"Weather Guilt"

I've got friends in Wisconsin, Michigan, and Chicago, and one in Canada. Our youngest son lives in Atlanta, GA.  I know they're dealing with treacherous weather conditions which in turn makes for some very dangerous driving/walking issues and very expensive heating bills. I feel badly for all of them, as well as for you, if you're in the midst of weather problems.

Living in our area of LA means we almost NEVER have to deal with winter weather issues.            I'M.SO.GLAD.  

I feel a bit of  "Weather Guilt" as I look out my window and see sunshine, and only need grab a lightweight jacket to go out, even in the evenings.  Sooooooo, I'm gonna  ease my Weather Guilt  post a few photos which I hope will make you smile, even if you're completely gob-smack in the middle of a blizzard.

Do you recognize these pesky blooms?

Here is a close up.

It's a pesky weed.

Already.

All the dark greens in this bed

don't belong here.  

Yep, weeds.  (the legal kind)

It's still January and I already need to weed  the garden beds.  That's one thing you don't have to do if you're dealing with snow!   I admit it's a bit of a stretch to think you'd be cheered by photos of spring weeds when you're dealing with all-things-frozen and frigid temps, but hang on tight, 'cause if I've got spring weeds it means that Spring will eventually find you.

I.PROMISE.

(BTW, when it's 110* in the shade this Summer,

I'll be expecting you to cheer me on.)

How "Normal" is your guy?

Did any of you see the segment on the Today show, "How Normal Are You?".  Interesting.  It was all based on a survey by Esquire magazine and was intended for men.  Interesting.  I doubt that Mister would even bother to take the quiz, so being the  wife that really enjoys this type of thing   I was happy to take it in his place and do my best to answer as I thought he would.  His result was:

You’re barely Normal!

In some ways you’re just like 

everybody else, but just one 

or two more atypical behaviors 

and you’d find yourself 

squarely in the Weird Camp.

I guess that means we're a good match, which is a good thing to know after 43 years of marriage, doncha think?!  I think we're both probably "barely normal" and I consider that to be a good thing, just sayin...

If you want to take the quirky quiz for your guy you can find it HERE.

*You can file this under "fun stuff for a winter's day".

Second Best.

Summer,

 being my favorite time of the year, I find this time of the year to be my second best/ favorite.  That fact alone is almost an oxymoron, isn't it?  While I don't enjoy cold weather, our winters are quite mild and it's during this time that I seem to get my second wind and am able to fall into the rhythm of a quiet routine.  Gals like me love the idea of "routine", "schedule", "plan", etc. It's also a time of the year that we don't do any traveling.  Yay!   I do admit to having certain "hermit tendencies" when nighttime falls so early. I have to remind myself that it's healthy to be out & about on occasion.

I'm enjoying the sweet order of today.
I'm soon to put dinner into the oven for one of my favorite, easy, oven meals.  I'm gonna share this recipe as it's far to good to keep it to myself.  Yep, I'm that kinda girl.  *wink*    Give it a try and I promise it will become one of your favorites too.

Happy Wednesday, Bloggy Friends!

Company Casserole
(we call it this because it's good enough to serve to guests)

Round Steak, tenderized and cut into pieces
Brown Gravy pkt.
potatoes, sliced as for scalloped potatoes

Green Beans, 1 can, drained

1/3 C. water

Grease a baking dish
Place potatoes in 2/3 of dish.
Place green beans next to potatoes.
Pour water over all..
Salt & pepper to taste.
Place round steak on top of potatoes & gr. beans.
Sprinkle entire DRY gravy pkt over the round steak.
Cover tightly with foil and bake at 350 for 2 hrs.

I forgot the best part of this recipe - "it's so easy that a teenager can easily prepare it".  Whoopee!!

Happy X 3

Just had to share a few special things with you.
These are just a few of the things that have given me a reason to smile really BIG during the holiday season.

Mister came home from the after Christmas sale with this shirt he had bought for me.  There was only one left and this was it.  The color, the size, the message - PERFECT!  It was obviously meant for ME!!  Gotta love a shirt that says, "Happy, Happy, Happy"!  My new favorite!

Our youngest son, Tate, made it home for Christmas.  He's always a party!  So happy to see him and enjoy all the craziness that makes him so special!!

Also, for Christmas Mister replaced the diamond in my wedding ring.  We've been married for 43 years and this is the THIRD time I've lost my diamond and he has replaced it for me.  *blush*  I guess when I lose it and he fails to replace it I'll know it's "not gonna work out".  Till then, we're "good to go"!

* * * * * * * * * * 

Some of my friends have been posting a single word they feel God has layed upon their heart for the new year.  I've also done the same before and it's been interesting to see how God has taught me about that particular word during the year.  The word I feel God gave me for this year is "Bounce".  I know that seems a little odd since it's not particularly a "Bible word".  So the year should be interesting.  The first thought that comes to mind is the OLD song by Bobby Vee, does anyone else remember it?  

"Like a rubber ball I come bouncin' back to you [God]"  Perhaps I'm gonna learn how to be more consistent with my faith.  That would make me "Happy! Happy! Happy!

