Some of us Have All The Luck

Just got out of the hospital today and I am so far behind it looks like I'm ahead!!  I expect to be going full speed in a short time.  I love and appreciate all of you so much for bearing with me and hanging in there, despite my absence.  You know, He sure never promised us a rose garden.  (I love saying that, but I believe this is the first time I have ever written it.  Somehow it seems more real and easier by far to recall if something is written instead of merely spoken.)  

Not only have angels been in my garden, they have looked after me very well, no matter where I seem to be.  Great news to share ...... I am going to have 2 (not just 1, but 2) more great grandchildren.  We know one is a boy and not sure about the other one yet.  We'll take whatever we get and be pleased as punch with it.  I am so excited, I can hardly wait.  Little babies are absolutely the most precious, innocent little beings in the entire universe! They just ooze sweetness and softness. 

Kristi and Heath will be blessed with a little baby boy soon.  Brittany and Nathan have a while to wait on their little blessing, as she has just learned the good news.  You know I will have constant updates for I am just too, too grateful that I have been allowed the pleasure of playing with a great grandchild.  Some of us have all the luck!!  What can I say?  (except be sweet and be good ...) 

Have a Lovely Holiday

Be sweet and always be good!!

A Look At Laughter

We all need a good laugh once in a while - well not once in a while actually, but most of the time. Laughter is so good for so many things. We feel better and those around us feel better. We certainly look better when we have a smile on our face. You know, when we think happy thoughts, we become happy.
Now that just so happens to be true!!
Just try thinking about something very sad that happened in your life and before long you feel sad, so sad that often tears begin to fall. When we make a conscious effort to change our thoughts to the positive, the good things in our lives, the things we are thankful for , ice cream on a hot day, a field of yellow sunflowers, the way our grandma never talked baby talk to us .... you just can't keep that good feeling, that joy we were meant to feel at bay and soon we are humming a song, going happily about our day, making others happy along the way. Life is good!
Anyway here are a couple of little husband and wife thingies that I hope brings a smile to your face, as it did to mine. Anyway, these are too funny not to pass on!


A couple drove down a country road for several miles, not saying a word.
An earlier discussion had led to an argument and
neither of them wanted to concede their position.
As they passed a barnyard of mules, goats, and pigs,
the husband asked sarcastically, 'Relatives of yours?'
'Yep,' the wife replied, 'in-laws.'

A man and his wife were having some problems at home
and were giving each other the silent treatment.
Suddenly, the man realized that the next day, he would need his wife to wake him
at 5:0 0 AM for an early morning business flight.
Not wanting to be the first to break the silence (and LOSE), he wrote on a piece of paper,
'Please wake me at 5:00 AM.' He left it where he knew she would find it.
The next morning, the man woke up, only to discover it was 9:00 AM and he had missed his flight Furious, he was about to go and see why his wife hadn't wakened him,
when he noticed a piece of paper by the bed.
The paper said, 'It is 5:00 AM. Wake up.'
Men are not equipped for these kinds of contests.

Are you smiling? I sure hope so. Later. Be sweet!!!!

Golden Heart

This is the Golden Heart Award, given to my by my friend, Kim, who received the award and passed it on to other blogs she liked.  I am humbled at being a recipient of this award.

Kim has recently changed the look of her blog, stuff could always be worse, and it has a new very pretty background.  I love reading about what she fondly calls her "hillbilly family", for my family fits right in.  We are about as country as you can get.

My mom and all her family came from the hills and mountains and did everything the old way. My great grandmother was an Indian, with that jet black hair and high cheekbones passed down to my mom, who, in her seventies still raised a garden big enough to feed the state's National Guard!  She still dried apples, picked blackberries and made jam ..... she did it by choice, not out of necessity.  I have had many a dress made from flour sacks.  I still remember Mom's disappointment when she only needed one more sack to have enough material to sew a dress for me but by the time she needed flour again, not a single sack remained with the pretty blue flowers!  On the long ride home I can remember her saying it was a shame to use that pretty material for pillow slips, and what a perfect dress it would have made.

I still have a tiny dress that she made for Debye, my first daughter.  Both of my girls wore that dress.  I love to just hold it close to me and imagine my mama's sweet little hands sewing the buttons on.  

Kim, thanks again for the award.  I am honored.  I will pass it on to five others, but I wish I could  pass it to a hundred others.  If your blog is not one, please remember, your award sits in my heart!

Balsam Ponds by Design

The Retirement Chronicles

Make or Break

frugal southern mom

Learning to be Crafty

These are all wonderful blogs you should pay a visit to.  I am sure you will enjoy them as much as I do.

I have not sent Anjanette (Momma Young) any new pictures to put in my slide show in a long time, so I better get busy on that.   I have also got to check with Sara on The Breathing Post, see how new little baby Cole is doing!! 

Be sweet everyone.  Big hugs!!!!

 

 

Tummy Tickling Recipe

Deep-fried Snickers bar

1 egg

1 cup milk

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

Pinch of salt

Snickers bar

Chill or freeze the candy bars. Combine egg, milk and vegetable oil in a cup. In a bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix well with a wire whisk. Cover and chill for a few minutes while the oil heats.

Remove batter from the refrigerator and adjust the consistency if necessary. Heat about 4 cups of oil or shortening to 375 degrees F. Dip the chilled candy bar in the batter and gently place into the oil. Cook only until the outside is golden. Remove and drain on brown paper. Allow to cool for a minute as the inside can easily burn your mouth.


You know, I was surprised!! These are very good. I had seen them made on some Food Network show or The Travel Channel (can't remember which), then I ran across this recipe and had to give it a try. Boy, is it ever gooey and good.
All you mommies should make the kiddos a deep fried Snickers and watch their little eyes light up. That alone is well worth the mess in the kitchen, being a mom and making memories.
Be sweet!

Life, and it's Wonders

Hi Sweeties!! I have been so lazy, not writing in my blog (or should I say Momma's blog and Kaye's blog?). Actually, I have been sick. You know, He never promised us a rose garden. Got to take the bad along with the good. Lord knows, there is so much more good than bad. Life is grand!!

