Good Old Days.....

This was my fourth grade class picture. I'm the in the middle, top row. I was always the smallest in my class. I can still remember each of their names, but I probably can't tell you things that happened last week ! Isn't that a sign of old age?

This is one of the few photos of my parents, probably taken around 1945.

This photo was taken around 1953. I'm the little one in the front with the bibbed jeans and my hair up under a scarf. There are 3 sets of cousins in this photo. We were out in the country visiting relatives and it looks like we kids had been running around all day, getting sweaty and dirty and someone decided to take our picture....Dear Lord!

Thought for Today....

" You don't have to be alone in your hurt! Comfort is yours. Joy is an option. And it's all made possible by your Savior.He went without comfort so that you might have it. He postponed joy so that you might share in it. He willingly chose isolation so that you might never be alone in your hurt and sorrow. " ~Joni Eareckson Tada

Aren't you glad the verse does not read:
"For God so loved the rich..."?
Or, "For God so loved the famous..."?
Or, "For God so loved the thin..."?
It doesn't. Nor does it state, "For God so loved the Europeans or Africans..." "the sober or successful..." "the young or the old..."
No, when we read John 3:16, we simply (and happily) read, "For God so loved the world." ~Max Lucado

Look what I found....

Friday morning, about 8 :30, my phone rang...it was Hubby. He had locked his keys in the car and needed me to meet him with the extra set. He was about 45 minutes away from home on the other side of the city.

I knew that he hated to ask me and kept apologizing for ruining my morning off (that's just the kind of guy he is ).

How could I say no to someone that comes to my workplace when it snows and cleans the snow off and preheats my car before I get off work !!

So I threw myself together, got some directions and off I went. On the way back, I passed two thrift shops that I always wanted to visit. So I stopped...and boy, I'm glad I did !!

I have these two pictures hanging in my bathroom and could never find the larger picture to match them. I've looked everywhere....at any price. Today I found it at the thrift shop for $3.95 !!!

I also found a plate for my collection and 4 Junie B. Jones books for Alex, they're his favorite, at $.50 each.

So it was well worth the trip !!

Hope all of you had a good day too, and enjoy this wonderful weather !!!

This and That....

Here is a small corner shelf that holds miniture plates and a few collectables from the " memories of Yesterday " line.

Here are some photos of my miniture teapot and teacup collection on my kitchen windowsill.

Also, this is a great place to display small seasonal decorations.

I come from a long line of tea drinkers, and I have always loved beautiful china teapots and cups !

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"Thank God for tea! What would the world do without tea? How did it exist? I am glad I was not born before tea."
Rev. Sydney Smith

"Tea is nought but this:First you heat the water,Then you make the tea.Then you drink it properly.That is all you need to know."
Sen RikyuZen Tea Master1522-1591

"I don't drink coffee; I take tea, my dear."
-Sting, An Englishman in New York

Free Stuff....

Our 6 yr. old Grandson was sitting at Pappy's desk in our home office one day coloring, and when he was finished, he posted these notes .....

Now that I have your attention , I wanted to tell you about some free magazines that I receive in the mail. http://www.kraftfoods.com/ offers a magazine that is sent out 4 times a year. It has lots of recipes and cooking hints. Go to the site and click on " food and family " at the top of the page.

Also, go to www.verybestbaking.com/ and click the bottom right corner of the site page. (Nestle sites ). They offer several different magazines for kids, babies, diabetes etc.

Hope you'll enjoy them !

From a strictly Mathematical Viewpoint:

What Equals 100%?

Ever wonder about those who say they are giving more than 100%?

How about achieving 101%?

What equals 100% in life?

Here's a little mathematical formula that might help you

answer theseQuestions:

If: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Is represented as :

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 1 9 20

21 22 23 24 25 26.

Then: H-A-R-D-W-O-R- K :

8+1+18+4+23+15+18+11 = 98%

And K-N-O-W-L-E-D-G-E :

11+14+15+23+12+5+4+7+5 = 96%

But, A-T-T-I-T-U-D-E :

1+20+20+9+20+21+4+5 = 100%

AND, look how far the love of God will take you :

L- O- V- E-O-F-G-O-D

12+15+22+5+15+6+7+15+4 = 101%

Therefore, one can conclude with mathematical certainty that:

While Hard work and Knowledge will get you close,

and Attitude will get you there,

it's the Love of God that will put you over the top!

Works For Me Wednesday

Shannon over at http://rocksinmydryer.typepad.com/ is hosting " Works for Me Wednesday " and I have a hint from my Hubby.

With all the slush from so much snow this winter, our vinyl mats in the van were wet all the time. So he went to the dollar store and bought 4 small carpet pieces. They do a great job of absorbing all the mess. And at $1.00 each , he can replace them every month.

" If God Had A Refrigerator "

If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it.
If he had a wallet, your picture would be in it.
He sends you flowers every spring and a sunrise every morning.
When ever you want to talk, he'll listen.

He can live anywhere in the universe, and he chose your heart.
what about the Christmas gift He sent you in Bethlehem ;

not to mention that Friday at Calvary.
Face it, friend....He's crazy about you.

