Saturday, November 30, 2013

Catch Up

Greetings!

It's been a week since I posted, Thanksgiving has come and gone, and that other holiday is just around the corner!  I am still focused on Thanksgiving however.


These are a bunch of wild turkeys (taken through a screen door) that used to come in our back yard all the time when we lived in Missouri.  I remember the first time I saw them, how excited I was!  I'm an ex-city girl, remember??   I did feel sorry for them though, hoping they wouldn't end up on someone's table on Thanksgiving! 


Oh yeah, this is a better picture!  I can remember our little Calico cat creeping up on them like she was going to make a big kill!  It was amusing to watch.

We spent this Thanksgiving with our friends Kathy and John again.  This is our 3rd year in a row.  I think it has become a tradition now!  Kathy loves to cook and so who am I to turn them down?  Besides, none of us have any other family in Oklahoma, so it's kind of a "misfit" dinner.  Ha!  This year there were 7 of us "misfits", and the dinner was supurb; I told Kat she had outdone herself this year.  We had turkey, meatballs, mashed potatoes and gravy, sweet potatoes, dressing, mixed vegetabless, cold slaw, brussel sprouts from my garden fixed with bacon and garlic, 2 kinds of sliced cucumbers, deviled eggs, homemade cranberry sauce, hot rolls and about 6 different kinds of pies and desserts!  I may have missed something, but you get the gist of it!

And I ate most everything without guilt, even though I've started my Lipitor for cholesterol.......bad timing on the doctor's part!  ha  All in all, we had a great dinner and afternoon, visiting with new friends - a young married couple, the girl from San Diego - and old ones, and giving thanks for our blessings.  Wonder what Christmas dinner will bring??????

I hope you all had an equally fine Thanksgiving.   Until next time, take care.

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Wheels ~ A Fine Ride

Greetings!

Since I've been having trouble with my legs and hips and back, and can't walk like I used to, I decided I needed something to get around the "grounds" with.  And what could be better than a GAS powered golf cart?!


 
 

 
 
I found the ad on Craigs list and we went for it.  It involved about a 70 mile, one way, trip, but we saw lots of new countryside and had an enjoyable drive.  The cart was being sold by 2 teenage brothers who now want to buy a pickup!  I got $100 off the asking price and about 1/2 tank of gas in the deal, so not too bad.  It even has a "hitch" so I can pull my garden wagon behind for when I'm policing the litter on our roads, or picking up branches, etc. in the yard.  So far I've ridden it up to the mailbox a couple of times and around the yard.  It's really been too cold out to go "cruising"! 
 
So, if you're having trouble getting around like you used to, consider getting a gas golf cart!
 
I love it!   Until next time, take care.

Monday, November 11, 2013

Laughter in the Kitchen

Greetings!

Happy Veterans Day to all those brave men and women who have served and are serving in our country's armed forces.  They are truly the most unselfish persons we will ever know; putting their lives in harms way to ensure our freedom!  I pray God will keep them safe.

Now, I want to share a good laugh with you.  Some time back I decided that making a full fledged cake was way too much for my husband and I, so I bought a couple of Jiffy cake mixes.  I thought a half a cake (or less)  would be just right; save us from eating cake for a week or more, not to mention all the calories.  

So the other day I decided to make one of those little devils!  And here it is!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 
Now just in case you can't tell how "big" it is, check out the next picture!
 



I baked it in an 8 x 8 pan, so obviously it should have been thicker than that!  I'm telling you, we laughed so hard it hurt.

My advice is to check the expiration date on the box before you make one!  This one had expired more than a year ago, and it's no secret the leavening agents were kaput!

So we got brave, put some chocolate frosting on it, and had a "thin" piece.  Then it went into the garbage!  LOL LOL LOL  Oh well, it's always fun to have a good laugh!!

Until next time, take care.

Monday, November 4, 2013

Color Day

Greetings!

The other day I took my camera and went crazy taking pictures of the Fall colors.  But much to my dismay, the colors don't come out as bright and vivid in a picture as they do to the naked eye.  I suppose if I had an expensive camera they would, but my little point and shoot does what it can.


