Storm Came!

Well, the storm came, hung around for awhile, and, well, it's still here. Ugly, cloudy day. Not that much precipitation, but enough to cancel schools. Had some visitors anyway tho! Randy and Courtney came from Louisville for a visit, and to get the kids' gifts. I didn't think they would come, so I hadn't prepared any lunch. Hot dogs were good.

(I'm listening to the radio. Is "Running Bear/White Dove" a Christmas song?)

Getting ready to get ready to go to SC this week! Got the sewing machine and scrapbook stuff gathered, and some clothes. Got to get the gifts and everything in the car the day before I leave, so I can leave as soon as I get up. I am so looking forward to seeing my grandsons! And in about a month, my new Cookie Girl!

Gonna have to clean this messy house before I leave. . . for some reason, I don't see Mike noticing that there is dust an inch thick on furniture, that the plants need water, nor that the floors need swept, stuff like that. Just don't see him noticing that kind of stuff. . . And the Christmas decorations will be up, I'm sure, until I get home! As long as there is nothing obstructing his TV viewing, everything
is fine. . .

It's 29 degrees; still under storm watch. Merry Christmas! luv, mom/mrt

Winter Storm Warning!

Well, in about 3 hours we will be under a winter storm warning. At least 3 inches of snow over the top of 1/2 inch of ice. . . I'm not going anywhere! And I don't need to; there is plenty to do right here in my junk -- er, stuff -- room. And add laundry and house cleaning and I don't even have to get out of these comfy PJs! Which, I think, is a lofty ambition!

I've had a wonderful weekend! On Saturday, two of the neighborhood kids came and "helped" me make Christmas cookies. I had made the dough on Thursday in anticipation of their arrival. We made sugar cookies and chocolate cookies, and had enough cookie cutters that the residents of a small country could have a couple cutters each! Add dough, colored icing, and LOTS of sprinkles, and that makes a more than adequate mess! But they had fun, not as much as me, though! Then we delivered some to some widows in the neighborhood. . . I don't know if they ate them or not, and not really sure if they should have! But I love kids! I get the biggest kick out of hearing them talk about how hard they are working, even though it is creating a ton of work for me! And I get to repeat the process next week in SC when I go see my precious grandsons!

Then on Sunday, the "Maple Tree Gang" came over for a small Christmas party. I had been making stuff off and on all week. And Sunday morning I had to make a pot of chili and some Mexican cornbread (we can't eat without that!) before going to church. They trickled in about 1:30 and left about 4:30. Then I went to church, came home and changed, and went to another church to hear their Christmas cantata. It was a busy day, and nobody had to sing me to sleep last night!

All in all it was a wonderful weekend, had all the right combination: children, good friends and food! Looking forward to making coodies with my boys in SC next week! !

Now, hopefully, the pictures will come thru!. . . Here goes! Well, they came out at the top, so it seems I've got some learning to do to get them where I want them! Now it won't let me add any more. . .whatever. . . luv, mom/mrt

Thought for the Day

Two of my precious angel boys, in front of the tree they (Carlos) decorated at my house before riding their chocolate pony (Tug) in the living room!




Here's my thought for the day:

It's a good thing wrinkles don't hurt!

And here's what I found out: I could have been downloading photos all along. When I'm writing a new post, and trying to insert photos, all that shows up are a bunch of letters and symbols. But, when I preview, the photos are there! I think. We'll see when I publish. What a dork! I'm still glad wrinkles don't hurt! luv, mom/mrt

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving to all ! !

I've spent the most wonderful day with two of the most precious angel boys in the world! They arrived about 8:30 last evening, played hard until about 11 and then zonked -- I mean, their heads hit the pillow and they were snoring! But about 7:30 this morning they were up and ready for pancakes with chocolate chips, bacon and sausage. And then it was play with this and that. . . and the cat and dog.

I dropped them off for a visit with their mother's family this afternoon. They both made sure that I was coming back on Saturday to get them! They really weren't too excited about going, but obligingly did their duty.

We made a pit stop at Wal-Mart, the barber shop and Dairy Queen before we left. They are in to "Bakagan", whatever that is, and daddy couldn't find any in SC. Well, the Burg had a bunch. In the 15 minutes they were looking at stuff, two ladies came along and bought like 20 of them. So I hid 3 packages in a shirt I was buying for fear there wouldn't be any there later. They don't know I got them; they were oblivious to what I was doing when there were so many interesting toys around. Well, to make a long story short: I left the Mart with $50 of merchandise instead of $10 for cat food.

