Christmas has come and gone here in the Heartland.  All the decorations are packed and safely stored until next year.  Now we spend our days waiting until Spring.  This is the time of year that tends to last forever.  Short days, long nights.  A cold that seems to rip right through to the bone.  This is the time I begin to get that strong desire to dig in the dirt...although, I am no longer able to have a large garden, the smell of freshly turned earth, still makes me happy.  I will spend the next few weeks looking through seed catalogs, dreaming of past gardens and flower beds.  I do think I will have a small container garden so I will plan how much, the right location, and then begin collecting rocks and such, for a Fairy Garden, where the herbs will grow.  Now is the time when I try to stay focused on the many projects I need to finish.  I find myself working on them for just a bit and then something else will demand my attention, and the project will be placed into the basket, until I can get back to it.  I have plenty of time.  That's what I tell myself and before I know it time has run out and I still have a basket full.  And so it goes...

My Christmas Wish List

Beloved Family,

For years, you have struggled to buy Christmas gifts for me. I guess I am so simple in spirit, and need, that it is hard to find the perfect something. I, on the other hand, am perplexed by that, as I see myself being easiest to please. With that being said, I have decided to make my Christmas Wish List, for you.

Instead of buying into the hype and commercialism of Christmas, these are things that I would love and appreciate the most.

1. The best gift I could ever receive, is for ALL of my family to truly accept Jesus as Lord and Savior.
2. Attend church, either with me or some place else, regularly.
3. Volunteer to help around those churches.
4. Perform an act of kindness, from you, to a needy stranger, whenever you can.
5. Occasional help around the house.
6. Collect coats and blankets for the homeless.
7. Help with yard work when needed.
8. Volunteer at the homeless shelter, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, The Little Lighthouse, or the children's shelter
9. Read the Bible and truly search for answers from God
10. Forgive everyone and everything.
11. Guys: Read Ephesians 5:25-33 and then do what it says...always.
12. Girls: Read Ephesians 5:22-24, 30-33 and do what it says...always.
13. Listen when I give advice and do not take that advice as an attack on you, but regard it as a life lesson, I've learned from experience and wish to pass on to you.
14. Love your children, more than yourself, your jobs and your money.
15. Respect your elders.
16. Get rid of, those things in your life, that do not glorify God. (habits, people, and material items)
17. Always be true to yourself and your roots. Do not compromise who you truly are.
18. Do what you know to be right, in the eyes of the Lord, for nothing else matters.
19. Practice diligently, “The Family That Prays Together, Stays Together”.
20. Finish something you started, when you were younger. (piano lessons, singing, etc.)

If you feel that you need to spend money on a gift, for me, please consider the following.

1. Make a donation to Breast Cancer Research, in memory of my Mama and my dearest friend, Chris.
2. Plant a tree or flowers at a nursing home, in memory of my Granny.
3. Donate to American Diabetes Association, Alzheimer's Association, or American Cancer Society, in honor of a relative, affected by those diseases.
4. Donate food, blankets, and toys to Wild Heart Ranch animal rescue.
5. Adopt a child from an Angel Tree and fulfill his/her Christmas wishes.
6. Give a grocery store gift certificate to a single mom.
7. Buy children's coloring books, DVD's and snacks and then volunteer to babysit, for a couple of hours, so that single mom can have “ME TIME”, without worrying about her children. Send the books, DVD's and remaining snacks, home with the children.
8. Purchase a pretty hat or scarf for a cancer patient.
9. Buy flowers for someone who is having a bad day.
10. Send stamps, pens, paper, and phone cards, to someone serving in the military or who is in the hospital for extended periods.
11. Buy stuffed animals to give to terminally ill children in the hospital and go read a book or sing with them.
12. Take your brother/sister to lunch.
13. Take your Daddy to see a movie
14. Buy lunch for the person, behind you, in the drive-thru.
15. Give a generous tip to the cart pusher at Walmart

As I look back over my Christmas Wish List, I realize that I may, indeed, be difficult to find the perfect gift, for. I wish for nothing material wise but everything from the heart. I wish for Jesus to be the center of your Christmas, as well as your life, and not those things which will either mean nothing in months and years to come and will be thrown away or donated, later, or that will sit on closet shelves for years, gathering dust. My true and only wish, is for all of you to put God first in everything you do, family second, make your home third, and and career last. There is nothing more important than God and Family.

