety!

It is the kind you have to COOK!

Green Bean Casserole

Broccoli Rice Casserole

Sweet Potato Casserole

Candied Carrots (because the grand kids love them!)

Cream Cheese Corn

Fresh Cranberry Relish

Fluffy Salad

Fruit Salad

Dessert was to be Red Velvet Cake but it bombed!

I baked it up Friday night before we went to the airport to meet Amber and Mike.

(It alarmed them to see Louis Dean in a wheel chair but DFW is HUGE and he wanted to hold Raynie. There were several empty wheel chairs so Summer snagged one for him!)

They returned from their trip to Italy just in time for Christmas.

I was disappointed in the 'from scratch' cake!

Should have used a MIX!!!

The gifts are always the kids favorite part!

And aren't we ALL kids at Christmas??

This is my oldest son and family.

Summer is always the life of ANY party!

Amber and Mike - fresh back from Italy!

For some reason I forgot to get someone to take pics of Louis Dean and me.

So I do not have any of us at Christmas Eve OR Christmas Day!

The last activity of Christmas Eve is reading the Christmas Letters.

For many years now I have written a special letter to each of my children.

Summer actually started this tradition when Amber was born by writing a Christmas Letter to her. My favorite moment was watching them all read. The room was still and and my heart was filled to overflowing for the wonderful gifts in my life.....

The gift of LIFE! The gift of CHILDREN!

No matter how old they are they will forever remain the children of a mother's heart!

And THIS mother's heart missed my youngest son, Benjamin, this year.

He lives in California and couldn't make it home this time.

So, Ben, if you ever read this.....YOU were MISSED!!

(I mailed HIS Christmas letter earlier so he would have it in time!)

Hopefully I will have ALL my children next year!

I fully understand, though, that as they grow and have their OWN children the gathering times and places can change.

As the year of 2011 closes I have so many treasured memories to keep.

This has been a Christmas to remember and I am so very grateful for God's greatest gift! The gift of life......both here and in eternity.

Christmas Traditions

2011-12-22T21:37:00.001-06:00

I love Christmas traditions! The trees, the decorating, the special foods, the books.....I love it all! When Louis Dean and I married we added a special tradition of our own.

As a second grade school teacher he would direct the Christmas play. He LOVED doing 'How The Grinch Stole Christmas.'

This is one of the copies he kept from the 1994 production.

So for the past few years we have hosted a Christmas dinner with our favorite neighborhood children and their parents. We set the date early in the season and try to plan it for the last day of school before the Christmas break when the kids get out early.

Yesterday was that day!

They arrived a few hours before the parents so we could make some Coffee Filter Angels. Even BOYS can do crafts!

Big Sister made one for Little Sister.

They crafted a whole CHOIR!!

Then we played games!

Aren't these kids CUTE???

And they are SWEET, too!!

I asked them to count the Christmas Trees in our house!

That was a pretty good game!

"Oh, LOOK!!! Another one!!"

I think they came up with TEN trees!

We always do a craft and then make a candy.

This year we made 'White Trash.'

I have made TEXAS Trash for years and years but WHITE Trash was new to me.

I can thank Linda at Coastal Charm for the recipe.

After the parents arrived and we had dinner it was time for Louis Dean to do what Louis Dean loves best......a reading of 'How the Grinch Stole Christmas!'

When he finished we all gave him a round of applause!

Afterwards we sat around visiting for a bit.......

The kids enjoyed all the decorations.

It is so much fun to WATCH children having fun!

Louis Dean and I sat in front of the fireplace after they all left and talked of Christmas memories. I think we made a few more this year.

Today has been quiet.

The weather was nice and Louis Dean was able to go outside and play!

He chopped wood and cleaned a water fountain.

He filled bird feeders and played with our cat.

This is one SPOILED cat!!

She does not like to be disturbed when she is sitting on Louis Dean's lap!

I guess we are as foolish about our little Maggie as some people are about their children!

