Running, Running, Running!!!

I know from the title of this blog, that you think that I have been out running/jogging in this heat. Well, you would be wrong. If you thought that then you don't know me very well. I don't run in heat or any kind of weather...running is bad for you. This is getting off the subject a wee bit, but it is true. My doctor slipped and said that to me. It has something to do about the impact of the weight on your bones...blah, blah, blah. Anywho, running is bad for you...I have doctor approval. LOL

The running I have been doing is all over town. When I come to Moore County right now, I have 2 full days and 2 part days to get everything done for that week. That includes errands, housework and writing these award winning blogs.

I find myself always at the same places every week. We have to go to the PO to mail off Ebay items. Which by the way, is still doing very well. If you haven't seen the items I have for sale then click on this Ebay word. I also find myself at the library. I now have all the dessert murder books in the series, so the panic mode is over for me. Then there is the bank...thank you for the bank Lord. I need money!!! The drug store is another frequent hang out for me. Between 3 people someone is always needing medicine. The grocery store is my other biggie. Sometimes if I am really good I can go every other week. It depends on how much we use that week. I run here and I run there. I am like a chicken with my head cut off. LOL

This is me running around all week. LOL

I stay pretty much on the go the whole time I am here during the week. That is why I go back to Pender County every weekend....to rest up. There is so much to do every week. I am never bored and never without anything to do or anywhere to go. I constantly live on the road during the day when I get back. Right now I am off to the post office, bank and grocery store. If you see me on the road...WAVE!!!

Nothing Much, But I Blog Anyway!!

The last week or so not that much has really happened in life. No big news, no Publisher's Clearance House knock on our door...basically nothing news worthy. Although this doesn't stop me from blogging. I did accomplish a few things in the last week or so. I made 28 personalized girls picture frames this weekend, and listed them on Ebay. I finished buying all my VBS donations and I have already taken them to the church. I thinned out my book shelves and donated a big bag of books to the Vass library. I somewhat cleaned out my closet and listed the clothes I never wear on Ebay. I had Lilly Groomed...she was not a happy camper. I had my hair highlighted at Scrunch Salon. (by the way, if you live in Rocky Point, you have to check out Scrunch and Millie's Gift Box...amazing things) I mailed several gifts and cards to those who are sick. I have bought several baby gifts and delivered or mailed them. I cleaned out our chest freezer...that is never a small feat. That is not too bad for several weeks of work and time.

Now there are some things that I need to do. I need to decide if I am going to have a yard sale or just donate my stuff to charity. Here are my thoughts on the subject. 1. It is too hot to have a yard sale. 2. I need this stuff out of my way. 3. We have to go somewhere to have a sale, so that means dragging everything to another location. 4. Is it worth the trouble to make $100. We don't really have that much stuff. I am still trying to figure this one out, but I am leaning toward donating. Next I need to get busy on my family books that I am doing. I had all these old pics scanned to a disk to have my books done, and so far...I haven't done it. I also have Mark's 20 year ministry book to do as well and some that I wanted to do as surprises. I am also working on scrapbooks that I need to finish. Plus reorganize our home office.

For every few things I have accomplished, I have plenty of unfinished projects. I guess time is on my side...I have plenty of it.

Where if not the Ear??

I go into the bathroom this morning to get a Q-tip because my ear is itching. Then I see the warning...do not insert into ear canal. Well, this is breaking news since that is about all I use a Q-tip for. They listed more ways to use a Q-tip. You can apply cream with them, clean between computer keys, apply make up, take off nail polish and I am sure if I really thought about it; even I could probably come up with more uses. Let's face facts most people use them to insert in our ears to clean them or to help scratch an itch that is impossible to reach. In all my days, I never knew you weren't suppose to put a Q-tip in your ear. I would think this is safer than a car key or a bobby pin...that is what some of the old timers use. If not a Q-tip, then what???

Remember When!!!

I was thinking the other day about things in my childhood. Things that I had to have and couldn't live without, or maybe they were just the "in" thing back then. Then again they might have been just things I really wanted.

The Trapper Keeper notebook. I had to have one of these, and to my disappointment red was the only color they had. This is the notebook with inside pockets and a flap with some velcro. I just had to have one of these or I was certain that I would not be able to start school without it. I remember my mom drove everywhere looking for one...I guess I was lucky to get one, so I should have been thankful for the red one.

