Thursday, January 2, 2014

2014, Really?

I have not posted in over a year. That does not mean there are not drafts, just nothing that I care to share.

2013 in retrospect was a hard year, not one I care to repeat. And unfortunately it sends some of its woes to 2014.

2014 My resolution is to spend less time with (or about) those who do not value my time and more time with those who do. In other words, use my time in a positive way.


Slick and I have decided on our list of projects that we hope to accomplish this spring and summer. Should be fun. We hope to build a structure over our back patio to protect from bird damage. And to complete the fence around the back play area. Of course, complete the play structures. The new bedroom patio, which we lovingly call, Howard's Cantina, will get its new cover. And finally to construct new enclosures on the screened porch.


And I leave this thinking Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord." We will leave this and all the other 'things' to God and be in His plans.

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Bunkers

Greetings! 2011 was a hard year on my physical body. Most of the year I was in pain. Posting was the last thing on my mind. Surgery to start 2012 and now I am better.
Here is a little project we did in January. Being empty nesters we had a closet to spare. For a long time I had removed the bi-fold doors and had a counter top nestled in the closet so the girls could use it when they were visiting to do makeup and hair. New Year's Eve we had all 4 of the grandchildren with not enough bedding for the small tykes. So I convinced Slick to let me do a project that I longed to do. Bunk beds in the closet complete with TV/DVD players in each bed.

My bedding in the room is this floral print which I love. I gravitate to monkeys even though the material does not have monkeys in it, it implies there could be a monkey or two around, tee hee hee! So what to match this?

Of course bring in monkeys! I found a fun and playful print of nothing but monkeys! My precious mother made the bedding for me. It all turned out so fun and my grand kids love it!
We left the opening moulding in place as it matches the closet just beside it. Used the closet light as a power source and installed a plug-in at the end of each bed for a night light and the TV/DVD unit.
Finished each cubby off with a cute saying! Top one says "smile like a monkey with a new banana" and the bottom one says "be as fun as a barrel of monkeys."
Two drawers under the bottom bunk and a cute ladder complete our closet transformation!


Monday, January 7, 2013

Five Fifty

Church this morning, lunch out, and nap on the couch. Typical Sunday afternoon.

  • 5:00 p.m. Laying here watching [on and off] a show about 9/11 and thinking of a hundred excuses not to get up.
  • 5:20 p.m. Thought of more and different reasons for not getting up. "I will get up in a minute" I tell myself, hubby and the dog.
  • 5:30 p.m. Show is suddenly getting interesting. Thougt of more reasons not to get up. "A few minutes more" I promise!
  • 5:45 p.m. Really want to finish this television program.
  • 5:50 p.m. I am UP! Muttering under my breath about getting old and bones and aches and all sorts of other nonsense that I can think of to complain about.
  • 6:00 p.m. The reason I get up, CYF [Christian Youth Fellowship] at the Church. "Thank God we don't have to drive across town or encounter traffic" I console myself, trying to look on the bright side.
  • 6:05 p.m. They start arriving, fresh faces, open attitudes and 'Smiles'! A diverse group, that I love! I love being exposed to different ages, thinking, and cultures. They don't disappoint me! Each one offers something unique to the group. I pray they celebrate their differences and accept each other willingly. Sometimes, I just look at each face and thank God that he has put them in my life.
  • 7:00 p.m. I have been abundantly blessed by their presence! I am grateful to God, them, and their parents for allowing me a minute into their lives!

5:50 p.m. GO TIME! 


The incomparable AJ! No one like her!

 
We are called Praise and Puppets [P~N~P]. At our Church Christmas Eve Service , the kids were the puppets in the production of "The Meaning of Christmas"/Puppets Don't Get Presents!
Meet the Cast:
The Amazing Adrian!
The Delightful Dalia!
The Remarkable Roberto!
And The Crazy Kathy!                                                   

Roberto, Corey, Zackary and Adrian.


Aron, Roberto, Kathy and Marvelous Ms. Bobbie!

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Christmas 2012


We had a vey busy December. Hosted a birthday party with a Moustache theme for our son who turned 30, on the 8th. It was a lot of fun but Slick and I decided we are way too old for that age group! Then we had our family Christmas on the 15th. You know I know we have to share our children and grands with their inlaws but....! On the 18th we hosted a party for a local non-profit, its Director, Employees, and Board members. We enjoyed each event and getting to socialize in a relaxed setting. Took a few pictures of the decorations, enjoy!

