Hodgepodge Wednesday

Just so every one will know...........NE Louisiana is having some of the most gorgeous weather right now.  It is wonderful!  I don't mean to rub it in to all your folks that are still dealing with less than desirable weather, but just had to brag a bit.  We're loving it!

1. Your favorite chocolate treat? 

 I like chocolate, but not like most folks.  So, one or two of the little miniature Hershey bars will satisfy any chocolate "  hankering"   I may have.

2. What more than anything else makes you feel loved?  When my Hubby puts my desires ahead of his and he does that quiet often. And, there's a whole host of other things that make me feel loved as well.

3. Cherries or blueberries?

 Oh, no contest, blueberries all the way!!  I just made the best Blueberry Pound Cake this past weekend and it was the hit of our families Valentine celebration.  And, they are so good for you!

4. What is the one trait you most want the leader of your country to posess?  A desire to lead our country in a way pleasing to God.

5. Are you a saver or a spender? I'm afraid a spender, but I find deals and wait for sales.  I make a game out of it at times.  If it's something that I really, really want in a particular size that I think they may sell out of before they put it on sale, I will likely go ahead and "  spring for it."   I love stores like Ross, TJ Maxx and SteinMart where you never have to pay full retail.  Yea!!

6. If you gave a party for all of your friends would they already know each other?

No, my friends span all across this country and there would be all kinds of folks that did not know each other.  The thought of a party like that sounds like such fun!

7. Are you interested in antiques? 

I'm only interested in antiques that have been in our family and that makes them have very special meaning to me.  Otherwise, I don't really care anything for an antique just because it's an antique.

 8. Insert your own random thought here.  When the mail came today there was a package in it for me.  That package was from one of the very special "  blogging buddies"  that I have made.  If you have not met Kelly at "  Blessed Mommy, Blessed Wife"   then you need to go over and meet her.  She is a precious young lady with a precious family and I so enjoy sharing in her life through her blog.  She has become one of my favorite young ladies and I look forward to meeting her in person.




 Thanks to Joyce for being our faithful hostess each Wednesday. It's such fun to read  everyone's answers to the questions. 


"  Wrap your arms around life and give it a big hug."  

All About Me - Part 2 Miscellany Monday

Well, I will continue with miscellaneous things about myself today and this should wrap it up. If you missed part 1, then you can click here and read it.  You will likely know more about me than you really care to know. ~smile~  But, hopefully you have found these tidbits both interesting and entertaining. 

*I am a girly girl, love all things feminine and enjoy being a Southern Belle
*I think laughter is the best medicine and the louder, the better!
*I prefer pie over cake
*I prefer classic style clothes. My favorite stores for clothes are Talbots, Chicos and Cabi (not a store, but I love their clothes)
*I do NOT like tomatoes (I know, really strange!)
*Money was very  tight when I was a teenager and to earn extra money I would do our neighbors ironing, clean their houses and babysit their children.  Now, not all at one time, but at various times. ~smile~   And, I will not even bother to tell you what I got paid but it provided me with some spending money.
*I'm a Spanx kinda gal
*I take a handful of vitamins and minerals every day of my life and I do hope they are all doing what they are suppose to do
*I use Mozilla Firefox, NOT Internet Explorer
*The saddest day of my life, thus far, was Dec. 1, 2008. That was the day my Momma died.  She died very unexpectedly.
*I have such hopes and dreams for my Grandchildren and want more than anything for them to love the Lord their God with all their heart and soul and desire to serve Him faithfully.
*Monday through Friday my day begins at 5:40AM and ends about 10:30PM
*I am not a daytime TV person at all, you will usually find "easy listening" music playing during the day at our house if I'm here by myself.
*I want to grow old gracefully
*I don't ever want to stop learning
*I love my Chi flat iron
*I think  Pioneer Woman is the bomb 
*While I usually agree with him, Glen Beck wears me out with his "ranting and raving."
*I still like to dress up on Sundays and can still be found wearing hose, yep, that's right!
*I began blogging on March 21,2009 and never knew what a fun adventure it would be. 

