~Nana's Treasures~

~Our Vacation~

2012-01-08T10:26:00.014-06:00

Again this year we were very blessed to have a vacation with my parents.. Larry just loves traveling with them. Now, how many SIL's or DIL's can say they LOVE their in-Laws??? But we have alot of fun with them. This year, we had a few hiccups, but had a blast even with all that. One week prior to leaving, Larry hurt his shoulder, which we later found out was a torn rotator cuff. Then the night before we were leaving, mom's front crown fell off, which we super glued back on, because we could not get ahold of a dentist.. Then on the way as we were in Baltimore waiting on our flight to Ft. Lauderdale, I stood up and twisted my back out. Yeah, A ROCKY start.. None of that kept us from having a great time. We boarded the Largest Cruise Ship in the WORLD - Allure of the Seas on Sunday, Nov. 13th... You can read the particulars about the ship on the side of the pic.. It was HUGE!!!!! We immediately went to find the Carousel, yeap a real working carousel on a ship... Mom, dad and I promptly jumped right on and around we go.. It was GREAT!! Then we found the hot dog stand, right there on BoardWalk beside the carousel. Dad was in Heaven, He LOVES hot dogs.. We could not get into our cabin until 2 so they had time to clean them good from the last group. So we waundered around the ship. Out of 16 passenger decks we were on deck 11... Way up there.. That night we attended the Oceanaria show, it was a diving, acrobatic water show, outside under the stars and you could hear the waves beside the ship.. Then we spend a relaxing day at sea, exploring the ship. Comedy show that night was the PITS! Really vulgar and NOT funny at all.. Then we were in Nassau.. Who does that young man look like?? Yeap David Brown, even sounds like him when he talks... It was a great day there, Had to buy Larry some short sleeved shirts, he was about to burn up.. Sat in the market place and listened to them play steel drums. I could listen to them all day... The show that night was Chicago... I enjoyed it, kinda skimpy costumes, but the show was good.. There is just SO MUCh to see and do on those ships, you cannot possibly do and see it all. We found a "neighborhood" on the ship called "CENTRAL PARK" it was on Deck 8, when we left the cabin going anywhere, we went to deck 8 and walked through Central Park and got on the elevators at the other end of the ship to go where we wanted to. It was so peaceful and fresh.. Lots of trees plants, birds chirping (real and audio recorded) shops, places to eat, places to just sit and relax.. Mom's favorite place on the ship. They had a salad/sandwich shop there that made an awesome salad and a really good roast beef sandwich.. There were cabins on the ship with balconies that overlooked Central Park, Boardwalk and the ocean.. Ours was an ocean view.. only in this pic you see the docks in Ft Lauderdale. But you get the idea.. Here this one is better. We are leaving the port of Ft Lauderdale. They had parades on the ship, with the captain of the ship as the grand marshal on his motorcycle. They have belly flop contests, of which we did not join in. There is a casino, lots of eateries, Spa, salon, bars on every corner, if you need/want it more than likely they have it on board. we were having dinner in the Windjammer one night and they were dipping ice cream out of tubs like Baskin Robbins has, Dad handed the girl his bowl and she asked 1 scoop or 2? His reply was "whatever you can fit into this bowl" so this is what he got... He LOVED it. He had ice cream every night.. I have barely scratched the surface of my pics. I took over 1000 in the 9 days we were gone.. But maybe you get the idea that we had a fabulous time... Thanks mom and dad for going along with us.. We had a Great time.. Can't wait for our road trip this year.. Niagara Falls, HERE WE COME!!!!

~Out Little Man~

2011-07-11T20:16:00.004-05:00

Aunt Sue, Please do not have a heart attack.. I am going to try to do better about posting... I PROMISE!!!!

Well, it has happened. Larry never thought it would, but it did.... Bruce moved out in Mid March... It was really a sad day for me. I helped clean their new home and get it ready for him to paint 2 rooms, the baby's room and another bedroom... So now it is just Larry and I here in this house.. But I have adjusted fairly well.. I still get kinda jumpy, but that is getting better..

Then there came "ROBERT EASTON".. Yeap, he finally arrived. May 27th at 1:33 AM, by emergency C-section. He weighed in at 9 lbs, 15 ozs, and 22" long... With a healthy set of lungs.. Mom, Dad and Baby are doing well... I was just informed at 6 weeks, 3 days he tips the scales at 12 lbs 15 1/2 ozs.. He i taking 4-5 ounces of formula every 3 hours. only waking up twice during the night for a bottle. He got his days and nights mixed up for a couple of days, but then straightened out... He is a really good baby.. He nows his daddy's voice.. Bruce only works 4 10 hour days, so Fridays are his and Easton's CAMO day... That is his day with Easton.. The girls are tickled to death with him. Nana has not been able to keep him at her house yet, they are keeping him at home away from most germs for awhile. I did get to pick him up and take him to see mom and dad after she came home from her surgery.. That is another story I will get to in a minute... We spent a couple hours over there..

Just 3 weeks after Easton was born, mom had colon surgery. Hopefully her Divertculum is CURED!!! She had done GREAT with her surgery. Still has very little energy most of the time, but other than that she is PAIN FREE!!!! Praise the LORD!!!!! I have not been there to help as msuch as I should have. Got caught at Bruce and Lyn's one day when Easton had his days and nights mixed up. Lyn asked me to watch him and let her take a nap, he had only slept 1 hour that entire day.. How could I refuse.. Then I came home from work one day with a virus so I did not dare go over there with that.. But she is doing so well, the doctor released her 2 weeks post op.. That is very UNUSUAL...

With everyone feeling and doing well, Larry and I ran off to Branso for the 4th of July weekend.. It was fun, really HOT, but fun. We saw the Dixie Stampede. I enjoyed it, but don't think Larry do so much... Did some junk shopping, alot of walking.. It was good. Came home arund 4 PM on the 4th. Rocky, Deanna and Lil Bit came out and we pull started the 1931 Farmall regular that Rocky has rebuilt for us. It moved under it's own power after Larry pulled it with the Blazer.. Rocky was beaming from ear to ear. What a Great thing. Mom and dad came out and got to see it move as well. It was AWESOME... Hope you can view the video. NOtice toward the end after Rocky gets back on it, he runs over the chain Larry is pulling him with...

Wow that was exciting. I think Rocky is still grinnin over that...

This past weekend, I took Cem, Gab, Maranda and Bri to the lake house for the weekend. Kelsey's grandma from CA is here visiting. SO we snuck off without her, I hated doing that, but we planned this when we thought she was not going to be here this past weekend. Did not want to tell the others we could not go. There will be lots of other weekends.. They are not letting Easton go places yet, so that will come also.. The weekend of the 22, I am going to Dallas with Cem and Gab on a youth group trip, that will be exciting. We are going to a Rangers game on Friday nite, then Six Flags all day Saturday. Then back home on Sunday... Rocky, Deanna Kelsey and Deanna's family are going to the Lakehouse that weekend...

Well, better get off and get some sleep. Work tomorrow. This is the beginning of our Fiscal year. so I am keying some 100 plus contracts for this year... I will get them all done...

Nite all. LOVE TO ALL!!!!!!

~STORMS~

2011-04-26T18:22:00.002-05:00

I do not like Storms.. But living in AR as I do, we have lots of them especially this time of year. Last Tuesday night I had all the kids over here dying Easter eggs. and along comes storms... I had everyone texting me, calling me.. sending me messages about the sirens going off and the storms... Then the very next night, I was all alone, the power went out, it was again storming, and guess what??? NO phone calls, NO texts,,,, not anything... Oh well... It stormed all night long,,, But I survived...

THen we had a GORGEOUS weekend for Easter... It was a great day. We all gathered at mom and dad's, just missing James's Family and Buck (he was working). Had a great time with the kiddos hunting eggs, then they decorated sugar cookies.. Had icing and sprinkles all over the patio, but the rain washed it off that night... I will add pics when I get them off the camera. I am adding this between tornados tonite.. We had tornados last night and again tonite.. They are saying the ones tonite are going to be really bad. but so far. has not been too bad.. Kelsey told her mom, she needed to go check on her Nana, cause Nana was scared of storms too like her.. SO they came out here since Rocky is in class in Litte Rock and will be in later,,. So here I sit, Kel is in living room watching Madagascar... I am doing a little updatin watching the sky out the window in the office.. Looking a little dark, I think the next storm is supposed to hit about 7:30 or so.. Guess I better get off and shut down the computer. All you in Storm Land, be safe tonite. May God keep his protecting hands on all of you and also on all of you that are in good weather right now. LOVE YA!!!!!!!

~Hyacinths are in Bloom~

2011-03-05T18:53:00.002-06:00

Aunt Jeanette's favorite flowers are in bloom.. This was her favorite flower, I think Uncle CW planted them shortly after the funeral in hopes they would bloom this spring and they did... They are so pretty just like she was... I miss her SO MUCH... After mom's knee replacement I pressed the call button on my phone on her number, I almost did the same thing on my way home from the hospital the other night after dad's shoulder surgery.,. I just cannot make my self take that number out of my phone... I feel as if I am erasing her from my life and I never want to do that... I had told Brent, I would keep an eye on these flowers and send him a pic when they bloomed... Well today I was out there and they were in bloom, but I did not have my camera, Deanna had borrowed it to take pics of Kelsey at Soccer practice the other day... Good think I had my trusty phone...
Just when we thought Spring was here, with all the warm days, today it is COLD again... I am so ready for warm weather... I just do not like the cold, it makes me hurt too bad, but Spring will be here soon...

Well gotta go, I think the peach cobbler is done. Gonna let it cool a bit and then take it to mom and dad... I went and sat with dad today for a couple hours while mom went to get some groceries... He is doing great.. He forgets and tries to use his arm, but soon is reminded that he cannot do that just yet... But soon he will be able to do things he has not in a very LONG time... I am so blessed to have my parents and to have them so close to me.. I have a friend that is sitting in an inpatient Hospice unit tonite with her mother... I cannot imagine the pain they are feeling right now... But I pray for them to have the strength to endure this pain. God will wrap his loving arms around them and give them comfort and strength... After all he is the GREAT COMFORTER>>

~WAY BEHIND~

2011-02-20T15:27:00.005-06:00

Where to start. So many things have happened since I last posted.. Sorry, I have not finished the trip, may complete that later..

First, I am going to be a Nana again.. Bruce is going to be a daddy in May.. Found that out end of Sept. Since then we found out Dec. 27 (Mine and Larry's 15th Anniversary) they are having a BOY.. My FIRST GRANDSON!!!! His name will be "Robert Easton" Wow, how exciting.. Now we will have to change "GIRLS NITE OUT AT NANA"S" since there will soon be a boy in the mix... But we can do that..

Yesterday, Bruce told me he had placed an offer on a house and it was accepted... So now we are buying our first home... So his world as he knows it is about to CHANGE DRASTICALLY!!!!!! But he has a good head on his shoulders and he will do fine.. Me on the other hand... Not so sure about, Have not been childless for almost 32 years.. What an adjustment. But this too I will handle..

Mom had knee replacement, that was not so much a piece of cake.. Her knee has done great, even with all the set backs. She ended up really sick the day after surgery with some type of virus maybe, not sure... She was real sick for about 48 hours.. Then went to rehab with some type of rash on her back... then home... Well for awhile, then in the hospital (OVER CHRISTMAS) with a severe bout of Diverticulum... Then she went into Bronchial Pheumonia. Hopefully she is on the road to recovery now...

Dad was supposed to have Shoulder replacement on Feb. 17th, but he had a bad cold so it was postponed until March 1st.. So hopefully that will go off with little or no hitches... I need them to both be well. We have trips and tractor shows to attend to...

Christmas:: We had Christmas on New Years Day, since mom was in the hospital on Christmas.. We had a great time. Almost everyone was there.. We played the Left Right Family, and then Dirty Santa. It was hilarious... We had a GREAT TIME. but it always is a Great time when Family is together... Our family is getting really large.. It is hard to fit all of us in the living room.. But we manage....

Larry had his cardio check up. His cholesterol was good, but his triglycerides are way high.. over 500.. So now we are on fish oil caps... Hope that gets those down.. We are supposed to recheck in 3 months, that is if I can get him to the doc for re-check.. Men.....

My girls are doing great... Kelsey had her 5th Birthday at the Wellness center pool. A pool party on the 29th of January and the outside temp was "75"... Imagine that... Could have had an outdoor party at the park.. That would have been great too, but in AR you never know what the weather is going to be.. I think we had about 25 4 & 5 year olds, plus Cem and Gab... We had a pool full. And K bug, said, "I had a BLAST at my pool party"

Rocky and Buck have our 1931 Farmall Regular completely torn down. I have a parts manual ordered. As soon as it comes in, we will be busy ordering parts to rebuild the motor in it as it was locked up, which we knew when we bought it.. They have had a blast tearing that old thing down. Can't wait to get it running, and painted. We may try to haul it in the parade, cannot drive it as it has spikes on the wheels and it would tear up the pavement. It will be Battleship gray..

I have been creating a Family Photo album on Facebook. There are some really OLD pics in there. Everyone seems to be really enjoying seeing them old photos. Some are more recent, but there are some of Grandma and Grandpa Tuberville's parents in there. Check em out.. I have more to scan and post. So far I think there is almost 300 photos in 2 albums... I am having a large time putting them up there..

Other than all that, not much going on here at our place... I will try to do better about posting more frequently..

LOVE TO ALL!!!

~Part 3 - JUNEAU AK~

2010-10-31T16:49:00.004-05:00

Today we arrive in Juneau, the capitol of Alaska, It is raining..... Going to be a wet, kinda cold day... Before leaving the ship we "HUNT" for somewhere to get some breakfast... HAHA.... After breakfast we are off the ship and on our way to Mendenhall Glacier and Nugget Falls (off to the right of the glacier).. Soon after arriving there the rain stops.. Great now we just have cool weather... What a HUGE chunk of ice... It is beautiful coming out of the mountains.. What a gorgeous view of God's creative imagination... This is a receiding glacier, it is getting smaller.

Now back on the bus for a narrated trip on down the road to Auke Bay, where we board a boat for Whale Watching.. What HUGE amazing creatures they are.. I LOVE watching them.. They feed in the waters of Alaska and then travel to the warm waters of Hawaii to have their babies. I was up on the open observation deck of the boat we were on taking pictures.. It was cold up there, but it was amazing to see these whales... Now back on the bus to head back into town.. We do a little shopping and looking around before heading back to the ship and Dinner.... I wish there were someway I could tell you every little detail of everything we did and saw, but there are just not words to describe it accurately.. It was just spectacular... And to be able to share this with my parents is beyond words... I only have about 1000 pics of this trip... and not one of them does justice to what it is of... So let's see where are we off to next... I believe Skagway....

~Part 2 ALL ABOARD~

2010-10-31T15:30:00.002-05:00

Sept 3rd, we headed for the Pier and to board "Rhapsody of the Seas" for Alaska... I had done most of the checking in online before we left for Seattle.. So we got checked in and on the ship... You should have seen the look on mom and dad's face when they saw the ship.. WOW... It was spectacular.. So we are on board and found our cabins.. We are on Deck 7 with Balcony cabins.. They are ajoining so there was a door between our cabins.. Then it was off to expore the ship and grab a bite of lunch.. We headed for the Windjammer for a buffet lunch of all kinds of food, salads, desserts, and breads... Eat all you want and walk out, no waiting for the check.... Just as we were leaving the pier we had to Muster, a safety drill so you know what to do in the "Unlikely" event of an emergency.. So off to our lifeboat stations we go.. We made sure we were on deck 4 when the alarm sounded, so we did not have to go up or down alot of stairs, easier on mom's knees... After Muster, it was off to dinner we go... We went to the dining room this time. I heard the people seated at the table next to us talking about beans, cornbread, fried potatoes. I said, "You must be from the South" and guess what, they were from Berryville AR. they knew Sister Yarbrough and all her family. Small world we live in... We enjoyed chatting with them..

Now we are off to the Welcome Aboard show in the Theater with the Royal Caribbean Singers and Dancers.. Great show.. But it's time for a snack before going off to bed... Are you beginning to see a pattern here with "Food".. Yes, you can literally eat 24 hours a day somewhere on the ship... Tomorrow we are at Sea all day... Nothing to see but the Sea on every side... No sight of land...

~Where to START?? Part 1 Seattle ~

2010-10-31T15:07:00.005-05:00

I am so far behind in posting.. I may break this up into several... Back on Sept. 1, mom, dad and I left for Seattle, met Larry at the airport as he was getting on his flight... He hung out with us for awhile, then headed home to regroup, print boarding passes and get ready to head out the next day to join us in Seattle...

We had a long travel day,, but finally made it to Seattle and our Hotel... Hotel shuttle took us to a local restaurant called "the Roaster" for dinner. Then it was time to turn in, because we had a busy day planned the next day..

Charles, Mashelle, Nick and Joe, picked us up around 9 and we headed for Snoqualmie Falls, beautiful place.. LOVED IT... we walked around the area and viewed the falls from all angles and waundered through the gift shop before heading out to our next stop..

On to the Seattle Space Needle. They were getting ready for the Labor Day festival that weekend.. Great park... Had lunch at the Food Court there in the park. Waundered around some of the street vendors, in the Space Needle gift shop (no one went up in it)... Weather was great, Not too hot and not too cold.. Got some great PICS....

Then on to a drive along the coast, where we saw beautiful parks and GORGEOUS hanging basket planters... Then back to the Hotel to wait for Larry to arrive... Then to dinner at the Cheesecake Factory... WOW,,, What a great dinner... We laughed and had a great time.. Thanks Charles and Mashelle for a WONDERFUL day aroud Seattle... It was great seeing them and getting to meet your 2 youngest sons.. I had not seen Charles and Mashelle since Josh was about 2 weeks old, that is A LONG TIME!!!! Hope it is not that long till I see you again...
Then we called it a nite. Tomorrow onto the Ship and North to Alaska....

~21 DAYS~ and stuff....

2010-08-13T19:33:00.003-05:00

21 days from today, right now, we will be on a ship with my parents headed to Alaska. We will probably just be finishing up with the Mandatory Muster (Emergency Drill)... I am so excited, but sad at the same time. Larry's favorite Aunt and Uncle are not going to be able to join us. I totally understand the circumstances, but still sad about it.
Larry and I have been on an Alaskan Cruise before, but this time will be SUPER special. We get to experience it through my parents eyes (remember to take your glasses)... They have never been on a cruise nor have they ever been to Alaska. This is going to be SPECTACULAR...

Things at work have been just absolutely crazy. One of the secretaries, that thinks she runs the entire show there (only been there a little over a year) has filed a grevience and I, along with several others has been named in it. We all had to write a statement about things that have been going on. We really want her out the door. She is just a real piece of work... It has been a really bad atmosphere to work in. Hopefully they will have a hearing soon and things will change..

This past month, I have had some health issues and all the doctors are pointing their finger at other doctors, it's not what I treat, it's what you treat... etc.... It has been crazy, but I think we may be getting somewhere now. I have had a COMPLETE cardiac workup, stress echo and all, and it is not my heart, My heart is in excellent shape according to the cardiologist, but they did pulmonary function tests and found Reactive Lung Disease, caused by exposure to toxin.. I go Monday to talk about a plan of treatment, but until then I have an inhaler I have to use twice daily. In looking back over my records the doc says I have been complaining of most of these same symptoms for almost 3 years now.. So I probably got it when we were building the house and I had pneumonia and spent alot of time out here with all the paint, glue, grout, etc in the house with my lungs already compromised with the pneumonia. It took me almost 6 months to get well from that... I was beginning to think I was allergic to my new home.. Heat aggravates it alot and we have had ALOT of triple digit temps the past month. The cooler weather in Alaska will be great for it.

All the kids go back to school on Thursday. They are all back in the same school again this year, except Kelsey and she is still in Day care, but next year will be Kindergarten... That is going to be something... Not ready for that...

Well better get off here and fix my husband some supper...

NIte All.

OH Tomorrow mom, dad, larry and I are off to the LawnMower races in Hope. Another exciting outing.. Can't wait. Gonna be a HOT ONE!!!!!!!!

~Only 47 Days~

2010-07-18T20:05:00.001-05:00

This is Mendenhall Glacier...

Got an e-mail from Royal Caribbean today. Our travel documents are ready for printing. I did not realize it was only 47 days, I was counting weeks, 7 weeks from last Friday. Mom dad and I fly out on Sept. 1st.. Then Larry will follow on the 2nd. then we board the ship on the 3rd and head for Alaska... I cannot wait. I am a little anxious about this trip. There are some things that Larry and I have not seen and some that we have. But to see mom and dad's reaction to it all will be (I Hope) AMAZING... Larry and I LOVE to cruise, this will be mom and dad's first and hopefully not their last... We have picked out some shore excursions we think they will enjoy and we have enjoyed them on past trips.. One is Whale Watching, those creatures are AMAZING.. We LOVE to watch them... We have seen them double breech (2 at once), we have seen a mom playing with her calf and a calf playing with a Sea Lion.. They are so HUGE and yet so graceful... I hope we get to see alot of them.. Then we are looking at one for some glaciers, those are just gorgeous. The first time we went on the Alaskan, was the first anniversary of 9/11. We were at Hubbard Glacier that day and at noon, the captain called for a moment of silence, then they played the Star Spangled Banner and America the Beautiful. as the last note ended, a huge piece of ice fell into the ocean, now who was the orchestrator of that event??? You got it God Almighty... You could have heard a pin drop anywhere on that ship at that instant.. We will NEVER forget that day... Then at another port there is a train ride up to the yukon we want to take.. I just want so bad for them to have a good time, and I want my husbands Favorite Aunt and Uncle to join us... We had a WONDERFUL trip last year and I want this one to be equally as WONDERFUL as last years... We will also be cruising Tracy Arm Fjord and Sawyer Glacier and then visit Victoria British Columbia, these are places Larry and I have not see before and to experience them with my parents and hopefully my Aunt and Uncle will just be THE BEST!!!!!!!!! So we are on the COUNT DOWN to our New Adventure, but prior to that we still have another tractor show and Lawn mower races to attend.. that will be coming up on August 14th...

But for now, I am off here to get my stuff ready for work tomorrow... It has been a lazy weekend. Larry and I almost finished up 2 more tractor seat bar stools yesterday. Mom found a bargain on some Fun fur yarn for me. I love it, can't wait to decide what I am making with some of it and get started...

For now. God Night and May God Bless and Keep each one of you....

~Summer Happenings~

2010-07-05T12:27:00.005-05:00

What a busy summer it has been so far.. Our Alaskan Cruise with mom and dad is coming up so fast. But I bet the last few weeks will DRAG!!!!!!!! I am really anxious about this trip. I want mom and dad to have the time of their life.. Last years trip was GREAT!!!!!!!, But I want this one to top that.... Alaska has some AWESOME scenary. The Redwoods last year was Spectacular. and the visit with Larry's FAVORITE Aunt and Uncle was GREAT!!!!!!. Hopefully we will get to see Charles and his family, hopefully for dinner one nite.. I will send our travel information to them as soon as final plans are made...

Now for what has been going on this summer.... Mom, dad, Larry and I attended the Tractor shows at Nashville AR in May, and the Purple Hull Pea Festival in Emerson AR last weekend. They were really good days.. We however, did NOT get homemade ice cream in Emerson this year, but we did have purple hull peas for lunch. Then they had a cook off and we got to eat after the judges finished. They had a Cream Cheese Peach Cobbler that was really good. Not sure why they did not have any, but oh well, it was a good time anyway. Got to see more tiller races this year than last, but did not get there intime to see the kids race.. Oh well.. There is always next year... They were both FULL days. We left home around 7 AM and returned around 7 PM.. The tractor show at Nashville, had almost 200 tractors there. They had SLOW races to see which tractor could run the slowest and remain running.. Larry Harrington (Sheridan) won for the oldest tractor. He had a 1934 John Deere.. He and Pinkie had restored it. It looked GREAT!! Hopefully one day we will have the 1931 Farmall Regular running and take that trophy away from him.. But we will have to find a trailer wide enough to haul it.. The served a BBQ lunch that was REALLY GOOD. They also had a snow cone stand that had homemade ice cream snow cones, they were really good, I think mom and I had 2 each...

Larry and I were on Vacation for the past 5 days and we have finished restoring the Farmall Super A and have it i the Big Pout house with the rest of the tractors. It is looking REALLY RED in there.. When the 31 is completed it will be battleship gray with red wheels. Then we have an F-12 that we bought restored, but it is red and should be gray. Someday we will repaint it the correct color, but for now, it is OK.. We also got 2 of our milk can tractor seat stools completed.. They look kewl.. Now we have 2 more to finish.. Gotta get a seat for one of them and go to the lake house and get he lid for the other milk can..

We have at least one more Tractor event prior to our cruise, that will be the Watermelon Festival in Hope on August 14th,to see Antique Tractors and watch the Lawn Mower Races.. Boy can they go fast.... Can't get my pics to move where I want them to. The lawnmower at the top is one we saw last year.. It has 5 engines on it.

Then it is OFF to ALASKA~~~~~

~LET"S NOT HAVE A STROKE HERE~

2010-06-23T08:33:00.005-05:00

It has been forever since I have posted anything here. Just a really busy time. Trying to close out this Fiscal year at work, Convention in Hot Springs, To Nashville (Vanderbilt Univ) with Cember on a school trip, Tractor shows, rebuilding a tractor, making bar stools out of old Milk Cans and Tractor Seats,, Watering the neighbors plants and garden while he is in the hospital. Just lots of BUSY things going on...

Spent 4 days in Hot Springs early May at our annual Public Health Assoc, Convention. That is always fun, but alot of work..

Mom, dad, Larry and I went to the Tractor show and races in Nashville AR on the 15th of May. That was a FULL WONDERFUL DAY!!!!! I am so excited that mom and dad enjoy (or seem to) going to those Tractor shows with us. They had over 150 tractors on display, a man from Sheridan, Larry Harrington, won the trophy for the oldest tractor, a 1934 Model A John Deer (Wrong Color Tractor), Crops are Green, Tractors are RED!!!!!!! , then they had a raffle for a restored Ford Tractor, another Sheridan man, Ken West, Won that.. GO SHERIDAN!!!!!! They had a bbq lunch plate that was really good, then they had a Snow cone booth, that had the most WONDERFUL homemade Icecream Snow cone, I have ever had. Did not know they had such a flavor until mom mentioned it.. It was GREAT!!!!!