I love, and thank God, for each one of you. So please, don't think I won't be grateful for anything I receive, this Christmas. I will be, however, I have more than I need and most of what I want. The rest, no amount of money can buy.

Grace, Peace, & Love, to you all ~ ~

Mama

It seems time slips away so quickly.  I can't keep up!  We just put up our Christmas tree last weekend!  It is usually put up on Thanksgiving night but there just didn't seem a time to do it.  The grand daughter spent last Saturday night with us so I made it a point to put it up then.  She loves decorating!  We decided it would be rather simply decorated with handmade ornament I have been playing with, inspired by the Scandinavian theme.  I guess I decided on this because this year I had my DNA tested and it came back as 56% Scandinavian.  I also happen to like simple things and the color red!  There are felt hearts and stars, 3D paper geometric shapes, 3D stars, paper spheres, pine cones, red and white gingham ribbon and candy canes.  Very few lights and a paper star on top.  Very simple and inexpensive!  It's so pretty, too.  I don't know why I am infatuated with the picture of the bottom of the tree (at the top), but I think it is beautiful.

I finally got around to taking the Christmas pics of the Grand daughter.  I do this every year.  It's kind of a tradition by now.  I am putting them in a scrapbook for her to look back on, when she is older.  I hope she treasure that scrapbook as much as I treasure taking the pictures.  It makes my heart very happy to be able to do it.

Lordy, mercy, we had some winter weather last week and it is just now getting back to normal.  It snowed about four inches here at our place.  Some areas got more, some less.  The temps stay below freezing the entire week, so the snow stuck around too.  I'm ok with that as long as it is killing some bugs.  Especially mosquitoes.  I could have done without hauling buckets of hot water out to the animals, three times a day, though.  Seemed as if I would get the water thawed out so they could drink and by the time I got back in the house, it had frozen again.  Trying to use the water hose was didn't work, so the old bucket was it!  I actually didn't mind it too awfully much but oh goodness, did my Mister complain about it!  I guess he better get used to it because next Friday, we are slated to get the same weather as before!  All I can say is, better the cold of winter than the scorching heat of summer!

Happy Thanksgiving from my home to yours.  God bless.

A dear lady and friend, has issued a challenge for our church.  She bought, everyone, simple little bracelets and asked that we use them to remind us not to complain for 30 days.  Boy did this hit home.  I don't like to complain, however, with all the pain I am in on a daily basis and our immediate and extended families constantly bickering and making foolish choices, it is very difficult not to complain.  I took the bracelet and the challenge.  I will wear it all the time, every where I go.

As I was thinking about this challenge, I came to the conclusion that there are lots of areas where I need work.  I need to remember what I was taught about speaking ill of someone.  "If you can't say something good, don't say anything at all".  I heard that all of my childhood.  Somehow it is very easy to forget that.  I will need a bracelet for that.

Then I thought about all the negative, that goes through my mind, every day.  I need to replace the negative with positive thoughts and always look for the good in every situation, and then thank God for it...  Yes, I will need a bracelet for that, as well.

Oh and as I sit here writing this post, I thought about the many times I have intended to pray for someone, or tell someone about Jesus, and forgot to do it.   There should be nothing more important than sharing the Gospel with a person who doesn't know him or lifting a friend or family member up in prayer, when they are sick, hurting, struggling, or simply having a bad day.  Don't we expect others to pray for us when we are dealing with these things?   I will definitely need a bracelet for this.

By this time, I realize I will have an arm full of bracelets...maybe both arms.  There are many areas, in my life, that I need to work on, other than the ones I wrote about...  A lot!  I am taking this bracelet challenge very seriously.  I want to win!