OP shorts- everyone wanted a pair of these. I remember having 3 pair...blue, white and yellow. I think now what the big deal was about a pair of corduroy short with OP embroidered on them. In the '80's the were hot stuff, and I wanted every color they had. I also remember that they were very expensive back then.

In elementary I had to have the "Bee Gee's" lunch box. Why, I have no idea. I am not even sure that I knew who the Bee Gee's were, but the lunch box was cool. It changed scenes on the front. One scene they were posed and the other scene the were on stage singing. I was stylin' back then.

Wax drinks: These were little wax bottles filled with liquid (might have been kool aid). You bit the top off and drank the liquid. Then you chewed the wax. Why this was a thrill for me...I don't know, but it was back then. I begged for these everytime we went to store.

Back in high school everyone or every girl had to have a black onyx ring. I am not sure what the big deal was about these, but I had to have one. I didn't really think that they were that pretty, but I wanted one. The onyx in mine finally broke.

Who can forget the Walkman. I remember my dad got me one at the GE Employees store (I hate they did away with that). I thought I was hot stuff with my cassettes and ear phones. I laugh now at the size of the Walkman when I pull out my MP3 player that is not even the size of a credit card.

These are just a few things that made me walk down memory lane the last couple of weeks. Things that were so important back then seem so trivial now. The only thing is that in your childhood, that is your life. And getting the new "in" gadget was just as important to you then as making the car payment and figuring out how to pay for your child's college is to you now. Life changes and priorities change. Sometimes it is nice to remember when simplier things occupied your mind. As my friend, Leigh, says, "Back in the day..."

Face the Fact!!!

There are some things that need to be confessed. I mean I have been living a charade about some things. I need to release these before I explode. Well, not really just thought it would make an interesting blog.

1. I hate hotdogs. I know that may be unamerican, but I don't like them. I can eat one from Paul's Place every now and then, but I really don't like hotdogs, and I have tried.

2. This one may get me removed from the South. I don't care beans about Nascar. I don't care if Jeff, Mark, Rusty or Jimmy wins. I could care less who wins or what kind of car they drive. It is just people driving in a big old circle (or oval) to me.

3. I really like celery. I mean I have a half a jar of JIF spread on it, but I like it. I think it was the in thing once to say you didn't like it.

4. I have a few gray hairs. Enough said. Not sure I am ready to face this fact yet or not.

5. I am a scaredy cat. I admit it!! I scare easily, and once I am scared you can't talk or joke me out of it.

6. I don't like mashed potatoes. This is debate with me and Mark. He says I fix my baked potato like mashed potatoes, therefore I would love mashed potatoes. I say that I don't like them.

7. Deep down I don't like french fries either. I got chilli cheese fries the other night, but I am all about the cheese and chilli. This may constitute to being unamerican as well..and I am not crazy about apple pie either!!!

8. Even though I like to do this to other people, I hate having it done to me...someone reading something to me. I can't comprehend that way. So if you are reading to me and I am smiling and nodding...I am not paying attention and not listening to a word you are saying.

9. I don't like to touch hair. Mine or anyone elses. Please never ask me to brush your hair and never ask me to clean out a brush. Mark does this for me. I am not sure why I don't like the feel of hair, but it gives me some kind of anxiety to touch it. Weird!!

10. I don't have a one track mind. I jump from project to project and task to task. I finish things and get lots done, but not sure how.

11. I am not a good saver. I use coupons one visit and pay high prices the next 6 trips. I shop Red Dot Sale one week, and make an out landish purchase 4 days later. Maybe this fact should be that I am not consistant. LOL

12. I love to read and make no apologies that I spend a lot of time doing so. These master pieces that I read will never be on Jeopardy, but they entertain me.

13. I don't have any skinny genes left in me. Although I haven't tried very hard to find them. LOL

Also, for my readers/followers of this blog. I write these blogs mostly between the hours of 3 and 5 AM. So that may be why some sentences make no sense what so ever and why there are lots of typos. That is when I get these great ideas. LOL

Trustworthy!!

