Junkyardcats Cage

Oops There Goes Another Rubber Tree Plant

2011-07-02T21:27:00.000-07:00

Every morning, I sit outside on the back porch while I have my first cup of coffee...to hear the birds sing and watch the wildlife wandering around sleepy eyed looking for their breakfast.

This morning, I sat in my chair and put my bare feet down on the concrete, and I felt something wiggling against my toe. I looked down and it was a tiny lizard tail wiggling around (I must've scared the lizard when I put my foot down and he dropped his tail). I watched it wiggle around for awhile, then noticed a lone ant crawling over to look at it. He stared at it for awhile, then decided to try to move it by himself. He lifted and pushed and shoved...but it wouldn't budge. Finally he gave up (or so I thought) and headed back to the ant bed. Suddenly I saw a trail of ants heading back to the tail and realized that lone ant had gone back to the bed to call in the troops:) They gathered around the tail and it didn't take long before they started marching it back to the bed for breakfast. Teamwork!

I started thinking about it...and it makes sense. Instead of trying to face obstacles alone, more of us should ask for help. It's hard to face things alone..but with a network of friends or family, anything can be accomplished. All we have to do is suck it up and ask! For the rest of the day, I had the song Rubber Tree Plant in my head....oops there goes another rubber tree plant.

Saying Goodbye To An Old Friend

2010-11-07T19:57:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow, November 8, 2010, I will be saying goodbye to a dear old friend. She has been with me for the first 45 years of my life. She was with me when I learned to walk..enabled me to ride bikes, roller skate, skip rope, and play basketball when I was growing up. She was there to help me carry my baby around when I became a young woman..there for me when I had to climb 3 flights of stairs to go to work every day..there to help me garden, putter around my yard enjoying nature, etc. as I became a middle aged woman. While she did complain once in awhile and needed some extra help once in awhile, she never failed me...until a year ago, when she decided "enough is enough, I'm ready to go". I kept her as long as I could, but Monday morning, her life comes to an end. It seems like a sad ending for such a loyal friend..discarded in a medical waste bin. I feel like I should have a funeral...

Good Old Friend. I will miss you. Thank you, right knee, for being loyal to the very end....

Welcome To My Blog

2010-11-07T19:50:00.000-08:00

A big welcome to those of you that are just discovering my blog:) I haven't written in awhile, but I am about to get back into it. I am having TKR (Total Knee Replacement) on my right leg tomorrow, so for awhile, I will be blogging my progress, thoughts, etc.

For those of you that know me and have followed my blogs, you know that I may not always write of fluffy kittens and cute puppy dogs. Sometimes I get deep, sometimes I get on my soapbox and bitch and moan. Most of the time I write of good things though.

For those new to the blog, a word of warning. I don't sugarcoat life, so IF you come across something you don't like, please don't be offended..just skip over it. I don't write to offend anyone, but I do write whatever I feel. I Yam What I Yam, LOL:)

Feel free to comment on any of my blogs..I love your input.

Until next time...

If You Love Life, Life Will Love You Back....

The Soundtrack Of Our Lives

2010-01-26T15:36:00.000-08:00

When Bill and I were dating in the early 80's, one of our favorite things to do (besides the obvious, LOL) was get in the old Mustang, crank up the music, and cruise. Bill recently bought himself a 1969 Fastback and I've been downloading some cruising music for him and we started talking about what music means to us. It turns out we have totally different views of what it means..I like his way of looking at it better than mine.

When I hear songs, it brings back memories of sitting in my beanbag in my room, the blacklight shining on the cool psychedlic posters on my wall, and the music cranked up on the old stereo as loud as my parents can stand it. I could kick back for hours and just jam! I also remember my friends and I calling KMMK radio over and over to request songs. The DJ (I THINK his name was John Ricoh) got so used to us calling he started putting us on the radio pretty often.

When Bill hears music, almost every song brings back a memory of when he first heard it or where he heard it most often. For example, Fire Lake by Bob Segar brings back the memory of driving down the dirt road heading towards the Rock Pit...his girl (me) by his side and a friend sitting in the back seat. Some songs he remembers hearing when he was sitting out in his favorite spot in the field when he was younger, listening to them on the transistor radio with his friends. I love to play the songs from our past and hear him tell a story or memory about each one....

My Quest For The Blue Ribbon

2009-10-05T19:21:00.000-07:00

In case you don't know by now, I really love photography. I mean I really, really, really LOVE photography, LOL. I've been snapping away ever since I got my new camera almost 2 years ago and have been lucky enough to capture some great shots if I do say so myself:) I got this bright idea to enter some photos in the Titus County Fair at almost the last minute. I read the rules and it said the photos had to be mounted on mat board. I didn't even know what mat board was, much less where to get it! Found out what it was and the hunt was on. Living in a small town has its disadvantages..everybody and their dogs must've had the same idea, because I could NOT find mat board anywhere. Poor Bill even went out on his day off to see if he could find me some..but to no avail. We finally made one more trip and found something called card stock. I mounted my photos and fretted over whether they would be accepted or not. The day came to turn them in and I handed them over to the lady, who told me that people had been turning in stuff mounted on all kinds of stuff so mine was fine:) After much anticipation, the first night of the fair finally came. My daughter, Grandson, and I met a good friend there and headed into the building to see all of the entries. The first one of mine I came to had a pink Honorable Mention ribbon on it (which they give to everybody who doesn't place). I expected Pink on all of mine, because after all, this WAS my first year to enter. Imagine my shock when my friend hollered from halfway across the room "Angie..YOU GOT 1st, BEST OF CLASS AND BEST OF SHOW ON YOUR DRAGONFLY!" No way..uh uh..is all I could say. I ran over there and it was true..the greatest honor I could ask for being a newbie was right in front of my eyes! Ashley took pictures of me while I stood there grinning from ear to ear like a dork, LOL. We moved on and found that I had gotten two more Blue Ribbons (1st place) and 2 White Ribbons (3rd). On the 6 entries, I had placed with 5 of them! Imagine that! I was, and still am, on Cloud 9....

I LOVE PHOTOGRAPHY!!

Life Is Like A Box of Chocolates

2009-03-30T19:30:00.000-07:00

Life Is Like a Box of Chocolates

When you live out in the country, life is like a box of chocolates…you never know what you’re gonna get. It might be an old lady across the road burning her trash and letting it turn into a grassfire, threatening to burn your land down along with hers. It might be a couple of drunk, high, or just plain nuts, people driving around and around your back yard in the middle of the night because they were “lost”..said they were looking for a place called the Compound (hello! When you drive down a long driveway, PAST a house with cars in the driveway, see a swimming pool in the backyard, you can be pretty sure you are in somebody’s yard, NOT the compound)..it might be a Red Fox hollering half the night right under your bedroom window (if you’ve never heard a fox cry, it sounds like a very distressed newborn baby..very eerie sounding..it might be the same Red Fox standing in your driveway looking at you while you take his picture…it might be Buzzards nesting in your chicken house..it might be your neighbors chicken laying dozens of eggs beside your shed..it might be a Black Snake in the blackberries with his belly so full of berries he can hardly move..it might be young lovers using your front property for their own personal “parking” place (at least they practiced safe sex, judging by all of the condoms and wrappers they left lying on the ground)…or it might be a BIG cow running around your property for 3 days, eluding the bowlegged cowboy and the rednecks trying to chase her down until somebody FINALLY had the bright idea to cut the back fence and chase her into the pasture..Yeehaw!!

Yep..Forrest Gump was right..Life IS Like a Box of Chocolates…..

Crying Baby

2009-02-17T10:50:00.000-08:00

Got a rude awakening at 4:00 AM this morning...I could hear a loud sound outside my bedroom window. I tried to ignore it and go back to sleep, but the more I ignored it, the more I convinced myself that someone had left a newborn baby on my property (stranger things have happened at my place!). Finally had to get up and investigate..got to the door and remembered something I had read online about serial killers using a recording of a baby to lure their victims..now I KNOW it's a myth, but in my early morning stupor I suddenly couldn't remember if it was true or false, LOL...so I got hubby up to go out and look..he grabbed a knife on the way in case someone was waiting to jump him. He opened the door and the sound stopped..but he never heard an animal or bird leaving...it must've sneaked off very quietly.