Month of Thanksgiving -- Day 13

SMELL

I am thankful for the smell of the coffee, on a cold, blustery morning.  There is something about it that warms your soul.

Month of Thanks -- Day 12

I am thankful for my sisters and brother.  They definitely made life interesting!  I wish  I had a picture of all of them so I could post it here.  I live so far from them and rarely get to visit.  Sometimes I wish we all lived closer but most of the time I'm glad we don't. LoL... just kidding!  I do miss them all terribly.

Month of Thanks -- Day 8

FOOD

I am thankful for plenty of food to eat.  I am also thankful for having a Daddy who loved to cook.  I am also thankful for a Mama who could squeeze more meals out of our food supply, than any person I know.  They taught me well!

Month of Thanks -- Day 7

 

JOB

My "job" is not really a job.  I keep my grand daughter while her parents work.  I have since she was born.  She is high spirited, funny, and a bit sassy!  My other "job" is taking care of our home and being a help meet, to my husband.  I do not consider any of this a job.  It is what I do.  It is what I love.  These "jobs" are my life and I am blessed!

Month of Thanks -- Day 6

FAITH

I am thankful that God has seen ,and will continue to see, me through even the darkest of storms.

Month of Thanks -- Day 5

TOUCH

Today, I am thankful for the TOUCH of my precious grand daughter. 

Month of Thanks -- Day 4

Animals

Today, I am thankful for all my animals.  They are always excited to see me.  They love me unconditionally.  They do not judge me or always tell me that I am wrong.  I am not threatened by them.  My animals calm my mind.  Their needs, nurture my spirit.   

Month of Gratitude -- Day 3

FREEDOM

I am thankful I live in a country where I have the FREEDOM to worship my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

Month of Thanks

I see, and participate in, the Month of Gratitude, every year.  This year I decided to do it a bit differently.  Every day will have a specific thing to be thankful for.  Take a picture of something that represents the word, on the corresponding date, and then post it. Then explain why you are thankful for that particular item.

I hope that explains it well enough.  Please feel free to join in.  I would love to see your Month of Gratitude posts.

 

"How silently they tumble down
And come to rest upon the ground
To lay a carpet, rich and rare,
Beneath the trees without a care,
Content to sleep, their work well done,
Colors gleaming in the sun.

 

At other times, they wildly fly
Until they nearly reach the sky.
Twisting, turning through the air
Till all the trees stand stark and bare.
Exhausted, drop to earth below
To wait, like children, for the snow."
-   Elsie N. Brady, Leaves

There weather has cooled down, quite a lot, around here.  I glad it has.  Fall is my favorite time of year...even with the allergies!  We've visited many Pumpkin Patches, already.  The grand blessing loves going although most of the time, she is unimpressed by the petting zoo at the patch.  She already has so many animals, around here.  Now if they had a whole barn full of kittens, she would find that to be pretty cool.  She loves animals but she REALLY loves kitties.

I've been busy but I don't know why.  It seems I am always doing something but then feel like I've accomplished nothing.  I need to be sewing, crocheting, and doing other crafty stuff.  I had great plans to sell some handmade things to make a little spending money.  As with most of my great plans, something more important comes along and that's the end of my plan.  

Guess I better go feed the zoo!

Elementary Soup

Every fall and winter, I make a very simple and filling soup, that I dubbed "Elementary School Soup".  My daughter, who is "allergic to vegetables" and is extremely picky, loves it.  My husband loves it.  So does my son.  Anytime company comes and I make "Elementary School Soup", they just go on and on about how good it is.  Even my son-in-love, who doesn't like anything (no, his name isn't Mikey) has eaten it and liked it enough to eat two bowls of it.  I always get the biggest kick out of the ooh's and ahh's!  Not that it gives me a big head or anything but I am amazed at how something so simple and easy to make, is gobbled up without complaint.  

