Hot off the press......

June has been full and for us, will be full until the last day.  We've been busy having fun and making a lot of memories.  It's the best stuff that life is made of for sure.  And, we've had some gorgeous weather that has been the "icing on the cake."  

Sometimes a little fishing is in order.  But, this particular evening the fish just were not interested in biting.  The girls quickly loose interest when their cork never goes under so it was a short, but fun time.  We so enjoy having this pond a few steps from our patio, it sure satisfies our desire to live on the water.

I took Hanna Beth for her riding lesson last week and I so enjoyed it.  She's been taking a few months and it's one of the few extra curricular activities that she enjoys, in fact, she loves it!  Her teacher is a retired school teacher and has such a winsome way with kids.  Hanna Beth is learning everything from safety, preparing the horse for riding, and the techniques of riding.   I think she looks like a "natural."

Andi Kate did a great job posing by the blueberry bushes for her latest photo op.  Windy is good to make sure they have family pictures done a couple of times a year and this time she chose a blueberry patch for the backdrop.  I can't wait to see them!  Andi Kate is getting so big and getting more and more of that beautiful red hair.

Tommy and I both enjoy playing Mexican Train Dominos and had the opportunity to play twice last week.  That never happens so we got a "double dose" and so enjoyed both opportunities.  Nothing like good fellowship and fun and of course, good food!



Speaking of good food......I enjoy baking so much and Cowboy Cookies are Hubby's favorite.  So, I made a batch last week and the recipe makes about 10 dozen medium sized cookies and they freeze beautifully.  And, I love having a stash that I can pull from should the need arise.  I don't know if there are several recipes for these but I use the one that Laura Bush made "famous."  They pull up real quickly on the internet just by Googling "Laura Bush Cowboy Cookie" recipe.

Our Lifegroup had a Western and Rock n Roll social last week.  I generally am not into "dressing the part" but I had this hat and boots and just decided it would be fun to wear them.  

It must be picture taking month.  Bridget and her family had their pictures done last week as well and this is one of the boys many shots.  I think it is just about the cutest because of the way Coleman is looking up at big brother Clancy.  And, shortly, they can little brother. ~oh, my~ We can hardly wait to see these two day after tomorrow. 

And, I've been busy, busy making that baby boy a throw.  I have an addiction to making these throws.  I made my first one in March and have now made 10.  Yep! I guess it's a bit like therapy for me and I love seeing the finished product.  I decided that I needed a label to add to them so I had these made by a gal on Etsy.  I had  2 different types made because I am not CiCi to everyone that I may give one too.  This new addiction may explain why I have not blogged as much or read as many blogs. ~just sayin'~

See you when we return from our time with family in Oklahoma.

Saturday 9 - I Learned from You

Saturday 9: I Learned from You (2007)

... Because it's Father's Day weekend.

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

I have never heard this tune.  And, I'm not a fan of Miley or her Dad.  I think they could use their influence in a far better manner. ~just sayin'~ 

1) This song is a duet by the father/daughter team, Miley and Billy Ray Cyrus. Is your family musically inclined?

Somewhat I'd say.  I took piano lessons for 8 years but I have not played in years and years, so not sure if I could find middle C at this point. ~smile~  I also took voice lessons and enjoyed singing until a few years ago and my voice began suffering from the effects of acid reflux.  I know, that's so crazy but it is true and you can ask any Dr.  I went to the ENT a few years back to find out why I couldn't really sing anymore and why my voice was hoarse and he told me that I was dealing with the effects of AF.  Good grief!

My oldest brother is an accomplished guitarist and he and I use to entertain for banquets and such when we were in high school.  Those were some wonderful times for us.  We both sang and he accompanied us on his guitar.  It's sad that I rarely see him now.

2) This song is about life lessons. Who has been a major influence on your life?

Picture taken just before my Mom's death in 2008

Without a doubt, my parents have had the biggest influence in my life.  Now, the Lord has been so gracious to place some awesome folks in my life as well.  Each of those that have had and continue to have great influence in my life have brought different things into my life.  I will be forever grateful for this combination because all of these have made me who I am today.