I have done so much thinking in the past few weeks my brain hurts!! That's about all I felt like doing, but I knew better days were ahead. It is nice now that the rain has stopped, flowers blooming, bees buzzing, even the growling of an old lawn mower is a welcome sound for soon the smell of newly cut grass arrives ever so softly on the quiet breeze.

Today I had to be outside in the fresh air, taking in everything I have missed lately. My little squirrels were still scampering up the old oak tree, hiding in its leafy branches. Not too long ago, they could not hide in that tree. Winter weather had stripped the poor branches bare. It was fun to watch them gathering the acorns that had dropped on the ground and hurrying with them to wherever it was they hid them to feed on during the cold, icy months. They run on the rails of the deck and, sometimes, if I am very quiet and still, they saunter slowly along as if they owned the place! These are the times I love, these are the times I am so grateful for. These are the times when it is beyond my comprehension that there are those who do not believe God exists!!

Be sweet!

The Jewel Inside

Many, many words have been written and spoken about this ...... never judge a book by its cover ....... but we all need a little reminder once in a while to look beyond the outward appearance, make no judgement with our eyes; look further and see with our hearts till the gem inside shines through.

My daughter sent me a story about a man who found a canvas bag in a cave by a beach. The cave was filled with clay balls. Just plain, round clay balls. So the man began to toss them into the ocean. He continued till he dropped one and it cracked open on a rock. Inside was a beautiful, precious stone!
The man became very exited as he broke open one after the other to find they all contained a similar treasure.

He had thousands of dollars worth of precious jewels in the few clay balls he had left. He had thrown away lots and lots of them with their hidden jewels into the ocean!! Instead of thousands of dollars in treasure, he could have taken home tens of thousands but had thrown it away, not realizing what was inside the plain little clay balls.

Take care, Friends and be sweet!!

A War Story

This was sent by my daughter, Debye, and my daughter in law, Carol.  Don't remember who sent it to who first, but one of them sent it to me and I feel the picture alone speaks to us , but once you read the story behind it, you realize how powerful the message really is.  This is a  story that should be shared with as many as possible.  I will share it with you and feel free to pass it on. 
 
 
This needs to make headline news ..... not some of the other junk that makes the news these days! Like the Rosie O'Donell war of words ... celeb weddings ... who's not wearing undies ... etc.

                                              An Iowa Boy

John Gebhardt works at the Cargill plant in Eddyville, Iowa.
  
It's a tough, but heartwarming story ... with a picture of John Gebhardt in Iraq.
John Gebhardt's wife, Mindy, said that this little girl's entire family was executed. The insurgents intended to execute the little girl also, and shot her in the head ... but they failed to kill her. She was cared for in John's hospital and is healing up, but continues to cry and moan. The nurses said John is the only one who seems to calm her down, so John has spent the last four nights holding her while they both slept in that chair. The girl is coming along with her healing. He is a real Star of the war, and represents what America is trying to do. 
 
This, my friends, is worth sharing. Go for it!! You'll never see things like this in the news. Please keep this going.  The American public needs to see pictures like this and needs to realize that what we're doing over there is making a difference. Even if it is just one little girl at a time.. 
 
James Gates
U. S. Navy

Momma's Been Busy (and I don't mean me)

Can you believe it!?  When I looked at my little blog this morning,  I could hardly believe my eyes.  Momma at Momma Young's @ Home has been helping me fix my blog  and I finally said to her  "you do it because I don't know how or even where to begin if I did know!"  Thank goodness I did!!  I struggled and struggled to get thingies on there and plodded along, wondering how in the heck those girls did this or how they did that.  For days I tried to put buttons or badges on, but I swear sometimes I could and most of the time I could not!  Poor little Kaye at Random WAHM Thoughts tried and tried to tell me how to add a button to my page, even going so far as to make a tutorial for me to follow.  I finally did it one time, paying close attention to her tutorial.  Notice, I said ONE time.  Next time ..... impossible!!  You may can teach an old dog new tricks, just not too many at one time.  I am so thankful for the kind hearted souls who take precious time from their own busy schedule to care.  It actually does take, not just thought, but time, to care.....especially enough to take action.  Momma Young is planning even more surprises for Angels.  I believe she is going to make a slide show with some pictures of mine.

  I feel sort of silly, calling her Momma, since she is about 1/3 my age, but, in this case, she is the teacher and I am her good little student!!  

I should have just let my kids think "Oh, my mom is so smart.  Just look what she has done."  I admit I kind of wanted to, but just can't take credit for it, when my sweet little friend did it for me.  

Be sweet, now.

How To Make Flavored Vinegars

Flavored vinegars are so good and make a wonderful gift when they are put into a pretty or odd shaped bottle.  Attach a home made gift tag with jute or  an earthy fiber, maybe a recipe and voila!  Another handmade gift, so very simple and so heartfelt.  I had to share this with you when I found this article on Wiki How.  If you come up with other combinations, let me know and we will share it with everyone.


Do you ever stroll down the specialty foods aisle and eye the pretty bottles of vinegar filled with sprigs of herbs but you never buy them because they are so expensive? Well your instincts are good. They are too expensive. However, you can create the same thing personalized for your particular tastes for a fraction of the cost. Here's how.

Steps

1. Open your food processor and fill the cup 3/4 the way full with your choice of fresh herbs.
   
2. Pour in about a cup of vinegar.
   
3. Close the food processor and turn it on high for about 30 seconds. Add more herbs and another 2 cups of vinegar. Pulse for another minute or two.
   
4. Line a sieve or tea strainer with a coffee filter and slowly pour the herb and vinegar mixture through the coffee filter and into a bowl. Carefully press the herbs against the filter to press all of the vinegar out of the herbs.
   
5. Re-line the sieve with another coffee filter and pour the vinegar in the bowl through once more to catch any loose herbs.
   
6. Store in a clean jar with a tight fitting lid.
   
7. Add whole herbs and spices of your choice. The longer your vinegar sits the stronger it gets.
   
8. If you begin to run low on vinegar, add a little wine and let it sit for a week uncovered.
   

Tips

• Some Herb Combinations to Try
  
• basil, oregano, onion, garlic
  
• sage, dill, coriander
  
• sun dried tomatoes, basil, onion, garlic
  
• lemon rind, dill, fennel
  
• rosemary, thyme, garlic
  
• pine nut, basil, onion, garlic
  
• garlic, onion, hot peppers
  

Warnings

• Use good vinegar - The better the vinegar the better the finished product.
  
