Writer's Workshop: 10 Reasons

Writing prompt #5...10 reasons you like fall.

1) The colors!
Oh the pretty colors. Yeah I like green but the colors of the decaying leaves on some trees are just amazing. Sometimes living in the near desert of Texas, it's hard to tell when fall is actually here cause in some places even green is a rare color. The extreme Texas heat usually leaves everything a plain shade of brown, but I think everyone got a taste of that this year.

Back when we was traveling across America, I always looked forward to our return trip to the eastern states. Going through the Appalachian mountains was always my favorite, especially in fall. Getting up real high and looking at the beautiful landscape was breathe taking.

2) The cooler temps.
Like Sunday, was our first real taste of some livable days with out a/c. Yesterday morning was real nice and this mornings low was in the fifties. What I'm really looking forward to is a little reprieve to our electric bill. Getting that bill down to under a hundred for a couple of months will be well worth the wait. The weather will be so nice the chance of catching heat exhaustion on my walks or bike rides will be eliminated.

3) Clothing.
Not hot enough to have to run around with sweat stains and the minimal of clothing acceptable. Not cold enough to be bundled up in layers of clothes that you can't hardly move your arms. Just right for jeans and a t-shirt with maybe a light sweater in the evenings.

4) Pets.
Having the cooler temps will make having the dogs on my lap a more enjoyable experience. Just two weeks ago I was pushing them off of me in the effort to cool off my legs. There will be less aggravation towards them wanting to be on me and a whole lot more love and snuggling. I'm sure they are sick to death of hearing me say "It's too hot" and forcing them to go lay on the couch far away from me. They also sleep with me and two of the three sleep under the covers. I know for a fact that Stitch will be plenty glad for me to stop throwing off the covers in a fit of exasperation of being too hot.

5) Shopping.
The fall season is the time that I have to begin the winter stocking of our supplies. It is a hard and tasking job and yes I complain a bit, but really I do like it. It gets me out of the house and I enjoy the satisfaction I get when all is said and done. I know it sounds like: we live in the north or maybe that we are chipmunks, having to stock up for winter. Hubby's job is dependent on the weather and when the weather turns too cold; asphalt can't be laid, work is scarce and the pay checks get really small. So there will be no extra money for household, auto, pet or personal supplies. Now that I am thinking of it..I need to get started on that list.

6) Vacation.
I was looking forward to a fabulous vacation this year, but it looks like we will be staying at home. I was bothered by this for awhile but I have been researching places to visit here locally that we can enjoy. I have lived here for nearly 20 years and there is still so much about the area I have yet to discover. Two whole weeks of sleeping when I want, instead of being dictated to by an alarm clock. Oh the bliss!

7) The Cooking.
Even just last night hubby got all excited and rubbed his hands together in the anticipation of Chili. The summer heat tends to lead us towards quick meals like salads and sandwiches or just about anything that wont heat up the kitchen too much. When the fall comes with the promise of winter I tend to get out the soups, stews, chili and roasts. Can't wait to dig into the chili and cornbread. YUM!

8) The Holidays.
Not particularly the holidays themselves but the feel and spirit of them.

Halloween: gives me thoughts of children and their clever costumes, not the store bought ones but the creative ones that they dream up themselves. Then of course there is the CANDY and the house decorations (not mine but others). There is also the hayride to look forward to.

Thanksgiving: The family gathering of good food and good company. The preparation of thanksgiving can be gruel some but the reward of having family and friends to share with is awesome. Even if it is just me and the hubby and two small hens, the spirit of being thankful is always there. I also love the decorations of hay and pumpkins.

9) Photography.
I am really looking forward to the future photos that are just waiting to be taken or discovered. The anticipation has been gnawing at me for some time already. The trees will be thinning out and more of the landscape will be visible, things that were hidden behind the brush will now be reveled. I can hardly wait!