Okay, I am in Walmart getting a few more VBS items, and I hear this loud scream/crying sound. Naturally it is on the aisle I headed to next. I rounded the corner and found the source for all that racket. A sweet little 7 month old sitting in the buggy, and she is not happy to be at Walmart. I speak to her and she stops crying and smiles. Okay, I am hooked. I keep talking and she starts smiling and playing. I noticed that her mom is at the end of the aisle grabbing everything she can before Chloe (found out her name) starts screaming again. I am not sure how it happened, but I ended up following Chloe and Suzanne (the mom) down every aisle. I played with Chloe while the mom shopped. Then Chloe started reaching for me and her mom just said casually that she wanted me to hold her. Stop!!! I don't know these people. I asked if that was okay, and she said yes. So me with Chloe in my arms follows mom down the aisle. I just came in to buy a clock and pick up crackers. Her mom looked so frazzled and on the verge of a break down, that I had to help her. I remembered what my friend Amy Henderson (can't remember her married name) said about being that mom when a child wouldn't stop crying. What did I give up? 30 minutes of time in my not so busy day. I couldn't believe that a mother trusted a stranger like that...although I have an angelic face(Mark rolls his eyes as he reads that part). Which I did stay close to mom, and didn't take her baby out of her sight. Chloe was the perfect angel for me. I was glad to help out. I just wonder what went through mom's (Suzanne's) head when she fully digested that she let a stranger hold her baby?? Better yet, I wonder if she told her husband?? She just looked so helpless and ready to cry herself. Chloe's problem is teething...she gnawed my finger to death. Luckily, she had teething rings in the diaper bag. I think mom was too over whelmed and maybe hungry and tired from the heat to put it all together. Over all I think I got a real bargain at Walmart today. A chance to help a stranger and 30 minutes to entertain one of the cutest babies ever. Thanks for trusting me!! The pleasure today was all mine.

I Can't Have Them??? But I Want Them!!!

Why is it that you when you can't have something, that is when you really want it so bad you can taste it. I am talking about oysters!! Yes, oysters!! Not that they are season right now (you are only suppose to eat them in months that have a "R" in their name), which means that we aren't going to really get fresh oysters until September. Anywho, they are off the menus at the fish houses here in Moore County. I really had planned on a bowl of oyster stew tonight at the fish house. No oysters and maybe no baby shrimp in a few weeks. They are even reprinting menus. We have the BP oil spill to thank for this. Not only is there no more oyster stew in my future, but it maybe effecting my "Skrimp" (a tribute to my friend Tiffany Johnson) enjoyment as well. I also feel sorry for the wildlife that is getting caught in this mess. Then there are our fellow southern states that are losing millions of dollars in tourism with this avoidable catastrophe. I mean who wants to go to a beach with oil flowing up on the shore. As I am writing this blog, I hear on the news of a fisherman who took his life due to this...what a shame and a tragic loss to his family. Being someone who grew up on the coast, and ate seafood like most people eat chicken this is very heart breaking. People's lively hood and way of life is being snuffed out. Generations and generations of fishermen are losing their way of life...essentially they are losing their heritage. I am not sure of the answer or who really is at fault...the buck has been passed around so many times. It really doesn't matter who is to blame at this point, but more of what is the solution to stop this and clean it up. To have somethings wiped out completely is beyond my comprehension. To have our beautiful beaches effected and our way of life is just mind boggling.

No more oysters in my future right now. I really would like some right now. The funny part is when I order them...I only eat about 3 off my plate. I like them, but they are not my favorite. Now that I know that I can't get them, I am craving them like crazy.

Oyster Bed!!!

I love steamed oysters and I found out that I can do them in the oven or on the grill. That beats going to a lot of trouble building a pit. I will miss you my little buddies.

I pray that a solution is found soon for absorbing all this oil and no more wildlife or human life is effected no more that it already as been affected. I don't know what I will do if crabs hit the do not serve list....that is really my favorite.

Holy Smokes!!!