• Experiment - there are all sorts of vinegars - rice, cider, red and white wines, and even champagne vinegars.
  
• Use fresh herbs when possible because they will produce the strongest, best taste.
  
• If you have never use an herb before and have allergies, consult your physician to make sure that you can use it without a reaction.
  

Related wikiHows

• How to Make Ginger Garlic Paste
  
• How to Make Mayonnaise
  
• How to Make Simple and Fresh Strawberry Jam
  
• How to Make Sweet Onion Marmalade
  

Article provided by wikiHow 
.

Odds and Ends

I love the button Kaye of Random WAHM Thoughts and WAHMaholic made for me!  It is so pretty.  I have got it on my sidebar, but, for some reason, I can't get it straight!  She is such a sweetheart that she made a header for me to match the button.  I tried and tried tonight to grab her button but I can't get all the code underneath all copied.  When I paste it on, it isn't all there! Bless her heart, she is probably sick of me!!  I don't know enough about what I am doing and I make some pretty big mistakes.  I say if your going to make a mistake, you might as well make a big one, right?

Anyway, be sure to check out WAHMaholic, Kaye's new site.  It is a good one.  She really tickles me with that sense of humor.

Also, drop by Sara's blog, The Breathing Post, and see the pictures of the new baby!  He's cute as a button.

If anyone has an idea what I could be doing wrong to not get all the code copied on a button, will you let me know?  You can leave it in a comment or email me and I will dance at your next wedding!!  I know Kaye will help me.  How embarrassing if I have to get her to put her own button on my site because I couldn't!!  Oh, well.

I almost forgot, but I saw Michelle Duggar and her three oldest girls at the grocery store the other day.  She is the one who has the "Eighteen Kids and Counting" program on TLC.  She and her husband and all the kids have been on Good Morning America and others, as well.  They are absolutely amazing parents.  That is a lot of kids to take care of, feed and keep up with, but they use "the buddy system", where one of the older children looks out for one of the younger ones. They have a loving home and a very organized home, with everyone working together as a team. All eighteen children have a name that begins with the letter "J".

Last I have a money saving pre wash spray, simple to make and cheap, cheap, cheap!!

 Pre-Wash Spray 

1/2 C. Household ammonia
1/4 C. Baking soda
1/2 C. White vinegar
1/2 gal. Water 

After mixing this solution, put part of it in a smaller spray bottle to keep handy by the washing machine when doing laundry. Spray liberally onto clothes where needed

Later.  Be sweet.

 

Everyday Chocolate Recipes Free to Download

These are just a few of my favorite chocolate desserts recipes that are easy to prepare with mostly simple ingredients.

Don't you just love chocolate?   Peanut butter is another favorite of mine.  I know fruit desserts are much more healthy, but the ooey gooey buttery calorie filled treats taste so good and remind me of my southern upbringing.  When my mom, grandmas and aunts made their way to the kitchen, pots and pans began to rattle and you could soon hear wooden spoons scraping the sides of enamelware bowls.  You already knew when they finally emerged , wiping the flour from their hands on the frilly little aprons they wore, desserts that were almost sinful waited patiently to be devoured!!

When you were so full you knew without a doubt that one more bite would cause you to explode, one of them would be sure to say, "Are you sure you've had enough?  Here, have some more!"

Download the little ebook here.

Oh, Lord, I better go for a walk.  I think I have put on 10 pounds writing this post. 

Be sweet and be good!

You ...In a Blog

Well, I was tagged with the 8 Tag by Momma Young's at Home so that is one I've already completed.... Now, Anish of Actuate Life has awarded me the Worth Following Award. This is the second of those I have received, so I would like to pass this award on to every one of my bloggin' buddies and every follower.

Gosh, so many are "worth following" that It would be impossible to choose just a few to award this to. Anish is a very dear friend and I gave this award to him, bless his sweet little heart....he turned around and gave it back to me!! The same is true of Momma Young. I tagged her with the 8 Tag and before she was notified, she made a comment on a post that she had tagged me!

Every blog I read has a bit of the owner hidden within each post. You can catch little glimpses of personality traits and inward feelings begin to emerge until soon you feel a kinship of sorts. There is a common thread holding us together. It is somehow easier for most of us to write our true feelings than it is to express those feelings aloud.
We laugh with those who laugh, try to cheer those who cry, encourage the discouraged and give hope to the hopeless. Faces spread across the globe, people miles apart, united in a protective community, with each member supporting the other.

Be sweet, Bloggin' Buddies!!!

Tagged Twice with the 8 Tag

That Sara has tagged me again!! Sara's blog is The Breathing Post and I. along with who knows how many others, am anxiously awaiting the birth of her first baby.

I also got this tag from The Great Retired One, who writes a hilarious blog, The Retirement Chronicles.  

This is called The 8 Tag, so here goes:

The 8 Tag

8 Things I'm looking forward to:

1. Seeing my great grand daughters.
2. Welcoming my new great grand child, due in a few months.
3. Visiting my son and daughter in law who live in the opposite corner of the state.
4. Hearing my brothers' voices when they call.
5. Pink blossoms on the little flowers at the foot of my big oak tree.
6. Getting scrapbooks completed for my children and grandchildren.
7. Standing in my oldest son's garden and eating a ripe tomato right off the vine.
8. Getting new pictures of my three littlest angels.

8 Things I did Yesterday.

1. Took a nap.
2. Made homemade ranch dressing.
3. Read a craft magazine.
4. Aggravated Pepper, my sweet little doggie.
5. Missed my family who do not live close enough to see and touch.
6. Wished I were not such a procrastinator.
7. Decided life is too short to worry about procrastinating.
8. Aggravated Pepper some more (just kidding...actually played with him).

8 Things I Wish I Could do.

1. Mow the yard.
2. Go to Northeast Arkansas, then South Louisiana then Kentucky then home.
3. Rest one week and head out to North Dakota.
4. Have the will power to eat right, exercise more and lose weight.
5. Stand on a street corner and give out hundred dollar bills the week before Christmas.
6. Sing and not be afraid for people to hear me.
7. Be twenty and know what I know now.
8. Make a difference.