My quirky sense of humor, the drunk monkey!

Bought these blocks a long time ago for the grands to play with.
They were a favorite with Bristol and Tessa! A local artist painted my vase! I love it!

A wonderful artist painted the scene. Thinking about leaving it up all year.



My mirror is 100 years plus and it has lettering that says "As for me and my house we will follow the Lord."
















These are remote controlled candles. They say Disney developed them. They are so real looking! A must have!


 

The beds we added this year (to the extra closet), of course we had to decorate them!

added these adorable elves!



I bought a wreath from WalMart, removed some stuff, added some stuff, cute, cute! It hangs on the bedroom door to let visitors know; this room is blue!
















Of course! The tree had to be blue and green!
 
Well we had a very nice Christmas and I hope you and your family did too!
Sorry for the pictures... maybe I need a new camera, [hint, hint].

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Who's God?

Sunday evening I was visiting with my Meish and we were discussing where God came from. That lead us to the Scripture to seek answers. We went to Job where Job was asking God about why things were happening. Job 30:20 "I cry to you, O God, but you don't answer. I stand before you, but you don't even look." God's reply was to Job was were you there when God created the earth? Was Job there when God designed the measurements and the core? Was Job there when God sent back the waters? Job 38:4 "Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me, if you know so much. Who determined its dimensions and stretched out the surveying line?" Job had to answer no. Job 40:3 "Then Job replied to the LORD, I am nothing—how could I ever find the answers? I will cover my mouth with my hand." But why did God never explain things? Surely there was some one He could have conversed with. Why not tell them? The answer is simple. Job tells us in Job 42:3 "You asked, 'Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorance?' It is I—and I was talking about things I knew nothing about, things far too wonderful for me." Humans are not capable of understanding God and God's knowledge.
The human thought process might be some what skewed! In Siesta Summer Bible Study 2012, Kelly Minter told of her precious niece being shown pictures of children in the Amazon that have little to no food or clothing. After her neice heard of the need, the little girl excitedly began to tell mother of a wonderful idea! To give her brother's clothing to them! When asked about giving the little girl's personal clothing, the little girl was confused as to why she would want to do that? We are no different than the little girl. We want the freedom to do as we please but we do not want God to give the same freedom of choice to others. But God gave the choice to everyone while at the same time knowing that He would have to make a tremendous sacrifice. That sacrifice would give mankind a way out of the mess He knew we would create! That makes me thankful I am not God and thankful He is!

Monday, July 16, 2012

God and The Hunger Games

File:HungerGamesPoster.jpg

In May, I went to see the movie "The Hunger Games."

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

The Hunger Games is a 2012 American science fiction film directed by Gary Ross, based on the novel of the same name by Suzanne Collins. The film was produced by Nina Jacobson and Jon Kilik, with a screenplay by Ross, Collins, and Billy Ray. It stars Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, and Donald Sutherland.[5] The story takes place in a dystopian post-apocalyptic future in the nation of Panem, where 12 boys and 12 girls must participate in the Hunger Games–a televised annual event in which the "tributes" are required to fight to the death until there is one remaining victor. The protagonist Katniss Everdeen (Lawrence) volunteers to take her younger sister's place in the games. Joined by her district's male tribute Peeta Mellark (Hutcherson), Katniss travels to the Capitol to train for the Hunger Games under the guidance of former victor Haymitch Abernathy (Harrelson). Panem. In the novel The Hunger Games, the setting is portrayed as an unspecified time in the future, the place being a nation called Panem that has risen from the ashes of a post-apocalyptic North America. Panem's seat of power is a utopian city, called the "Capitol," located in the Rocky Mountains. Outside of the Capitol, the nation is divided into twelve districts under the hegemony of a totalitarian government, headed by the dictatorial President Snow. A thirteenth district once existed pre-novel but was destroyed by the Capitol 75 years before the beginning of The Hunger Games narrative during a national rebellion called the Dark Days. However, in Mockingjay, it is revealed that the thirteenth district went underground and was the main source of the rebellion that happened in Catching Fire and Mockingjay. The Capitol developed the Hunger Games as an annual event to punish the citizens of Panem for their rebellion and to remind citizens of consequences for rebelling against the absolute power of the Capitol. As revealed in the novel Mockingjay, the name Panem comes from the Latin phrase "Panem et Circenses" which means "bread and circuses."[

While very interesting and captivating it was unsettling. Children having to kill to survive a game, a life and death game! Just so unimaginable and inconceivable to my very being. My heart breaks imaging my own children enduring such an ordeal. My heart breaks thinking about children not having food while I scrape out food in the trash can. My heat breaks knowing while this is only a movie children being hungry exist in this world we live in today!
It took some courage because I do not like to read things that are upsetting but I decided I needed to read the books. And I did! Again, captivating and unsettling!

