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!

Monday Musings

I'm going to play a little catch up on what's been going on around here the past couple of weeks.  It's been a busy and fun time and we have some more fun and busyness in the days ahead.

I hosted our Pokeno group week before last and, as you can see, I went with a "lemon theme."  I have used lemon decor as my spring and summer decor and thought it would also make really cute table decor.  I found the gorgeous placemats at Tuesday Morning.  They are a heavy paper (by Michael Designs) and I got the napkins to match and then I made lemon labels for our water bottles at Avery.com  I served a salad dinner with a lemon dessert, it made for the perfect summer meal topped off with a fun game of Pokeno.
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I have been pondering a new look for our dining room table and I think I found the perfect table arrangement.  I saw this container at Pier 1 and most of the floral pieces came from there as well.  I took all of it up to one of our local floral designers and she put it all together for me and added the orchids and I could not be more pleased!  It makes such a statement!!
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In front of these windows has sat a wooden  toy chest since we moved in this house.  I've never really even thought about anything else going there.  That is until............until I saw this gorgeous mahogany table last weekend.  I was in a lovely antique  shop that was host to a oriental rug show when it caught my eye.  I immediately thought how pretty it would be in this place and it ended up coming home with me.  Of course, every decorative table has to have something decorative on top of it.
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Later that same day I found this cute little bird planter(the planter doesn't show up well in this photo) and had my floral gal do the succulent arrangement in it and I'm so pleased.  I also found this vintage set of candlesticks and I'm still in the process of deciding if they will stay.  The jury is still out, stay tuned.........
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Last Tuesday my sister in law and niece came to visit from DesMoines.  They had not been in a while and we so enjoyed their visit.  They spent some treasured time visiting with Daddy and then we took him out to eat at one of his favorite Mexican restaurants.  We had some special family time and then they left to go and spend some time with Suzy's family in Texas.  

My niece introduced me to Snap Chat while she was here and we had a fun time playing around with that.  I put the app on my IPhone but not sure I can remember how to use it and not sure that I care to remember.  It was fun to do with her but I have enough vying for my time without trying to figure out one.more.app!  We shall see!  It actually might be fun to play with when the Grans are here. 😉

We'll be enjoying some more special family time when our daughter and our two grandsons arrive later this week.

If you are my friend on Facebook then you likely saw that I did get a good report from my Retina Specialist this past Friday.  He was pleased with the healing process but I am still restricted until I see him again on Aug. 4th.  I really thought he might lift the restrictions if things were going well but  he did not.  But, that is just fine, I can be inconvenienced for my eye sight any time. I am extremely thankful for the good report and I will continue to play by the rules.  And, he did say that I would be seeing him every 3-6 months from here on out.  So, I guess that means for the rest of my life.  Good grief, I'm hoping that's a very LONG time but I really do not enjoy going to Doctor appointments.  Guess I'd better get to enjoying it. 

Have a great new week!

Wednesday Hodgepodge

It's question day with Joyce, another way of saying it's the Wednesday Hodgepodge.

1. When was the last time you chatted with a neighbor? About what? (sharing that last bit is optional)
I chatted with my next door neighbor about 2 weeks ago as I had run over to take something to her and we visited for just a minute.  My neighbor across the way and I chat quite frequently and generally is just about "the issues at hand."  Whatever they may be.......

2. River, lake, ocean, or waterfall...which one are you most like and why?
Oh, my goodness, this is a doozy of a question.  I'm going to say a lake in that I can be as calm and placid as a lake and depending on what's going on in my life, it can be rough waters.  And, there's always some of both generally going on.  Guess that's what keeps me on my knees. 😆

3. July 13 is National Delaware Day. Ever been to Delaware? Delaware is called 'the first state' because it was the first to declare independence from the British. What's your state's nickname and does that moniker make sense to you? If you were in charge, what nickname would you give your home state?
Well, research informed me that our state, Louisiana, has 6 nicknames.  The only two I knew anything about is, Bayou State and Sportman's Paradise.  Yes, both of these are most fitting as we have beautiful bayous all over and if you are a man and you live here then chances are really good that you are a hunter and fisherman and you drive a big truck, have a big trailer and own 4-wheelers and the such.  
I wouldn't change the nicknames if I were in charge, don't think I could come up with anything more fitting. 

4. What dish did you contribute to the last pot luck meal you attended? Do you have a go-to recipe for pot luck suppers?
We attended a sort of pot luck on the 4th of July and I took potato salad.  AND, I have to confess, I did not make it.  The Wal-Mart deli has the best Red Skin Potato Salad around and I didn't see the need in trying to make something that probably would not have been near as good as the bought.  I buy it all the time.  Their other potato salad, not so much!