So it has been a relaxing day.

Tomorrow the pace quickens as we approach Christmas Eve!

I will take Mother to get her hair done and pick up a few things at the grocery store.

Summer is bringing Raynie over in the afternoon - I am looking forward to that!

Amber and Mike are returning from Italy. That whole seven hour time difference will certainly create some major jet lag!

But for the moment all is quiet.

The dog is already asleep in her kennel.

Louis Dean is in his easy chair petting the cat.

The fire has burned down to gently stirring flames.

I think it is time for a cup of Sleepy Time Tea and head for bed.

Those flannel sheets and faux fur cover will feel good tonight.

As I pull the covers up I will spend a few minutes in prayer thanking God for all his blessings.

All is right in my world this night.

I pray it is in yours as well.

A Cup of Christmas Tea With Friends and Family....

2011-12-21T14:09:00.000-06:00

I SO enjoyed my Christmas Tea last night! It was a wonderful gathering of friends - new and old, a few family members, neighbors - both past and present.

Fireplace weather made it all the more Christmas special!

This is Candie who was Amber's FIRST synchronized swimming coach.

Synchro friends tend to make relationships that last a life time!

Amber's closest friends include her synchro team.....

and mine include the coaches and moms!

See the beautiful scarf I am wearing?

Candie is an artist with a pair of knitting needles!

My 'newest' friend to arrive at Tea was Deb of Ladybug From Texas!

We have been friends for about a year and live in the same town!

Her mother joined us and we were like kindred spirits!!

Plans are already made for some art time together in January!

God is so good in bringing us together with people that will light up our life!!

Since I am the QUEEN of Facebook - this Christmas Tea was listed as an open event although I did send 'requests' to several just to make sure they KNEW they were invited.

You could have knocked me over with a feather when I opened the door and saw.....

my friend and former neighbor, Beth!!!!

We have not seen each other in 12 years!!!

She saw the event on Facebook but didn't RSVP so she could surprise me!

And SURPRISE me she DID!!

Stephanie - my dearly beloved next door neighbor - Beth and I all raised our kids together!

We each had a girl and a boy about the same ages. They went on to add another to the mix....both of whom are THE most beautiful girls with THE best personalities!!

I was simply stunned to actually SEE Beth - I bet I hugged her three or four times before we left the foyer! What an exciting night!!

I was so busy having fun and enjoying the fellowship I forgot to take very many pictures. But I have them where it counts! In my heart and in my mind's eye!!

The best Christmas Tea EVER!!!

As everyone left I handed out packages of my Texas Trash.

Deb and Judy - I forgot to give you yours!

I will save them for the next time I see you!

As much fun as we had, please know if you missed it WE missed you!!

At party's end Louis Dean came out of hiding and joined us in the den as we threw another log on the fire and recounted our good time.

Ruth Ann - my sister in law - enjoyed a little down time with us.

Candie spent the night (sleeping in the 'Cat Room'.....she is such a good sport!) so it made the whole evening even more special.

SO here I am in Texas Christmasing along and keeping up with my daughter, Amber, who is in Italy! I have heard the bells ring from the cathedral in Verona, watched the Italian Christmas lights, seen the local people walking on the street below their hotel and listened in as they spoke to each other in Italian......all because of Skype!!

I suppose Christmas all the world over is made more special in sharing our blessings, our testimonies, our food, our wine, our homes, our languages, our experiences with one another.

May I just say how blessed I am in having such wonderful friends and family?

And I am thankful for the lovely friends I have out there in the world of Blog.

You really EXIST!!!

I have met one now - face to face!!

I just want to wish Dawn and Robin, Jane and Flora, Pat and Kelly, Bj and Angela........so MANY of you dear ladies......as well as all the other friends in my life.....

a VERY Merry Christmas!!!

Decoupage Christmas Plates

2011-12-19T18:19:00.000-06:00

Today has been a chilly wet day in North Texas! I am getting ready for tomorrow's Christmas Tea. I think preparing for a party is nearly as rewarding as hosting it!