This is practically sitting at our driveway, looking down the STEEP hill and up the other side steep hill!  And down in the bottom, in the flat part, is Winter's Holler.  Our friend Bill lives in the holler, on the left, just passed the puddle you see, and raises "show chickens".  He supplied us with hens for egg laying at one point; has chickens running loose all over his place!  Anyway, the colors at the Holler are pretty bright and beautiful!



The three trees in gold and orange are in a pasture we pass on our way to Webbers Falls/Gore/I40 area.  They were beautiful also.


 
This great display of the reds is at the end of our driveway.  Mostly Sumac, and they provide the best red color in all the areas.
 
So, I have more but don't want to bore you.  We need to move on and start thinking about the big Thanksgiving feast!  Our friends Kathy and John invited us to their house for the feast -- this will be the 3rd year in a row we have gone there.  It is so nice to have friends like them (no blood family around) when you don't have blood family around, and there are always others there who have no family also.  Gives you the true meaning of Thanksgiving in my opinion.  And we always have more food than is necessary!  :)  Love it.
 
I know my children and grandchildren will have a big get-together and I wish them a grand time.
 
Until next time, take care.

Monday, October 28, 2013

Special Day

Greetings!

Today is my favorite #2 daughter's birthday!  She is 48 today; and catches up with her older sister who is also 48 (until November 27th)!  How's that for being busy?  :)

I wish I had a picture of her, but alas, I haven't got one that's on the computer, and I'm not savvy enough to know how to copy one from the old "snapshot" kind.  I'll just say she is a very beautiful young woman, with a great figure - still, after having 5 children , lovely dark brown hair (I wonder if there is any gray in it yet?) a great Mother, a hard worker, and a health food and exercise nut!  (She doesn't get that from her Mother!)

I love you dearly my Karen, and I salute you with this post.  I hope you continue to do well in life.

Until next time..................

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

My Day

Greetings!

This is my day to be egotistical!  Today I am 69 years old; or young, however you want to look at it!
I had a grand day, with 12 or more Birthday Wishes from friends and family on Facebook, and a telephone call from my #2 daughter.  That was a real treat, as we don't talk much on the phone any more.  AND, I had an early supper in Muskogee at the Rib Crib, one of our favorite places.  I had deep fried shrimp and pulled pork, with seasoned fries and cold slaw and iced tea;  it was/is my favorite meal there. 

The only sad part is I didn't make myself a birthday cake, so there will be no cake and ice cream tonight!  I do have some ice cream cups I could have with an animal cracker though!  :)  Oh!  One cool thing I did this morning was look through my Baby Book.  I found all sorts of old pictures of me from about 2 on up; one with my Grandma and Grandpa, which I dearly love; one with Santa Clause; and one sitting on a stuffed horse!  Also found that I was born at 6:16 p.m. on a Sunday (1944)


On the way home I stopped and took these pictures.  Someone did a bunch of clearing and brought these places in to view and I just love them.

 
This building is tin, with some concrete and electricity inside.  I have no clue what it was used for.
 


 
This building was a barn I'm sure, well worn and weathered.  These building were all covered with trees and underbrush up until a month or so ago.   So good job of clearing to whom ever!

So, that's the end of my special day.  I hope I have many more, but next year will be a big one for me!
And I thank God for giving me these years and all the blessings I have.

Until next time, take care.

Saturday, October 12, 2013

Just More Stuff

Greetings!

Well, I found the pictures I was looking for to put in my last post!  So here they are, and I'll say Welcome October again!


I know the shadows are bad and it's hard to tell what these are, but one is a witch (on left) and the other is a ghost!  I saw these cute little things in Dollar General for $1 each and couldn't resist!
 


That's the extent of my Halloween decorations!  Like, no one will see them anyway!!  LOL

Oh, and last post I did pics of my new Jeep; and now I have a pic of my new Jeep and my Old Jeep.  Which I kind of gave to hubby, but still enjoy our fair weather rides!  The "old Jeep" is a 1974 CJ 5, and we had the engine rebuilt this summer and new brakes and what with the other things already done, it should keep running for another 40 years!