Got up this morning and googled "animal that sounds like a crying baby"...played some sound bytes...and figured it out right away...it was a Fox!! I have been seeing what I thought was a fox for several weeks, but never got a good enough look to say for sure that's what it is...now I can verify that we do indeed have a red fox hanging around our property. Now if I can just get him to pose for pictures.....

Mad Lady

2008-11-05T14:44:00.001-08:00

My Grandson Michael drew a picture for me yesterday.

I asked him to explain it to me because it was so detailed.

Here is what he said:

It is a lady and she's mad because someone broke her window.

The thing in her head is her brain.

And in her body, I drew her heart, her lungs, her intestines, and the thing that makes her go poop in the toilet.

I think he is going to be a doctor when he grows up....

Love Thy Neighbors..Ha!!

2008-10-16T12:22:00.000-07:00

I feel like the crying Indian on the old commercials.

Not only do our neighbors dump their old medicine (OR remnants of a meth lab) on the back of our property, but now somebody is using the front of our property as their own personal "lovers lane", AND leaving their condoms laying all over the ground! not just one condom, but at least FIVE of them! Can we say ick? Health hazard! What if my Grandkids had come across them and picked them up to see what it is? I suspect it may be some of the neighbors kids because Bill has walked up to a truck on our land before and there were two Hispanic teens doing their "business".

Time to put up a fence, post No Trespassing signs (in English AND Espanol)and start calling the cops every time we see someone up there (even if it is just kids playing by the pond..which is VERY dangerous!).

We thought about making our own signs too:

Keep Out..If you're found here tonite, you'll be found here tomorrow

Keep Out..This is NOT lovers lane..night vision security cameras in use..if you choose to ignore them, you'll be the newest porn star on the internet tomorrow.

Love thy neighbor? Hard to do these days...more like Shoot Thy Neighbor in the Butt with a BB gun....

Tiny Frog Invasion

2008-10-07T07:23:00.000-07:00

My laundry room has been invaded by tiny frogs! I saw something jump last night when I was putting clothes in the dryer and I thought it was a cricket. I went to catch it to throw it outside and it jumped towards me but looked a little bigger than a cricket. I got a closer look and it was a tiny frog..a little bigger than the size of the end of my thumb! I caught him/her and put it outside and went back to my laundry. 10 minutes later, Bill was doing his workout in the gameroom and he saw a frog. He told me either that one came back in or there is another one. When I went back in there, it jumped in a gap between the wall and the floor and I could see not two eyes staring at me but FOUR! Upon further investigation, I discovered at least 4 more behind the freezer! I don't know if a mama frog came in the front door when it was open, or an open window or what? Guess she layed eggs in the house and now we have her babies hopping all over the laundry room and gameroom. They are so cute..Michael is having a ball watching them. Guess I'll let them stay for another day or two since they catch bugs, then try to corral them all and put them outside in the woods.

Life in the country...never a dull moment, LOL....

RIP Rick

2008-09-17T12:08:00.000-07:00

Gone to play the Great Gig in the Sky

How I Wish You Were Here

Shine On You Crazy Diamond........

RIP Simba

2008-09-15T07:55:00.000-07:00

RIP Simba (1994-2008)

You Will Be Missed!

Happy Birthday Baby Girl!

2008-09-13T20:11:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday to You;

You Live In A Zoo;

You Look Like a Pink Flamingo...

And you Smell Like One Too..:)

Happy Birthday to My Little Girl!

From a precious baby Princess

To A Cute Little Girl That Wore Funny Clothes

To a pre-teen who could do the Hammer dance better than Hammer himself

To an awkward teenager who wore a different color hair every week and had no idea what she wanted to do with her life

To a confident young woman who knows exactly what she wants and has the World in her hands

You've Come a Loooooong Way Baby!

Happy Quarter of a Century:)

We Are So Proud of You!

Love Mom and Dad

Holy Shit..Here Comes Ike!

2008-09-12T14:14:00.000-07:00

Hang on to those hats! Here comes Ike, and he looks like one mean SOB! I don't get too scared of storms usually, but the path of this fella has me shaking in my boots (well, actually my clogs, since I don't wear boots, LOL). The forecasters are predicting high winds all the way to Dallas and one projected track has him going right in the middle of us. With all these trees on our property, I am NOT looking forward to riding out this storm. It'll just be me and the animals...poor Bill has to carry mail in this crap, because you know what they say.."Neither Rain Nor Sleet Nor Snow".

I imagine we'll be without power because of course our tallest trees are right by the power lines.

Should be an interesting weekend....

I'm sure I'll need some Calgon..and a fresh pair of panties after this storm rolls by...

Happy Birthday Logan!!

2008-08-09T18:21:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday to You;

You Live in a Zoo;

You Look Like a Big Giant Fish;

And You Smell Like One Too!!!

Hope you and Pawpaw

Caught the Biggest Fish in the Lake!

You are a special little boy and I can't wait to see you again:) I owe you 2 gifts, so come down and we'll go shopping:)

Love,
Aunt Sissy

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MICAH

2008-08-03T08:42:00.000-07:00

ALL FOR ONE
ONE FOR ALL!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MICAH

You've grown so much over the last 9 years..

From a curly haired baby

to a handsome little boy

and I've loved watching you grow. Don't ever forget that Aunt Sissy loves you very much, and I'll always be here for you.

You'll always be my special little boy, and even when you're a grown man, you can sit in my lap and let me sing you to sleep with the Mister Rogers song anytime:)

Susan Atkins Denied Parole Again

2008-07-17T13:23:00.000-07:00

Susan Atkins was denied parole a few days ago...again. She is dying of cancer and begged and pleaded for the parole board to grant her parole out of "compassion"..so she could go home and die surrounded by her friends and family instead of prison guards. Why the hell does this monster think that someone should show compassion for her...she damn sure didn't show Sharon Tate any compassion as she lay dying from stab wounds inflicted by Atkins. In her own words:

During the sentencing phase of the trial, Atkins testified that she stabbed Tate. She candidly stated that she had stabbed Tate because she was "sick of listening to her, pleading and begging, begging and pleading".

Yes, she will die exactly where she belongs, and I bet after she leaves this life, she'll burn in hell..

Good riddance..we're sick of hearing you pleading and begging, begging and pleading....

Bathing Beauty

2008-07-12T13:03:00.000-07:00

Isn't she beautiful?

Cheap Sunglasses

2008-07-12T13:01:00.000-07:00

Who knew a 5.00 pair of sunglasses could be so much fun?

Dragonfly Obsession

2008-07-09T21:25:00.000-07:00

I have done it. I've finally gone off the deep end..bonkers..cuckoo...whatever you want to call it. I have this sudden obsession with dragonflies. I follow them up and down the pond trying to snap their picture (not too weird). Then I recently started talking to them (a little weird, but we all talk to animals sometimes, right?). But today one of my friends landed on a Canna flower and posed for some pictures..I was talking to him and snapping away with my camera..I had this sudden urge to pet him! Funny thing is, I actually DID reach out and pet him, and he LET me! Petting a bug..now THAT'S certified nutso..call the looney bin and bring the straight jacket!

I've REALLY gotta find some friends....

Things I Have Learned From Keeping my Grandkids

2008-06-26T22:26:00.000-07:00

Some of the things I have learned this week from keeping my Grandbabies:

1. A robot can't pee because he doesn't have a penis and balls (as told to me by Michael..he's very fascinated by the human body).

2. If you share your hotdog bun with a baby, don't give her too big of a bite. She will choke and throw up on your pants. Then she'll choke again and throw up on your shirt! Then she'll look up at you and grin...

3. Don't doze in the chair with your Grandbaby in your lap. I shut my eyes for 1 minute and she grabbed the lamp and knocked it over, shattering the lightbulbs all over the carpet...then she looked at me and grinned...

4. There IS a way to roast marshmallows in the house so your Grandson can try one..with matches. It's alot of trouble, but the look on his face when he realized he didn't really like it was worth it:)

To be continued next week.....

Fresh From the Garden

2008-06-23T17:26:00.000-07:00

I'm sure you've heard it from gardeners before, but..

"There is nothing like a fresh tomato from your own garden".

