Merry Christmas!

Libby

Buddy

Merry Christmas to all my friends in blogland!  May you celebrate this Day in Peace, Love and Warmth ....

My week...

Samantha before

Samantha after

Salamander before....Hahaaaa....There's no After.  He was rescued by my daughter, Crystal.  It was freezing cold  that morning.

Morning!  Just a quick little post this morning.  Figured I'd best do a little better than I had been with my blogging!
Not much new...Larry's Dad is still doing well but Larry DID have to rush to their house...His Mom had fallen flat on her butt and Gerald couldn't get her up.  Larry got her up again and made sure she starts using her walker...that she does have...sitting in a corner, gathering dust!
Also, I have another request.  Please go to Cottage Days  and say some prayers for Donna and Jim.  He's really not doing well now....God Bless them both.
It's been in the 70's here this past week...nice.  But, my feet are now freezing...not nice.  It's going to top out at 64 degrees today.
Well, guess I'll get back to work.  Hope you all are safe and loved!  On my way to visit you....
PS- Did you know Google has placed CAPTCHA on our Comment sections?  I can't figure out how to get rid of it, can you?...SORRY!!!

No, I'm Not Ignoring you...

December 1st marked my little Libby's First Birthday and I totally missed it!  She is One year old...and I missed it!  Oh well, she forgave me when I let her lick some vanilla ice cream.  I even sang Happy Birthday to her.  I'm a bad mommy.  BUTT!!!  ( I know...I use the rude but reference) I have excuses...really...Larry's Dad went back into the hospital again for over a week.  Work...running back and forth...Thanksgiving...blah...blah...whine...Hahaaa...I'm such a whinie.  He's out now and back home, doing well.  
I just stopped a minute, after I looked at the calendar, and looked at the last time I blogged and cringed!  Figured I better let the class know that no dog ate my homework...Totally my fault.
Anyway, gotta get dinner going now.  Stay safe out there!  It's getting crazy!  Back soon......

To All The Veterans...

We Give You Thanks and Love.....Sending prayer for the safety of those here at home,  still active,  and, much gratitude to those that fought and defended your Country and made the ultimate sacrifice.  May God Bless you all and may God Bless America.

Ain't Happening...

Well...if it's 'gonna happen, it'll happen to me.  The surgery has had to be postponed.  Libby must have heard me on the phone, making the appointment.  I get home and discover...yes...she's now in heat.  They won't touch her until it's over...Three weeks of it....sigh.  Oh well, that's life.
Hope you all enjoyed a safe Halloween.  We did not have ONE kiddo ring our bell.  Our neighborhood is an older one (70's) so all the kiddos are grown, gone, with kids of their own.  I must say...It was a dark and gloomy night. 
Tomorrow is a big Day!  GO VOTE!  Every vote counts!  Larry and I did the Early Vote thing, last week.  Praying for our Nation.
Enjoy your day friends...

Betrayal Thursday...

Well, that's what she's going to think... I've put it off long enough...spaying.  Libby's ten months now and it's my understanding that if you don't breed a pug, in their later years,  they can get some pretty nasty problems u-terally speaking...:o).  SO, this Thursday is the day.  Take her in early, surgery at 2:30pm, overnight stay, then home for the helicopter mom to take care of...I don't want to but I don't want her to possibly have a horrendous problem down the line, either.  I refuse to breed her so that's that.
Hope you all are doing well... Winter is fast approaching.  Hard to believe Halloween is around the corner!  Christmas stuff is EVERYWHERE!  Geeez!  I love Christmas but they could at least let us get through Thanksgiving!  Oh well...What will you be serving Thanksgiving and Christmas? Turkey? Duck? Ham? Barbeque? Steak?  I'm still trying to decide...
Well, guess I'll go see what you've been up to lately...Enjoy the day friends!

TBT...

I was doodling in my new Windows 8.1 TRYING to figure it out.  I ended up playing around with Sam's prom photo.  There were about ten other students lined up behind her but I cropped it anyway and ended up with this!  Nice and sharp...
Hope you're having a peaceful day!  Later taters!  (Gee!  I posted!Hahaaa)

A Horizontal Mood...

 Granddaughter Sam in our hotel room killing time before bed in our hotel room in Plano, Texas.  Gampa and I brought her so she could attend a seminar for her job.  The highways are AWFUL!  SO crowded!  She would have gotten lost...I know I would have!  Thank goodness for Gampa!

 

That's Dallas on the left...on our way to Plano.

                                                Pizza at Paleo's in Plano...Super good stuff!

                                                            Shrimp at Pappadeaux's.....

 Meeting high school friends last week at Golden Corral in Waco, Texas....Lordy!  Where did the last 50 or so years GO??

                      A Zebra cake I made to carry to a friends house for "after supper" snacking.