8 Shows I Watch

1. The Mentalist
2. Diners, Drive Inns and Dives
3. 20/20
4. Dateline
5. Larry King
6. The View
7. 48 Hours
8. 60 Minutes

8 People I Tag

1. Pehpot of Make or Break

2. Kaye of Random WAHM Thoughts

3. Glynis of Scribbles

4. Momma of Momma Young's at Home

5. Melissa of Real Parenting For Real Kids

6. Jlo of [zany life = crazy faith]

7.Julia of Everyday Mom Ideas

8.Pattye of Two Greyhound Town

Don't feel pressured to participate and most of all,     be sweet!!

Happy Easter Friends

Be sweet!

The Pills For Our Ills

My daughter in law found this poem in a local senior citizen's newsletter and brought it to me.  No author was given....not even a name for the poem, so I don't have a clue where it originated.  I knew immediately it was something I had to share!  You know, I just can't keep a good or funny thing to myself.  I will probably wake up in the night, think of the blue pill, sit upright and begin to laugh hysterically.  I only hope my poor daughter doesn't call the men in the little white coats!

 

A row of bottles on my shelf

caused me to analyze myself.

One yellow pill I have to pop

goes to my heart so it won't stop.

A little white one that I take

Goes to my hands so they won't shake.

The blue ones that I use a lot

tell me I'm happy when I'm not.

The purple pill goes to my brain

and tells me that I have no pain.

The pink ones tell me not to wheeze

or cough or choke or even sneeze.

The red ones,smallest of them all,

go to my blood so I won't fall.

The orange pills, so big and bright,

prevent my leg cramps in the night.

Such an array of brilliant pills

that help to cure all kinds of ills,

but what I'd really like to know

is what tells each one where to go!!

____________________________________________________________________

Now is that not funny?  I believe I have more stashed here and there, some I've written myself back in the day.  I think I will begin to drag them out now and then 'cause there's nothing better for your health and well being than a really good laugh, it sort of reminds us that it is usually the simplest things in life that bring about the biggest blessings.        You be sweet, now!!

Where To Find The Best Easter Cake Recipe

I have found the most wonderful easy Easter cake recipe with complete instructions on Insightful Nana's  blog.  She has photos of all the ingredients and step by step directions plus a picture of the finished cake, which is so much like Easter with jelly beans decorating the top.  There is even a video of her making the cake!  I am going to get jelly beans tomorrow because I am going to make that cake.  It will be the perfect dessert after the holiday dinner or for afternoon snacking after all the eggs are found and the little ones are worn out from a day of searching to see who could fill his basket first.  She also has a really great caramel popcorn recipe.  Be sure to check it out.  What a fun site, even a newsletter and free printables.  

 Be sweet and good!

Easy Bread Recipe (or rolls and cinnamon rolls)

No Knead Batter Bread                                           

6 1/2 C flour

2 pkg. instant yeast (or 4 1/2 tsp)

3 T sugar

3/4 tsp salt

3 C warm water

2 T melted butter

Put 3 1/2 cups flour, yeast, sugar and salt into large bowl.  Mix all together and add warm water and melted butter to dry mixture.  Blend together till moistened and beat well to incorporate air into batter.  Gradually add remaining flour a little at a time until you have a stiff batter.  It may not take the full amount depending on weather, etc.   Cover and let rise in warm place until double.  This takes about half an hour.  Stir the batter down and spread in greased loaf pans.  Be sure to grease around the rim of loaf pans as well.  Cover and allow to rise till batter reaches the top of the pans. Also about half an hour.  Bake at 350 degrees until golden brown.  I hesitate to give a baking time as ovens vary so much.  Just watch it the first time, then you will know.  Mine takes about 20 minutes.   Brush tops with butter as soon as you remove loaves from oven, then carefully remove from the pans.  If you do not have a wire rack to cool them on, put them on 2 or 3 layers of paper towels.   You need a good bread knife to slice with and it is better to wait till completely cool before slicing. 

If you would rather make rolls, just add enough flour to make not just a stiff batter, but one you can form and shape.  They are pretty when you put 3 little balls in each well of a muffin tin.  They are good just made into rolls and plopped in a cake pan till it is full!!  I had rather make rolls than loaves, don't know why....just a preference.

You can also make cinnamon rolls with half of the dough you made for rolls.   Just foll out dough into a rectangle, brush with melted butter and sprinkle generously with sugar and cinnamon.  Roll into a log, like for a jelly roll and cut equal slices of the log, place cut side down on baking sheet.  Bake at 350 degrees till brown.  Glaze with a powdered sugar glaze or mix a little white corn syrup with canned frosting, whatever your little ole' heart desires!

Oh, I almost forgot.   If you are using self rising flour, be sure you omit the salt!!!   You do not have to use plain flour, even though most yeast recipes say plain.  You can use self rising, but just do not add salt.  I almost always use self rising for everything.  It is just easier not to add the salt and baking powder.  Besides the baking powder in self rising will only help your bread or whatever to rise.

Be sweet!

Lordie, This Must Be Heaven

I have been baking bread every day for some time now.  I love the fresh bread and the lovely aroma hanging in the air.  When I come in my door it is the first thing to greet me.  

I have lately tried my hand at sourdough bread.  I have a starter going now and have baked with it a few times.  The texture is quite different as well as the flavor.  Nevertheless it is delicious.  I have all kinds of goodies planned to bake soon.  One night Brandon, one of my grandsons, and I stayed up most of the night doing the once a month cooking thing.  We had a blast and he has helped me plan what we will bake next.

Now that I am back into the bread making, I am going to try homemade hot pockets, chocolate rolls, cinnamon rolls (which I made often when my children were home) and all sorts of good things to eat!  Now that I am retired and with much more time on my hands than I've had in a while, I am ready to do some experimenting.  So what if I do put on a few pounds....grandmas are supposed to be fat!

 I have a front deck that stretches from one side of my house to the other and a tall oak that didn't suffer too much damage from the ice storm.  I am looking forward to warm weather, sitting out in the shade with a tall, ice cold glass of lemonade, a homemade pepperoni pizza hot pocket, my laptop and a grandchild and lordie, I will swear I have already died and this must be Heaven!!!   Be sweet and be good.