After much prayer and thought I have an opinion, here goes. That is what happens when God is left out of the world. Life has no value. Each life is replaceable. We read in the news of suicide bombers blowing up innocent people. With no thought of the victims, who they might become, what they might invent for the world. Just that the end justifies the means.
There is no value of human life. except for the blood of Jesus Christ, which gives each believer's life a priceless value. God's sacrifice, the willingness and suffering of Jesus for us, makes EVERY life of supreme value and importance to God!

Of course, the families of each tribute cared about the child in the arena [some more than others] but the citizens of the Capitol viewed them as entertainment certainly not something of value. When man kind is left to his own thinking, each of us would view ourselves as more important than the next. I know! Rotten thinking but it is true. God convicts us and shows us the value in our fellow humans. He proved the value by His sacrifice. Let us not forget to keep God in our lives and our world! 

Thursday, July 5, 2012

16:9 Siesta!

Bible Study

This summer four of us girls are participating in Beth Moore's Nehemiah Summer Bible Study. We chose the name 16:9, pronounced 16 by 9. This stands for one of two verses.


   Proverbs 16:9   

2 Chr 16:9

We have completed Sessions one and two. First impressions is that this will be intense! Already I have been convicted of something I say a lot, "I don't ask because I don't want to know." Yikes! You can read more about it at http://blog.lproof.org/2012/06/siesta-summer-bible-study-2012-official-launch-and-registration.html.

In studying yesterday, I was convicted of my new fav! Pinterest! I am addicted! I love that site. Have you been to www.pinterest.com?


Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Outdoor entertaining


Since I can't work outside, the internet beckons me to surf [outside on the brain!].

We want to make an outdoor kitchen so I found these stainless cabinets at www.wholesalepatiostore.com. Love them!





We have one patio heater... but this lamp/heater just shouts my name! Found it at www.improvementscatalog.com






I have the Blue Party planned and now another one for the same week, maybe I can talk Slick into this.... found it at www.frontgate.com. Love it!


We have a wrought iron bench around a big tree in the front yard. This bench would look awesome around the pecan tree in the backyard right off the deck.




And since we are in the car business, this chair caught my eye. Wow on the price! This site is for re-purposing items. Guess who is going to start saving seat belts?!


Go to www.uncommongoods.com for more really interesting objects.

For now, I am surfing until spring! Have a good day.

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

do you think the Ground hog was correct this year? It is starting to look like he just might have been. Our weather while far from perfect has been headed in the warmer direction. Thank you Lord, those sub-zero temps were working my last nerve.

I have been sick but the outside has been calling me, beckoning me to come out and --- ugh, clean up the damage caused by the winter winds. I say 'ugh' because the inside needs attention as well. I have been a no-show lately in the cleaning department. Maybe I will find some energy and get busy.

Boring! This post is too boring to continue..... ttyl!

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Blue Party!

I am hosting a party for my investment club. We are known as the Blue Chip Investment Club. Like everyone else that owns stocks, we have had our ups and downs. Right now most stocks we own are heading up! Wooo Hoooo!

Our monthly meetings are enjoyable and relaxed. One meeting I would say that we might have been a little tense because we bought guns (Textron Inc) and booze (Budweiser)! What is that saying 'Don't mess with me. I have PMS and a gun'? That could have been us! But for the most part we are a happy group and laugh a lot. We have sold the Bud and unfortunately that Textron is so far in the tank [pardon the pun] that we can't sell it!

Any way back to the party planning. I am planning on decorating and serving 'blue' items. Like this Blue Martini and Blue Margarita.


Blue Martini Recipe Ingredients

60ml (or approx 2 oz) Vodka
15ml (or approx � oz) Blue Curacao Liqueur
10ml (or approx � oz) lime juice
small wedge of lemon or lime
6 ice cubes

Blue Margarita recipe



1 1/2 oz 1800® Tequila
1 oz
Blue Curacao liqueur
1 oz
lime juice
coarse
salt
I also have purchased Blue Corn Whiskey from Balcones Distillery in Waco, Texas, thanks to my nephew Ryan.

I am looking for recipes that would go with my theme. There is blue crab, blue cheese, blue corn chips, etc? Can you suggest some recipes to go with my blue theme.