10) Crafts.
My craft of choice is crocheting. In the spring and summer it is nearly impossible for me to work on any projects cause the yarn doesn't flow to well when your fingers are sweating. Just in the week of slightly cooler temps I have managed to start a project and already have two other projects running through my head. AND that is just the first week of fall! I can do my crocheting up till about the beginning of march, then it starts to get a little too steamy outside. So when fall comes I tend to get into a creative mood and I love it!

Soo there ya have it folks...I love Fall!

For more great writing head on over to Mama Kat's place.

Oh, to have a good back again.

I can remember back about 20 years ago I could do anything, lift anything, move anything. I was strong, still am too a point. I think I reached that point, again, for the umpteenth time. The beginning of last week was spent moving slowly, carefully or not at all, apparently I slept wrong and had to roll out of bed. I spent a good deal of time just sitting in my chair watching tv, cause moving wasn't an option. The pain was extreme at times but was tolerable for the most part. I even started to get better by Wednesday night and was beginning to feel decent. I could do my chores and even walk at a normal pace, heck I even went grocery shopping Friday.

Talking to the bf (B) Friday evening about crochet stitches and our new projects, we realized that it was about time to get together and show our work. It is really difficult to try to describe stitches and patterns over the phone. We are both "Show me" kinda gals. So we made plans for Sunday.

Hubby came home early Saturday and asked if I wanted to go over to see her right then. I would have said yes but I was still feeling the slight twinge and thought it best to wait one more day. Besides, come to find out her hubby was planning a BBQ for Sunday. Wouldn't want to miss that, since he is like the best BBQ'er I have ever known. Hubby is good, but even he will admit his bf's (M) is better. (Yes, his bf and my bf are married, it's a little confusing)

Sunday morning all was well and we finally got ready to go. I have to do a mental check list to make sure I don't forget anything, cause I almost always do. I always manage to remember something I forgot about halfway there. I was good this time and didn't forget anything, amazing, I know!

Camera..yup
Smokes..yup
Nail clippers..yup
Patterns..yup
Yarn and project..yup
Family Reunion memory card..yup

(We will get to the nail clippers, I know yall are puzzled over them being on the list)

So we are on our way, I have just a tiny twinge but I'm tough I can handle it.

Let me just say the sky was gorgeous Sunday and with the promise of a cool front pushing though sometime today. There was a breeze and oh it was so lovely, even hubby said so and it takes temps down to the 60's for him to like it.


We are greeted by B's three little yappers(kin folk to my yappers). Thankfully her yappers love us like family and were very excited to see us. There was lots of spins, jumps, running, dancing and happy panting. B..well not so much! LOL! Even the "I'm gonna getcha" didn't bring as much as a reaction I got from her "Old Lady P" yapper, who ran through the house like I was hot on her tail. We love that game, okay she really loves that game.

We sat around and showed stitches, patterns, projects and clucked like old hens. M..started up the fire and oh the smell had my mouth watering, I was ready to sink my gums into whatever he had in the pit. It didn't matter what it was, I was ready for it. *Knife and fork in hand, banging on the table* kinda hungry!

While waiting I thought, now would be a good time to get my chore done. I got out those nail clippers. Why? You ask. Cause they are doggie nail clippers! LOL! Yeah I'm cracking myself up!

As soon as the dogs realized what I had in my hand, *flash* they were gooonnne!

G.. got up on the couch and faced the wall. That is his way of saying "I'm invisable". Sorry fella, not going to work this time, even if you are being funny. I clipped his nails right there on the couch. After bending over and wrestling every foot, I went to straighten myself upright. Ouch, that kinda hurt.

P.. I always have trouble with this old lady. We are the best of friends except for these moments, she will try to bite but hasn't gotten that lucky so far. Lord help her if she ever does! I found her back outside and as soon as I tried to bend down to get her, she bolted. I on the other hand did not bolt right back upright, it took some doing. I finally managed to get her back in the house, picked her up and put her on the table. Again did a wrestling match for each foot, while trying to keep her from making the great escape. By time I finished with her I was having some really bad pains in my back, but had to move on to the last and craftiest of them all.