Then Mother's Day, mom and dad were camping at Pendleton, Larry and I went and pulled their camper home for them on Mother's Day... They took us down to the dam where everyone was fishing... Beautiful camping area..

Then Memorial Day,, We just stayed around the house and worked on our Farmall Super A Tractor, getting it restored.. We are almost finished.. Having to rebuild a seat for it, but I think it is going to be GREAT!!!!! I will post before and after pics when we finish it. Larry said if this seat does not work, he is going to cut some plywood, paint it red and bolt it on so I can drive it... I am not very patient when we are this close to being finished and some little something stalls us out..

Then I got to go to Vanderbilt University, in Nashville, TN for a Aspirnauts Fieldtrip. That was a great 3 days. Loved it. I got to have 3 pre-teens ride back with me. Boy did I learn ALOT!!!!! Really they were real good. I thoroughly enjoyed having them. We got to do alot of hands on experiments, see how alot of Cancer research is performed, Go up on the Helipad and see a medical helicopter, We had a heart seminar and got to see actual human hearts, some that were healthy, or with a little plaque, or alot of plaque and even one with 2 bypasses.. Very interesting... We had a complete tour of the beautiful campus and dorms..

Then last Sunday was Father's Day. Again, my parents are at the Lake... I am so very excited they are going and doing and staying at lakes and campgrounds.. I miss them being just across town, but I am so very proud for them... I did call my dad and I told him I would buy him some Ice Cream on Saturday. As you see, they are going with us again on Saturday to the Purple Hull Pea Festival in Emerson, AR. We went last year and had a great time, they have Tiller races, you should see the kids with those Mantis tillers, they are out for Blood... Then they have tillers with motorcycle engines on them. did not get to see those but once. A LADY let it get loose from her and it was damaged, she luckily was OK, It DRUG her down the course, until she finally let go. They also had tractors there and they had a parade with them. They had a contest and the winner of it had their wedding at the Festival, That was kinda neat, but they had the BEST HOMEMADE ICE CREAM there.. Dad and I about made ourself sick on it. Can't wait to get some more...

Well, guess I have taken up enough time. I will post pics later, right now I cannot get them to upload... Will try later..

LOVE TO ALL!!!!!!

~The OLD MILL~

2010-04-01T13:09:00.003-05:00

Ever seen the Movie "Gone With the Wind"?? Well, the Old Mill in North Little Rock was built for that movie. Part of it was filmed here. I LOVE that movie, but I had never been to the Old Mill. I decided to take off work on Wednesday of the girls Spring Break and spend the day with them. I brought them up to the office to show them off and then we got a picnic lunch and went to the Old Mill. The weather was Perfect that day. What an absolute AWESOME place.. It was beautiful, but will be even more so when the Dogwoods and Azaleas are in bloom in a week or so. May have to try to go back then. We had a WONDERFUL DAY>.. After we got back home, we had to sit down and watch that movie to see where this was in there.. We will definitely have to go back there. All the bridges were built out of concrete and made to look like wood.. This is a popular Wedding site in this area and I can definitely see why. It is an awesome place to take spring pics.. I think I took about 150 and then the girls, asked if they could just go play for a bit without me saying wait, Look here, Cheese!!! Imagine me saying that??? Love to take pics...

~Dad's Party~

2010-03-27T14:23:00.004-05:00

It turned out really good. Had alot of people there from Church and Family.. Tons of food,,,, Cake, sandwiches, chips, dips, cinnamon rolls, brownies, snacky stuff.. Just LOTS OF FOOD!!! we decorated with all the party favors, table cloths, hats, plates, napkins, etc. that we had left over from all the kids birthday parties over the years. turned out kinda neat.. It is hard to believe my dad is "70", his oldest child is "50" and his oldest Grand child is "30" and his oldest Great Grandchild is "11, almost 12" yeah, I know it did not follow all the way through. Oh well.. We got 3 out of 4.... two of my boys did not get to be there, They were working 7 days a week 12-16 hours a day.. Pam's son was not there, but other than that, the rest of the immediate family got to be there.. Several of mom's brothers and sisters and their spouses were there. It was a GREAT TURNOUT and I think everyone had a good time and Plenty to eat..

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD>>>> WE LOVE YOU....

~Moms' Entertaining Debut~

2010-03-22T09:57:00.003-05:00

Here are a few pics from the Show mom got called on Stage for>>> Dad and I were laughing so hard. This was a very FUN Evening. Just a good CLEAN Family Show.. Lots of laughs. Lots of Old Rock songs, Thank you so much for including me in this evening... LOVED IT!!!!!!

This is Mom and Buford Presley...

~I'm BACK~

2010-03-15T07:02:00.002-05:00

Sorry for the long delay not posting. Just crazy times.. SO much has happened... We got our water back at work, so we have working toilets, no more PORTAS!!!!!

Had something go wrong with my eyes, alot of pressure behind them. Went to the Eye doc, and they seemed to think it was just extremely dry eyes, I could not open them but just a sliver. I did manage to work everyday. Had to start using Restasis, hot wet compresses and natural tears eye drops, like 10-15 times a day,,, After 4 weeks of that, they finally eased up and I could open them all the way again. I am continuing all I was doing,, to keep them opened, that was miserable, especially when you have to be on a computer all day long...But I survived.

Bruce turned 27 on the 5th of March, Still living at home (I kinda like that). At least I know someone will be there sometime during the nite...

Rocky turned 29 on the 10th and Daddy turned "70" on the 10th... So now Dad is 70, his oldest Child (Me) is "50" and his Oldest Grand Child (Buck) is "30".. Kinda Neat....

Mom, Dad and I went to the Ray Lynn Theater in Hot Springs last Thursday nite (March 11). Their investment group was having a Thanks for being our Client appreciation thing... It was alot of fun. THey had Free POpcorn, cokes, hot dogs, and candy bars. Then they did their little sales pitch and showed somethings they can assist you with in your investing and how to protect your money for retirement. Larry may need to talk to them, he handles all that for us, it is greek to me... THen they turned over the show to the Wilkins Music and Comedy show. It was really good, just good clean joking and singing.. Mom even got called on the stage to be serenaded by Buford Presley,, yeap the one and ONLY, Bare jello belly and all.. Dad and I laughed SO HARD... Mom seemed to be having a good time, Never would have believed she would do that.... I got black mail photos, but promised I would not post them... I even got serenaded, but I got to remain in my seat. I was sitting there watching the show and this guy come crawling in around my chair with a flash light and asked me if I had his seat... then the guy on the stage asked him what he was doing and told him he was not supposed to crawling around ladies legs, and he made the statement: "Well those legs ain't seen a razor in months"... He was part of the show. It was a really FUN Evening.. Thanks Mom and dad for asking me to go... I really ENJOYED It.... Mom, PLEASE let me post some pics....

Then Friday got up with an elephant on my chest.... Went to the doctor. I have become my MOther,, Not a bad thing all in all, but the past 3 years, I have had allergies (never before), and they have turned into Bronchitis,,,, Just like MOm does EVERY YEAR!!!!!! So after I got back home, I went to sleep on the couch and slept for 6 hours, then Larry woke me up and I went to bed and slept for another 12 hours... Saturday afternoon, Mom and I went down to decorate for Dad's Birthday Party on Sunday... That was alot of fun.... We took party favors left over from all the kids parties and put them on the tables. even had some table clothes that were used at a couple of them... Hung balloons,,, fixed food.. decided where to place all the FOOD!!!!!! Boy did we have FOOD,

Sunday morning, I get up wait for mom and dad to leave for church, go by their house, get the cake, cinnamon rolls, and crock pots and head to Wally World to get chips, ice cream and hellium balloons.. Then kill time and wait for them to leave the church... Then I go down there and start putting out all the food, oops I forgot the pinwheels in the freezer, and the pickles on the cabinet, but I don't think anyone missed them... we had so much food. Everyone pitched in and it was a HUGE SUCCESS!!!!!!!! so many people showed up, so much food... Tony brought his big 52" TV and we showd a dvd of dad and then we showed the one from their 50th Anniversary, we also had their scrap books of their Anniversary and the Redwoods on display for everyone to view... I really enjoyed the day... I went home and crashed.... I was worn out, but it was a good WORN out feeling... I will post some pics from yesterday when I slow down long enough to get them off the camera.. Maybe tonite. I am going to help mom finish cleaning up when I get in from work, We left most of the food for a snack after church last night...

I will try to post more often... But for now enjoy this one...

~Water - Water - Where's The WATER????~

2010-02-17T12:45:00.003-06:00

Well, There was a major water leak in our building. So guess What..... They shut off the water today at 11:00 and it will be off the remainder of the day>... SO you got it, NO BATHROOMS!!!!! Oh, but the did bring in these lovlies??? Aren't we so special??? NOT!!!!!!!! I do not do Port-a-Potties... That is just a NOT GONNA DO thing with me... There are 3 of them for a 9 story building full of WOMEN!! Of course, most of them are like me and just not gonna do it. However, I did bring baby wipes and hand sanitizer just in case of emergency. I received some LOVELY DEPENDS for my birthday about a month ago and stuck them away for emergencies. Well, I have had 3 people in my office this morning wanting to know where they were, I have them stuck back in case I NEED them... THis has been a big joke in our office since we found out about it early yesterday.. Mom, Dad and Larry have had a large time with this. I have had one of the nurses in the field, e-mail me every hour, then half hour, then quarter hour down to the minute prior to it being shut off, about how much longer till we were Waterless.... You better go one more time, Get that last drink of water, etc... just cause she could. When they did shut off the water, she wrote about her nice warm, running water bathroom she had right across the hall... Oh, well. I am going to take lunch and leave at 1:00. I am going home to my own PRIVATE Bathroom with RUNNING WATER>>>.

~UPDATE and TIME FOR A CHANGE~

2010-02-09T10:20:00.005-06:00

Ok, I know I am really far behind... But,, Things have been crazy.. I have not been able to stay on the computer for very long for over a week now. My eyes have been giving me FITS!!!! They hurt, burn, scratchy,,, etc... really bad and the bright light make it even worse. Was supposed to have an eye doc appt. yesterday, but due to ICE, they were closed and we could not get to Little Rock anyway.. So here I sit, at least for a bit, then I have to get off...

As I am sure you have read on mom's blog, her and I went to Batesville to a HUGE fabric store on the 25th of January. What a wonderful day. They had every type, color of fabric, trim, thread, lace, ribbon,, etc.... you could imagine.. You could buy it by the yard, or by the bolt or by the BUNDLE.. What a neat store.. We had a ball in there, or at least I did. Then we had lunch and headed home, stopping North Little Rock at Sams, then to Joann's (another fabric store) and Hobby Lobby ( I needed cake stuff for Lil Bits Bday cake).... We arrived home around 7ish... It was a full day and I LOVED it..

January 28th, Larry came in from a 2 week trip to Iowa, Nebraska and S Dakota, where he had lots of SNOW the entire time he was there (that is why he did not drive home on Friday to turn around and drive back on Sunday, he just stayed there.. When the alarm went off at 5 AM on the 29th, He told me to go back to sleep, he had already looked outside and decided I was not going to work... He had apparently brought it with him from up north.. We lost power about 2 pm on Friday and did not get it back until 6 pm Saturday. Our house was not bad cold, it never got below 55 and it was like below 20 outside.. It just being him and I (Bruce was at duck tails for the weekend), we just got a blanket and sat and looked at each other till it was too dark to do that then we threw an extra quilt on the bed and went to sleep..

Sunday, Jan. 31 was my baby grand daughters "4" Birthday. We had it at Playtime PIzza and it was all Tinkerbell. She had a wonderful time. Here papaw Mike (my Ex) asked for a hug and he was told: "All my hugs are for Nana today" he then turned to me and asked "How did you rank so high today" . We had so much fun.. Hard to believe she is "4" and only weighs "32 lbs" She is just tiny petite. But she can do most anything the bigger girls can do...

Last week was good, I got to work all week,, Then Here we are again, we woke up to Ice yesterday moring (Feb. 8th). State offices were on incement weather (in by 10 and you are not docked), but Larry decided I was not going at all. Then Got an e-mail last night about 9:15, that state offices were closed for today. So here I sit in the office, with the sun shining in the window. It is cold outside, and real windy, but there is no ice or snow.. Feel a little guilty about not being at work, but you cannot get there, maybe tomorrow will be better, then they are calling for more snow on Thursday and Friday... We will see..

Before After

Now for the Change: As you know mom and I have been making alot of quilts, well I did one to be used as a spead on my bed. It finally got finished.. So here is the before and the after: Let me know what you think..

~Hats Delivered~

2010-01-21T13:44:00.002-06:00

I have delivered all the hats to Children's Hospital. I talked with the Knittin for Noggins Coordinator. They have given away between 27 & 28 THOUSAND hats since Mid Sept. 09.. That is AMAZING.. of course they not only give them to patients, but also to siblings of patients.. Just thought I would let you know.. They have collected over 30 thousand hats since July 1... So there is alot of KNITTIN/CROCHET going on in AR.... Keep them needles/hooks going...

~HATS HATS & MORE HATS~

2010-01-18T19:43:00.004-06:00

Every year AR Children's Hospital has a "Knittin for Noggin's" campaign. I try to donate as many as I can each year, this hospital is so very dear to me. I had a niece that spent alot of time there with Cystic Fibrosis and they did so much good for her, then my niece was taken there just a week after she was born, prematurely for a blood transfusion and they did so much good for her, then my grand daughter was there for surgery at 6 weeks old and she too was taken very good care of, then my daughter in laws brother was in there after a bad car accident, 1 of my cousins was in there for burn treatments after an accident, I had an aunt that was in the burn unit after a can exploded in a burn pile. This hospital does SO MUCH good for so many families. So you see this hospital holds a very dear place in my heart... This year I have 125 that I am taking there this week.. I love to crochet, NO i do not knit... I use yarn that I find on sale through out the year, or some I have left from other projects or some that is given to me. I have made all sizes from Premmie to adult.. All colors.. It is fun to do this.. Last year I had 7 in there that were red/white santa style. I was told later by a nurse that I know that works there, they sent 7 premies home for Christmas wearing those hats.. When you turn these in, you leave no identifying marks with them as to who made them. I had told her I turned those in and she told me they were all used on Christmas Eve. That warms my heart to be able to make a child smile with something as simple as these.. I have already started a bag for next year... So if you know of someone that is looking for something to do with some yarn they have laying around, this is a very worth while thing to do with it. or send it to me and I will do some with it. Larry and I found 3 baskets of yarn at a junk shop and I am still trying to get the lady to give me a DEAL on it to be used for these. She wants a new price for it and some of it has been used, if I am going to do that, I am going to buy it at Walmart and pick out the colors I want.. Well gotta go for now. Tomorrow is a work day,,,

Wait,,, gotta tell you about my day.. The boys decided they were not working on the shop today, because Rocky had a HOG in his trap and needed some assistance in cleaning and cutting it up.. So they went to help him, I am fine with that.. It does me so much GOOD to see them doing things together.. So I called mom and asked her if she wanted to go running around. So we went to Benton/Bryant to Kohl's, Dollar Tree, Walmart, and Penney's. We found several bargains, I got Kelsey 5 pair of jeans for $5 each at Penneys, they were all embroidered differently... I also got me a couple of tops, then we got dad some jeans and shirts... Then we ended the afternoon with dinner. It was a WONDERFUL DAY. Thanks mom for spending it with ME!!!!!! Love you!!!!!!!! Now can't wait to go to Batesville.. Sorry that did not work out for today, but you and Jeanette needed to feel better...

NOw I gotta go and make another hat or two....

Nite everyone...

~50 YEARS in REVIEW~ Super Condensed....

2010-01-13T13:04:00.006-06:00

Where do I start... On Monday, Jan 11, 2010, I turned "50". Wow what a milestone. I feel so BLESSED to have lived this long and be in as good a health that I am.. There is not much about my real young years that I remember, but I am going to see what I can do here...

My first Real memories are after we moved to California when I was about 5, I remember living in Red Bluff and walking to School, I remember playing on the "RINGS" on the playground and falling, hitting my head on the step and having to have stitches,, I remember being scared when we had to cross the bridge after a rain and the water was almost to the bridge.
THen we moved to Redding into a little house, Pam got a new bicycle for Christmas in 65 and in Feb or Mar '66 she had it turned upside down turning the peddles, decided to grab the chain to stop the tires and ended up cutting off her finger, lost the first joint and had to have stitches, they could not get her to go to sleep, so she watched them clean and stitch it.. then we moved to the California Motel, we swam alot, we were at the pool when we got the news that my cousin had drown on James's birthday, May 18th 1966, March 1967 my dad and Uncle David were hit by a Train on their way home from work. There were not crossing arms and they did not see the train coming, Dad was in a coma for along time, Uncle David got his arm hurt real bad, both were in the hospital for a while, then after recooperation, they both went to college. Then we bought our first house out there. It was a ranch style accross the road from a golf course.
Dad went to work for Hertz at the airport and had to go to Southern CA for training. We all got to go with him and went to Marine World where we saw a REAL Elephant ski... We had some horses, one was named Cricket and she would pull us in a buggy, but when she got tired, she would lay down and would not get up until the buggy was unhooked then she would get up and walk back to the field. Silly Horse. Mom had a White Apaloosa that would eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, but would not step in Water. YOu could not make him. We sold that house and rented a house on Yana, It had a tree house in the back yard, We tried to sleep in it several times, but never succeeded... THen we bought a house trailer and 26 acres just down the hill from the ranch house. This is where we lived when Tony was born. We had 9 acres of english walnuts. PIcked them up every day after school when they would fall. We had horses, cows, and pigs that we raised. One litter of pigs had a runt that we brought in the house and tried to raise it, but did not succeed.. We bought a double wide and put it in across the drive from the trailer house and moved into that. We lived there until Sept. 1972, then we moved back to Arkansas. Tony decided to potty train himself on this move. I rode mostly with mom and Tony in the car and dad drove a Uhaul and pulled his truck. We stopped at night. One night we were in Amarillo TX, the hitch broke off the Uhaul and we had to wait till morning to get it fixed. We stayed in a Campground that night, I went into the Bathroom and dad had to come get me, because there were FROGS EVERYWHERE, I am deathly afraid of them, I know they will not hurt me, but I am terrified of them, real, pictures, glad, wood,, it does not matter.. Made it to AR, Lived with Grandma Brown until mom and dad found a house and bought it. Really nice brick with a fireplace.. Daddy owned a service station.
in '73 I fell MADLY in LOve. Now, I realize I had NO IDEA what LOVE really was. We would break up and get back together, break up and get back together, should have seen a pattern here, DUMB kid... Bought my first Car in Feb. '76 a '72 Chevy Nova, with air shocks on the back.. LOVED it, Mike hated it because it was a sports car and at the time we were broke up.. see the pattern here.. Got engaged Nov. 1977, started building our home, Graduated from High School May 13, 1978 and got married June 15, 1978.. DUMB KID,,,, Moved into our house Jan. 9, 1979. My first Son was born June 17, 1979 On Fathers Day, making a new Father and 2 new Grand Fathers on Fathers Day. Our Second son was born, March 10th, 1981 on my dad's Birthday. Pam married on June 17, 1982 on Buck's 3rd Birthday, He was ring bearer and played Hot wheels on the Alter during the ceremony. Then our third son was born March 5, 1983. Had Mom and Dad a 25th Anniversary Celebration Dec 1983. Grandma McLemore passed in April '85 when the Dogwoods were in Full Bloom. Mom and dad had a wreck in Tucomcary NM on the way out there. Mom and Pam were in the hospital, Pam's father in law had to go get them in his handicap accessible van. Both recovered fully. Mike and I separated on Dec. 3, 1985 and divorced Oct. 1, 1986. James and Anne married Jan. '86. Pam had Chris July 23, 1986. I had to go to work in Sept. '86 to help support the boys, Child support was not getting it, but at least I got to stay home with them until Rocky started school. Bruce went to Daycare where he made a friendship that is still strong today (this minute they are working together)... Made my first MAJOR purchase in MY NAME (with Moms Help) in OCt. '86, A Chevy NOva, not a souped up one like the first one.
Met Larry in "87 when I was working at Fisers (local Grocery store). He came in every Friday and bought Rib eyes to cook for some friends.. I left the Grocery store in March 88 and went to work for the State of AR in April 88. Then Larry and I met up again at the Post Office one morning. We began talking just casual. He had left work with a mutual friend for me to call him. I finally did call and actually talk to him. We had our First DATE, Aug. 3, 1988,had dinner at Steak and Ale. The next day my home was sold on Public Auction. Larry called to check on me and sent me flowers. Mike bought it and that meant I had to MOVE... In Sept. mom, dad, the boys and I went to Disney world on Vacation. WHen we came back, I began packing and moving. We moved in with mom and dad.. I convinced Larry to sell me his double wide, then he was going to buy him something SMALLER,, NOT,, We moved him out and us in on Nov. 8, 1988..
James and Anne divorced in '9. February '91 I bought a POntiac Grand Am. Tony and Pam Drake married May '91, David was killed Sept. '91, Grandma Brown had just gotten out of the hospital and was staying with mom. Tony and Pam divorced Oct.'91. Dad had a wreck on Dec. 14, '91 (Tony's 21st Birthday). James and Amie married Jan 11, 1992 (my Birthday) We have a lot of different events on the same dates... James and Amie had Shawn Oct. 22, 1992, James and Amie had Austin, March 17, 1994. Tony and Vanessa got married Sept. '94. Larry and I married Dec. 27, '95. We moved into his "SMALLER" house, a 3 bedroom, 2 bath brick.. Bought a Chevy Custom Van Feb. 96. We outgrew the Grand Am when we got married. The 9 1/2 years I drove the Van, the 5 of us were only in there 1 time. I had it full alot with all the kids going to ball games, but as far as "the Family" we only used it 1 time. Sold my doublewide in OCt. 96. Tony and Vanessa had Kiefer, Feb. 13, '97. Buck and Mandy had Cember April 3, '98, James and Amie had Justin, Nov. 2, '98. Pam and Dewayne had Briauna, Jan 6, '99, Buck and Mandy got married, May 22, '99. Tony and Vanessa had Maranda, May 24, '99 (7 1/2 weeks premature),and 8 minutes after giving birth, Vanessa died. Grandma Brown went into the HOspital with Sepsis. She passed on July 10, '99. Tony went to Ohio August 18, '99, mom and dad took over raising Kiefer and Maranda. Leonard had a heart transplant Aug. 19, '99. Buck and Mandy had Gabby, Sept. 4, '99. Wow, I think that is ALOT of babies in a short time, 6 in 2 1/2 years... for 18 years all we had were boys and in 17 months we got 4 girls.. Gabby had surgery the day she was 6 weeks old, MOm and dad had gone to a Histology convention. I had Kiefer and Maranda, But we managed. I was at the hospital for her surgery and then I went and picked up Kiefer, Maranda and Cember and kept them all.
Wow, 40 down just 10 more to go. HOw am I doing??? Got to witness the turn of a new Century.. We saw 2000 come in.. Then I turned "40"...
July 3, '00 I caught mom and dad's kitchen on fire cooking chicken nuggets for Kiefer, did about 35,000 dollars in damage. Insurance came in cleaned and packed everything up, remodeled the house. MOm and dad never moved back into it, they bought one close to town. I moved them in and had most everything unpacked when they came back from a trip, the least I could do since I "BURNED their HOUSE"
Uncle Leonard passed away in Sept. 2000. Busy times with all the trips to Ohio, spent lots of time with all the little ones.. LOVED IT....
March 2001, Rocky left for a Peace Keeping mission in Bosnia.. He was there when 9/11, 01 happened.. When that happened, they cut all communication with our troops in Bosnia, I freaked out.. It delayed them coming home by 4 weeks. Their replacements were coming from New York and Virginia, the 2 states hit hardest by 9/11. He finally got home in Nov. '01. February 3, '02 Buck and Mandy's house burned to the ground. Rocky and Deanna married Sept. 28, '02
Pam and Dewayne separated and divorced in 2003. Pam was having ALOT of medical problems (most of them self inflicted). So mom and dad were doing alot of running for her along with taking care of Kiefer and Maranda. April '03 Rocky and Deanna came over to tell me that Rocky was going to be sent to IRAQ soon.. Bosnia was bad enough and that was peace time. How was I EVER going to SURVIVE IRAQ in a WAR!!!!!!! I cried for weeks... then Oct. 31, '03 Rocky left for Ft Hood TX for additional training and deployment. We made lots of weekend turnaround trips down there. all piled in the VAN... Then in Feb, he left the US for IRAQ.... He had SO MANY close calls, one time someone pulled up beside them and opened fire inside their hum v, no one was hit (who had control of that situation, NO ONE BUT OUR GREAT LORD)... He was protected more times than I can count... June 1, 04 Larry and I bought a cabin close to Lake Degray and Buck and Bruce began helping us rebuild some of it. Rocky got to come home on a 2 weeks R&R on (you got it) 9/11. We were all at the airport on pins and needles until his plane was safely on the ground..
I bought my Yukon XL on NOv. 2nd took it to Ohio for a release hearing Nov. 17 '04. TOny was released, but we had to wait for transfer paperwork to be completed before they would release him. the finally released him to the bail bondsman at noon on the 24th. I stayed on the phone for 3 days and on Wednesday, the 24th at 4 PM, we got it all done and were told we could head for AR. it took us 30 min to pack up 2 hotel rooms and head for home. We drove in mom and dad's drive way at 4 AM on THANKSGIVING morning. What a Thanksgiving that was..
We had Christmas with Rocky on the computer, we had a webcam set up and so did he with mics. so we could see and hear him and he could us.. We had sent his Christmas package to him and we all opened presents together. It was GREAT... Christmas by computer 7000 miles apart.
Tony and Rochelle married on Feb. 12,'05. Rocky came home March 20, '05. Rocky and Deanna had Kelsey, Jan 31, 06. August '07 Larry and I decided to have a new home built. Footers were dug on Oct. 1. We watched every day as it went up. I would go out every day, Larry usually just on the weekends, but I would be on the phone telling him what they had done that day. On March 24th we closed on it. On the 26th, Rocky, mom and dad helped me get us moved in, we hired movers, so it was just mainly directing traffic. MOm and dad were at the new house waiting on the new furniture to be delivered and Rocky and I were at the other house. Larry came home on his 55th Birthday to a new house where everything we NEEDED had been unpacked and put away and the boxes destroyed.. He did not have alot of unpacking to do..
August 3, '08 we purchased a Farmall Cub tractor, like his dad used to have.... Sept. we purchased a 1960 Farmall Cub (because it was made the year I was born, so I had to have it). We restored them and loved doing it. Just a couple days after purchasing the 60 model, I got a call that my Cousin Jeffrey had been killed. Another tragedy that did not have to happen, a Hunter being careless cost him his life and his family a tragic loss. In April, '09 I saw a kid riding a "wheelHorse" (baby tractor, smaller than a riding lawn mower) and I decided I had to have one of them as well. In May we went to Michigan and bought 2 of them. THen on Friday, May 22, I went with Larry for a check up... Guess WHAT!! We ended up in Baptist Hospital for a Heart Cath and By-pass surgery the next morning.. Boy did that turn my WORLD UPSIDE DOWN..... But that too we survived.. We even went to CA with mom and dad to visit and to see the Redwoods. We thoroughly enjoyed that trip and plan to make many more trips. Dec. we hired the boys to build us another Pout House to store the restored tractors in now that we currently have 9, 6 fully restored and 3 to restore.. and so here we are Jan 2010 and the BIG "50" and Life goes on!!!!!!!

