Reality Check

I had a surreal moment last week, one of those moments I know I'll remember forever...I had walked HK (our 3 yr old granddoll) to the park which is about a block from their house on base.  There were 8-10 kids playing around. At 5 pm each day the national anthem is played over huge speakers on base.  I was chasing after HK when the LOUD music began, but immediately my surroundings felt different.  I looked around me to see that all the "play" had ceased as each child stood at attention, facing the direction of the music, hand over heart.  A little ashamed, I quickly assumed the position.  The sky was blue, the sun was shining, and a gentle breeze blew my hair.  The little 6 yr old girl who was standing close by cut her eyes in my direction and said, "You know what that means?  It means the Americans are coming!".  I felt my eyes grow misty with pride.🇺🇸

Reality check:

There are sad/bad things that happen every day, but there is still quiet beauty and goodness that live among us.  And for that, I am thankful.

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

Many of you have asked about our youngest daughter.  Many of you have prayed for her too.  Thank you so much!!  She is out of the hospital now.  She was in a private hospital, not a VA hospital (someone asked). They have yet to connect with a doctor who seems willing to run the needed tests to make a solid diagnosis.  They are trying to get an appointment with a different neurologist soon.  We believe finding a good doctor will be the key to her medical situation.  She has insurance, so can't understand the hesitance to run the necessary tests...Thanks for your on-going prayers & concern.❤️

Mmmmmmm

The mowers were here today which means I got to smell my favorite scent, "freshly mowed grass".  Mmmmmm.  The smell of Spring.  Spring comes early to the south.  That's just one of the things I love about this region.

But, as much as Murphy and I love Louisiana we're ready to go home.  We plan to be back in Oklahoma for Easter.🎈 H-O-M-E.

While I'm Away . . .

What was intended to be a 2 day visit in Louisiana has turned into a 2+ week stay.  Our youngest daughter is still hospitalized but the doctors are preparing to send her home soon.  No diagnosis.  No treatment.  Just pain meds.  The medical system is failing us.  I need to dwell on some happy thoughts so here are the some"bunnies" that are running the house (along with Mister) while I am away.

This little bunny is perched on the window sill

In the guest powder room so he gets a somewhat "captive" audience.

These regal rabbits sit happily on the dining room table, tho' there's not a single carrot to be found.

And this chubby bunny hangs out on the coffeetable. 

I asked who left all these Bunny eggs, but he's not saying.

Did you spy the pink bunny on the chair across the room?

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

Amidst the fun may we all remember why we rejoice..

Have a wonderful Holy Week.

Clap, clap, clap out your crazies...

It seems the monstrous rains that have dealt many Louisiana families a real hardship, are over.  The sun is out and I swear you can hear flowers opening and grass turning green.

This wigelia shrub has been beautiful but I just got around to taling a photo after it had passed it's prime, BUT, it you'll look to the left you'll see some beautiful bright pink blooms.  Doesn't that tickle your insides a little?  Spring.

This is my view from the sofa.  *smile*. Remember those days?  It's busy.  It's messy,.  It's tiring.   But you and I know a secret that young parents don't - This is sweet.  This is "prime  time".  This is a time you'll always remember with a smile.

I'm enjoying playing Mom to these sweet girls, though I admit I'm tired by the end of the day.  Being YaYa is an easier role, for sure.

"Clap, clap, clap out your crazies.

Jump, Jump, jump out your jiggles

Stomp, stomp, stomp out your sillies...."

Such a cute little song we sing

And maybe a good mantra for me to take home with me when the time comes.

And the beat goes on and on and on and on...

We made the drive to Louisiana last Friday, before the rains began.  It was no ordinary visit.  No siree this was a special occasion visit.

Ms. Hk was turning THREE!

Can you count those fingers?

She absolutely loved her big day of cake, ice cream and candles.  She totally "got it" this year.  There were also lots of presents then an outing to see Kung Fu Panda.

Of course I could not/would not/should not forget our chubby micro-preemie, Lady G.  This girl runs the place, she hollers and her wish is our command.  Some might say she's a bit spoiled but she prefers the term "high maintenance".

I wish I could end my post here, but there's more...Lil' Mama had another small stroke Saturday night.  Her husband and Mister took her for the ER run.  It was quite scary seeing her that way.  She is recovering at home.  Mister drove home Wed and I am staying in LA for at least 10 more days to help out while she regains some strength.  Lil' Mama is 21 yrs old.  She was totally healthy all her life until this last pregnancy when she came down with ecoli.  Since the birth of Lady G she has been plagued with bad migraines, epilepsy, and has had 2 small strokes.  We feel she's not received good medical care, so she continues to struggle...oh my, this is a long post.  If you've read all this you deserve a BIG KISS from  ______________ (you can fill in the blank)...BTW if you follow the weather you know that Bossier City is in the middle of torrential rain and flooding.  So very thankful the kids live on higher ground and are not affected, many are not so fortunate...Done.  Not another word.

