I have really been terrible about posting to this site... I have thought about killing it and staring over... ahhh.. what the heck.... carry on mate!

it is July and we are recovering from being in the dark for a week thank you to the storm that blew through here a week ago last Friday~ we are very blessed as we still have our home.. four of our neighbors are not so lucky...

We had to relocate the office AGAIN..... too many issues with the basement location...so... spent hours tonight moving, running lines, setting up equipment, untangling cords... yesh...

so I am beat... need to get some sleep.. OH  CRAP my sheets are still in the dryer... hmmmm...

first visits~

Ash will be home tomorrow night! YIPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE I cannot wait to see her and hold her in my arms.. the last time was Christmas.... WHAT???????????

Mich, Jas Shelb and Grady stopped in yesterday afternoon and we were so suprised! Mich or Jas did not even know the address of the new house and they found it THANKS to Grady's PERFECT directions!!! Wow he just amazes me~ he is only 4 and does not forget a thing. Shelby had her first little haircut yesterday. I say little becuase she only has a LITTLE hair.... she was so proud showing off her new look! (it was just a shape up you see)

well alot to do today... I am so happy that everyone is feeling better at Michelles house... thank you Lord.... hopefully, noone here gets what they had there...

moving~

really sucks.... haha.. I have been thinking the last few days of all the time cousin Kathleen has moved... youy~~

so moved to a leased home (not an RV) ~ it is on one floor (nice) and about 1/3 the sq footage of my home.... as long as I am caring for Grama, the RV has to wait.... and that is ok~

Mich, Grady and Shelb are all sick... bronchitis, double ear infections, pink eye.. wowza~~ Ash flew the red eye home from Vegas and darn it, she is sick too! Tonight my left ear is hurting a bit... hmm better hit the Cipro tonight to try to stave it off....
tomorrow, first day of work in my new office space... oh boy! hope I can find every thing :)

Shelb goes to the ENT tomorrow.... needs tubes in both little tiny ears.... poor baby doll...

for now, need some sleep....

sweet dreams~

is it spring?

just walked Chels and it is warm~ this weather is really wierd - wonder what the cost is.....

yesterday was a very disappointing day~ hopefully today with the warmth comes new ideas and new direction....

winter... is back, again.....

the snow is heavy outside and uh... I HATE winter.... but looking at Tiny Gardner's blog helps lift my heart and thoughts of warm dirt on the fingers warm the soul....

it is very cold out but the wind is relativly quiet.... Chelsea enjoyed her walk in the star lit sky and the crunch... Toshie would have loved romping in this snow...

Oven Lovin Saturday, biscut pizza (perfect for the game)

TIRED? in a HURRY? want BIG taste and alot of fun? (great to make with kiddos)

1 Grands Biscuts
pizza sauce
pepporoni slices
pineapple (and want ever toppings you love - chopped onion, black olives, peppers, what ev)
shredded mozzarella

this is so easy, and so fun! and they are so cute too!
preheat overn to 350
cover your cookied sheet with parchment
POP open the biscuts and spread them out with your hands in to kinda flat circles - about the size of a personal pan pizza
top with tablespoon of sauce, add topping, plop on the cheese

bake until golden and yummy
add a salad and presto GREAT game night fun food

Enjoy~

Oven Lovin Saturday ( a day late )

well better late than never! and these cookies are SOOOOOOOOOO GREAT they are worth the wait!
Super EASY, quick, and just amazing! Don't toss out your left over coffee this morning! MAKE COOKIES!

Coffee Cookies~
2c shortening (I use 1/2 butter - real butter unsalted)
2 c brn sugar
2 eggs
4 1/2 c flour
1 t salt
4t baking powder
1t baking soda
1t vanilla
1c raisens or nuts (or nothing at all)
1c HOT coffee

combine crisco/butter, brn sug and eggs mixing them up real good~ if you use raisins soak them in water to plumb em up (or forget them all together) Add flour, salt, baking powder and vanilla - mix

hold the cup of coffee over the batter and pop in the soda (you will see alot of foam - this is a good thing) the foam will leak over on the batter which is fine - once the foam guiets down, add remaing coffee and soda to the batter - it will see rather gooey once you mix it up, but that is ok

add raisns *yuck*, nuts or choc chips(?) or nothing at all

drop by spoonfuls on to parchment paper lined pan (easy clean up) and bake at 375 for 11-12 minutes
place these big fat amazing cookies on paper towel to dry before putting them in the cookie jar (or they will stick together)

these are so GREAT! you can heal a broken heart and solve most of the worlds problems over these cookies and a glass of ice cold milk (or uh, a cup of coffee)

ENJOY

twas the 12th night before Christmas

so WHAT is wrong with me..... I don't feel very much like Christmas..... hmmm... I don't feel sad about it, I just would well, rather not do it at all..... sorry, Jesus.. it is not personal...