OK so it is not SO CONDENSED... but I think I got most of the HIGHLIGHTS....

~The Neatest Sign~

2010-01-05T14:53:00.003-06:00

Here is what the boys gave Larry and I for Christmas... Most of you know we have gotten into restoring OLD tractors. We currently have 4 completed, 2 that we bought already restored and 3 that we are going to restore.. We absolutely LOVE doing them. We tear them down, clean off the grease and oil, sand, scrape, prime and paint them. It is alot of WORK and even more FUN... All of ours are RED.. after all Crops are Green, Tractors are RED... Mom and dad got Larry a t-shirt that says that. He loves it and I have been threatened with my life if I get caught wearing it, but the key word here is CAUGHT and we all know how much Larry is away from HOME!!! So the possiblities of getting caught are SLIM..... The boys also got us a Die Cast Farmall Model H tractor with the trailer. We love it, but Kelsey wants to take it out of the box and play with it. We got her mind off it and put it away, I think it will go in the Big Pout House with all the other Tractors. Can't wait till it is finished. They are decking the roof today.. Can't wait to get home and check it out..
Let me know what you think of the sign...

LOVE TO ALL and May God Richly Bless You this Year..

~SNOW~

2010-01-04T09:03:00.001-06:00

It is snowing like crazy here today. Just a dry powdery snow.. Not sticking to anything, just BEAUTIFUL... I left for work at my normal time and about the time I got to work, MOm called and said we were on Inclement Weather policy. GREAT... I was at work at 6:40 and did not have to be here till 10. I could have slept LONGER.... Oh well, after being off 11 days, I have lots to catch up on... But all I want to do watch the snow falling. It is so pretty... Sheri, I am JEALOUS that you have so much... We hardly ever get SNOW, we mostly get ICE>. that is just not fun... I will try to get a pic of it with my phone. Left the camera at home, dumb me. I always have my camera with me. Larry and I were out "touring" (Running the roads) yesterday and I had the camera, got pics of deer and turkey on the side of the road. Larry had slept the 2 days previous and he got up feeling better and said we are getting out of this house and going somewhere. So we did. Sorry, we were not home Jeanette...

I am SO IN THE DOG HOUSE... I forgot a very important event that took place last week..... Larry and I celebrated our 14th Anniversary... Boy where did that time go. While we were touring yesterday, we were talking about things that had come about in the last 14 years and how we would have done somethings differently and how we had handled somethings totally wrong, and how through it "ALL" we have been so blessed... We do not have a PERFECT marriage, but I think we have a "GOOD" marriage.. We do not always agree, but we agree to disagree and go on. We try to make the best decision possible for us, not always what we want, but what is best and still be affordable.. Sometime we have to totally scrap an idea and go to something else. But through it all we have been BLESSED....

So here's PRAYING for a HAPPY, HEALTHY, PROFITABLE NEW YEAR TO ALL!!!!!!!!

~What a BUSY Time~

2009-12-31T08:20:00.004-06:00

Sorry, I am so behind on posting.. Things have been really busy... So where do I start...

After the stocking stuffin party, things got crazy...Actually just prior to the stuffin party, the boys began the framing of the foundation for the Big Pout House.. Yes we have HIRED them to build us another shop to store the tractors. This one will be 30 x 60', yes, that is quite large, but over time, I am sure not LARGE enough, but all we can afford. Just went DEEPER in DEBT. I don't like that, but we need to protect them from the weather.. The 16th they pourded 35 yards of concrete and the concrete finishers were out here off and on all night working the concrete foundation.. I locked up and went to bed at 10 since I had to be up at 5 to get ready for work. Speaking of Work: Things started falling apart at work, of course they always do when I am trying to finish up somethings getting ready for some time off.. I had 6 days of Vacation that I had to take or I would loose it.. So I am going to take it..

Larry ends up in IOWA where it is -20 or so at nite... That is COLD and since his surgery, he has become ALMOST as cold natured as I am... So he was miserable.. Tony turned "39" as did Sheri, 18 minutes before Tony did... Then there was the night of the 17th... We were having our Christmas Goody day at work, which when the sign up list came out, my name was already on it for Cinnamon Rolls... Then Gab had asked me to make some for her party at school, having always been told "you CANNOT bring homemade goodies to school" I thought I was safe there and it would be the "SCHOOLS FAULT" I could not do that for her. I told her I would need a note from her teacher stating she could bring Homemade Cinnamon rolls to school... Well on Tuesday the 15th... Mandy calls me and tells me she has "THE NOTE" So on Thursday I make 2 batches of Cinnamon rollls.. I have rolls rising EVERYWHERE.... But boy did the house SMELL WONDERFUL... I LOVE BAKING>.. I guess I get that from MOM... Mom is going to take tem to Gabby at school for me, since she is going to Maranda's party.. Thanks SO MUCH MOM... LOVE YOU.... Gabby was disappointed because only 8 of her Cinnamon rolls were eatten at school. I told her that was OK, now they have several for Breakfast. She shared them with Bebe and Pappy...
Then on to Christmas at my house on the 21st. I always have all my kids and mom and dad to my house for Dinner and Christmas.. So this year we are having pork roast, potatoes, carrots, rice, rolls and some type of dessert... I started the pork roast on Sunday nite, then came home early from work and put the taters and carrots in with it, then drained off some juice and cooked the Garden Harvest wild rice in that. Mom did the rolls for me and made an apple pie. I did a coconut cream pie and some Christmas goodies, fudge, skillet cookies and cracker candy. It turned out really good, Deanna's mom, sister and Nephew joined us. It was alot of fun... Everyone seemed to have a really good time. I got Cember and Gab 12 pair of Toe socks, then Lil bit wanted some, so I set about finding her some. I did find them and got them ordered and they arrived on the 26th... So now she has some Kelsey size ones.
I finished up work on the 23rd for the year. They let us all go home at 2:30 that day... We had to go to my sister in laws on the 24th to assist them with some things, Then Christmas day was real quiet, just me and Larry at home.. That was kinda nice, but did not seem like Christmas..
On Saturday the 26th, we spent the day in Little Rock just looking,,, Then went to dinner at Red Lobster for our 14th Anniversary on the 27th.. We both ended up sick all nite over that, not sure what did it, maybe the fried foods that we had and are no longer accustomed to... Have not had FRIED since Larry's surgery... Oh well..
THen we had Family Christmas at mom and dad's on the 27th. All but 3 of the Family were there. That was real nice... Mom and I made all the Grand and Great grands a quilt except the 4 oldest... I think that went over really well.. They all seemed to like them... I really enjoyed helping make all the tops. We had a lady do the actual quilting for us with her quilting machine. Boy I would love to know how to do that and have a set up like she has. It is AWESOME... Oh well, maybe someday.. I told her when she gets her new machine (she wants a new one), Let me know and I may be interested in her current one... She wants a computerized one... Not likely to happen.. But I can dream...
Yesterday I had to go into the office to take care of an invoice for an interpreter and get her paid. She had sent in her paperwork written in PENCIL twice and ended up not having money to buy her kids Christmas. I hate that, but there was nothing I could do, My hands were tied. I told the coordinator, I would have the secretary watch for the corrected paperwork to come in and call me and I would make a trip to the office and get it processed and hand carry it to payables for them to process the check. Hopefully that went out this morning. I know it will be late, but maybe they will enjoy their christmas anyway. YOu have to follow STATE rules on invoices or they do not get processed... That is just how it is... Then last nite we picked up one of Larry's sisters and went to Hot Springs to look at the Christmas light display in the park, only to get over there and find out there was a problem and they were not working. What a disappointment, so we went and had dinner at Olive Garden instead. That was good..
So here we are at New Years Eve.. The boys have worked everyday this week and have the walls framed, squared and blandexed. The trusses were delivered yesterday, I am not sure if they will hand set them Friday and Saturday, or get a crane on Monday to assist with that.. I guess we will find out later today about that...

So for now. I am wishing EVERYONE the HAPPIEST of NEW YEARS, and may you be MORE BLESSED in 2010 than you were in 2009.!!!!!! I know Larry and I were really blessed in 2009, I still have him and that is just by the Grace of GOD that I do.. As Larry told the doctors after his surgery, "For some unknown reason, God just did not want is life yet" and for that I am so THANKFUL.... LOVE TO ALL and to ALL a HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!

~Stocking Stuffin~

2009-12-10T08:16:00.004-06:00

I finished crocheting all the stockings (small about 4") for the kids school classes.. So, on Tuesday nite, I had 6 of them over to the house for a stocking stuffin party.. Kiefer is not having a Party, but he wanted to come over any way and I was glad to have him. He does not come often, because it is ALL GIRLS!!!!! He is unfortunately the only boy around now.. James's boys are all in Texarkana and so there is just girls.. Kinda strange after all those years of JUST BOYS!!!!! He is almost a teenager and does not want to hang out with girl COUSINS!!!!! I don't think he is quite into liking girls just yet... Not sure on that, but he tells me he does not have nor want a girlfriend.. Bruce told him to stay away from them, they just cost you MONEY!!!!!!!

Any way, we all got in a circle to stuff the stockins.. I think there were 159 of them, we put candy canes and a couple other pieces of Candy in them, place them in a ziploc and put a Merry Christmas From: sticker on each one. I make them with a loop so the child can hang the stocking on their own tree when they get home.. Wonder how many I have made over the years?? I did this for my boys all through their school party years... Now, my grand daughters and nieces and used to for my nephews, all the boys have gotten out of the party thing, except Justin and he is home schooled, so he will not need any this year.. I enjoy doing this with them.. It is crazy trying to get everything together for it and get everyone in their places, but after we get going, it goes fairly smoothly.. So now, they are all stuffed and taken to School for their Party on the 18th.. I even had a few left over, so I have a jump on next years. Wonder how many will be needed then. Normally Middle School does not have parties, but Cember's homeroom voted to have a small one so I did for her. If Gabby, Maranda and Briauna's class does not have one next year, I will just have lil bit to make for and I probably have enough from this year to do hers. What will I do with all that time??? I am sure I will find something to do... I think I have finished up all my little Christmas gifts I make every year and it is still 2 weeks till Christmas. How did I manage to do that. I am usually working up to the last minute on those.

Oh well, I guess since I found out my Lil Bit is getting a new BIG GIRL bed for Christmas, I have time to at least get her a quilt top done for it. Mom and I have made all the Grand and Great Grands a quilt for Christmas from Mamaw & Papaw.. We did Kelsey's for her Toddler bed, now she is getting a full size bed and her room is being changed from Back Yardigans, to Tinker Bell. I am doing new curtains and I guess I will have time to do her quilt, at least the top and then get it quilted and finished after Christmas. Or maybe I will save that for her Birthday in January.. Hard to believe she will be "4"... Decisions, decisions, decisions.... Ain't if fun being a Grown Up??? sometimes "NOT"

~quilts quilts and more quilts~

2009-11-24T12:45:00.003-06:00

Here are the last 2 quilt tops for mom and dad's grand kids... All but the 4 oldest will be getting one for Christmas.. These are Maranda and Randi's.. I had a large time helping mom get them all done and to the quilter... Mom will be doing the hemming. She likes to hem them by hand and I take them straight to the machine and zip they are done... I really like the black and white one.. Randi wants to do her room in zebra stripe and this is what we came up with for her.. I am getting a zebra stripe rug and will make curtains for her after Christmas and she decides what she wants. Maranda still has Care Bear curtains, not sure if I can talk her into changing those or not, but if not, this has some of the Care Bear colors in it and will still match them.. Let me know what you think??

~Spider Bite~

2009-11-22T20:35:00.004-06:00

Don't ever get one of these. They really hurt and look disgustingly nasty... When I got out of the pool on Monday nite, I dried my leg and it stung kinda bad, then I noticed a red spot kinda like a mosquito bite. No biggy.. Tuesday morning it was about the size of a silver dollar, by noon it was huge and really red and hot. One of the nurses sent me to the doctor. He said it could be a spider bite, but really thought it was just an absess.. Gave me an antibiotic, told me to keep heat on it and if not better come back in a couple days.. Well on Thursday, one of the nurses wanted to see it. I told her the swelling had gone down and the red area was smaller, but she wanted to see under the bandage.. Boy were we shocked as what we saw... Back to the doc I went, right then.. He said this is definitely a spider bite and we are going to have to lance it. Boy did I want to RUN!!!!!!! I knew that was going to hurt... And I was right... IT HURT!!!!!!! He deadened it but that hurt for him to do that.. I told him I was sorry, I was being such a baby about it, He said don't worry I know how bad it hurts...So he lanced it and sent it off for culture.. Then he packed it and wrapped it up. I had to go back on Friday morning for him to re-dress it and I was told to take 2 vicodins before I come up there, so here again,,, I knew it was going to be PAINFUL!!!!!!!! and I did not want to go, but we went.. From then, I have been changing the packing twice a day myself. Boy is that NOT fun.. It hurts and makes me sick to do it, But I do it. I am showing it to the nurses again tomorrow, because I don't think it looks right, but then I have no idea what it should look like now... STOMP SPIDERS!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sue, I know now how you felt last year.... This is NO FUN!!!!!

~Veteran's Day Quilting Bee~

2009-11-16T09:00:00.003-06:00

Last Wednesday was Veterans Day, I have personal Veterans. My Dad and My middle Son. They both went to the Intermediate School to participate in the Program there. The girls were so excited.. Dad and Rocky got to have lunch with them (not sure they were all excited about the lunch) but I am sure they were excited to be with the girls.. Gabby still talks about it. Thanks guys for making their day...

Mom, Jeanette and I got together for a day of quilting (Aunt Jeanette did not get to spend the day, but she did come for lunch). Mom and I pieced 4 twin quilt tops (not difficult ones), we used the wildlife blocks and put them together with other prints and solids. Now we only have a couple more to do.. That will happen soon. I almost have one of them completed.. For me, it was an awesome day.. I am going to try to do that again real soon. We had 2 machines set up and both of them going.

For lunch, mom made Chicken and dumplins and a chicken noodle soup made with stir fry veggies. They were both really good. I took the left over chicken and dumplins home for Bruce's supper, he was REALLY Excited. He LOVES his mamaw's dumplins.. Thanks mom for sharing with him.

Thursday morning early they were on their way to be quilted... Can't wait to see them finished..

I will post pics when they are all finished... Gonna be fun doing that...

Well, better get on with some actual work... Love to ALL!!!!!!

~Punkin Patch~

2009-11-10T09:11:00.005-06:00

On Sunday, Oct. 18th, the girls and I made a trip to the Punkin Patch in Grady, AR. We began our day with lunch at Mickey D's, Maranda had Subway, cause she was with mamaw and papaw, we had to stop and see if she wanted to go with us. which of course she did, then on to Grady. What a fun day I had, I hope they did. We were there about 3 hours and did whatever they wanted to do, except pan for precious stones, just too expensive... But I did not get too much flack from them. We just went on to other things, milking a "cow", feeding the horses, pigs, goats, going on a hay ride to the punkin patch to pick us a punkin.. As you can see, Gabby and Maranda got really big ones, then wanted me to help carry them, the rule is you pick it you carry it... Sorry girls, that's the rule.. They did manage to get them to the wagon and back to the Yukon.. We got face paintings, Kelsey got a punkin and the other 3 got peace signs,, Then on to take pics in all of the cute cut outs that you stick your face in, or you boodie as they did,, Sorry, will not post those pics here, but I do have them. In fact in that short 3 hours I took over 150 pics of my girls. I love spending time with them. Wish I had more to spend, but with having to work and them in school, time is limited, so I try to make the most of what time we do have together. Then it was a treat at the gift shop as we were leaving the punkin patch, then back to nana's. Fixed a little dinner, got baths, then settled down to watch the newest Barbie Movie, Barbie and the 3 Musketeers.. We have them all.. Then they all spent the nite, then stopped at the Donut shop the next morning for our ritual of donuts for breakfast. Then to School and me to work... Thanks Girls for a WONDERFUL AFTERNOON

~Awesome Vacation~

2009-10-19T20:28:00.003-05:00

Larry and I just came back from an AWESOME trip. We were able to chaufer my parents around in California for 9 days. We sent them out there a week in advance of us, since Larry cannot take 2 weeks off at one time. Then we flew out on Oct. 2nd. Spent the nite in Sacramento (a good thing, since our luggage did not make it until 3 AM). Then we met 2 of my cousins and some of their family. That was GREAT.. I had not seen Robert since I was about 16 or so and had not seen Ken since I was 20.. Got to meet Robert's wife and 2 of his sons. Ken did not get to bring his family since he was on his way to work. Sorry I did not get to meet them, now he has a new baby boy, that I understand is doing quite well. Congrats Ken, Kris and Family... We visited there for about 3 hours then it was off to Redding to meet up with my parents, who had been spending the week with My dad's older (not by much) brother who is married to my mom's younger sister. They had a week of rest and relaxation around the pool and hot tub. They got to visit with my dad's sister and had a big day then..

We all went to dinner, and had a wonderful time, then we went to the Sundial Bridge in Redding It is beautiful.. OK a confession here, I am deathly afraid of heights, but I tried to walk accross the bridge. I made it maybe a quarter of the way and turned back. I just could not do that. But at least I tried... Then Larry and I went to the Hotel and the rest went back to Aunt Sue and Uncle Davids. We were kinda tuckered, not getting to sleep until after midnite, trying to find out where our luggage was and when were we going to get it. The girl at the AA counter had told us if it came in on the next flight, she would drop it off at our hotel and believe it or not she did. We made sure when we checked in on our way back, we told them at the counter what she had done and how much we appeciated it.. THat was above and beyond her duties. So we turned in kinda early (CA time not AR time). Then we were on our way to pick up my parents around 10 that next morning and off to the Redwoods. What an AMAZING trip.. The GPS took us up through Medford OR and then down to Crescent City, CA (we found out why on the return trip). We arrived, checked into our hotel, with an ocean view.. it was great, mom could see driftwood for miles in either direction, just had no way to bring any back. We had dinner and saw the most amazing sunset over the ocean from our dining table. Then we turned in for the nite..

Monday morning we were up and off to see big trees, Larry did all the driving,, mom and dad just got to look... Larry had never been there and I had not since I was a little girl. I remember thinking how huge they were, but did not fully grasp just how huge they were until this time. I will never understand how anyone can look at something this amazing and say there is NO GOD!!!!!!! That is just beyond me. What some amazing things we saw... Elk along the roadside, that I almost walked right up to, the vast ocean that just seemed to go forever... We spent the next 3 days just touring different scenic routes through the Redwoods, It was great. Got lots of pics, more than I can post here.. But I am trying to add a SMALL SAMPLING... On Thursday, we headed back to Redding, That was not a GOOD day for ME!!!! As most of you know that road from Eureka to Redding, is steep, up and down, winding round and round the mountains, with cliffs off the side of the road, MAJOR panic attack for me. I spent most of that 5 hours with my head down in tears, but God is good and I survived that trip. We dropped mom and dad off at Aunt Sue and Uncle Davids, and Larry and I took a NAP.. My body was in knots, had sore muscles for several days, But I survived...

Friday, we were up and out fairly early for a picnic(Larry loved the cheese tray, can't remember the name of that white cheese, but LOVED it) in Lassen St. Park, then hopefully on to Shasta Dam and then back home,, here again, I shortened the plans, I got with in 2000 ft of the summit of Lassen and had to get back down where there were not cliffs off the side of the road, just could not do it, but we went back to Manzanita Lake and had our picnic walked all the way around the lake, Aunt Sue and I even walked a log.. I gathered several large pine cones and brought them home with me. We stopped and took pics at the Hot rock, I have pics of us older ones on that rock when we were little. I tried to climb it, but did not succeed, but the 2 heart patients did and here is their pic.. GO Larry and Aunt Sue... It was a wonderful day..

Than Saturday, we headed back to Sacramento for an early flight home on Sunday. What a WONDERFUL TIME I HAD... As we were leaving for Sacramento, we stopped at 3 houses I lived in out there 2 schools I attended and took pics. We were going to stop in Red Bluff and get a pic of the first school I attended there but forgot. Oh well.

I am so proud we were able to take that trip and to be able to do it with my parents, was such an honor for me. We did not get to stay as long as I wished we could have, I did not get to see as much family and friends as I would have liked to, but there is never enough time.. But for me it was a GREAT TRIP>> Mom/Dad, I am so proud that you went with us. That made this trip just that much more SPECIAL to US!! We love you both so very much!!!!! Thanks.. Aunt Sue and Uncle David for taking care of them for me while I was not there. LOVE YOU BOTH SO MUCH!!!! Maybe we can do it again....

~Chugga Lugga Luggin 5 Miles an Hour~

2009-09-24T10:43:00.005-05:00

We had the Grant County Fair Parade on Tuesday. Rocky drove our 1936 F-20 International Harvester Farmall Tractor in it and pulled the girls in the wagon.. It was a blast. We had so much fun doing that. We dressed all the girls in overalls, white t-shirts and bandanas.. Between mom, Rocky and I we had enough overalls for all of them. We bought most of them at the Goodwill store so they would be old and worn.. Now they will be stored for future uses.. I am sure we will do this again... They were so cute.. We had a CD player going playing that song by Craig Morgan, "International Harvester" Cember told me, " I HATE OVERALLS.. I will only do this for you and only this time.." Rocky fell in love with that tactor when we brought it home. He cranks (hand crank on the front, no battery, no electric start) it and drives it everytime he is out here. He has researched everything he can find on the internet about that tractor.. He and Buck washed it and got it all shiny for the parade.. They had it looking good..

We bought 8 bags of candy at $8.50 per bag for the girls to throw. We had Cember, Gabby, Kelsey, Maranda, Briauna, Teagan, Kaylee and Gracie (these 3 are friends of Kelseys) in the trailer. When we got back Kelsey, told us that was AWESOME, I LOVED IT... Paige (2 of the girls mother) and I walked beside the trailer the entire 3.5 miles. I was tired, at the end of the parade we hopped in the trailer with the girls and rode back to Rocky's house.. It was so worth it.. I love doing things like that with my Family. Thanks everyone for helping make this happen.. I have now nick named Rocky "Farmer All" (Farmall Tractor)

VACATION in 7 days...

~Lil Bits Adventure~

2009-08-23T08:34:00.003-05:00

I came in last evening from working on the little tractor and had 3 messages and 6 missed calls on my phone. I had had it with me out side earlier. Larry and I came in to eat lunch and I was talking to mom and laid it on the table and forgot to put it back in my pocket when we went back out.

The first Message was a this pic of her x-ray. She had broken her right arm, both bones close to her wrist.. They were at the mud races and all the girls (Cember, Gabby and Kelsey) were in the back of Buck and Mandy's jeep resting, Kelsey got too close to the edge and rolled out and tried to catch herself with her arm and snapped those bones. This was at about 5:00, I did not get the message until 7.. I was frantic.. I immediately called Rocky to see where they were and how she was doing. He said she was being a trooper, asking what is your name, what are you doing.... etc.. Just talking up a storm.. I told him I was getting a QUICK shower and I was on my way. I talked to Kelsey and told her Nana was coming.. I had to get the paint and rust off. quickest shower and shampoo, I think I have ever taken.. Did not even take time to dry my hair, or make up, just clothes and out the door.

At this time, they thought they may have to do surgery to get it back together, so they started an IV. Kelsey had tears in her eyes and realizing that both arms were immobilized, she was trying to use her knee to wipe the tears.. I was going to be there. About 5 minutes out of Benton, they decide Surgery is not necessary. She was laying there watching Nascar on the TV. They gave her something to kinda semi knock her out, then the doc came in and set it, Rocky said she cried about 15 seconds, while they put the tube bandage on, then when they started with the purple casting material, she started talking, I love that, it is so pretty.. WOW,,, so, by the time I got there they were ready to leave. When they came through the doors to leave, I was standing there and Kelsey wanted me... I am so sorry, I was not there for them and for her, From now on I will make sure my phone is on me at ALL times... But everything turned out OK. We went to Micky D's and got her a Happy Meal (with a boy toy, race car). That girl (well actually all 3 of them) are into that racing. I am attaching a pic of her in her purple case watching Nascar, Rocky is holding the mic close so she can hear better..

Thank God that she is OK and did not have to have Surgery...