They are:

Juicier

Softer

Sweeter

Mouth Watering

and Finger Lickin Good!

Put a pinch of salt on it and

Mm mm mm mm mm!

Now, if my peppers and watermelons will turn out as good, I'll be in gardeners Heaven.....

RIP Harvey Korman

2008-05-30T14:17:00.001-07:00

Yesterday we lost yet another TV Icon.

Mel Brooks summed it up best:

"A world without Harvey Korman..It's a more serious world".

Rest In Peace Harvey..You will be missed....

Happy 1st Birthday Marissa

2008-05-13T00:01:00.000-07:00

To My Little

You've Come a Long Way Baby!!

Happy Mothers Day to My Mommy

2008-05-10T21:21:00.000-07:00

There is no velvet so soft as a mother's lap, no rose as lovely as her smile, no path so flowery as that imprinted with her footsteps.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

If I had a flower for each time I thought of My Mother, I could walk in my garden forever.

I Love You Mom! Hope your Mother's Day is full of sunshine!

Dirty Fingernails and Achy Knees

2008-04-18T22:40:00.000-07:00

My fingernails are dirty,

I keep biting down on gritty sand,

My clothes are filthy,

And my knee is killing me...

But I am as happy as a Mockingbird with a big fat worm in her beak

Because I got down and planted some flowers today:)

I LOVE SPRING!!!!

Happy Birthday Prince Michael!!

2008-04-13T09:09:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday To You;

You Live In A Zoo;

You Look Like a Triceratops...

And You Smell Like One Too!!!!!!!

Happy Birthday To Our Favorite Grandson

We Love You So Much!!!!

Granny and Grandad

Goldfinches in their Summer Suits

2008-04-08T21:37:00.000-07:00

I looked out the window yesterday and there was bright yellow flashes everywhere..in the trees, at the feeders, on the ground, and flying through the air. Grabbed my camera and tiptoed out to catch some photos. Beautiful Goldfinches were all over the place and the males were dressed in their bright yellow Summer suits. If you've never seen Goldies in the Summer, you're missing quite a show...beautiful!!!

Strawberry Patch Kid

2008-03-25T22:14:00.000-07:00

We've all heard of Cabbage Patch Kids, right? I came up with something new...

A STRAWBERRY PATCH KID!

Isn't she a doll??

Hello Spring!

2008-03-22T20:05:00.000-07:00

It's Springtime...

Hooray!!!!

This Doesn't Happen in Texas!

2008-03-07T12:02:00.000-08:00

This is a rare occurence in Texas...especially in March!

Now the sun is shining, the temperature is rising, and the snow is melting.

Texas...gotta love it!

Bird Crap

2008-02-27T22:14:00.000-08:00

Sometimes, I think I must be a magnet for bird crap. For the 2nd week in a row, a bird has crapped on me. Last week, a purple finch pooped on my new camera just as I was raising it to take a picture of Hudson the Hawk. Today, I moved my chair farther out in the yard so I could take a picture of the Great Blue Heron...just as a flock of cedar waxwings were flying over my head. All that space around me and one of them picked ME to plop some purple berry crap on my shoulder.

You know the flag that says "Don't Tread on Me"? I'm gonna get myself a flag that says...

Don't SHIT on me.....

Praying for the Soul of an Addict

2008-02-25T17:47:00.000-08:00

He walked into the coffee shop and went to the counter. He looked familiar, but at the same time, he looked different. His face was drawn, his body skeletal…and his eyes were “dead”. He looked at me, I looked at him. When I heard his voice talking to the clerk, I knew it was him. He brushed right past me and went to sit down. I thought I should go over and say hi so he wouldn’t think I was rude. He didn’t care. I said “Hey M, how are you?” He looked straight ahead, not even acknowledging I was there. The person with him just gave me an icy stare. I said “Aren’t you M?” He still didn’t look at me. I asked his “friend”..Isn’t that M? The guy said no. I said “Yes it is!”. He just shook his head and you could tell he wanted me to go away. Poor M..he looked so sickly and all alone. Sure, he had a friend with him, but what kind of friend lets you continue to shoot drugs into your body and does it right along with you? I watched him go out the door and get into his car. As he drove away, I said a silent prayer…for his family, and for his soul…..

Happy Birthday to My Mom

2008-02-16T09:03:00.000-08:00

The rumors are true;
Elvis IS alive, and he came out of hiding just to sing to you...

Happy Birthday to You;

Happy Birthday to You;

You Look Like a Beautiful Blue Rose...

And You Smell Like One Too!!!!

Happy Birthday Mama..May All Your Wishes Come True!

I Love You!!!

Happy Birthday Dad

2008-02-14T19:16:00.000-08:00

To My Daddy, the Valentine's Day Birthday Boy...

Happy Birthday to You;

You Live in a Zoo (so true, so true!)

You Look Like a 50 lb. Bass....

And You Smell Like One Too!!!

Dont'cha just love my birthday songs?

CALL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT!!

CHICK IS CELEBRATING HIS 70th BIRTHDAY!

AND WITH THAT MANY CANDLES ON HIS CAKE, HE'LL SURELY BURN THE HOUSE DOWN!

Just Kidding..Hope You Had a Very Happy Birthday, Daddy.

I love you very much!

Hawk

2008-01-21T19:55:00.000-08:00

Meet Hudson the Hawk

Isn't he a beauty?

The Great Closet Caper

2008-01-21T19:27:00.000-08:00

I got this bright idea to find a missing box of my photos yesterday. Doesn't sound too hard...EXCEPT..these pictures were in my closet, which is literally stacked to the ceiling with junk! I move all of the boxes in FRONT of my closet so I can actually open the door. Not a problem so far. I opened the closet door and was faced with an avalanche just waiting to happen. Reminded me of Sesame Street's Elmos World, where every time he opens his closet door tons of stuff comes tumbling down on top of him. Nothing fell on me, but I was fearful for my life. I moved a few boxes out so I would have a place to sit on the floor in there. Hollered for Bill to bring me my little white step stool so I could put some more things on the top shelves. I got my stool and stood up on it, reached for a box to move it over, lost my balance and grabbed the box to steady myself..just as I was headed for the floor I was able to grab the closet door and push myself back up. The box was now on top of all the other junk in the floor. Oh well...maybe I won't put anything on the top shelf just yet. With great effort, I got the step ladder back out the door enough to sit back down. Started to plant my butt on the floor and my knees gave out, sending me sitting down harder than I had planned, hitting my ass on the doorknob on the way down. Ouch! There's one bruise..shall we shoot for two?

Are you laughing yet? The best is yet to come...

I get down on the floor and see a box that looks like it MIGHT be the missing picture box. The problem is...it's in the middle of the stack of boxes. Ok..maybe if I hold the top boxes with one arm, I can pull the picture box out with the other arm. NOT! I grabbed the top boxes..they seemed steady enough, and pulled the middle box out. All of a sudden, I heard stuff shifting and the avalance was about to come down right on my head. So there I sat, trying to figure out how I was gonna move without getting crushed. I hollered for Bill, but alas, he's partially deaf in one ear and he didn't hear me. I sat there for 15 minutes, holding the boxes with one hand and gesturing with my other hand (middle finger extended) at the boxes. Finally got another sturdier box back under them enough so they didn't fall. Enough for me..it's break time. I started to get up and realized I was wedged in there pretty tight. I was sitting indian style so my legs weren't under me to help push me up. The step ladder is behind me and it's now pressing into my back. Tried to move my leg and my foot got caught in between two boxes. So now here I sit wedged in the closet, with a husband that STILL couldn't hear my hollering for help. FINALLY got myself up by pulling my body up with the lower clothes bar. I got up on my step ladder because there is so much junk OUTSIDE the closet by now that I had to step up and over. Just as I was ready to step out of the closet, there was an avalanche and my big box of action figures fell right in the place I needed to step. BILL!!! no answer. BIIIIILLLLLLLLL! No answer...beat on the wall..BILLLLLLL! Finally he came to my rescue..he moved the box so I could step to the floor and offered his shoulder for me to grab on the way down. Felt my poor old knees pop as I finally found the floor, but alas, I did find the floor thank goodness.

Enough torture for one day..where's my heating pad and Bengay? I'm going to bed..