I always make a large stock pot filled to the top, with the soup.  We all eat a bowl or two.  In any other home, there would be enough for leftovers or to put in the freezer.  Not in my house.  My, "allergic to veggies", daughter will show up and she will leave with what is left...every drop that is left.  She takes it to work with her and eats on it all day and if there is anything left, she takes it home and eats the rest of it for supper and snacks.  Now y'all need to understand that my pot holds forty quarts!  30 QUARTS!  She eats all but about a gallon and a half, of the soup.  LoL  She is skinny as a rail!  I don't know where she puts all that soup!  

So many times, I've been asked why it is called "Elementary School Soup".  Way back in the day... in my elementary school years, I attended Mt. Enterprise Elementary School in Mt. Enterprise, Texas.  Very small town and very small school.  Population of the town, in those days, was 385.  I doubt it is much bigger now.  At that school, we had lunch ladies who actually cooked the lunches.  There was none of those convenience foods and fast food kiosks, in those days.  You either ate what they cooked, brought your lunch, or did without.  Anyhow, once a week, we had vegetable soup, homemade cornbread, and made from scratch dessert.  I always looked forward to "soup day".  I loved that soup.  It was such a simple meal but to me it was the best!  

We moved a lot during my childhood and I attended many schools, all over the country, but none of them provided food like Mt. Enterprise Elementary.  And nobody ever made soup like that.  I decided, once I was old enough to cook, that I would figure out how to make that soup, myself.  I made a lot of soup.  I added lots of ingredients to the pot.  I tried everything I could think of but couldn't get it right.  One night, many years after I had began my search for the perfect recipe, I got side-tracked as I was making the soup.  I came back to the stove and couldn't remember where I had left off.  I remembered putting salt and pepper in but no other seasoning.  I tasted what I had in the pot and it was PERFECTION!  I had accidentally discovered the recipe for the soup of my school days!  

Mt. Enterprise was my favorite town, still is.  I still call it my home.  The school was my favorite school and that soup was my favorite soup.  I knew there wasn't a better name for my recipe than, "Elementary School Soup".

Elementary School Soup

Ingredients:
     a pound or two of hamburger meat (more or less)
     a bag each of frozen corn, green beans, carrots, and english peas
     a couple of cans of diced tomatoes
     a couple of pounds of potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks.
     one large onion, skinned and roughly chopped
     salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
     In a large pot, brown the hamburger meat and onions.  I like my onions browned...seriously browned.  Once the meat and onions are done, drain off the grease.  Don't rinse the meat because you will rinse the flavor out.  Put the meat back in the pot, add the potatoes and enough water to cover.  I usually put in enough water that there is a couple of inches above the meat and onions.  Bring to a boil and reduce heat.  Simmer until potatoes are about half way done.  Add the other veggies and diced tomatoes.  Continue to simmer until the veggies are done and the soup is a nice orange-y color.  Salt and pepper to taste.  

Serve with fresh cornbread.  Put a slice of American cheese on top of your bowl of soup.  It is even better that way.

That's it!  Simple, simple. You can use fresh veggies or even canned ones.  When it gets cold outside, I put this on to cook in the morning and we eat on it, all day.  
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I am so excited to announce the launch of my new business, Bejeweled Cheveux.  I recently signed up as a consultant for Lilla Rose Hair Jewelry.  Right now, I am having a catalog party.  It will be running until October 25th.  Click on the links below to go to my website and party.

Lilla Rose ~ BeJeweled Cheveux

BeJeweled Cheveux Catalog Party

Make sure you "like" my Facebook page, also.  Right now I am holding a drawing for a "Freestyle Princess Tiara" Flexi-clip.

Freestyle Princess Tiara

Lilla Rose ~ Bejeweled Cheveaux Facebook page

Well, I see everyone is all decorated for Fall.  So many beautiful ideas, too!  I used to put out different decorations, every time the wind blew from a different direction.  These days, I always think that I am going to get back into decorating for Fall, since it is my favorite time of year, but I decide not to because there just is so little time between Fall decorating and decorating for Christmas.  I usually put a wreath on the front door and call it good.  I did manage to make my Fall wreath, this time, instead of purchasing one for crazy amounts of money.  I've fallen in love with the burlap and mesh ribbon wreaths that are so popular now, so I decided to go for it!