I have enjoyed getting out dishes I have not seen since last year.

These are my decoupaged Christmas plates - and ONE bowl! Amber, Benjamin and I made these many years ago. The directions came from an issue (now vintage!) of Victorian Magazine.

We collected clear glass plates from the local Goodwill's and thrift stores.

You can use printed napkins or the pretty printed tissue paper found so easily this time of year. If you use the napkins you must separate the layers and use only the TOP printed one. Plates, napkins and/or tissue paper, Modge Podge, and your choice of metallic craft paint. I personally prefer the copper toned ones.

The plates must be hand washed.

These have been used for the last 18 years or so.....albeit only a few times each year!

I love the look of all things Victorian and these so ARE!!

My youngest grand daughter paid us a visit this afternoon.

What would Christmas be without children?

I hope I never find out!

She is adorable and I enjoyed showing her all the Christmas trees.

We took a little break and hit up the local Dollar General store.

I was sad to see all the lights were already gone.

I use a TON of the white Christmas lights all year long and usually stock up right here at the end of the season. I especially use the 20 count strands for the wine bottle lights I make. I will have to make a point of stopping in at all the $$$ stores I pass as well as every Big Lot Store!

I.MUST.HAVE.MORE.LIGHTS!!

Summer and the baby are gone now and it is time to get down to business.

Thankfully, Louis Dean does not mind chopping vegetables.

He can make an awesome turkey salad and that is on the menu for my Christmas Tea.

I think I will make us up a simple dinner salad for our evening meal. Add a few crackers and a slice of cheese and a glass of wine......that should do nicely!

Dressed in our pajamas and sitting by the fireplace is just the ticket!

Tonight is one of our favorite TV nights.

The Closer comes on.

We always record it to the DVR and then watch it as soon as it's done!

Sometimes it is the simple pleasures of life and living that mean so very much!

One can do without the BIG things.

Give me the 'little' things any day!!

Christmas Dinner Party

2011-12-18T21:34:00.001-06:00

It has been a lovely Sunday! A 'guilt free' Sunday as our pastor, Ed Young, says!

That's because we attended the Saturday evening service.

He also says - about the ones who attend on Sunday morning - they enjoy a guilt free Saturday! Win! Win!!

Louis Dean made 'Biscuit/Rolls' today.

I asked him to make BISCUITS but he came up with his own idea.

All I have to say is that hot buttered bread and a glass of wine makes for the perfect light lunch!

Tonight we had a small dinner party and a music session.

We all had a good time eating, visiting and making good music!

I pretty much know everyone had a good time because we sat around the dinner table long after the meal was done. One friend told about his daughter being in a recent episode of Law and Order......her first acting job! Another told of the home repair nightmare that was as hilariously told as it was horrifying! We discussed both the forbidden dinner table subjects - politics and religion - and had a ball doing it!

Good comfortable - yet stimulating - conversations.

The meal was good......

and coffee and dessert was even better!

This is a jazzed up cake mix recipe.......

white cake mix

1 1/2 cups of Irish Cream

4 eggs

1/2 cup oil

1 box instant pudding - I used butterscotch

1 cup butterscotch chips

The frosting is Irish Cream and Confectioners sugar.

NOT heart healthy NOR diabetic friendly!

But it was delicious!!!

I see some salads on the menu for tomorrow!

Good Friends!

Good Food!

Good TIMES!

Christmas Groceries!

2011-12-17T12:58:00.000-06:00

Mother, Louis Dean and I had a wonderful time together yesterday! After Mother's hair was done we headed for Granbury, Texas.

Our lunch choice was Babe's......

.....known for its chicken fried steak, fried chicken and other southern favorites.....mostly FRIED!
I do not FRY anything so the occasional meal out is when we can indulge this craving for GREASE!