At LEAST I found my box of pictures....

A Murderous World

2008-01-13T11:41:00.000-08:00

What is this World coming to?

A Muslim Father killed his two teenage daughters because he didn't approve of them dating..

A Father stabs his wife and 4 kids, then sets fire to the house...why??

Another Father has an argument with his wife, so he decides to throw their kids (these poor kids were just babies for God's sake!!).

A Mother kills her 4 kids because she thought they were "possessed".

Sick, sick people...the Death Penalty should have their names written all over it...

Gopher or Dog?

2008-01-11T08:22:00.000-08:00

If ya can't beat em...

Join em!

Artist

2008-01-09T08:15:00.000-08:00

If I had the talent to be an artist...

This is what I would paint...

Thank you, God, for sharing your magnificent artwork with us....

Clutter

2008-01-03T13:58:00.001-08:00

Found this article online and figured it was worth sharing:)

A Clutter Too Deep for Mere Bins and Shelves
Published: January 1, 2008
After the holidays, many shoppers load up their carts with storage bins, shelving systems and color-coded containers, all in a resolute quest to get organized for the new year.

The country’s collective desire to clean up is evident in the proliferation of organization-oriented businesses like the Container Store and California Closets. Reality shows like “Mission Organization” on HGTV and “How Clean is Your House?” on Lifetime feed a national obsession to declutter. The magazine Real Simple has even created a $13 special issue on cleaning house.

Getting organized is unquestionably good for both mind and body — reducing risks for falls, helping eliminate germs and making it easier to find things like medicine and exercise gear.

“If you can’t find your sneakers, you aren’t taking a walk,” said Dr. Pamela Peeke, assistant clinical professor of medicine at the University of Maryland and the author of “Fit to Live” (Rodale, 2007), which devotes a section to the link between health and organization. “How are you going to shoot a couple of hoops with your son if you can’t even find the basketball?”

But experts say the problem with all this is that many people are going about it in the wrong way. Too often they approach clutter and disorganization as a space problem that can be solved by acquiring bins and organizers.

Measures like these “are based on the concept that this is a house problem,” said David F. Tolin, director of the anxiety disorders center at the Institute of Living in Hartford and an adjunct associate professor of psychiatry at Yale.

“It isn’t a house problem,” he went on. “It’s a person problem. The person needs to fundamentally change their behavior.”

Excessive clutter and disorganization are often symptoms of a bigger health problem. People who have suffered an emotional trauma or a brain injury often find housecleaning an insurmountable task. Attention deficit disorder, depression, chronic pain and grief can prevent people from getting organized or lead to a buildup of clutter. At its most extreme, chronic disorganization is called hoarding, a condition many experts believe is a mental illness in its own right, although psychiatrists have yet to formally recognize it.

Compulsive hoarding is defined, in part, by clutter that so overtakes living, dining and sleeping spaces that it harms the person’s quality of life. A compulsive hoarder finds it impossible, even painful, to part with possessions. It’s not clear how many people suffer from compulsive hoarding, but estimates start at about 1.5 million Americans.

Dr. Tolin recently studied compulsive hoarders using brain-scan technology. While in the scanner, hoarders looked at various possessions and made decisions about whether to keep them or throw them away. The items were shredded in front of them, so they knew the decision was irreversible. When a hoarder was making decisions about throwing away items, the researchers saw increased activity in the orbitofrontal cortex, a part of the brain involved in decision-making and planning.

“That part of the brain seemed to be stressed to the max,” Dr. Tolin said. By comparison, people who didn’t hoard showed no extra brain activity.

While hoarders are a minority, many psychologists and organization experts say the rest of us can learn from them. The spectrum from cleanliness to messiness includes large numbers of people who are chronically disorganized and suffering either emotionally, physically or socially. Cognitive behavioral therapy may help: a recent study of hoarders showed that six months’ therapy resulted in a marked decline in clutter in the patient’s living space.

Although chronic disorganization is not a medical diagnosis, therapists and doctors sometimes call on professional organizers to help patients. One of them is Lynne Johnson, a professional organizer from Quincy, Mass., who is president of the National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization.

Ms. Johnson explains that some people look at a shelf stacked with coffee mugs and see only mugs. But people with serious disorganization problems might see each one as a unique item — a souvenir from Yellowstone or a treasured gift from Grandma.

Many clients have already accumulated numerous storage bins and other such items in a futile attempt to get organized. Usually the home space is adequate, she says, but the challenge is in teaching them how to group, sort, set priorities and discard.

Ms. Johnson says she often sees a link between her client’s efforts to get organized and weight loss. “I think someone decides, ‘I’m not going to live like this anymore. I’m not going to hold onto my stuff, I’m not going to hold onto my weight,’” she said. “I don’t know that one comes before the other. It’s part of that same life-change decision.”

On its Web site, www.nsgcd.org, the group offers a scale to help people gauge the seriousness of their clutter problem. It also includes a referral tool for finding a professional organizer. But since the hourly fees can range from $60 to $100 or more, it may be worth consulting a new book by Dr. Tolin, “Buried in Treasures” (Oxford, 2007), which offers self-assessments and advice for people with hoarding tendencies.

Dr. Peeke says she often instructs patients trying to lose weight to at least create one clean and uncluttered place in their home. She also suggests keeping a gym bag with workout clothes and sneakers in an uncluttered area to make it easier to exercise. She recalls one patient whose garage was “a solid cube of clutter.” The woman cleaned up her home and also lost about 50 pounds.

“It wasn’t, at the end of the day, about her weight,” Dr. Peeke said. “It was about uncluttering at multiple levels of her life.”

.............................................

Amen! Time to tackle that clutter and freecycle, freecycle, freecycle!

Like A Freight Train

2007-12-23T09:05:00.001-08:00

Christmas is coming like a freight train!

We're ready.....

Are you????

I Had a Nightmare

2007-12-21T10:42:00.000-08:00

Last night, I had a fitful sleep. Not sure why, but some nights I just can't sleep. When I finally did get some sleep early this morning, I fell into a nightmare. I dreamed that I was getting a lethal injection and my Uncle Wes was the executioner. He put 6 needles in my arm and just as he was about to push the button that would give me the lethal injection, I woke up. I was soooooo glad it was a dream and not reality!

I'm wondering if I dreamed something that bad because I stole the glass from El Chico.

I must be feeling really guilty, LOL.....

I'm a Thief!

2007-12-21T10:31:00.000-08:00

I'm officially a thief.

It all started when Bill, Ashley, Marissa, and I went out to eat lunch at El Chico yesterday. We ate our food, paid our bill and walked out the door. When we got to the car, all of a sudden Ashley gave me the funniest look and said "Mom..what the hell are you doing???". I followed her eyes to my hand and realized I'd walked out the door with my tea glass!! I'm sure I turned as red as Santa's suit. Ashley started laughing at me. Bill told me to take it back in and give it to them. I decided that would be more embarassing than actually stealing the glass! So I threw it in the car, jumped in, and we high-tailed it outta there..me looking over my shoulder the whole time to make sure they weren't chasing after me for their 10 cent glass.

Maybe I'll pack it up, put a shipping label on it and mail it back to them anonymously....

Oh the shame............

Tie Dye Granny

2007-12-16T21:44:00.000-08:00

I was talking on the phone to my Grandson today. He was telling me what color everyone at his house was wearing. He asked me what color I was wearing ..and I told him black. He said "But Granny, you don't have a black shirt, I bet you're wearing a rainbow shirt!

Hmmm..I think maybe I wear too much tie dye.....

Bluebird Bar and Grill

2007-12-11T21:53:00.000-08:00

As I was making my coffee one morning last week, I saw a flash of blue outside the kitchen window. I went out on the back porch to see what it was. To my amazement, there were Eastern Bluebirds all over the place! Some were hopping on the ground looking for worms. Some were bathing in the water pan while others were trying to get a drink, which led to several spats to see who was king (or queen) of the water pan. Still others were at my feeders, up in the trees, and on the bird houses. My dog and I sat out and watched them for an hour, then they all took off just as quickly as they'd come. I thought I had seen the last of them, but I looked out 30 minutes later and they were all in the front yard at my feeders and the big bird bath. They stayed about 30 minutes more, then they were gone again. I'm hoping they aren't just stopping by on their way to Mexico or some other Winter destination farther South than us, because I would love to see a repeat performance.