I like simple decorations and this fills the bill, just fine.  I've had the flower and pine cone picks for several years.  I bought the burlap ribbon they make now.  Next time I will cut my own strips of burlap but this first time, I wanted to see how easy -or hard- this was going to be.  By cutting my own burlap, I will save quite a bit of money. 

That's not all I've been doing.  I also decided to try and sell some of my sewing and crochet crafts.  I've made four aprons so far.  Two child's size and two women's.  Also opened up an Etsy shop.  Don't know how well things will sell but I like doing the crafty stuff and I can't keep it all, so may as well give it a shot.  Here is one of the aprons.  I just love it and I was thinking it could also be used as a shabby chic kind of dress, layered over leggings and a turtleneck.

My beautiful daughter was kind enough to model for me.  This is the only way she will ever wear an apron, more than likely!  LoL   The apron in the background is one I made for myself from a Sense and Sensibility pattern.  I love that one because it is long enough to cover my entire dress so I don't get flour all over me when I make bread!  I am a messy baker!

That's what I've been up to.  Mainly just piddling.  I hope you will visit my Etsy shop,  Granny's Junk In The Trunk.

Breakfast time is the favorite time of day, here on Granny's Square.

 Sorry about the bad pictures but my phone is all I had at the time.

Summer is winding down, so they say.  It seems, for us, it is just beginning.  We've had such a mild one, so far, but now the temps are making their way back to normal.  It's been very hot this week and from all accounts will stay that way, on into September.  Fall is my favorite season so when the Summer drags out into September, it feels like we will never see cooler temps and the beauty of Fall.

One reason we love Fall is because that is the time of year the Mister and I like to go camping.  Nothing, this side of Heaven, compares to waking up to cool air and a campfire.  I'd rather wear a jacket than a bathing suit, any day!  I am slowly getting everything ready to put into the camper but first things first...the roof needs to be sealed because the horrid temps of the past three summers, have cracked it and we have a small leak.  Hopefully, that will be rectified before the temps dip down to camping weather.

This past weekend, Princess Sparkles stayed with us.  She has been begging to go out on the pontoon so we had a family day on the lake.  She absolutely loved it!  She liked getting off the boat and into the water and building sand castles with her Grandpa, but her favorite thing was riding across the lake.  She kept yelling at my son, who was our driver, to "GO FASTER, BUBBA!  GO FASTER!".  We had a good time with her, my son and his girlfriend, and a lake full to the brim with water!  Even I, the non-boat lover, enjoyed it and might even want to go again.  Of course there was a large amount of Dramamine involved but I did have fun!

I think my inner clock is malfunctioning.  Normally, I am an early morning person.  Up before the chickens, singing and ready for what lies ahead.  By 1:30pm, I am spent and ready to relax.  The last several months, though, I have dragged through the morning, looking forward to a nap.  Not wanting to do anything but stare off into space, with nothing going through my head but the aroma of strong coffee.  I take a nap and then, Katy bar the door, I am ready to go(as much as a person with chronic pain can).  I fight, like a toddler, to stay awake late into the night because my mind is just not ready.  I used to be ready for bed by 8:00pm and depending on Daylight Savings Time, sound asleep by 9:30pm.  Not anymore!  I tell you, something is amiss and I don't like it!  I loved my quiet time before my Mister got up and started be noisy(like a bull in a china shop, is more like it).  Oh, I guess that is one of the perils of aging.  The body says one thing, the mind says the opposite.

It's been a few years since my children were little.  Ok, it's been a lot of years but one thing I miss about that is seeing little pairs of jeans, hanging on the line.  Mostly, those jeans belonged to my boys.  Quickly, it seems, those jeans became big boy jeans and finally men's blue jeans.  There was something that always touched my spirit, with those jeans flapping in the breeze.  Perhaps it was knowing just how much God had blessed me by sending my son for me to love.  Then He blessed me with two very special boys that I consider to be MY sons.  Truly blessed, indeed.  Those little denim jeans served as a reminder to thank God for my boys.  