I went to do a little grocery shopping the other day...you know the run of the mill stuff. A lady in front of me bought some cartons of cigarettes. I wasn't really paying attention until the cashier told her the amount...$176.87. I almost got dizzy because my head spun around so fast. I quickly looked on the counter and there was nothing there but cigarettes...no food. She peeled out 9 twenty dollar bills to pay for her cigarettes. I stood there and thanked the Lord that I never took that habit up....I couldn't afford to smoke. I was still dazed and shocked by how expensive these things were that I barely remembered that I had coupons to use. I bought my groceries ($72 by the way), and made my way to the van. The cigarette lady was parked next to me talking to another lady. I couldn't help over hearing their conservation. Cigarette lady was telling this other lady how tough things had been since her husband had lost his job and she hadn't been able to find a job herself. She then proceeded to tell her that their lights had been cut off last week, but a local organization gave them the money to have them turned back on. I just stopped putting my groceries in my car, because I was thinking...you accept charity from someone and then turn around and spend almost $180 on cigarettes. For some reason fraud came to my mind. How can a decent person take money from someone like that??? I mean I would go without something and keep my lights on, but I guess her smokes mean more to her. The whole time she was telling her sob story she was dangling the bag with the cartons of cigarettes in them. Her friend I noticed tried to look sympathetic, but I saw her eyeing the bag and you could see the contents through the bag. There has to come a time when you grow up and say my family is more important that my habits...whatever they may be. It was an eye opening experience to say the least. I am a generous person who likes to help people, but I wouldn't have given this lady a dime. You peel off 9 crisp $20 bills for cigarettes, you can have your lights turned on...or you can smoke in the dark.

It's only a Dollar!!!

I love the Dollar Tree Store. I find so many things that I can't live without, and lots of things that I need to stock up on. One time I had a about 20 tubes of toothpaste and about 30 tooth brushes. Don't get me started in the battery section. I have D batteries down to the button batteries. Then there are gift bags and tissue paper. I mean you never know when you will need to give a gift (is tooth paste and a tooth brush a good gift? LOL). I find all kinds of gadgets...some break immediately and some last a long time. My theory while shopping there is...get it..it's only a dollar. I can spend $30 in there in nothing flat. I once spent over $100 at the Dollar Tree. YES!! at the Dollar Tree. It was Christmas and I was filling these 3 feet long stockings for our 4 nieces. I could hardly believe it, but those dollar items add up to big bucks when you have a cart full. Dollar Tree is like my cheap Sam's Club...I go there and stock up. Need band aids, nail polish remover, deodorant, toothpaste/brush, dental floss, make up remover pads, batteries or a gift bag..then I'm your gal. So go ahead a throw it in the cart...it's only a dollar!!!

Heat Wave!!!

I can never remember June being this hot. Is it just me or is everyone hot? I go outside and it is like someone has their hand over my face trying to smother me. Forget about make up this time of year. I just sweat it off..its so bad that I think that I need to wear water proof mascara. I really should look into getting some bronzing powder for this weather. I had some carmel highlights put in this weekend, and I really want to wear my hair down to show them off. The problem is that it is so hot wearing my hair down...underneath it feels like I just got out of the shower. I know that it is hotter this year, because I get hot wearing my capri pants. I usually like in my capris all summer, but I need to go and buy some shorts. The heat zaps me of my energy and makes me sleepy. I love going outside, but the heats makes me stay in all the time. I long to feel a breeze or hear that a cold front is coming this way.

Father Blueberry!!!

We went to the NC Blueberry Festival yesterday held in historic downtown Burgaw. I loved it, except for the heat. I am not a fan of the heat. I never imagined there were so many ways that you can fix blueberries. I wanted to give the frozen blueberry lemonade a try, but never made it back to that booth. The festival was a real treat for me. I loved all the booths and vendors, and seeing that little town come to life.

I want to say a "Happy Father's Day" to my daddy today. I hope that you have a great day. I am naming July 11th Daughter's Day....I want you to be aware and to start your gift shopping. LOL

The antique cars at the festival.

Is that Funnel Cakes I see?? How did I miss that booth??? I love funnel cakes.Booths at the Blueberry Festival.

This vendor played these instruments so beautiful. It was a soothing kind of music.The only thing I bought at the festival was this personalized key chain. These was made at the Millie's Gift Box booth. Millie's Gift Box is located in Rocky Point on Hwy 117.

We had a great time yesterday at the festival. We went by our church, Riley's Creek Baptist Church, booth to see the ladies and maybe sneak a sample of cobbler.

Happy Father's Day to my daddy and all the dads out there today. Have a great day.

Guilty as Charged!!!

