Pooped...Partying, Eating and Love

Good Morning, Friends...Wow...It's been a whirlwind of a week!  There was lots of cleaning (I had been a bit behind on things...) Cooking...a little baking...wrapping presents...hanging more bobbles on the tree...I did most of the decorating and cooking this year.  I didn't want to ask Larry to do much of it.  He has two more treatments and a procedure (scope) to see how things look.  Hopefully things are going great.

We all had a fun time...Sloane was her usual happy self (except when she started slowing down...lol...as witnessed in the photo with mom Samantha, and granny Lolli, Crystal. The video was an unexpected fun gift of Sloane!  Too funny...to us, anyway.  We love her so much.

 

Getting ready to implode...

Implosion...Lol...She'd had enough.

Larry's 98 year old Dad, Gerald.

Larry and SIL, Tim

Sam's hubby, Everett and then Samantha

Sloane's Lolli (Our daughter, Crystal)

Crystal (and Samantha's Mom) helping with some cooking.

SIL Tim helping hold the sofa down...lol...We love him.

Crystal made some Rice pudding.

I made a fruit salad.

I made some apple dumplings.

We all made cookies.

I made Biscuits (not cookies, for my Brit friends...lol) and gravy.

Sloanes plate...she recognized the bear.

I made peanut brittle, crispy...not hard!

Crystal made cookies...

Sloane and Gampa resting earlier in the week when we needed to sit with Sloane.  Notice the sleight of hand...lolol...cheeky girl!

 

Samantha did the AI thing that's going around on the internet.  I think the photos look wonderful.

Crystal gifted me with this sachet from Bridgewater Candle Company.  (6 1/2  x  4 1/2 inches) 

All I can say is OMG!  After we'd all finished unwrapping gifts, I walked over to the tree and put the sachet onto a branch and went about my business.  In about ten minutes I started smelling this wonderful fragrance!  I've had sachets before...nothing worked like this one did!  Filled the whole house!  Later that morning, after all had gone, (we ate at 8am this year so everyone could progress on to the next relative's house.  Sam and Everett left here at 11am and still had two more homes and parties to attend...) :o0  

I think I'll plan on doing our celebration on an earlier weekend...so the kids aren't so stressed.  After all, we're now the "old" ones...and Larry and I are just fine with it.  Large families?  You have to be organized! lol)

Anyway, about the sachet, I got online to the company and ordered six more! lol...Only cost $30.10.  I love it!  Go check them out...

Well, I guess that's about it for me on this Christmas 2023.  I can't say I'll be sorry to see it go...we've had better years.  But I am grateful nothing more sinister happened!  I'm so ready for more laughter and sounds of happiness...

No more crying!  I forbid it! lol

Friends...I pray 2024 will bring us a better world...a peaceful one.  May God Bless you all and keep you from harm.

So, until next year...Thank you for putting up with me!  

See you in 2024!

Happy Nine Months, Toys, Food...and I Talk Too Much?

Good morning, friends!  

Has it really been a week?  Well, I suppose that's a good thing for You! You're saved from too many silly posts from this old woman! lolol  

It was our greatgran Sloane's nine-month birthday on the 15th.  Time is really scooting by!  She'll be starting school before we know it...

Silly girl...lol...Samantha (mom) shot the photo at the right time!

This was a project Larry made last week and I painted.  Wooden letters for Sloane, most probably, to chew on or throw at us.  No worries...we're learning to dodge!  After Larry had brought the finished letter board to me, he said it wasn't good enough...the letter grooves needed to be larger.  SO, he went off to begin a new board.  And I must admit, the wood absorption quality for the paint, wasn't all that wonderful.  And yes, he knew she'd be trying to chew on them...hence, food quality finish.  Whatever it takes, I suppose.  In the meantime, she can play with this one.

I also bought her a walker.  She apparently, can now push herself around on one...a trick she learned at her 12 month old cousin's house...so...Gamma to the rescue.  Gamma's are pushovers! lolol

Got up the other morning and had a hankering for pancakes, German style, with Powdered sugar, butter and lemon juice.  Hit the spot!  Syrups are fine but this particular day was a powdered sugar day! lol

For lunch, I made shrimp and rice with tomatoes.  I added a 1/2 cup of Olive Gardens Classic Signature Italian dressing to the shrimp in the frying pan, and 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream...let the mixture sinner on the stove.  Never let it boil...the cream will separate.  Just let it simmer.  Serve over buttered rice.  Always taste before you add seasonings...the sauce was seasoned nicely when I added the dressing.

So delicious.  I've been making Tomatoes and Rice all my married life (50 yrs.).  Figured shrimp would only add to the flavor, and it did.  The Olive Garden dressing was just a random addition...but it worked!  Lemony. 