Sweet.Sweeter.Sweetest.

I was out running errands and look what I saw all over town!

Spring has arrived very early in Oklahoma!

No one's complaining.

And, when I peeked into my front flowerbed

look what I saw - my Hydrangea bush.
I brought it from Louisiana and transplanted it here in the hot summer.  So happy to see it has made it through the winter..

Then, when I thought my day just couldn't get any sweeter, I made these great finds at Target! 60"x104" blue tablecloths, $5 ea.   Placemats $1.25 ea.  Perfect for my house!

May we all have many days as sweet as this one!

Murphy's Law

Meet MURPHY!
He's an 18 mo old mini Wienie dog mix.
(He tells me he's not offended being referred to as a Wienie dog, rather than a Dachshund, since it's so difficult to spell "Dachshund".)

He's a full grown guy at 10 lbs.

He's very sweet & docile and loves simply hanging out.

Standing guard.enforcing Murphy's Law as I worked in the garage.

Safe and snug in his new forever home.

I've never had a wienier dog before but I've learned quickly that when people see a Wienie dog they smile.

(Are you smiling?)

Does this surprise you?

I'm getting ready to make a big decision.
Actually, I've made the decision but am having problems making it a reality.  I.WANT.A.DOG.  Our last little dog (Schnauzer mix )went with Little MaMa when she got married last year.  She and our "Boudxy" had a special bond so she wanted him to live with her..  The good part is that we still get to visit and though he loves the activity of her busy household he's always happy to see us when we visit.  All the dogs I've ever owned have been rescue dogs.  I love the thought and they make great pets, but much to my naive surprise, it's very hard to rescue a dog these days.  

I went to the local animal shelter to find it filled primarily with boxers and pit bulls. It was a sad place because you and I both know that most of those breeds are not gonna find homes. There was row after row of  kennels filled with large, barking, dogs.  As I made my way through the large room of kennels I prayed all the doors were securely latched. It was actually quite intimidating. 

 I'm looking for a little house dog of some type, a small mutt would be just perfect.  When I inquired about them I was told that "they" went to specialty rescue organizations when they were found.

I've lost track of how many "applications to adopt" I've filled out for specialty rescue groups, humane associations, and various community shelters. Unless you've filled one out recently you won't believe all the questions they want you to answer.  I understand needing to know the basics but some of the questions are really invasive.  It seems there are more adopt-ers than adopt-ees. 

Does this surprise you?  

It does me.

So, dog-gone-it,

I guess there's nothing more to do than wait

Remember the date.

What a week this has been!

Repeat after me.

"What a week this has been"!

Everyone is busy and everyone has stuff to deal with.  Let's all take a nice deep breath right now.  I'm gonna tell you a little about my week and I hope to stop by your blog and read about your week as well.

I got a "call back" for a mammogram which I had two weeks previous.  Actually it wasn't a call, but instead a very impersonal letter.  I tried not to let my imagination go wild and most of the time I was able to keep any negative thoughts on the back burner, but I gotta admit the last two days before my appointment I was a hot mess and a few grains of valium was my friend.  The good news is I.Am.Fine.Thank.You.Jesus.  It had been over two years since my last mammogram and I have a history of breast cancer in my family.  DON'T BE LIKE ME!  Get those mammy's grammed!!  I left the breast center with such relief, yet at the same time I was deeply saddened knowing that others would leave that very day with bad news. There are so many brave women who look at breast cancer and take on the fight in a war not of there choosing.  I have no words to explain my thoughts when I see the situation.  My sister is one of these valiant women who have fought the tough fight(found in a routine mammogram) and WON!

I follow several of you blog Warriors who have fought (some still fighting) in this war.  I pray for you!  Linda, Bonnie, Connie, Joy,  and Sandy all come to mind.

Hey girls, I hope all of you will leave a comment saying when you had your last mammogram.  It's important to take a moment to "remember the date"! 

Sweet Tea - Feb. 2016

On the Road

Last weekend was a wonderful time for a day trip.  We all loaded into the car (me, mister, my mom) and made the drive to Tulsa to see our oldest daughter and her family.  The highlight of the day was watching our middle granddoll play basketball.

I know nothing about sports, but I do know I love to see this sweet girl run up and down the court with her ponytail bobbing.  And I know just enough to know if she throws the ball up and it goes through the net it's a good thing.  I was so busy being impressed that I didn't take a single photo while we were there, so you'll just have to take my word for it - a great day!