 
 

 
 
A week or so ago we took a little road trip to Porter, OK to an Apple Orchard (and peaches too).  For 4 years I have been concerned that I never see an apple tree in a yard!  Coming from Washington state where apples are a main crop, it was hard for me to accept.  So I went on line and found some apple orchards.  This one was very nice, with a huge "market" area and mazes and stuff for kids.  I bought (I think) a 1/2 peck of Ruby-Jon apples - a sweet/tart apple, a 1/4 peck of peaches - the last picking, some onions, a cantelope, and a bottle of Honey Mustard dressing.
 

 
 


 

 

 
 
Well, the peaches are gone - husband ate them; the cantelope is gone, the onions are gone and with a few apples I had on hand, I froze enough for 3 apple cakes and 1 pie.  Pretty sad..........but it was a fun day trip and only cost $18 at the orchard; we stopped at Golden Corral for early supper on the way home.   And speaking of restaurants!  We found out that 2 of our favorites succumbed to fire!  The Rib Crib will open again soon, and our Mexican place is moving across the street from the old place,  and will open when redocorating is done!  We love to go out to eat as you can tell!
 
I also went to an art show in Checotah, where my friend Kathy was showing some of her art work.  That was very interesting; all kinds of photography, oil paintings, jewelry, wall hangings, etc.  She got orders to make some of her items -- kind of custom work I guess you would say.   So it was a good thing.  And, I went to my friend Judy's sister's funeral this past week.  That was a sad thing, but also a good thing.  Jo, the sister, had cancer of the pancreas and the journey was not long.  She was/is a strong Christian and I admire her handling of the situation.
 
Now, I think that brings my life up to date!  One more thing; I found this quote that I really, really like:  "I'm not where I need to be, but thank God I'm not where I used to be!"
 
Have a great weekend and I'll see you next time................

Saturday, October 5, 2013

Welcome October!

Greetings!

Dang!  The pictures I wanted to post first I can't find!  I download them from my camera, name them, and then apparently don't name them good enough because I can't find them!  I know they are with other things, but can't remember what other things!  Oh well, they'll  pop up one of these days!  :)

In the meantime, we welcomed October with a new-to-us car; a 2011 Jeep Patriot.  I really like it, but it is much smaller than my old mini van and is white!  (I don't particularly like white vehicles)  I am still getting used to driving it, and I'm sure when the first payment is due in November I'll have second thoughts!!  It's been 4+ years with no payments and now we have to start all over again!  But, the poor old mini van - cira 2002 - was going down hill electronically, physically, etc. so we do what we have to do..............







I'm sure I'll learn to love this one as much as I did my van........just takes time..........

October is one of my favorite months -- the other being November.  I love the changing of the weather and the leaves, and the fall garden/fruit goodies, seeing the Persimmon trees loaded, the Walking Sticks on my windows, etc.  And last but not least, it is the month I will have a birthday in!  Yep, on the 22nd of October I will turn 69.  Maybe that number is what makes me gather these quotes:

"Do not regret growing older.  It is a privilege denied to many." ~ Unknown
"Old age isn't so bad when you consider the alternative." ~ Maurice Chevalier

And my favorite so far:  "Sometimes I think it would be easier to avoid old age, to die young, but then you'd never complete your life, would you?  You'd never wholly know you."   Any ideas what blond said that????    Ready?   ~~  Marilyn Monroe!

I think I hear a piece of fresh apple/pecan cake calling my name.  Have a good rest of the weekend.  Until next time, take care.

Thursday, September 26, 2013

Marvelous Monday

Greetings!

I remember the days when the thought of a Monday ruined my Sunday!  That was pre-retirement times...........This past Monday was so enjoyable I wish there could be more like it!  We started out with a trip to "town" (pop. 900) to take the "kids" to the Vet.