We've heard how the Black Rifle Coffee Company had built a business here in Waco, Texas...out on I-35 interstate so naturally, we had to go see what all the fuss was about.  Larry ordered the black basic and naturally, I had to doctor my coffee with cream and sugar.  Good coffee!  American made and Veteran owned, coffee company.  Can't beat that (we have two grandsons in the Air Force and Larry, my husband, was in the Air Force and served in Viet Nam).  We used to patronize Starbucks years ago before the owners started vocalizing their political views...and the Waco Starbucks location decided they were allowed to insult the customers...it didn't go over well...lost a lot of customers.  Now, several years later we are hearing people complain about the quality of the coffee...and the service.  We own a plumbing company in two cities.  We would never flaunt our political views and subject our customers to such displays!  It's simply not done!  Your politics and your religion are Your business, period.  You don't like my political views?  Take it up with a voting machine.  I don't like anyone who thinks it funny to humiliate others. 

Hubby and I can simply choose not to participate at businesses that do this.  I feel, in this day and age, we need each other!  You might not like apple jelly but does that mean you will decide to not like me, if I do?  Ridiculous thinking...'nuff said.

Taco Tuesdays are a "thing" in our area.  You aren't allowed to get the Senior or Military discount, but they drop the price of your meal considerably.  Yes, Taco Tuesday found us at Rosa's Cafe...You get 3 tacos, hot fresh tortillas, beans and rice for $5.99.  If you're on fixed incomes, it's a good deal.

Our granddaughter Samantha, Sloanes mom, posing for the company she works with, advertising said company.  Sam's a hair stylist with Cortny & Company .  All the stylist got a chance to participate.  Click on the link...they're all gorgeous  (our Sami, third from the right)!  Back in my day, beautiful women were not everywhere you looked! lolol...Today, it's the Plain-Jane that's a rarity!  

Going from hair to White Jasmine...lol...Larry built me a frame that will allow the plant to climb.  

I must pause here to say how fortunate I am, to have a husband that, if he can, drops everything he's doing to accommodate me and my wants.  I really try to not abuse my privileged position and his kind heartedness.  We both realize that the yard is in terrible shape and needs to be brought back to life.  It's a "together" job and I give as good as I get.  I may not be able to create frames or build pergolas, but I make up for it by cooking, baking...cleaning..or making him his favorite ice creams and pies.  And...I can plant the flowers.  Larry has always been a hard worker of which I have always been grateful.  We have mutual love and respect for each other...You have to give and take to be married for 50 years.  It hasn't all been, "apple pie days", and you shouldn't expect it to be.  How boring would that have been? lolol

My Libby is an actual Emotional Support dog with a unit number and badge!  I applied for it ($100) because I wanted NO trouble if I wanted to take her to various businesses while shopping.  

My Knock-Out Roses are blooming like crazy...and growing!  New leaves everywhere.

Well, that's about it for me.  Hope I didn't tire you out too much!  I try to talk less and have more photos, so you don't pass out in your chairs...lolol...but I believe I was a bit "wordy" today...sorry about that.  So, until next time...

It's Hot...and Old Dogs and New Tricks?

 Good Morning Guys... It's hot here!  Most days are between 100F (38C) to 109F (43C)!  The lawn looks like a hay field...and we can only water the lawns Wednesdays and Saturdays...not enough to keep the grass alive.  Oh well...I mainly water the plants in the pots.

I made it over to Hobby Lobby for their sale on baking goods.  I bought $104 worth of baking tools for $52!!  Fifty percent off sales on bake wares only happens once or twice a year and I walked into the store at the right time!

I used some of the new frosting tips on my cupcakes...don't laugh, gotta' start somewhere!  Anyway, it gives me something to do...how many times can I wash clothes?!

Waiting for our great granddaughter to arrive, August 9th is the due date...can't wait!  It's also my birthday...Larry's mom died on my birthday back in 2018...Hopefully, Sloane will arrive on that date, wiping out all the bad juju...

The shower went off without a hitch...loads of her friends showed up for the fun.  I stopped counting after fifty...I swear!  I knew maybe three people!!  When did that happen?  Oh well...The life of a Crone moves forward.

Played around with my Cricut Maker3...novice here!  Made a cake topper but decided it didn't work so I went with a bought one.  Larry made Sloane's name (out of wood) to decorate the food table.  I think he did a great job.

Well, that's about it for me...Hope you all are having a sweet and peaceful weekend.  

Samantha

Hubby Larry hard at it...lol

Samantha and stepdad, Tim... real Dad, as far as we're concerned!  He's an amazing Dad.

Soon to be grandmother, daughter Crystal with her daughter, Sam.

Those kolaches were wonderful...sausage and cheese.

Sam...

Sam with a few of her friends...

The cake I made...really disappointed.  It was another hot and sultry day...the venue was warm...and things started to melt.  I didn't like the Swiss Meringue frosting I used, anyway.  We got to the shower early to help set up and nothing got going until several hours later!  

I didn't care by then...Sam had a good time and that's all that mattered.

Stay well and safe...