3) Miley's given name is "Destiny." Her nickname as a baby was "Smiley," which is where Miley came from. What's something that can always be depended upon to make you smile?

We have a 10, 9, 4 and 3 year old grandchild and another one coming in Sept.  These 4 1/2 little blessings can bring a smile about as quick as anything I know.

4) Miley's father, country singer Billy Ray Cyrus, has 5 children in addition to Miley (6 in all). Are you the oldest, the middle or the youngest sibling? Or are you an only child?

Picture taken at my Mom's visitation - 2008

I am the oldest of 3.  I have a brother 3 years younger than me (on the left) and my other brother (standing next to me) is 12 years younger than me.  We more than likely fit the description you often read of birth order. ~smile~

5) Sam's own father often traveled for business, and always remembered to bring her the little complimentary soaps, shampoos or body lotion he got from the hotel. Tell us about an inexpensive but treasured souvenir from a trip you've taken.

I found this piece of handmade pottery in a shop in Williamsburg, Va. about 4 years ago.  It is a gorgeous piece that I definitely treasure.

It looks great on this table in our hall and it represents the good time I had with my extended family on that trip and of course, it represents my birth state.  As to inexpensive, well................

6) Back when Sam was in high school, it was her father who gave her driving lessons. Are you patient when teaching someone something new?

Well, I cannot tell a lie...........no I'm probably not the most patience person when teaching someone something new, especially on the computer.  I can be patient in other areas but not in this one. 

7) Sam's father is easy to buy for: every year he wants a new pair of loafers, so every year for Father's Day she gives him a DSW gift card. Is there anyone on your gift list that you find it easy to buy for?

Our kids and grandkids are not that hard to buy for but that could be because I ask them what they want and they tell me.  It's "easy peasy" and sometimes their Moms even send me the link to order it by.  

8) For family barbecues, Sam's dad dons his "Kiss the Chef" apron and mans the Weber. What's the last thing you cooked on the grill?

I usually grill burgers weekly for our dinner and it was the last thing I grilled and that was last week.  Nothing like a good burger on a summer evening.

9) Sam's father satisfies his afternoon sugar craving with an almost endless stream of Butter Rum Lifesavers. When you crave a snack, do you usually reach for something sweet or salty?

It is always something salty!  I love popcorn and generally have a bowl every night and I also love chips but I try real hard to keep a handle munching on them.  I save them for my sandwich or burger.

NOTE: We'll be heading to see our Oklahoma kids this coming week so I'll be away from writing or reading blogs.  But, no doubt, I'll have plenty to share upon our return.

Wishing each of  you a great weekend and all the Dad's a 
Happy Father's Day!

The Wednesday Medley - Happy National Cheese Day

 

Oh, I do love today's subject, cheese!  I'm not sure if it's not the food of choice for most everyone. It rates right up there with bacon. ~smile~

1.  National Cheese Day is Tuesday, rather than Wednesday, but I think we should celebrate cheese this week!!  Let's start by sharing your favorite cheese with us.  Which one is always in your fridge?

Oh, there's hardly cheese that I don't love.  I always have medium cheddar and Pepper Jake cheese in our refrigerator. 

2.  What is your preference? Mild, Sharp, or Extra Sharp?  How do you use cheese most often?

I prefer mild and I use cheese mostly on sandwiches.  I eat a lot of grilled cheese but I also put a slice of cheese on any other sandwich that I might make. 

3.  Cheesecake?  New York style or what other flavors would you rather have?

Oh, my goodness, YES!!!! Love cheesecake and if cherries and sauce are available, that's all the better.  I really do not care for any kind except the plain.

4.  When you do grilled cheese sandwiches, which cheese do you prefer to use and what condiments do you use, if any?

I have made all kinds of grilled cheese.  I've used Velvetta, cheddar, pepper jack, even Pimento cheese.  I have even used bacon bits sprinkled inside.  Bacon makes anything better as far as I'm concerned.  I LOVE grilled cheese sandwiches!!