Crystal (daughter) left a snarky comment on the last post I did so I thought I'd best get in here and say Something!  I truly am not avoiding blogging but I can't seem to find my motivation these days...Seems like there's one horrible thing after another happening here in the States and I just can't seem to find my "happy"....I'm really trying but it seems like I would feel better if Obama would answer his friggin' phone!Hahaa....
Oh well...We did get to visit with old time friends we went to school with...that was fun.  And taking Sami to Plano got us out of Waco for a few days...maybe Thanksgiving will perk me up...or November elections...yep...capturing the House AND the Senate will definitely help my mood...
SO...until Crystal screams at me for not posting, I'll be on my way to check on all of you!

Where Have You Been?

Chicken and dumplings starter and our Samantha heading off to work...

Well?? Where have I been...Well, I just don't have a good answer for that. It's been super busy lately around here. We've gone visiting...had the grandkids for stayovers,
cooking...cleaning...TRYING to clean stuff out of my house to get more organized (not as easy as it looks...), Dr visits, end of our work year at the shop, reports to get done, Insurance audit to get ready for, buying a new work van for the shop...buying two new computers for here at home that came loaded with Windows 8.1.....and trying to learn said system.....which I HATE.....on and on and on...Fall is NOT a fun time around here.  Just thought I'd best let you all know I'm still alive and kicking.
It's a chicken & dumpling Sunday of which sounds good to everyone around here.  It's now on the stove boiling away.  I'm making extra stock to put in the freezer with this chicken...that's the reason for the bigger pot.  
So...guess I'll head off to visit all of you...Hope you have a super Blessed week!!

My Week...

 Paul Ryan came to town and I got to get my book autographed...Mr. Blue Eyes!

 I REALLY WAS going to take the shot when the cone was...fully loaded...BUTT!!  It was melting...SO...Hahaaaa

 This was Larry's prize...a Blizzard...

 Our Sami gearing up for the Heart of Texas Fair and Rodeo coming in October...

 And lastly....Did I REALLY buy Libby a Binkey??? Hahaaaa.....and she LIKES it!  SPOILED!

Hope you all enjoy the three day weekend!  Labor Day on Monday.  We are SO ready!  And if you don't celebrate it, enjoy your weekend anyway!  I'll be around to check on you in a bit!

A Millon Years Ago...1972

 We went to see our friends in San Antonio last weekend and Beverly had a photo book with some old shots in them.  Got quite a few but I didn't want to over-do it.  Above shot Larry (L) me and Tom (R) were saying goodbye...Tom and Beverly (taking photo) were heading back home after spending the weekend with us. Probably around 1977 or so.

 This was not too long after Larry and I had been married.  We lived in an apartment then.

This is Beverly, Tom's wife..

 This was a place (Doc's) Larry and I ate at this last weekend in Marble Falls, Texas on the way south to visit Tom and Bev.  It was pretty tasty...Shrimp and fries.  We were there right at opening...hence, no one else there yet.

We also got to see a bit of "wild" life at a local nursery...

Well, guess I'll mosey along and see if I can do a little work...Hope you all enjoy your day!

A Personal Photo Challenge - Animals

Good Morning!  Thanks to Donna for hosting another fun challenge.  This one is Animals.  Yes, I have two but Buddy could care less about co-operating with me and my camera.  SO, that leaves Libby.  She's always up for a photo or two. 
Hope you all have a wonderful and safe weekend and make sure to get by the Personal Photo Challenge to visit with all the participants.

Determination...

 Morning!  This is another "barn kitty" that was just begging me for a photo shoot...silently...yes, I heard his voice in my head...Hahaaa....and it's about the last good time I've had lately.

 Trust me, I look at this every day...Remember these days?  A good old fight on the playground!  Yep, good times.

 This hunk of sugar is white chocolate.  I used the microwave on the first batch and then a double boiler on the last of the bars...BOTH batches seized up on me!  I have NO clue as to why...trashed!  Money down the drain....

 All because I thought I could make Cake Balls...My daughter Crystal, pops 'em out like the recipe was made Only for Her!  Me?  Not so much...In fact if I EVER see another cake ball I should surely do something dastardly...truly.  I tell you I had chocolate all over my kitchen but I hung in there!  I finally got the dark chocolate to melt but then I rolled the cake balls in it and put them on a RACK to dry...a RACK...YES!  I'm an IDIOT!Hahaaaa....I had to push them up from the bottom to get them off that rack...what a mess.  Crystal then states: "I TOLD you to use wax paper...I Did!"    I only tried making these so I could give them to our son in law for his doing me a favor here at work last week. 

What a mess, huh?!!Hahahaaaa.....gads....Then Crystal (the daughter) blithely states that the recipe is SO EASY TO MAKE.....so easy.....ok....I'm going to HER house next time and letting her mix up a batch.  AND, I'm timing her!Hahaaa.  Surprisingly, I like how they taste...Lime Balls.  I like lime...but this was not a project for me to try out ALONE!Hahaaa...How did I get chocolate on my elbow?????
Later guys..... 