Eventually, little frilly, ruffly, dresses were added to the clothesline, when my daughter was born.  That is a whole other blessing, but with those dresses, came the beginning of the jeans slowly disappearing from the line.  Life circumstances removed some of them and eventually, when the last little boy birdie flew from the nest, the jeans went along with him.  I, equally loved all the little dresses, but there was something missing from my spirit.

Now days, I find joy, once again, in having little blue jeans hanging on the clothesline, dancing on the breeze.  This time they might have a bit of pink, or a flower, on them.  Or maybe some glitter, for the owner of these jeans, is a little tomboy Princess.  She loves her jeans and boots and this old granny couldn't be happier.  My heart sings, once again, for blessings of blue jeans, and the occasional frilly dress, dancing on the clothesline!

This is Carlos.  Carlos is a pot-bellied pig that lives on a neighbor's farm, down the road.  Carlos likes to come visit from time to time.  Nobody seems to know how Carlos manages to open the gate to his pen at his home, but he slips out and waddles down the road, to come pay a visit.  He is a spoiled pig and like to play.  To get your attention, he will nudge your leg and grunt.  If you don't pet him, he pushes on your leg a little harder and grunts louder.  Finally, if you ignore Carlos, he gets his feelings hurt and becomes very rude.  He will try his best to knock you to the ground, so you will pet him.  

One day, Carlos came for a visit.  The Mister, of our place, was working on a truck but Carlos didn't like that, so he began nudging and grunting.  The Mister pushed Carlos away, with his foot.  Carlos nudged harder and grunted louder.  The Mister pushed him away again.  Carlos nudged even harder and grunted louder than ever.  Finally, Carlos decided this game of the Mister pushing and him nudging, was getting him nowhere, so what did Carlos do? He started chewing on the Mister's boot!  The Mister stopped working on the truck and bent down to pet Carlos.  Carlos was happy.  Then the Mister went back to working on his truck and Carlos went back to chewing his boot.  The Mister decided the best thing to do, was to just walk away and maybe Carlos would go find something else to play with.  Nope, that didn't work!  Carlos followed him grunting louder and louder!  

The Mister started to run, he wasn't afraid, though, because Carlos is a friendly pot-bellied pig.  The Mister had decided to play with Carlos.  He would run this way, Carlos would run that way.  Around and around the truck, the Mister had been working on.  Soon, the Mister became tired of this little game and sat down on the hood of the truck.  Carlos wasn't tired, though!  He began chewing on the Mister's boot, AGAIN!  The Mister pulled his feet up on the hood but do you know what Carlos did?  He tried to climb up on the hood of that truck!  He wasn't finished playing!  He wanted the game to last longer!  He grunted loud and tried to push the truck.  He pushed so hard the truck began to rock back and forth!  He simply did not want to end this fun game.  

Finally, the Mister decided it was time for Carlos - the pot-bellied pig, that lives on a neighbor's farm, down the road -  to go home.  So he climbed down from the hood of the truck and began walking.  Carlos followed.  Down the road they walked... or in Carlos' case, waddled!  The Mister opened the gate to the neighbor's farm, down the road, and Carlos waddled through and slowly made his way back to his pen.  

Now, the story won't end there.  Carlos is sure to be back for a visit, but for now, he is sleeping peacefully and dreaming of games of chase.

Happy Birthday, Mama.

Happy Birthday, Mommy!  I miss you so much.  I know they are throwing you a birthday party in Heaven, but I wish you were here.  I have so much to tell you about.  Your great-grand=daughter is three years old now and she loves the prayer shawl, I made for you.  She is ornery as all get out and I can almost hear you say, "She's just like her granny" and a look directed at me.  I show her your picture, often.  She always says, "That's your mommy, Granny.", and I will say "yes".  She wants to know where you are and I tell her, "She's in Heaven with Jesus.".  You would eat her with a spoon if you were here.  I know you would love her as much as I do.

