Monday's Musings

We're wrapping up the end of summer around here.  Well, I guess Poppa and I aren't, but our kiddos are.  Our DIL returned to work last Tuesday and our daughter returned on Friday.  They have both been busy in their classrooms preparing for the year ahead.  Hanna Beth will start 2nd grade this next week and Clancy will start 3rd grade.  Time marches on!

This is my DIL's classroom.  I went with her a couple of weeks ago and assisted her in putting up her bulletin board covering.  The girls tagged along and did a great job in cleaning her dry erase board.  She teaches middle school Special Ed.
~~~~~~

Bridget, our daughter, had the opportunity to move back to her favorite grade this year, which is 5th grade.  And, she will only be teaching Math, which is also her favorite subject.  She's been hard at work moving from one school to another and getting her room all fixed up.  This will be her first year to ever have the balance ball seats and it will be interesting to see how that goes.  She only has 3-4 and I suppose she will know in a week or so the kids that might need to be assigned to that particular type of seating.  She says they are for kids that have difficulty staying in their seats.  Well, okay, I can only imagine them bouncing around the room on those seats but time will tell.  I'll be anxious for a report.

~~~~~~

The Princess doesn't start school until this Friday and since her Mom's school started last week, she spent the days with CiCi.  She absolutely loves to decorate cookies or cupcakes.  So, one morning we whipped up some pretty purple cupcakes.  Pillsbury makes many colored cupcake mixes and Hanna Beth could hardly decide which color she wanted to make.  She decided on purple mix and turquoise icing.  She had a great time and especially when it came to using sprinkles on top of the icing.  Most of the icing went on the cupcakes but she had a lot on her hands and shirt as well.  But, hands and shirt wash and no permanent damage was done. ~making memories~
~~~~~~

Hanna Beth came on Friday and told me she had a marble game in her bag that she wanted to play with.  Well, when she pulled it out I suddenly realized that it was brand new, still in the box, and NOT put together.  It is called Zoomarang.  Let me just tell you that putting 100 piece toys, or anything for that matter, is NOT my "thing!"  But, for a sweet little girl, I was pursuaded to tackle it.  As you can see from the above pictures, it was serious business for me.  It had detailed instructions with pictures and I followed it step by step and low and behold, it worked when I finished an hour later.  I told her Momma that she owed me big time. ~chuckle~
~~~~~~

Ever so often I enjoy doing "bulk cooking."  One morning last week I did just that.  I had seen this recipe on Facebook and while I've seen several recipes with this name, most of them are made with spaghetti.  The one is made with white corn tortilla's and you can find it here. It calls for the onions and peppers to be sauteed but I just used the frozen seasoning blend and pretended that I had done as the recipe called for. ~smile~  I doubled the recipe and it made 6 of the small aluminum disposable pans, enough for about 3 people in each pan.  I buy these great pans at The Dollar Tree, 3 to a package.  Now, I have a stash of ready meals that only need a salad and some french bread to finish it off.  I shared with my DIL too. 
~~~~~~
I'm not sure about you, but at this time of year I start looking forward to fall and it's arrival.  And, here in Louisiana,  that is still quite a ways off, but it doesn't hurt for me to wish it here earlier.  Wishing you a wonderful new week as we pray in earnest for the state of affairs in our country.  

Lea's Favorites

It's that time again, and one of my favorite posts to do, my favorites.  It's quite an array of things today.  I aim to keep it interesting! ~big smile~

If you eat sandwiches and want some really good bread and spread, then you need to go and get these two items.  I saw this bread about a month ago and decided to give it a try.  It's a flatbread and once made it just folds over very neatly.  And, you see, it's only 100 calories!  Then if you like hot and spicy you will absolutely love this chipotle spread on your next sandwich or hamburger.  I do love this stuff!  There are several chipotle spreads made by different brands, but I personally think that Kraft hit a "home run" with this one.