~Leaving on a Jet Plane~

2009-08-20T08:55:00.002-05:00

Well, we are about to do something new.... Mom, dad, Larry and I are going on a trip together... We are sending mom and dad to CA on Sept. 26th, then Larry and I are flying out on Oct. 2nd. Larry can only take one week at a time and mom and dad (Being RETIRED) can stay longer. Since we have family there, they can visit with them till we get there. We will pick them up and we are going to the Redwoods. Larry has never seen them and I haven't in at least 37 years(that's how long I have been back in AR).. I would also like to go to Agate Beach. I remember looking for Agates there (in fact I still have 2 I found there) when we were in that area for a Church Choir concert. Remember those lavender dresses... I am excited about it. I want to show Larry some of the places that I lived out there and then I want to see this new "GLASS" bridge they have built in Redding. I want to visit Shasta Dam, Mt. Lassen and a few other places. We will get to visit with Aunt Sue and Uncle David, (can't say Larry will get to meet them, because he did that in June right after his heart surgery) Hopefully get to see Robert, Mike, Ken and their families. Not sure about that, but I would love to.. I have requested visitor information on the Redwoods and when we get that, we will sit down and go through it and kinda decide what all we really want to see and do while we are there. We will all fly back home together on Oct. 11th. It will be a GREAT TRIP.... I just bought a new digital camera, I have an extra memory card for it and an extra battery. So I think I am set there. I take ALOT of pics. It is nothing for me to take over 1500 pics on a weeks vacation.. I will post more as plans come together. CAN'T WAIT. This is our first vacation since we started building our home.. AND our FIRST EVER with mom and dad.... We have taken short day trips with them and have had a large time, but this time will be even better....

~21 YEARS AGO~

2009-08-03T12:32:00.002-05:00

It was 21 years ago today, that Larry and I had our first date. We went to dinner at Steak and Ale. I remember it so well. I was too nervous to eat much, but after 21 years that is not a problem any longer. We talked as if we had known each other for ever. I met him while working as a check out clerk at the local grocery store. He came in every Friday and bought 6 or 8 Ribeye Steaks. We talked and joked with each other, he made it a point to always come through my line. I asked him one time, when he was going to cook one of those for me?? His response: When ever you want me to... This went on for about a year, then I left the store and we did not see each other for a few months. Then one morning I seen him at the Post Office, He asked where I had gone and I told him I was working in LR for the State.
One morning I was waiting on the girl I was riding with to get to the meeting point and I got a glimpse of a vehicle coming at me on the Drivers side, I looked up and it was him, he had pulled up to where his front grill was almost touching my car. I bout panicked.. Tina got there and we left, without saying a word to each other. Then we began to see each other there nearly every day. Sometimes we talked sometimes just waved. This went on for a couple of months, then the lady that worked in the station told me he wanted my phone number. I would not give it to him at that time. I just was not sure I wanted to date..
In early July, I began to call him, but secretly hoped he would not answer and was scared that a woman might answer, I did not know if he was in a relationship or not, neither did the lady at the station, she had never seen him with a woman, but did not know for sure. Then on August 2nd, I called him and actually talked to him. We talked for over 3 hours and he asked me out for the next night and I said OK.. It that is how it all began. But we did not get married until Dec. 27, 1995. He has been the most caring, considerate, loving man I have ever known. He spoils me rotten.. I am so blessed to have him in my life, as you all know, I came so very close to loosing him just 10 weeks ago, but by the Grace of God, he is still with me and continues to spoil me.
The day after our first date, My house (the one that Mike and I lived in) went up on PUblic Auction. Larry sent me flowers.. and they continue to come still today...

I LOVE YOU BABE!!!

~Here Piggy Piggy~

2009-07-15T13:30:00.003-05:00

We were checking the Game Cam out in our pines on Saturday, to our surprise this pic popped up. We about lost our teeth. Yes, there are 8 piggies (one just inside the tall grass), in our pines, just inches from our yard. There were several more pics on there. They were snapped on Thursday, July 9th at 6 AM... This can be a disaster if they decide to come into the actual yard... The pine straw out there is all ROOTED up all the way past the back of our property line. IF we don't get them out of there I am afraid my yard will look like that and we have worked too hard to get it growing good and have finally gotten good grass coverage over all the yard to let this happen... Yesterday Rocky brought over his live trap and we put it up. We have the door tied open at least for a few days so they can get used to coming and going in it for the food and then we will set it to trip when they come in and hopefully catch most of them. Then we will put them in the freezer, should just about fill up all our freezers. Maybe we will butterfly one of the smallest ones and throw it on the grill.. That would be a GOOD BBQ! Larry heard one snort at him a few mornings ago and decided to come back to the house before he had to RUN back.. Which would not be a good thing for him to do right now.. Bruce killed one there last year and we have not seen any since until now. So not sure what has driven them up there, but hopefully we can get them out of there.. Well I will keep you updated on this adventure...

~Thinking of Grandma~

2009-07-10T09:18:00.004-05:00

It was 10 years ago today, that we said "GoodBye for Now" to her. We will meet again on the Other Side someday.. I did not get to be there, but most of her Children were there, except Uncle Leonard (he was in the hospital in LR). I was at my brothers, helping take care of his children so that my mom could be with her mother. I was leaving Tony's to go sit with my mother for a little while, when I got the call that she was gone, so I just turned around and went back to my brothers. That way were we not alone, we had each other. It was a very sad time in our lives, so much sorrow and pain, yet so much joy with a perfectly healthy premature baby girl just 6 weeks old, boy did she out grow that premmie stage quickly.. I believe within 3 months we lost 6 family members including the mother of my brothers baby girl.

The preacher conducting her funeral had asked that the grand kids write something that stood out to them about her. Well, there were several of us that did that. I got them all and printed them out on paper that would sorta match something they said about her in their letter. I had talked about her quilting so I did a backdrop of a quilt on mine, I think I also did some kind of quilt thing on Sheri's, she talked about what did she say about a woman she barely knew(Grandma), but raised the strongest woman (her mother) she knew and about the quilt that Grandma had made and literally fell out of the closet when one of the kids opened the door at the moment she was writing her letter (coincidence, I think not). Then, one of Rosie's boys (Not sure which one) wrote about the Legacy she had left us. Grandpa had died at an early age (about 42 I think) and left her to raise 8 children the oldest of which was about 16 or so, not only did she never re-marry, but she never gave up Grandpa's name, on all her bills and accounts she listed her name as Mrs. Lloyd Brown, not Maggie or Lou, but Mrs. Lloyd. She was very proud of that name. I can't recall any of the others right now, but I still have them ALL saved on my computer. I printed 2 copies, one for the preacher and one to put in her casket, so she would always have them. One strange thing, NEARLY EVERY ONE of those letters mentioned her Fried Potatoes, how we ALL LOVED them and NONE of us can cook them like she did, they just do not taste the same, my sister had mentioned in her letter, that she had borrowed grandma's skillet, oil and POTATOES, and they just did not taste like hers. Maybe it was her knife she used, who got the paring knife, I want that knife.. She was an awesome COOK, as my mother is (and her sisters). She always had something cooked when we came over or she would get in there and cook something, as if we had not eatten in days, But you have to eat when you go to Grandma's house, my own grand daughters do the same thing, and I catch myself asking, can I fix you something to eat. I can see so much of my grandmother in my own mother (Compliment)... The preacher made the statement if he read about fried potatoes one more time, he was going to have to go eat it was making him hungry. Several talked about Sugar (Her Chihauhau), she loved that dog, but at times hated him too. But she was lost without him.. How we all miss her, but we will see her again.. What a legacy that she left for ALL of us to follow.

Her Birthday was July 2nd and she went to be with the Lord on the 10th, living "8" days after her Birthday, one for each of her Children... I know Aunt Jeanette, you only got half a day, but you were the baby that never grew up (weight wise) much from birth (HAHAHAHA).

Love you much, Grandma....

~New Treasure~

2009-07-09T13:17:00.003-05:00

I finally found a cookie jar for my Kitchen. I wanted a Teddy Bear one, but all the ones I found at "Junk" stores were $30 and up!!!!!!! I was not willing to pay that for a cookie jar to sit on the cabinet. Then this weekend, I found it.. I fell in love with it and it was in perfect condition and only "$8.00". I grabbed it... As soon as we got home, it was promptly washed, dried and placed on the cabinet, right next to the "healthy tray" (I keep fruit on this). It looks GREAT!! even if I do say so myself..

What do you think?? I thought of each of the girls sitting on my lap when I saw this. The only thing that would have made it better is if there had been 3 little bears... I am so ready for a girls nite.. Maybe week after next.. We will have Larry's Pizza Buffet on Tuesday nite, Then I will take off Wednesday and we will spend the day at the POOL.... That will be SO MUCH FUN!!! Can't wait.

I LOVE looking in old junk shops, never know what you may find in there.. Larry found 2 single trees (who knows what that is) for the old Cultivator that used to belong to his brother in laws father. That will be yard art when restored.. By the way, we can start working on the Wheel Horses now according to the Doc. Larry said if we work hard on them, they will be ready for the girls to drive in the parade.. I am not holding my breath on that one, I do not want him to work that HARD! He is trying his luck at cutting the grass today, he promised he would take it slow and take lots of breaks.. I have to "Trust" (Sheri's word for the year) that he will take care of himself.. The Good Lord has brought him this far, so I have to "Trust" he will carry him on.. I am so blessed to still have him..

God's Blessing to ALL

~All Systems GO!!!!!~

2009-07-07T12:50:00.003-05:00

As per the Cardiologist, Larry can return to work part time on Monday, July 13th, that will be 7 weeks, 2 days post-op. He is kinda guardedly excited.. He is mentally ready to get back to a schedule, but not sure how he will hold up physically. While we were in the office, Larry had an episode with his blood pressure. It bottomed out and he passed out... SSSCCCAAARRRYYY!!!!! Everyone scrambled,, fanning him, taking his BP, getting him back too and up drinking COKE to get his vessels to constrict and raise his Blood Pressure... So now we have to take his BP prior to meds and only take what is needed at that time. So that will be twice a day, until we get him regulated. Now that he has good blood flow, he may not need as much meds as previously. Just have to play with it for a while.. But we can do that.
We tested him this past weekend. We went to Branson. We had a wonderful time, but he did get really tired. But when he got tired, we rested... We walked in the mall, ate, shopped in the junk stores,... Sat on the benches and watched people.. It was really nice. The weather was not too hot, there was a breeze blowing and lots of people to watch. We even ran into a couple that I knew a long time ago. Our boys were in Story Hour together at the County Library (Pre School age), so that was a LLLOOONNNGGG Time ago, being my oldest just turned "30"... It was good to talk to them again. We were on our way to have dinner and they were on their way to a musical show of some sort. We chatted for 5-10 minutes and then on our ways we went..
We found lots of "Treasures" in the Junk Stores. I found a Teddy Bear cookie jar, Larry found a Brace and bits for it, We found IH Farmall signs that we fell in love with, that will go in the pout house with the tractors. And we found another tractor, it is a 36 Farmall F-20. You can independently lock in the L or R Rear brake and make it do donuts. It is kewl. It does not have a battery, it is hand crank.. Now we just have to find an 8 ft wide trailer to haul it home on. That has not been an easy task. We will have to have a flat bed trailer, and a 1 ton pick up to pull it with, of which we have neither.. What a pickle we are in with this right now. Larry is weighing out some other options, keep in mind he cannot hand crank this nor can he bind it down on a trailer.. Why does he find such things when he is really not able to mess with them. Oh well, this too we will can handle..
Talked to my Uncle Roy yesterday, He is doing well, I asked about the tiny hen he had sitting on all the eggs when we were there a few weeks back. well,,,,, she hatched out "18" babies.. Wow what a family for one mother to take care of. This little hen is so TINY herself, it was all she could do to cover all those eggs, now she has all these babies. Roy says they are so CUTE and some of them are to little, 3 of them I think he said were regular size baby chicks, almost as big at birth as she is... I want to go see them, but not sure when we will have time. Now that Larry is going to work, we will probably spend most weekends resting at least for awhile.. We will see how that goes.
Mom and Dad are headed to the lake for another couple of days. (Thanks for having lunch with us yesterday after the MD appts...), then home on Sat. and back to the lake on Sunday for 3-4 days.. I am so thrilled that they go to the lake as much as they do.. I am just jealous I cannot do that, but hopefully my day will come..

Well I gotta get back to work..
GOD BLESS ALL...

~Tractors and Tillers~

2009-06-30T08:10:00.004-05:00

What a day, Hot as it was, it was fun. Larry, Mom, Dad and I all went to the Purple Hull Pea Festival in Emerson, AR, population 385.. Yeap a very small town and all of them were at the Fesival.. We saw tractor races, tiller races, pea shelling contests, arts crafts, and any type of food you could imagine. We ate home made vanilla ice cream as we watched the Tractor SLOW race, yes I did say Slow and Race in the same sentence. They have to see how slow they can make their tractor go and still keep it running. Once they start moving, they cannot touch the clutch or brake, they have to use the throttle and choke to slow it down. The track is 100 feet and one guy did it in 3 minutes 20 seconds, I am not sure I can walk that slow. It is cool to watch them. Then they have a barrel race and see who can push a barrel down the track the fastest without it going off the track.

They had small kids 5-10 years old out there with Mantis tillers and they were racing down a 200 ft track to see who could win. It was neat watching them. Those kids gave it all they had..

One little girls tiller died at the beginning of the race and she was so upset.. Then they ran again and she ended up winning the entire competetion...

We went to the shelling contest. The lady that won, shelled 7 5/8 oz in 5 minutes. Then they auctioned off all the peas that were shelled in the competetions. There was a little over 4 lbs and I think it went for $27.00 That is kinda high in my book. But it was going for a good cause..

Then we found a shady spot and parked our chairs for the parade, that lasted all of about 6 minutes, then over to the track again for the suped up tiller races. They had 2 tillers that had between 750 and 900cc motorcycle engines in them. The first race was 2 women (SMALL women, about 100-125 lbs). The lady in lane 1 finished in 6.5 seconds (200 ft track), the lady in lane 2 was drug about 100 ft and then let go and the tiller turned over. She was fine, but the tiller needed some welding, so that was the end of the tiller races. So then on to the WEDDING, yes they had an actual wedding performed there. At that point we were hot and tired, so we opted to head for home. They were having a Larry the Cable Guy look alike contest and a Street Dance later, but we headed for home.

On the way down we saw a junk shop in Camden. But decided not to stop. But, on the way back, we did stop. They had a trailer with iron wheels on it parked out front. Mom has this thing for iron wheels. they had a matching pair of smaller wheels she was interested in. They guy came down $10 on the pair, so I bought them for her Birthday, that was Yesterday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM.. I LOVE YOU... Then we went inside, no A/C so it was suffocatingly hot in there. We did find a couple pots that were Miracle Maid, we got them for $7.00 so now I am going to see about getting them replaced, Aunt Sue, can you tell me how you did this?? Could not pass that up.. One of them is in usable shape, the other has alot of stains inside, I may can scrub them out, I will try that..

Then on home. Mom and dad headed back to the lake for a few more days of camping. Just speaking for myself, I thoroughly enjoyed the Day, even in the heat.. Now Larry wants to find a Lawn Mower Race. So I am searching the I-net for that. Found some, but they were in May, may have to flag the calendar for that next year..

God Bless all... with cooler weather...

~Stay Off The Sidewalks~

2009-06-19T13:19:00.002-05:00

You got it. Larry has permission from the Surgeon to DRIVE!!!!! I do not like that at all... But, oh well, I guess it had to happen sooner or later... He said his bones are healing back together perfectly. So now, they want him to increase his pace when he walks. He is walking 3-4 times a day at 30 minutes each time. Now they want his heart rate up to about 120 beats per minute.. So now we are working on that.. We go to the Cardiologist on the 6th of July and will hopefully know then when we can return to work.. I know mentally he is ready, but even he knows that physically he is not ready.
We are going to Branson on July 2nd for a few days. We have a hotel room with a balcony that over looks the Courtyard at Branson Landing and they will be having a fireworks show there on the night of the 3rd. So we will have front row seats and not have to look over, around, etc.... heads.. We did that last year and just loved it.. We can walk to anywhere we want to eat and if we do not want to we do not have to get in the car for anything.. So I am planning alot of relaxing.. Our hotel is part of the mall, so we have shopping... I need it right now..

Last Saturday, Larry, mom, dad, and I went to Uncle Roy's for the afternoon. Larry and Roy really hit if off when we went and got the swing in August. So we drove up there. Their power went out on Friday due to Tornados in the area, luckily their house did not get hit, but a HUGE tree between them and JR did get hit, not getting either of their homes, God is GREAT!!!!!!.. We sat on the porch with a shop fan blowing on us being powered by the Generator. It was GREAT... Then dad and I got stung by a Bumble Bee.. I got it on the leg and dad on his face. Dad swelled pretty bad, I just got a huge knot and a bad bruise.. Never heard of a bumble bee stinging, that one was determined, he just kept coming back to attack again.. Uncle Roy had the fly swatter after him, not sure if he ever got it or not.. We stopped and got lunch meat and fixings. Mom took cookies and Zuccini Bread and I made Brownies. We just sat and talked, laughed and ate.. It was really good... Oh, I picked enough blackberries to make a cobbler..

My baby grand daughter and her mother are back from 3 weeks in California. I am going to see her tonite.. I sure did miss her, but I had my hands full...

Cember and Gabby have been at church camp all week, they came home today. Hope to see them this weekend..

Buck and Bruce got called to work for about 7-10 days,, Rocky is busy remodeling their kitchen. He started it when Deanna went to CA.. Now he is trying to finish.. It is going to be really nice when finished.. I am going by this afternoon to see where he is with it. Buck and Bruce have been helping him.

Well gotta go,, More invoices to get processed before next Thursday. Trying to close out our Fiscal year at work.. They will lock us out completely next Thursday. Then I will have a week to get ready to start keying all those renewed contracts.. That will take about 5 days of nothing by keying.. My hands will be killing me by the end of each day..

God Bless all....

~I am not OLD enough to have a "30" Year Old~

2009-06-17T11:00:00.003-05:00

Yes, my first born son, is "30" Today. Happy Birthday Son,, I love you so much.. I remember the day you were born as if it were yesterday... It Was FATHERS Day,,, You made a new Father and 2 New Grand-Fathers on Fathers Day. What a special day that was.. Of course every day a Child is born is a SPECIAL DAY in my book, Children are a sign from God that the world must go on... I would hate to imagine my life without children. I am getting a taste of that right now. I have not been able to have girls nite in almost 4 weeks now and I am having withdrawals.. But soon, we will do it again... This pic was taken in Pigeon Forge on their vacation a couple of weeks ago.. Not a clue what Gabby is looking at.

You have grown to be a fine young man and yes, you are YOUNG... You are a WONDERFUL Father to those 2 beautiful girls. They are 2 of the lights of my life.. My lights just keep growin in numbers. It is amazing how your heart just keeps filling with love for each one, but takes none away from any of the others..

LOVE YOU LOTS

Mom

~Hubby Update~

2009-06-10T10:34:00.002-05:00

Larry is almost 3 weeks out of surgery now and things are healing well, at least the outside incisions. We go back to the surgeon on Monday to get x-rays to see how his bones inside are healing. Hopefully that will be doing well also. He is really bored and tired of sitting around the house, but does not yet have the energy (not eating properly to regain strength) to do anything either..
We got out last Saturday and rode around and checked out some of the lakes close by. He seemed to enjoy that. We got out a couple of times and did some walking, not much, just a little.. Just so he could get that in. He is supposed to walk at least 3 times a day. He has increased it to where he is walking about 20 minutes each walk. Mentally he is ready to go back to work, but physically, no where near ready yet.. He drives ALOT in his job. He covers all Central US from Canadian to Mexican Borders, covering 12 states.. Most of that he drives. On Wednesday night prior to Surgery he had driven in from Iowa.. Right now, he is no where near ready to start driving that kind of distance.. But he will be... He will have to start out driving shorter distances and build up to that kind of driving again. When he leaves, he may not stop for 4-5 hours and then it is just to fuel up and hit the road again. He will have to learn to stop every 2 hours or so and get out and walk a little bit... But that too he will learn how to do.
We are hoping to go to Roy's this weekend for a little bit, not sure how long we will be able to stay, but he says he needs to see Roy, They really hit if off last August when we went to get my swing that Roy had built for me. Mom and dad are supposed to go with us.. We may go over to the lake tomorrow and spend the day with mom and dad, not sure how Larry will be feeling when I get home. I am back to work 6 hours a day, That leaves him alone 8 hours and I do not like doing that, but I have to close out the year at work, so I have to be here some..
Speaking of work, I have invoices to process...

Later... Keep praying for strength, him and ME!!!!!

~In the Words of Louis Grizzard~

2009-05-29T07:23:00.002-05:00

"They Ripped My Heart Out and Stomped That Sucker Flat", Yeap, that is what happened to Larry on Saturday, May 23, his sister's 61st Birthday and the office manager's 51 st Birthday.... What an eye opening learning experience. How it all began.... Went to the Doc on Friday morning 9 AM to get a new script for his Blood Pressure Medication.. I went to see what he said about the cold Larry had about a month ago and why he gets so short of breath, (I knew he would not say anything about it unless I was there, because he knew I would if he did not). The doc did an EKG (electrocardiogram), then another, then another, a total of 4.. He did not like the looks of it, so we also did a chest x-ray, his heart was enlarged.. He showed us on the EKG where the T-waves were inverted and that was a sign of a heartattack .. He left the room and when he came back about 15 minutes later, we were told that Dr. Greer (cardiologist) was waiting for us at Baptist Hospital.. So we drove straight there, with copies of the EKG in our hand.. Mom called me while we were inroute to the Hospital and wanted to know what I had decided about dinner and Graduation, was I going to meet them there or ride with them. I told her, I was not sure at that moment, I had somethings to wrap up and then I would let her know. Did not tell her what was going on.. When we arrived, they did he initial intake info, then they triage, then they took Larry back and I finished the paperwork, because Dr. Greer was literally waiting for us. He looked at the EKG and listened to Larry and we were told he was scheduled for a Heart Cath in 30 minutes. Larry asked about a stress test and was told, "you are beyond that"... So we go for the Heart cath, which we were told would take no more than an hour, either they would find nothing, and then they would be out in 30 minutes, or they would do balloons/stints and be out in an hour.. At that point I called mom and let them know what was going on. While I was waiting, my boss called with a work question. I was crying, scared to death... she asked what was going on, so I told her where I was and what we were doing. She asked who was with me and of course no one was, By the time mom and dad could have gotten there the heart cath was supposed to be over. I told her I was OK, just in shock.. The next thing I knew, she walked in the door ( my office is only 5 minutes from the Hospital). I was glad not to be alone. After an hour, they came out and told me everything was going well and they were about half way through, now I had been told it would take no more than an hour to begin with and now I am being told after the hour, they are halfway finished. I really got upset, Marilyn tried to justify it, they got a late start, so I was kinda OK, but had this gut feeling that something was really wrong... An hour later, they came and got us and took us to a conference room, Marilyn said she would step out when the doc came in and I asked her to stay.. The first thing he asked me is "Are you the one that got him to the Doc", I said I strongly suggested he go, then I was told I had just "Saved His Life", Still not letting myself think about surgery. I asked how many stints did we have and again I heard those words, "You are beyond that", we have to do "SURGERY" I was shocked and terrified.... He began to describe and draw pics of the blockages, His LAD (Widow Maker, main artery) was 99% Blocked.... Had he moved the wrong way, that would have shifted and he would have instantly been gone and there would have been nothing anyone could do to save him. Now remember Larry travels all the time with his work, he had come in from Sioux City, IA on Wednesday evening.. We are so very BLESSED that this happened like it did... He could have been away somewhere and it happened.. But, let's don't go there, that did not happen. The Good Lord saw fit for him to be at home. So we discuss Surgery, when, They were already trying to schedule it with the Surgeon and it would be Sat or Sun at the latest, Now remember this is a Holiday weekend... All of this has happened in 5 hours... I am a basket case by now. I have to pull myself together, because they will be bringing him out shortly..
Now I have phone calls to make, My parents, his sisters, my sons,, his boss... etc.... They are not letting us go home, so I have to ask mom to go to the house and bring me some clothes and stuff, because I may be here awhile..
Mom and dad get there around 4:30 because they are meeting for the Graduation/Birthday (Maranda on Sunday) dinner at PF Changs..
The Surgeon comes in at 5 and explains to us what is happening and what is about to happen. We talk to him for over an hour.. We will have surgery at 7:30 Sat. AM.. So within 22 hours we have gone through all this and will be in surgery...
So the rest of the night, we are in x-ray, ultrasound, echo, blood draws, Now keep in mind, Larry has not been in the hospital or had ANY type procedure done since he was 7 and cut his wrist.. So he is not liking this at ALL... At 4 AM they come in and wake him up to draw ABG (Arterial Blood Gasses), this is drawn out of an artery and hurts like all get out... REALLY BAD.. He is squeezing my hand so hard I about go to the floor, but I stand there and talk him through it. Then at 6 they come get us and take us to Surgery waiting, I am trying really hard to be strong, but the longer we sit there the more the tears roll.. His sisters called and said they were in the waiting room, So I asked one of the nurses if they could come back and so they got them. Then off to SURGERY!!!!!! I told them I wanted some of his drugs, he would be asleep and not know anything, so I was the one that needed the don't care stuff, but I did not get it. I was told they had about an hour prep and then surgery would begin. That would take about 4 hours. So we wait, Mom, Dad, Mary, Linda, Roger, Patti and I.... and we wait, and we wait, etc. at 11 we were told they were closing up... and we waited, and waited... I walk to the doorway and stand, tears just rolling,,, and I see the surgeon (Dr. Martino it is 12:30) and he is SMILING.. So I know things went well. So he explained what he did and that we should be able to see him shortly, he would be in CVICU for the next 48 hours or so and that would be the critical time.
So at 1 were allowed to see him.. Words cannot describe what I saw, tubes, wires, monitors,, machines,, everywhere.... And my husband, laying there with a machine breathing for him, motionless... A man that is NEVER still, we had planned to finish the trailer and start on the Wheel Horses this weekend... and here he lies not moving at all, not even breathing on his own.. I am terrified, all I can do is cry.. But he is alive and the docs say he is doing great... I am thinking what do they know, they do not know this man and how active he is..
Mom and dad leave to take care of some things, but Mary, Linda and Roger are staying for awhile. Linda will not go see him, She cannot stand all the machines and tubes, and that is OK. Mary and I go back in at 5 and we have to wait, because they are pulling the vent tube.. Finally he will be breathing on his own.. We are asked to not let him talk, just talk to him..
Mary, Linda and Roger leave, I would be fine, he is doing really good, and I just needed some alone time to think about all this and try to absorb it and get some of my crying out so I can be strong for him when he knows I am there. I go back to see him and get to stay for an hour at 8... He told me it sure was good to open his eyes and see me standing there... Then I told his nurse I will be in the waiting room if he needs me in the night.. I am assigned a couch to sleep on... I have my phone on vibrate in my pocket.. Just in case... About 4 AM, I sat straight up on that couch and just had a warm feeling, did not know what that was, but I went back to sleep. At 6 my phone vibrates, scared the bageebees out of me.. It was Larry's nurse, He had been asking for me since, you got it, "4". He did not remember me being there the night before, She told him, I had had a rough day and let's wait till 6 and let her get some rest and then she would call me back there. So he was content with that, but kept asking how much longer till 6.. I got to stay back there for another hour till shift change... Then I went and found me a shower and changed my clothes, I had been wearing mine for 2 days now... He was doing well and I needed to feel better and felt that would help. I got to go back in at 8, they had him eating breakfast, scrambled eggs and all.. Then after that visit, I went and got breakfast.. I was called around 11:30 to come to the desk, My heart sank,, but it was to tell me they were moving him upstairs to a room, HALLELUJAH God is SO GOOD!!!!! It was less than 24 hours in CVICU and we are going upstairs, in a WHEELCHAIR no less, not a bed... Things progressed from there, drain tubes began to be pulled and replaced with just bandages,, They keep telling us how well he is doing and I can see him getting stronger each day... The nurses and the staff are just great.. He is a model patient.. Day 5 after Surgery, Thursday, We get to go home. Boy, am I SCARED.. now it is up to me to take care of him. I have no one watching this little heart monitor, I have to watch him.. But I can do this... Does he mind me and rest when we get home, NO... He ends up getting TOO TIRED and does not rest last night. Today we will do better.. I am going to give him a shower in a little bit.. that should make him feel alot better,, In fact he is wanting to do that now. So I will update more later.. I have to go play nurse....