Freebie Craft Magazine Download

 This is the newest issue of Scrapbook and Cards Today.  It is free to download and has great instructions.  There are cards, a mini book , photo tips and others.  If you like making anything, give this a try.  If you have never done any papercrafting, this might inspire you.  It is a great craft and handmade cards are treasures.  You need very few supplies for card making and a handful of cards with matching envelopes tied with a ribbon make a lovely and much appreciated gift.  

You will find the download link on this page.  Happy crafting!     Be sweet. 

My Award From The Little Mama (Sara)

That sweet Sara, soon to be Mommy, at The Breathing Post has given me an award, the Worth Following Award.  How cool is that!?  Sara says Va Bookworm at Confessions of a Bookworm created this award and wants to see how far it will go.  We should check out Bookworm's blog.

This award is given to blogs that you would highly recommend to other readers and the rules are as follows:

Give this award to three of your favorite blogs.  Choose ones you make a point of reading as often as possible!

When you nominate them you have to write a short description of the blog (just a few sentences) and why you nominated that blog.

Link to each of your choices as well as the blog that nominated you.  Spread the love!

The hardest part is just choosing three, but here goes.

The first award winner is New Scribbles From Glynis Smy.  This is an exceptional blog with an exceptional author.  Glynis has encouraged me from day one!  She is one busy lady who writes very well on many subjects.  Great style of writing along with a great sense of humor makes this blog recommended reading for anyone. 

The second award winner is Actuate Life.  This young man is a great motivator and believes we all are capable of great things!  When I read what he has written I, too, believe we can accomplish our goals and more.  I am inspired by his writing and it becomes easy to acquire that positive attitude with his can-do approach to life. 

The third award winner is a blog I have only begun reading recently, tender graces, but I love the style and the posts are so interesting.  I feel a kinship with the author of this blog for some reason.  The posts make you feel as if you are sharing the experience and you feel right at home here.

There are so many more blogs I love, visit, read and enjoy.  It is a shame I can't list them all, but you all know I love you and value the friendships we have created.  You are all special!!

You know, guys, I have received other awards in the last month....please do not think I have disregarded them!!  I would never in a million years do that!!  I value and treasure each and every one, they are so, so special to me just to know that you think I should have an award for anything blows me away!!  I have lost a post passing them on to others, my links and everything.  I have been sick, so have sort of let things slide.  

I guess I better design an award for all of you!!  Be sweet and good!!!!

Stick Figure With a Lopsided Head

For those of us who love scrapbooking our family photos, heritage photos or just the art of scrapbooking because it is such a beautiful craft (somehow such a simple word as craft does not do justice to scrapbooking, but it's what I could come up with at this moment) the internet is an absolute virtual playground!!  What fun spending time at those sites we grow to love and, in fact, grow to depend upon, for not all of us are so fortunate or talented enough to design our own papers, frames and embellishments and somehow that special photo that begs for a fresh new idea has to wait until VOILA!  There it is!!  We have found exactly what we were looking for.  We knew it would one day appear out of nowhere, catching us by surprise, as had happened so often in the past.  I love Cen's Loft.  Not only is she a wonderful designer, she is a wonderful person as well.  You can feel it in her writing.  I ran across Penni quite by accident and was immediately hooked!  Her site is GallimaufryUK.  Her designs are breathtaking, as are her team's.  One of the girls on Penni's site has designed a printable box template  from the latest scrapbook kit.  I have already download it, along with the kit and can hardly wait to begin!  I believe I have called printables the "no fail" craft, because all you do is download it, print it, fold or whatever it calls for and, like magic, a precious little handmade will appear before your very eyes.  You have to try it if this is something you haven't done before.  Computer crafting is a big thing now.

We've come a long way, Baby!  I would love to design,  I guess I even long to design.  I  am sort of artsy and crafty and make everything, but am unable to design, so I am grateful beyond measure for the lovely people out there who are brimming with talent and gracious enough  to share with those of us, like me, who can't even draw a stick figure without a lopsided head.            Be sweet and  good.  Later!!   (I've got to go fold the box I downloaded.) 

Just click on the sites in above post to go there. 

Cream Cheese or Fairy Food

Don't you just love the yummy taste of anything made with cream cheese?! It adds such wonderful flavor to so many foods. It is smooth and creamy, perfect for desserts and dips. I think cream cheese feels right at home in any fridge, patiently waiting beside the eggs and butter
for a grandma or mom to grab it out for some fantastic dessert, knowing it won't be long till the most favored thing in the house will be whatever delightful goodie the grandma or mom can magically change it into!! Be sweet and good!

Cheesecake Coffee Cake

3 cups Bisquick
1/4 cup white sugar
1/4 cup melted butter
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 - 8oz. softened Philly cream cheese
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/4 cup strawberry or raspberry preserves

In a bowl, combine Bisquick, 1/4 cup white sugar, melted butter and milk. Beat vigorously for 30 seconds. Sprinkle some extra Bisquick on your counter, and then dump the dough on the counter. Knead the dough 30 times with your hands. Pat the dough evenly in the bottom and sides of an ungreased round cake pan (9" x 1.5"). Prepare the cheese filling: in a mixer, combine 1/2 cup white sugar, eggs, cream cheese, vanilla and beat all ingredients until smooth. Pour the cheese filling over the dough. Bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes or until edge is golden brown and cheese filling is set. Remove from oven and cool 20 minutes. Spread preserves over the top. Keep leftover cake refrigerated.
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Oreo Cookie Cheesecake

Crust: 1 1/4 cup graham cracker crumbs; 1/4 cup brown sugar; 1/3 cup melted butter; 1 tbsp. cinnamon
Batter: 4 - 8oz. packages Philly cream cheese; 2 tbsp. flour; 1/3 cup heavy whipping cream
1 1/2 cup chopped Oreo cookies; 1 1/4 cups white sugar; 2 extra large eggs; 2 egg yolks; 1 tbsp. vanilla
Topping: 2 cups sour cream; 1/4 cup white sugar; 1 tbsp. vanilla; extra crushed Oreo cookies to sprinkle on the top

Using a spoon and a bowl, combine the crust ingredients above and line the bottom and sides of a 10-inch spring form pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 8 minutes. To make the filling mix the cream cheese, sugar, flour, eggs, vanilla and heavy whipping cream together in a mixer. Fold the chopped Oreos into the filling. Remove crust from oven and pour cream cheese mixture into the baked crust. Bake for 15 minutes at 425 degrees. Turn the oven down to 325 degrees and bake for 50 minutes more. Remove then refrigerate. Garnish with crushed Oreo cookies.