This will end my "All About Me" and thanks to Carissa for hosting a random day for us.  It's one of my favorite things to do on Monday.  

 

Here's wishing you a Happy Valentine's Day!

Company Girls are the BEST!

Good Morning from what is suppose to be a sunny day. It's a tad too early to tell just yet.  But, I'm, relying on the forecast of a sunny day and they are saying we'll get a "glimpse" of Spring this coming week.  Does that make me happy, you bet it does!!!  This is what it looked like around here on Wednesday afternoon and yesterday morning.

The front of the house

A view of the back yard

A side view

 And, I know, this is absolutely nothing compared to what some of you gals have experienced.  But, for us, this is soooooooo unusual.

 It has been a fun week, in spite of the snow. ~smile~  Last Friday while my daughter and DIL were out of school they brought the babies over and we made Valentine cookies. And,  both babies sneaked in a bite of cookie dough and after they got a taste of that, that's pretty much all they wanted. And, can you blame them? ~smile~

Then last Sunday afternoon I was blessed with a visit from another Company Girl and her precious daughter who happened to be in town visiting friends and relatives.

Momma and daughter-----so, so sweet

Star married a guy from here that grew up in our church and they lived here for 4+ years before moving to TN.  While I knew her, I didn't know her that well until I began blogging.  A mutual friend of ours told me that Star was a blogger too and I immediately found her blog and connected with her.  At that time, a special friendship was born and she is responsible for me becoming a Company Girl.  The rest is history!  Star is the author of the blog, One More Equals Four where she shares about her awesome adventures as the Mom of four and her love of the Lord.  It was so special to spend one on one time with Star last Sunday afternoon. Love you Star!

It was 45 years ago this weekend that Hubby escorted me to our church Sweetheart Banquet.  I say escorted because it truly was just that.  We lived right beside the church and he came and walked me over to the church for the banquet and walked me back.  Oh, my goodness, who would have ever thought where that night would lead.  One just never knows! But, what a ride it has been!!


Again, a big thank you to Rachel for hosting us each Friday.  As the title of my post says, "Company Girls are the BEST!


May the SON shine brightly in your life regardless of the weather!

Hodgepodge Wednesday

1. What is more important-doing what you love or loving what you do? Well.............I imagine there will all kinds of "deep" answers to this, but for me, I think  they are both important. Although there are plenty of times in our lives that we just have to do something because it needs to be done, and love has nothing to do with it.  So, we get over it and do it, plain and simple.

2. Do you like bleu cheese?

Yes, yes, yes but my husband almost gags when I eat it. Blue Cheese dressing is just the best!

3. What is the most difficult emotion for you to handle?

 I think it would be sadness. Thank goodness I have not experienced a lot of sadness in my life, but when I have I have cried, and cried and cried.  I think tears are the best dose of medicine in the world and I always feel better after a good cry. And, while I don't cry that often, when I do, I make it worth my while. ~smile~

 4. Fresh flowers or a box of chocolate? Oh, hands down, flowers! I'm just not a lover of chocolate, I like it, but not enough to be given a box of it. ~smile~ Plus, flowers are "calorie free."

5. What's a song you love that has the word 'love' in its title? It doesn't have to be a 'love song'.  It was hard for me to settle on just one, but "Because You Loved Me" by Celine Dion is one of my all time favorites for sure. 

6. Are you the person you wanted to be when you grew up? Overall I think I am but there is always room for improvement. ~smile~

7. Any special Valentines Day plans?

Yes, we will be going out to dinner with other couples on Friday evening to celebrate Valentine's together.  It will be fun time for sure! And, then I'm planning on having the kiddos for dinner Sunday evening for a "love celebration."
 

8. Insert your own random thought here. It seems there cannot be a post without the mention of weather right now.  We're expecting snow, ice and all things wintry this morning.  It appears that we are NOT going to miss it either.  It is so, so unusual for us to have this type of weather 3 times in one winter, but looks like this one is going to be different.  Did you hear me say, I am so ready for SPRING!!!