I had the fried chicken, LD ordered chicken fried steak and Mother had the fried catfish. Everything was delicious!

The place was decorated for Christmas in such a fun and whimsical way!

We had a good time. And it was Christmas COLD weather!

My handsome husband took a list of locations and put it in the glove compartment.

Just in case we are out and about and 'need an oil change' he says!

Can you tell they were having fun?

Our purpose in driving to Granbury was so we could shop at the HEB store.

I had a list and started marching up and down the isles as soon as I got there! Mother and Louis Dean had full cups of complimentary coffee in the little coffee shop at the front of the store. They decided to come help me after awhile and we made short work of it.

HEB is a Mexican owned chain which includes Central Market. They employ enough people to allow for some quality customer service. I was asked THREE times if I needed help finding anything! When I shop Walmart I can not find ONE employee when I need something! Shopping can be a pleasure or a chore.

HEB is my grocery store of choice!

We left for Fort Worth (40 miles west) at 8:30 yesterday morning.

Granbury is about 40 miles west of Fort Worth.

We were gone all day!!

Got home before 6:00 in the evening.

I 'buzzed' - to use Louis Dean's words. That means I put up groceries, fed and took care of three cats and Lucy.....did some housework.

Louis Dean did some buzzing of his own. He is cleaning out the old play area on top of what was once Amber's playhouse. It was Benjamin's fort at one time. He had loaded it up with 'junk' and is hard at work sorting and clearing.

We closed our day with Lucy sitting ON Louis Dean's feet and Maggie sitting on his lap.

To use my mother's words.........

"It's been a GOOD day!"

Our Christmas Guest Room is FULL......of CATS!!

2011-12-15T16:02:00.001-06:00

The guest room was all ready when our little feline guests arrived!

Extra litter box was in place and a cover for the velvet spread was on the bed.

The radio was on low and tuned in to WRR 101.1 Classical Music station.

Amber and Mike flew out yesterday for a week in Milan, Italy.

His parents have custody of the grand dogs.....

here they are sleeping en route to Dallas.

We got the cats!

They are both on medications.

Thyroid Rx morning and night for July......

I dissolve it in a little dish of salmon juice -

we had salmon patties last night for dinner.

Snowball gets insulin shots twice a day.

Now our little Maggie USUALLY has the run of that room!

However, this morning I had left the door ajar and Maggie was heading INTO the guest room as Snowball was going OUT!

Both are white cats and they took an immediate dislike to each other!

Lots of hissing and snarling!

Snowball is STILL in a bad mood hours later!

Perhaps the Christmas tree and pretty music will calm her down.....

before it is time to give her the next insulin injection!

Amber and Mike will be home the day before Christmas Eve.

It will be snug and cozy in the guest room with all four of them!

It is the best part of the Christmas Season for me.

The decorating is all done.

The house will soon be smelling of cinnamon and cloves, nutmeg and ginger as I bake Fruitcake cookies later tonight.

I have been wrapping the gifts and planning my menus - making a grocery list.

Mother, Louis Dean and I are all going to Granbury to the new HEB to buy our 'Christmas Groceries' tomorrow!

We will be hosting a small dinner party on Sunday and a Ladies Christmas Tea on Tuesday.

Wednesday I am having my favorite neighbor kids in for crafts and candy making and then their parents will join us for dinner after which Louis Dean will read 'How the Grinch Stole Christmas.'

I hope everyone is having as much fun this December as I am!

I will ALWAYS remember this year as one of the best EVER!!

God has been so good to me and mine! I can never thank Him enough for the amazing blessings he has bestowed upon us!

"God bless us, everyone."

Fun Like a PARTY!!!!

2011-12-12T14:06:00.000-06:00

We have been done here in the Houston area with Amber and Mike the last few days and it has been a blast!!

I know he doesn't LOOK like he's having fun! We arrived Saturday morning after leaving at 4:30 AM! I napped all the way down and since we were in his big Dodge Ram 350 Diesel truck......HE did all the driving. So he had to nap as soon as we got here!