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Blueberry Cheese Pie

1 Keebler ready-made graham cracker crust
1 - 21oz. can blueberry pie filling (or any other berry pie filling)
8oz. softened Philly cream cheese
1/2 cup white sugar
2 eggs
8oz. Cool Whip (optional)

In the mixer, add cream cheese and sugar--beat together, then add eggs and beat well. Pour this mixture into the graham cracker crust. Bake at 325 degrees for 25-30 minutes. Remove from oven and cool completely. Spread pie filling on top and garnish with Cool Whip if you choose. Chill overnight before serving. Keep refrigerated.

Art of Living

Hi Guys.  I have been playing today.  I was going to post some recipes for you to try that I think are just almost too good to eat but, instead, I made this today and had to share it with you.  It is a copy of an old book page, a vintage angel picture and a scrapbook flower embellishment.  I do love making artsy things and I'm going to make some pages for my grand daughters and frame them.  I will surely get to the recipes tomorrow, (you know I always say "never do today what you can put off till tomorrow!"   Be sweet now. 

Never Too Late To Have a Happy Childhood

Is this not cute?  My daughter sent it to me in an email.  She is always sending me funny stuff.

So sorry I have not acknowledged the awards my sweet blogging buddies have given me---I feel so terrible about it!!  I have been sick and have fallen behind.  Last week I had a post almost ready to go, passing the Friendship Award to some of you, another Noblesse Oblige Award and a Kreative Blogger Award, when my screen went totally blank and lost everything I had written, all the links in the post to other blogs, etc. were just gone!  I felt like putting down my head and crying, but instead I just turned off the computer and went into the kitchen, tried to busy myself so I wouldn't think of it too much.  I so appreciate the awards I have been given and value the friendship of each of you very much.  Well, so much for that.  Now on to other things!

I made cupcakes and homemade yeast rolls today.  I got all goofy and tinted the frosting pink and scattered colored sprinkles on top.  They were pretty and so yummy.  I have the easiest and best cake recipe from an old Good Housekeeping cookbook.  I use it for cupcakes,  pineapple upside cake, marble cake and every other thing I can think of.

I have always loved to cook and made everything from scratch back in the day.  I still do a lot, though I don't cook as much as I once did.  When my kids were all home I baked every single day and always had a snack ready for them when they hit the door after school.  I did the same for my grandchildren when they were little.  We had great picnics under a big oak tree in our yard.  I loved those times as much or even more than the children.  

I can remember having a shirt that said in bold letters across the front "It's never too late to have a happy childhood."  Debye always told me, "Mama, you can't be in your second childhood, Honey, you never got out of your first!"  When my children were all home was the happiest time of my life.   Be sweet.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

I hope today and all your days are good ones! Don't forget about Earth Hour 2009, when we should all turn off our lights, etc. for just one hour. It would be grand if everyone did, absolutely awesome! How quiet and how peaceful, We all could even take a walk or play a game or paint or remember this is how it used to be...........

Be sweet and good.

So Much Meaning In So Few Words

Accept everything about yourself - I mean everything.  You are you and that is the beginning and the end - no apologies, no regrets.     -    Henry Kissinger

The first step to getting what you want out of life is this: Decide what you want.   -   Ben Stein

Not a shred of evidence exists in favor of the idea that life is serious.   -   Brendan Gill

We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.  -  Winston Churchill

We need men that can dream of things that never were.  -  John F. Kennedy

I've come to believe that each of us has a personal calling that's as unique as a fingerprint - and that the best way to succeed is to discover what you love and then find a way to offer it to others in the form of service, working hard, and also allowing the energy of the universe to lead you.  -  Oprah Winfrey

Anger is never without reason, but seldom with a good one.  -  Ben Franklin

Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.     -   Ralph Waldo Emerson.  

I will leave you with that.  I have to try to get a picture of my purse in the computer for a tag.  You will know more about this later.  Boy, the hurrier I go, the behinder I get!!  Be sweet and good!!!

Why I Loved My Husband

This came from Sara of The Breathing Post. I apologize that it has taken me so long to acknowledge it. I have to tell some things I love about my husband then the fun part is nominating some friends to tell.

I lost my husband several years ago so, now, he lives in my heart. I loved the way he walked, his soft, quiet voice and the way he ran his fingers through his hair when he was deep in thought. I loved how he would say to our children, "Kids, your mama is so pretty." I loved his sense of humor and the sound of his laughter, the dark tan he got from working outside in the summer sun. I loved to hear him sing. I loved the way he could go to the river and sit for hours with a rod and reel, never caring if he caught a fish or if he didn't. It was enough for him to just sit quietly in the shade on the river bank and watch the river roll by, listening to the birds and the leaves rustling overhead. The thing I love most about him is how he loved me.

I will pass this on to the following:

Patty at Two Greyhound Town

JT at The Frugal Housewife

The Retired One at The Retirement Chronicles

That's it for now. I will be back tomorrow! I have missed you guys, so be sweet and good!

Magic Begins To Happen

For some time now, I have put my own will above God's. How easy one forgets! I know well what it is like to try to fix everything yourself. I learned a long time ago that there comes a time when it becomes too much and realization begins to set in. There comes a time when you just have to say, "God, I have made a mess of everything! I can't do it, I can't fix it. I'm giving it all to You. I am not asking for anything, for You already know what I need. I am giving to You the fear that grips me, the worries that come in the night, for I know You will give me in exchange a peace that surpasses all understanding, a joy beyond comprehension."

I seemed to have forgotten a lesson ingrained in me since childhood. When we turn our anxieties over to God, they begin to be smaller and smaller until they disappear altogether or maybe it's because He is so much bigger than they are. When God's will is above our own and we believe with our hearts and minds, we see magical things begin to happen.