Things That Make Me Smile....

Randi , over at http://ihavetosay.typepad.com/ is hosting ~ Let's get real Monday . The theme is " my favorite things ". So I decided to make a list of some things that make me smile !

Teapots, teacups and old plates

Johnny Jump - ups

Sudden Spring showers

Birds at the birdbath

Old leaning barns

Antique lace doilies

Sunday afternoon naps

Relaxing bubble baths

Happy giggling children

Old romantic movies

Seed packets and gardening gloves

Wooden fences

Unexpected back rubs

Terra cotta pots

Dried flower wreaths

Embroidered handkerchiefs

Vintage glassware

Family stories

Warm sunshine

And most of all, having good friends !!

Have a Blessed Easter

" For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. "

John 3 : 16.

What the Bunny Won't Tell You...

If you've been out shopping these last few weeks, you know that we have commercialized Easter as much as we have Christmas. And just as Santa Claus has become the world's symbol of Christmas, the Easter Bunny is the world's symbol for Easter.

I work for Target as a Department Manager, and one of my depts. is Electronics and Entertainment. We have been overwhelmed by the amount of guests buying Easter gifts for their children. One mother told me about her three daughters, and how they bicker constantly about what they have... never willing to share anything. She had a long list in her hand and bought several items , and as I rang her up , she told me that she had already spent $1400.00
on these three girls and had not completed her list.

I agree that it is fun to go on egg hunts and eat chocolate bunnies... and the Easter Bunny is a likeable enough character, but I can't figure out what positive message the Easter Bunny has.
He does not give a true picture of the real meaning of Easter. Why is it that the world feels a
need to conjure up someone to take away from anything that reveals the truth of Christ ?

Well, most of us know the answer to that question...but I can't get my conversation with that young Mom out of my mind and and I wonder , in the midst of all the gift giving , will Christ even be mentioned and the ultimate sacrifice that He made for them ?

***This post is not intended to offend anyone. As you can see in some of my recent posts, I always set out bunnies and eggs , but I just feel like there needs to be balance..and to be sure we include the real reason for Easter.

Cookies for Breakfast ?

Last Sunday, I posted a recipe for "Big breakfast cookies". Well, I made some this morning ! When I say big...these cookies measure almost 6 " across, that's why one cookie can fill you up.

Now I know that these are not Mrs. Field's, but...If you've been on a diet and are hankerin' for something chewy , I think these can do the trick.

These are great if you don't have a lot of time in the morning when you're getting ready for work. I like to grab something as I go out the door, but I have to eat fast , my job is only 7 minutes away from home.

Bunnies Everywhere!

Peepy Facts

Did you know....
The original Marshmallow PEEPS are made by the Just Born Company in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania ?

The first PEEPS were produced in 1953 and it took 27 hours to create just one peep ! Today, peeps are produced at the rate of 4.2 million per day.

PEEPS have a shelf life of 2 years !

One PEEP contains 32 calories and 0 grams of fat.

PEEPS have been the #1 non - chocolate Easter candy for the past decade, even outselling jelly beans.

People like to do curious things with PEEPS...eat them stale, microwave them,freeze them, roast them, and even use them as a pizza topping.

Over 1.2 billion PEEPS are produced each year covering all all the holiday seasons...that's enough PEEPS to circle the earth twice !!!

Want to know how it all started ?.. go to http://www.marshmallowpeeps.com/

~ Pinch of This ~ Dash of That

Took a few days off from my blog ( I hate the sound of that word ) ahh...let's see..on-line journal..that's better...to do some spring cleaning and catch up on laundry.
My Hubby and I have decided that we need to get more exercise, so we'll be walking at least 3 days a week for an hour or so. He and I both have arthritis so walking would be good for us. We live about 5 minutes from a County Park that has lots of paved walking trails. You see lots of people out there jogging, walking,and even roller blading!
Now, we just need to get started......

Here's a few Southbeach recipes that I use often. The Cookie recipe is an old W.W. recipe,but I got it from the Southbeach Forum :

Deluxe Crockpot Oatmeal - phase 2

2 cups skim milk
2 Tab. brown sugar
1 Tab. butter
1/4 tea. salt
1/2 tea. cinnamon
1 cup old - fashion oatmeal
1 cup finely chopped apple
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup chopped walnuts or almonds

Directions:
Grease the inside of the crockpot with butter.
Add other ingredients to the crockpot and mix well.
Cover and turn on LOW.
Cook overnight or 6 to 8 hours.
Stir before serving

If I don't have an apple, I use 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce

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Big Breakfast Cookie ( makes 1 BIG cookie )
1/3 cup oatmeal
1 Tab. raisins
1 Tab. pastry flour
1/3 cup fat-free dry milk
1/4 cup sugar - free applesauce
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. baking powder
1 Tab. Splenda or no - calorie sweetener

Directions:
pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a cookie sheet with Pam. Mix all ingredients together and spoon a large mound on cookie sheet. Bake for 15 - 20 minutes, until golden brown on edges.
* I make enough for 4 cookies, they freeze very well.