Mike's parents had arrived on Thursday so Amber and his mom had already been at work on some kitchen curtains. They are made from painters drop cloths and were EXACTLY the fabric Amber had tried to find by the yard.

These drop cloths were much LESS expensive!

I joined in the group effort and on Party Day we finished them right up!

That's my grand dog, Shiner, checking out things through the window.

Many hands made light work!

Mike set out the wine bar....

The dogs were kenneled so we could do the patio area.

Mike and his dad strung up lights and decorations......

I took this picture looking in through the window.

Everything just looked so PRETTY!!

Lit the candles.......

......plugged in the lights!

We took the opportunity to take a family pic before the guests arrived.

What part of 'Turn around and smile' did Louis Dean not understand??

STILL not getting it!!!

There you GO!!! He DID it!!

Now he can sit and look pretty!

I love Amber and Mike's parties. They hosted over 30 people of all ages......friends, co workers, family members, neighbors. Everyone had SUCH a good time. The food was amazing! Ham, mashed potatoes, broccoli - rice casserole (thanks, Carla!) green bean casserole, dinner rolls, red velvet cake.....and on and on!! Delicious!!!

I KNOW the party was a huge success because it was after midnight when the first guest left! Everyone but family was gone by 2 and we were all in bed by 3 am!

Sunday was spent basking in the glow of Saturday night!

We sat around watching the new Jeff Dunham DVD, movies and football.

Houston is not often cool enough for a fireplace but this weekend was perfect for one.

I love it when something you have been looking forward comes to pass and it is just as wonderful as you imagined it would be.

That's how it is when we visit here with Mike and Amber.

We will head home tomorrow. The good thing is all my decorating is done. I left the house clean. Except for the millions of leaves we will need to blow and sack and/or mow.....there are no big jobs left for this month. All that remains to be done is some baking and entertaining. The FUN things!!

I AM wondering about stopping at the Collin Street Bakery on our way home, though.

Remember that Apricot Pie???

Company Mashed Potatoes

2011-12-09T22:13:00.000-06:00

I made 5 pounds of 'Company Mashed Potatoes' this evening!

A tried and true recipe that does NOT taste like a reheated dish!

Cookbooks can really bring back memories!

Louis Dean had first crack at the kitchen though!

He would have made Mrs. Baird PROUD!

He actually worked at Mrs. Baird's Bakery back before he became a school teacher.

He can make a mean roll!!

Dinner rolls and cinnamon rolls - both in one day!

The potatoes are bagged and in the fridge....ready for the ice chest when we get up.

Rolls are in Tupperware ready to go.

We are packed.

The truck is loaded.

The house is clean.

Louis Dean is already asleep.

We are leaving at 4 am......as in On the ROAD!

For some reason my husband loves to drive in the early morning hours.

I love for him to do that, too!

I get in the truck, help direct us out of Dallas and onto Interstate 45,

stop at the Whataburger as we get on the other side of town for some coffee and then I crawl into the back seat and sleep until 6 when we stop in Fairfield, Texas for a breakfast buffet at Sam's Cafe.

With full tummies we walk Lucy and then back on the road we go.

And back to SLEEP I go!!

Two more stops and we are nearing Houston.......which means we still have a ways to go! Houston is HUGE and just getting into or across it takes FOREVER!

We are heading to see Amber and Mike.

Tomorrow is their annual Christmas party and we are SO going to be there!!

There is something so exciting about going traveling during the Christmas season.

Anticipation is in the air this time of year.

My Romantic Bedroom Christmas Tree

2011-12-09T11:02:00.000-06:00

I love this romantic little tree with the lighted base.

I have it on MY side of the bed so it doesn't get knocked over by you know who!

I came in here yesterday and took a good nap!

We went to our first Christmas party.....an open house hosted by one of LD's favorite people of all time, Shannon Gregg. We then shopped for a couple of pair of 'dress' overalls for LD. You know the kind? NOT stained, torn or ragged!