This was brought about by Debye, my oldest daughter, when I expressed a great fear that I had tried to deal with privately. Of course, someone close can tell when something is bothering you. It shows in your behavior, on your face, the way you move. She knows me well, sometimes I think maybe better than I know myself. Anyway, bless her sweet little heart, she has just gone home and left this: "Mom, I thought you would like to read this."


Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy-meditate on these things (Philippians 4:6-8 NKJV).

Be sweet.

Awards - Treasured Gifts From Friends

That sweet little Momma Young has awarded me the Passionate Blogger Award.
Recipients are to write about five things unrelated to blogging and nominate five others।

Glynis at Gunibee Scraps

Anish at Actuate Life

Patty at Two Greyhound Town

Sara at The Breathing Post

JT at The Frugal Housewife

The five things I am most passionate about include: my family, scrapbooking, cooking, friendships, and learning new things.

I also received The Nobless Oblige Award form Melissa at Real Parenting 4 Real Kids। Thank you , Sweetie। This my second of these, so I will pass this one to Lilly OF Lilly's Life - please look at Melissa's post for info.

Be sweet guys

Things I Don't Tell Most People

What do you know!? Sara has tagged me with the Weirdest Tag! People who are tagged with this should write a post of 6 weird things about them as well as state this rule clearly. You also should choose 6 others to be tagged and list them in your post. Leave a "you are tagged" comment on their blog to let them know and ask them to read yours. I told Sara there are so many weird things about me it will be difficult to choose just six, but here goes

1. I absolutely love a meal of just steamed, unseasoned broccoli and sweet potatoes.

2. I have been told I am the only person who says the word "sweet" with two syllables.

3. Abigail says I am her old, old, old grandma.

4. I believed till I was in the 7th grade that the doctor brought one of my brothers in an apple box and the other in a suitcase.

5. When I first pick up a magazine, I start at the back cover and look through it backwards.

6. When I look into a mirror, my first thought is "who in the heck is that old lady?"

There was nothing hard about that. I could have easily come up with more, but I must tag others with this Weirdest Tag. I choose:

Melissa at Real Parenting 4 Real Kids


Loribeth at Artistic Romance

Momma Young at Momma Young's @ Home

Lilly at Lilly's Life

Loree at Stories and Scribbles

June at Cen's Loft

That's all, folks. Oh, just this one last thought:

Happy are those who dream dreams and are ready to pay the price to make them come true. -
- Leon Suyenes

Magic in the Mind of a Child

I am lucky enough to have, not just one, but two brothers.  I am the oldest and they never let me forget it!  My brother, Earl, is 16 months younger than me and Mert is 6 years younger, so Earl and I still call him our baby brother.  I have such wonderful memories of growing up with those two I could fill a large volume!  Earl and I used to tie towels around our necks and try to fly.  We really got in trouble for climbing on top of the chicken house and "flying" off.  I remember how I would try to hypnotize my brother by slowly swaying an object in front of him and how he would stare straight at it and act as if he really was in a trance.  I was so proud!  Here I was an accomplished hypnotist at the age of 7!  

We firmly believed in the existence of fairies.  Nothing could convince us fairies were make believe. We had even seen pictures of them and knew for a fact they lived under toadstools and only came out at night.  Many hours were spent on our front porch and on our knees in the yard looking and waiting for the fairies to come out, dancing in rings around our yard.  We searched under every toadstool, confident that the tiny creatures would be under the very next one!  I could hardly wait to hold one gently in my hand.  Relentlessly we searched every nook and cranny of our yard, determined to find those magical little people with wings.  I honestly don't remember how old I was when I realized fairies lived only in the minds of little children who listened in awe, as the tales were read to them.  

I believe there is a moral here, for there are people who spend a lifetime looking for something that they will never find,  for what they search for is not found on the outside, but in our own hearts and minds.

Be sweet

Skidboot's Story

This video is about the special bond between man and his best friend. Skidboot is not only a best friend, but a helper with the intelligence to be taught tricks faster than his owner could think them up! David, the dog's owner took no credit for teaching anything, but gave all credit to his beloved Skidboot. They were on Oprah and other TV programs. At the time of this video, the dog was going blind. Please watch all the way to the end. It is an amazing story, one I will remember for a long time.







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Valentine,s on a Dime Free ebook

I'm back, guys. I found this great ebook for you to download free, so had to post the information. This is 32 pages, with wonderful valentine recipes and all kinds of good tips to have an exquisite Valentine's Day while staying within your budget. I hope you look over it---really good advice here.
You may download the book here.

Grounds In Grandpa's Coffee

How well I remember the visits to grandma's house when I was a little girl. Luckily I had both sets of grandparents and loved them equally. They actually carried on a conversation with me! None of that baby talk I heard from others, or the cooing and "oh, isn't she just too sweet." My grandmas and I had secrets no one else even suspected. They would let me gather eggs by myself and feed the chickens. All Grandma did was stand in the back door, screen held open, and smile. I felt almost as big as my older cousins, as I scattered the feed around the chicken yard!
I watched both of my grandmas as they prepared red eye gravy for Grandpa's breakfast. Each grandpa would swish a big fluffy homemade biscuit around to gather up the last bit of what was left on his plate. Grandpa always sat at the head of the table, ate out of the same plate and drank his morning coffee out of the same giant mug. Coffee grounds swimming on the top were downed with the rest of the coffee. He always told me "It isn't real coffee unless it has grounds in it."
To this day, I occasionally put water and coffee in a pot to boil, then let most of the grounds settle and pour off the dark liquid to relive those days when I drank coffee at my grandparents. My mom and dad said I was too young to drink coffee, but not Grandma and Grandpa! I knew my mom had been fed a spoonful of coffee at just a few days of age.
For some reason, I always felt so important when I was there. I always got the corner biscuits, which I loved because they had two crunchy sides. Sometimes, at home my brothers got them first so it was a real treat for me. The only time that was not totally pleasant was the time it took to go to sleep after grandma and I were in our gowns and in bed for the night. It would have been okay even then, but I became so stiff from trying not to move, I could hardly stand it. I thought I had to be just like Gran and I swear when she laid down in bed, she never moved!! I wanted to be just like her so I laid as still as I could for as long as I could till I thought I would surely die if I didn't move just a little! In my own bed at home I tossed, turned, changed positions every 3 minutes till I wore myself out and went to sleep. I had to make Grandma proud and if she didn't move, I wasn't moving. My little mind whirled with these thoughts till without realizing it, I fell asleep!
Most grandparents have that knack for making little ones feel so very special, because it so happens they are very special, especially through the eyes of their grandparents.