Bravo little bluebirds...you made my day.

Encore, encore!!

Winter Wonderland???

2007-12-03T20:39:00.000-08:00

Yesterday the wind was gusting pretty high and I decided to take a quick walk down the trail to the back of our property so I could listen to it whistling through the trees. I was walking along singing Christmas carols and the first one that popped into my head was "Walking in a Winter Wonderland". "Sleigh bells ring..are you listening"...

Wait a minute...let's back up here. Winter Wonderland??? It's 82 degrees out here, I'm walking through the woods, dodging the fireants and spider webs, shooing the ladybugs that are trying to hitch a ride on my head, and singing "Winter Wonderland"?????

I think I've finally gone over the edge.......

Rest in Peace Evel Knievel

2007-12-01T07:07:00.000-08:00

RIP Evil Knievel

Another great icon from my childhood, gone in the blink of an eye:(

He will be missed........

Birds of Winter

2007-11-28T21:59:00.000-08:00

This morning I stepped outside to do a little bird watching. I figured I'd see if any of the Winter birds had arrived on the cold front we had a few days ago. I expected to see a few white throat sparrows and and juncos. Imagine my surprise and delight when I stepped out and there were not just a few species, but ALL of the birds that hang out here in the Winter. There were white throat sparrows, juncos, cedar waxwings, a Northern Flicker, a Yellow Bellied Sapsucker, Eastern Phoebes, Yellow Rumped Warblers, chipping sparrows, lots of cardinals and red breasted nuthatches, AND at least a hundred American Robins. I always thought that Robins were only here in the Spring, but that myth was totally busted today:) The birds were flitting to and fro, taking turns bathing and drinking out of a water pan we left out in the yard. The sapsucker was sucking sap out of the Loquat tree, and the Northern Flicker was hopping around under the Oleander bush eating bugs. I was in birding Heaven.

Life doesn't get any better than this....

Happy Thanksgiving Ya'll!

2007-11-21T21:12:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving..time to eat, drink, and be merry (and miserable for a few hours).

Gobble Gobble!

A Birders Paradise

2007-11-18T10:21:00.000-08:00

This morning as I sat outside under a big pine tree with my coffee, I felt like I was in paradise. There were Red Breasted Nuthatches twittering and tooting their tin horns right over my head as they scurried up and down the tree, a family of 4 Tufted Titmice taking turns with the Chickadees at one of the seed feeders, Cardinals swinging in the satellite feeder, Bluejays squawking way high in the tree because the cat was out with me, 2 Eurasian Collared Doves hopping on the ground cleaning up all of the seed that falls out of the feeders, a Yellow Bellied Sapsucker pecking midway up the tree behind my head, a Green Heron flying overhead toward the pond, and a juvenile Red Shouldered Hawk hollering from somewhere in the distance.

I could never move back to the city when I have my Birders Paradise right here...

Cardinals at Sunset

2007-11-12T16:39:00.000-08:00

Every evening, close to sunset, I go outside and sit in my chair and wait. Right at sunset, I can hear “chip, chip, chip” and I know the Cardinals are making their way to my bird feeders. They swoop in one by one to fill their bellies full of black oil sunflower seed. Sometimes I count 30 or more at a time at the feeders and on the ground. Then they fly up and disappear into the trees to sleep.

Beautiful creatures of God....

The Ladybugs Know

2007-11-12T16:35:00.000-08:00

Today I looked out the window and there were ladybugs everywhere. They were clinging to the window and the side of the house. They know it’s about to be Winter and with Winter comes bitter cold. They’ll hitch rides on mailmen, dogs, cats, cars..they’ll do anything they can to get inside a warm house.

Pretty smart, huh?

The Musings of a Sleep Deprived Granny

2007-11-03T17:19:00.000-07:00

Tales of Sitting at the Hospital With a Sick Baby

Did I say sick? Yeah, right..this baby has been smiling and babbling ever since she was brought in here. It’s 11:00 AM..Marissa is all fed, changed, and getting veeery sleeeepy. Finally, she drifts off, and Granny thinks she’s gonna get a few hours sleep. NOT! The nurse decides to make an appearance and take her temperature. Baby is wide awake looking at her. 15 minutes later, nurse leaves and baby babbles for a few minutes, cries for a few more because by this point she’s beyond sleepy. And when THIS baby is beyond sleepy..well…we won’t go there…

What’s that? Silence..sweet silence..nighty night.

12:30 AM..Sometime during the last hour and a half, I drifted off to sleep. Seems like as soon as I got some good REM going, I woke up to a respiratory therapists butt in my face. He gave Marissa her breathing treatment, surprisingly she didn’t wake up. Then the nurse came in and took her temp yet again..woke her up but she went right back down. I don’t think the AC is working and it’s hot in here. The respiratory therapist said he’d call maintenance to check it out..”Well, why not?? Everybody else has come into the room, might as well let them in too”….

1:30 AM..I looked at the clock just now..only 1:30?? It’s gonna be a looooong night. I toss and turn with these 2 pillows that are flat as pancakes, sweat like a pig because the room is hot, and drift in and out of sleep for the next hour and a half.

3:00 AM..They’re baaaack..time for another breathing treatment. Marissa is startled wide awake for this one and she’s NOT going back to sleep for awhile. He finishes the treatment, leaves the room, and Marissa decides she’s ready for a bottle. Ok, what the heck, I’ll feed her and then she’ll go back to sleep for a few hours..right? Get her all fed, burped, changed (which was an ordeal because she wanted to kick her feet and get her IV wire stuck in her toes and across her diaper so I fastened the diaper on it). Did I mention it’s HOT in here? Maintenance never came..finally opened the window a crack to let some fresh air in.

3:30 AM..Marissa has decided it’s playtime..she’s lying there in her crib kicking her feet and singing like crazy! She thinks this is funny…Granny isn’t so sure about that..I’m starting to look and feel like a zombie..must be quite a scary site for Marissa to see. I turn out the lights again, lay down to gather my thoughts and start to drift to the soothing sounds of a baby babbling. I think I went to sleep for a few minutes..woke up to her crying..she had moved around and her head was against the crib rail and she wasn’t too happy about it. I got back up, moved her down, turned her on her belly because this kid will NOT stay on her back for long. She FINALLY drifts off to sleep with me singing Amazing Grace. I don’t dare get back into bed yet, because I have this feeling someone will come in the door soon, so I get on the computer and start blogging.

4:16 AM..Guess who was right? Yep, Marissa was sleeping soundly, nurse came in to take her temp yet again. I love this nurse..she’s a sweetheart and she tried real hard not to wake her up, but….heeeere’s Marissa…staring at me with those big blue eyes…….

5:15..I had a few minutes catnap, heard banging around in the hall (boy, those nurse sure don’t believe in being quiet, do they?)..now I’m wide awake. My computer keeps saying there is a wireless connection available, so I figure why not? Worth a try. Success! I’m on the internet..it stayed long enough to check my e-mail, Ebay auctions, etc. The whole time I’m online, I’m looking around to make sure the wireless internet police aren’t coming through the door, because I don’t know if you’re supposed to connect to other peoples wireless signals or not. It’s unsecured, so I figure why not? Stayed online for 30 minutes, then the signal got weak. Oh well, I desparately need sleep anyway. Off to bed I go…for a whole hour..whaddya know about that?

6:20.. Wake up to respiratory therapist brushing the dang tube across the top of my head. At this point, I’m thinking “If you touch the top of my head one more time with that thing, it’s going around your neck or up your nose..your choice buddy!”. Haha..up your nose with a rubber hose…

6:25..Sleep at last. I actually got to sleep for an hour and 15 minutes this time! Woke up to food service bringing in breakfast at a little before 8. Coffee..I need coffee! Oh no…what’s this? Tea? I am desparate for coffee and you dare bring me tea? Off with your head woman! Oh well, it’s caffeine at least. Pretty good too. The breakfast though..that’s a whole different story. It’s SUPPOSED to be Cream of Wheat, Hashbrowns, a Biscuit, and a muffin. Yep, there’s a biscuit, and there’s a muffin. Cream of wheat??? Are you kidding? More like cream of crap with a capital C! Hashbrowns? Nope..it’s an ice cream scoop of mushy something, but not hash browns. Oh well, I can live on a biscuit and a muffin for now..who needs food anyway..I’ll trade the food for sleep…

Calgon…take me away……or at least give me a good stiff drink…

Priceless

2007-11-01T07:21:00.001-07:00

6 Matching Wooden Chairs for the Table: About 85.00 (IF we could've found any that match)

Traffic Ticket for "Disregarding" a Stop Sign: 130.00

The Look On The Cops Face When I Told Him Where To Stick That Ticket.....