5. What is your number one tip for a brand new parent?
To remember, "this too shall pass."  Those sleepless nights, those colicky afternoons, those days of crawling and getting into everything and on and on it goes.  It will pass so much quicker than you can imagine.  It's just one phase right after another and they are not all enjoyable but you will live through it and they'll be grown and you will wonder where the years went.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

UPDATES:
#1 - Remember I shared 6-8 weeks ago about our changing banks and my working to stop automatic drafts and automatic deposits and then get it all set back up with our new bank.  Well, it is NOT over!  I do not plan to ever have to do this again as it is a royal pain but I "think" with the next billing cycle that everything will be set up at the new bank with automatic payments. ~it has wore me out~

#2 - I will be seeing my Retina Specialist this Friday afternoon and I'm so hoping for another good report.  And, I would just love it if he said all my restrictions have been lifted and I can bend, lift and exercise.  But, hey, I'll be happier than happy if he just says that my eyes are doing well.

Added note - July is my birthday month.  Yea! me!  I will celebrate 65 years on the 29th and I'm more than grateful for everyone of those years.  I really think I'm just going to celebrate all month long because I deserve it.  I mean 65 years!  And, it was made very official yesterday when I received my Medicare card in the mail.  

I am thankful!

P. S. My sister in law and niece are here visiting for a few days so I will likely be out of blogland until the weekend.  See you then!

10 Daily Habits - 10 on the 10th

I'm linking up with sweet Erin today for her 10 on the 10th link up.  July's is

10 daily habits.  Well, since I'm such a creature of habit, I had to link up this month.
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1 - My first daily habit is heading straight to the coffee pot once my feet hit the floor, around 5:30AM.   I can't imagine imagine starting my day without a cup of coffee.

2 - With coffee in hand I go to spend some time in the Word and in prayer. I struggle at times to make sure that, even though this has been a habit of mine for years and years, that it is more than a habit. I want it to be a special time for me and the Lord to begin my days.

3 - I am then off to shower, do my makeup, grab another cup of java and then make the bed and tidy up our bedroom.

4 - Normally, it is my habit to go and get on the glider for 30 minutes and enjoy a Hallmark movie while doing so.  But, right now, while my eyes are healing that isn't allowed, but I'm hopeful after Aug. 5th to be "back at it."

5 - I then get dressed for the day and depending on what my plans are as to what I wear.  But, it's my pretty much my habit to wear earrings, necklace and bracelet with whatever I wear.  I do love accessorizing. ~chuckle~

6 - I have a habit of making a list for any errands I need to do each day and shortly after dressing I'm usually off to get started on those.  I like to get errands done early in the day. And, 4-5 afternoons a week I go and spend some time with my sweet Daddy.

7- I stop by my desktop computer 2-3 times in the morning and another 2-3 times in the afternoon.  Those stops include checking my email, scanning through Facebook and doing any needed Quickbooks work.

8 -   I take a sweep by the laundry room to see if there is any that needs to be done.  I do not generally do laundry every day.  It's just the two of us, so I probably do laundry 3-4 times a week.

9 - I always think about what we'll do or what we'll have for dinner early in the day.  If we're going to actually have a meal then I want to take the meat out of the freezer in the morning and sort of think through what we'll have with it.  But, least you think this is a daily habit, let me tell you that 2-3 times a week we enjoy a sandwich and chips while watching the news in our comfy  chairs. Ah, we earned this right and we enjoy it. ~chuckle~

10 - If we have no plans after our dinner then I change into what I call my lounging clothes, settle back into my comfy chair, play on my laptop, watch a little TV, head to do the face washing and skin care routine and eventually off to bed so I can get up and do it all over again. ~smile~

So, in my last 2 posts you have learned even more about me, be that good or bad. ~smile~

Questions and Answers

I'm linking up, for the first time ever, with the Blended Blog Gals and answering their questions for the week.  My blogging buddy Laura, over at  The Horton Family had participated and I so enjoyed her answers that I decided I would participate as well.  It's always fun to know more about each other and this is a great way to do just that.  I hope you enjoy!

1- Favorite animal?

Well, I am not really an animal lover but if I had to say, it would be a Goldendoodle dog.  My brother and SIL got one several years ago and he stole my heart the second I met him and that's saying a lot.  But, Tater doesn't really know he is a dog, he is so human and I do love him. And, I'm pretty fond of our son's family dog, Bella.  Bella is a toy poodle and cute as a button and well behaved.

2 - Wine or beer?

It would be neither.

3 - Socks on/off while sleeping?

Definitely off! I don't want the warmth or the restriction on my feet.

4 - One piece or two piece swimsuit?

Oh, my goodness, it would be a one piece with a skirt.  And, it is such a rare, rare occasion for me to be in a swimsuit that I can't even remember the last time I had one on.  But, just so you know, the one I have is really quite cute.

5 - Cooking at home or eating out?

I'm about equal in my preference on this, I enjoy eating out and we definitely do a fair amount of that but it's nice to eat at home on occasion as well.

6 - Pepsi or Coke?

Of these two it would definitely be Coke but my soft drink of choice is Diet Dr. Pepper

7. Regular or Electric toothbrush?

I have used an electric toothbrush for the past several years and I love them.  My teeth feel so much cleaner than after brushing with a regular toothbrush.

8. Candy or Chocolate?

I love a small piece of something chocolate over just about any candy.  Hersey Nuggets with almonds would be my favorite.

9. Coffee or Tea?

Oh, my goodness, hands down, COFFEE!  How would I start my day without it?