A..I looked in her spot under the end table next to B's chair. Nope not there. I call her and why I though she would come running was stupid of me. I go outside and ask if she was out there. Yup, there she was hiding under B's chair. I reached down to get her and she flops over on her back. I take hold of her legs and literally dragged her out from under the chair on her back and she let me. Everybody was laughing! I picked her up and carried her inside to the table and proceeded to do her nails. This girl shakes like there is a thunderstorm directly over the house! Very hard to hold onto. I think it is her ploy, her sympathy card or something and it works everytime. Yes she nearly got away, with only two feet done! I had to catch her in mid-jump! I finally finished her up, but really all of them together finished me up!

I was stuck but good. I slowly made it to the front door and hubby saw instantly I was done in for. He helped me down the steps and asked if I was ready to go home. Unfortunately there wasn't the option to sit there in pain all day. I had to say.. Yes, my pain pills were at the house and I would have hated to sit there in pain and be a downer on the whole get together.

Soo we came home, hungry. I felt so badly for ruining his day. To my surprise and relief, he said..

"I'm not glad that you are hurting, but I am glad to be able to see the rest of the race!"

Yeah but what about supper? We were both pretty hungry and totally missed out on the BBQ. Well folks I will have you know that hubby cooked supper. Okay so what if it was:

Gordon's fish fillets
Pork and beans
Uncle Bens whole grain rice
with hot dog buns

I got fed by the hubs!!!

Soo, I sit here with an ice pack and a pillow, soon to be in bed. Wonder how I'm going to get out of bed...maybe Stitch will help me! LOL!

Spin Cycle: Religion

Soooo..the Spin Cycle's assignment this week is religion. Yeah I know...really? Do you really want to go there? Wellllll..no actually, but I thought I might try my hand at it. PLEASE for the love of...don't leave me or think me a nut case (even if it might be true).

My faith. sigh.
Well lets try to start at the beginning. My earliest memory of church was in my own front yard. When I was little, I lived with a babysitter through the week and spent the weekends with my dad. The baby sitter's house was directly behind a small baptist church. We didn't go but her youngest daughter and I would sit on the porch and listen to the singing. That was our favorite part. When I spent the weekends with dad we would go to church on Sunday morning. I was all dressed up in my best dress, pearls and gloves. The hardest part was that I had to sit there with my knees and feet together, my hands lain in my lap and eyes forward. It was torture! BUT I always loved the singing part.

When dad remarried and I was yanked from the babysitter, suddenly we were going to church alot more often during the week. We was going every time the doors were open. I immersed myself in the choir and for a while that was good. I got baptized at the tender age of 7. As if I really knew what I was doing.

I watched my grandmothers go to church every Sunday. I believe they were both Methodist, but that doesn't really matter. Labels aren't necessary, they both believed in Christ and had faith. With all the adults in my life going to church, I knew it had to be something I MUST do.

We moved and changed churches, no make that denominations. It was the scariest thing I had ever seen, experienced and heard. These people were having seizures all in the name of the lord! I wanted NO part of that! So, instead I found another muse to keep me busy during church services. Friends or more accurately..boys. I really did try to not pay attention to the goings on. People throwing their arms all over the place, dancing in the isles and falling to the floor. I saw people being injured by the folks so enraptured in the throws of rejoice. I always wrapped my feet around the legs of the chair, just to keep them from getting stepped on. I would come home from church frustrated and at times angry. The somewhat fun time I had in Sunday school with my friends was long forgotten by time I got home. I remember even begging to just go to Sunday school and skipping the service. That never happened.

I was baptized once more, but didn't find it to be a glorious moment. So I soon forgot about it.

THEN we moved to Texas so my parents could attend the Christian collage. Our lives were all about the collage and learning the bible and of course church. I was now a pre-teen and starting to learn more than maybe I should, so some would say. I started analyzing the history of the bible and other faiths. Dad was going to be a missionary, so it was important to learn about other cultures. I don't think that my parents had any clue what was going through my brain and how it was affecting me.