I admit, I LOVE purses!  But, I have strict guidelines for the purses I carry.  I like one big enough but not too big.  It has to have an outside pocket for my phone and if it has more pockets, that's all the better.  I like a flat bottom so that it will set standing up and not all in a big lump.  I like for it to have at least 3-4 inside pockets and enough space for me to organize everything that is in it. I do not want one with a depth of more than 12" as it's just too hard to find things in one that's any deeper.  I want it to be light weight too.  AND, I rarely, if ever, buy a black or brown purse.  I love to carry purses that have color.  I mean, why would anyone want to carry a neutral color when they could carry something like this gorgeous lime green color?  I know, it's personal preference and that's what makes the world go around and that's okay.  I am currently carrying the purse pictured above.  It is a Baggallini Gumption Medium Tote and it is on sale for $69.  It is regularly $118.  I got it off of Amazon here.  Baggallini makes all sizes of purses from crossbodies, to small totes all the way to large totes, travel totes and everything inbetween.  Their bags are made of nylon and are of the highest quality.  They have a pocket for everything and they come in lots of fun colorsl  You can often find some Baggallini selections at TJ Maxx too.

If you own sterling flatware then you need to know about this awesome silver dip.  I own a set of sterling flatware and I always hated cleaning it until I found this.  I store my flatware in a silver drawer but over time it still needs a good cleaning.  This silver dip is so easy to use.  It comes in a tall container that you just dip 4-5 pieces of silver flatware into it, leave it a few seconds, take it out and ta-da, you have cleaned your flatware!  Wash it and it's ready to use.  Hagerty makes several silver cleaners but for flatware I think this one is the best and the easiest to use. And, yes, you can order it off of Amazon!

Over the years we have owned several beanbags and I've always gotten them from Penney's.  Most recently I ordered these medium sized corduroy beanbags.  Our Grans love a beanbag and enjoy curling up in them.  These were regularly $200 each and they were half price when I ordered them.  Penney's offers the BEST online deals and they have quite a selection of beanbags, from very inexpensive to very expensive and in a wide range of colors.

I admit it, I LOVE dishes too!  And, I really LOVE the new melamine dishes.  Unless you pick them up, you would never know that they are not porcelain.  They are so lightweight, come in all kinds of pretty solids and patterns, are unbreakable, dishwasher safe  and can be inexpensive. Some are so expensive you would think they might be fine dishes.  The only negative that I've found is that they cannot be put in the microwave but that's not an issue for me but might be for someone else.  I well remember my Momma having a set of melamac dishes when I was little and my goodness, there is no comparison to the new melamine of today.  The melamac was easily scratched and stained.  The other negative is that I have yet to see a set that comes with a coffee cup.  I suppose repeated use might stain them so they just decided to not make cups.  But, I do know that cups came with the set of melamac my Mom had and I also know that coffee stained them terribly.  So, to solve that issue, I bought some of the clear glass mugs at the Dollar Tree to use with the melamine I have.  They go with any color or pattern. 

I'm a big fan of Ree Drummond, affectionately know as The Pioneer Woman.  She has just come out with a magazine and I bought it and I would have to give it a 5* rating.  It sells for $3.99 and there is a special introductory offer to subscribe to it for $15 and that covers 6 issues. ~a pretty good deal~  I seldom ever look at magazines any more but I have thoroughly enjoyed this magazine.  Of course, it has a zillion ads, but also some great articles, gorgeous pictures, wonderful recipes and it almost feels like you are having a personal visit with Ree.  Grab yourself a copy!

Okay, that's it for this edition of My Favorites.  Now, go and have yourself a splendid weekend!!!

The Wednesday Hodgepodge

Well, since our last HP, Joyce has become a Grandmother for the very first time.  I'm pretty sure she hasn't come down off of her cloud just yet.  But, she put him down long enough to compose our questions for the week.  Congratulations Joyce, we are so happy for you and you are definitely in for a fun time in the months and years to come.