This is Patch, the Border Collie big brother of the two.  He had to go in to get his Rabies booster for the year.  He took it like a champ, as usual.  The weigh in didn't really go in his favor though - 69 pounds - and told us he needs to lose a few!  Right..............


 
 
This is Salli, the Blue Heeler Mix little sister.  She had to have some staples taken out below her eye and next to her lower lip.  We've been going to the Vet for months trying to figure out what is causing the infection and excessive scratching, etc. with no results.  So she had some biopsies done, hence the staple stitches.  And come to find out, it's all caused by allergies of some kind.  And I cannot afford to have any more testing done so we will just take it as it comes.  I'm sure when the steroids are done she will be back to scratching up a storm!   sigh  I'm sure it is something she eats outside since the "signs" show up around her mouth and face.  It's tough being a canine Mom!
 
Anyway, after leaving the Vet we stopped at the Webbers Falls Park on the Arkansas River and let them romp a bit.  Patch even went in the river to retrieve a stick and did some swimming!   Salli wasn't about to go in the water so she just watched.  It was a beautiful, warm day though, and the river was beautiful.  Wish I'd taken my camera! 
 
After leaving there we stopped by Burger King and got us each an ice cream cone, with a dish of it for the "kids".  Boy were they lapping that up!   Now, what did I say about the weigh in??  lol

It sure proves that it's the little things in life that make it all worth while!  Until next time, take care.

Friday, September 20, 2013

Fall Things

Greetings!

Another week has passed!  It seems everytime I plan to write more than once a week, I don't make it!  Oh well, what's a few days here or there?!  When you are retired one day is like the next anyway!  It's a grand thing.



I couldn't resist taking this picture of the leaves that have fallen from the little oak tree.  This is kind of my view from the computer room window, and I love watching the leaves "rain" down on a gentle breeze!  I'm sure the other trees will follow suit soon.  My friend Kathy said the leaves are coming down because of the drought;  I said it is because it is Fall, and they are!  Besides, they say our drought is over...............  It was nice to see green grass and fields all summer for a change.  And farmers/ranchers have mown hay fields at least twice, if not 3 times, already this year and I bet they could get one more haying out of it!

 
Can you tell what these are?  It's our first experience growing them! 
 






The question is:  How do you know when to pick them?

 


I'm thinking when the big leaves turn brown and fall off then you can pick them.  Anyone know if that's right?



All those black dots at the end of the leave stems will turn in to brussell sprouts like the others......I think!  Or would if there was enough time.  If anyone knows when to harvest please let me know!!

I've only seen these growing once in my lifetime, and the lady was picking them in December.  BUT, that was in Washington State, and the climate is very different than here in Oklahoma, so maybe the harvest time is different too.  At any rate, it was a fun thing to watch grow this summer, and I hope we get to eat some of them!

I'm done for this time.  Oh, to my blogging friend Doris, Grammy of 16 now?  I don't know that one is ever "done" with their house!  :)  But in general, it is what it is! and what it's ever going to be!   I'm getting the itch to do some painting and kitchen re-decorating though!  Glad you are home safe and sound.

Until next time, take care...............

Thursday, September 5, 2013

It's Getting Closer!

Greetings!

Here it is the 5th of September already.........the last Summer holiday is over, school has started everywhere (I assume), and people are settling down to a routine;  me, I'm just waiting for the temps to drop and the leaves to start turning so I'll know Fall has arrived!  Probably my favorite time of the year.


I took this picture 2 years ago and I still love it.  This is an area just to the left of our front yard and across the driveway.  It is my all time favorite snapshot depicting Fall.

I really don't have anything specific to post about today, just thought I'd better do something for the new month!   I've been doing "normal" housewife things this week; cleaning, laundry, vacuuming, taking care of dogs and the cat, etc.  Had to take Salli's collar off the other night as I noticed an abrasion under her chin.  I guess the collar had rubbed it raw -- too tight maybe.  This Saturday is another trip T-shirt hunting!  And hopefully the flea market will be up and running.

So, I won't bore you much longer; but I want to share this little prayer with you about why I am  Thankful To God.

