Spring

Our Blue Bonnet season is almost over.  To me spring is here when the wildflowers come to life and the fields become blankets of blue.  People come to capture a picture of their children, pets, brides, engaged couples or pregnant couples posed and nestled in the blue flowers.  It makes a pretty picture but I cringe when I see babies or small children placed on the ground in the field.  I am too afraid of what is crawling and/or slithering to sacrifice a pudgy little leg. 

Spring brings out snakes too.  This one was on my back porch about a week ago and way to close to my back door and me.  When I stepped out and saw this I let out a one word expletive that was probably heard miles away.

It was big and fat.

And long ....about 5 feet

Spring also brings....

At last count it was 17!

I was at work when the sirens started going off.  The hospital called a code black.  Patients were moved away from windows.  It was a very scary time.  I drove home in it.  My very bad!  There was heavy rain and wind and once I reached the toll road I could feel things hitting under my car.  There was a big billboard flashing "Tornado Warning Take Cover!"  Cover?  Where? 

There are many survivor stories out there but the one about the grandmother that took refuge in a bathtub with three children is a true miracle.  After the storm all of them were safe but the bathtub was gone.  You can read about it here.

Irish Blessings

Before I throw the corned beef in my crock pot,  I thought I'd share a little piece of my Irish heritage with you.

I never knew my maternal grandfather, William Harlan. 

He died when my mother was just 13 years old.

He was born in Vermont and was full blooded Irish. 

He came to California after enlisting in the Army.

This is where he met a beautiful, feisty young girl named Esther.

I absolutely love this picture.  It was taken before they married. 

They are obviously very happy and quite smitten with each other.

They became a family and had three children. 

The little girl sitting in my grandmothers lap is my mother.

She is my very first blessing.

As we say here in Texas

Happy Saint Patrick's Day Y'all!

Wishing You Many Blessings!

A Random List of Good Intentions

I made every attempt to relax in January and for the most part I did pretty good.  Actually I was pretty much forced to, as I have an annoying pain in the neck.  I developed a pinch nerve in my neck and besides the off and on pain, I have had intermittent tingling down my arm to my fingers.  I had an MRI a few weeks ago and as mom said after having one "When I die, make sure I am really dead before they put me in a casket."  Even if your not claustrophobic it's just too close for comfort. 

I am a list maker.  Partially because I have so many things on my mind that I want to do and mostly because I am at that age where I'm afraid I wont remember to do it if I don't write it down.  I carry a little notebook around that I write everything in from weekly menus, grocery lists, everyday to do things and someday to do things or as I call the latter "Good Intentions".  Next week and the week after I will be taking a few extra days off from work so I will be able to spend a little time on crossing off some of my good intentions on my list.  I hope!

The Storage Room

I think this is pretty self explanatory.  This may take a few days!

The Pantry

This really doesn't look that bad but all the stuff on the floor makes me nervous. 

The Clothes Closet

Again it's not too messy but there is just too much in it.  When I go in to find something to wear it's like a big blur to me.  Everything melts together and I will stand there for a long time with brain fuzz trying to decide what to put on.  There has to be a way to organize better.

The Under The Stairs Closet

I don't even know where to begin with this job.

These four are on the top of the list.    There are so many more.

• Scanning old pictures
• Converting VHS to DVD
• Writing a story before I forget all the details
• Re doing my blog for the purpose I intended it to be (make sense?)
• Get a picture of me that looks like me.  Or have someone take one and photo shop it till it looks better than me.  Ha!  If I smile my eyes close and if I don't smile my cheeks fall.  Fail either way.

I did join Pinterest.  My goodness there is a lot of stuff out there.  Love it. 

So today is the first day of February! We really have had no winter at all. It's in the 70's here in Texas. I even went out and pulled a few weeds. It's just not natural but the older I get the more I like it. 

Hope your day is as beautiful as the weather is here!

 

Relax

I have a mind full of "good intentions" for the year.  No resolutions.  Number one on my list is to learn how to RELAX.  I tend to over do.  I don't sit still.  I think I'm a little obsessive compulsive and I multi-task myself trying to do more than what needs to be.  So I plan to quit wearing myself out and take time to enjoy the day. 

Wrapping With Rosie

I've been busy with all the preparations that go along with Christmas.

Yesterday I finished up my gift wrapping.

I may be old but I can still jump on the bed.

After all this is where my mom the action is

I think I'll help her make cookies and fudge tomorrow.

And we need to be sure and put a post on the blog. 

We do everything together these days.

Now where did that bow go?

Purrrrrrrrrrr.

Old Fashioned Christmas

I love decorating for Christmas. 

Inside

And Out

I like things plain and simple as you can see from the coffee table decoration.  Just a green wreath with candles in the center.

I bought  a new tree this year.  It is a little taller and much thicker than the one I had last year.  We always had a fresh tree until my son was born and we discovered he was allergic to just about everything.  Artificial trees are so much easier and less messy.  Plus they don't aggravate kids with asthma and make your husbands eyes swell up if the tree is a Frazier Fir.

I have to have a star on top of the tree.

To me the best part of the tree are the ornaments. I've collected ornaments for many years adding a couple of new ones each year.

 My favorites are the ones the children made.

A special wish for a bell from prancer's harness for my daughter preserved.

The ones I made.

I made these two needlepoint ornaments when I was pregnant with our baby Scott.  We only were able to hold him for a short time but he is here in our hearts.

Remembering the "Reason For The Season" 

Wishing you Peace, Love and Joy!

Thanks for stopping by.

The Birthday Girl

Yesterday was mom's 89th birthday!  I think it turned out to be a a happy celebration for her.  Her day was filled with cards, flowers, hugs and many phone calls.

I decided to fix Cuban Black Beans and Rice and Ham Croquettes for her birthday which is a favorite of Chris and Jackson my family.  (They both ate a lot of rice, salad and garlic bread.  Ha!)

For her birthday cake I made another family tradition.  My grandma Kelly's Date Cake.  This cake has always been my favorite.  My mom used to make it for me on my birthdays.  I never have made the cake myself.  I thought I had the recipe in my file but didn't so I pulled it from mom's file.  When I started to make it I had mom there adding advice on things not written on the card and I suddenly realized the recipe was handwritten by Grandma Kelly.  It was a sweet moment as if the three of us were there cooking together.  (Big Sniff).

A well worn recipe.

Here is a picture of the cake.  It looks rather pitiful in this ugly pan.  But the taste is divine and that's what matters.  I cheated and used cool whip instead of "real whipped cream".  It really is much better with the real stuff.

It's very light, full of dates and walnuts and lady fingers on top.

It was a fun time and even Rosie joined the celebration.  She likes party's.

Chris and Carrie were here and I could kick myself for not getting a picture of them but they looked fabulous as always!  And they won first place in the biggest Poinsettia contest!   Isn't it beautiful!

It was a very Happy Day.