Blast of Lime...

Saturday, we went to the local farmer's market.  I had called on Friday and placed an order for Cherry Lime cupcakes.  We arrived and decided to purchase a few things before picking up our order like locally made olive oil and fresh cream cheese.  They took a back seat to these cupcakes...geeeez...Talk about a blast of lime!!  Wonderful!  Wish I could figure out the recipe...Twelve cupcakes...Eighteen dollars...I KNOW!!!!Hahahaaa....but now we know and the sweetest young lady made them.   Maybe Pinterest has a recipe.   Here's the link to their farm, Pecan Bluff Farms.

The rest of the day was spent resting...Hope you all enjoyed your weekend!

A Personal Photo Challenge - Portraits

The kitty I took shots of last Saturday

A fun family photo shoot with the Beeman family.

Our Grandson, William

The grankids stepmom (dark hair) and her sister.

Granddaughter Samantha a few years back.

Samantha's High school graduation prom.

Sam and little sister, Ruby.

Hoff family photo shoot...ALL shooting me "raspberries"!Hahaaa

I just have too many shots to pick from in my photo library.  Thanks to Donna of Cottage Days, for hosting this challenge.  This is the one that I love...portraits!  Faces!  Always lots of fun for me.  Donna knows I rarely post more than one photo in these challenges, but this time...she hit the right button!Hahaaa...Sorry Donna!  I know the limit is three....Really I do...!!!Hahaaa, but as my Mom would say...Suck it up Buttercup!
Go visit The Personal Photo Challenge to see some super photos!  Thanks for the visit!

Soft Kitty, Warm Kitty...

Hello friends...Hope you all are enjoying your day,  I went to my sister's on Saturday and got to play a little bit with my camera.  I really haven't been doing much of that lately.  But then again, there haven't really been any "cute" subjects running around in front of me lately that you haven't seen! 
I took several different shots but this is the only one I'll post today due to EMPTY PHOTO COFFERS...Hahaaaaa.....geeez.  I have a few excuses as to why that is that I could use, but I won't.  I'm just pitiful!
This little guy was just so sweet and shy...just watching me.  Even when I came in for the closeup, he was very still.  Love his eyes!
Well, it's Monday again.  Hope you all enjoy a safe and peaceful day.

Crystal's Birthday and Squash...

 

 Time is just flying by!  June seems to be a really busy birthday month. Our daughter Crystal turned 41!!!  Can you believe it?  Not me...I'm only 62!!Hahaaaa.....child bride! WHAT???Hahaaaa
Also go over and wish Donna of Cottage Days a Happy Birthday!  The birthday bug bit her to!

Now THIS little puppy is the squash. Acorn squash!  This recipe was delicious...Wash the squash and dry.  Cut it in half, (NOT an easy thing to do so BE CAREFUL!)  scrape out the seeds and string.  Butter the insides by hand.   Pour in 1/4th cup of whole whipping cream in each half.  Sprinkle with Thyme and salt and pepper.
Bake at 400 for one hour.  Take out of oven carefully....and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese (either the store bought in the shaker OR the grated will work).  Sprinkle to YOUR taste!  Also, baste the top sides with the cream using a spoon so the cheese will stick more easily.
Bake for 15 more minutes.  WaLaaaa!  Watch out...it's hot!  Hubby and I did the other half in butter and maple syrup and brown sugar.  He liked them both but I liked the savory one.
Serve with any meat or eat all by itself...We had them for Sunday lunch.
Well, guess I'll get busy and come visit you....Hope you have a super day!

Busted and Snackin'...

I SO busted Libby....Before I could grab my IPad to snap the shot, she was turned around with both front feet on the desk, salivating over my reading glasses!Hahaaa...little tart!  I've already had to throw away 3 pair because I can't seem to remember to hide them when I get up from the chair!

So...How have you all been?  Good, I hope.  Larry's Mom has been in and out of the hospital lately so all my good intentions to be a better blogger flew out of the window.  She fell and fractured two vertebrae in her neck and the doctor had an awful time putting pins in...the bones are too soft.  She was really upset to learn that after all these years of being faithful taking calcium tablets, they didn't help at all.  You can not take just calcium by itself...you have to take it in combination with vitamin D3.  And then, you never know unless you have a bone density done.  It'll take weeks or months before she can take the neck brace off...if ever.  Send a few prayers her way please...her name is Ann.

See the chocolate Hershey's Spread?Hahaaaa.....all I can say is it's the next best thing on toast besides butter!  I got just the plain chocolate, not the hazelnut.  Don't really care for flavored Anything.
Well, guess I'll go grab a coffee.  Stay safe out there!