A beautiful sunset guided us home at the end of the day.

* * * * * * * * *

Most of you know I'm a terrible traveler and grow quite bored & clautrophobic when I'm in the car beyond 20 minutes.  That's the explanation for the next photo.

I snapped this photo of the car seat because I thought it looked like a "hiney"!  LOL!!

Funny, huh?!
My family didn't think so either.

Hey, even a Grandmother can exhibit the 

humor of a 12 year old boy at times.

Forgive me!

"Girl's Night In"

These Sonic cups may have held a little tequilla mixed into a slushy.  And, if you look closely in the upper right of the photo you may see a couple of bowls holding apple pie with a scoop of ice cream.

Sometimes a "Girl's Night In" is an absolutely perfect way to spend a winter's evening.

Isn't it great when a daughter grows up to be a BEST FRIEND?!!!

Problem Solved!

In a world of problems I realize this was an itty bitty one, but still it feels good to have solved it so simply.  Remember my previous post? (the expensive mistake I made with my breakfast room curtains)

This one.
Blech!

I took down the short, top valance.

Then I moved the bottom curtains to the top.
Wah! Lah!
Now I think the scale is right and I'm pleased.

Problem solved!

Now I know you can move on with your life knowing I've figured this out.

"You're welcome".  *wink

Big Mistake.

I'm still working on getting this new-to-me house fixed to my liking.  Remember when I started this I said I'd show you my wins and losses. Yes sir-eeee, you won't see this sort of thing on a real "Home Blogger's" blog.  But here, you see both the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Here goes.
Mister and I worked hard in our breakfast room to get these curtain rods hung "just so".  It took us a few tries to get it right.  It goes without saying that we're not terribly handy.

See all the holes in the wall?

But I was able to patch the holes and paint it so that no one

would ever see our mistakes unless I blabbed it on my blog.
I do love these slightly textured walls, they're so forgiving.

Now it's done, and I hate it!
That's right. H-A-T-E.
What was I thinking?
When you're not a professional at these things it stands to reason that more than a few mistakes are gonna be made.  Right?

The only thing about having my husband help is that I don't want to 'fess up and hear him say, "After all our hard work and all the money you spent on rods and curtains and you want to take it all down?".  Yah, that's what I don't want to hear him say.

Sooooo, I've decided to wait a bit and let the memory of his hard work fade from his mind, then I'll make a change.  AND THEN, I'm gonna make a table runner and some sofa pillows from the curtains (I like the fabric).  Then I can say, "Oh, but I didn't waste it, look what I made. . ."

That's how it's gonna go down.

Rolaids, anyone?
It makes me a little naseaus to see this room.  Then it makes me LOL!!  Soooo bad!!

Ever made any decorating blunders?
Surely I'm not the only one.

Potatoes

It's blustery cold here today so I thought it the perfect day to put a roast, carrots, potatoes, and corn on the cob into the oven.  The warm oven and the smell of all that yumminess makes a winter day seem kinda earthy and special.  

As I prepped the potatoes to go into the pot my mind drifted.  I thought of the countless times I had watched my Dad peel potatoes, "back in the day".  Born in 1920 he knew well what it was like to live during the Great Depression.  As best as I've been able to piece together, his family were tenant farmers, always living on someone else's farm and working the land, then moving on to another farm when another crop was available for workers.  I've tried to imagine just what that must have been like for him, his Mom and Dad and three sisters.  Hard work was the norm for them as it was for  all the people they knew.  This was their world.

My Dad was a very rugged, blue collar worker.  If the weather was above freezing he worked long hard hours when I was a child.  But, when the Oklahoma temps were low there was little work.  On these days he often gave Mom some relief in the kitchen.  I can see him in my mind now.  He would pull the trash can to the middle of the kitchen, then scoot a chair up close to it and begin to peel potatoes.  His work was slow and meticulous.  The potato skins were removed in thin, almost transparent strips as they fell into the garbage.  His method was an art.  None of the meat of the potato was wasted.  None. I've never been able to duplicate him - I don't have the skill or the patience.  When I peel a potato it's a quick, rough process.  I'm sure he'd laugh and shake his head to see my potato skills.

People pass, but the sweetest, and sometimes the most trivial of memories remain and bring warm happiness on a cold day in January.

Make it Happen

I'm so "not-a-winter-kinda-girl".
This is the time of year I refer to as "the bowels of winter".  Nuff' said.

I bought this little plaque at a few weeks ago and placed it in the living room.  It's been a great reminder and has really "inspired" me.  Love it!  I've even been making a point to ask Mister about his "happy" each day.

  "A merry heart doeth good as a medicine; but a broken spirit drieth the bones".  Need a little mid-winter lift?  Give this a try.  You have it within you to make it happen every day.