5.  Number 5 on June 5th... Say happy birthday to my sister, Tammy!!

6.  Share something with us about your week. If it includes using cheese in a recipe, please also share that with us too!!

This Friday, June 6th, Hubby and I will be celebrating our 48th anniversary.  My goodness, that is a l-o-n-g time!  Thankfully our commitment to God and each other has seen us through each year.  I was 6 weeks shy of my 19th birthday and  didn't have a clue but Tommy was "older" and had a whole lot of patience with me those early years.  Otherwise, we might not have made it.  I was 1000 miles away from my family and missed them so painfully at times and cell phones, Facetime and all these neat ways of being connected were not available.  I was only able to talk to my Momma every other week for about 30 minutes.  I did a whole lot of letter writing.  Those were the days.  We have no big plans for the day but as we both said the other evening, "every day is a celebration at this point."  

Life has been good!

Prime Purchases

It's time for one of my favorite posts, Prime Purchases.  Hope you find something you can't live without. ~smile~

AMAZON
I am always needing a bag for something, really, I probably use at least one of these a day.  And, how cute are these!  They are $14.92 for a pack of 100 and they are the perfect size.  They do have other patterns but these are my favorite.  What's not to like about zebra print.



AMAZON

Okay, if you are anyone you know or love needs a REALLY GOOD medicine reminder, then this is for you or them.  My sweet Daddy cannot remember his and I was pretty much about to pull my hair out over it.  He lives in an assisted living facility and they are not allowed to do ONE thing with medicines.  I don't know who made up that law, but, to me, it's insane.  I mean, if you are in an assisted facility then chances are pretty much 100% that you are on some kind of medication.  I contract with a nurse to hand out his meds.  She puts them in little medicine cups and sits them on. a table in his room.  She puts his AM meds in one spot and his PM meds in another.  As I said, in recent months he just cannot seem to remember and he cannot afford to miss them.  I started calling him when it was time to take them but that got old really quick.  I just knew that there had to be some kind of LOUD reminder and I was right.  This gadget will schedule up to 4 times a day and announces very loudly when it is time.  It keeps reminding you every 5 minutes for one hour.  You have to press the red button to turn the reminder off.  It has worked beautifully and Daddy loves it.  The bright colored buttons are such a help to him with his poor, poor vision.  The only button he ever has to press is the red one.  The only negative comment from me is that the voice is not real plain, difficult to understand.  But, Daddy doesnt't have to understand what she is saying, he just knows that it's time to take his meds.  Wow, I got a bit wordy on this item.  Sorry!

AMAZON
Ladies, if you want a super comfortable, stylish sandal, then look no more.  These are "all that and a bag of chips."  Taos is known for their comfortable shoes but I had never owned any until these.  I bought my first pair last year before I went to NYC and I wore them every day all day long and my feet never hurt me.  I bought another pair in another color just before I went to Chicago last weekend and they served me well.  They are a bit pricey but they are quality and they come in several colors.

AMAZON

Do you need a quality cookie dough scoop?  I had to replace the one I had for several years.  It was a heavy plastic and didn't compare to this one.  This is the medium size and just perfect for the size cookies I like to bake.  They have 3 sizes, so if you want smaller or larger size, you can get it.   

AMAZON

I have ordered a few frames by this company and they never disappoint.  I ordered two of this one.

I purchased them to frame these photographs that appear to be paintings.  A friend of mine does these and I had her to do our old house and our new house.  I am so pleased with them.  I ordered these frames in the bronze color in an 11x14 size.  And, they come with glass and are a very nice quality and appear custom.  



AMAZON

I am a big fan of Anne Graham Lotz and if you need a spiritually enriching book to read, then order this ASAP.  I never tire of reading about the power of prayer!





AMAZON

I HATE to floss!!! There, I said it!  That's why I love this Waterpik Flosser.  It is battery operated and doesn't make a mess.  Even after I have brushed my teeth it will invariably get some "food stuff" left behind from brushing.  I know, that's gross but it's the truth.  I actually enjoy using this but don't give me the string type floss.  It's a bit like giving the inside of your mouth a massage.