Recipe Cards to Download and Print

This is my first time to try this, so I hope it will work. I have 6 recipe cards I made for you to download. I have done it one at a time before, but never more than that, so I have these in a folder that you will have to unzip after being downloaded. They are great printed on cardstock or the new Avery Postcards that you can get anywhere now. Avery also has free software to print them off on their product. If you use plain white cardstock, you should be able to print 3 on a page ( at 4 x 6 size). If you use the Avery, I believe there are three on a page.
Download right here.

Wit and Humor of Abe Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln has many an anecdote attributed to him. He reportedly once said, "They say I tell a great many stories; I reckon I do, but I have found in the course of a long experience that common people, take them as they run, are more easily informed through the medium of a broad illustration than in any other way and as to what the hypercritical few think, I don't care."

I believe his wit and humor placed him in the hearts of so many as much or more than his practical side. It is said he was so full of fun, it was not possible to keep it all in. I love reading and learning everything about him as he was such an extraordinary man. The following is a yarn of his I am sure you have read or heard. However, it is so good I feel it is worth reading again.

As he told it, Mr. Lincoln was surprised one day when a large, fierce looking man drew a gun and held the weapon almost in his face. Under these circumstances, "Abe" knew that talking or arguing with the man would be useless.
"What seems to be the matter?" asked Mr Lincoln with every bit of calmness he possessed.
"Well," replied the stranger, who did not appear at all excited, "some years ago I swore an oath that if I ever came across an uglier man than myself, I'd shoot him on the spot."
A feeling of relief came over "Abe", as the expression upon his countenance lost any suggestion of anxiety.
"Shoot me," he said to the stranger; " for if I am an uglier man than you I don't want to live."

Yes, "Abe" Lincoln was recognized as the champion story teller of the Capitol! Nothing could arise that stumped him. He always had a story that would furnish the proper illustration.
You be sweet now.

More of The Crew

This is Brandon, Caitlyn and Michael, more of my grandchildren. These three belong to my son, Mike and his wife, Lisa. I guess as long as they let them think they are the bosses, everything works out just right! Be sweet.

Noblesse Oblige Award

I am so honored to be included in this group! I have received this award from Sara. Thank you so very much!

The award is presented to bloggers who display consistency in any one or a combinations:

1.The blogger manifests exemplary attitude, respecting the nuances that pervades amongst different cultures and beliefs.

2.The blog contents inspire; strives to encourage and offers solutions.

3.There is a clear purpose at the blog; one that fosters a better understanding on Social, Political, Economics, the Arts, Culture and Sciences and Beliefs.

4.The blog is refreshing and creative.

5.The blogger promotes friendship and positive thinking.

The blogger who receives this award will need to perform the following steps:

1.Create a post with a mention and a link to the person who presented the Noblesse Oblige Award.

2.The award conditions must be displayed at the post.

3.Write a short article about what the blog has thus far acheived - preferably citing one or more older posts to support.

4.The blogger must present the Noblesse Oblige Award in concurrence with the award conditions.

5.The blogger must display the award at any location on the blog.

I will first say, "Right back at you, Sara!" Her Breathing Post is a wonderful blog, delightful to read. I will pass this on as required.

Two Greyhound Town

The Retirement Chronicles

Cen's Loft

Ghunibee Scraps

Words to the Wise

The Frugal Housewife

When I began this blog, it was to be simply a place to share pictures I was scrapbooking with my family. I told my daughter in law, Carol, that my blog was getting out of hand!! I honestly was not even going to make it public. After a while, I thought - oh, why not? Now, I have received awards, I have followers - there are those I follow. This from someone who thought only a few years ago that a mouse was something you caught in a trap! When I almost gave up blogging, Glynis encouraged me and I listened, so here I still am, pounding away at these keys like I actually know what I am doing. Be sweet.

Lemonade Award (And Ice Storm)

I am just so honored!! I was very surprised and very happy to open a message from Two Greyhound Town with a message that she had given me The Lemonade Award and it was waiting for me at Quick And Easy Cooking! I am very humbled by all these awards.
The Lemonade Award is for sites that show gratitude and a wonderful attitude! How great to be included. Thank you so much.
The rules of this award are as follows:

1.Put the logo on your blog or post.
2.Nominate at least 10 blogs that show attitude and/or gratitude.
3.Be sure to link to your nominees within your post.
4.Let them know that they have received this award by commenting on a post.
5.Nominate your favorites and link to this blog.

I am almost sure some of you have already received this award, but a second one will be even nicer, so my nominations are:

Ghunibee Scraps
RandomWAHMThoughts
The Breathing Post
The Retirement Chronicles
Berry Blog
Stories and Scribbles
Loribeth's Artistic Romance

I have many more I think are deserving of this award, so many I would still be putting nominees on this list a week from now. I appreciate all of you and love reading what you write. If you have not been to Two Greyhound Town, pay a visit. It has some great pictures and she describes the greyhounds as 45 mph couch potatoes!

We have been in the big ice storm. Some families will not have power again for days. It is the worst it has ever been. I have been in a panic because a couple of cell phone towers have fallen due to heavy ice and I have been unable to use the phone to call Keith and Carol, or my brothers to check on them. We have not had a land line in a few years---use cell phones for everything and are lost without them. Me, who grew up not knowing what a phone was! Have internet service today, so will try to email them. The house directly across from us still has no power and finally went to a shelter. My daughter made coffee for them. They have had no power for days. I swear, it is like a war zone, so many limbs and trees, etc. are down. Lots of streets and roads are impassable to to being blocked by trees. Two of my boys had to go out to Debye,s and try to remove enough tree limbs for her to get out of her driveway, but some are so big they will have to be cut with a chainsaw or pulled with a wench. She finally made it out by driving through her yard. Her car was under the carport of she would not have a car left. Two limbs are lying on our car in the driveway. I will try to get pictures. Later! Be sweet.