1. Do you try to set rules for yourself about how you use your time? Explain.
I was raised by parents that were both very time conscious, so it came by me naturally to be the same way.  Now, do I always use my time wisely, no, I don't.   I don't know that I set rules for my time and perhaps for "some" things I should.  Time, at my stage of life, is precious and I certainly want to be using it wisely. 
 
2. Monday was National Lighthouse Day. Have you ever visited a lighthouse? If not, do you have any desire to see one up close? Of the 10 Most Beautiful that made this list which would you most like to see in person-
I have never visited a lighthouse but, I've seen a few.

Lindau Lighthouse (Germany), Fanad Lighthouse (Ireland), Portland Head Light (Maine), Yaquina Bay Light (Oregon) The St. Augustine Light (Florida), Peggys Point Lighthouse (Canada), Start Point Lighthouse (England), Tower of Hercules (Spain), Bass Harbor Head Station (Maine), and White Shoal Light (Michigan)
I would love to go see the two in Maine.  We went to Maine on a cruise about 8 years ago and we were there just long enough to make us want to return and spend several days there.  

When you've been away, what's your 'lighthouse' telling you you're on the right road home?
Our 'lighthouse' would be seeing row after row of corn, soy beans and cotton crops.  It's a sure sign that we are getting nearer to home.

3. What have you unintentionally stopped doing? Is this something you need to pick back up and begin again, or is it something you need to let go of for now (or even permanently)?
Well, the first thing that came to my mind was reading the newspaper.  I can't remember when I stopped but it was a while back and it seemed it just happened.  I guess I began getting all the news I needed from the internet.  I don't think it matters a bit if I ever pick it back up and I'm really wondering how much longer there will actually be newspapers.  

4. We've had a full week of August. Share a GRAND moment from your month so far.
It would definitely be last Friday when I saw my Retina Specialist and got good news concerning the healing of my retinas.  It was indeed a GRAND moment!

5. Tell us one song you love with the word 'baby' in the title.
Baby Love, sung by The Supremes in 1964.  I'm pretty sure I could belt it out word for word right this minute.  I loved the Supremes and their music.  In my humble opinion, the folks under our generation have no idea what really good music is. ~just sayin'~

6.  Insert your own random thought here.

Are you having as hard a time as I am realizing that it is August and 2017 is more than half way over.  We won't turn around twice and the stores will have Christmas decor and all the trimmings on display.  It may sound trite as we say it often, but time really is flying by.  We are about to celebrate the 8th and 9th birthday  of our two oldest Grans and it doesn't seem possible that they are no longer babies or toddlers.  Yes, time is marching on and all the more reason for us to make every moment count.

Now, I have a completely random question for you.  Do any of you participate in Linkedin or use the Linkedin app?  I'm asking because I get requests all the time to join or to be added to someone's Likedin list.  I just ignore the requests because it appears to be more of a business app to me, and I really think I'm adequately connected through other means. ~chuckle~

Questions and Answers with TBB

And, once again, I'm linking up with the gals over at The Blended Blog to answer their questions.  It's always fun to read everyone's answers as it lets us know a little more about them.  Always interesting!

 1. Pool, lake or ocean? I love the ocean, but I rarely go to the beach.  I'm not fond of sand, but to listen to the waves is so soothing and peaceful.  But, I prefer our little pond just a few feet behind our house. ~just sayin'"
 2. Camping, cottage or hotel? Well, there's NO camping for this gal!  So, a lovely cottage or hotel room will work for me.

 3. Favorite ice cream flavor?  It's rare for me to eat anything but vanilla.  Now, I might add some slivered almonds to it. ~grin~

 4. PJ's, Nighgown, T-Shirt/Shorts or Birthday Suit? I bought some of the silky soft tee shirts from Soma a few years back and that's my sleeping attire.  I cannot stand anything on or around my legs when I am sleeping.

 5. Fave Summer Beverage? I'm a big time water drinker, but, especially in the summer, I love to drive thru Sonic for a cherry vanilla Diet Dr. Pepper.  LOVE!!!