Your favorite son-in-love is doing well.  Lots better since he changed jobs and has less stress.  Handsome as always and I believe he misses you as much as I do.  You know how he is.  Doesn't say  much but I know.  He love the grandbaby so much.  Surprising, right?  LoL  They play, fish, swim all the time.  He even has tea parties with her.  Didn't see that one coming did you?  He is a good grandpa.  He is good to me, too.  I love him more today than I did when we got married...but then you know that, don't you.

"Homer" has found a nice lady and they seem to be happy.  It's about time!  He works hard every day and finally followed a dream of becoming a firefighter.  He is doing so much better, than he was, since he got rid of his "baggage".  He is still making his own troubles, though.  LoL  Mountains out of molehills, but he is also a survivor.  He eventually figures things out and moves on.  I am very proud of him.  He is still your baby.

"Miss Priss" is doing well, too.  She is an awesome hairstylist, Mama.  I bet she would love to cut your hair!There are things, she does, that I don't understand.  Many things we disagree on and I sometimes wonder what the heck she is thinking but I'm sure you went through the that with me, but I never forgot what you taught me about being a wife and mother.  She does good but there are things that make me want to pull her head off, but she is still my baby and I love her more than my own life.  She just got back from a vacation in Colorado.  Remember those mountains and the snow?  I know you don't miss that!

I know you didn't like talking about your past and never wanted to think about it again, but, I found a cousin of yours.  She is the grand-daughter of your Aunt.  A wonderful lady.  She was so glad to get my letter and we have stayed in contact.  She is helping me fill in some gaps.  I hope you understand my need to know who I am on my maternal side.  I do wish you were still here because I believe, if you gave it a chance, have fun with it.  I do promise you this, if I ever find out things that would embarrass you, I will take them to my grave and never let anyone else find them.  Oh and I had my DNA tested, as well.  Guess what!  Scandinavian is the predominate line and on your side it is Eurasia.  What an odd turn that took, huh?!

Mommy, I am doing good.  Have some physical issues but we knew I would.  There are days I can't get around well but I still trudge through.  I had a very good teacher.  I remember when you were so sick you couldn't hardly hold your head up but you still managed to take care of us four kids.  And then, at the end, how you fought that horrible disease.  That is one lesson I will never forget.  

I miss you so much.  I wish you were here so we could go to the thrift stores together.  And to eat stuff that is bad for us.  And yes, maybe even have a beer.  

You know, there were times when I wanted to strangle you.  For years, I didn't respect you for the person you were.  I didn't understand why you didn't stand up for yourself against those who hurt you.  I didn't realize what you had gone through, in your younger years.  Oh yes, I knew about it but I just didn't realize the impact it had.  And then the years that followed were just as hard but on a different level.  To be hurt by the very people who are suppose to love you... well, I can't imagine.  I am so sorry for that.  I just wanted to say...

Happy Birthday, Mommy.  I love you and ...

I understand.

Princess Sparkles would like to share how a proper farm girl should dress.

First, a proper Princess never goes anywhere without her tiara and princess dress.  Then, in order to protect our princess dress, we must have an apron.  A good farmgirl makes sure her feed bucket is clean and RED.  And since we are Redneck Princesses, it is mandatory to have on our camo.

And as the old saying goes, NO BOW-NO GO!, so we will always sport an adornment in our hair, under the tiara.  Of course any farmgirl, princess or otherwise, must wear her boots when doing redneck farm stuff like feeding the donkey and goats.

Hope you enjoyed this lesson in proper Princess Redneck-Farmgirl attire.

Wordless Wednesday

More Wordless Wednesday

Ruby Tuesday

Side door to the Saloon in Guthrie, OK

Photography - Macro Monday

White Tea Rose Bush - gift from my Mister for Mother's Day 2012.  

Simple Sunday

Historic Saturday

Original Oklahoma State Capitol Building in Guthrie, Ok.  The capitol of Oklahoma was moved to Oklahoma City in 1910 and the new building was build 1914.