Bump-dah-Bump-Bump

Sometimes you can be cruising along, sun shining, radio playing your favorite tunes, THEN  all of a sudden there are some bumps in the road that jar you a bit. Unexpected bumps.  That's what happened to us this past weekend.  Great Christmas.  Great family.  Looking forward to a new year, THEN. . .the unexpected bumps.  Before I continue let me assure you the bumps aren't looking quite so bumpy right now and we're thinking the ride may move forward smoothly.

Maybe.

Sunday morning Mister got out of bed and began getting ready for church, but somewhere in the process his head began to ache and he went back to bed and slept much of the day.  This was his way of dealing with the bump.  I've done this before and if you can find sleep it sometimes does work to ease the tension.

I got ready for church and Mom and I went to church as planned.  We were late.  Very late.  But at least we were there.  After church we went to Mom's favorite place to eat then on to see a funny movie.  We called it our "Girl's Day Out" and didn't get home til 4:00 o'clock.  It was fun and kept my mind (most of the time) off of the bump.  Upon returning home I soon had a splitting headache and sat mindlessly in the recliner the rest of the evening.  Morning dawned as usual today.  We are totally back on schedule and the road doesn't seem nearly so bumpy today.

God is our friend.

Time is our friend.
Speaking of God and time,
here is my prayer for each of us as we begin a new year.

"May we all be blessed with a wonderful 2014

with smooth roads and only enough minor bumps

to keep life interesting."

What do you do when your road 

gets surprisingly bumpy?

What works for you?

Polar Express

Our "Polar Express" trip, aka "our trip to Oklahoma" last weekend.

See what I mean?

Truth is the roads remained clear while everything else iced up.  It was absolutely beautiful, but very cold.  The only problems were power outages as tree limbs broke from the weight of the ice.  

This is one of our family parties.  

The lights went out in the middle of our celebration,  yet we managed to still eat way too much, and to exchange gifts and even play our annual "Sneaky Santa" game.  The kids thought doing all this by candle light was lots of fun.  I admit there was something extra "cozy" about it all.  It certainly made for a memory that we'll all remember.

Here are some photos we took "before" we were plunged into darkness.  (just had to say that for dramatic flair)  

"Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!"

Merry Christmas dear Bloggy friends.
I pray all is well with you and all those you love.
~ Deb

Today on the Bayou

Anyone feeling a bit like this?

Thanksgiving and Christmas is a lot of fun

AND

(forgive me for stating the obvious), it's also a LOT of work!

I've done most of my shopping online this year and that's simplified things dramatically.  I've also reduced my baking to just one type of Christmas Cookie.  (OK, make that two types of cookies.)  We've also put up a smaller tree and haven't decorated the outside of our house at all.  To read this makes us sound a bit like the ol' green Grinch, but that's actually not the case at all.  We're still having fun anticipating Christmas and being around our family.  Things are very good here, but time for all the "extras" is almost non-existent, so we cut back where we can so we CAN enjoy the most important things. 

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

Haylee Kate

Me with our Granddolls and Lil' Mama.

Fun times during Thanksgiving holiday!

All these lovely girls are at the top of my Christmas List.  We absolutely could never "cut back" here!

Have you done anything to "cut back" during this year's Christmas season?  I'd love to hear what you've done. 

Retrospect

OK, it's not our family photo, 

but I'm sure you get the idea.

Some family gatherings go better than others.
This year's Thanksgiving was "Norman Rockwell perfect". My daughter, Amy, (Land of Fluff) threw-down a wonderful meal.  She has 3 children, a husband, an overnight guest, and worked the day before and after Thanksgiving, so this was no easy feat.  She is AMAZING!

We had some extra time to enjoy our 3 Granddolls while we were there.  We all went to a movie and also did some shopping and enjoyed some dinners "out".  Those girls give me such a rush!!  It seems like the whole world is a little "rosier" when I get to spend time with them!

I've been looking forward to sharing some photos of our fun, but, alas (how often does one get to use that word?!) I left my camera in Tulsa.  So I'll be delayed in sharing my photos.

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

Yesterday was Mister and Lil' Mama's b-day.  It was a travel day so we have put off their birthday celebration til today.  Lots to do, so I'm outta here.

POUF!

I've NEVER done this before!

Oddly enough no Christmas carols are rotating in my head, but rather I'm thinking about the "Noble Duke of York", you know, the one with 10,000 men.  Fast forward to the chorus.

"When you're up you're up,

and when you're down you're down.

But, when you're only half way up

you're neither up nor down."

We dragged a few Christmas items from the attic.

(each year I bring down fewer & fewer)

What a mess we make until it's all unpacked

and put into place.

Right now we're "Neither up nor down"!

However, the Nutcrackers are in place and keeping watch over the process.

I.HAVE.NEVER.PUT.CHRISTMAS.THINGS.

OUT.BEFORE. DECEMBER.1.