 6. Would you rather be hot or cold? Well, I can warm up easier than I cool down so I'm going to say cold.

 7. Sandals with heels or flats? Heels, always!  I do not like flats at all.  And, I only wear a moderate heel but I love the wedges that are elevated flats with just a slight curve. ~great description, don't you think~ 😉 

 8. Shorts or skirts? This would be a tie, I like them both.

 9. Sit in the sun or the shade? It would be SHADE with a capitol "S."

10. Water, tea or soda? I like all 3, I try to drink mostly water but I do indulge in tea and soda on occasion.

11. Favorite summer fruit, vegetable I'm not a big fan of fruit, but I love some peas and okra

12. Sunrise or sunset? I would have to say a sunset but here on the hill we live on we have some gorgeous sunrises too.

13. Bike ride or walk? I have not ridden a bike in a very long time so I'm going with walk because I do enjoy walking and not so sure I would enjoy a bike ride anymore. ~it's just the truth~

14. Winery or brewery?  Neither

15. Garden or no garden? We have a nice little Farmer's Market where I can get all the fresh produce I want, so it's no garden for me.

16. Big summer concert or music in the park? I'm not much into big crowds anymore so I'd choose music in the park on a cool evening.

17. Fave cookout food  It would b e a grilled hamburger. ~the best~

18. Dine indoors or patio? 90% of the time we eat indoors but we have enjoyed some back porch dining on particularly nice days a few times. 

19. Fave summer destination I have no particular favorite summer destination now.  Growing up my favorite place to go was to see my Grandparents and cousins.  We lived 1000 miles apart and we always traveled to see them in the summer. ~sweet memories~

20. Big theme park or local carnival? Again, at this point in my life I'm not much into either one but I might could have my arm twisted and go to a local carnival.

21. Drinks blended or on the rocks? I love my tea or soft drink over lots of ice but my water anywhere from cool to room temperature is fine.

22. Popsicle or freezie flavour of choice  I'm not much into popsicles or anything of that nature.  They hurt my teeth.
23. Hot dog or hamburger?  A hamburger with spicy mayo, lettuce, onion, and pickles.  Not much better!  

And, there you have it.  

Added Note: If you are connected with me through Facebook then you saw my post about my good report from my Retina Specialist on Friday.  I was most thankful that he said my eyes are healing nicely and he lifted the restrictions.  I will go back in two months.  He did say that I should be mindful of lifting anything that strains my neck muscles because if it strains the neck, it also strains the eye muscle.  I did not know that.  He said folks are always concerned about their backs when lifting but they should also be concerned about their eyes.  Who knew?  I'll stop and think a little harder now before lifting a heavy object.

Have a great new week!

Summer Family Fun Recap

It's good to be back into "blogland" after making a whole bunch of family memories these past days.  Our daughter and Grandsons arrived on the 20th and stayed until the 28th.  That is the longest they have ever stayed, so we had lots of time to make memories.  Get ready for picture overload! You have been warned!

Last weekend one of Bridget's college friends was hosting an Open House for her Tiny House that she and her family had just moved into.  A little history.....Chamie and her husband decided to sell their 2500+ square foot house and build a 360 square foot house for them and their 3 children.  AND, that's just what they did.  Basically, they have future plans that they want to save big time for and they knew that doing this would cut their housing cost to the bare minimum and give them more to save.  Bridget was so excited that the open house was while she was here.  So, we all loaded up and off we went.  I have always been so intrigued  by the tiny house concept and, while it is definitely NOT for me, I have to admire the folks that can do this and say it works for them.  I have watched Tiny Houses on HGTV but let me tell you, there's nothing like seeing and touring one in person!  And, also,  let me tell you everything has a place and everything MUST be in it's place!  Chamie has the cutest blog and if you would like to pay her a visit, you will so enjoy it.  It's called The Tiny Truth and she blogged about their entire journey to their Tiny House.