Thanks to EVERYONE FOR ALL THE PRAYERS, that is what got us where we are right now..

~Wrong Click~

2009-05-21T12:58:00.002-05:00

I am really upset with myself right now.. I had a spreadsheet that is 180 lines lone. I keyed information in to it and deleted what I did not need at this particular time and instead of clicking "Save AS", I slipped and just clicked SAVE... Now I need the rest of the information I had deleted, and it is GONE!!!!! Now I will spend about 5 hours re-creating that spreadsheet.. THose of you that deal with spreadsheets, realize this is not going to be an easy task.. I do not have time for this, this is Year end and I am in a real time crunch.. I know, I need to be doing that instead of typing this, but, I really just need a stress relief and typing is a real good one for me, and this is a good place to just do alot of typing...
Reunion:: It is only 8 days until the Family Reunion. I am excited. It will be interesting to see who all actually shows up... I am sure there will be people, I have never seen or have not seen in no telling how many years.. It will hopefully be a full day of catching up and hearing all kinds of stories of my parents growing up days, wonder what kind of secrets will be revealed??? Might be INTERESTING!!!!!!
The day after the reunion, my baby grand daughter and her mother leave for CA. Deanna's mother is having knee replacement and Deanna and Kelsey are going out for 3 weeks to help her out. I am excited that Kelsey's other Grandma will get to spend some time with her, hope most of it is Cindy feeling good time.. I am so BLESSED to have my entire family as close to me as they all are. My oldest brother and his family has recently moved to Texarkana, but still that is only 2 hours away and they come to Sheridan fairly often. The rest of us are within 20 minutes of each other. I guess Buck lives the next farthest from me and that is only 15 minutes if I go the back roads from my house.. I can do that as long as we have not had alot of rain recently. The water has just now receeded enough I can go that way, and guess what, we are expecting more rain for the next 4 days, then dry weather again. There is only a 10% chance of rain the day of the Reunion. I hope it is gorgeous weather and not extremely hot.. We will have a WONDERFUL DAY, at least I will.. I just found out some that are going to be there, but I am not telling.. You will have to be there to find out who all is there.. I think I need to pick up some name tags for everyone.. What do ya think??

OK< I think I have settled down a little about the spreadsheet. I guess I will get to re-building it, It is not going to re-build itself and I do have invoices that I need to get paid and I have to have that spreadsheet to do it with. SO here I go..

Later all, God Bless and Keep you in your travels to Sheridan Rec Center for the Brown Reunion...

~Life Goes On~

2009-05-13T09:33:00.004-05:00

It has been almost a month since I posted.. Sorry,, but LIFE Happens... What has been going on for the last Month... Where do I start???

Larry and I bought and halfway re-built a wooden trailer to pull behind the tractors for a Hayride... Can't wait to get it painted (if it EVER quits RAINING). It too will be RED.. "If it ain't Red, leave it in the Shed"

We had Easter egg hunt and Strawberry shortcake at mom's, the Sunday after Easter (it was RAINING on Easter)... It also rained the morning we had it, but it quit and cleared off, mom and dad's yard drains really well, so we were able to hide about 100 eggs for the kids to hunt.. Strawberry short cake was wonderful, we also had stuff to make banana splits or ice cream sundae's for whomever prefered them.. We all sat outside on the patio and had a WONDERFUL visit. We just do not do nearly enough of that.. Mom had made dressing and we were sitting there talking and Buck said he had to go have more of that, he did not get to eat Mamaw's cooking nearly enough anymore..

The following Sunday, I took the girls to Disney on Ice - Mickey and Minnie's Memories.. It was Great. I think they really enjoyed it and I know I did. I sure like having little ones, I can use and an excuse to go see things like that. A girl that works with Deanna, got the tickets FREE for me. No, I did not get out of there without dropping a small fortune. I treated the girls to McDonald's for lunch (their choice, not mine), then I paid $10.00 to park,, Then I bought them a SnoCone in a Stitch (Lilo & Stitch), mug that cost me $10.00 EACH... Then I ended up eating 2 of the snocones, because they did not like them.. YES it was well worth it... Then we stopped and got a snack on the way home... I really enjoyed the afternoon...

The first weekend in May, Larry and I took a road trip to pick up a couple of Wheel Horses. If you have not heard of them , they are miniature tractors. They are smaller than a riding lawnmower, but look just like a big tractor. Yes, we have developed a thing for Tractors... Here is a picture of one of the ones we got. We got 2 of them and a mower deck, cultivator and turning plow for them. We will restore them as we did the other Farmalls.. If the weather will cooperate so we can finish the trailer and then get started on these.. I can't wait.. I think the girls will have a good time riding them around the yard.. One of them is a 1960 and the other a 1964... Yes, I know one of them is as old as me.... We got back in late Sunday from that trip, and back to work on Monday, I spent Wednesday and Thursday at Hot Springs at a Public Health Convention. I rushed back on Thursday evening to attend Kelsey's Spring Gymnastics Program. She was a HOOT, She had us all laughing so hard, tears were just rolling. Rocky leaned over and said, I think she has ALOT of Uncle Showtimes (Bruce) personality in her. Nana could not miss that. Mom, dad, Mandy and the girls all got to attend.. Then back to work on Friday to find out it was the deadline for entering purchase orders for this Fiscal Year. So it was a really crazy busy day.. No lunch bread that day...
Sunday was Mother's Day, I had gotten mom a Red Leaf Japanese Maple while I was in Hot Springs.. I had intended to take them to lunch, but I did not call them early enough. I was waiting till they got out of church, but did not know they get out earlier (I know I should have been there, but I was not), so they were almost in Little Rock when I called. I will make it up to them.. Pam and Tony had been over on Saturday nite, James called on Sunday, he is in Texarkana working now. I did go over and spend some time after they got back from LR..
If the weather clears some, Larry and I are taking mom and dad with us to a Tractor show, parade, races, etc... this weekend in Nashville AR.. That will be a fun trip.. I am anxious to go. On the way we are going to discuss and start planning our trip later this year. We are trying to go to the Redwoods, Larry has never seen them and it has been YEARS since I have.. Would love to see them again.. Planning to take mom and dad with us.. It is our turn to do for them..

Well, I think I have caught up. Will try to post more often, just right now is BUSY BUSY time.. Trying to close out the year at work and help on the Reunion coming up in 2 WEEKS... Right now I feel like the little engine that COULD,, I think I can, I think I can,,, etc.... I can do this...

LOVE and BLESSINGS to ALL!!!!!!!!

~work work work~

2009-04-17T15:08:00.002-05:00

It seems that is all I do. My job is really busy right now and will be till the end of July. We have decided to move our payroll department down to the 3rd floor and not renew the lease on 4th floor where they currently are. So it is my job to schedule and supervise the move. I have 4 guys coming on Monday to move stuff around on 3rd floor to make room for them. Then I have a moving company coming on Wednesday to actually move them down stairs. I also have a shredding company coming Monday to pick up untold pounds of old patient records that have to be shred, I have people scheduled to round up all the old broken equipment to be cataloged and sent to the state equipment graveyard. I am throwing away and getting rid of lots of JUNK!!!! We have really gotten bad about letting things pile up and I can't stand it any more. Of course my regular duties will suffer from this and therefore I will have to really work hard week after next to get all that caught up. There used to be 2 people that did this job, but one left and they did not replace her, since I showed them I could do it (Big mistake). I did not complain about not having enough time to get everything done, I just pushed myself and did it, so they thought I could handle it and so I have for the last 5 years. Then came AASIS, that doubled my work load, then came DHS and that again doubled what had already been doubled but I continue to push and manage to get it all done. OH well, I guess that is why I will loose time this year if I do not take 25 days off between now and the 31st of December. I just hate to take more than a day at a time, because it is too hard to try and catch up.

On a more happy note. I am getting excited about the reunion. Sheri and her family are going to try to be there. Mom and I got all the information typed the other nite. I am getting it printed this weekend and mailed out. Please fill out the form and send (snail or e-mail) back to me. I am trying to put together a family directory, names, addresses, birthdates and phone numbers, etc.... to be handed out at the reunion. IF you are not able to attend and want one, I will mail to you. YOu will not be left out..

Mom, Dad, Larry and I are going to a Tractor Parade/Race on the 16th of May. I am excited about that. Larry and I are trying to purchase a Wheel Horse, which is an old riding lawn mower that looks just like a miniature tractor. We have found some, we are just trying to get time to go look/get them.. We will restore them and use them probably for the girls to ride at the house, we will have a turning plow, cultivator and mower deck with them. Cember wants to cut the grass for us with the riding mower this year. I am going to let her try the next time she is at the house and see how she does. I will probably have to take turns with her and Kiefer. Kiefer wants to do it also, But I think Cember will be in Mississippi most of the summer, Buck is supposed to be working down there and possibly Bruce, not sure on that yet, I think sometime mid June he is supposed to be there. If so, this will be a long summer for me..

Well gotta get off for now. Time to go..

God Richly Bless each of you.

~Where do I start~

2009-04-07T20:47:00.002-05:00

Crazy, busy life... What has been going on you say,,, well, where do I start.... Things at work are gearing up for year end. That is a busy, crazy time of year. Trying to spend what is left in this years budget, closing out PO's, getting invoices in and paid. Getting geared up to re-key all the PO's for the copier leases for the next Fiscal Year, (I have 95 that all have to be keyed in on the first 2-3 days after July 4th when we can get back into the system. We are locked out from about the 20th of June to the second business day after July 4th. So I will be crying with my hands hurting so bad from all the constant keying. But I will survive, I do every year.
The first week in May I will be at our annual convention in Hot Springs. I will probably stay at the lake house and not drive back and forth everyday, since it is only 20 miles from the convention center. I used to do the exhibits, but it got too hard on my joints pounding that concrete floor for 3 days, so now I do registration, I get to sit down for most of that.

Larry and I have been doing some work in the yard, digging up and setting out Dogwoods, Wysteria, Red buds, and Roses. We have been moving some dirt around and trying to decide what to do in the circle out front. Still not sure there. But we are going to play with it this weekend and try to come up with something.

I have been trying to gather addresses of all family members to send out reunion info to,, Please send your's(snail and e-mail) to me, just to make sure I have it. Along with the reunion info I am requesting family stats and am planning to put together a family directory. So please get me the completed questionaire as soon as you can, after I send it out that is.

Last weekend Larry and I went to a tractor show up town just to see how ours compares to the ones they have. We are I would say as good as some and better than others. Mom and dad asked why we did not take ours up there. We really just did them to see if we can, Now that we know we can and do a real good job at it, we may take them next time. We are going to another tractor show in Nashville AR on the 16th of May, We have asked mom and dad to go with us for the day. I called to get more info on it and was asked how many we would be bringing and what models they are. I told them we would not be bringing them this time. I was asked to at least bring pictures if I have them. So maybe we will do that, but Larry is looking for a trailer to haul them on, if he decided to show them. We got out on Saturday afternoon and he and I had tractor races on these roads out here for about an hour. The neighbors got a good laugh out of that. We had a blast doing it. Then it was put the toys up and get back to work.
Sunday we mowed the entire yard, he did the riding mower and I did the push mower (to make sure nothing got cut down) for 2 hours each. I was tuckered when I stopped...

Buck and Bruce got laid off in Batesville on Thursday and came home. Buck goes back to white bluff on the 14th and Bruce went today. He thought he was not going until the 20th, so he was planning some turkey hunting, but he got called yesterday and asked why he was not there. so he had to go today. I was glad to get them back home. I think they are planning to go to somewhere in MS sometime in May or June for about 6 - 8 weeks, not sure about that yet.

Mom, dad, Larry and I have got to get together and plan our trip this summer. now that we know pretty much we are going to get to do it, I am getting excited about it. Now we just have to decide where and when... We know we are going to Fly.. so the how is taken care of, then we will rent a car when we get there..
Larry and I are going to Branson again this year on July 4th. We like to go junk shopping there, it is alot of fun. sometimes we find some neat stuff and sometimes not. But we like to look.. Then we just walk and look in the craft stores and sit and watch people. I love to do that. It is amazing what all you see, when you just sit and look.

Well gotta go and get some sleep. I will try to post more often than I have been.

Nite all..

~Catching Up~

2009-03-24T11:42:00.003-05:00

Well, I have the Pavilion at the REC center reserved all day on Saturday, May 30th for the Family Reunion. Now to get addresses and get notices out. The pool will be open, there is handball, tennis courts, basketball courts (inside and outside), walking track, skateboard park, pool tables, playground and other sports available. Kevin and his brothers are trying to keep this date open so they can bring their stuff and we can have an old fashioned singing. As for food, I am thinking bring grills and grill hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken, what ever you want, then have chips dips, potato salads, cookie puddin and other side items and desserts, Any suggestions???

Well, now for what has been going on. Larry and I are hard at it again in the yard, we have put out 600 lbs of lime and 550 lbs of fertilizer (3 weeks apart). The grass is greening up more and more every day. I promise we thought we could hear it growing last weekend. It is supposed to storm here today, Thanks Sheri for sending it our way, We need some rain to soak the fertilize into the ground, just not the severe weather. We also set out 3 red buds that we dug up at mom and dad's, thanks, then we dug up 2 dogwoods in the woods and set them in the yard. Everytime the dogwoods bloom I think of my Grandma McLemore. She always wanted to come to Arkansas to see the dogwoods in bloom, kinda ironic, that when she passed away, the dogwoods were in full bloom. I remember that morning mom and dad left for CA, then that night I got a call they had an accident in Tucumcary NM and mom and Pam were in the hospital. That was scary, I felt so helpless, but I stayed home as dad had asked me to, he had all he could handle there and did not need the worry of me being on my way there. Then again, I had 3 little ones. That was a bad year all the way around, that Dec., Mike and I separated, but I won't go into all that..

The woods in AR are so pretty in the spring, with all the dogwoods and red buds in bloom. I just love to drive down all the back roads and look at all the blooms. Larry and I did that some on Saturday, only we were also looking for small dogwoods that we could dig up and plant in the yard. I was supposed to see about getting top soil hauled this week, but with the rain, that would be a waste of time and money, so I will wait on that.. We did get out the roses, actually Rocky and I did that on Wednesday, then Larry and I put the landscape blocks around them on Friday evening, then the weed barrier and the mulch. Then Saturday up early and put out fertilize and trees. It was a full day and we hurt that evening. We kept making the mistake of stopping and sitting for a little bit, then the getting up part was murder. It will get better, just in time to do it all over again this weekend..

Well all for now. I have a cake in the oven. Gotta go check that then work on mom and dad's taxes..
Later ALL.

Mark your calender for the Reunion..

~I'm Late for an Important Date~

2009-03-12T13:16:00.002-05:00

I just cannot find time these days to keep up with my stuff... A VERY LATE HAPPY BIRTHDAY to My Dad and My Middle Son, Rocky.. They were both born on March 10th, 41 years apart.. A Very Happy Birthday to you both.

The weather here is so crazy right now. Over the weekend, it was in the upper 70's and even low 80's, today it is 34 and raining. Larry is coming home from Kansas City and he is almost in Fort Smith and it is sleeting and snowing on him. Mandy went to Batesville yesterday to take Buck some warmer clothes, and now she is trying to get home and it is snowing on her. Then by Sunday it is back in the upper 60's and by mid next week into the upper 70's. Maybe this will be our last cold snap (at least last one this cold), The low tonite is 32 and the high tomorrow is 45.. I want WARM weather.

In my last post Bruce was expecting on heading for Batesville on Sunday or Monday, hopefully with a day to rest in between. Well,,,,, He did get laid off Monday at 4:00 and instructed to report to the job site in Batesville on Tuesday morning at 7.. No rest in between. So I hurried home and helped him gather up all his stuff, I had kept it washed up just in case this happened. And it is a good thing we did. He left around 6:30 headed to Batesville. I got a text at 9:15 "I'm here, good nite". I guess he and Buck will be there for the next 5-10 weeks. So I am HOME ALONE!!!! Larry will be in Tonite sometime and back out on Monday. SO during the week for awhile, it will be just me.. But that is OK. I like it out here. I'm NOt Skerd... I have "Watch Deer"...

I wanted to work on a Rose Garden this weekend, but I guess that will have to wait. Larry and I are taking mom and dad out for dinner on Saturday for Dad's Birthday. Not sure yet where we will be going. I told him it was his choice.

Well better get off and get some more things done. WIll post more later.

~Run, Run, Run~

2009-03-06T10:27:00.004-06:00

That seems to be all I do these days. How did I have time to help mom and dad all those years, it seems I have NO Time to do things now. I want to spend more time with mom and dad, but where am I going to find the time... I did go over on "President's Day" and spend most of the day with them. We had Lunch, Soup with Chicken and Stir fry" It was REALLY Good, and a pain of PLAIN cornbread, (all I get to make at home is Mexican). I loved it, MOm and I worked on some quilts, I showed her a few things and she showed me a few. I am going to have to take a day off and do that again... No more holidays until Memorial Day.
Last week, Buck & Bruce were told they would be going to Batesville soon, so, I have been trying to keep Bruce's clothes washed up (I do this anyway, but I am paying particularly close attention to it now). Well, Buck got told at 1 yesterday they needed him in Batesville today at 7 am. He said he could not make that, but he could be there Saturday am. So, last nite, we were busy (after I ran my errands in town, went to Kelsey's gymnastics, and did water aerobics) , gathering up last minute things I had at the house for the camper. Buck, Mandy and the girls are taking that up today and get it set up, Mandy and the girls are staying for the weekend. Bruce was told he should be shipping out Sunday or Monday for batesville.
Yesterday was Bruce's 26th Birthday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY SON!!! Boy did that time pass fast. They all came over for dinner on Wednesday nite. I made a statement about Bruce's age and Rocky, said "Yes, that means I am going to be "28" on Tuesday, Deanna and I could not remember how old I was and I knew someone would mention Bruce's age and then we would know" He is so silly. Then he went on to say "that means Buck will be" and BUCK Stopped him, "Don't even go there brother". I am so glad they are close again. I can remember a day when they were not and it ripped my heart out. I get along with my brothers and sister, but sometimes I really DON'T LIKE THEM!!!!!!! and I am sure they feel the same about me...
I laughed at Buck and Rocky, they went to look at the tractors and could not figure out how to start mine. I had to show them, but then the battery was down on it. So, Larry will have to charge it for me and show me how to hook up the charger (it is a negative charge system).

I had a really good Valentines Day, if you ever want to hide something from me, just leave it in plain sight. Larry had bought me this HUGE teddy bear to sit on the bed. He put it on the bed Friday afternoon before I got home. Did I see it??? NO!!!!!! I went in there several times to get to the bathroom, of course, I did not turn on the bedroom light. He kept saying how tired he was, and I told him to go to bed. I had things I wanted to finish up, but he could go to bed, he kept saying in a bit.. Well, now I know why he was saying that. SILLY ME>> well Saturday morning when I got up (for a change, after Larry did) I started making the bed, when I went to put all the pillows on it is when I found the TEDDY BEAR sitting in the corner by the pillows.. I was shocked.. I will have to add pics of the girls with him for you to see how large he is. I love it. Kelsey was trying to drag it into the living room the other nite to show everyone, it was more than she could drag..

Well gotta go help someone, will add to or post again later.

~lots of catching up~

2009-02-26T13:34:00.007-06:00

The last couple of weeks have really been crazy.. Larry and I finished my tractor and I drove it this past Sunday... It really will scoot. I loved it.

Here is the before and the after... quite a difference... We have new neighbors, just moved in 3 weeks ago. They are really young, just married 10 months, when they came over to introduce themselves, she wanted to know "Does it run", (we were outside in the pout house working on it). I drove it for quite awhile on Sunday, thinking they would get back home and she could see it run, but they came in about 20 minutes after I put it up, it was really getting cold out there. Maybe this weekend she can see it. I know we should have gone over and welcomed them and introduced ourselves, but they had alot of company and they were busy unloading and we did not want to intrude. I was planning to bake something and take over later in the week, no I still have not gotten that done, It is supposed to rain here most all day Saturday, sounds like a good day for baking to me..

I have managed to finish Kelsey's quilt top and do another one out of the Blues and purples in Cember and Gabby's, boy did that turn out pretty. This and Kelsey's is more a lapquilt size, Since Kelsey is only 28 lbs, she would get lost in even a twin size. Then last Saturday, the weather was yucky and I really got bored so I cleaned out the sewing machine drawer, I found a jumpsuit I had cut out many many many years ago, along with the fabric for a blouse to go with it, decided I was apparently not going to sew it up and if I did, I was not going to wear it, so I cut it and the blouse fabric into squares and I am doing a 9 patch quilt top out of it. I will probably finish that one this weekend as well.

If the weather is just semi-yucky on Saturday, I think Larry and I are going junk shopping. We have gotten to where we like to just go dig and look in old flea market type stores, you never know what you will find.. That is where I found a churn and then a jar for it.. Then my SIL does victorian style lamp shades, so we are always finding odd shaped lampshades/frames that she can use for those that we get for a dollar or two for her. Who knows what we may decide to do. Buck and Bruce are getting ready to go to Batesville (about 2 1/2 hours from home) to work for about 6 weeks. They are taking a camper, to save on the living expenses while they are there. Mandy and the girls will go up just about every weekend to clean the camper and do laundry for them. They work 7 12 hour days when they are on these power plant shut down maintenance jobs. They may have 1 or 2 days between jobs. They are currently at White Bluff (30 minutes from home), Bruce is working in the coal yard, so every nite (8 PM) when he gets home, he practically strips outside to keep from tracking the coal dust through the house. That saves alot. He comes home and all you can see on his face is his lips and his eyeballs. Picture the look on Kelsey's face when he came in last nite and spoke to her, she did not know who he was and it upset him because she was scared of him. She knew he sounded like uncle Boo, but he sure did not look like him.

Well gotta go, close out the month at work and get home. Will update more later.

LOVE and GODS BLESSING to ALL!!!

~You Nana~

2009-02-13T08:48:00.004-06:00

Yesterday I picked up Kelsey at DayCare and took her home to change her clothes for Gymnastics. Rocky had not left for work yet, so she got to see him. After I got her undressed I sent her to Potty before we put her gym suit on. I went to check on her and Rocky came in there to tell her bye. As he was leaving he said, "bye mom, thanks for taking Kelsey" After he left Kelsey looked at me and said, "you not mom, you nana". So I tried to explain I am your Nana, but I am your Dad's Mom, again, "you not mom, mom at Sonic". Don't guess she is quite old enough to understand all that yet, But the look of puzzlement on her face was just priceless. Wish I had had a camera.

THen off to Gymnastics. She is doing really well, She loves it.. They had her hanging on a bar and putting her feet on it between her hands and swinging. She loved it, but my heart was in my throat for fear of her falling, (of course her coach was right there and there were soft mats under her, but still, she is ONLY 3... Deanna met us there when she got off work at 5:00.. Kelsey in her "Jumpin Suit"

I am so glad this is the last day of work this week and Monday is a Holiday, then no more holidays until Memorial Day in May. I hate that long stretch, but I am thankful we get as many holidays as we do working for the state. I still have my birthday I can take as a floating holiday. Then, I have 7 1/2 weeks of vacation and sick leave I have saved. Never know when I will mess up my neck completely and have to have surgery again (I have avoided it now for 3 1/2 years). So I need to save as much as I can so I don't miss a paycheck. Heaven knows we all need everyone of those we can get and then some... I am going to Mom's when Larry leaves on Monday and we are going to quilt all day or at least most of it. Yesterday mom took Cember and Gabby's quilts to the quilter. This is Gab's quilt top. I can't wait to get them back..

This weekend, Larry and I are going to work on the yard and try to play with the blocks out front and decide how we want to do that.. Then I have some Mimosa trees I want to move, now seems like the time to do that.. The weather is supposed to be good, and the temp in the mid to upper 50's. that will be good.. Bruce is back to work and is working 7 days a week and 12 hours a day, so I do not see him much. He will be at Redfield (about 30 miles from home) for about 4 weeks, then he and Buck will go to Batesville (about 2 1/2 hours from home, they will take a camper and stay up there) for about 4-6 weeks, then back to Redfield, Then I am not sure from there. I think they will have about a week between each of these jobs, not sure.

