Wandering through life

Well, Hello Again! I have some silly stuff at the bottom to amuse yourselves with. Just hangin' out today, recovering from yesterday! Mom and I went to town, determined to get some things accomplished... and we did!  LOL

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Don't you just hate it when you forget what you were going to say? This morning I had a whole wonderful blog written in my head.. then a couple of phone calls, mopped the kitchen floor, had lunch.. and *poof* get here and nothing in the old brain but cobwebs!! 

 Well, I know I was going to tell you about  a couple of great blogs to go see.. Jaleen's blog.. she's a lovely young Christian South African woman living in Saudi Arabia with her husband and their two adorable young sons! LOTS of challenges in that statement! She's beautiful, and those kids are gorgeous! She has some powerful posts. Then there's Shirley. She's a homemaker from Ohio! She has some very funny stuff, and a couple of days back, one of the funniest things I've seen lately! "The Middle Wife".. Too cute! Especially with all of us thinking about birth with Aimee having Chuck a couple of days ago!!!! Jaxton Gauge Archer born 7/22/08 @ 7:27pm was 7lbs 4.5oz and 19 3/4" long...YEA!! Congratulations, Aimee and Kenny! Can't wait to see the pictures.  .

Well, I hope you all are behaving... but get back here and blog! You need to entertain me better!  It's hot here, and getting hotter!! It's only about 93 with a heat index of 110!!! Well, to sign off, here's a couple of games to divert yourselves with. 

OH!! Here's a little video to amuse you, too! Somebody I think is kinda cute. 

Get your own name Acronym

Have you ever seen that movie?  Some mornings I just want to spread my arms and yell "GOOD MORNING SPACES!!!" in a Robin Williams voice!  LOL Don't know why... I just get it caught in my head sometimes! How is everyone? Not much blogging been going on around here lately. Everyone's off doing things, I guess. I've been fighting some illness.. Sinus infection, allergies, heart issues, just irritating stuff. Makes sleep fitful, then you feel like you're dragging the rest of the day! I've gotten myself turned around, so I'm up most of the night, and napping during the day! I've always been kind of a nightowl, so it's not all that unusual for me.. But this is getting ridiculous!LOL

But, we're getting to the time of year I LOVE! Fresh veggie time!! My bff's dad is keeping us in fresh squash, tomatoes, radishes, onions, cucumbers (yuck), etc.. what he can keep from the deer! They get used to everything he tries. I'm going to call the Tulsa Zoo and see if we can get lion umm... litter to put around the garden. I've heard that will keep them out. Last year, a radio did the trick, but this year, they're on to that. And fluttering pie plates and aluminum foil only lasted a few weeks... Anybody got any suggestions??

I love this time of year. I LOVE fresh veggies.. I have a huge pot of green beans and new potatoes going now. I wish we had a good farmer's market around here, but we don't... I don't even know of one in Tulsa! You'd think in rural areas, there'd be lots, but you'd be wrong. We used to have a lot, but people just don't do it as much anymore.  I need to get a freezer to put in my storage building so I can freeze some summertime to use in winter time! And I need to get busy canning, although most produce can be frozen very well. We may make apple butter again this year. My bff and I did that a few years ago, and had a blast! And the best apple butter ever! We're considering it, now. She doesn't have as much time off as she used to, so she wants to think about it! I may do a small run on my own...

Well, I think I've run out of blabbering for today! Hope everyone gets more talkative this week!!

I just realized, the other day, that I missed my 2 year Blogaversary a couple of weeks ago!!! I can't believe I forgot it, but it was right around the time I got fried by lightening! So.. happy Blogaversary to me!! I'm so glad I've "met" you all. Some have turned out to be really good friends. And I even got to meet one!! Stephanie's posts on her trip down Route 66 with her daughters are wonderful! I've learned lots about the "mother road"! And she and her girls were so sweet and fun to meet.

So.. I got tagged  by Willow! Go visit her and bother her... she always has FABULOUS music going! I know you all are dying to know even more about me! Like I don't tell everything I know, anyway!!

