Saturday Thoughts…

OK… I definitely see a difference in my lifestyle since going back to work…

I believe the good outways the bad…

“I” have gained…

Income… a little spending money…

Socialization… meeting new people… having conversations…

Using my talents and skills…

Having something to talk about…

I do hate leaving things undone… that my Bobby has to pick up…

but, he doesn’t mind…

He has always been my anchor, helper and strength…

and stands behind me on my decisions…

Meals are a little iffy… but, my crockpot gets used more… and the guys are able to fend for themselves better than I thought!

Saturdays are catch up day as it was when I worked full time…

Tonight… having my youngest Grandkids… who I have missed …

They are sooo busy and live a distance away…

and growing up… means more times with their friends… Understandable!

I have put out a few St. Patrick decorations… just a few…

My Green Bowl and Candleholders… and Cloth Tablecloth with Leprechauns I found at my thrift store!…

My Sparkly Shamrock hung on my door…

 

My St. Patrick’s Day Flag…

My March Calendar… with a pretty green decorated cupcake…

My Leprechaun Window Clings…

I also received a surprise in the mail yesterday from a friend I worked with…

A sweet note and a bracelet…

She knows I have my TOPS group… “Take Off Pounds Sensibly”… and she found this neat TOPS bracelet someone had when they were in a group… She found it at an Antique Mall in Indiana… and it reminded her of me…

That’s the best part… I was thought of… Isn’t that nice!…

She said, “You’re TOPS with me!”…

A few of the charms I’ve received…

Incentives for loseing weight…

Kit Kit… our new little one has a new trick… We wake to find toilet paper unrolled from the roll all over the floor… If it’s on the roll “forward”… she neatly unrolls it in a folded pile…

Looking up at my husband… “Ms. Innocent!”

My husband reversed the roll… thinking it would discourage her…

Only made a bigger mess as she used her claws to get it off…

So… these are my Saturdays…

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Christmas Party Fun!

Last night there was a Christmas Party   with my TOPS friends… (Take Off Pounds Sensibly)…

We went out one year to eat and then the last three years we have opted to have our get-together at the meeting room where we meet each week…

It is so much more fun!…

Due mainly to our club leader…

Our Leader, Sharon… in red…

She makes the room into a wonderful Christmas Party atmosphere!

with decorations… pretty tablecloths… colorful festive tableware… centerpieces … and little gifts running up the middle of the length of tables…

Table decorations and lots of friendly conversation!

There is meat and bread provided… along with drinks/ice…

( this time we had lean pulled pork and chicken ) with BBQ sauce… from Mark’s Feed Store…

since turkey and ham is usually the meat served everywhere else…

We all sign up to bring lower calorie dishes…

We are all pretty good cooks … or we wouldn’t need the club to help us stay on track of our weight or encouragement to lose those extra pounds...

Menu last night included…

green beans, glazed carrots, salad, jello salads, carrot salad, fruit, couple of different potato dishes, turkey/ dressing (after all), frito corn salad, veggie pizza appetizer, deviled eggs, broccoli casserole and a few desserts…

My contribution…Veggie Pizza Appetizer

Enjoying all of the good food!

I wouldn’t have liked to weigh after dinner   … but, we did before and I am pleased to say I had lost … YES!

As a group we gave our leader a gift card … and expressed how grateful we are for her hard work……

and then the fun began!

Sharon had 5 games…

Left-Right Game

Bingo

Seek/Find

Question/Answer

and 25 Christmas Items…

On this last one we all brought at least 25 or more Christmas Items… in a bag 

Our leader read off a list of 25 items … Any items we had in our bag that matched her list counted as 1 point each…

Whoever had the most matches won a prize…

It was so much fun!…

The kid in all of us comes out at these times!

Everyone left with a prize…

We all help clean up… so it doesn’t take long to get everything packed away… divvied out… and cleaned up…

We are a good team… encouraging each other in every way!

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My Sunday Grateful: November 17, 2013- Friends and Shopping

Friday I was asked to a sale at my neighbor’s place of work… Sale on NFL Jerseys… football… basketball and hockey…

Why not!

might as well check it out…

and I did find Steelers and Viking Football Jerseys for my grandson and a hat…

Wasn’t it nice of her to save me a coupon to go and look with her!… I thought so!

The next day…

I met up with two friends I worked with for lunch…

One is retired like me and one is younger and still working…

We sat and enjoyed a drink for about an hour before ordering our lunch…

We had all agreed on the place to meet…

and anticipated hearing all of our tales of woes and good times…

The waitress was very understanding… and told us to take as much time as we wanted…

So we did!… and had a very leisure lunch…

I talked and listened so much… I had to take half of my food home… but, that was OK… I enjoyed it later…

We left there and went shopping for about an hour or more…

Both of my friends have little granddaughters… two and under…

So, I knew I could find them in the little girl’s department looking for Christmas presents…

I was on my own… looking for presents for my 3 grandkids… who are getting older…

I browsed just in case I saw something I thought they would like…

I came home with some great little brown leather low-cut boots for my oldest granddaughter… and a great price on them too!… Now… if she likes them as much as Grandma does… You never know!…

We met back up and checked out each other’s purchases… and said good-bye with a group hug… promising to get together after Christmas…

This week I’m going with a sister, sister-in-law and a friend to shop again… and I get to choose the place to shop and eat…

“Old Time Pottery“     and

“I-Hop Restaurant”…

How does chicken and waffles sound? …

Sometimes I purchase an item or two and sometimes just look and look… getting ideas…

The best thing about all of these little trips… is being with such great friends…

I’m so grateful for the people who are in my life and sharing good times together!

