I'm just sayin'...

A couple years ago, Jack bought me a good digital camera, and he always says that it's the best investment he ever made. He knows that there is nothing I like better than to spend a day taking pictures. He'll take a vacation day to go with me so that I can get a snapshot of this:

He will travel miles chasing sunsets for me, never complaining, to get this:

and even backtrack so that I can get that picture I missed...

Next week he's taking me to the mountains just so I can take photos of a couple of these:

uhhmmm...well maybe...about a MILLION of those,

He knows how much I like taking pictures so he does it to make me happy.

I love that about him...and a whole lot more.

Golden years...

Old Mothers
They draw me to them: women who have grown…
Wise with wisdom that right living brings.
Old mothers that have suffered and have known…
A triumph over many conquered things,

Who have grown gentle, trusting day by day,
Who have grown patient, serving through the years;
Who have prayed much, have learned how to pray,
And weeping - learned how futile were their tears.

They wear such certainty within their eyes:
A sureness that no question can shake;
All is so clear to them - they are so wise,
The way was made so plain that they should take.

If one should come to them...his faith grown dim,
Their faith would light the fires anew in him.

Happy 90th birthday, Mom !

~ We love you ~

Houses for Wrent....

Pappy and Alex had made plans to build birdhouses last Saturday after the soccer game. Two of them, one for me and one for Alex's yard. On the way home, Alex informed Pappy that he had told his teacher that he would make her one too!
So they made a quick stop at the home center for more wood.
They did a great job!
So we added some paint and up they went...

Alex's teacher told him that she will be hanging the birdhouse in the school habitat for everyone to enjoy!
He was thrilled.
Were keeping our fingers-crossed in hopes that new tenants will move in soon!!

" He loves me, He loves me not, He loves me so we tied the knot!"

Reflections on Marriage for the Bride and Groom

Let love be your shelter,
the world is noisy
and confusing at times,
so make a home
that is a haven,
A peaceful place where you can
listen to your hearts and savor
The comfortable closeness you share.

No matter how busy,
Your days may be,
Make time for yourselves.
Hold hands.
Unwind.
Surprise each other.
Find little chances every day,
to show you’re grateful to be partners,
to be friends, to be married.

Life is not perfect,
You will make mistakes,
But each time you meet life’s challenges together,
You will grow wiser, stronger,
And more sure of your love.

Cherish your yesterdays.
They are irreplaceable souvenirs
of your journey through life.
Make memories
That will bring smiles and sighs
Whenever you look back….
And look back often.

Look forward, too.
Dream together. Plan together.
Make promises to keep.
Believe in your tomorrows.
Because tomorrows
are what forever is made of.

To make love last…
Put each other first.
This is the way to make a beautiful life together,
The kind of life you both deserve so much.

~ Congratulations ~

~ Newlyweds ~

This past Friday, our daughter Sarah and her fiancé Frank were married!!
They have been together for 3 years and have been very busy with jobs and school. Sarah is a single mother of our grandson Alex, and she recently graduated from college with a degree in Radiation Therapy. Frank has worked with the mentally- challenged for six years and two years ago, went back to school to get a teaching degree. He wants to teach them...up until now he's always been a care-taker.

This is a second marriage for Sarah, first for Frank. So they decided to have a small ceremony at the Justice of the peace. There were about 12 of us in all. Alex was the best man and in charge of Mom's ring.

After the ceremony, we all went to a local restaurant for dinner and the food and service was great! They were so happy to have us there and offered a small room off by ourselves.

I think the cake is just beautiful!!

We had heart-shaped cookies as favors since it was Valentine's week!!

Later the happy couple left to spend 3 days at a local ski resort in the mountains.

We are so pleased to have Frank in our family. He's a great guy with a big heart.

And we wish them both the best of everything!

~ Photo hunt ~

This week's theme is: SKINNY

This photo was taken in 1969 when I was 21, and my first son was about a year old. Those were some skinny arms! I weighed all of 80 pounds (soakin' wet)

For more photo fun entries....click here!

~ Sweet History ~

The average American eats about 22 pounds of candy each year!

...more than 12,000 M&M's !

Nearly nine billion pieces of candy corn was produced in 2006.

The oldest branded candy is good and plenty.

Tell me what's your favorite treat:

Peanut *butter *cup

Milky*way

Kit*Kat

Tootsie*rolls

candy*corn

M*M's

And don't tell me you don't eat candy, because I won't believe it for a second!

***see stats above!

Here's some shots of my favorite little guy over the past few years...

Here's Alex with some of his friends at a "Halloween Bash " at a local park!

~ Odds and Ends ~

Rake leaves for 60 minutes and you'll burn approximately 281 calories!

My Mom makes a great Pineapple Rhubarb jam !

Here's her recipe:

5 cups rhubarb, chopped

3 1/2 cups sugar

1- large can crushed pineapple

1-3 oz. box strawberry jello

Mix all ingredients in large pot. Cook until rhubarb is soft. Keep stirring mixture. Remove from heat and add box of uncooked strawberry jello.

Mix well and pour into scalded jars.

Yield: 7 small jars. ~ keep refrigerated.