Next I stopped at a Tuesday Morning and came out with super soft slippers, pomegranate tea and ribbon candy! Our last stop was to buy a couple of Christmas Cd's.......Josh Groban and Andrea Bocelli. All this wore me out so I put on my red flannel Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer nightgown and crawled into bed for a couple of hours!!

I like to think of these little Snow People stockings as being Louis Dean and me!

My kids and I made dozens of carolers from cardboard tubes one year.

I like to use ALL my Christmas things so this year I have them on our headboard.

Keeping with the tradition a tree in every room....

my tiny bathroom has a TINY tree!

Louis Dean doesn't really like for me to decorate HIS bathroom......

but it is also the GUEST bathroom!

I have no choice!

I TRIED to hide a tree in the corner and hoped he would not notice!

He did......

I left LD home in the kitchen this morning while I do the Beauty Shop Run with my mother. He is baking dinner rolls for Amber and Mike's Christmas party tomorrow night.......and cinnamon rolls for Mike. Just because Mike loves them so.

I love having my laptop with its own Internet 'thingy!' I am sitting in the back seat of my car waiting for Mother. We will go to lunch in a bit and then it's back home to pack and load up for our trip south in the morning. LD likes to be on the road at 4 am!

I like to be asleep in the back seat by 4:15!!!

The cleaning and decorating is all done.

Now it's time to celebrate with family and friends!

"Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred, and we are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmas-time."

~Laura Ingalls Wilder

Crafty Snowmen!

2011-12-07T14:48:00.000-06:00

I have made many a crafted snowman in my time!

These are some of my favorites!

My youngest two children and I made these back in 1999.

Makes me smile! Twelve years ago I had a an eleven year old son!

Eleven is my all time favorite age for a child!

These were super simple to make!

Paint a clay pot - any size would work!

Paint on some rosy cheeks and the face....

glue some fabric scraps around the bottom ....

and stick a twig in the top hole!

DONE!

The handy dandy CAN is made in the same manner.

Amber made this Snowman in 1996.....love seeing her name and date on the back!

After you paint the giant paint stirrer stick (and you can make them ANY size, of course! Even tongue depressors work!).......just embellish! We used felt pieces for the hat, scraps for the scarf, glue on googly eyes and a red bead nose. More paint was brushed on the scarf for a bit more frosty snow 'look.'

I have used the snowmen theme for my sewing room/office this year.

I have about a dozen painted clear glass balls I have done over time.

Put them all together it filled up an entire (small 4 ft) tree!

I have been painting Snowmen for a long time......

on blocks of wood, glass balls, cans, sticks.....

even squashed up coke cans!

You name it - I bet I have PAINTED on it!!

It's a whole (small!) room FULL of snowmen!

A sweet blogging friend sent me a set of these cute Snowmen chair slippers!!

Thanks to 'My Own Little Corner' .....you are so thoughtful in thinking of others - even when YOU have a lot going on in your life right now.

I tucked a few snowmen in the plants we brought in recently from the gazebo.

They will live on top of Lucy's kennel right by the French doors for the winter.

I stitched this little door hanger in the early 1970's.

Nothing like going through your Christmas decorations to realize how many years have flown so quickly by!

And speaking of time flying!!

I still have painting - and cleaning - and decorating - and cooking - and baking - and entertaining - and travelling - and Christmas Letters to write - and leaves to rake!

It has been RAINING leaves here! The yard is covered and we track in debris every time we go in and out a door....ANY door! They are everywhere!!

I have sent Louis Dean out on errands so I can get some things done.

He keeps me busy......I am his keeper!

I took this pic the other day when our weather turned REALLY cold!

I teased him about not being able to go outside and play in the dirt....

he simply brought it IN with him!!!

He has had these plants - or they are FROM one I should say - he has had for years and years. A parent gave him the first plant when he was a second grade school teacher in south Texas. They are safe under a grow light now.