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Leaves to Christmas Tree…

We were going to rake leaves…

So many still falling… Neighbor’s trees still harboring many yet to fall…

So we debated…

Who… really wants to rake leaves?…

We actually blow them a lot… with the leaf blower… so much easier!…

Bobby had already gotten out the “Christmas“ boxes… and I have many!…

There they were staring at me…

Old decorations mixed with the new …

I started looking… Oh, no!… that was downfall…

and the next thing I know… Bobby is in on it… and we are putting up the Christmas Tree…

Leaves were forgotten!…

We decided where… to put it…

Got the lights just right… I use just white… seems to show off the ornaments better…

I found some new ones I had bought… and mixed with the older ones… it seemed to work…

It’s not a fancy tree…

It’s not a fashion tree…

It’s not a perfect tree…

It kinda reminds me of the
“Charlie Brown” Christmas Tree…

http://youtu.be/B4sIzsFQZgE

Simple and decorated with love…

Jill, the cat… has already found her place under it… and watched the whole time from her perch on the couch as we put on each ornament…

Last year…

This year!  We aren’t even finished yet!

I have boxes and boxes of ornaments to go through…

My little neighbor  who is always in need… will get a lot of them…

Bringing a little joy to her is a good thing…

The rest will be offered to my daughter-in-law… I’ll pick out a special bag for her…

I didn’t want to have Christmas intrude on Thanksgiving… but, it seems to have a way of doing it…

and the “leaf story” will be continued later…

Sunday Grateful- November 3, 2013 : My Husband’s Family

I see people on FACEBOOK  writing a “Grateful”  every day for November…

Since I’ve been writing my “Sunday Gratefuls” for awhile… I will continue with that…

I went to the grocery today … Besides everyday food and supplies… I bought a few extras for making my Christmas Cookies… 

That’s my gift to my husband’s family in Georgia…

Whether they like them or not… ( They say they love them! ) …

I totally enjoy making them…

As I bake… I think of all of them… 

Only three sisters, their children and a few cousins of my husband are left from what once was a huge family when we married … which will be 45 years in February …

To have been introduced to this lovely family that came as a bonus with my husband… has been a blessing…

I am so grateful for the love they have shown me…

and in my humble way … that I’m able to show them I love them back at this time of year!

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My Senses Are Being Tantalized!

My senses are aware of the coming change of seasons..

I feel the cooler air… touch of a warm sweater…

I smell the smoke from burning wood in our fire pit… Cinnamon wafting in air from hot cider…

I see the leaves slowly starting to let loose of the branches of the trees… colors changing to yellow… orange and red…

Children heard outdoors… trying to get in those last moments of playing outdoors… cooler wind picking up and blowing the leaves across the lawn…

Tasting that first piece of pumpkin pie…

The flowers are dieing… Their last blooms looking spindly…

The fields are turning brown and golden…

                 

Apples, Pumpkins and Dried Indian Corn tied together…

Gourds to decorate with…

Beautiful Mums in shades of orange, yellow, sienna, some almost a burgundy color…

My anticipation of Autumn is…

Going to Fall Festivals…

Cooking more soups / chilis…

Baking more…

Sipping hot chocolate and apple cider…

Pumpkin… cinnamon… apple smells…

Leaves rustling underfoot…

Crisp cool air…

Baking Pumpkin Seeds…

Stores full of Holiday decorations and ideas…

Sun setting earlier… and rising later…

Yes!… my senses are aware of the changes being made… and I intend to enjoy …

Before another Season starts tantalizing my senses…

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My Sunday Gratefuls: July14, 21, 28 – 2013

My grateful for the 14th of July has to be for being able to take a vacation…

To get out and enjoy different scenery… see relatives… and view places I’ve never seen before…

I see every detail to it’s fullest… and enjoy the beauty… the history… the different food … and the wonderful people…

The 21st of July is my grateful for a safe trip home…

No problems… and the great memories I’ll have for years to come…

I look at the photos I took and I seem to be back in that very place for an instant… how neat is that!…

Today… the 28th of July has to be the overnight trip with my sister…

Her… being a caretender for her very sick husband … needed some time to relax… talk …and reflect…

We got in the pool… sat outside in the sunshine… read a little   (more talk, than read)… had a good dinner… and then played some penny slots at the casino…

Your mind just relaxes… with all of the noise… music… people… drowning out your thoughts for a short while…

We had a nice room… talking some more … laughing/crying…

With the TV droning on… the sleepies hit us hard … We slept like babies…

We even enjoyed the ride home…

Having to tip the valet with a “bag of change” … laughing as we did…

(This picture I found actually looks like the baggie of change we had!)