the tree is up, the lights are shining beautifully, the angel that Ash made when she was 4 (still in perfect condition I must say) graces the high front like she does every year, and a new ball from my dear friend in South Georgia hangs center front declaring Merry Christmas y'all! (I love it Sherry!) I just don't feel like Christmas....

maybe in a few days I will... I am going to bake some cookies for the 26th (when we celebrate this year) and put the bows on the beautifully wrapped boxes.... maybe that will do it... maybe the Christmas Concert this Sunday night will knock me in to Christmas mode... hmmm.... odd for a person who used to put a tree in just about every room of the house! (yes, even the bathroom) There has been alot going on.. maybe that is it... I love Jesus and see Christmas as his birthday party even though I know December really is not His birthday...

ok well enough of that... good night to all and to all a good night~~(that will have to do for now, haha)

Oven Lovin Saturday

thank you Tiny Gardner for starting Oven Lovin Saturday to help get us all through the winter!

my recipe for this week is: Grama Wiricks Date Pinwheel Cookies (I know sounds sick, but really yummy - and I hate dates)

Filling:
1 lb dates cut fine (really fine on a chopping block)
2/3 c water
1/2 c sugar
Boil together until dates are very tender, set aside

Dough:
2C brown sugar
3 farm fresh eggs (or store ones are ok too)
1/2 c shortening
1/2 cup unsalted butter (real butter)
Cream together well

Add:
4c flour
1 t soda
1/2 t salt
Stir in well

Directions:
Roll out cough in a rectangle and spread evenly with the date mixture. Roll up like a jelly roll.
Chill overnight
Slice and bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes or until slightly brown

Everyone will love them if you dont tell them there are dates in there!

before the snow flies~

I can hardly believe it is Thanksgiving... well make that post Thanksgiving as of this post.... WHERE has the time gone as is commonly heard.... we had a lovely and tasty dinner at Ash and Andy's and I spent a few days there putting up the tree with Ash and getting a start on the Christmas shopping.... then, came home and had a wonderful dinner with Mich, Jason and the kiddos... my turkey breast is safely waiting for the day that i decide HEY, maybe I will make a turkey in the freezer

I have been searching and researching and I really like the Damon Challenger 371 - hmmm.... time will tell....

wowza... it seems so long.....

it has been a long two years or pretty darn close since the house was put on the market~~ and today, we closed! YES, finally, sold...

I must say the only part that felt a little wierd was seeing keys to my house being handed over to someone else... but only for like 2 seconds....

our buyer is from California and lives up in the mountains, claiming he can see half way to the Big Island.....the Cleveland Ntl Forest backs up to his high view mountain home.... hmm.. sounds, well, nice...

so any way.... tonight I shall sleep, rest I hope..... it is a very stressful ride selling a home.. the viewings, the offers, counter offers, inspections, and reinspections... YOUY~~ but thankfully, we are where we are today.... now.... day by day, decesion by decesion, the next chapter is finally ready to be written...

Godspeed~~ lights out

April Showers.... isn't that what they say?

I for one, am sick of rain~ rain rain rain rain rain irrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

I could not believe my eyes as I watched the weather channel as they were live in Birmingham as a HUGE, and i do mean HUGE one mile wide wedge tornado ripped through the west north west side of town~ Tuscaloosa was also hit extreml hard... our prayers are in Alabama on this rainy old night

so uh, I must be stupid

I have to say, really, I just don't get it..... we are only hours from a partial shut down of OUR govt~ so.... I am trying to understand this all... one thing I have a grip on is both parties are relentlessly arguing thier points "on behalf of the american people" - uh, ok.....

so why is it that if the Fed Gvt does shut down, those who are shutting it down will still get paid? BUT our brave militiary who by no choice of their own, are in harms way, far from home, will not get paid???????? WHAT???????? so they are to be fighting away in the mountains and deserts someplace wondering if thier families at home are getting evicted and have any electricity bc they won't have a pay check....

AND, before they start whacking at medicare, which, by the way we are all paying in to keep this in mind your fello baby boomers whos kids are now in thier 30's and will never see a dime WHY dont they shut off the money faucet to say, uh, CHINA?? India?? YEMEN??? Why do we send them financial aide anyway?? I mean, CHINA???????? they rec more fed dollars from us, in the name of support than any other foreign country on the face of the earth! Check it out, do some research~~ China, REALLY????????

for pete sake, I have never seen the likes of it..... our Country, our people, deserve better than the juvenile, selfish dingos in DC....

just my commentary~~

in her element~~

the kids have grown up and have lives, homes, and families of their own... alot has changed....

tonight though, I was reminded, that no matter how much things change, the core stays the same.... Ash has always been an organic kind of soul; she still is to this day and even more so... she never ceases to amaze...