Looks like there will be a house full here on Saturday; come and join us! I made blackberry jam yesterday so I can make a jam cake tomorrow. Also have pumpkin and a chocolate pie (for Sadie). I had to use some of the jam for "pay" for the boys' trip to KY. . . and green beans and other jams/jellies. Some people won't take money but will take home canned food. . . go figure!

Guess I'll start Christmas shopping next week. I love everybody on my list, but I hate shopping for people who have everything, or if they don't they go get it themselves. Just about anything you get will be a repeat of something they already have. We Americans have too much. All we need is "enough". I have enough: wonderful, beautiful family, health, home and heat, and plenty of food. Thank you God! luv, mom/mrt

Christmas

When doing your Christmas cards this year, take one card and send it to this address. If we pass this on and everyone sends one card, think of how many cards these wonderful special people who have sacrificed so much would get. Including a personal "thank you" would mean a lot, too. When you are making out your Christmas card list this year, please include one to the following:

A Recovering American Soldier
c/o Walter Reed Army Medical Center
6900 Georgia Avenue, NW
Washington , D.C. 20307-5001


God Bless America! ! ! luv, mom/mrt

Gettin Ready to get Ready

I must be the most disorganized person in the world. I force myself to go into town at least once a week, armed with a list of absolutely everything I will need for a month. . . Then, when I get home, I immediately start another list of things I forgot to put on the first list. I have had to go into town, four miles away, twice this week! It's a disgrace!

On Monday, Aunt Bernie and I shopped in Etown. (I don't mind going somewhere else as long as it isn't the Burg.) Stopped in the Burg for some burgundy fabric to make a dust ruffle, since there was NONE in Etown I would have. They were all so cheap looking!

So anyway, I come home with 12 yards and made my gathered dust ruffle to my liking and had enough left for curtains. This prompted me to have to return to the Burg for curtain rods. Got home, only had one! Sewed on the curtains anyway in a sever state of distress because when they were done I couldn't put them up!

My new sewing machine has some embroidery stitches, so I put a gold-thread trim on the dust ruffle, curtains and pillow shams (I bought them because they matched and were already sewn; just had to trim them). Ran out of gold thread. Had to go to the Burg for another curtain rod and HUGE spool of gold thread.

Things were running smoothly. Until . . .

I wanted to make cheesy potato soup for supper. Had 2 potatoes and no cheese. Had to go back to the Burg for taters, milk, cheese, oh, and cake mix and brownies were on sale so had to get them. Got home to make a cake. No vegetable oil.

Do you see a pattern here? Is this disorganization; can't be old age! Can it? luv, mom/mrt

It's Better!

I have spent the most wonderful week with my three grandsons in South Carolina. The sad part is, I have to leave tomorrow! I know others have grandchildren, and I'm sure they are precious, but I'm telling you, Mine Are The BEST!

Ashton is crawling and pulling up on things. He can surely get himself in a bind sometimes. And, bless his heart, other than a living room full of toys and two big brothers to play with, he doesn't have anything to play with. It's sad. The two kittens, Sparks and Peacha, watch him -- from a distance. They remind me of the Siamese cats in "that" cartoon; where you see one you see them both.

Carlos and Levi got their report cards yesterday; all A's except one B+. They are so much more focused now on their studies. They're both in accelerated reading programs. Last night Carlos read an entire "chapter book". I took them to Books A Million yesterday; we were supposed to get two books -- got five! They already have several sets of "chapter" books and enjoy reading, once you get their faces out of the video games. That's a bad habit that will be eliminated after Christmas. They won't want their piddling videos!

They tickle me saying their prayers at night. Carlos always asks for God to give his bus driver another baby (she recently lost one) and Levi thanks God for a good day and asks for a better one tomorrow. . . And they both say "lay your hand" on different people to keep them safe and healthy. They are learning so much going to Sunday School and Awana; I wish everybody was as happy for them as they are for themselves. . .you know who I mean.

They got a car load of stuff for Halloween. We went to their church for a party where they played games, ate and got candy; then we went to another party at one of Carlos' classmates house -- that was a party! And they got food there. Then we went to Mawmaw's and they each got a bag full of candy and Pokemon cards and money and more than they would ever get going door to door. . . That door to door stuff is so "out" what with people putting drugs and stuff into the candy. Some backward people, tho, still think it's the only way to have fun on Halloween. Maybe they'll grow up; doubts are out there, tho!

Anyway, I've enjoyed this past week so very much. Both big boys want me to stay, but I know they need to be a real family, and I need to get home and get ready for them to visit me for Thanksgiving!

Please pray for my friend Tracy's husband, Clifford. He is in UL hospital with fluid on the brain. Hopefully it can be drained, but if not he faces surgery. luv, mom/mrt