PRICELESS!!!

Well, I didn't REALLY tell him where to stick it, but I wanted to....

Move Over Underdog

2007-10-09T20:02:00.001-07:00

There's a new superhero dog in town....

Batdog!!!

A Field of Sunshine

2007-10-08T18:22:00.000-07:00

Down the road from me, just over the hill past the windmill, there is a beautiful field of Goldenrod. It is so yellow it looks like hundreds of lemons sparkling in the sunshine. It looks like a very serene place..perfect to sit a blanket in the middle of to read a good book.

Beautiful....

Baby Carrots

2007-10-04T19:45:00.000-07:00

Marissa had her first taste of carrots today..boy was it fun, LOL!

I don't know about this....

Hmmm...not too bad...

Ah Choo!!!

More Please!!

Love them carrots!!

Good Times:)

Star Struck!

2007-09-28T21:55:00.000-07:00

I just got back home from the County Fair and I am in Heaven. I got to meet Terry Fator IN PERSON! Man is that dude talented! I've never seen anything like it. He put on a GREAT show. After the show, we were able to get an autographed picture and he also signed my tie dyed shirt, AND he was nice enough to pose for a picture with me and Michael. I was so star struck I almost cried, LOL!

If you ever get a chance to see him in person, don't hesitate to do it..it's the greatest show on Earth:)

Mexican Jumping Dog

2007-09-27T18:09:00.000-07:00

I found some Mexican Jumping Beans on Ebay (the kind that used to be up at the counter at your local 711 when you were a kid) and knew my Grandson Michael just HAD to have some. I ordered them and they arrived today. He had a blast with them..watching them jump around in a box. My dog kept trying to eat them but we kept him away..NOT! Michael walked away and left the jumping beans alone on the floor for about 15 seconds..came back and there were 4 missing! He said "Granny..did Caligula eat my jumping beans?". I ran over there and sure enough, there are 4 less than we started out with. Looked all over the floor to make sure they just didn't get knocked out of the box. But they are nowhere to be found and I strongly suspect the dog did indeed eat them! So if you see a husky wearing a sombrero, shaking maracas, and singing the "Frito Bandito" song, don't worry, he's not rabid..he's just got the Jumping Bean Jive...

Oh the things my dog does!!!!!

Happy Birthday to My Baby Girl!

2007-09-13T09:07:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday to You;

You Live in a Zoo (2 kids, a dog, and a significant other..yep, that's a zoo!!)

You Look Like a Butterfly;

And you Smell Like One Too (well, i really don't know what butterflies smell like, but it fits in the song)

Roses are Red;

Violets are Blue;

You Are the Most Beautiful Butterfly in the Garden

And I Love You!

Happy Birthday Ashley

Hope Your Day is as Special as You Are!

Love,
Mom

42

2007-09-03T00:00:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday to Me;

I Live in a Tree;

Oh, I am 42......

Boo Hoo Hoo Hoo Boo Hoo!!!!!!

Oh well, as long as I have cake, I could be turning 62 for all I care, LOL!

Put On Your Hard Hat

2007-09-02T09:06:00.000-07:00

Put on your hard hat..we're going hummingbird watching!

It's that time again...time for the hummers to leave the Northern states and head South for the Winter.

I have 2 feeders out..one in the front and one in the back, and you can see them all day long..flitting to and fro, fighting for the right to sip the nectar. You can sit out and watch them, but better put on a hard hat and a hummingbird proof vest..or be prepared to duck and cover, because when they are stocking up for their loooong journey South, NOTHING will stop them, not even a human that happens to get in their way. We've never been hit by one, but have had lots of "Close Encounters of the Hummingbird Kind".

Get your feeders filled and enjoy the show! It'll be over by October, so enjoy it while you can..it's the Greatest Show on Earth!

Headache

2007-08-31T18:38:00.000-07:00

It Runs In The Family

2007-08-21T14:31:00.000-07:00

Beautiful

2007-08-21T13:13:00.000-07:00

Don't Hate Me Because I'm Beautiful.....

Go Terry Fator!!!

2007-08-21T13:07:00.000-07:00

Go Terry Go!

I don't know if America's Got Talent

But Terry Fator sure does!

How Much Is That Froggie In the Window

2007-08-17T22:14:00.000-07:00

I was sitting here tonite in a pain killer daze and happened to glance out the front window. What I saw made me think I was having hallucinations. I got up and went over to the window for a closer look, and sure enough, there is a frog clinging to the window!! He's sitting out there eating bugs off the window.

There is never a dull moment out in the country, that's for sure!!

His Legacy Lives On

2007-08-16T06:56:00.000-07:00

Elvis A. Presley January 8, 1935-August 16, 1977

His Legacy Lives On...

Elvis had an identical twin. Born stillborn, the twin was named Jessie Garon and rumour has it that mother Gladys saw the tragedy as a sign that her living twin was destined for great things.

Aron or Aaron? The correct spelling of Elvis's middle name has baffled fans for years. The fact is that Elvis was apparently named Aron (just the one 'a') after his stillborn twin Garon. However, rumour has it that when Elvis wanted to change the spelling to the more traditional Aaron, he found it had always been spelt that way due to a bureaucratic error. Later, knowing that Elvis preferred the traditional spelling, his father chose Aaron for his tombstone.

Elvis's musical talents blossomed when he was given an acoustic guitar for his eleventh birthday. The young Elvis, however, was disappointed - he had wanted a bicycle. However he persevered and taught himself to play a few chords, strumming away to blues and gospel songs, and the legend was born.

Elvis used to be a truck driver, earning $1.25 an hour. His real ambition, however, was to become an electrician and he started evening classes to gain the necessary skills.

Aside from three concerts in Canada, Elvis never performed outside the United States.

Elvis's first public singing performance was made at the age of ten at the Mississippi-Alabama Fair and Dairy Show, where he sang 'Old Shep' (a song he later recorded.) The young King didn't win.

Elvis once wrote a letter to President Nixon in which he asked to be appointed as an undercover narcotics cop. Nixon gave Elvis a honorary Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs badge - a presentation which, in the light of his death (where heavy drug use was suspected), turned out to be pretty ironic.

Elvis had to pay for his first song recording - forking out a fee of around $4. He had wanted to record to see what his voice was like.

Elvis's legendary manager Colonel Tom Parker was really called Andreas van Kuijk.

Elvis gave money to several charities, each year giving $1,000 or more to each of 50 Memphis-area charities, as well as many other donations in Memphis and around the country. Most of his charitable donations were kept secret.
*************************************************************************************

Where were you when you found out Elvis was dead? I was sitting outside my house on Westmoreland, taking a break from playing kickball with my neighborhood friends when one of the guys came up to me and told me Elvis was dead. I said so???? I thought he was fixing to tell me another lame joke or something, but he convinced me he was serious. I wasn't really an Elvis fan (a little before my time), but I was sad because I knew my Mom would be sad, as she was a great Elvis fan.

Where were you?

Beggar??

2007-08-13T18:25:00.000-07:00

No, No, No, MY dog is not beggar....

Eyes to the Sky!

2007-08-12T15:52:00.000-07:00

Gearing up for the annual Perseids Meteor Shower tonite. Got my Queen size air mattress, big fluffy pillows, thermos ready for lots of coffee, tons of OFF for those Texas sized skeeters, and my favorite star gazing buddy Bill.

It's gonna be great! Well worth pulling an all nighter for if you get a chance.

Come on darkness..I can't WAIT!