We played with Snap Chat and these were two of the cutest creations I've ever seen done.  Coleman's picture could definitely win a contest I do believe!

And, we bought and played Speak Out one evening and couldn't play for laughing our fool heads off. If you are looking for a fun game then Speak Out is for you!

To say that Coleman is a busy boy would be an understatement!  He is non-stop unless he is asleep!  Our other 3 Grans did not hold a candle to him in their busyness.  But, need I say, his cuteness makes it a little more bearable!

Pretty much Clancy wanted to fish all the time.  But, his Poppa obliged  him only in the very early morning or the late, late evenings.  Fishing is not an option in the heat of the day, not even for a spunky 8 year old.

There was lots of noise, fun cousin time, karaoke time, piggy back riding and stuff strowed from a to izzard (as my Grandmother use to say).

All 4 of the Grans love the water so we spent a fun time at the swimming pool.  It wore the little ones out but the big ones stayed on since Poppa was willing to stay with them.  

We all put on our Sunday best (Coleman did get dressed after this picture) and went to church. While we were in worship service they asked the visitors to fill out a visitors card and Clancy would have nothing but to do just that.  I want you to see his card as it brought tears to my eyes.

Without any provocation he got to the prayer request part and look at what he put in the blanks (for my CiCi so she won't go blind).  Oh, my goodness, could that be any sweeter?  Bridget had shared with him about my eye situation and they had been praying that my eyes would heal without any further problems.  I'm telling you we should never underestimate the tenderness of a child's heart and the truths that they can grasp!

And, the week ended with my "big" birthday.  The children and Grans treated me to a celebration a couple of days early so that Bridget and the boys could share in the fun.

There's nothing like a celebration with little ones because they get beside themselves with excitement, even if the celebration isn't theirs.  ~So cute~

And, hats off to my daughter and DIL for doing a great job on my birthday gifts.

It was indeed a full to over flowing week and it may take me most of this week to recover. I am thankful for all my many blessings these past 65 years.  Here's to # 66!!!

Lea's Favorites

Yes, siree, it's time for some of my favorites and, as I say, perhaps one or more of them will become a favorite of yours as well.

These little jewels may have been around for a long, long time but I just saw them a couple of weeks ago.  I am always looking for low calorie sweet treats.  These have 27 calories each or 5 for 140 calories.  I think that's a win win on all accounts and they are delish.  Someone asked me why I didn't just eat 1 double stuffed with 140 calories.  Well, there's a big difference in 1 or maybe 2 of the thin oreos versus 1 of the overstuffed oreos,  like 102 calories.  

Perhaps most of you reading this have already tried cooking your bacon in the oven.  I had not until last week.  I had heard from many sources that it is the BEST bacon there is and I will fully agree and the best part, it is MESS FREE!!!  I do not fry foods!  I cannot stand the mess.  So, I just buy the thick sliced precooked bacon and warm it in the microwave.  It is certainly not bad, but this thick sliced cooked in the oven will make you "slap your pappy."  I lined a large cookie sheet with foil and cooked it at 400 degrees for right at 20 minutes.  If you haven't tried this then you need to.  I promise it will be your new favorite way to cook bacon.

You have likely seen the Loopy Cases for smart phones but have you gotten yourself one yet?  If not, you might want to.  I debated about it for a while and decided that it would likely be a real help carrying and using my phone.  And, I was right!!  Mine came last week and I have really enjoyed it.  My only problem is that I had a designer case for my phone that I had made off of Etsy and it is sooo much cuter than the loopy case.  But, maybe they will come out with a more designer case in the future.  Until then, practicality wins out!!!