******************

Here's my favorite recipe for chicken from a local restaurant chain:

Max & Irma's Tuscan Chicken

4 fresh Chicken breasts, boneless and skinless

4 Tablespoons olive oil

8 oz. medium mushrooms, quartered

1 (8 oz. can) artichokes, drained and quartered

4 oz. onion, cut into thin strips

4 teaspoons fresh garlic, chopped

2 teaspoons Italian seasoning

3 teaspoons black pepper

2 teaspoons salt

1 cup white wine or chicken broth

12 oz. roma tomatoes, quartered lengthwise

2 oz. butter, cut into small pieces

In a small bowl, combine chicken breasts, 2 tablespoons olive oil and 1 teaspoon of black pepper. Stir to coat chicken.

Wash and quarter mushrooms.

Cut onions into strips. Chop garlic and cut tomatoes. Drain artichokes and measure out other ingredients.

Place chicken in broiler or on grill and cook for 3 to 5 minutes.

While chicken is cooking, prepare the topping for chicken in a large saute pan.

Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil until it is hot and add onion and garlic and saute until softened. Add the mushrooms and artichokes and 2 teaspoons of pepper, Italian seasoning and salt.

Continue cooking for 2 or 3 minutes. Turn the chicken over to continue cooking. Add your white wine (or broth) to the mushrooms and artichokes and cook to reduce to 1/2 volume.

Toss in tomatoes and heat until just warm. Just before serving, add the butter just until melted.

Place the chicken breasts on a platter and top with the tuscan vegetables from pan. Serve immediately and enjoy!

**************

" Old people shouldn't eat health foods; they need all the preservatives they can get "

Robert Orben

~ American Sweetheart ~

This week,the "Show and Tell" items that I chose are Depression Glass pieces that my grandmother passed on to me.These were popular around the mid 1920's. They were machine made with a pressed pattern, and are very thin glass.

Everyday breakfast dishes included cereal bowls, cream and sugar, cups and saucers and tumblers, which came in three sizes- for juice, water and ice tea. These glasses are the hard to find because they were so easily broken.
The translucent white pattern shown above is called "American Sweetheart" after movie star, Mary Pickford. These were never reproduced so the real thing can be found, unless you are looking for a particular piece or color. Cobalt blue the most difficult to find, with red being next. But the rarest pieces are called "lunch box pieces".They are one-of-a-kind pieces that glass workers made on their lunch hour and took home in their lunch boxes to their wives.
This glass was sometimes giveaways in large containers of rolled oats, boxes of soap powder or a 20 - pound sack of flour.

You could buy a service for eight for $2.98!......now I'm told if you could find a complete set, $298.00 would be a steal. Plates, cups and saucers can now be found as cheap as $15.00, but rarer pieces like the lid to the sugar bowl (notice mine is missing in the top photo) could be priced as high as $455.00. Tumblers go for $200.00 each.

For more great " Show and Tell Friday “ click over to Kelli's blog.

Friday's " Show and Tell "

When my Father was in the navy during World War II, he sent this pillow case to my Mom. I'm guessing that was around 1943.
Recently, She gave me a few mementos that she had saved for so many years. This was one of them. For quite some time it was framed and hung above their bed.















The verse reads:

SWEETHEART

I thought that you would like to know,

That someone's thoughts go where you go,

That someone never will forget,

The hours we spent since we met.

That life is richer, sweeter far,

For such a sweetheart as you are,

And now my constant prayer will be,

That God may keep you safe for me.

I remember when I was a little girl, reading this every time I was in their room until I had it memorized and I thought it was the most romantic poem I had ever heard.

Stop on over at Kelli's house for more Show and tell, and have a good weekend!

Hobby turned small business venture.....

Last week, when I posted for Skittles' "heads of tails" meme, I talked about a hobby that turned out to be a " out of our home" business venture.

It all started about 10 years ago, when I bought a heat in the microwave bag at a local craft show. It was just a bag filled with field corn, that would hold the heat for an extended period of time and the bag could be applied anywhere on the body to relieve pain. I brought it home and it worked!



















I thought what a great gift this would be!..... But I soon found out that the little lady that I bought it from had retired and was no longer making them.
One day Hubby came home with a tension headache and I told him that I had just the thing for it. He tried it and said that we should make them for family Christmas gifts. The following Christmas we did, and they were a big success. Soon family members were ordering them for their friends. The next year, Hubby suggested renting a spot at a craft show. Again we did well, and even had follow-up orders from people that had received them as gifts!




























To make a long story short, 10 years and many, many bags later, we are still goin' strong!! Our handmade bags have gone to 5 countries and over 18 states!

And it all started in our family room . . . . . .

You made it !!!!!!

July 30, 2007

Sarah ~
Graduation day has finally come, and I can’t even begin to tell you how proud I am !
For three long years now, you have juggled schedules, dealt with migraines, and stuffed your head with volumes of information…words that I couldn’t even pronounce, let alone define.

I know that there were times when you felt so overwhelmed that you wondered if it was worth it. Between classes, full days at the hospital, and trying to spend quality time with Alex and Frank, you had little time left for yourself.

But you stuck with it….. and we knew you could do it, and do it well.

Since you were a little girl, you have always had a soft heart and caring spirit for those with physical needs. And when you speak about your patients, I hear a genuine concern for them in your voice. I believe that God has given you a gift and this is where you are called to be. Use your smile and out-going personality to help them through a very difficult time. They will benefit by having someone so compassionate to care for them.

So now you are ready to take on the world. Give the best you have to give and reap the rewards of your labor!
I love you…..Mom

"Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. "~ Ralph Waldo Emerson