Of course living in Texas and of course growing up, I was exposed to all types of religions and was learning the differences and the commonalities. It was all very confusing, so I was what some would consider a problem child.

There was another side to the church process that had me in near tears all the time. We were a poor family and as a teenager I struggled with this. The church that we were currently going to (our third so far in Texas), were mostly configured of middle class folks. The laughing joke of the church is what we became, the charity case. The other teenagers were cruel and never let me forget that we was poor. They would show up in the most beautiful dresses I had ever seen. Well after some time of being exposed to their cruelty, I begun to lose faith in the church going process.
I was baptized yet again and again it had no profound affect on me like I saw it do in others. That was the final straw! I knew it wasn't that I was bad, crazy or hopeless. It was the folks around me that made me feel that way.

I have been to church maybe a dozen times since I left home at 17. Not because I have anything against going to church, I have just known for along time that it is something that wasn't for me. The fashion contest, the damnation of other religions and the hypocrisy is too rampant and I don't want or feel the need to subject myself to that stuff. I'm a live and let live kinda girl. I would never try to tell someone what they must believe or do and I hope to get the same respect for my decisions. I don't take my decision lightly, I have spent nearly half my life in church and learning the bible or I should say forced to learn the bible. I know most religious folks wouldn't agree with my decision, they would say "If you don't get right with god then you are going to go to hell". Well, my response is always the same...We are good! We know where we stand with each other and we are good.

I have always disliked the separate denominations or even the label of Christianity. To me putting a label on oneself like that is like allowing folks to peek into your bedroom. It's my heart, soul, spirit or what have you. As long as I am at peace with myself and try to live a good life with no harm to others, then we are good! IF I was to put a label on myself..then it would have to be...ha! Thought I was going to tell, didn't ya!!
I had best stop here, before I alienate all my friends and have them running for the hills just to get away from the heathen. Go ahead and laugh mom, I know you want to!

This post is in NO way a mean spirited post. Just the ramblings of a woman who dug too deep for answers and didn't like what she found.

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Luke 6:31
Yes, I dug my bible out for that one!


For more great spins, go visit Sprite's Keeper.

Family Reunion - Part Two

Just thought I would share some pics of our weekend.

Family Reunion - Day One

Friday evening I was a ball of anxiety and excitement. I felt like I wasn’t getting anything done or prepared right. Thankfully hubby went through the check list and we confirmed everything was A. Okay. BUT of course I still had that nagging little voice in my head that I was forgetting something. I had to walk away and turn it down to a whisper just so I could try to get to sleep. I slept four hours and walked out to the living room to find hubby still up. I asked him what was the matter and his reply was “I’m too excited to sleep!”

For my hubby this day was a lifelong dream that was finally coming true. All of his kids and grandkids together at last. It’s a miracle he slept at all! I had to remind him that if he didn’t get SOME sleep then he wouldn’t be able to make it through the day. That got him to sleep! BUT I had to wake him at 5 am to get the brisket fire going. Then I went back to sleep.

Hubby woke me with “They’re on their way!!” Son called to let him know and get directions. Hubby told me the directions he gave and I briefly said “They’re going to get lost”

The rain had been threatening to pour down all morning, but I don’t think anything could have dampened our moods. It did drizzle and then sprinkle, each passing wave of moisture seemed to be harder than the one before.

We got everything ready and waited. Hubby was outside sitting on the patio and I was pacing all over the place. I looked down at hubby and asked are you still so excited and all I got was a shake of his head and a grin, but his eyes never wavered from the gate. It was like he was using all his will power to force a car, any car to come on in. I was getting worried, yeah I can’t help myself. I called to see how far they are. AH, they stopped at the store. I told her she didn’t have to bring anything but I sure am glad she didn’t listen to me.

The girls and their families arrived and yes we were all having a wonderful time seeing each other and learning about the grandkids and life at home, but you could tell we were all waiting anxiously for the main event. The son and family that none of us have met. Well that is, except for hubby. Hubby was there when son was a baby and toddler, but had only seen him once since and that was nearly 10 years ago. The girls and I have talked to them on the phone and corresponded through Facebook, but it’s just not the same as getting to hug someone and experiencing them in real life.