I am guilty!!! I had guilt written all over my face. I did it!! There is no question about it, I am your woman. I am guilty of getting a freebie!!! Let me explain about this incident. This past week there were coupons for Taco Bell in the paper. If you read a few blogs ago..the "change of heart" blog, then you know that I love the cherry limeades at Taco Bell. Anywho, there were lots of coupons to get a limeade FREE. No strings attached...these are free. Now usually I feel obligated to buy something else when I am getting something totally free. Why I feel this way I don't know. This was an incident where I decided to go for the gusto. I think Amanda has rubbed off on me about being frugal. I pulled up to the drive thru speaker and ordered my limeade, and told her, "by the way I have a coupon to get this free.". I didn't even blink an eye about ordering anything else. I pulled around and got my freebie and drove off. So I am guilty of couponing without guilt. By the way a free cherry limeade taste the best.

Excuse Me!!

Have you ever had anything or maybe I should say anyone irritating follow you around? This week while shopping at Harris Teeter, I had this experience. One lady who evidently missed the class on shopping cart rules was on every aisle that I was on. She is the one who leaves her cart parked haphazardly in the middle of aisle while she looks for something at the other end. This happened on about 4 aisles. Finally after the fifth time I was irritated to say the least. I was saved by another customer who was put out by this rude shopping cart driver. She proceeded to tell her that she was going to get a ticket for parking her cart in the middle of the aisle. The offender mumbled something about it wouldn't be the first time she got a ticket. Another shopper on that aisle remarked that she had been on several aisle with the accused and should have her shopping cart license revoked. She gave everyone a dirty look, and flounced over to move her cart to the side. I resisted telling her that is where her cart belonged all a long. Yes, there are unwritten shopping cart rules. I think a few should have to learn these in cart court. Shopping is much smoothier when everyone follows these rules. At least it will keep my irritatable level low.

Pocket Change!!!

I went to Harris Teeter this morning armed with just a few coupons. I thought that I would give this saving thing that Amanda does so well another try, and guess what...it worked. I bought 2 boxes of jello pudding, dawn dish detergent, 2 cans meow mix, Ritz Crackerfuls, French's Dipping mustard and a case of water. I had coupons for everything but the water, but it was an e-vic item this week for only $2.50 a case. I got a buggy and lying in the bottom of the buggy was a $1 off coupon for the water I was getting. I was so excited. It was hard not to put other things in the buggy, but I wanted to buy just what I had coupons for, so I could see my savings. I bought all my items and checked out. I went to pull my checkbook out, when the cashier told me that my total was $2.83. Woohoo!! I didn't need to write a check. Most of my items ended up being free when my coupons were doubled. Not exactly free, but it was just pocket change on this trip.

The Big Sting!!!

I go out across our beautiful lush grass, only to do the not so ever pretty or graceful one legged dance. I am swatting and slapping at my foot. Why I do this I don't know because it doesn't help. I look and now see nothing, then pain radiates from my toes. I then spot the little red culprit. A FIRE ANT!! Enemy number one!!! How can one tiny creature cause this much pain? I am amazed at the damage that they can do. I mean these tiny things can kill a cow!!! I am almost a permanent fixture in my yard sprinkling poison on the thousands (not really that many) of hills that we have. Amdro pellets seem the best, but I am not sure they kill them or just run them to my neighbors yard. Never the less, my war with them is never ending. To me they are the pest of all pest. A nemesis that I can never seem to defeat. I long for the day I can walk across the yard and not worry about where I am stepping.

Change of Heart!!

For the last 15 years or longer there have been 2 eating establishments that I have refused to patronize. One being KFC and the other Taco Bell.
KFC fell from my list when I got a piece of half cooked chicken not once, but twice. That just leaves a bad taste in your mouth. There aren't enough herbs and spices to get over that one. The mere thought of eating there would make me heave and feel nauseated.
Taco Bell left my list of eateries when I discovered real Mexican food. Not fast food Mexican!!! Also, Taco Bell is really not that cheap, and they put tomatoes on their tacos with that orange cheese. YUCK!! I hate orange cheese...I guess better known as cheddar.
KFC redeemed themselves with 2 new menu items. The chicken pot pie and the grilled chicken. Also add in the fact that you can get more that mashed potatoes and cole slaw (2 things I hate) for your sides now. I am loving me some corn on the cob. I am still not a die hard KFC fan by no means, but it now can be a suggestion of somewhere to eat. I won't turn up my nose and make hacking sounds if you mention this as a place to dine.
Taco Bell is still not rating too high with me, but I found two things I like. I really love the cherry limeade drink the best. It is so refreshing and yummy. Also, the chicken burrito isn't too bad. And for .99 who is complaining. This still isn't a place that I want to go and do a sit down meal, but I can eat something there. No tacos though...orange cheese and tomatoes. I like the white cheese at the Mexican restaurant. Taco Bell is little someone searching for Mexican food and just stumbled upon this and looked no more.
So now I am not totally boycotting KFC or Taco Bell, but they will never be a first choice or a last resort (McDonald's is still better to me than these two places). I have had a little change of heart. Maybe very little change....I can now take it or leave it. Maybe this blog isn't about having a change of heart...maybe more tolerating these two places.