Each person posts the rules before their list,
then lists 8 things about themselves.
At the end of the post, that person tags
and links to 8 other people and then
visits those peoples' spaces and comments
letting them know that they have been tagged, and to come and read the post,
so they know what they have to do.

1. I love God with everything in me..

2. I am VERY easily amused.. usually a little  "slap-happy". Nope, I'm not on any drugs to do it!!LOL 

3. I love looking at people's old family pictures, even if I don't know anyone.

4. I love watching toddlers interacting with the world. They are so intent on each thing.

5. My family is very important to me. We have spats and act like idiots, sometimes, but we all enjoy one another, and enjoy spending time together and playing games.

6. I love DisneyWorld. It's one of the most fun places on earth!!

7. I lived in Florida for 8 years. Moved back 8 years ago.

8. I love horses, riding and watching.

I've decided not to tag anyone. Everyone just do it on your space! If you don't, I'll tag you, so do it!!!

I finally got my baby back from the computer hospital!! It was very stressful having her in the hospital so long. Evidently lots of people got fried the same night I did, and the repair guy has been swamped. I have been soooo busy, and I have LOTS to talk about today! So, go get a snack and sit back and let's talk!

Well, I got to meet one of my fellow bloggers! Stephanie!! She and her three girls are following the mother road this summer.. Route 66!! A fairly long stretch of it runs within 1/2 hour of me. I've driven it and lived near it my whole life! So, we arranged to meet on one section of my road, at Clanton's restaurant in Vinita. They were a little late, which was not a problem.. too many great things to see in the area! I told her I wished they had an extra day to see all the things in our neck of the woods! Anyway, we had a delightful lunch, and she and her girls are wonderful. And, I must say, her girls are a welcome change from a lot of kids today. They were well-behaved and patient, and didn't constantly interrupt, wanting her attention. Such a refreshing difference from a lot of kids today. They are, however, beautiful, so I'm sure she and her husband will need a BIG shotgun to keep the boys away! I'm so glad we made time to meet!

I got to stay a couple of days in the nearest Small town. My bff was on vacation, and she and her dad needed to go to Texas to see a relative that was ill.. So, I went in and dog-sat a couple of days, and washed blankets in her large washer and dryer! Tuckered myself out!LOL

OK.. you all have to see the latest trick of Miss Maddie.. Jenn has posted a video of Maddie on her myspace, which is public. So, if you want to see what amuses us, go watch her amazing talents!!LOL That talent, and her razzberries kept us in stitches all weekend!

You should have been here for our Fourth of July celebration!! We had Miss Maddie and her parents, my bro's ex (the girl's mom), Mary, and Jenn's bff, her husband and their 15 month old son, Aiden..  the cutest little boy ever! We swam, had fun, played with the kids, and in the afternoon, we always sit on the deck and have "happy hour". It may start by 4 if the kids are really hungry.. Mom puts out a few dips and anything she has come up with for finger food, just to keep everyone going til we had grilled chicken for dinner. Everyone gets a beer, or drink, or soda or whatever, and we just sit around and visit, catch up on what's happening, and just enjoy each other. We've done this since I was a kid, and it's one of the things all the girls love about Grandma's. All the grandkids talk about "happy hour" whenever they talk about fun at the lake. (Grandpa always makes the little ones a special "drink", too.. it's sprite  with a couple of cherries in it.) It's a time when the children really are part of the conversation (and the entertainment!), and they love it. Anyway, we were all sitting there visiting, when my brother called, from California. He talked to Mary (his youngest) for a few minutes, then told her to get Grandma on. Kind of ticked her off,as she was in the process of trying to schmooz him into buying her a car! But she gave the phone to Grandma. They're talking, when I felt someone walk up behind me. I turned to look, and it was my bro! He walked around in front of Mom, still talking. She looked up, looked at the phone, screamed and threw the phone, and jumped up to hug him! He and his wife had decided to surprise everyone and fly in for the weekend!It took all of us a minute to respond! And it was hard on those that could see him walking down the porch to keep their faces straight so Grandma wouldn't know til he got to her! What can I say.. we may be lame, but we enjoy ourselves! And we had three big fireworks shows on the lake, two of which we could see from our deck! How's that for service?