It had been another hour since I talked to them and they still hadn’t arrived. Yup I knew it…they were lost! Not badly though, they were here before the kids and I could get to the stop sign. I quickly ushered all the kids back, I couldn’t wait to get son and family in my arms!

The day was wonderful with lots of food, hugs, catching up and playing around. Hubby smiled from ear to ear all day long!! He was having a glorious day; rain had no affect on his moment!

The kids and I went for a short walk, but if you ask Bryan he will tell you it was a long walk! We played, climbed, walked and talked. We did some Baby Shower Bingo, lots of fun there! Then the computer got turned on and let the games begin! Lots of fun playing with the umbrellas in the rain. The umbrellas didn’t survive, but I’m glad nobody got hurt while playing with them. Yes, I was a little worried of that.

There were tiffs and there were tantrums and even an ant attack, but all in all it went really well for eight kids in my small trailer and yard. Funny how what I perceived to be a large trailer and yard doesn’t appear to be with nearly 20 people in and around it.

Granny and Aunt D arrived and I have to say watching the reunion from that perspective was very touching. Seeing granny play Free Cell with her great granddaughter was awesome. Four generations in one house, I honestly never thought it was going to happen. We are so grateful that the kids pulled this off, they are the ones that planned it.
AND from my understanding there is already one in the works for next year. Fingers crossed!!!! I’m going to start saving NOW!

The day started too wined down and granny had already left. The younger grandkids were starting to look kinda tired and so was I! I rushed everyone outside while the rain had given us a break and tried to get some family group shots. I did get some good spousal shots, but I do wish I had managed to get some individual family group shots. You should have seen how difficult it was to get a pic with all eight kids in it. That was a riot! Hubby wanted a whole clan pic, but that didn’t happen either. Maybe next year!

I was under the assumption that this was it, we weren’t going to get to see them again till next year, thankfully somebody told me that the plans had changed and we were all meeting up at granny’s house tomorrow. So letting everyone leave wasn't nearly as painful as I was prepared for it to be.

One last thing… A huge thanks to daughter K! That girl cleaned up my whole kitchen, even though I was continually protesting that it wasn’t necessary. Oh and for not listening to me about bringing anything, she made the most delicious cheesecake dessert I have ever had! Can’t wait to get the recipe!

Thanks to everybody for coming and making history happen! I loved every minute we got to spend together!

A Momentous Moment In Our Family History Is Happening TODAY!!

Well today is the day I have been waiting for since I meet the hubby.

Hubby has 3 children all by different mothers and we have had somewhat of a relationship with the oldest daughter and just in the last few years a great relationship with the youngest daughter. BUT we have never been able to have any relationship with his son.

Hubby got to meet him once a while back, but I will be meeting him for the first time ever TODAY! Noonish to be precise! Not only will I get to meet him, but also our daughter in law and our grandson. Oh I should mention that we will also be meeting another grandson from the oldest daughter.

The last time we saw her, she had just given birth to her 3rd child, now there are 4.

We have missed so much in all of their growing up, I hate that but you can't change the past only the future.

This is going to be a momentous moment in the history of our family. All three kids in the same place! The girls will be meeting their brother and his little family for the first time also!

All the grandkids will be meeting each other too!

Can ya tell I am excited, well I am!!

Nervous too. I don't know why but I am.

This is history in the making folks and I am blessed to have it happen, finally!

Will have all the details for you next week.

Gotta go wake the grumpy old man to get the fire started for the brisket. Yumm..BBQ!

Working on my room

If you have been following me on facebook then you know I have been working like a sled dog, trying to get my bedroom finished. The post that I put up about my first blog post, kinda kicked me in the gut and embarrassed the heck out of me. I am on a mission and yes I have been moving out all the junk in preparation, but seriously who knows how long it would have took me to get it done if I hadn't reviewed that post.