Quirky!!

Like most people, I have a few quirks and hang ups. I am not sure if quirks define a person or not. Everyone has things in their personality that screams odd to some people while being complete rational to others. We each have our own quirkiness to a degree. Some have to sleep with a light on at all times. Others can only eat things in even numbers. This use to be considered quirkiness, but now it is called OCD. We just love to put a name to things. Now poor old Aunt Ethel would have OCD instead of being the eccentric of the family. I know by now you are dying to know what my quirk is...well, maybe not dying but your curiosity has sure been peaked. Okay, here is one of the oddities in my life. I DON'T DRINK BATHROOM WATER. It is just that simple. No water from the bathroom is going to cross these lips. Laugh if you want, but that water is nasty. First of all think about what a bathroom is used for..UGH!!! Then the cold water in the bathroom is always luke warm...spew it out. Then my personal opinion it taste like there is hair in the water to me. I have a thing about hair...I hate to touch it. That should clear up why my hair looks like it does. Mark cleans out my hair brush. Touching it causes an anxiety in me. This could be quirkiness number two for me. Getting back to the bathroom water. I have attempted to be tricked on this matter. Mark got me some water when we were first married. He didn't know, and got it from the bathroom. I told him that I don't drink bathroom water. He thought this was crazy. He went to the kitchen to get me some water. I took a swallow and spit it out. This is bathroom water I cried. How can you tell he asked me. I just can!!! Sure enough he had gone to the guest bath at the other end of the house to prove that it was all in my head. Well, the joke was on him...I know the difference. He loves me still quirks and all. We thank God everyday for bottled water. Now this probably explains a little bit of my personality to you. LOL. NO BATHROOM WATER!!

Laid Up!!!

This past weekend I found myself in the bed. Not by choice, but by doctor's orders. A little complication from the biopsy popped up and put a damper in my plans. The doctor told me that I had to stay in the bed for the whole weekend. She might as well told me to eat some liver with a side of cole slaw (2 things I really hate). Saturday was the worst, because we missed the church yard sale that I was so excitedly going to partcipate. I am so ready for someone to find some treasures in my junk and take it away from me. So for now my junk stays with me. I did actually sleep almost the whole day. I could not believe just how sleepy I was that day. I guess my body must have been running on fumes. Sunday found me still in the bed and bored. I couldn't even read!!! Oh no, couldn't read??? My mind just kept going in a million directions. I kept thinking about all the things I should and need to be doing. Then Monday dawned and a new day began. My doctor called and told me that I could get out of the bed. I was up and ready in a flash. I went and bought me some more pj's at Kohl's, then a quick trip to Home Depot. We lunched at K & W and had the best vegetables in the world. Shocking I know. If you know me, then you know that I am a "meat freak" not a vegan in any way shape or form. These were some great cabbage and green beans with potatoes. Don't let me forget that golden fried chicken either. Our day rounded out at Costco's. Why am I never hungry when I go to Costco? They have tons of samples, and I am not hungry...what a waste. Now home sweet home. Relaxing and taking it easy. I was a little pooped out after my little outing. I know that it can't be my age. UGH!! That is a whole other blog within itself.

Lost Arts!!!

There are many things in life that no later exist..the lost arts of America. Two things immediately come to mind that seem to have gone by the wayside here in our country. These lost arts are things that I still practice.

One is the lost art of letter writing. In this day and age of modern technology with email and texting the art of letter writing is almost nonexistent. I remember in elementary school that we were taught how to write not only a business letter, but also a personal letter. I love sending cards and notes to people. I save email and texting for things that I need to tell people immediately. To me there is nothing better than going to the mailbox and getting a card/letter from an old friend catching me up on their life. Every year even sending Christmas cards is on the decline. Oh, a lost art of communicating to our family and friends.