Just a Material Girl

2007-08-11T19:48:00.000-07:00

Happy Wedding Day Bill And Wendy

2007-08-11T08:37:00.000-07:00

Bill & Wendy

Hope Your Wedding Day is as Special as You Are!

Congratulations on making it official.

May your voyage through life be as happy and as free

As the dancing waves on the deep blue sea

Love and Hugs From Texas,

Your Ebay Pal Angie

Decisions in Life

2007-08-08T08:35:00.000-07:00

The one on the left?

Or the one on the right?

Oh the decisions we have to make in our daily lives......

Would I be a devil or an angel?

30 seconds later, I had my answer....

I'm a baaaaaaad girl.....

Happy Birthday Logan!

2007-08-08T06:17:00.001-07:00

Happy Birthday To You;

You Live in a Zoo;

You Look Like a Stinky Bait Fish;

And You Smell Like One Too!!!

A big fish told me today is someone specials birthday..

It's LOGAN!

On your special day, I hope you catch the BIG fish.

Happy Birthday Logan..I Love You So Much.

Love,
Aunt Sissy

Happy Birthday to My Favorite Canuck

2007-08-04T13:13:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday to You;

You Live in a Zoo;

You Look Like a baboon;

And You Smell LIke One Too!!

Just kidding, but I had to think of something to make it rhyme, LOL!

Happy Birthday my pal!

YOU'RE HOW OLD????????????

29? DON'T MAKE ME LAUGH!

Hope You Have a Great Birthday, Even If You DO have to work...

Happy Birthday Micah!

2007-08-03T09:01:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday to You

You Live in a Zoo

You Look Like

And You Smell Like Him Too!!!!!

Happy Birthday Micah!

May the Force Be With You

On Your Special Day

Don't Ever Lose that Beautiful Smile and Your Joyous Laughter

I Love You!

Aunt Sissy

The Dark Side

2007-07-26T15:04:00.000-07:00

It's official....

I've crossed over to the Dark Side..

I committed a murder...

I killed my poor little whistling tea kettle:(

It whistled and screamed and begged for mercy, but I ignored its SOS until it was too late..it went bone dry and turned black and almost caught on fire. I thought I turned the fire off after I fixed a cup of instant coffee, but I guess I turned the burner knob the wrong way....and my poor little tea kettle bit the dust.

RIP Tea Kettle..I'll miss your morning cups of coffee or hot chocolate, and your evening cups of orange tea..thank you for being a loyal friend for years...

Gonna go cry now...:(

A Great Motto To Live By

2007-07-23T18:33:00.000-07:00

Teach a Man to Fish and You Feed Him For a Lifetime

Give Him Ramen Noodles, and You Don't Have To Teach Him Anything....

So True!

Bird Feeder Garden

2007-07-23T18:26:00.000-07:00

I never know what's gonna pop up next under my bird feeders. It started out with just big giant sunflowers. Now, I currently have wheat stalks, corn stalks, a pumpkin patch (which is growing all over the front yard now..anybody need a Halloween Pumpkin?), AND Morning Glories. Now I can understand where the sunflowers, wheat, corn, and pumpkins came from because I put out a critter mix sometimes along with my black oil sunflower...but where the HECK did the Morning Glories come from?

Tammy Faye

2007-07-22T20:41:00.000-07:00

Rest In Peace Tammy Faye 1942-2007

You know...alot of people made fun of Tammy Faye (I am guilty of it too) because she wore tons of makeup and cried all the time until her mascara was running down her face. But over the years, and especially in the last year or so, she grew on me. Hearing her talk about her illness, etc..that woman had alot of courage, and the most faith I have EVER seen anyone have. Up until the very end, she never strayed from her faith and her love of her God, and I have no doubt that she went straight to Heaven when she passed away.

Building an Ark

2007-07-12T10:15:00.000-07:00

Or at least an outhouse..

This rain is about to drive me even more insane than I already am! Almost every single day for the whole Spring AND Summer, rain, rain, rain. I know last Summer we prayed for rain because of the severe drought, and BOY, did HE answer our prayers. I vowed never to complain about rain again after the dry Summer, but I just can't take it anymore.

Dear Lord..thank you for curing our drought conditions, but can you PLEASE give us at least a 3 week break..so that I can do the everyday normal things like flush the toilets, wash dishes, do laundry, and take a shower every other day? Just a few weeks, that's all I ask..time for the flooded septic system lines to recover and start working again. Amen!

I am seriously thinking about building an Ark in case we start floating away. Or at least an outhouse to do our "business" in instead of stinking up the house for days, LOL!

Rain, rain, go away...come back in 30 (or even longer) days...

Goodness Gracious, Great Balls of Fire!!

2007-07-08T21:09:00.000-07:00

We had a bang up Fourth of July this year. We live out in the boonies, so we get to shoot fireworks at our house on July 4th. It started out pretty good, just some cones of colored showers, sparklers, and whistlers. Then, Bill brought out the BIG stuff. The first one was loud and colorful..we all oohed and aahed at it. Since that one was so great, he decided to bring out an even BIGGER one.

Now let me set the scene for you before I tell the rest of my story. Bill was the official fireworks lighter. Natalie was leaning against the Honda holding Marissa. Patti was standing beside her. Katherine and Michael were in the back of the Honda. I was sitting in Ashley's car with my feet hanging out.

Bill lit the big one and started running. Loud bang..poof...oh crap..something doesn't look right. Flaming balls started shooting out the bottom of the firework and they were shooting straight at us!! One chased Ashley and she jumped into the car, right on top of me. Natalie went running to the house with the baby. Patti was hot on her heels. Katherine and Michael ducked into the back of the Honda. Bill went running right into the path of the flaming balls because one shot straight at a cedar tree and he could just SEE it going up in flames. I couldn't see the rest of what went on because I was pinned down in the car seat with Ashley hanging on top of me laughing her head off and me trying to breathe.

Turns out, it was a faulty firework and the bottom blew out of it, thus shooting the flaming balls at us.

After that, we decided that was enough entertainment for one night. We'll save the rest for New Years Eve..or maybe we won't....

Happy Fathers Day Daddy!

2007-06-17T08:45:00.000-07:00

Fatherhood is pretending the present you love most is soap-on-a-rope." - Bill Cosby

HAPPY FATHERS DAY!

Relax and Take It Easy..Today is Your Day!

If You Go Fishing....

Hope You Catch the Big One!

I LOVE YOU!

Today

2007-06-09T21:56:00.000-07:00

Today I saw:

A baby Green Heron and its Mommy and Daddy..flying from tree to tree right in my front yard.

A Daddy redbird feeding his 3 children. The Mommy redbird joined them later to help in the parenting duties.

Tiny butterflies flitting from flower to flower in my butterfly garden.

A chicadee family eating seed from the feeders.

A pair of tufted tits hanging upside down from the woodpecker bar eating seeds.

A baby bunny hopping across the yard.

A cat I've never seen before eyeing my bird feeders and licking his chops.

Bees busily gathering nector from my Hydrangea bushes.

Today I Heard:

Blue Jays hollering because there was a cat hanging around.

Crows enjoying some overly ripe blackberries.

Frogs croaking by the pond.

Chicadees twittering in the woods.

Starlings feeding their babies somewhere in the woods.

A neighbors dog barking "Oh Boy, a Cat!".

Crickets and Locusts singing their Summer evening song.

3 Mockingbirds all singing a different serenade.

As my late friend Ron always said:

LIFE IS GOOD....

More Grandkid Pics

2007-05-23T22:29:00.000-07:00

We went to Ashley's to visit Michael and Marissa last night. Held the baby and played with Michael. It was fun. Here are some pics we took:

Princess Marissa

2007-05-21T13:20:00.000-07:00

We finally brought our Princess home from the hospital today.

And all is right in the World again....

The Greatest Mother's Day Gift

2007-05-13T21:03:00.000-07:00

Here is the greatest Mother's Day gift a Granny could ask for:)

Marissa Rhiann Williams

5 lbs. 9 oz.

19 inches long

Born Mother's Day 2007 at 8:45 PM

Ain't she grand???

Happy Mother's Day to my Mommy!

2007-05-12T19:52:00.000-07:00

Roses are Red;

Violets are Blue;

I'm not a good Poet;

So this will have to do!