               My muscles are sore, but they work.
               I did not sleep well last night, but I did wake up.
               My wallet is not full, but my belly is!
               I may not have all I want but I have all I need.
               My life is not perfect, BUT It Is Good!

I have this posted next to my computer and it is a wonderful reminder of how fortunate I am to be where and how I am!  It just makes me content, especially the last line......

Until next time, take care!

Friday, August 30, 2013

Making Ready For Getting Old(er)

Greetings!

I cannot believe it's been a week since I've posted!  Where does the time go?  And why does it go so quickly?  Perhaps it is true that the older you get, the faster time goes; kind of like when you get towards the end of the roll of toilet paper!  I'm assuming you've heard that saying before and know how it should be, because I know I didn't say it right!  :)



So, after all the "forced" buying of things last week, I decided it was time to do some "for me" buying.  I saw this perfect sized reciner on sale for cheap - $200 - and couldn't resist.  It looks pink, but in reality it is beigey tan.  It is not one of those oversized chairs, and fits my short stature perfectly.  I love it.  But now the question is what to do with "my" other chair, cause there is not room for it anymore.  It had become Salli's chair pretty much anyway, and is for now on the back porch!

 


AND, this is my new bed!  You can't tell much by the picture, except that Jax likes it too, but it is a gel and memory foam mattress.  I mean it is at least 12 inches thick if not more, and is sooooooo
comfy!  I almost need a stool to climb in.  I've been sleeping like a baby............

So I think I'm prepared to grow old-er in comfort, at least for the time being.  Had great fun shopping and going out to Chinese  supper; I highly recommend it!  Speaking of getting older:  "Don't worry about getting older; our age is merely the number of years the world has been enjoying us! "  A cute quote I saw somewhere!

I hope you all have a wonderful Labor Day weekend, if you are in to that stuff.  That's another thing about getting old-er...........one day is just like another!  We are staying home and enjoying it.  Until next time, take care.

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

It's Been Two "Of Those Days" !!

Greetings!

You know the old saying, "It's been one of those days"?  Well we've had two of those days!  I don't really know where to start, but will just jump in I guess...........who cares if its in chronological order!!


This is my laundry room, and the appliance in front is my NEW dryer, piled high with tools and stuff.  Yesterday morning I went to clean the lint filter on my old dryer and found that the lint in it was all wet!  Then I opened the dryer door and there was water inside!  I called my husband and he had no idea what could cause that, so his solution was to just go buy a new one!  So we did.
On the way to the appliance store I thought maybe if the dryer vent hose was plugged it would make the inside of the dryer wet because the water from the clothes couldn't escape.  Sounded good, but ....


So when we got home and got the new dryer installed, we noticed that the hot water heater was leaking; and it had leaked all over the floor and ground under the mobile.  All that moisture is probably what condensed in to the dryer?!  Anyway, husband had to make a trip to Lowe's (about 80 miles round trip) to buy a new water heater.  It was too late to do all the removal and installation so it all went on hold until today.



And this is our deep freeze that sits in front of the door that covers the water heater space!  So of course, it had to come out and sit in the hallway in front of the back door!  Overnight!!  Along with the cat litter box, paper trash can, outside shoe basket, etc.  And of course, since the water had to be shut off to stop the leaking, we had no water.



So here's a few of the dirty dishes stacked up!  And below are a couple of jugs of water we had on hand.  Also used for hand washing and toilet flushing and animal drinking!



So husband gets the new water heater in, has to make a run to a hardware store for some parts, gets it to stop leaking and ready for action.  But guess what?!  Our city water line had a break and so we are without water - - again!!  Somewhere around 3:30 p.m. we get water back, with hardly any pressure.  In the meantime, the water has heated and I can get the dishes done.  And somewhat later, we get a little more decent pressure!  So we are back to normal................YAY.

These last 2 days reminded me of how it was 4 years ago when we moved up here on the "hill".  I'm glad those days are over --  at least most of the time!  :)  I'm looking forward to a "normal" day tomorrow!  Until next time, take care.