Mich has always been at home in the barn, on the back of a horse~ using her skill to create a master piece... since her two little kiddos have come along, her love of her life, her four legged pals have taken a serious back seat and, rightfully so.... Jas has helped her regain her barn time - I can always tell when she has had a barn night - her voice is brighter, and soul is lighter, and her spirit is stronger~~ love those beautiful little babies, and what a great Mom my little girl has grown up to be... but, everyone needs thier own little piece of the world, that just belongs to them.... Jas was hauling hay tonight so I got Nanny time with half pint and little bear~~ from the window the kiddos and I could see her out there in the arena, on the back of one of the horses.... it lifted my spirit, touched my soul, and made my heart smile~~ I took little G man out aft Jas got home to care for half pint and we perched him in the saddle.... sit up tall little buddy.... LOOK AT ME LOOK AT ME! His little eyes met his Mommas, and hers met mine..... she was in her element....

Ash if you stop by I hope you are home in you own comfy beddy bye tonight..... love you pea pod~~

lessons learned~

who says an old dog can't learn new tricks??? after visiting my pea pod and paying very close attention to every detail of her creating her amazing pasta and vegies~ AHHHHHHH before you go and tell your self, ahhh heck, that sounds so easy, well.. trust me and many destroyed attempts - it ain't! anyway~ when I came home I first thing went to the store (we do not have a market here-sure wish we did) and gathered the necessary items- off to the meat market (ok, it is like a big overgorwn butcher shop that does sell fresh veggies year round - fresh from where - not sure on that one~~ but nevertheless -

and this attempt, which by the way Ash made look so easy~~ chop this, toss that, add a pinch or 5, crush some garlic~~ took my concentrated effort BUT I am thrilled to say it was fantastico! it even passed the Grady test- Nanny this is good! YEAH I FINALLY DID IT!!

it occured to me that the times of my teaching the kiddos, a little of this, a little of that have changed.... my little girl in the city taught me the secret of making pasta with veggies....and the coolest way in the world to freeze chicken BTW~~ haha....

it was sunny today and I cleaned and moved Mom's bedroom around in preperation for summer~ Friday I plan to purchase her a new recliner - she goes through them in about 4 years but that is where she spends most of her time~~ I am not sure what this week will bring so today I cooked and cooked making meals ahead and putting them in the freezer for quick dinners.... our little Shelby is sick and has been fighting whatever she has for a week... the doc feels she may be asthmatic~~ time will tell... we pray not....

Ash is in La today heading for Houston where she will spend the night~ Mich is taking care of her little ones and running on exhaustion.... Grady I am sure is playing tractors.....  G is doing okay for which I am so thankful... the days of not being at the hospital are treasures beyound measure....

thnxx Ash for yet another lesson~~ this time, I done good~~

in the ice and snow, the boats await

slushing around today in the snow, and I mean serious snow, not just a few flakes~ I am talking deeper than Ashlee's knees friggin snow was well, an adventure.. on the way home from he market (have to go back in the morning because so many places were closed) we passed by the lake~ the lake like a giant cake sits frosted in ice, with snow toss across for hilights... almost un-noticable are the boats.... they are there like us, waiting for the warm sun of spring to thaw them out, and have thier winter covers pulled away~~

Spring has come at Ash and Andy's! up in the loft,spring is already there! Ash has her garden babies growing under thier lights, wrapped in plastic and growing green and beutiful.... as I look at those fragile little babies, and see Ash care for them, giving them a drink, I recall her past attempts at growing a tomatoe in a pot on the patio... hmmm.. let me just say that with time, her thumb has become much more green...

haha.... as we wait for the new over a foot of snow to go away, we will just focus on the garden already in the works, up in the loft~~

growing pains~

even though they are all grown up and in charge of the world, the kids will always be just that, my kids~ Mich is starting the painful process of finding a new sitter... again... it is hard for the kiddos when this happens.. they have to get to know someone new, and trust does not come easlily.... Ash is feeling the effects of being a big girl trying to find her own music of life.... she wants to do something that matters she says, live smaller, leave a smaller foot print on our enviroment... her Grampa would be so proud... a little farm girl living in the great big city....

work has been busy.... fo which I am thankful... it is always amazing to me that I get to play a small part in the launch of the career of another~~ who knows what they will do.. maybe the everyday, mundane, or maybe something really spectacular! They probably won't remember me 10 years from now but I want to ensure that I do everything I can to get them off to a great start! Work is busy, but what an amazing blessing~

Spring seems to be eluding for the moment... March 20th is out there.. somwhere.... but for now, it apparently is hiding under yet antoher round of fresh white stuff...

oh... speaking of white stuff... I finally got a new matress! A REAL BED~ ahhhh.. no more air matress for me... I am so thankful for this... it feels so good.....