And the fun never ends.. Monday, after bidding John and Rosanna good-bye, Mom and I had a board meeting at 3, then we had to decorate the firehouse for the meeting that night, which was a Crisis Line speaker, and open to the public. Every month, two or three different members provide the refreshments for the meeting, and a little decorating. Nothing too elaborate, (unless you're my mother) just mainly on the serving table. Since it is July, we decorated for the Fourth, (of course)

and every July (for years) Mom and whoever, (her bff, and now me) have provided root beer floats for the refreshments. Now everyone looks forward to them, and won't let us stop! So, we ended up making about 35 root beer floats!!! Then we had to clean it all up! Luckily, our members are always very helpful, and it never takes long to clean up. But, after the weekend we had, we were tired!

Well, I guess I've caught you all up on the latest boring details of my life!! At least I enjoy myself! I'll get around and catch up.. don't hate me if I comment on old posts. The laptop I was using was great to be able to read, but it uses Win 98. Now I remember why XP seemed so great in comparison! For some reason, it didn't want to comment in Spaces! It had less problem with blogspot, etc., but in spaces, it took forever, stalled, hiccuped, anything.. I lost patience many times, and decided I didn't need to comment that badly.. sorry. But, I'm up and going now!!

Well, it's Friday!! And Friday, the 13th to boot!!  Now, this means very little to me, but to those of you that work Monday to Friday, it's great!! And I remember loving Friday! Although, as a nurse, I rarely had every weekend completely off in my career.. as a matter of fact, I can't remember.. yep.. there was one job.. as an HIV case manager that I had no duties on weekends and holidays.. But.. most of my career, I worked at least every third weekend. And, I really recommend it! Other than the fact that NO ONE else is ever on the same schedule..lol.. it really is nice to have days off during the week every week.. You can plan appointments, chores that must be done during the week, volunteer to do something with the children's class at school. I went in and assisted Morgan's teacher sometimes.. or just went and had lunch with her! She loved it! (when she was little.. ) And Friday the 13th has always been my blessed day!! I refuse to accept superstition. So, I expect to be blessed on days that the superstitious say I should be scared! I love full moons, etc. Anyway.. it's been a good day!

And this weekend is just MONSTROUSLY busy for me!! Jenn's father-in-law will be here to visit from Canada, so little Miss Maddie will be up to visit!! It's also time for our...

10th ANNUAL LUAU!!!! er.. BARBEQUE!!! The Auxiliary has had an annual luau for 9 years (obviously). But, since it is Flag Day, we decided that was getting old, anyway, so we changed it! We're that way, you know. One of our "weekender" Island residents is the founder/owner of a wonderful barbeque sauce company, here in Oklahoma. Every year he donates the meat for this event, and he and his son bring their HUGE charcoal grill/smoker, and cook all this meat for our function! We have boneless beef ribs (YUM), chicken breasts or pork loin, and a special sausage he makes, that comes in rolls, kind of like a pork loin does.. it is to kill for, after it's been smoked!! Yes, Jane, we even smoke sausages here!! We make baked beans, potato salad, iced tea, lemonade, coffee, and DESSERTS!! We usually serve around 200 people! So, I'm sure I'll be totally wiped out by Saturday night! Then Sunday morning, early (sob), we'll meet for breakfast for Father's Day for Maddie's Grandpa on her Dad's side, her Daddy, and her Great Grandpa on her Momma's side!! We all just love Jenn's father-in-law, so we'll do stuff with them all weekend.

So everyone celebrate Father's Day! My friend, Dory, is posting people's Father's Day posts this week and weekend, and has one of mine to post.. I'm not sure when. She did this in May for Mother's Day, too! So, go read people's stories for Father's Day! And all of you fathers.. Happy Father's Day!!!