Saturday, August 17, 2013

Jackpot!

Greetings!

As I sit/sat here playing Turbo 21 on Pogo, and eating grapes, I thought I should write on my blog.  Especially since I haven't done so in a few days!  So here it goes.................

The jackpot is my new stash of T-shirts!  A couple of weeks ago I went to a used clothes closet and picked them up;  25 to be exact!   Brought them home and washed them and stacked them neatly in their bin!

 

 
 
And today I went there again and got 5 more!  So, with 30 shirts to cut up into strips I figure that will take at least 60 hours of my time.  It can take any where from 2 to 3 1/2 hours to cut a shirt, depending on the size.  And the BEST part is.............they were FREE!  And maybe, just maybe, I will get 2  rugs out of them.  Not big ones, but nice little throw rugs.
 
The closet is run by a church and is open the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of each month.  When I told them what I was looking for, they were glad because they had an over-abundance of men's T-shirts!  So it worked out for both of us.   I also got a pair of summer shoes today.  They have about 1 1/2 inch heels and are real comfy!


 
 
Oh, almost forgot. .....  This is my current project, a rug for in front of the kitchen sink.  It's just about done.  Then I suppose I have to start cutting........................................  :(
 



Well, the fixin's for my potato salad are waiting to be made up, so guess I'd better go start chopping.  Have a great weekend.  Until next time, take care.

Sunday, August 11, 2013

The Smells of Summer

Greetings!

Today is going to be kind of a mish-mash of things.  Things I've been thinking and doing and enjoying!  So here goes...............

The first is the smell of the new cut hay as it lays in the fields for a couple of days, waiting to be rolled into a huge bale!  I love driving down the country dirt roads and smelling the hay, and seeing all the well manicured hay fields when it's all done.  It seems the haying has been going on since Spring.   Last year there wasn't enough hay, and this year we seem to have an abundance; all due to the weather!

 

 
The next picture is of a rather large pond or lake, where people were always fishing.  It was a really nice place alongside a country gravel road.  You notice I say "was" ?   Well apparently it was on some Cherokee land and they decided to do something in that area, and the pond was completely filled in!  You would never know it existed.  I'm thinking, how sad..............


 
There are no trees, no water, no grass................nothing but a hill of dirt going back and up to the right.  Is this progress???
 

The next picture is for my children, in case they have forgotten what their Mother looks like.  BUT, this was last summer and I have curly hair now!  :)



My girls live 2000 miles away and we don't see each other very often!  The horrible muumuu sure does a good job of covering up the "love handles" doesn't it???

I was in a cleaning mood not too long ago and bought some new bleach cleaner at the store and tried it out on my backsplash in the kitchen.  Boy is it good stuff!  I used it and one of those sponge/scratcher type things and now it shines like new.  Took off all the grease splatters and dirt and grime accumulated over a time.  Even cleaned the gas range, knobs and all!  I think there is nothing better to clean with than a bleach/water mixture.  So that mood has passed for a while!

Husband had his 63rd birthday the last day of July, and as is our tradition, we went out to dinner to the place of his choice.  He picked a new place (to us) in Muskogee called Mahylon's.  It's a BBQ/Smoke place and was quite good.  He had the 3 meat platter - brisket, ribs and pork - and was full and happy at the end.  We had cake at home after digesting on the way home, which is about 35-40 miles.  All in all, it was a good outing and he really doesn't look a day older.  Except, one day recently he shaved off his beard that he has had practically the whole time we've been married.  Now that made him look older!  Showed where a lot of the weight he has gained went!  He is in the process of growing it back!  :)

We have a new preacher at church, and I love him.  It seems to me each sermon he preaches is better than the last!  And after church today we had our monthly dinner.  It was baked potatoes with all the trimmings and then some, chicken, home made soups and salads and tons of desserts.  We do this the 2nd Sunday of each month, and it is great; not only to eat and not have to cook that day at home, but for the fellowship that occurs.  I love it!

And on that note, I think I will give my fingers and brain a rest.  Hope you have a good week, and until next time, take care.