I started painting two days ago, kinda taking my time. I was hoping the hubs would pitch in and help get the ball rolling. The more I complained of not getting the floor done, the more I realised I was on my own. It's not that he wouldn't want to, it's just that by time he gets home from work he is exhausted and so that leaves no energy to help me.

I woke up yesterday morning with the mission nagging me, so naturally I started moving the bed and dresser and yanked up the carpet. I knew the floor was bad, but I never imagined it was that bad. A patchwork of fixings is what I found. I lost count after 13 pieces! There was even some of the original floor pieces, yeah those were the ones that felt like you were going to fall through the floor. If it hadn't been for the carpet covering it all, I would have never put one foot in there! Nor would I have put my bed in there, which (come to find out) did have one leg stuck in the floor.

When I say we bought a fixer upper, I am soooo not exaggerating!!

Too late to turn back now, so trudged on.

All the wood is at the other end of the trailer, so I had to move everything out of my way so I could have a clear shot. Why is wood so friggin heavy?? I pulled, tugged, lifted and repeated several times till I finally got ONE piece back there. Only 3 more to go!! Phew!

I started this project at 10 am, by 2pm I was at the point of having to pull out the Skil saw to cut pieces to fit. I called hubby (thank goodness) and he said just get the wood marked and ready and he would cut it as soon as he got home. I would have done a happy dance, but I was too sore!

I took a break and while talking to SIL I realised I was going to need a carpet for my room and some shelf units would be helpful too. So off I went to charge up the card at Big Lots. A little shopping after a hard days work is always a nice bonus, if my feet would work right. I was actually in a hurry to get out of the store just so I could get back in my truck and off of my feet.


I finally get back home and back to work.
Set up the wood for hubby and do the measurements. I hate measurements, if they don't fall on one of the four marks in a inch then I get lost.
Then there was the moving everything back in its place so that the house doesn't look like a tornado moved through.
Then the cooking of supper. I was so happy to sit down and eat supper, well actually just the sitting down part, I was too tired to eat. (that never happens!)

After a hour break, I headed back to the dreaded dungeon.
Drilling down the wood and the cordless drill decides it has had enough. So I had to go old school...electric drill. Why I didn't go that route to begin with is beyond me. The power, oh the power!! I will know better next time, that's for sure!

(Where is my nice comfy bed?)

(Mom, you better put back the carpet, I need traction!)

Now if I can just get back to work, I might get the tiles down before morning. Can't wait to get my bed set back up, cause you can bet your botton dollar I am going to crash!!!!!

Writers Workshop: Cancer and the strongest women in my life.

2.) Over at SITS we’re hosting a week long Back2Blogging event that will end with someone taking home a brand new washer and dryer from Electrolux. Since September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month and Electrolux is working to promote awareness and early detection, I’ll be writing about a survivor or supporter that inspires me at SITS on Thursday. That was a long way of saying, Describe a woman who inspired YOU.

That was Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop prompt #2.

I find this so interesting cause I have had so many super good friends that have gone through or is going through some type of cancer right now.

Becky...she has been/is my bff for the last 15 or so years. Nearly five years ago she threw her back out and the pain was so severe she was begging to go to the hospital. She is the type of woman that has to be practically in death mode to WANT to go to the hospital. We all knew it had to be real bad. She had the back surgery and was doing just fine till they ordered her to get her female tests done. You know the pap and the mammo. The results floored us. Breast cancer.

Becky has always been strong, says whats on her mind and will get in your face if need be. I guess the best words to describe her is scrappy with a heart of gold as long as you don't cross her. We were not instant best friends, actually when I first meet her I was scared of her. BUT as time passed and with our hubby's being best buds, we found ourselves in the most fabulous friendship.

The wounds of losing a good friend to breast cancer just a few years prior, resurfaced to a whole new level when the results came in. Needless to say we were both pretty scared. I felt so helpless.

Becky's hubby has had his own ongoing medical issues with Burgess disease; he has had to have both legs amputated. Just a few months before this she lost her mother, whom she had been caring for for years in her home.