I'm linking up with Joyce at Hodgepodge Wednesday and invite you to do the same.  If not to link up, then I invite you go over and read more fun Hodgepodge entries.


May the sun shine brightly wherever you are!

All about Me at Miscellany Monday

   

I have been tagged by 3 different blogging buddies this past week to do a post on "  Seven Things You've Always Wanted to Know About Me."    I had already been thinking about a post very similar 

to that, so I thought I'd just share some random things about myself on this random Monday post.  

*I was born on July 29, 1952. Yes, that does make me "  almost"   59 years old.  Yikes!  I'm already considered a "  Senior Citizen"   by McDonald's and now I wonder when I will be considered elderly. Most days I feel like I'm about 40. ~smile~
 *Hubby and I will celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary on June 6th. Yes, I was really, really young when we "  tied the knot."

*I was born in Newport News, Virginia

*I have lived in Ft. Smith, Ark., Alma, Ark., Jones Mills, Ark., Hot Springs, Ark., Battery Park, Va., Lynchburg, Va. and Bastrop, La.

*I attended 7 different schools in 12 years and didn't even graduate from the high school that's on my class ring. We moved the end of my Jr. year.

*Hubby and I have lived in our present location for 37 years and in our present house for 29 years.  I'm definitely ready for a change of scenery in the house department but will have to wait on Hubby to be ready. ~grin~

*I accepted Christ as my Savior when I was 7 years old.

*I am highly organized, love structure and routine and feel I'm a much more productive person because of it

*I do not fry foods, it makes the house smelly

*I want a straw to drink out of for everything except coffee

*I always want my coffee in an insulated mug, I like hot coffee, not lukewarm

*I love to do acts of kindness for people

*I like to think of myself as a good friend

*I love to send cards and give gifts to folks that are totally not expecting it

*I cannot stand rudeness

*I get aggravated when folks  have answering machines and never listen to them

*I use to have my own gift packaging business and loved seeing just how creative I could be in wrapping or creating gift baskets

*I love Sonic tea and McDonald's coffee

*I always put Whipped Cream Cheese in my chicken salad, it's the "   be all, do all"   

*I make a really mean Pound Cake

*I love my laptop and my Blackberry

*I want my kids to have nothing but fond memories of me one day ~never hurts to want~ :o))

*I desire to make a difference

*I am scared too death of creepy crawly things

*I think everything has a place and I want it in its place

Well, I think 25 things is enough for this post.  Perhaps I'll share a few more next Monday.  Once I got started I just kept thinking of more and more things, but didn't want to "  overload"  you. ~smile~
I enjoy getting to know you better and hope this enlightened you just a little about me and what makes me "  tick."   I'd enjoy seeing some of you do something of this nature too.  Hint! Hint!

Thanks Carissa for giving us this opportunity every Monday. Click on the button above for more random thoughts.

May your week be especially blessed!

An Icy Friday Morning

Okay, let's see, what on earth can I talk about besides the weather. It seems that every blog I've read the past couple of weeks has made mention of the weather.  I mean, it has been one more winter for sure!  Schools let out at noon here yesterday and my daughter and DIL were thrilled too death. They love unexpected time off to spend with the babies.  This morning we have a thin layer of ice all over, so they were given another day off. Looks like it's a day for staying in, making soup, and baking cookies. ~smile~


But, think I'll forget about the cold and ice and share about the  beautiful day we had last Saturday and the fun that Hubby and I had outside working on a few projects.  

I had been wanting to change out what I had beside the front door.  I'm beginning to think that I should

have put the lighter colored cane sticks in the pots for more contrast.  But,hey they are very inexpensive and if I still feel that way in another week or two, I'll replace them. Hubby helped me by shoveling the sand into the pots.  Let me tell you, those pots are h-e-a-v-y!!  I do not think there's anyway they will blow over. By the way, I found these pots at Sam's. Gotta love Sam's because you just never know what kind of treasure's you may find there. ~smile~

Hubby had been thinking about putting a gate across the brick opening on our patio.  It would serve two very good purposes. It would keep the babies in and the dogs out!