I hope your day is as special as you are! I wish we could spend the day together but since we can't, just know you're in my heart:) Let's get together soon!

I love you Mom!!

Pete the Red Bellied Woodpecker is a Mommy!

2007-05-11T18:20:00.000-07:00

We've had a red bellied woodpecker coming to my birdfeeders for a long time. He was here so often, I named him Pete. I noticed yesterday that he had a friend with him and he was feeding the friend from my satellite dish feeder. I figured that Pete must have a girlfriend and the male bird feeds its mate to show his affection. After looking closer at the two, I noticed "she" didn't have any red on her head at all, so I posted some pictures in my birding group. Turns out "Pete" is really Petra and the bird she was feeding is her baby!! No wonder she looked at me funny when I'd go outside and say "Hi Pete"!

Aren't they cute??

Springtime Beauties!

2007-04-30T06:23:00.000-07:00

I LOVE SPRING!!

The Joys of Getting Older

2007-04-20T20:50:00.000-07:00

Oh the joys of getting older. I'm 41 but starting to feel about 70. I've got a bum left knee, a sore right hip from trying to stay off my left leg, a bad chest cold, AND gas on top of it all! So my day today went something like this...

Wake up, find glasses, sit up in bed...pfffft..oh no, GAS!

Get out of bed, find cane to hobble around on..step down, ouch my knee! Step on right side, ouch my hip! Head to bathroom to pee, ouching all the way..halfway there, have a coughing fit, which makes me have to pee even more, AND brings on the farts again.

Catch my breath, continue to the potty. Finally make it there, sit down, pee, and get back up. Ouch my knee, ouch my hip! Hobble down the hall..ouch, ouch, cough, cough, poot, poot, ouch, ouch...finally make it to my recliner. Plop my big fat butt down in it which brings on more poots..laugh at myself, dog passes out....

Boy what an exhausting (and stinky!) day....

I'm tired already...is it bedtime yet??

Happy Birthday Michael!!

2007-04-13T18:35:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday To You;

You Live in a Zoo;

You Look like a Monkey (not really!)

And You Smell Like One Too (but only when you poop in your diaper)

3 years ago today, Ashley and I went to what we thought was her regular doctors visit. Turned out she was in labor already and after a mad dash to the hospital to get checked in, 7 hours later we were holding the most beautiful little baby boy in the world in our arms.

I am enjoying watching you grow up before my very eyes.

Happy Birthday Baby..You're Gonna Be the Bestest Big Brother Marissa Could Ever Ask For...

Love, Granny

Waddle Waddle Limp Hop Whoa!!

2007-04-09T17:00:00.000-07:00

Ashley and I created a new dance the other day..it's called Waddle Waddle Limp Hop Whoa...

I got this bright idea a few days ago that she and I should go to the store to shop for Easter fixins so that poor Bill wouldn't have to go after working all day. Next time I get a bright idea, someone turn out the light, please!

Ashley is almost 6 months pregnant and is to the "waddling" point of her pregnancy AND baby girl was making her belly hurt. I stepped wrong on my knee 2 weeks ago so I am hobbling around with a knee brace and my cane.

We get there and park as close as we can and proceed into the store. We can already see that it's going to be an ordeal because I can barely make it across the parking lot without getting run over. We get in there, grab a basket, and start shopping. Ordered Michael's birthday cake, grabbed the bakery items from our list, then off we go up and down the aisles. Waddle, waddle, limp, limp in single file. Neither one of us is familiar with the store and Mike used to work there, so every 5 minutes or so, Ashley stopped to call him on the cell phone to see where something was. Then off she'd go on a wild goose chase to find the elusive baking soda, vinegar, etc. Several times as soon as she'd get back, I'd realize I forgot something several aisles back and send her back to get it. Poor Ashley would look at me like "Calgon, take me away!", but being the brave little soldier she is, she'd head back to get it. About halfway through the trip, I was rolling along pretty good, when a lady decided to come out from a side aisle real fast..and I almost mowed her down with my cart. Whoa!!! I stopped abruptly, but the cart kept rolling with my feet sliding behind it..my knee popped and up I went on one leg..hop, hop, hop. The lady didn't even glance my way..just kept rolling merrily along. So now I'm limping even more than I was before. Did a little more shopping and headed for the checkout. Got almost to the checkout and realized I'd forgotten drinks. I glanced at Ashley..she knew I was about to ask her to go back for them, but the look she gave told me I better just skip the drinks. Unloaded the cart, paid for my stuff, grabbed my cane and headed for the car. Halfway to the door, my knee buckled on me one more time and up I went hopping on one leg again! A lady behind me wasn't about to stop, so she went flying around us..it looked like she almost knocked Ashley down. I stood there a minute until I could hobble again, then we headed to the car and finally made it home.

No more bright ideas for awhile, right Ashley?

Happy Easter

2007-04-08T07:07:00.000-07:00

Here Comes Peter Cottontail

Hopping Down the Bunny Trail

Hippity Hoppity, Easter's on Its Way..

Wait!!

It's Already Here!!

HAPPY EASTER!!!

An Interesting Day

2007-04-01T16:51:00.000-07:00

So...

I was sitting outside enjoying the beautiful Spring day. The birds were singing and the warm sun was shining on my face. Bill was down at the side of the driveway mowing. Life was good...when all of a sudden I heard #******@*@*!!!! OH NO, SPLASH!!
Since I have a bad knee right now and am on a cane, I hobbled to the car and took off down to the pond. There was Bill, standing in the driveway sopping wet with his mouth hanging open...and the lawnmower going glub glub glub as it sank in the pond.
Oh No!!!

The Moral of This Story:

DON'T BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU READ!!

APRIL FOOLS!!!!!!!!!! Got ya, didn't I?

Haaahaaahaaa heeeeeeeheeee haaaaahahahahahah!!!!

:)

Skidboot The Wonder Dog

2007-03-28T16:58:00.000-07:00

Rest In Peace, Skidboot the Wonder Dog...1992-2007

What an amazing creature he was!

RAINBOW BRIDGE

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.
There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.
There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.
The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

Nature...Take Me Away!!!

2007-03-27T13:41:00.000-07:00

When you tackle a cleaning project and find yourself getting a little overwhelmed, drop everything and step outside for a nature break. Inhale deeply and get a whiff of the heavenly scent of Wisteria in full bloom. Use your senses..look around and take in the beauty of flowers and trees blooming. Watch the birds primping and preening in hopes that they'll find a mate soon. Listen to the wind whispering through the trees, and the birds singing their beautiful songs.

Who needs Calgon when you've got nature all around you?

Ahhhhhh..life in the country..gotta love it!

Moocher

2007-03-17T11:38:00.000-07:00

MOOCH:

1. To get or try to get something free of charge; sponge: lived by mooching off friends.

Gee, sounds like about 3/4 of my family.

Gotta Love Em!

Can I adopt a new one now??

Warning..Crappy Mood Ahead..Enter at Your Own Risk!

2007-03-11T23:02:00.000-07:00

I'm in a shitty mood and I am gonna vent before I blow a gasket, so hang on to your hats!

I've been working on the house for days and it still looks like shit. Clutter, clutter, everywhere and none of it worth keeping, but I can't bear to throw it away.

The real estate appraiser is coming in the morning, thus the cleaning frenzy. My gripe though is...when you refinance your own house, WHY the hell does a real estate appraiser have to come anyway?? I mean, we're not selling the house..we're just getting a better, shorter term loan. I don't like strangers in my house and I sure don't like them snooping around and breaking their necks over all my clutter. I hate it, hate it, HATE it!

And while I'm having a bitchfest, I'll tell you something else I'm not happy about. American Idol..Sundance Head went home last week and little zero personality Indian boy that sings like shit stays another week! Sucks!

And another thing I hate...people (like my Sister) who try to run your name in the mud by committing prescription fraud using your name! Not cool at all!

And last but certainly not least..I hate moochers! "Oh poor me, I have a job but no place to live, so let's sponge off somebody else..live in their house, eat their food, use their utilities, while we spend all our hard earned money on dvd's, cd's, and other things that make us happy"....to those kind of people I say..GET A LIFE AND GROW UP ALREADY!!

Ok...stepping off my soap box now...Bartender..give me a Mudslide please...and make it a double....