She was the one who took care of people, to conceive that she was sick herself was shocking. Of course the news of her cancer broke her down, but then out of no where she adopted this attitude (like someone had crossed her) and the fight was on!

So we (Her and I)went to dr's appointments and radiation and through the Cemo process. It was a new experience for both of us and it was hard for me to watch this fighting woman get hit in the gut every week, with no end in sight. I couldn't even jump in the ring to help her fight off her offenders. As hard as it was, I knew it wasn't even a smidgen of what she was going through.

I went to her house nearly everyday to play Yatzee, if she was too sick then I would just sit in the arm chair while she stayed laying on the couch. We would watch the soaps together and I sometimes I would bring her things from the store. There were the few times that I was told not to come over cause she was super sick. It was a dignity thing. I had seen her through just about everything, but she would never be able to get over it, if I ever saw her that weak. I know this about her and complied with her wishes.

One thing that she says now in retrospect that just resounds in my ears...I am not grateful that my mother died, but yet I am grateful I didn't get the diagnoses till after she had passed. For surely I would never had been able to care for her in my state.

There is just something so humbling in that statement that shows her true character, no matter what kind of front she puts on.
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Dianne.. Hubby and I used to truck with her and her hubby. Her hubby had a heart attack while we were headed back to Texas and shortly after, we drove their truck for them. We've been friends with them for at least as long as Becky and I have been friends. Her and Becky are two of a kind, the same definition of character could be said about Dianne also..Scrappy with heart.

This past year has been super hard on her. Her hubby has been in the hospital since Christmas of last year and suffered many strokes and has had a heart pump put in. He also contacted the Mrsa virus while in the hospital. He is currently in a facility cause his care is too tecnical for just anyone to deal with. That heart pump is apperently pretty complicated.

Unfortunatly, I haven't been involved in her ordeal except through phone conversations. She went to the emergency room for a cold that had gotten worse and worse, her daughter insisted. After all the tests, it was determined that she had lung cancer. She is currently going through the treatments, but not all is going well. She has since had Pneumonia, Pluralise and all other lung related issues.

Due to her hubby's diagnoses of the Mrsa virus, she is not allowed to see him becuase of he comprimised immune system. That is extremely tough on her! These two lovebirds in their golden years, apart... is almost unthinkable.

BUT even through all off this.. she is still the fighting, scrappy, I'm going to kick this cancer's ass, kind of woman!
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I love these women and the are my inspiration! If and when my day comes, I can only hope to be half as strong as these two are. They are forces to be reckoned with and I am proud to call them my friends! Cancer picked the wrong ladies this time!

Now go visit Mama Kat and SITS

My first blog post... OMG!!

This weeks SITS project is to get back to blogging.
Re-post your first blog post.

Here it is:
Dated: Saturday, September 26, 2009
Titled: Small progress in the house.

I have had the hubby home all week due to the rainy weather.

I have only managed to get one project done this week.

I tore out one side of my closet, then put in a new floor and 3 bookshelves.

I spent the rest of the evening filling up all those bookshelves.

That was 2 days ago and I still have some muscles hurting.

I have been trying to get my bedroom cleaned out of storage boxes and junk, so I can lay down new floor and fix the ceiling.

I am still hoping to get more of the house done before Thanksgiving.

Most of my family is coming to my house this year.

I volunteered us for it last year, thinking I would be done with the renovations.

Money, man power and the weather have held back a lot of the progress.

If I am lucky I will not lose my gusto.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Let me just say... OMG! I have to be the laziest person EVER!!!

Nearly one year later and guess what I have been going for the last month...go ahead guess...MOVING OUT THOSE BOXES!!! Looks like I wasn't so lucky and lost, walked away from and ignored my gusto! When I did have the gusto, I used it on other projects and put my room on the back burner. Funny how things have changed in the past year and yet stayed the same too.

Well you will be glad to know that all boxes and junk has been moved out of the room and put into storage (that happened just this last Saturday) and the ceiling has been Kilz'ed but not fixed though. The floor and painting is next, I did start the wall cleaning yesterday. Gawd I hope it doesn't take me another year to finish, that would just be too embarrassing!!