Some of my "happy" things have been:

A Warm Bath (rather than a hurried shower)

A BIG Brownie w/frosting

Spying a Deer nearby

Good news via a phone call

etc. etc.

What was your "Happy" for today?

Your "happy" may give us encouragement.

The Big Wall

 There's only one thing more boring than a big blank wall - a big, blank, BEIGE wall.  I've been looking at the big, blank, beige wall, in the living room, for six months, waiting to be inspired. "Sunrise.  Sunset.  Quickly go the days..."  Anyone remember that great ol' tune from "Fiddler on the Roof"?  Finally I did what lots of people do when they're looking to be house-inspired, I went to the Houzz app and searched for "photo walls".  So many visuals.  Love it!  (Not an advertisement for Houzz)

With their inspiration, this is what I did.
I thought it was a good start.  

The wall still has room to grow with more photos and such, and I can move on to another project for now.  For some reason, unknown to me, I find the most difficult things to decorate are my walls.  Maybe it's because I have the attention span of a gnat and get bored so easily, so it's difficult to decide on what I want to look at every day.

Nest project:  Deciding which photos to put into all these frames.

What are you doing to fill the winter days?
Reading, Crafting, TV watching,

Home projects, or dreaming of Spring?

Dear Mister...

Thank you for returning two long curtain rods to the store for me.
And a "double thank you" for doing this knowing I had lost the original receipt for the purchase. (Oops!) And a "triple thank you" for standing fearless in that long Walmart return line.

You are a Warrior!

Lighten up!

"Take it easy, take it easy.

Don't let the sound of your own wheels 

drive you crazy.

Lighten up while you still can

don't even try to understand

Just find a place to make your stand

and take it easy."

                                                                       ~Jackson Browne and Glen Frey

This speaks to me today.
Perhaps it's a good winter mantra for these dark, gray, days.  "Lighten up while you still can".  For me that would look like faith rekindled, and contentment in all things.  It would mean more emphasis on being in the moment and finding the "sunny side" even in the dreariness of winter.
Ahhh, I feel lighter already!  *wink

What would "lightening up" look like for you?

Yep.  I really want to know.

I'm not . . .

...a decorator.

        OR

...a home Blogger

        OR

...a photographer.

But I am decorating my house (we've lived here 6 months) and I am gonna blog about it now 'cause that's what I'm doing at this particular time in my life.  It's a lot of work but it's also a lot of fun.  I think I'm getting a lot of it right, but I've also made some mistakes.  "Ah hem", and I'll even show you those too.  Mistakes happen when you're not a professional.  Right?  Please say "yes".  Good and/or bad, home is my favorite place to be and I'm enjoying getting our new-to-us place in order.

This is our little guest piwder room "Before".

It had royal blue wallpaper with both an 8" top & middle border.  I managed to remove the borders myself (please be impressed because this was a LOT of work), but the background wallpaper wouldn't budge.  That's when I hired a professional to texture the wall (over the old wallpaper), so it would be ready for me to paint.

I was pleased with the results.

(Nary a hint of the old yukky wallpaper)

I love it when I get things right.

Riddle

Riddle:  Can you guess what this is?

Riddle:  Or this?

The top photo is a a photo of my breakfast room wall.  Wallpaper gone, texture in place, and ready for paint.  The second is the same except it's the wall in the guest powder room.  Within a week both should be painted!  Strike up the band!! 

I'll be so over-the-top excited  glad to get these projects finished.  Know what I mean?!

I've looked through magazines and websites to get ideas on decorating this new-to-me house, but decided the trends are not for me.  I'm so NOT  a "white/neutral" kind of girl.  I've got to have COLOR!  Some people find neutrals relaxing, I find them sad.  They depress me.  Forgive me if you're a neutral gal - your house is much more "in" than mine. But for me and my crew COLOR is our happy place, with just a few tiny exceptions.  And NO, I'm not painting my house RED.  LOL  My wall colors are the "n" word, neutral, but that's only so I can add lots of color elsewhere.

Do you love this?

As soon as we've finished painting, these lovely sheets will come down and bright red curtains will go up in their place in the breakfast room.

And this over-sized print (my longtime favorite)

will go onto the wall in the tiny guest powder room.

When one sits on the potty there will be no choice but to stare directly into this pretty scene.  Yes, I'm a little bit excited.  This sort of thing is what gets me through the cold winter. (not sitting on the potty, you know what I mean.  ;-) 

"Oh happy day"!

Got any projects lined up?

Have you ever wondered why people who blog about their homes never share their mistakes or bad ideas?  Maybe they don't make blunders. (?)  Just wondering.