SKYWATCH FRIDAY

I am taking an idea from a couple of my favorite photo blogs,  Tulsa Gentleman and Yogi's Den, and starting a daily photo post.  I am hoping it will keep me on point to post something every day.  

Here in Oklahoma, it is natural for us to keep an eye to the sky.  We never know when the weather will turn ferocious.  One minute sunny, the very next a tornado is falling from the sky.  Ever-changing.  Skywatch Friday is exactly what it sounds like.  Watching the sky.

We have been blessed with wonderful weather this summer.  Lot's of good rain which is such a blessing after the past three years of drought and extreme heat.  This was the sky as I fed the animals.

I can't believe it has been almost a month since I posted anything, here.  Well, that's how it is around here.  Time gets away from us and before we know it a full month has passed.  I now believe what my elders said about time flying when you get older.  It most definitely does.

It's been about normal around here.  Nothing really going on other than keeping the grandblessing and watching her blossom into a beautiful little girl.  She is no longer a baby.  Three years old seems so young but with her, she seems so mature.  Maybe it is just me but I don't like it.  I want to cuddle that sweet little pink baby girl for the rest of my life.  That's a very unfair trick.  Just when you think you have reached the ultimate experience with babies, they grow up.  She is so smart though.  I am excited to see what she accomplishes this year.

Oh yeah.  We have a coyote that has taken a liking to chicken.  We've lost four in the past two weeks.  I've seen him but I'm usually outside without my gun and by the time I get in the house to get it, the evil thing has run off.  He just lays out in the field, under a shade tree.  He isn't scared of the noises around here.  He just lays there...waiting.  I have started to walk towards him, hollering, and he finally gets up and saunters off, only to circle around in the treeline to wait.  We've had to start keeping the ladies in the barnyard until we can either shoot or trap that darn coyote.  He's beginning to anger me.

OH!  Did I mention I bought a VW Bus, a few weeks back?  No???  Well, I did!  It needs work, of course, but I hope my Mister has it up and running before spring.  I am going to use it to go around to some of the Farmer's Markets in the area, and sell fresh breads, pies, homemade craft items, and plants.  Now that is my dream.  We will see if it actually pans out.

We have decided to save towards purchasing an older, vintage Winnebago.  We want to go to different places in the US but it is expensive with need of hotels and meals. Also, with our bad backs, we can never find a place that has the kind of mattress we need and we would just like to have our own stuff in our own RV.  We are excited about this because our grandblessing will start school in a couple of years and we want to be able to take her on "field trips" to places she will study about.  I didn't get to do that with my children and I regret it, but I can afford it now so I want to give the grand every opportunity to take adventures.

So, I guess that is it.  I have got to try and get something posted a bit sooner that a month between posts. 

We've had a problem around here.  The ladies have been somewhat discombobulated. Why have they been in a state of confusion?  Well... it has to do with this.

We moved our "barnyard", this past weekend, because we are planning to get a couple of pygmy goats and possibly a pig and I really didn't want all that located so close to Princess Sparkles' play area.

The ladies were in the garden...

The shed where I keep straw and mulch...

Only one lone chicken figured out, after the first night.

Finally, after four nights of rounding them up and putting them, one by one, into the hen house, tonight they finally did it on their own.

Pretty and Vintage

Last weekend we went on a little road trip to Guthrie, OK.  While there we checked out a couple of antique shops.  Beautiful things in each store but there was one place I just loved.  It had all these wonderful vintage canister sets, cake carriers, and bread boxes.  I would have bought a set but the prices were just a bit too steep for my wallet. 

I adore this set and the ones in the picture below.  So feminine!

Cake keepers.  They don't make them like this, anymore.

These would definitely brighten up a kitchen!

Simply pretty

Who remembers Melamine kitchen ware?  I do.

I love the color of this one.

This set made me think of a Mexican Fiesta. 

This would be perfect for a lady's powder room. 

This is my favorite.  Love the quirky rooster.