Friday, February 4, 2011

Hurrah for 29! That is degrees above zero Fahrenheit! We have been in the minus degrees for most of the week so this little above zero feels wonderful! Normally we have cold spells that never last over a day and never get this cold. When the weather breaks from the norm, people complain. [Including me!]

The other night I was home by 6 pm (which is rare). It occurred to me that I did have something to be thankful for even if it was 34 below zero (chill factor)! It was 6 pm and still daylight! Yay! Spring is coming.

To connect the thoughts.... tee hee hee my mind moves randomly! Spring makes me want to be outside and have flowers growing and day dreaming!

When it get spring, notice I said when because it will, we will start on the plans we have for our backyard. A 70 mph north wind this winter TKO'ed [technically knocked out] one of my outdoor decorations. A large multi-plated freestanding window. I am sad over that loss.

I have a picture (actually a copy of a picture that I begged a receptionist at a doctor's office to make for me but right now I can't find the darn thing!) that I would love for us to build over a concrete slab in the southeast corner of the yard. An outdoor fireplace is definitely in the plans. Love this fireplace setting.


I am day dreaming......

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Hot Water!

Is it me or are people just doing crazy things?

I have stopped watching the news because it, well...... it frightens me! The scare tactics work on me! Until Slick says "it is just an opinion, not guaranteed to happen." I can not deal with every one wanting their 15 minutes of fame. The dilemma is one news is to the 'conservative' right and the other to the 'liberal' left. Is there any that just report the news?

My tolerance of people (God please help me) is getting shorter and shorter. This morning I read that people are snorting, injecting and smoking bath salts, so they are thinking about outlawing bath salts! For real, http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-20030192-10391704.html.

People, I can live without a lot of things but my time in a hot water bath with my bath salts, No Way! And you are treading where angels fear to tread!

What I want to know, just who was just sitting there looking at his mom's bath salts and thought 'I think that might be good to snort?' Come on! That is as ridiculous as those kids that were drilling holes in bowls, placing them over cow-poo and inhaling the gases! Ridiculous, insane and completely out of their freaking mind! They should totally immerse themselves in a big pile of poo! See that big hill at a cattle feedyard? There ya go, jump right on in! Total immersion.

Should we start a chapter called "Take your filthy hands off my bath salts!"

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Grandchildren! How much fun are they?!

Here are mine; Hudson Holland, Bristol Naugle and Haskell Chumley

They look like they are up to something! Christmas 2010.

Haskell Belle looks like she is trying to talk Gran-dad into something.

Nannie has a lap full.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all!

Friday, December 24, 2010

Merry Christmas!

Our dear Lord has blessed us in 2010. It has been a really tough year, many trials and tribulations but the Lord was not surprised. Not one bit surprised! Nor did He leave us alone thru it, my Lord was right there with us! Ihope and pray that everyone knows and accepts Jesus Christ as their Savior. He is perfect, we are not. May the peace and grace of Jesus surround you and your family this Christmas.

Merry Christmas!

House Remodel

Welcome to our Home!

We started our remodel about six years ago. The boys (Hubby and Son) began at the front door on a weekend when I was gone. Upon returning home I discovered what they had started and agreed to the project on the condition that I would get final veto rights!
New front door, not so much of a big project. But inside was a different story. In the entrance hall, a closet was removed, one door way (into kitchen) closed and another wall and doorway removed. Of course that wall had to be load bearing! Would not have it any other way! Below shows an entry hall that now is spacious!
You walk into the formal yet open living and dining room. The formal living area is not shown but from this view you can see the dining table and the family room. To the right is the deck. And to the left is the bar and kitchen. They had to remove a brick weight bearing wall to open the dining room and the family room. And a weight bearing wall between the kitchen and dining!
Double french doors leading to the deck. In this area they removed a large picture window to make room for the doors (of course, bricks had to be removed on the exterior). Not visible, but to the left of the french doors an existing door was enclosed. We saved the bricks from the removed wall and bricked in the exterior... now you would not know there had been a door!
Howard built a dish storage unit for me! My weakness is dishes and now I can display them!
Bar looking into kitchen.
Love, love, love my stove. We had it in storage (used at a restaurant we previously owned) and had it refurbished. Pot filler to the left and Coffee maker to the right!
South end of the kitchen.

This is our screened in patio. A little project that turned into a huge project! But I know we will enjoy it this summer!
South end of screened patio. Door opens on to the Deck.