Well gotta go and get some more cleaning done, We are having Spring Cleaning at work. I have sent so much to be shred out of this office it is not even funny. We are having 3 more offices constructed (permanent walls) where we had cubes. We are moving our payroll dept. back down on this floor with the rest of us and get rid of that lease every month. So I am having to clear out some storage cubes to be able to put people in them.

So until next time, God Bless and Keep You ALL!!!

~Weeks Events~

2009-02-05T08:41:00.002-06:00

Had Girls nite out last nite, What a fun time. I only had my 3 girls, but we played, watched some of American Idol and laughed at some of them and really enjoyed others. We had reading time (30 minutes) and then played till bath time and bedtime.. Then up this morning, got all delivered, Kelsey to her mom and dad, Cem and Gab to mamaw and papaw (dad takes them to school for me when they spend the nite, Thanks a MILLION).

Last weekend, we got to work on the tractor all weekend. I got up early Sunday morning and went to Walmart to get what groceries and other items we needed, then home and changed into work clothes and got to sanding and painting. I have a problem, my paint on spots on the tank and fenders keeps bubbling up like little blisters. Not sure what is going on there. I may have to sand back to the metal and start over, I hope not, but what ever I have to do. Hope to finish it up and get it all back together this weekend. Weather is supposed to be just beautiful here this weekend, like 68 on Saturday and 62 on Sunday with scattered showers, oh well, we could use a little rain.

Last Friday/Saturday, we had new neighbors move in next door to us.. It is a young couple, with no children. They moved from a Condo in Little Rock to the country, We have decided they are scared of the dark, they keep all their outside lights (front porch, Garage (that one they really cannot tell is on if they are in the house), and 2 sets of flood lights out back) on all night. He seems like a good ole country boy, he was born and raised in Sparkman. She is from Colorado Springs, Colorado. I have not met her, she had gone to Walmart and he came over and introduced himself. Maybe I will bake something this weekend and take over to them. Depends on how involved we get into the tractor. I am ready to put that project to bed and move on. I have flower beds to work on and get ready for planting early next month.. But, first I have to decide what to do. I have a 35 foor diameter circle in my front yard (drive way all the way around it), that I need to do something with, Any SUGGESTIONS?? No water garden, That would be beautiful, but it would also bring FROGS and I am deathly afraid of them, I know SILLY, but that is just how it is.. So no water nothing out there.. That is the first thing anyone suggests, but that will not happen.. I already have 2 tree frogs that live on the front porch.. I hate that, but have found nothing to get rid of them. Believe me I have searched high and low for something.. I am open to suggestions there as well..

Well, gotta go and get work done.
LOVE TO ALL!!!!!

~Happy Birthday Lil Bit~

2009-01-31T08:20:00.004-06:00

Happy Birthday, Little Kelsey. Today you are "3". You went from being Uncle Bruce's Lil Wild Haired Baby, to his Lil Bit... When you were a baby, your hair was just wild, but your mom always did it so cute when she would take you somewhere. Then all of a sudden one day it was halfway down your back. The darkest color of brown to match your beautiful dark eyes.. The newest addition to our growing Family. My 3rd Little Grand Daughter. You are so petite, yet a little live wire. You are never still, always moving. I remember the minute you were born. Your mom and dad let me be part of your birth. You are so beautiful. You were born with a head full of hair, we knew you would be, your mom had heartburn the entire time she carried you. But as she says, you were so worth it. You are so petite, yet think you can do anything the other girls can do and most of the time you do exactly as they do.. Not always a good thing, but most of the time it all works out OK.. Just know that we will always LOVE YOU, wheither you are called: Lil Bit, Kelsey Bug, Kelsey Bell, or any of the other names that we sometimes call you. You are a joy to our family. Happy 3rd Birthday, Sweetheart...

~Birds and Quilts and Lazy Days~

2009-01-28T11:32:00.004-06:00

Sunday, as I was sewing Larry called me to come look at something out side, Our yard was covered in hundreds of these birds, they were shaped kinda like a quail, but not the right color. Their chests were a vibrant yellow with a black "v". I looked them up on the internet and they are a Western MeadowLark. They were so pretty and so many of them. I told him that was probably a sign of weather to come. and Monday afternoon it started. So when I got in from work, Larry and I went out to the storage

building to dig out some yarn, in case the roads were really bad and I could not go to work on Tuesday, Well, not thinking, I started down the steps and down I went, not on my feet, and then Larry tried to help me and he went down right behind me, kicking me in the back with his boot. Boy did that hurt. We were both concerned about my neck, luckily it has not hurt me at all, but have a huge bruise on my back and my back side. I can hardly sit down, I have to sit to one cheek or the other, I think I cracked my tailbone, and no need to go to the doc, since they cannot do anything for that anyway. I will be OK. So I was not going to work on Tuesday even if the weather did permit, which it did not anyway. So I was home all day.

Then today, we were on inclement weather schedule, so we did not have to be there until 10. SO I left here about 8:30 and stopped to top off the gas tank, just for the extra weight. There I was told there was a fatality accident at Ico and the road would be closed until about 11 for clean up. An 18 year old girl lost her life, there was black ice on the bridge, the same bridge I slid on a couple of week ago. So I went back home and decided it was not worth it again today. Besides, it hurt really bad to sit..

I did get some yarn out Monday evening, but did not touch it yesterday, but I have been working on caps this morning. I almost have a garbage bag full to be sent to AR Children's Hospital for their KNittin for Noggins program. I try to contribute to that each year. Last year I had a little over 200 caps to donate.. I have not counted this years.

I decided this year I was going to make each of the girls a quilt for Christmas. I have Cember's top finished. Mom is going to take it to her quilter the next time she goes down there, no hurry. I asked them what were their 2 favorite colors, Cember said Pink and purple, well I found what I think is some really pretty fabric and did hers. Gabby said Pink and Blue, I have enough of the pink left from Cember's to do Gabby's if I can find some Blue like it. Kelsey, just said Blue, Not sure what I will do on her's. Here is a pic of Cem's . I made a full size to be used as a spread. I think it turned out really pretty. I love bright colored quilts.. If only I had the fabric for the others I could get them done as well. I may get energetic enough to make the boys and Mandy and Deanna one as well. We will have to see about that.. I couple of years ago I did Buck and Mandy one with Dale Earnheart Cheater Blocks. They are Big Nascar fans and he was their driver. It turned out really pretty. Just forgot to get a pic of it before I gave it to them. I will have to get them to take one for me. Well, my backside is hurting so I have got to get out of this chair for a bit.

Hope you all are safe and warm...

God Bless and Keep each one of you.

Love Ya

Nan

~Busy Fun Filled Exhausting Weekend~

2009-01-20T14:45:00.004-06:00

Yes it was all that and MORE!!!! I took 4 little girls, Cember, Gabby, Maranda, and Kelsey to the lake house for the weekend. We left at 3 PM on Friday, Drove to the lake house (1 hr 15 min) and got it all turned on and heating up. I put the girls in the lower bedroom where I could heat that part real fast and they played, while I unloaded and got the rest of the house warm. That only took about an hour, then we ate and played Sorry and other board game, since it was dark and cold outside. That was a late nite, not going to bed until aroun 1:30 AM.

Saturday after breakfast and a quick straighten up, they were out to play, met some new neighbor girls and they all played together, I kept Kelsey inside with me until it warmed up a little more.

Then outside we went, I raked the back yard and burned the leaves. then moved to the front and side, too windy there to burn, so we raked and jumped and raked and jumped for about 3 hours (cheap entertainment, except for the blisters). There were showers to be had that night and boy was that water dirty.. But what fun we had.

Sunday after breakfast we went to a nursing rehab center to visit an elder lady that used to live beside us at the lake house. She is an awesome person. She is one of those people that I could sit and listen to all day, only she has a lung disease and cannot hold out to talk. Her and her husband built the log house that she just moved out of. It took them 7 years to build it. They cut down all the trees and debarked them and built the house. She was 49 when they started it, that just happens to be the age I am now and I could not begin to build a house especially like that one. She just loves the girls and they love her, everytime we go to the lake house, they have to go see Ms Norma. Cember and Gabby found the note on her door Oct. 07, that she had been taken to the ER early that morning. So they were immediately scared. I found someone that knew what was going on and tried to reassure them she would be OK. She was not able to come back to the log house after that, so now everytime we are there, we have to go see her. We always take her a little goody bag, this time we framed a picture I had taken of her with them in Oct. She loved it.

Then back to the leaf pile for about an hour, till it was too cool, then in for supper, baths and some more games of Sorry and other board games. Mostly Sorry..

Monday morning, UP, breakfast, clean the lakehouse, and load up. Then we came to Little Rock to Build a Bear. every Christmas they get me a gift card to Build a Bear and I take the girls and let them build me a bear. That is always alot of fun, only I did not think about all the Little Rock schools being out and there being a Girl Scout party at Build a Bear. that turned out to be a 3 hour ordeal,, but still fun.. Then to Wendy's for some food and then to their perspective homes. What a fun time was had, Making Memories.... The one on the Left is Valentine my 2008 bear, the one in the middle is Angel my 2006 Bear and the one on the Right is Merry my 2007 bear.

~My Birthday~

2009-01-12T18:18:00.003-06:00

Well, I am almost at the "50" mark, Not quite, but close.. Here is what my kids got me for my birthday...

This is a blanket 30" x 60" with a picture of the 3 of my girls and the fall arrangement we had just put together on my front porch. I absolutely LOVE IT!! I have never seen anything like that. I have it hanging on my wall in my office for right now, until everyone gets a chance to see it, Then it is coming to my house. IT is so soft and so warm. It is just AWESOME!

Now what is going on here, Not much. I spent most of Friday nite and Saturday nursing a sick headache (From my neck I am sure). Late Saturday it got alot better, Then Sunday, It was gone, Thank the Good Lord. I had done so well for the last couple of weeks, no headache and no burning pain from my head down to the middle of my back. Then Saturday it flared, but Sunday it was gone again, and has not been back. Larry asked what I wanted to do for my birthday, He would take me to eat or go where ever I wanted to go, Guess what I wanted to do?? You got it, We sanded and primed on MY tractor. I cannot wait to get it finished. We only like 9 more parts being ready to put it back together. Don't get me wrong, I love to go out to dinner with him, but I really want to get this finished and move on to other things, It is getting close to Spring and we have more landscaping to do, I want the tractor finished so I can use it. Then, too, I am trying to get that credit card paid off and I can't do that if we keep using it. But since we moved, I really like to just stay home and do things around here. After we got through with what we could get done yesterday, we came in and I took a shower to get all the rust dust and paint off me, then I put on my warm jammies and sat on the couch working on hats for Children's Hospital under the Down blanket mom and dad got us for Christmas, I love that thing, It is so warm... I keep it on the couch to cover up with, I am the most cold natured person you could ever know. I always have a blanket handy. Even in the summer time, I have a blanket over me on the couch.

I am thinking it is going to be a lake house weekend with the girls. Not sure yet, Buck is going up tomorrow to make sure we have no busted pipes and to leave the faucets open, so they do not freeze in these next few nights fridged temps, One night it is supposed to get down to 16, that is COLD.. This is a long weekend for me and for them. They are out of school on Monday and that would be a good time to go to Build a Bear and let them build my bear.. I may have to work on Monday, since the legislature is in session. Not sure, Hopefully will know by Wednesday. Sometimes we have to have a skeleton crew there and since I am the only one in Purchasing, I usually have to be there. Oh well.. May have to do the Build a Bear on Sunday afternoon before coming home. We will see..

OH, I almost forgot, The builder finally got the electrician over here to wire up the door bell at the back door, normally they do not do that, but we requested it (did not realize it was not wired in until after we moved in), since everyone that knows us comes to the back door (closest one to the driveway), and with it being in the Laundry room and that door stays shut, we cannot hear them knock.. So now I have a doorbell there and the first one to use it was the Fed Ex guy..

Well for now I will sign off, Got Laundry to get folded and another load to get in the washer. Good Nite all and May God Richly Bless YOU!!!!

~Way Behind~

2009-01-07T20:00:00.005-06:00

I usually do this at work. I get there real early and our system there is much faster and I cannot start working until 7, but they changed the security on our system and it will not allow me into this. By the time I get into town, go to physical therapy, do water aerobics and get home, it is bed time and I do not feel like getting on here then. But, on Wednesday's I do not have therapy or aerobics, I usually have the girls, but Larry's week got cancelled yesterday after he had driven to Springdale on Monday. So, let's see if I can get caught up.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my Daughter-in-Law, Deanna on Monday, Jan. 5th. She turned "26", awe, to be 26 again and know then what I know now, boy would I have done alot of things differently. At 26 I was divorced with 3 little ones... Deanna is married to my middle son, Rocky and they have a beautiful daughter Kelsey that will be "3" later this month.

Rocky met Deanna while she was here from Perris, CA visiting her dad, who lives close to James. They began long distance dating, then Rocky went to Bosnia with the National Guard, upon his return from that tour in Oct. 2001 she moved to Arkansas. They married Sept. 28, 2002, at the home of Roy & Audrey Harrington (Audrey is her Great Aunt), then Oct. 2003, Rocky was deployed to Iraq. What a stressful time to be so far apart only a year after being married, but they survived. Now they have this Beautiful little girl. Happy Birthday, Deanna. Thank you for being my grand-daughters mother. You are wonderful..

Then on Tuesday, January 6th, Happy Birthday, Briauna... Briauna hit the "DOUBLE DIGITS" yesterday. She is now "10". I was there when she was born, in fact I have been there when all the kids (grand and great-grand, not the step) were born. She was so tiny and what a surprise when we found out she was coming. Pam had made the statement on Mother's Day, there was not way she was Pregnant(you have to be "exposed"), then guess what "she was"(told off on herself). Briauna is the first Grand daughter of my parents. there is a great-granddaughter just 9 months older than her. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Bri. May this year bring you a better year than last. I still like your hair better SHORT!!!!!!

~A BRAND NEW YEAR~ UPDATED

2009-01-02T09:16:00.006-06:00

A new Beginning, a time to start over. A time to learn from the mistakes of last year and not to repeat them in this new year. A time of new resolutions, how many will be kept and how many forgotten in a few short days, weeks,,, a time to reflect on the resolutions made last year, how many kept, how many forgotten... I cannot remember any I made,, showing my age here a little bit..

How did I bring in the new year:: Quietly at home watching "The Christmas Shoes", crying my eyes out all alone. Larry went to bed around 8:30 and was probably asleep by 9. Bruce had gone on a competetion Coon Hunt with his buddy. Bruce has a registered coon dog: Mac.. He is huge and a beautiful dog. I am just not a dog person, but Mac is pretty. I will have to get a pic and post it (a new resolution)..

Reflections of last year:
January: Celebrated JR, Deanna (Rocky's Wife), Briauna, Rochelle, Kelsey, Gabriel (Kevin's baby), Caylum and my birthdays. James and Amie's Anniversary

February: Celebrated Kiefer, Brent H, Leila and Roy's Birthdays, Tony and Rochelle's Anniversary. Thought of Vanessa on what would have been her birthday.

January and February: Watching the completion of our new home..

March: Larry, Bruce and I moved into a new home on March 26th, Larry on the 27th (his ??th Birthday).. Celebrated Bruce, Raymond, Damon, Sue, Rocky, Daddy, Frances, Austin, Joanne/Rochelle, Madi and Larry's Birthdays, Thought of David and Leonard on what would have been their birthdays.

April: Celebrated Cember, Kelly (Kevin's wife), Kiara and Lindsay Alfords Birthdays.

May: Celebrated Mandy (Buck's wife), James, Jarod and Maranda's Birthdays, Buck and Mandy's Anniversary

June: Celebrated Buck , Mother, Josh and Uncle David's Birthdays. Sue and David's Anniversary

July: Celebrated Harold, Chris H and Ollie (Brandi Alford) birthdays, Thought of Grandma and Grandpa Brown on what would have been their birthday's.

August: Celebrated Brandi, Ken, Gavin, Evan, Nic and Rosie's Birthdays. Got my porch swing that was built for me by my Uncle Roy out of Cypress wood. 3rd Annual Family (my kids and I) weekend at the cabin on Lake DeGray

September: Celebrated Gabby, Chris G (Rochelle/Tony), Jeanette, Tina, Joseph and Missy's Birthdays, Rocky and Deanna's Anniversary. Mourned the lost of Jeffrey.

October: Celebrated Kevin, Kyle, Cole, Aleigha (Raymond), Joey (Charles), Shawn and Pam's Birthdays.

November: Celebrated Justin, Rodney, Dylan, Ethan and Charles Birthdays

December: Celebrated Keela, Tony, Sheri, Amie and Randi (Rochelle/Tony) Birthdays, Mom and dad, and Larry and My Anniversaries. Mom and Dad had their 50th Anniversary,,, CONGRATULATIONS.

Sorry, I did not list every family members birthdays or Anniversary, This is the only ones I have on my calendar. I would love to have them all. Please send me the ones you your family, so I can add them to my calendar. I would like to recognize everyones Birthday/Anniversary this year (a resolution, Can I accomplish it???)

A TOAST to EVERYONE;; May this year bring you happiness, health, and wealth (not necessarily monitarily). HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!!!

~Christmas Pins~

2008-12-25T11:20:00.006-06:00

When Mike and I first separated and divorced. I did not have alot of money to give the boys to buy me Christmas (mom and dad always chipped in to help them and take them shopping)( THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALWAYS BEING THERE), so they started buying me a Christmas Pin each Year. I could never decide which one to wear, so I began wearing them all on one shirt, I have continued that tradition now for many years, Some of them have had to be retired (put away for safe keeping), because they began to wear out. The reindeer lost his horns and his red nose, the sleigh lost its sleds, the wreath lost all its greenery, the pin back broke off an angel and I could not get hot glue or super glue to hold another one one. I love them each and every one. Even in their adult years, they have continued that tradition. I get a Christmas Pin each year.

I have some that have special meaning to me, they all do but these really stand out to me. The double bells on the dress of the angel pin were given to me by Grandma Brown when I was about 7 or 8, it was inside a wallet that she sent me for Christmas. The Bells just below it is the pin she always wore on her coat at Christmas Time, thanks mom for giving that to me.

Then there is the candle, that one was when my dad had his wreck in Dec 14, 1991(Tony's 21st Birthday). We were at the hospital and James and Amie took the boys to get my pin. When they returned they had gotten the candle and told me "this is our light at the end of the tunnel", you see dad was in a coma and the doctors had told us earlier that they were going to have to drill a hole in his head to releave the pressure on his brain. Just minutes after they gave me that , the doctor came in and told us Dad was awake (no drilling, Thank you Jesus). We got to take him home on Christmas Eve and all he wanted for Christmas Dinner was some Black Olives and he got them. They are all different, there are Angels, Snowmen, Teddy Bears, Santa, Santa Bears, Candy Canes, but they are all very special to me. Bruce just walked through and told me I was going to have to get a bigger shirt, that one was kinda full.

This years pin is a jointed Showman, sorry mom, I know how much you like snowmen, but you can't have this one... Everyone at work waits to see what pin I get each year. I always wear my shirt once right after Christmas so they can see the new addition. So that is our little Christmas tradition in my family. Now the girls join in picking out the pin for each year.

SO MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!!!

~Christmas at Nana's~

2008-12-24T10:05:00.005-06:00

On Monday night all my kids came over for Christmas. Buck, Mandy and the girls came over around 2 and started cooking dinner, That was nice... Bruce ended up cooking the deer steak, because he did not like the way Mandy was doing it, so he offered to do it. Mandy told Bruce she liked his way much better, it tasted better, so she would be doing it that way from now on. I had put rolls in the oven that morning to rise all day, while I was at work. Mandy finished baking them. We had Deer steak, rolls, corn casserole, mashed taters, and Macaroni and Cheese, It was really good. I had baked on Saturday/Sunday so we also had 4 kinds of bread, Banana Nut, Coconut Pecan, Pumpkin Spice, and Cinnamon Nut, Then I had made Chocolate and Vanilla Fudge, Skillet Cookies and puppy chow. We ate and then had presents. I now have 2 Build a Bear gift cards. The girls and I will have a ball building bears. The deal is I take the 3 girls and they build me a bear. I let them do it however they want to. It is alot of fun..

We had a really good Christmas. I had gotten Kelsey twin baby dolls and Bunk beds for them. She loves to play with mine that I have had since I was little, so I thought I would get her some. When we brought out the bunk beds, I had forgotten to make the blankets for the babies, so she grabbed some Tissue paper from the gifts and covered up the babies with it. It was so cute.

I had gotten Cember and Gabby art stuff, Blendy Pens, Color Splitz Pens, Glitter Pens and some other stuff like that, and so it was not strowed all over the house, I got them a wooden storage cabinet with 6 drawers, so they have a drawer for each different kind of pen. Then there were clothes for everyone.

When everyone got through with their take home goodies, there was little left, so I am baking again today (after I brave the craziness I know is going on at Walmart for some more baking supplies) for Mom and Dad's tomorrow evening. That's OK I love to bake.

EVERYONE HAVE A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS and REMEMBER JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON>..

Love ya ALL!!!!!!

~JESUS TOOK THE WHEEL~

2008-12-23T07:14:00.002-06:00

You got it. As I was traveling to work this morning, we noticed a car up ahead of us was sliding on a bridge, I took my foot off the gas a good ways prior to getting to the bridge and lightly tapped my brakes to slow us down, There were 2 tanker rigs several car lengths ahead of us. I had told Betty (the lady that swaps rides with me) shortly after leaving Sheridan, " I don't want to be beside them on slick roads", as they were hauling flammable materials. Well as we hit the bridge, the long one over Hurricane Creek at Ico (just north of Sheridan) we began to slide, zig zagging across the bridge, at times it felt as if we were only on 2 wheels and we were about to roll over. We went back and forth across the bridge, and then we went into a spin. I was scared to death, I just prayed and all of a sudden it was like the steering wheel was ripped from my hand and we came to a COMPLETE STOP, headed back toward Sheridan. We had gone the entire length of the bridge, in what seemed like extremely slow motion, sliding from one side to the other and spun around and did not hit a thing,, That is the hand of GOD that prevented us from hitting anything. As we began crossing the bridge, there was on coming traffic, one of the vehicles that was in front of us, went into the ditch. The Tankers were sliding, we were all sliding, That bridge was a solid sheet of ICE. When we finally stopped, I just said, 'Thank you Jesus", it was his hand that stopped that vehicle, I could not do it.
I tried to call 911 to let them know about the car that went off, but I kept getting Jefferson Co. I could not get Grant Co. So, I dialed the Sheriff's Department and let them know, Someone had already gotten them, so Help was on it's way. Betty and I decided to just go back home and maybe try again later. As we were driving back to Sheridan, we listened to the radio and heard of alot of wrecks in and around Pine Bluff and also several on I 530, which is where we were headed. I am still shaking so bad, I am not sure I can drive that again today.. Although, it is the end of the year and I do have a Contract that needs completed to go into effect on the 31st. Just not sure what we will do from here, But I just know that had it not been for the hand of God, I would probably be in the hospital or worse right now. I give him all the praise for his extra strong protecting hand this morning.

~SLIDING HOME~

2008-12-18T11:08:00.002-06:00

I have to chime in on this one. Aunt Sue, I bet you remember this. We were in California for Christmas in '75 or '76, I think it was '75, I want to say that, because Mike had gotten me a promise ring for Christmas, because he did not want me going to CA without a ring, and we knew my mom and dad would not let me have an engagement ring at "15", I would have been sixteen in '76, got engaged in Nov. '77. I had a coat that could either be Long or you zip the bottom off and it was a short coat, it was black with a white fur collar. Aunt Sue fell in love with that coat and offered to buy it from me. Now, I was in California, with only that coat to keep me warm if it should get cold, however, when we left for CA, the weather was really good, not too cold....
While we were there we did some Shopping (Imagine that). I found a sweater actually 2, that I just loved, it had pockets on the front and a belt with it, one was light blue and one was brown stripped. I bought them and told Aunt Sue, I would sell (actually we just traded the coat for what I owed her on the phone bill for calling my boyfriend back home while I was there) her my coat, because I would not need anything more than that sweater on the way home...

WELL>>>>>>>>> Little did I know about what was ahead of us on the way home. We hit snow and ice at Needles CA and drove on it the remainder of the way home, including our driveway.. SOLID ICE. Dad kept asking west bound truckers (the day of the CB Radio)"how did it look over their shoulder" (CB Language, I never did get into that, now Pam.. Boy I will have to tell you a story about her and the CB Radio) and we were always told about another 50 miles and you will be out of it,,,,, Apparently that storm was just about 50 miles ahead of us, because we NEVER ran out of it.... So there I was with only a SWEATER to keep me warm when we would stop... Needless to say, I did not linger outside the car any length of time when we would stop, just run in do my business and run back to the car.. I just about froze my Patootie off that trip... I was so COLD,,, I was never so cold in all my life... But Aunt Sue was toasty warm in that COAT!

Wonder what ever became of that COAT??

~HAPPY B-DAY-TWIN -DOUBLE FIRST-COUSINS~

2008-12-14T07:27:00.003-06:00

Tony as a baby and then Tony and Kiefer on the Jet Ski.

Sheri as a baby and then Sheri and her youngest son.

Today is the birthday of my youngest brother and my cousin. Yes, they were born on the same day only 18 minutes apart. Their Dad's are brothers and their mothers are sisters. Wow what a day that was. Sheri was born first (coming early) then Tony (over due). Delivered by the same doctor, mothers shared the same hospital room and they also share the same Middle and last names. So many similarities in their lives yet so many differences.

Today they are "38". At 12:20 Sheri will be "38" and following at 12:38 Tony will be "38". How do I remember that so well, actually I cheated, I read the newspaper clipping that I copied for my mom and dad's 50th Anniversary Scrapbook.. I can't remember what time my own children were born anymore without looking, I do know that my first one was born at 2:43 PM, but I have to look on the other 2.

Happy Birthday to you Both. Here's wishing you many many many more HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!!!!!!!

~Santa Hat & Jingle Bells~

2008-12-10T18:28:00.003-06:00

Here is a picture of Cember in my Santa Hat that I spoke about a couple of blogs ago.. She found it laying on the table and had to pose for a shot. She is a real poser when it comes to pics.

