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.