First, I have never felt comfortable posting pictures of me, by myself, on my blog.  It just seems a bit presumptuous  to me, but I read blogs where the authors do it ALL the time.  So, I guess they are comfortable with it and maybe I will get there.  Now.............I love this maxi dress that I got at Chicos earlier this summer.  It is two of my very favorite colors, black and white.  It is sleek fitting, has the cold shouldered sleeves that I love and it HAS sleeves!  It's rare to find a summer dress with sleeves and I want sleeves and sometimes I do not want to wear a shrug or jacket over a sleeveless dress.  

NOTE:  Bridget and the boys did arrive safely yesterday afternoon so the fun has started around here.  I'll be "hit or miss" here in blogland for the next week or so.  But, rest assured, I'll have lots to share once the "dust settles."

The Wednesday Hodgepodge

The time is drawing neigh for Joyce to head to the PNW to celebrate the arrival of her first Gran, a baby boy.  But, she stopped long enough from all that she has going on to throw out some questions for us today.  I can hardly wait to hear what her Grandmother name is going to be, she hasn't asked for our suggestions so guess she probably didn't need  our help. ~giggle~  Meanwhile, here's today's questions.............

1. Growing up, were you close to your grandparents? Tell us one or two specific things you remember about them.
Until I was in the 4th grade we lived very near my Dad's parents and I did love them dearly.  Now, my Dad's Mom was quite the character.  She was an only child and quite spoiled and a bit self centered but she made anything we did fun.  She never learned to drive but they lived only about 4 blocks from a little tiny local grocery and they had a candy counter to "beat the band."  We would walk there and she would give me .50 to spend and I would walk away with a bag full of candy.  It was such a treat for me and I remember it like it was yesterday.  Then she taught me how to play all the games that you merely played with pencil and paper.  Games like TicTacToe, Going to the Mill, etc.  She taught me how to do neat tricks with a tied piece of string, such as Jacob's Ladder.  Now if you are under 45 then you likely have no earthly idea what I am talking about.  But, those were days when there were no gadgets, it was all about plain and simple fun.

2. What's an item you were attached to as a child? What happened to it?
The only item I was remotely attached to was about a 6 foot piece of hemp rope.  Yes, that's right, I wagged that crazy rope everywhere, and for a brief time and I told my Mom that a dog named Rusty was attached to the end of it.  I had quite the imagination and Rusty was a figment of my imagination as were several of my childhood friends.  And, yes, I did talk to them.  I have no idea what happened to that piece of rope but as I said, I only had an attachment to it for a brief time.  And, I'm sure my parents never even thought that I probably should NOT be playing with a rope. ~grin~

3. When you look out your window, do you see the forest or the trees (literally and figuratively)? Explain.
When I look out our back windows I literally see trees around the pond.  Figuratively, I can often miss seeing the forest because the trees get so thick.  But, that's only when I get too involved with the details of the issue I'm facing and fail to look at the whole situation.  Now, did that make sense? 😊

4. Do you like sour candies? Which of the 'sour' foods listed below would you say is your favorite?

grapefruit, Greek yogurt, tart cherries, lemons, limes, sauerkraut, buttermilk, or kumquats 

I'm not a big fan of sour candy but if I were, my favorite would be lemon.

Have you ever eaten a kumquat? What's your favorite dish containing one of the sour foods on the list?  I have never eaten a kumquat and my favorite lemon dish is Four Layer Delight .  It is absolutely delicious!

5. July 1st marked the mid point of 2017. In fifteen words or less, tell us how it's going so far.
It's been rather smooth with just a few medical issues for Hubby and myself.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

These 3 will hit the road early tomorrow morning headed from their home in Oklahoma to our home here in Louisiana.  It is an 8 hour trip for us and with the two kiddos it will be more like a 9 hour drive for them.  I choose not to worry but rather cover her with prayer and for God's safety over them as they travel.  But, that's a whole lot easier said than done.  I'm so proud that Bridget has never shied away from driving by herself,  even though it is a huge responsibility with one as young as Coleman.  But, thankfully, he is a good traveler.  Hubby and I always breathe a sigh of relief when she arrives here and another sigh when she arrives safely back home. We look forward to their visit!