Getting his exact measurements

Drilling through the brick was no easy task

This is the finished gate minus the latch

 This was pretty much an all day project and when the weather warms up, the gate will be stained to match the Pergola.  We'll then be ready for some "patio fun." 

I purchased this sweet little concrete angel on one of my trips to TJ Maxx and I found the perfect spot for her in the area surrounding our patio. She'll really look good when she has  bedding plants growing at her feet this summer.  

It's always such fun to link up with you Company Girls and we're so glad that Rachel serves as our hostess each week. Some of my "bestest" blogging buddies have come from this Friday "link up" and I am blessed and encouraged by their friendship.

To all of you that are house bound with snow and ice, I'm sending sunshine and rainbows your way.  Surely, surely, Spring is just around the corner. Hope! Hope!

Hodgepodge Wednesday

1. Would you rather be seen as a person who did their duty or forged their own path? Well, I think there is likely a place for both, but I suppose a person who has forged their own path has a certain admiration over one that has just done their duty.  I can't see that I've forged my own path, but I definitely do my duty and want to do it well and have always tried to do so.  So, whether I want to be seen that way or not, that's just the way it is and it's perfectly fine with me. ~smile~

2. This week's Wednesday Hodgepodge happens to fall on Groundhog's Day. In keeping with that theme, if you could have a do-over of any one day out of the last seven, which day would it be and why. If you haven't seen the movie Groundhog Day this question will make absolutely no sense but that's okay....you can answer anyway. I would love to have a "do over" of last Saturday. It was the most gorgeous day, sunshiny and 76 degrees. Hubby and I were outside most of the day working on projects and it renewed our spirits. The pansies were even happy! ~smile~

3. Hot cocoa...yay or nay on the marshmallows? It would be a nay for me, marshmallows make the cocoa too sweet for me.  But, hey, a cup of cocoa will likely be in order for this cold day we're having, with or without marshmallows.

4. Do you wear makeup every day? What are the top two must haves in your daily makeup routine? Oh, my goodness, YES!! Putting on makeup is just like getting dressed as far as I'm concerned.  I even got up my courage a few years ago and had permanent lipstick, lip liner, eyeliner (top and bottom) and eye brows done.  Just ask me how painful the permanent lipstick and lip liner was and I'll tell you that it was the most painful thing I've ever endured and I will not ever have it done again. The eyeliner and eye brows I have done twice and will likely do it several more times. It's not painless, but I can endure it. ~big smile~ They call it permanent, but it isn't.  It fades and if you want it to look natural, then you have to redo it about every 2-3 years. 


My two "must haves" are lipstick and blush. These two items 

are what put the color on one's face and bring it ALIVE!!! And, I've given my family strict instructions that they had better have both on my face when they bury me. ~big chuckle~ In the midst of their grief they'd better not forget. ~giggle~Oh, not so I can look alive (:o)) but gotta go out with color on my face. I know, how silly!

5. Is it more important to you in a relationship to be loved or understood? Oh, sorry but I have to be loved and understood.  Is that asking too much??? ~smile~

6. Parsley sage rosemary or thyme... your favorite?

 I do not use any of them very often, but certainly use parsley more than any, so guess it would have to be my favorite. I love it's bright green color!

7. What do you do when you feel angry? It is a rarity for me to be angry but if I am I always try to remember "whose I am" and how He would react if He were me.  It really helps. I get aggravated a whole lot more than I get angry.

8. Insert your own random thought here. It was 28 months ago today that I became a CiCi and I will never forget  the moment I first laid my eyes on our little Clancy..........the nurse that was standing nearby when this  picture was taken, said, "a Grandmother has just been born." Aweeeeeeeee!

I'm linking up with Joyce today for Hodgepodge Wednesday. Click on the button above and enjoy yourself!