I must go and crawl in a corner and hang my head in shame and give myself a good lashing...GET YOUR LAZY BIG FAT BUTT OUT OF THE CHAIR AND GET BACK TO WORK!!!

Come on folks, yell at me! I need it!

Tropical Storm Hermine - Part Two

The rain was downpoaring within minutes of getting back home and the thunder could be heard in the distance. I could tell it was going to be a whopper and boy was it ever!
The sky turned dark with heavy clouds.

The rain fell like a waterfall.

Finally it started to let up a bit.

We ventured out to check out the aftermath. (Some had to be forced out the door. That would be hubby and Chaquita! LOL!)
This what I found, a lake in my yard!

As we were taking a potty break and taking pics, hubby decided to move the trucks. We were only out there about five minutes and out of now where, lightning stuck in the field and thunder sounded at the same instant. Have ya ever seen a fat woman run without touching the ground???? I'm sure hubby did, he was still moving the trucks! I'm positive them feet never flew so fast!! I even left the umbrella out there to fend for itself! The camera was just lucky it was attached to my wrist!

After another good thirty minutes of chaos, I ventured out again. The water covered 90% of the yard.

The sun was starting to go down and the glow was spectacular, but for some reason I couldn't capture its awesomeness in the pics. They really don't do it justice.


No we didn't float away, but it surely was scary at times.
The water has no receaded in parts but the water that does remain, smells horrible!

Hubby's favorite saying:
How high's the water, mama?
Five feet high and risin'
A bit from Johnny Cash's Song

Tropical Storm Hermine - Part One

Wow, was she an angry one!
She dumped well over 10 inches in my yard, in the last two days. My rain gauge only goes to 5 inches and by time I remembered to empty it, it was already overflowing, twice! The rain beat the land, the thunder shook the house and lightning was way too close. The dogs panted and coward and I was jumping out of my skin at every boom. Hubby slept through the whole thing Tuesday night. How? I don't know!!

Yesterday morning hubby said the whole yard was under at least 3 inches of water when he got up. By time I got up the standing water was only in one corner. I decided to take a walk around the neighborhood with my camera while the weather was still good. I was hoping to find the area that the lightning hit the previous night, the one that had me going through the house and shutting everything off. I didn't find it but I did find some other interesting things.

Never seen this flower before. It grows on a bush and is very delicate and at closer inspection it has a feathery quality to it.

Haven't seen this flower since early summer.

Found this fungus in my tree, never seen that before either but it sure is pretty.

Found these mushrooms in my mums!

I was walking along the road and in the distance I saw something in the road. As I got closer I realised it was a turtle. There was a truck coming and he wasn't moving fast enough. I put up my hands for them to stop or slow down as I ran out in the street and scooped it up. The older couple just smiled and waved. I stood there looking down at it in the grass, trying to figure out if it was lost or where it might be going. I surmised that it must have been swept away from the canal during the storm. So I walked him back to the canal and put him on the edge. I debated whether or not to leave him in the center of two canals and just when I made up my mind to do so, I reached down to pick it back up and in a flash he was down the embankment and gone in the water.


As I was heading back home, I spotted this unusual pile of twigs that was formed by the run-off on the road.

The water puddles were large and in charge of putting off some spectacular reflections.

Shortly after getting back home the storm raged again!
Part Two..tomorrow.

Spin Cycle: Great Outdoors

I love the great outdoors!
From the sun drenched blooms

To the rain soaked petals.


From the dried up creek beds

To the flowing canals.


From the plowed fields

To the one horse pasture.


From the sunset making the clouds look silky

To watching it set.


From the cotton ball clouds over a green field

To the sun peeking through and making beautiful rays.


From the new spring leaves

To the autumn decay.


From the creatures big

To the creatures small.

Nothing better than getting out in the great outdoors and admiring it all!

For more great spins, head on over and visit Sprite's Keeper!