wowza! time has surely raced right by

ok... so I have really not been holding up my end of the bargin with my blog.... I really am not sure why, but believe it is that thing called life.... and it has been hectic! Let me bring you up to speed....
Ash and Andy are well settled in to thier new home and spending thier first winter on the lake... as Ash says, it is so beautiful in the summer... but oh do you pay in the winter - but, they have been enjoying it, painting, putting in new windows, planning for a pellet stove install perhaps next year and the knock down of a wall which will allow them to move the dining room expanding the living area and making war for the new stove... awesome

Michelle and Jason are in the slow, long, slow process of building on. Our little Shelby is almost a year old... WOW.... and Grady will be three in March.... they are the lights of my life.... The are going to come tomorrow for a sleep over at Nannies.... we will cheer for the Steelers as they hopefully POUND the Ravens in the play offs.... which brings me to the house~~

yes, we are STILL here... Sam has the house on the market and even through the snowy weather we are getting internet hits... I am encouraged, and not feeling like nothing is hapening.... Sam is good and doing a great job on the listing... we dropped our price in the hope of inticing a buyer... this will be a lovely home for a new family, just as it has been for us.... I am doing good, given how impatient I am, at, being patient... I know beyond all things, that everything happens in God's oh so perfect timing....

I am looking intensly and continuing to research RV's.... the fifth wheel option is down to two, maybe three.... and the motorhome option, YES, has revealed two floor plans that I do like very much... we will see.. I stop in to visit in silence my pals over at Heartland Owners Forum... but try not to comment as I think they were growing tired of my sharing the journey from stick and brick to full time RV living...

if you happen by here, and are covered in snow...  I feel your pain. If you happen by and are in the sun (I know it is shining somewhere) then next winter, I hope to be with you

Godspeed

the most important moments in life are the ones that change it forever~

Ashlee and Andrew bought a house! after much searching, writing multiple offers, failed home inspections, OH DEAR ME, and tears... the perfect house appeared, they rushed to see it, wrote an offer that night and the home inspection is tomorrow.... they are so excited and I could NOT BE HAPPIER for them..... they are a great kids, yeah, I know, big kids, all grown up and in charge of the world.... haha.. but they are wonderful young people and they work hard.... this new house will be there home for years to come.....

I watched Ash over the weekend that I spent with her and Andrew.... well, not so much Andrew - he was out selling houses.... she is an amazing young lady... I could not be more proud of her..... I don't think there is anything she cannot do.....

last night and tonight I spent at Michelle and Jason's.... preparing for the arrival of little Shelby... Grady is going to be such a great BIG brother... he is excited and says Shelby's name all the time.. I am not sure he knows what he is talking about, but, he is excited none the less.... haha....

seeing Ashlee and Andrew prepare for thier new life in thier new home.... watching Grady prepare for the arrival of his little sister.... things I will never forget....things that will change life forever....

under all the snow, lies spring~

tomorrow is the first day of March and Ashlee is forcing spring by getting her garden plants started in her grow station... most people, me included, would just head off to the nursery in late June, buy plants that have been growing in the green house, stick em in the ground, and wait...... not Ash.. she carefully selected her seads, Andrew built her a beautiful grow station in the process of renovating the basement, complete with lights, heat pads, it is AMAZING! Ash painted it and carefully laid out her plan.... now she has peppers popping, tulips poking, tomatoes started, broccolli medatating - I am just so proud of her.... Ashlee is just, well, incredible! and how sweet of Andy to build her such a wonderful grow station....

Michelle and Jason, and sweet little Grady await the arrival of baby Shelby... she is due to make her appearance March 25.... personally, I think our eyes will see her before then..... we are anixious, excited, and somewhat nervous.. well, I am... Michelle is my little girl after all, and having a baby is a major body process..... I am an expert, as I am a Mother.... for me personally, I will be glad when delivery is over and Momma and baby are declared to be safe, and sound.... I so want to be with her to hold her hand just as I was when Grady was born... I am not sure I wll be.... I may be in charge of taking care of little Grady boy... we will see how this shakes out....

by the end of the week, we will see yet another round of snow.. then, temps warming to 40... I noticed yesterday, underneath all the white stuff, the pink rhododendron is loaded with tiny little buds...hiding safely there, under the protection of the white blanket of snow.... I am so anxious to see how the new rose shrubs will do this year... last year was thier first in the groud and they gew to 2' tall... I am hoping for an adult size of 6' - we will see....

over the next couple of weekends, I will put final prepreation in to getting the house on the market... I feel like I need to clean winter away..... then, once the snow mountains have melted away in the front and side yard, the sign can go up, the video and pictures can hit the internet, and I can await, the next chapter to come...... ahhhh.... under all the snow, lies spring.....