We were broke!

 

We would have loved to be able to drive home in this!

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Easter Celebrating!

19 Days until Easter…

My Lord has risen and given me a wonderful chance at life…

I celebrate each day…

I feel this is more special than His Birth that we celebrate at Christmas…

Some have traditions at their church with services … some celebrate with family dinners and egg hunts with their children…

some celebrate within themselves… saying quiet prayers… and reflecting on the story of our Christ told in the Bible…

There is egg dyeing… Easter Bunnies appear  … baskets of candies … flowers seem to know and start blooming … girls are dressed up in their finery… and little boys have shiny shoes… pastel colors reign…

The sun is shining bright today… It wakes me up… gets me busy… I feel that Spring Fever they talk about…

Time to freshen up things… make things sparkle… and breathe in the fresh air…

I feel awake after a long winter’s nap!…

Knowing that my Grandkid’s love the thought of the Easter Bunny and that fun stuff… I decorate a little… Might not be for the kids… but, they sure are a good reason…

I pull out my little things I’ve tucked away… some forgotten about and some that I’ve refreshed…

A little of this and that… for my centerpiece…

I’ve stowed away little floating Carrot Candles… Little Duck candles… a Bunny Candle… and a set of salt /pepper shakers in a little holder…

Wood Bunny basket… waiting for some eggs or candy…

My dyed eggs will definitely go here!…

She is just so cute… Ceramic Bunny Lady with her cart… Candy needed!

Forgot about my miniature Bunny/Chick…  Salt/Pepper Shakers…

Window clings… easiest decoration idea I know…

Looking out my kitchen window…One of my favorite spots in my house…

redid Forsythia Wreath (like a hundred times!)…

Brown furry Bunny and Pink/Yellow Eggs…

My flag is hung…says Happy Easter!

as it blows in the breeze…

Happy Easter Everyone!

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It’s A Go!

I saw this idea on… Pillows A-La-Mode… It had been done by her daughter-in-law…

I just loved it!…

and immediately knew I would be making one for my daughter-in-law…

You see… my son and her have bought a new home… and I thought it would make a great house warming gift plus birthday present…

They moved in today and her Birthday is Sunday…

I looked for a star to make it with and was about to order one off of the internet when this metal one was found marked down at a dollar store… It was quite nice… the size I wanted… 14″ X 14″… also had a Welcome Sign ( 10″ long) at the bottom… hung with small chains…

This was going to work perfectly!

No matter what color or design on it… because it would be covered with lots of photos…

I went through all of my photos deciding on which ones would be good for this project…

I included of course the 3 kids… “Mom and Dad”… Uncle Doug… my daughter-in-law’s parents… Wickett, their puppy and both my husband and I…

This is who our “Little Family” consist of…

I printed out the photos on white paper…

It was to be a collage of photos of our family decoupaged with Mod Podge… a type of craft glue that adheres so well and also coats and makes the surface glisten…

After cutting and taping the 100+ photos to the star on all points… I glued them and coated them with the glue… Yes, it took a little time… but, oh so worth it!…

One point of the star designated for each Grandchild of mine… and the rest scattered photos of the rest of us…

This glue is some marvelous stuff… I hadn’t tried this technique for many years… but, my heads a spinnin‘ about other things to cover…

I love it!… and usually I’m my own worst critic…

Even, my other son and husband gave me kudos for this project… and if they give their approval… I usually say, “It’s a go!”

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I TRIED!… She Made Me Do It!

I tried… I really tried… but, that Little Red Head Girl made me do it!…

She decorated the boxes in such an enticing way… I couldn’t help myself…

I should know better…

I tell myself, “Don’t go down that aisle”… “no one needs them”…”I won’t eat them!”…

“I’ll just get them for the guys”…

So… working myself backwards in this story…

see if you could have helped me… could you have stopped me…

I really doubt it!

There’s the cellophane wrapper… They don’t even make it hard to get off… Just a little tear and it drops right off…

Yes!… You see chocolate!… There was such a struggle going on in my head… Chocolate??? Vanilla with that Pretty Pink Frosting???… Don’t open the box Marilyn!…

Ice cold milk in one of my freezer cups… That sure would go well with chocolate…

Do you hear me talking???

This is that cute faced little red-haired girl…

SHE MADE ME DO IT!

Putting her face on those pretty boxes… Just sitting there grinning at me… with that look of…

“I know you can’t resist!…

They are shaped like hearts… aren’t they the cutest!… Just try one… take me home”

So how could I not buy one of each…Chocolate and Vanilla… Both looked so yummy!… and there’s Valentine’s on the back… The Grandkids will like them…

NO!… I will like them!… and it’s not for the cut-out Valentine’s!

and so that’s how it all began…

At least I didn’t fall for the sweet talking little girl enticing me to buy all of her products…

maybe later though… Valentine’s Day only comes once a year… and those Cherry Cordials keep calling my name…

and Doug would like the Iced Brownies… and Bobby might like the Rice Krispie Marshmallow Treats???

. 

The McKee’s “Little Granddaughter”…what’s her name??? … “Little Debbie!”… 

sure knows how to sell her Grandparent’s products…