Hidey ho!! Hope everyone is well this week. I'm feeling better, and am busy planting stuff. I'm growing tomatoes and planting some fall bulbs. I got some saffron crocus' bulbs. They are the ones you get saffron spice threads from. They are one crocus that blooms in the fall. I'm trying them.. I love saffron rice, but saffron is one of the most expensive spices in the world. When I went to Russia a while ago, I found some in Georgia(USSR) for only $20 for a small packet of threads.. and that was cheap! So, I'm going to try growing my own! We'll see how this goes. I'm not known for my growing abilities!! I just hope my tomatoes do well again.. I LOVE fresh tomatoes. I love planting and gardening. I think it's a throwback to playing in the mud! My mother and brother got all the green thumbs in this family.. they can grow anything.. Dad and I are just the brute labor, most of the time.. We're not known for our ability to grow things. Fortunately, I can take stuff to Mom for her to heal it and make it thrive!! Several of the things I've taken to her for her to "fix", she just kept! So, I have plants, they just live at mom's house! So, we'll see how it goes!

Well the drama in Florida continues, but without me. M is actually doing well, being out of the house... so this may be the best thing. Maybe a cool down period.. But, I have withdrawn from the field.. can't stand the "did you say this".. and " she said, he said, they said" nonsense. You end up chasing the truth and never find it.. 

And, I think I will share "Butt Dust" today. I guess I just want a very long post today.. What, you ask, is "Butt Dust"?
Read on and you'll discover the joy in a child's sincere originality. No adult is this creative!!
JACK (age 3) was watching his Mom breast-feeding his new baby sister. After a while he asked: "Mom why have you got two? Is one for hot and one for cold milk?"
MELANIE (age 5) asked her Granny how old she was. Granny replied she was so old she didn't remember any more. Melanie said, "If you don't remember you must look in the back of your panties. Mine say five to six ."
STEVEN (age 3) hugged and kissed his Mom good night. "I love you so much that when you die I'm going to bury you outside my bedroom window."
BRITTANY (age 4) had an earache and wanted a pain killer. She tried in vain to take the lid off the bottle. Seeing her frustration, her Mom explained it was a child-proof cap and she'd have to open it for her. Eyes wide with wonder, the little girl asked: "How does it know it's me?"
SUSAN(age 4) was drinking juice when she got the hiccups. "Please don't give me this juice again," she said, "It makes my teeth cough."
DJ (age 4) stepped onto the bathroom scale and asked: "How much do I cost?"
MARC (age 4) was engrossed in a young couple that were hugging and kissing in a restaurant. Without taking his eyes off them, he asked his dad: "Why is he whispering in her mouth?"
CLINTON(age 5) was in his bedroom looking worried. When his Mom asked what was troubling him, he replied, "I don't know what'll happen with this bed when I get married. How will my wife fit in?"
JAMES(age 4) was listening to a Bible story. His dad read: "The man named Lot was warned to take his wife and flee out of the city but his wife looked back and was turned to salt." Concerned, James asked: "What happened to the flea?"
TAMMY(age 4) was with her mother when they met an elderly , rather wrinkled woman her Mom knew. Tammy looked at her for a while and then asked, "Why doesn't your skin fit your face?"
The Sunday Sermon I think this Mom will never forget..."Dear Lord," the minister began, with arms extended toward heaven and a rapturous look on his upturned face. "Without you, we are but dust..." He would have continued but at that moment my very obedient daughter leaned over to me and asked quite audibly in her shrill little four year old girl voice, "Mom, what is butt dust?

And, finally, I ummm "borrowed" this from Gail's space, to remind us of the reason for this weekend holiday.. Please honor all veterans and active service people in any way you can. Pay for their meal in a restaurant, anonymously, pay for their tank of gas, thank them, whatever you can do..

DEFINITION OF A VETERAN

A veteran - whether active duty, retired, national guard or reserve - is someone who, at one point in their life, wrote a blank check made payable to "The United States of America", for an amount of "up to and including my life." 

That is Honor...

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