10 - Music or Talk Radio?

Well, if I'm in the house it would be music and if I'm in my car it is American Family Radio and it is mainly talk radio.

11 - Chick Flick, Action movie or Documentary?
I do not care for action or documentary at all.  A good chick flick is good every once in a while but a good suspense movie (not scary) is the BEST. 

12 - Regular or mechanical pencil?
I rarely use a pencil but if I do, I use a mechanical pencil, I have several in my desk drawer.

13 - Swimming or laying out?
At this point in my life, neither one. ~no joke~

14 - Dog or cat?
If I have to choose, it would be a dog but I really don't want either one.

15 - What do you drive? SUV, Van or Sedan?
I drive an SUV.  It's been a long time since I've driven a regular car.  I love having the hauling space in an SUV.

16 - Early bird catches the worm or night owl?
Oh, early bird for sure!  I love the early morning hours and feel very productive in the early hours of the day.

17 - If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
How boring that would be but I think I would say chips and salsa but I really hope it never comes to that. 

18 - While sleeping, phone in room by your side or in another room

My phone is on the charging station and set on Do Not Disturb from 10:00 - 6:00.  I do have a house phone on my night stand.

19. Singing the shower, yes or no.
No, no, no!  I'm all business when it comes to taking a shower.  No time for singing. ~chuckle~

20 - Oreo cookies, eat whole, take apart and/or dunk in milk?
I imagine it has been 20+ years since I've eaten an Oreo but when I did and if I do again, I did and will eat it whole. ~I'm a neat freak~

So, there it is and now you know just a tad more about me.

The Wednesday Hodgepodge

Our sweet Joyce and family are dealing with the passing of her father in law.  He passed away this week  and our thoughts and prayers are with them as they face the days ahead.

Now for today's questions............

1. When and where were the best fireworks you've ever seen? Speaking of fireworks...do you know your hot buttons? The things people can say and/do to set you off? When was the last time someone pushed one of your hot buttons?

The best fireworks that I have ever seen were at Disney World back in the 80's.  It was on one of our trips and they were held at the Magic Kingdom and I'm pretty sure the Magic Kingdom was the only park at that time.  And, we even had a birds eye view of the fireworks from our room if we happened to not be able to watch it at the park.

Yes, I do know my hot buttons and 2 of them are a lack of respect and being unkind.  It is rampant in our society and it is so distressing to me.  It begins in the home  because children learn by example. When I witness disrespect and unkindness it definitely ignites my hot button.  And, so does the lack of customer service in so many businesses today.  Oh, I can hardly deal with the automation of so many business.  I just want a human being on the other end of the line.

It has been about 3 weeks since someone pushed my hot button and I almost blew a head gasket.  I won't go into details, but I was at one of our local banks taking care of some business when I encountered such disrespect and unkindness that I reeled from it for a few days afterwards.  

2. Have you hosted any outdoor summer parties this year? Attended any? What makes for a great outdoor party?
No, we have not had any outside gatherings this summer.  We have a big porch and a really huge patio but we have nary a tree and it is hotter than hot outside.  The early spring or fall is the time for us to have an outside gathering.

We attended a 4th of July gathering yesterday that was outside and inside at some friends who have a lovely place to host such an event.

Good friends, sharing good conversation over good food makes for a great outdoor party.

3. What does freedom mean to you?
To believe what I want to believe, say what I want to say and live where I want to live.  As in anything, we can carry these freedoms too far and I believe we are seeing that right now.

4. July is National Cell Phone Courtesy month...what annoys you most about  people's cell phone habits?
First, thinking they cannot live without them.  Secondly, talking on them loudly in public places.  A lot of Doctors offices and businesses have signs up now not allowing talking on cell phones while in their business.  I think all businesses should have that policy.

5. What's your current summer anthem?
Day by Day from Godspell.  It's sort of my theme right now as I wait on my eyes to heal from the emergency retina surgery I had about 10 days ago.  I'm very restricted and I'm counting down the days until August 5th when, hopefully, the restrictions will be lifted.  And, these lyrics from the song are certainly worth pondering while I wait.........
Day by Day
Oh, dear Lord
Three things I pray,
To see Thee more clearly
Love Thee more dearly
Follow Thee more nearly
Day by Day

6.  Insert your own random thought here.

I saw the recipe for the above breakfast dish last week on Facebook and decided to make it yesterday for upcoming company.  It is called, Breakfast in a Bundt (I just used a regular tube pan rather than a bundt).  It has eggs, cheese, ham, biscuits (raw), hash browns and seasoning.  It is all mixed together and put into the pan for baking.  I sprayed the pan very, very well with Pam.  The recipe said to turn it out on a platter once removed from the oven.  I probably waited 5 minutes and ran a knife around the edge and down the center and then turned it over to put on platter.  Well, half came out and the other half remained in the pan.  It was the biggest mess and the bottom half was more than stuck.  It looked delicious and Hubby had a piece and gave it a thumbs up.  So, next time I make it I will put it in a 9X13 pan and and it will likely work just fine.  I sure did hate to waste this but it was a huge flop as far as looks good.  So aggravatng!