Then Kelsey found my jingle bell earrings on the bathroom cabinet and had to have them in her ears, boy did she put on a show after that. We had to put her hair in a hair pretty so she could really make them jingle. We had to take a pic and send to daddy on his phone.

We were having girls nite and the next day I was going to the Nutcracker with Gabby. That was a real treat, never seen that before. Not quite sure what the story line was, but the ballet was beautiful and the scenes were spectacular. We ended up having to sit in the nose bleed section. That was really hard on mom to climb all those stairs, but she made it. One of the girls in Sheridan 4th grade was in it, so the whole 4th grade was invited to attend, at a reduced admission fee. That was neat. then we went to the park to have our sack lunches we had brought, and it was 37* outside, it was TOO cold to be at the park..

Not much of anything going on over the weekend, I did not feel real well. Then back to work Monday, Water Aerobics Monday Nite.

Today, we had our Secret Pal reveal luncheon at work. That was interesting. I was way off on who I thought had my name. I really got some neat things. Had a really fun time doing it. Next year we are going to do a month by month thing.. Secret Cupid, Secret Leprachan, Secret Bunny, etc... We will draw a name for each Holiday. That will be real interesting.

Tomorrow I have an MRI and then go to the Doc to get the results. Not looking forward to that... Larry will be going with me and then off to the airport and to Charlotte until Saturday.

Tomorrow nite my aerobics group is going to Whippet for a Christmas type party. That will be fun. They have really good fish dinners.

Friday nite is STOCKING STUFFING>.. More on that next post.

Have a WONDERFUL HOLIDAY SEASON and remember JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON!!!!!

~CELEBRATING 50 YEARS~

2008-12-07T18:53:00.004-06:00

This picture was taken shortly after they were married. They were married by the Justice of the Peace and then got into a car with My Dad's Brother, Jim, his wife and 5 of their children and headed for California.

This picture was taken last month while Visiting dad's brother and sister and mom's sister in California.

Tomorrow, Dec. 8th, my parents will mark their 50th Wedding Anniversary. Wow!!!!!!! You don't hear of that often any more.

I can't begin to name all the trials and celebrations they have experienced in their marriage. They have parented 4 children, 2 girls and then 2 boys. They have stood by us in our mistakes and our accomplishments with all the love and support we could have hoped for. They have seen all 4 of us through a broken marriage, their youngest son through the death of his second wife, at the moment his daughter was born permaturely. They have helped me raise my boys after my marriage collapsed. They raised Tony's 2 children for several years, They take over with Pam's daugher when Pam is in the hospital. They have been my rock more times than I can count. They have been there for all of us at a moments notice for whatever we needed them for, whenever we needed them, in the middle of the night of the middle of the day, it does not matter, they will be there. I owe them so much, I will never be able to repay them for all they have done for me, but I will spend the remainder of my life trying to pay them back. I want to be there for them, for what ever they need, whenever they need it.

They are proud Grandparents to 10 Grandchildren(8 boys and 2 girls), 2 grand-daughter-in-laws, 2 step-grandchildren and 3 Great-Granddaughters. Their oldest daughter and their oldest son each have 3 boys, their youngest daugher and youngest son have a son and a daughter (in that order) When we are all together, it is quite a bunch.

We were almost all together on Sunday after Thanksgiving, missing was their oldest Grandson, Buck (working in Georgia) and their 5th Grandson, Shawn (working at Sonic, just turned 16 and got him a car to pay for). While there was that many of us together, we presented Mom and Dad with a scrapbook and DVD of the past 50 years.

Their oldest Grandson is 29 and the youngest Granddaughter is 9, so there is a 20 year span between the first and last grandchild. There is 37 years difference in the youngest girl and the next girl born into this family. Pam was 37 when Buck and Mandy had Cember (Great-granddaughter). Then in 17 months we had 4 girls born into this family, 2 grand-daughters and 2 great-granddaughters. Then when Gabby was 7 we had another girl born, Kelsey.

So here's a Toast to my Parents, May You Love for Each Other be as strong as they day you married, and may you have many more Happy Anniversaries...

I LOVE YOU BOTH MORE THAN YOU WILL EVER KNOW!!!!!!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!

~Busy Busy Busy~

2008-11-29T13:46:00.002-06:00

It's the time of year that everyone is busy, busy, busy. That includes me. I have waited, as usual, till the last minute to do some of my gifts that I do every year.. The girls that work in the main office of the company that Larry works for in Charlotte, NC. Always get an afghan or some crocheted item for Christmas. I found out about 3 weeks ago what color one of the girls wants. She always comes up with some strange color that is hard to find. This year it is AUBERGINE (kinda eggplant color) I found it on the internet, so you have to wait for it to come in. I finally got it last week, only to realize there is not enough to do the afghan. Then I was off to find something to go with it, Finally decided on Black, so then I had to order it. I now have it and can finish this project. Larry will be going to Charlotte on the 10th for their annual sales meeting. He will take them with him and deliver then personally. He has worked for this company for almost 11 years and I have done something for them each year. They do so much for him all year in keeping all his travel reservations made, that I feel we owe them something. they are always so excited to see what I have come up each year for them. Year before last I sent them Santa Hats with jingle bells crocheted into the fuzzy ball on the hat. One of them has driven the big boss crazy with hers, He is a Scrooge, as Larry is, but I don't let that stop me..
I will begin wearing my santa hat to work on Monday, I start the first of December and will wear it every day until Christmas. That is if I can find it, I just thought, I do not remember seeing it since we have moved. I will have to set out to find it this afternoon.
OK Curiosity got the best of me. I had to stop and go find the santa hat. I FOUND It, It was still in a box in the pout house, I have it now and ready for work on Monday... I will get someone to take a pic of me in it and I will post it on here.

We are having our Thanksgiving dinner at mom and dad's tomorrow. Our family has gotten so big and so many places to go and some have to work even on holidays, that we decided to have it on Sunday, when most of us can be there, I think Shawn (James's oldest) has to work until 5, and Buck is in Georgia, but he will be there in thoughts.
I have made 2 pecan pies this morning. I am doing an apple cinnamon cake with caramel sauce and a sweet potato casserole for lunch tomorrow. Not sure what else I may come up with to fix, but it is sure we will have plenty of food. We always do..

Well gotta go and get some more cooking done.. More Later..

~I WON I WON~

2008-11-18T09:26:00.002-06:00

We had our Thanksgiving Potluck at work yesterday. Each department brings a group of items, Home Health brought veggies and side dishes, Personal Care brought Desserts, Administration did the meats, etc.. Then we always have a dessert contest for whoever wants to enter. I made a Pumpkin Spice Cake with Raisins and Nuts, then topped it with Cream cheese frosting. There were 10 desserts in the contest and I won it... I was shocked, one girl (my BFF) made a Pumpkin Turtle Pie. It was AWESOME!!!! She is bringing the recipe to me, I will share when I get it.. After I tasted her's I did not think I had a chance. But I WON!!!!!!! Sorry I did not get a pic before I took it to work. Maybe next time I will remember.

Oh, I forgot the prize, It was the Food Network Favorites Cookbook and a Betty Crocker Grilling Cookbook. I love them. I have been thinking about ordering the Food Network one, It is well worth it from what I could see just skimming through it yesterday. Maybe after the Holiday Rush, I can sit down and really look through it and pick out some great sounding stuff. Too busy right now, maybe in a few weeks I will get a chance.

Later all,,,

~One Toy Complete~

2008-11-10T10:27:00.003-06:00

The 1947 FarmAll Cub is complete. We finished it on Saturday. I think it turned out really good. We are very proud of it. I have come to the conclusion, that together there is nothing that Larry and I cannot do. We have rebuilt 2 campers, the lakehouse (alot of that was done by Buck & Bruce, but we also did alot), now the tractors.. We printed out both of these pictures and have them framed and hanging on the wall in the Pout House.

We moved this one against the back wall and have moved the 1960 model one in there to start on it. We are going to do the same thing to that one that we have done to this one. I can't wait to see it. The 1960 has a belly mower on it that we are also going to redo. This one has cultivator, turning plow and blade for it. We are not going to redo those, no sense in it. Once we are through with these, his BIL has an old John Deere Cultivator that we are going to restore, just for looks, not to be used, We will have to locate a single tree or maybe a double tree for it, not sure which.

I told Larry, I need to take a break I have something else that needs to be completed.. So I am working on Christmas stuff for a couple of weeks. Then it is back to tractor. We have all winter to finish them. I hope to put them in the fair parade next fall, maybe get Kiefer to drive one and put the girls in overalls and pig tails in a wagon behind it. Not sure if he can settle down and drive responsibly enough for that, we will see.. I will have to walk beside, just to make sure Kelsey does not climb out. I may drive the other one and put her on there with me, just to make sure she stays put.. I think it will be neat. Wish Larry would drive one and me drive the other, but there is no way he will do that. Oh well..

Well, gotta go and get some work done. I am off tomorrow though and I am going to spend the entire day working on my Christmas Stuff... I think I will be the only one home.. The whole house to myself, at least most of the day.. Bruce will be in around 5. I don't even have to get dressed, unless Pam needs me for something. I will check on her several times during the day, as I do every day. Not complaining about it, she is my sister and I will do what I can to help her recouperate from this surgery as long as she does not get crazy...

Mom and Dad, Hope you are having a WONDERFUL TIME.... Miss you.... LOVE YOU!!!!! DON'T HURRY HOME!!!!!!!

~Events of the Week~

2008-11-07T14:14:00.004-06:00

Monday, worked 1/2 day, then had to attend funeral of my Best Friends MIL, then I took lunch to the house and served the family. Cleaned and put away everything.. Then home to take care of my own home..

This is Apple Cinnamon Amish Friendship bread with Caramel Sauce (thanks Sheri for this recipe) that I made for Dessert after the funeral. The Office gave me money to buy Chicken and all the fixins for lunch. I have orders for 4 of these for Thanksgiving. Everyone at the office just loved the one I made for our Bosses Day Salad Luncheon.

Tuesday, slept a little late, then off to pick up the Yukon, pick up Mom and Dad, pick up Pam and off to Little Rock, Pam to the DR. she has to have outpatient surgery to remove another hematoma on her L arm, that will be Thursday or Friday. Then off to the Airport to send mom and dad to California.. Made it home in time to make Bread for a snack after Water Aerobics, I know kinda defeats the purpose, but sometimes it is good to just socialize with each other. Then home to bed.

This is Banana Nut and Pumpkin Spice Friendship Bread. On the Pumpkin I put a Cream Cheese Glaze.

Wednesday, off to work, put out fires from Tuesday most all day. Got alot accomplished, having to change all my payables forms, they devised new ones for us. Jammed up my printer and no one has been able to get it to work since, too much work, gotta slow down.. Kept Kelsey until Rocky got home, we watered the outside plants (Crysanthemums) on the porch and steps. then we went and looked at the tractor. It was really nice out so we sat on the back porch and tried to learn "Star light, Star Bright", not sure how much she remembers, but it was a start.

Thursday, UP at 3 AM, Pam has to be at the surgery center at 5:30. She was out of Surgery and we were headed home before 11 AM. Got her home and settled, then off to the grocery store (for her and myself). Home put up groceries and started a pot of soup. Back to town to pick up Bri and take her home. Took Pam supper and went to aerobics, then home and made Cinnamon rolls for work.

Finally FRIDAY!!!! and Payday to boot... Bosses B-day today (cinnamon rolls for her), Then put out more fires from yesterday. Things are settled now and I am winding down to go home.. I will take Bri to her dad tonite and then home to hopefully relax. Larry cleaned house last nite while I was gone. I am so LUCKY!!!!

We hope to finish putting the tractor back together tomorrow and crank it up. I can't wait to drive it... Sunday I plan to barter with my SIL for a haircut, bread for a haircut.. How much will it take???.. But today, my hair did perfect, everyone at work commented on how good it looked today, what did I do different, not a thing... . kinda makes me want to not cut it, but I know this working great will not last.. So I guess it is time for a cut.

Well time to log off and shut down and head for the house, making a pit stop at Pam's to check on her. Talked to her earlier and she said she was doing fine, feeling beginning to come back in her arm, she can move her fingers better.

So till Next TIME!!!!! May God Bless and Keep YOU!!!

~Oh Deer, Deer,, Deer,,, Deer,,,, Deer~

2008-11-03T19:16:00.005-06:00

Wonder why there are so many "Deer" in the title?? I will explain.. It has been a busy weekend here in Deer Hunting Country.

To start off: Bruce Killed a 8 point with his Bow on Saturday morning. This was his "4th" this season. Bow season starts Oct. 1 and runs through Feb. 28th. He has gotten 3 doe and this Buck.. He does not gun hunt, only bow (for Deer, he uses a gun for coon and other hunting), he and Rocky are both strictly bow hunters, but Rocky does take Deanna gun hunting during gun season, that is this next weekend. Buck does the Black powder and modern Gun. He does not get into Bow hunting much.

Then: Kiefer called and he had gotten a Button Buck that morning... I think this is Kiefer's 3rd deer, not sure, I will have to check that out.

Then: Saturday afternoon: Cember called and she had gotten a Button Buck... That is her second deer to kill.. She was with her dad hunting when she was about 3 1/2. Buck killed a deer and then she wanted to know if she could go "pat it" since he "powed it". now she is the one doing the "Powing".

Sunday afternoon: I got a text that Gabby had killed her first ever deer, a Doe... She called me and did not talk but just a second. Then she had to go help Dad skin and clean her deer.. She gets into whatever her daddy is doing. she is his shadow.. Cember likes to kill them, just not so much on the cleaning part.

10 minutes later, I had a text that Cember had gotten another Button Buck...

SO that is "5" Deer killed in less than 36 hours in our family.

I know some of you are not HUNTERS, but my family is... This is very exciting for us. We will have plenty of deer meat for the winter. Buck and Mandy were really busy Saturday and Sunday evenings, with "3" to clean and cut up.. I will post pics when I get some..

Well gotta go and get some bread baked, My sister in laws are out of Breakfast food. Aunt Faye got me started on Amish Friendship Bread in August when we went and picked up the swing, then I started baking it for everyone, now Larry's sisters think they have to have it for breakfast every day. They whined to Larry today, they had to have Honey Buns from Walmart for breakfast. So I am off to bake more breakfast.

Tomorrow is a busy day. I pick up the Yukon at the shop (u-joints went out) in the morning, then it off to the airport to take mom and dad. Then maybe to work or back home, not sure yet.. Depends on stuff..

So nite all. God Bless and Keep you ALL!!!!!!!

~HAPPY BIRTHDAY~

2008-11-02T06:37:00.003-06:00

Justin (the one in the middle), Today you are 10... Wow when did that happen. You were the second born within 17 months. The second to get to double digits this Year, Cember was 10 in April.. You were the only boy born in the midst of 4 girls, the first girls born into the family in 37 years. I remember the day you were born. so little, the 3rd little boy for your mom and dad, as I have 3 boys, kinda odd, your dad and I (the oldest boy and the oldest girl) each have 3 boys. then Tony and Pam (the youngest boy and the youngest girl) have a boy and a girl in that order. Not sure how Sheridan Schools is surviving with 4 McLemore children in the same grade.. Keep on your studies and be all you want to be....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JUSTIN!!!!!!!

~My Little Spooks~

2008-11-01T21:16:00.009-05:00

After work yesterday, I went to mom and dad's to help make the traditional Caramel Popcorn Balls, that they kids look forward to EVERY YEAR!!!!!!! Yes, even the older ones, Tony, Pam, Rochelle, Myself, all the way down to Kelsey... We all LOVE them. I waited there for all the haints to come around. Briauna has pneumonia, so we made her stay in. Maranda carried Bri's trick or treat bucket around and gathered some candy for Bri. Thanks Maranda..

Kelsey (Itsy Bitsy Spider) came in the door, "I Want Canny" and as she left she treated us with her version of "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star". How cute. The first song she learned was "ITsy Bitsy Spider (hense the costume). Now we are working on "Old McDonald" I remember all the kids learning to sing little songs like that.. Here are pics of our little haints..

Cember was a Vampiretta.. Today, Cember killed a button head buck. WAY TO GO CEM!!!!!!!! Congratulations...

Gabriel was a Cheerleader... Raw, Raw, Sis Boom Bah!!!!!!!!!!! and all that yelling stuff.. Maranda Was our Resident Punk Rock Skateboarder.. For real, She is REALLY GOOD on a skateboard. She is very athletic... Kiefer is the resident Scare Crow. I need him in my garden.. Rather, we need him out there where Bruce planted Clover for the deer. They are eating all the seed... Kiefer also got a Button Head buck today in the Youth Hunt.. Way to go Kief. !!!! Keep it up...

Briauna put on 3 different costumes, but would not let me take her picture in them. Maybe I will get some of her later.

Well gotta go to bed. I have a really busy day tomorrow, well actually for the next 3 days. My best friend lost her mother in law last Wednesday. They are having visitation tomorrow afternoon and I am making a big pot of soup to take up there. Then Monday is the funeral and Tuesday I am taking my parents to the airport to LEAVE ON A JET PLANE for California to visit with my dad's sister who is very ill and his older brother, that is also married to my mom's younger sister. I am so glad they are getting to get away for a few days.. I will miss them terribly, but we do have CELL PHONES!!!!! So until next time. Say La Vee!!!!!!!!!!

~Happy Birthday~~

2008-10-30T07:12:00.004-05:00

Today, My baby sister, Pam turns "47", She is the little one with the dark hair and beautiful smile in the top pic, I would love to see that smile again. Boy was that a long time ago. Things have certainly changed since that time. We added 2 brothers to the mix, then boyfriends, girlfriends,then in-laws, and out-laws, and children, nephews, and nephews, and nephews, then we finally got another girl in the mix. There is "37" Years between Pam and the next girl born into the family, Cember a Great Grand-daughter for my parents. There is 9 boys, James, Tony, Buck, Rocky, Bruce, Chris, Shawn, Austin, & Kiefer between those 2 girls... But now we have 5 little girls with only 1 boy, Justin, born in that year range. 4 of those little girls, Cember (Justin comes in here), Briauna, Maranda & Gabby were born within 17 Months, then it was 7 years before we got another baby and it happened to be a girl, Kelsey..
Pam had the first Grand Daughter for my parents, My oldest Grand Daughter was the first Girl born in our Family since Pam..
Below is Pam and her Daughter, Briauna, taken last Christmas. Today she is "47".. Happy Birthday, Pam... I want your HAPPY DAYS BACK!!!!!!!

~Neighbors Needed~

2008-10-23T08:31:00.001-05:00

I have moved. Come join me!!!!!!!

Can't remember if I told you that I have moved out from 1 Beggars Alley,
located at 2 Poverty Lane, at the corner of Down and Out Circle. As of
today, I have a brand new home.

My new address is Living Well on 3rd Abundance Drive , located at the
corner of Blessings Street and Prosperity Peak .. It's in the I Can
neighborhood.

No longer will I allow myself to travel to the other side of
town on Begging Peter to Pay Paul Route, located at a dead end
intersection called I Don't Have, which connects with Borrowers Junction.
I no longer hang out at Failure's Place, near Excuses Avenue, next to
Procrastination Point.

I've moved to an upscale community called Higher
Heights with unlimited potential and opportunities for me to succeed. I can
do ALL things through my Higher Power who strengthens me!

Life is good because God is good!

Care to change your address?

There are many vacancies!

GREAT IS THY FAITH FULLNESS!

I AM WELL BLESSED AND SO ARE YOU!!!!!

DON'T TELL GOD HOW BIG YOUR STORMS ARE!!

TELL YOUR STORMS HOW BIG YOUR GOD IS!!

May God Richly Bless each and Everyone That Reads This

~Girls Weekend!~

2008-10-19T20:34:00.007-05:00

This was Girls Weekend at the LakeHouse (or as Cember and Gabby first called it "The Water House"). It is not anything fancy, just a little cabin in the woods. Larry and I bought it about 4 years ago, while Rocky was in Iraq. I spent many a day there working, crying, just being alone, it helped me keep my sanity when Rocky was in Iraq. More about all that later.

This weekend I took all 5 of the little girls, Cember, Gabby, Kelsey, Maranda and Briauna to the lake house for the weekend. Something I tried to do about every couple of months, but since we built the new house I have not been able to do that, So I decided to take this weekend and go. Friday nite, is just kinda a chill out, watch movies eat popcorn type a thingy. I, of course, go in and wipe down everything (this time it has been shut up since we were there in August), just so I feel it is clean enough (not SPOTLESS) for us to be healthy. It was around 11:30 when we finally went to bed, yes Little Bit (Kelsey) lasted as long as the others.

Up around 8:30 on Saturday morning, Strawberry Muffins and milk for breakfast. Then outside we went. The girls played in the cane break at the back corner of the cabin. They made a playhouse out there and played most all day. Gabby became a little shutter bug, She is learning to use the camera and she took pictures of everything, even took a few videos. I am attaching a few. Someone managed to get a few of her and I got some of all them. While they were busy playing and doing what little girls do, I was raking the yard, picking up limbs and burning. We have a fire pit at the side of the cabin and I was burning leaves and limbs in there. I have the Booboos to prove it. I forgot to get my gloves and take them with me. Oh well, My blisters will heal.

We stopped long enough to make a sandwich for lunch and then back at it. I talked them into helping pick up some limbs and we could roast weinnies later. That did not last long, that was WORK! Oh well, every little bit helps. I finally finished and got the fire burned down enough we could roast hot dogs. so they went in and brought everything outside around the fire. Cember and Maranda took turns roasting the hot dogs, Gabby and Bri may have a little, but I think it was too hot for them. Cember and Maranda stuck it out. They really roasted them (almost black)... Everyone liked them that way. Between the 5 girls ( well I had 2) they ate 3 packages of weinnies and 3 packages of buns. I could not believe how much they ate and would have eaten more had we had them, (later I found another package in the freezer, OOPS). Next time I will take more.. I cannot believe how much those girls ate this weekend. We went through 5 family size bags of chips, 1 lb of ham, 2 lbs bologna, 1 lb cheese, 6 pkgs of muffins mixes, 2 gallons milk,,, plus countless snacks. I hope they had enough to eat.

After dark Saturday nite(After baths and head washings), it became Craft Time, We made halloween necklaces (orange, white & black beads, with Pumpkin, ghost and candy corn charms), I think some of them made a bracelet to go with it, Then we got out the craft foam, and made fall get well cards for ms. Norma. Ms. Norma, is a very sweet lady that we fell in love with when we bought the lake house. She lived in a LOG house across the road from us. She is one of those people you could spend hours listening to them tell you stories of their life, or at least as long as she could hold out to talk. She has a lung disease and is on oxygen 24 hours a day. Her and her husband built that log house, It took them 7 years to do it, they cut the logs, debarked them and all. I will try to find a pic of that. Cember and Gabby had to go see her everytime we were up there, that was a first thing Saturday morning kinda thing. Then on Oct. 2, 07 they went over to find a note on the door that she had been taken to the Hospital at around 2 that morning. They were heart broken, we set about trying to find out what had happened. She had taken pneumonia and was hospitalized. We found out about 2 weeks later, that she would not be coming back to the log house, she was going to have to be in an assisted living facility near the hospital. So we try to go see her when we are up there. She just adores the girls.

Sunday morning, was clean up, load up and head out. We left the lake house around 11:30 headed for Ms. Norma's. First we stopped at the dollar store to fix Ms. Norma a trick or treat. When we arrived she had a halloween book marker for each of the girls and was so excited to see them. We walked down to the rec room and saw the huge aquarium and bird atrium they have there, then we walked out to the garden and the gold fish pond, it was a beautiful day and we thoroughly enjoyed our visit. I saw ms Norma was getting real winded, so I said Time to head on home. So we load up again and home bound we are, stopping at Micky D's in Malvern for a burger.

Now I have to unload, clean up, wash up and put away our weekend. Me, I had a WONDERFUL time.. Now to start planning the next one. I think it will be the Stocking Stuffin Party... May sneak one more in before that, Not sure.. We will have to see..

Until Next time, Nite All and Sweet Dreams...

May God Bless you as he has blessed me with wonderful times as this weekend was...

~Before and Middle~

2008-10-08T19:33:00.004-05:00

This is the 1948 FarmAll tractor that we bought Aug. 3 (20th Anniversary of mine and Larry's first Date). We have spent most weekends taking apart, sanding, priming and painting on this.
This is how far we have gotten. We are slowly but surely getting there. Just wish we could have found RED paint!! Hahahaha I think this is going to be RED! So far we have gone through 9 cans of primer and 7 cans of Regal Red paint. We have plastic bags over the front tires, because they are finished and I did not want to get red overspray all over them. Larry laughed at me for doing that, then he saw how much red paint would have been on there had I not done that. We are having alot of fun doing this. We planned to work on this all day this past Saturday, but it rained. You can't paint in the rain, it will not dry. Bummer... Oh well there will be next weekend..

Instead we unpacked some of my teddy bears and got them put in 2 of the 3 cabinets. Not sure where we are putting the 3rd cabinet yet, so it is still in storage.. Everyone kept asking what I was going to put in the cabinets that have been in the house for about 3-4 months, now when they come back, they will be full.. Larry and I have collected these bears from places that we have been, some of them were his nieces (she died of Cystic Fibrosis 4 months after he and I married), her mother gave them to me after Pam died. SO those I will treasure forever. I have some that my boys and my little girls have given me. Buck, Mandy and the girls bought me the 911 commorative bears from the United Way when Rocky was in Iraq. Rocky and Deanna bought me It's a Girl Ty Bear when we found out we were having Kelsey, I have a Yellow Jacket Bear that Bruce gave me when he was playing football. So there are so many bears and each one has a story. More about Bears later.. Now I must go get 3 girls bathed and ready for bed.

Nite all.. May God Richly Bless each of you...

~Grandparents~

2008-09-28T16:57:00.002-05:00

When I was typing the last post, I was thinking about my grandparents, in particular my Grandma Brown. I remember after she had her stroke and her and I were sitting watching TV one evening and I was working on a blanket or something. She told me she was kinda disappointed that I had not taken up her quilting. She always thought I would be the one to take that up, but after watching me that evening, she then understood why I did not quilt, she could see how fast I could do a blanket in crochet.

But thanks to my oldest son, Buck, I think she would be proud of these!!!