Another lost art here in America is sopping. Other countries still observe this art...especially Italy. I love to sop. I can hardly wait to dip or sop my bread into the sauce of my pasta. I also like to sop the last of my eggs at breakfast. I often wonder why more people don't sop up the remains on their plate. Are they embarrassed or don't they realize just how good those last morsels on the plate can be? When we go to Bdobo's I love to take the sesame bread and sop up all those juices on my plate. That is some good eatin'.

These two lost arts that are quickly disappearing from our culture will be upheld by me. So the next time you see me in a restaurant eatting, don't be surprised to see me sop up the last yummy morsel on my plate. Never be surprised to find a note in your mailbox catching you up on things going on with me.

Easily Entertained!!!

It doesn't take much to entertain me. Maybe it has something about being an only child. It doesn't take a lot to amuse me or spark my interest, hence forth I am easily entertained. About a month ago, we bought a Cricut cutting machine. I decided to make scrapbooking die cuts and handmade cards to sell. I wonder if I could sell these at the Farmer's Market or First Friday?? Anyway, getting back to my story. We got the machine out and started using it this week. It totally amazes me. You punch a button of the image that you want and the size you want it to be, and that little machine just starts cutting away. I am making up bags of die cuts to sell at the yard sale on Saturday. I have gotten totally engrossed in this machine. I just sit there staring at it as that little blade cuts whatever I punch. It has made me want to start scrapbooking again, but then again how many pictures of me, Mark and Lilly does anyone want to see?? Also, who am I going to leave this chroncile of our lives to anyway?? I thought that I might be famous one day and these scrapbooks could be displayed in my museum, but I gave up that idea about a year ago. I am not going to be famous. I am just famous in my own mind. LOL. This machine just zips these die cuts out lickty split. It has made me want to make a list of friends who scrapbook and send them some die cuts or make some special cards for some special people in my life. So, if you are bored come on over and join me as I watch this amazing machine.

A Mixture!!

Yesterday, my dad had to have surgery for a second time to remove tumors from his bladder. This complicated procedure is done in the doctors office...can you believe that?? His appointment was at 9 am and we were leaving out of there a little before 10 am. He did really well, but will have to do treatments later on.

Mark and came back home thinking that some yard work might get done...WRONG!! We had the worst thunderstorm that we have had in ages. Thunder booming, lightning striking close by and such a down pour. Our yard looked like a lake a few hours later and the ground hardly looks wet.

We are gearing up to participate in the yard sale at church on Saturday. All our items are in totes already priced. We have 2 boxes of jewelry that we will be selling as well. I am looking forward to getting rid of some of this stuff. Our prices will be rock bottom. Believe me...I want this stuff gone.

More remodeling on our house is coming up on Friday. Chip will come and install new doors, fix our ceiling in the laundry room and build us a DVD insert for our bedroom. I am looking forward to getting all that done. Maybe the bathroom will be next to have a little face lift.

Planning on grilling out some pork chops, corn and squash this afternoon. Hope the weather cooperates to allow me to get a few things done.

America's Finest!!

I am watching some old videos of On the Road with Charles Kuralt. What a mixture of people make up this land that I love. From a champion sling shot shooter to a lady who gets up at 5 am and cooks meals everyday in her home for the towns people to come and eat. The ladies who served meals to over millions of service men during WWII who came through her town on a train. Some of these people are unique in their own right, but they all possess one common trait...they are all genuine nice people. Sometimes a rarity in this day and age. Smile at someone the next time you are out...they are leary acting or too grumpy to notice. Why are we all in such a hurry? When is the last time we went and visited with someone? (without a death in the family).Do we have to have a reason to visit someone and learn their story? Getting to know our neighbors is a lost art. What makes America so great...her people. Take time to get to know someone. They have unique stories to tell. We found this out in our ministry. As we visited members, their stories would flow like a river. They would weave a tapestry of stories that made up their life. Sometimes pictures and artifacts accompany these stories. This allowed us a peek into their heart. Some are just waiting for someone to come by and ask about their story. America's finest is the people that make up the land of free and the home of the brave.

Happy Mail!!!

I went to run a few errands and found myself in the cards. I always stop and read cards wherever I go. I soon found several that I thought would be perfect for some of my friends. I love sending people cards for no reason, and when they really don't expect to get anything. I call it "happy mail". Bills are not happy mail. I even bought stickers to decorate the envelopes. If you don't receive a card from me, maybe I don't have your address. Who knows a card could be coming to mail box near you.