Someday I will have to blog about HIS room.

It is unlike ANY other room in this house!

To use his words, "There are so many things sticking out in there it looks like a porcupine!" You would understand if you could see it!

SOOOO......while he is away I am going to do a 20 minute yoga workout and then

GET TO WORK!!!

Hope YOU accomplish all you need to do today!

PACE yourself, though!

Christmas is COMING!!

A Red Cardinal Christmas Tree

2011-12-06T08:41:00.001-06:00

I have SO enjoyed decorating for Christmas!

I have a tree in every room - all with a different theme.

The dining room tree holds my collection of red cardinals. My daughter, Summer, has given me most of them.

I placed the tree where my easel normally stands.

Haven't been doing much painting lately!

The table is set.

The room is clean.

It is nearly time to entertain!

But not QUITE yet!!

Today will be a wintry day in North Texas! The high temperature is not expected to go out of the 30's....that's COLD for TEXAS!

I am up early (before Louis Dean!) this morning and it is COLD in the house.

Yesterday we even turned the heat on..........not something we ordinarily do.

I would rather be too cold than too hot.

Even so - I may turn it back on today.

The coffee is made and I am about to clean the fireplace and put a couple of logs in.

On my way home from church Sunday I noticed a neat stack of wood someone had put out for the city to pick up. They had trimmed a big oak tree in their front yard.

Well, Louis Dean went right down there and loaded most of it up!

We have yet to BUY firewood in the 6 1/2 years we've been married.

I better go now and get the house all warm and cozy for when he wakes up!

Where ever you are and what ever you are doing today........

I send you warm Christmas wishes!

My Christmasy Kitchen!!

2011-12-05T12:30:00.000-06:00

My kitchen is all dressed for Christmas!

I love my cozy little corner by the sink!

AND the fragrance of cloves in the little vintage tin.

I have a wreathe in every room......

....and a tree!

This one holds ornaments from my children's childhoods.....

all four of them! Summer, Jesse, Amber and Benjamin!

I love looking at each one. Jesse made the little foil drum when he was 5 or 6 years old.

The happy lion was Summer's ornament from 1976.

Amazing how old some of these really are......

seems like yesterday I was making a few of these!

I hang my 'Vintage' needlework on the cupboard doors.

This is the very first one I made back in 1968!

At that time Summer was 5 years old and Jesse was 2.

43 years ago!! I would call that 'vintage!'

(One year critters got into the attic and chewed up on this! I repaired it as best I could.)

This is THE most treasured hanging I have!!

Even though my house burned in 1983 - my Christmas decorations were stored in a place where the fire did not get to them! I lost SOME but not ALL!

I stitched this hanging when Amber was 5 and Benjamin was 2.

A mere 21 years ago......

I made this cross stitch in 1983 - the year my house burned.

We were in Colorado at the time and I had the needlework with me.

I love all these....

I remember this took me a long time!!

While not really a needlework - I made this big felt tree on cotton backing as an Advent Wall Hanging. When the kids were little I would tell the Christmas story day by day adding the appropriate symbol. The pieces are gone now but I still use the tree SOMEWHERE every Christmas. This year it is covering all my loose recipes and files!

This needle work holds special meaning for me. I was stitching it in the fall of 1989 when I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. I worked on it when I was waiting for tests and then later surgery. And then ANOTHER surgery when they found aggressive cancer in the nodule they had removed. Sometimes I forget I am a cancer survivor.

It took me 2 years to finish this newest one.

I worked on it the December we spent in Scotland and am glad it is finally DONE!

I rescued this lovely piece of art from a thrift store.

SO much time went into doing this I was crying in my heart that someone cared so little about it! I need to properly frame it. I say that every year. I think I bought it 10 years ago!

This is the only needle work in the kitchen that was given to me.

A dear friend, Deborah, stitched it for me and

I love it so much it stays on my wall year round!