Okay, that's it for this edition.  Hope you found something you want to try.

Saturday 9 - Ricky Nelson, It's Late

I was a mere 7 years old when Ricky Nelson made this song popular.  So, I certainly don't remember it from that time in my life.  But, jumping ahead to the 60's and it was one of my most favorites and Ricky was such a heart throb!

It's Late (1959)

Unfamiliar with this week's song. Hear it here.


1) Ricky Nelson laments that he should have been home hours ago. When is the last time you stayed up later than you should have? What were you doing?


Well, I can't remember the last time I stayed up later than I should have.  I'm pretty much asleep by 10:15 - 10:30 every night.  On a rare occasion it might be 11:00, but I'm a morning person (usually up by 5:30) and I sort of wilt as night falls.

2) Compounding Ricky's problem is that he's nearly out of gas. How is your gas tank right now? When did you most recently fill 'er up?


It is very close to 1/4 of a tank and that's my cue to fill it up.  I don't push the envelope on running out of gas.  I filled up about 9 days ago and since I was gone for 4 of those days, I haven't had to fill up this week.  But, that may be on the agenda for today. 

3) It gets worse! He can't call home because he doesn't have a dime for the pay phone. Have you recently been in a situation where you've been glad you had your cell phone handy?


Hummm.....I find it safe to say that most of us are wayyyyy to attached to our cell phones but I'm always glad to have my handy.  I can't think of a particular incident but, as I said, I'm always glad to have it handy. ~just being honest~

4) The video for this song is from an episode of The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet. Ozzie Nelson, Ricky's father, was in charge of the show and made the rules. One was that no one was allowed to smoke on the set ... except his wife, Harriet. Do you smoke? Have you ever lived with a smoker?


Oh, my goodness, NO!  Now, I did try it about a million years ago and nearly choked too death.  And, NO, I have never lived with a smoker.  My husband is one of those who has never even tried smoking.  I mean, really!  I know, hard to believe, but he swears to me that he never has, so I believe him.  It really seems to me that less and less folks are smoking but it may just appear that way since it is not allowed in public places anymore.  And, I just read on Google that the average price for a pack of cigarette's is $5.51 and are as high as $8.00 a pack in some places.  That's a whole lot of money!!!!

5) Life magazine coined the phrase "teen idol" to describe Ricky's popularity. According to Tiger Beat, today's teen idols include Johnny Orlando and Ruby Jay. Johnny was born in 2003, Ruby in 2004. Sam admits that before today, she had no idea who these young people are. How about you? 
Well, I'll join Sam in saying I have never, ever heard of either one of them.  I don't know if that's good, bad or indifferent. ~smile~

6) While Paul McCartney and Bob Dylan have posthumously praised Ricky Nelson's music, 1950s music critics dismissed him as a lightweight. What's the last review you read? Was it written by a professional critic, or was it contributed by a consumer to a site like Amazon or Yelp?



The article I read was written by a professional critic and she said he was one of the first "Teen Idols" and that his music was a staple to the world of rock and roll.

7) At the height of his popularity, Ricky tried his hand at movies, appearing in the western Rio Bravo with John Wayne. He turned 18 during the filming, and Wayne celebrated by playfully throwing Ricky into a sack of horse manure. Do you think pranks and practical jokes are funny?
No, I'm not much on pranks or practical jokes, especially if they are carried too far and, often they are.  Some that are just silly, I might laugh at those. 

8) In 1959, when this song was popular, the St. Lawrence Seaway was completed. It connects Canada to our Great Lakes. Without looking it up, can you name all 5 Great Lakes?


I cannot tell a lie, I was only able to remember 3 of them. 

9) Random question – You drive past a local motel and see the car of a very married friend right there in the lot. Would you ask her about it?
No, I don't imagine I would unless after a lot of thought and prayer I really felt led to do so. That would be the ONLY way I would. 

Enjoy your weekend!