Yes, they are Crocheted Quilts... Buck had asked me to make him a blanket for Christmas, and this is the one he wanted, handing me a book that he borrowed from Mandy's (his wife) Mom. It was the Log Cabin one at the top. Then a couple months later, Mandy's mom was working on the Double Wedding Ring and could not get one part to come out right, could I figure out what she was doing wrong, so I started the bottom one. About halfway through this one, I thought "Grandma would be happy, I have taken up her quilting, just in a different form".. The Log cabin one was really easy, but the Double Wedding Ring, was a challenge. Over the past 3 years I have made 5 of the Log Cabin and 4 of the Double Wedding Ring ones. This one I kept for myself.. I want to do a Log Cabin baby blanket. One of the girls that works in the main office of the Company Larry works for has just had a baby girl, I think I will this one for her... I'll pick up the yarn for it tomorrow..

This one I did again at the request of Buck, unfortunately the one I made for him burnt in the house just 6 weeks after I gave it to him, but because of the Grace of God none of them were injured, just stuff lost. I call it the Color Wheel Grannyghan.. Notice it starts and ends with Red,,, Red and Yellow make Orange so Orange is between the Red and Yellow. Yellow and Blue make Green, so it is between the Yellow and Blue, then Blue and Red make Purple, so it is between Blue and Red.. To add a little variety I added the pastel version of each of these colors alternating them between the dark colors. I thought it turned out neat. I have sold several of these as well. It is kind of a quilt since it is all these blocks put together.

I think this is all for today. I am off to paint the tank on the tractor that I have sanded and primed. We are coming right along on that old treasure we bought just 2 months ago. I will post update on it soon..

Have a SAFE BLESSED WEEK!!!!!!!

~Baking~

2008-09-28T16:34:00.003-05:00

On Friday evening, my kitchen looked like a bakery... I was baking Cinnamon rolls for my oldest Grand-daughter, Cember. She is in SIS ROCS, a club at her school that raisies money for charity. There was an antique car show in Sheridan this weekend, and they were going to sell baked goods there. Cember told her teacher, My Nana will make Cinnamon rolls for us and she makes the BEST!! Now how do you tell them NO.. Not me. She had to have them (I need 35 Nana) 7 AM saturday so I told her I would do them Friday nite and bring them to her.

When I arrived at 6:50 Saturday morning, there were 9 people awaiting my arrival. They had decided that my cinnamon rolls would be breakfast for all working that morning. Good thing I had made 48 and taken them all to her. I spoke with her later that afternoon and she told me they were gone before 8:00. Everyone LOVED them. I told her and Gabby, Nana is always good for baked goodies when you need them.

Then I realized I had Amish Friendship bread to do that nite. It was the 10th Day and the starter had to be finished and bread made. I made 4 loaves, 2 Lemon and 2 Chocolate/Chocolate Chip.

Let me back up a little. About an hour after I got in from work, Larry and I are discussing what is for dinner, I am thinking something simple, since I have baking to do. But NO... He decides he wants Shrimp Gumbo, so off to Wally World we go, I need Shrimp. When we return, I get the gumbo started, then I start the bread dough for the cinnamon rolls, after I have it resting, I do the Amish Bread and get it in the oven, stopping to stir the Gumbo and add ingredients to it. While the Amish Bread is baking, I make out the cinnamon rolls and let them rise till the bread is done.

I get the bread out of the oven, cinnamon rolls in and we sit down to eat Gumbo. Boy is it good. I love Gumbo, this coming from someone that used to eat one thing at a time and washed her plate between items, yes I did do that... Then Larry happened and that came to a halt, but I am still particular about something, I will NOT eat raw onions, celery, tomatoes, mushrooms, and a few other things. But I eat more casserole type things (foods mixed together) than I ever have before. Mom and dad were shocked the first time they heard I had eaten Gumbo.. I think they have kinda gotten over that now.

About the time dinner was through and I had the dirty dishes put in the dish washer, the cinnamon rolls were done, I mixed the icing and got that on them set them aside, finished the kitchen and sat down for a minute. Noticed it was close to 10 and decided to go to bed... It had been a full evening, but the house smelled WONDERFUL!!!!!

Up at 5:30 Saturday morning, put the rolls in a container and headed off to the school...

Moral of this story, it does not stop at you kids volunteering you for things, you Grand Kids do it too!!!! I LOVE them and feel proud that they want me around them and don't think I am an old foggie!!!!

~Another Year Older~Another Year Better~

2008-09-24T18:12:00.005-05:00

Today (Actually Tomorrow, the 25th) Aunt Net will be another year older... Not sure how old she is in the first Pic (bet you wonder what I got that one).. But she hasn't changed much... I remember when I was a little girl and you would take us to Whitaker's store to buy candy when we would come to visit. Can't say that was a LONG time ago, because you are not that much OLDER than ME!!!!!!! I am closing in on (Five-Oh) rather quickly... You have always been very special to me, as are my other aunts. I remember when you and uncle CW lived just up the highway from Grandma's and I would come stay with you. Then you moved to PB and I did not get to see you as much, Then I got married, and life got real interesting. Now we are both Grandmothers and what a treat that is. Sorry, I have not got a copy of the Cindy Crawford pic that Sheri was supposed to do for you, so this will have to do for a recent Pic (sorry, I tried to crop out CW and it did not work).

HAVE A WONDERFUL BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!

I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!

~Blankets Finished~

2008-09-17T20:56:00.004-05:00

Sheri, these are for you...

I have finished the last of the blankets for the Race for the Cure Raffle. I was told today, they have already sold 500 tickets. That is great and we still have 3 weeks to go..

This is the first of the 2 I did. It is solid pink, worked in double crochet, except skipping every other stitch to make the ribbon shape open.

This one is worked in brown single crochet, changing to pink to form the ribbon pattern in it. These were done for one of our nurses for their fund raiser for Race for the Cure.
This nurse remembered me saying I had made Rocky a flag before he went to Iraq. She was a very strong support for me while he was over there. So this is the very least I could do for her. I will let you know what the final dollar figure is for these 2 blankets.

Until next time. Good nite all. I have 3 little girls to get to bed.

~Game Cam~

2008-09-15T17:13:00.003-05:00

Larry and I just got a new toy... James helped us purchase a Game Cam. For those of you that do not know what that is, It is a camera that you place outside somewhere around a trail that wild game make to get pics of them without you being there. It is awesome. We put it out on Saturday evening. That night we got 23 pics, 21 of deer and 2 of possums. Last night we got another 29 pics, this time about 8 of them were of rabbits.

This Pic is of 3 does eating at 6:15 am on Sunday morning. they laid up all nite during the storm and them came out early in the morning to eat. The camera has an infrared lens on it, so it takes night pics without a flash.

This is 2 bucks coming out late yesterday afternoon to eat. We keep sweet grain out there for them to eat. This feed costs $9.40 per 50 lb bag and we feed about 50 lbs a week. Not too bad. They are well fed deer. There is one that is about a 10 point, I am sure that one will meet his demise this season, if not by Bruce, then by someone in the lease behind us.

Last Monday evening Bruce killed a wild pig in this same area. I will post a pic of the skull mount of it when it is finished. Bruce said he weighed about 250 lbs or so. His tusks were about 4 1/2 " long. We love living out here with all the wild life. Larry has never lived anywhere like this before, so this is all new to him. I have lived in a couple of places with wildlife all around, but this is still exciting.. Now he tells me there is another piggy out there. Hope to get some pics of it soon. I am hoping for a frontal shot of the Big Boy out there, where you can see his antlers real well. May have to print and frame that one.

Well, time to go to water aerobics. Not sure if I need to do that, I am beginning to get stopped up and it is kinda cool here. Oh well, I will be fine..

Until Next time:::

~Open House~

2008-09-13T08:39:00.002-05:00

I hosted an Open House on Thursday nite, after Water Aerobics. Everyone had been wanting to come see the house, so we came after class on Thursday nite. There were 10 that came. I explained to them I am not through with the inside yet, we have put very little on the walls (just cannot bring myself to put all them holes in the walls). Still trying to decide where I want what put. I think I have decided which wall to put all the family pics on. May start that this weekend. It is raining outside here and is supposed to do this for the next 5 days or so (thanks Hurricane IKE). So, we cannot work on the tractor, can't sand, because we cannot prime the pieces. So I guess it will be an inside work weekend.

Back to the house, everyone kept saying how pretty the house is and how much they love it. We really love it here, I was a bit anxious when we decided to do this, because there is no neighbors and I will be here by myself at nite quite a bit and the garage is not directly attached to the house (I have to walk across the breezeway to get into the house). But I have done very well with that. It does not bother me like I thought it would. I love being able to see the deer, the hummingbirds and other wild life in the back yard (still have not seen a squirrel). Oh, by the way, The piggy is gone.. Bruce caught him rooting in the edge of the yard on Monday nite and his 7mm rifle took care of him. He is doing a European mount of the head. I will post pics when it is finished. Last nite he informed me there are new piggy tracks out there. I had hoped we would get here Thursday nite in time to maybe see the deer in the back, but it was 8ish when we got here and it was too dark. Oh well, maybe next time. I had baked that day (Kelsey helped), so we had Chocolate Chip Amish Bread, Pumpkin Bread and Cinnamon rolls for a treat. Everyone took home a doggie bag for breakfast the next morning. I really enjoyed having everyone over. Larry was in Miss. and Bruce was coon hunting, so it was just us girls. We talked about a book someone was reading, "A Night with the King" about Esther. I found the DVD of it online yesterday. I told mom I am going to order it and us girls will have to get together and watch it. It sounds like a really good story. I will let you know when we watch it.

Well, I guess I better get my day started. I have already emptied the dish washer and folded a load of towels. Now I am going to get dressed and decide where I am going to put what pictures on this well. I have the boys collage of all their school pics I am going to put in the center, then I am going to put all 3 of the girls birth announcements up there and then I think I am going to print some more current pics to put up there and not put the older ones, maybe a few of the special ones (not that they are not all special, they are, but you know what I mean). I wish I could put up every picture I ever took of them, but there is not enough room... I also have to go to WalMart to get one more skein of yarn to finish the Race for the Cure blanket for our nurse, only like 3 rows and the trim. I will post pics of that when it is finished, then off in the mail to her. I am anxious to see how much they raise on these 2 blankets. She put the first one in their booth they did at the fair for Breast Cancer awareness. She said it was a really big hit, every one loved the blanket. I can't wait to see what they think about this one. I like it a whole lot better than the first. I will post pics of both of them when I finish this one.

So until next time.. So long..

~Remembering Jeff~

2008-09-10T06:58:00.008-05:00

What a very Heart wrenching time it has been for my family these past several days. On Saturday we got word that my cousin Jeff had been killed in a tragic hunting accident. A very young, 36 year old father of 4 girls, Bethany, Emily, Maggie Mae, and Alyson, and husband to Denise. So full of life and loved living. For the last several days, we have sat and listened to and told of stories of things that Jeff had done in his short life. We have laughed and cried. During the funeral the preacher mentioned a story about a toilet being blown up at school, I made a mental note to ask Uncle Roy about that one, I had not heard that. They talked about how he turned his life around and started living it for the Lord. Jeff was a very talented Machinist, what some beautiful iron work he had done. There was a beautiful center piece he had done for the Christmas center piece I saw, it was a cross with a stainless steel trimmed brass heart in the middle of it, 3 gold candles around the bottom and 2 wrought iron roses with a hummingbird on it. It is gorgeous. What a legacy those girls have to remember.

He is planted (not buried, as the preacher said, when you "bury" something you want to forget it, we do not want to ever forget Jeff. When you "Plant" something you want something good and wonderful to come from it and that is what we want, even thought right now, we cannot imagine what GOOD can EVER come out of something so tragic and senseless, but it is part of the master plan), over looks Uncle Roys Lake in his back yard. It will not be long before Uncle Roy has a gate in the fence right there where Jeff is and the underbrush cleared out of the trees between his deck and Jeff's grave. Before I left last night he was talking about those very things. This is almost the exact view from Jeff's grave, ( I borrowed this photo from Sheri, THANKS SHERI, by the way that is uncle CW on the dock), Only between Jeff and the lake you can see the chicken house.

As we were sitting on the deck yesterday afternoon, I asked about the commode thingy... Well, as we all know when Jeff was younger, he was quite a rounder.... But this is really something.. He and his "FRIEND" rigged up 2 candles to burn only a short time and when they burned down it would ignite "2" fire crackers (each equal to 1/2 stick of dynamite). They rigged this up between classes and lit the candles just before heading back to class. As they were sitting in class, Jeff turned to his friend and said "it should be going off just about "NOW"", and at that time, it blew, blowing the toilet apart and parts of it out into the hall and water running everywhere. Jeff just sat there looking "Innocent". They were in their meanest teachers room at the time and she looked square at, you got it "JEFF"... Nothing was done, because they could not prove he had done it, but she KNEW!!!!! Always getting into something.

Another story that was told was about his class ring.. Boy did Uncle Roy get "Snuckered" as Jeff's friend said on this one!!!! Jeff asked Uncle Roy if he would pay for his class ring if Jeff paid the first $50.00. Uncle Roy thinking OK, it would be about $200.00, Sure I will do that. So Jeff ordered the ring. A few weeks later, he came in and showed Uncle Roy his friends ring and told him, if he could get back to the Jewelry store before 5 he could get his that day too, so Roy asked him to get his Check book... Roy proceeded to make out the check and asked Jeff how much it was..... To his AMAZEMENT and DISBELIEF ( not sure why that one, because after all it was JEFF).... He was told $849.00!!!!!!!!!!!! Jeff had ordered a pro ball player ring, with a REAL RUBY in it and a DIAMOND in the middle of the RUBY... Then to make matters worse, he would sit on the bus and cut squares in the glass on the windows with the diamond and peck on them till they fell out, leaving holes in the glass... They all knew it, because after all, who else had a DIAMOND in their ring.

There are so many more stores like this about Jeff, but time nor space permits listing them all, But Jeff was a FUN person to be around. He will truly be missed by all who knew him...

Channel 11 in Little Rock did a tribute to him on the 10 o'clock news last nite. Here is the link to the story: http://www.todaysthv.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=72288&catid=2 What an honor to him and to our Family.. The church was so full yesterday, so many friends, family and loved ones. The first song that was played, Kris Kristofferson's "Why Me Lord" sung by Jeff... He wanted to learn that song and sing it in Church, because his dad always sang that song. A song sung by Aunt Rosie, "Paid in Full" was played and several others by my cousins and their quartet, one of them Raymond had written, but right now I cannot remember the name of it. Will look that up and post it later.. Beautiful songs sung for a Beautiful person. So many emotions...

Jeff We LOVE you and you will be MISSED by all who knew you!!!!!!

~HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEET PEA~

2008-09-04T07:13:00.004-05:00

Sept. 4, 1999

My Little Gabby Girl is "9". When did that happen?? I remember the day (night 11:54 PM) you were born. My second precious little girl.. How happy we were. Cember was only 17 months old, but what a big sister she was. You are growing up too fast, please slow down and enjoy being a little girl. You are your daddy's daughter. You are so much like him when he was your age. You have a beautiful smile. I so enjoy being your Nana. I love the time we spend together. You are a real joy to me. I hope you have a WONDERFUL BIRTHDAY!!!!! We will celebrate on our Next Girls Nite.. I hope to have a new Art Organizer put together for us. Until I see you, Nana LOVES you!!!

Gabby took this pic of herself on our LakeHouse weekend. I think she did real good...

~Power Sweet Power~

2008-09-03T20:35:00.002-05:00

Just a quick note to let you know we now have POWER again. Thank you Entergy... We really needed rain, But not THIS MUCH>>> It is still raining hard and steady for over 48 hours straight now.. Not supposed to end until late tomorrow evening..

Nite all

~Rain - Rain - Rain~

2008-09-03T12:48:00.003-05:00

Okay, Enough already. We have had constant rain since Monday evening about 9 or so and still now it is RAINING!!!!! We are about to float away here.. We are having really strong wind to go with this rain. It blew hard enough it blew my swing and frame off the front porch yesterday afternoon. Luckily it did not hurt either one, the frame came apart, but Bruce says it is not hurt. I am very thankful for that. I think we have had about 6 or 7 inches of rain since it started.. I drove through water twice in less than 1/2 mile to get to the hwy. There is some major flooding going on here. Then to top it off, we lost power about 1 or so this morning. So, now power, no automatic garage door,, boo hoo... Spoiled, you got that right. I had to manually raise the door, then drive out and get out and manually CLOSE the door. When I got back in the Yukon to leave, I realized I did not have my glasses on, so I had to find my way to the back door, pouring down rain, unlock the door and feel my way around the house to my glasses. By the time I left, I was drenched. I have called the power company and we may get power back tonite around 9 or so, oh well, I guess I can live with that. At least I do not live in Louisiana, where they may be out of power for the next 2 weeks or so. I like to visit there, but I don't think you could pay me enough to live there. I don't mind rain, but it would be AWESOME, if it would rain only at night and be pretty during the day... Oh well, my grass needs the rain. Just glad we did not put out fertilize on it this weekend.

Just heard the rain is supposed to stop sometime early tomorrow and be pretty through the weekend.. Yeah..

~Plans Change~

2008-08-27T14:11:00.005-05:00

We have cancelled our plans for this weekend.. We were taking a short weekend trip to New Orleans, but the expected Hurricane changed all that... They are talking mandatory evacuation, catagory 3.... So we opted to cancel and do that some other time. Larry has been in S Louisiana all week working. I was going down in the AM on Thursday and driving back with him on Monday. SO now, I workedThursday and Friday, we are staying home and unpack more boxes, organize more scrapbook stuff and hang stuff on the walls. It will again be a productive weekend. I was looking forward to Beignets (Fried Biscuits) with chocolate syrup on them, walking on the River Walk listening to the Calliopes, having dinner at Seaport Cafe and shopping at the French Market, Oh well, there will be another safer time to do that. Just do not want to tempt fate.. Heard today that it has become a Catagory "4" hurricane and they are now expecting it to become a "5" before making landfall early next week. Glad we did not go. They are asking all visitors to leave New Orleans, they began that early this morning.

We have spent Saturday, looking at yet another tractor. This one is a 1960 model (year I was born, gotta have it), runs good and has a belly mower. I think we are going to get it tomorrow. I will post pics of it when we get it home. Buck found this one, some one he works for has it. Nice tractor. Now we will have 2 and can get the yard done much faster, when we get the first one running good and get a belly mower for it. We started taking the first one apart this afternoon to fix a couple of oil leaks and do some sanding and re-painting. I am doing a photo diary of this as I did for the house. It will be fun to tinker with.

Bruce just came in and asked if we wanted him to shoot a hog. We have a hog out there in the circle where we have been feeding the deer. It is an area they cleared in the pine to run the field lines to for the septic tank. We have been putting Sweet Grain out there for the deer, and Bruce has planted wheat and we are about to plant clover. Larry and I sat at the Breakfast table this evening eatting dinner and watched 6 deer playing out there. Bruce got his coon light out and we were looking at it. He walked to within 10 steps of it before he started grunting at him. So Bruce, decided that was close enough. If the wild pig starts coming into the yard and messing up the grass and sod, he will be a dead piggy... He is really big, we may have Bruce kill him and have him butchered and put him in the freezer. We will have to see about that. I am not having him root up the yard.. Rocky has a hog trap, I may have him come trap it and then decide if we want to butcher him or not. Had no idea we had hogs around here. We have every wild animal there is except SQUIRRELS. We have yet to see a squirrel out here. We fed the squirrels at the other house and Larry said he would build me new squirrel feeders for here, but now he says there is no need to build new ones, when we have no squirrels. Dad traps them and takes them to the country and releases them, I have asked him to release them out here. SO the next ones he catches, he will bring our here. Then maybe I will get my feeders. Not sure if we can afford to feed deer, pigs, hummingbirds and squirrels. I am filling up the hummingbird feeders at least once a week. We are going through 50 lbs. of sweet grain a week, then add the squirrel food, oh well, we so enjoy watching them.

Well, gotta go finish an afghan for one of our nurses to raffle for the Race for the Cure. Will post a pic when I finish it. It is brown with pink ribbons in it.

Nite all...

~Fulfilling Weekend~

2008-08-24T07:03:00.008-05:00

This has been a busy weekend already and we still have today to get through, Friday evening I changed clothes when I got in from work and we hauled some dirt (6 loads from the house they are building next door) and filled in some low spots in the front yard. We finished at 8 and then I fixed dinner and cleaned the kitchen. Finalized plans for Saturday and called it a day.

Yesterday was a very full day... We left going to Slogohachie (near Morrilton) to my Uncle Roy's. I had asked him to build me a swing for my front porch right after we decided to have the house built. I already had the frame, from another one I had bought that the birds tore a hole in the cushion and pulled the stuffing out to line their nests with ( I saw them doing this). He called me about 2 weeks ago and said he almost had it completed. I was so excited.. Then on Tuesday of this week he called and said it was finished. When Larry came in this week, I asked him if we could go get it this weekend. So here is my Porch swing, built out of Love from my Uncle. I just LOVE IT!!!!! Thanks Uncle ROY!!!!! We had a WONDERFUL Visit. Larry and I got to see their home. It is just BEAUTIFUL. All the cedar trim and the cedar cabinets in the Kitchen. That is AWESOME!!!! I also came home with some black berry bush trimmings to try to root. I am going to try to grow some next year. I also got the name of the ones that he plants (in case my rooting does not work). I took a really close look at his Skepanon arbor that he has. I may try them as well. There were some ripe ones that he picked for me. They are so good!!!!!!!!!!

Then the 2 hour drive back home. Once we got home, we got the swing frame on the front porch the swing put in it, adjusted where it was comfortable to me.

Then on to the next project. The handle for the CHURN!!!! Larry had found an old handle that came off some tool, not sure which one, but apparently it was no longer needed on that, because it was in a can with extra screws, bolts, nails, etc... SO it got modified to fit the churn. Worked our perfectly. Larry even made it recessed in the end for the end of the bolt that went through it. I LOVE IT.. Here is my churn, Tom's Jar (that my daddy got when he worked for Tom's when I was a little girl), and a Seyfert's Butter Pretzel jar we found while Junk Shopping last weekend, sitting on top of my Grandmothers kitchen cabinet with the flour bin, that I have (Thanks Damon). Now on to search for another Treasure that we just can't live without. We are still wanting a Dasher Churn ( mom and dad have one they said we can have, haven't told Larry yet, it will be a surprise, once I can bring myself to bring it home) and an old Milk Can.. We may try and talk his sister out of her Milk Can...

Then we began bringing in my Scrapbook stuff to get it organized in the house. Weather will be getting cooler soon and it will be time to catch up on some of that. I am WAY behind, I have not done any since we decided to build and move, that is one of the first things that got packed up, and that was a year ago. So I have alot to catch up on, as it has been a busy year. But in time, I will get it all caught up..

Here is another treasure that we have put together. This is a lamp that my mother had in a yard sale (not sure where it originally came from, will have to find out) that did not sell, The white close to the bottom of the lamp is onyx. The lamp was kind of a gold and country blue, we took it all apart and painted it all black, redid some of the wiring in it and then my SIL (Larry's sister) made this lampshade for me. It is the done with all the braid and beaded fringe. She used the embroidered pieces from the fabric I had left over from the shears that we put on the dining room windows. You can see more detail on the lampshade below. She has made 4 lampshades for me like this. She made 2 in Rose and Burgandy for the bedroom lamps and then in the living room we have Larry's mothers old floor lamp that she made one for in Peach. She makes these all the time.

I think every lamp in her's and 2 of her sisters houses have this type lampshade. I have some in my living room that were made for me that are coming apart. When I have to replace them this will probably be the type I replace them with.

Well time to close this post. I have to do some laundry to get ready for the work week. This will be a short week. I am off on Thursday and Friday. Larry is working in New Orleans area this week, so I am flying (free ticket, free hotel room) down for the weekend. I want to spend sometime in Jackson Square, the french market and the river walk listening to the calliopes on the river boats.

until next time. have a wonderful, safe day!!!

Nan

~Treasures~

2008-08-19T21:25:00.008-05:00

A couple of weeks ago, Larry and I went to pick up a TREASURE that he had found he wanted, a 1946 Farmall Cub tractor. He wants to restore it and use it to mow most of the yard, but first we have to find a belly mower for it, Uncle Roy thinks he may know someone that has one, I hope so... We stopped at several Junk (I mean ANTIQUE) shops along the way, in one of them I found part of a Dazey type churn, the jar was missing. He talked me into getting it hoping to find a jar...
For 2 weeks I have searched the internet every which way I could think of to search it with no LUCK. Now I am thinking I have wasted that money.... Not a happy thought for me...
This past Saturday, we set out on the search again.. The first shop we went into had several 4" jar's but we needed a 5", Stuck in behind some STUFF, I saw part of the top of a jar. When we dug it out, It was a 5"... I got excited, but cautiously, Larry went to get the churn out of the blazer and it was a PERFECT FIT> Now I want to find someone that has a milk cow, because I want to make BUTTER. I love fresh churned butter. So the search is on for a Milk Cow...

~Lake House Weekend~

2008-08-16T20:51:00.005-05:00

Last weekend we spent at the LakeHouse. My 3 boys, their families and myself. The girls, Mandy and I went up on Wednesday nite and spent Thursday at Magic Springs (theme and water park), what a WONDERFUL day that was. We started at IHOP for Breakfast (waiting on the rain to stop), then off to Magic Springs for a day of riding and water activities.

We spent Friday at the swimming hole, waiting on every one else to arrive.

Saturday was spent on the lake on the Party Barge (thanks Mom and Dad). The girls swam till they were tuckered, I think Kelsey got a little water logged. She was not scared of going anywhere on the lake that the other 2 girls went. They even played king of the Tube with Uncle Bruce, of course he lost,,, We enjoyed just cruising around the lake relaxing.

Saturday evening it was grilling, Bruce is King of the Grill, we had Beer Hiney Chicken, BBQ chicken, Cheesy/Bacon Potatoes, Corn on the Cob, Ribs and Peach Cobbler, all cooked on the grill except the Cobbler. Boy did we all get stuffed. We sat on the front porch and listened to it rain for awhile then off to sleep with the sound of the rain on the tin roof.

Sunday, it was pack up and head home. Back to work on Monday.