Little Miss Amber painted this for me when she was just a little girl!

She also painted the Christmas Trees!

So now my kitchen is all decorated.....and reasonably clean!

I just need to hang a wreathe on my old cow here!

I am now MOOOOOving on to another room!!

But before I go I just noticed......

I guess I must have painted THIS instead of a Santa in 1992!

Hey, it IS still a Christmas painting!!

I'm Talking 'Trash!' TEXAS Trash!!

2011-12-04T11:27:00.000-06:00

I made my traditional batch of Texas Trash! My family and friends LOVE this stuff! So do I! Mother used to make this every Christmas and we would ration it out to make it last. She actually filled those great big (NEW) galvanized trash cans FULL!! Mother saved her Folgers coffee cans all year long and would use them for gifting the trash. Since her stroke in 2005 she has only made this twice - with a lot of help from me! Now I am on my own! I still want her to be involved with the tradition so Friday after her beauty shop appointment we went shopping! For Trash ingredients. As the cart piled high I told her we probably had not appreciated the amount of $$$ it cost to MAKE the trash!! She just smiled.

Yesterday I began the MAKING of Trash!!

You literally put it in a white (or black) trash bag....depending on how much you make!

I used 8 boxes of assorted chex style cereal.....white, rice, corn

3 pounds of salted cashews

3 pounds of sea salt peanuts

1 pound of mixed nuts

1 large bag of pretzel twists

1 large bag of pretzel sticks.....

and I kind of crunch them up in the bag to break them in half.

Salt generously - and I mean GENEROUSLY!! - with Lawry's Seasoning Salt!

After you have all the dry ingredients mixed up nicely on the bag - and be sure to DOUBLE bag this!! -

......then you mix the butter ans Worcestershire sauce.

I heat it in the microwave til the butter is melted.

Using a large bowl, scoop out a good bit of trash - pour some of the melted butter/sauce mixture over it - not TOO much! - then toss it around with a wooden spoon to coat it all real good. Spread it out on a cookie sheet. Sprinkle with more Lawry's salt.........

I did three sheets at a time.

Bake at 300 degrees for 15 minutes. Then rotate the pans. I baked it a total of 45 min.

My mother always dumped it all out on a table covered with newspaper and an old sheet. I did a smaller version of this and then put it in the trash bag after it had cooled.

I repeated the steps THREE times (Total of NINE cookie sheets worth!) and ended up with 15 POUNDS of

TEXAS TRASH!!!!

Then I put it all in tins!

It took a good part of the day but the TRASH is DONE!!

I am having a Ladies Christmas Tea on December 20th from 4 to 8 pm.

There will be little gift bags of trash for all my friends.

Hope YOU can come!

My Memory Tree of Hand Painted Ornaments

2011-12-03T12:24:00.003-06:00

I love unpacking and hanging MEMORIES!

Every year I look forward to seeing my Christmas treasures once more....

and reliving all these precious memories of Christmases Past.

This special hand painted glass ornament was a gift from Mrs. Haynie back in 1984.

I think she bought it at a Hallmark shop. I loved the Caroler and used this one as a pattern for painting several. I never figured out how to add the crocheted hat and scarf so I used a child's sock! This first bulb prompted me to paint a special ornament each year for the tree.

I have painted SO many that now I have a tree FULL!

This tree also holds some other 'favorite' ornaments.

My daughter, Summer, has given me a special one each year for MANY years.

As a matter of fact - as I was hanging the decorations on this tree - I was having a phone chat with HER! I love being FRIENDS with my children!

These brought back memories of Amber's synchro years, our trip to Canada, Benjamin's sandbox and play fort, Amber's piano - which sits in her foyer now......

so many memories!

I could get the decorating done faster if I did not linger fondly over every box of decorations! The living room is now done and I have moved on to the kitchen.

But I think I will take a moment to sit and admire the living room. I just brewed up some fresh tea!

Why don't YOU join me??

We will have a lovely visit!