Mister & Lil' Mama share the same birthday, Nov. 30 and I've always made it a rule to celebrate their birthdays before we jump into the Christmas season; however this year, since Mom will be coming back here on Thanksgiving, I know I'll need every minute between Thanksgiving and Christmas to assist her with her Christmas shopping.  It'll be a big help to have Christmas already in place when we return home after being in Tulsa for Thanksgiving.  So, out with the old timing and in with the new.  I haven't been Christmas shopping with my Mom in many years.

It will be fun!

(And, not to worry, we'll still find time to celebrate the birthdays)

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

Haylee Kate turned 8 months old a few days ago.  She was not as cooperative about the monthly photo shoot as she has been in times past.  This is how it went down.

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

When do you put up your Christmas decorations?
Any particular reason for choosing that time?

I promised to tell you. . .

about my "Bloggy Friend Meet-Up".

If you inhale deeply I'm pretty sure you can smell this Chicken Fried Steak.
Mmmmm!

And how about this beautiful Salad Assortment?!
A feast for the eyes and the waistline. 

What a great time we had at lunch!

But it all paled by comparison with actually  getting to "Meet Up" with one of my very favorite Bloggers, "Nonnie"  over at "Nonnie's Random Thoughts".  If you've never visited her Blog you'll want to. She's an amazing, beautiful, funny, humble, Godly person who has traveled far and wide and has a life story that will  make you realize just how very special and unique she is.  Nonnie and I go back far beyond our blogging days.  We went to high school together!  Who knew we would reconnect through blogging after all these years?!  What a fun surprise!!

We had a great lunch.
We each drove 100 miles to "meet in the middle".
The "middle" was Tyler, TX.

My Mister and her Dear Heart were instant friends.
(I just KNEW they would be!)

Both of them are funny, chatty, and have an air of mischievousness about them.  Perhaps that's how they manage to put up with their Bloggy wives who like to share information on line.  Gotta love a guy with a great sense of humor!

So glad we got to do this!  This was something we'd been wanting to do for some time.  Time, schedules, and distance made it a bit tricky to pull off.  It was worth the planning and scheduling to make it all happen.  The lesson - don't put off things you really want to do. There's no time like NOW!

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

  

 I'm enjoying the last rose blooms of the season.  Tonight we're supposed to have our first freeze, so my roses will probably be history by tomorrow.

Backyard roses.

Good bye to this beauty too.

Front yard roses.

"Autumn...the year's last, loveliest smile."

~William Cullen Bryant

AWOL

I have been AWOL from Blogging, tho seldom a day passes that I don't think of my Bloggy friends.  Life takes "time", doesn't it?!  With my Mom visiting in Tulsa I've been working on some things I've neglected for a while.  Still much to do, but moving forward.

Haylee Kate takes a great deal of my time now that she no longer sleeps most of the day.  She is a busy girl, which means I am an especially busy YaYa on the days her Mom is at school.  Busy, but fun times!

I've also been working hard on losing weight and getting fit.  It takes "time" to walk, but most days you'll find me walking in the neighborhood at some point.  I've also been working on my "diet".  I've been in diet mode for a month now and have lost 6 lbs.  It's a slow process (after menopause,) but I'm DETERMINED.  I want to take off 14 more lbs!!

I can't end this post without at least hinting at something I'm really looking forward to - a "meet up" with a Bloggy friend!!  It's scheduled for next weekend and you can be sure I'll be posting photos and sharing the fun with you here.  That's all I can say.
I LOVE having a secret!

Thanks for stopping by!

"I Wanna Talk About ME, Wanna Talk About I. . ."

280!
No! That's not my weight,
but it IS my cholesterol number.
I've been forced to "step up" and take notice.  The test confirmed what I already knew  in my gut.  All the ice cream I've been eating with my Mom has caught up with me, via cholesterol and "poundage".  I have seen the error of my ways and am working hard now to get things under control.  I'm adhering to a fairly strict diet and trying for some scheduled exercise each day.  It takes a LOT of time and planning to do things the healthy way, doncha think?!  Just sayin...

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

I also went to Target to get my dreaded "Flu shot".  I went there because they advertised the new "micro-needle", which is 10 times smaller than the original.  Let me tell you - it's a bunch of advertising bunk.  I don't know about the needle, as I didn't look, BUT, it hurt as bad, or maybe even worse than the "regular" flu shot.  She stuck me once and the injector didn't dispense the medication, soooooooo, we had to do it again.  If you follow my blog then you're familiar with me and my "needle-phoebia".  I lay sprawled on a bench to the side of the pharmacy for 30 minute (no exageration) trying to get steady enough on my feet to leave.  Lil' Mama was with me.  She waited. She waited. She waited.  The room spun.  My stomach ached. I prayed I wouldn't throw up - prayed hard. Finally I was able to "get out of Dodge" by pushing a shopping cart to the door and get into the car that Lil' Mama had brought curbside. 

I.HAD.BETTER.NOT.GET.THE.FLU.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

Lest you think we're all about "things medical" let me show you a few Fall things here on the bayou.

This Star Jasmine was growing in a pot on the porch.  I transplanted her to the front of the house, with a few pansies to keep her feet warm.

Happy Fall Ya'll!

(The grass is still green and growing and not a single leaf has changed colors.  Fall comes late in the South.)