Pretty Flowers!

I don't have alot of flowers this year--seems I always have good intentions and never the time!!! But the few I do have seem to have such vibrant colors!
Like this petunia--and the one following.

Petunias always remind me of velvet--they look so soft and lush.

My perinnials are pretty this year--even with all the cold ice this past December, they seem to have survived quite well. This one has the biggest leaves--when I first put it in the ground it was tiny, and the name "big leaf" seemed like a distant dream. And now this year--here it is--taking full advantage of the area!!

Then I have these in the garden--they too are returning hosta, and don't know if you can tell, but two of them are getting ready to bloom. I adore my hosta--I keep adding them and dividing them--pretty soon the whole side of the house will be full of hosta. They just speak to me tho. So pretty and different.

I planted a hydrangea bush this year behind the big leaf hosta. It's supposed to be blue, and probably won't flower this first year of planting, but I am also drawn to hydrangea. They remind me of my grandmother's garden. So I hope to eventually have more.

In the back yard I have a peony bush--another one of grandmother's favorites. It isn't blooming yet this year, but when it does I'll share a picture with you. I also have some poppies and hollyhock planted from Mosiac Queen. Hope I have good luck with them.

Can't work in the garden this week tho cause of my stitches in the finger---it's amazing how we take our fingers for granted! Each one of them has a duty and a function, and I must say--I really miss having all of them in full working order!!! And you can't believe how many times a person bumps her fingers in the course of one day---usually it's just bumped and on you go. But when bumping results in P-A-I-N well, you become aware of the bumps!@!

I really don't have much interesting happening right now, so I'll close--just wanted to share a few pretties from the outside!

OUCH!!!!!!!!

This is the "cleaned up" result of Saturday afternoon! Now, I will warn you---the next picture is a bit graphic--enter at you own risk. Or scan by quickly!!

SEVEN STITCHES!!! In the tip of my finger! The deading doesn't fully deaden the tip of the finger due to all the nerve endings there. Even when the Dr gave me additional lidocaine in the wound. So I felt about half of the stitches!!! OUCH!!!

I was making punch at a reception--left a lid on the can of pineapple juice & sat it in the sink--reached for something else in the sink and overshot my target. AND came down full force on the lid!!! I wasn't going to go to the ER---I HATE ERS & DRS (no offense medical people), but the darn thing wouldn't quit bleeding. I was the proverbial "bleeding like a stuck hog"!!! S0000, out of fear of bleeding out from the finger (at least that's how my hubby convinced me) and the fear of infection which would require cutting off my finger (another of his arguments), I relented and went.

I told Big Daddy that he had to hold my hand---I've NEVER had stitches! And he said no way--he would faint! Bless my sister's heart---we called her, she came running and sat with me during my trama!!! I don't know what I would do without her.

Then I got home in time to attend a wedding. An evening, formal wedding. This new accessory may catch on!! Believe me--I had more questions about my finger guard than I have ever had on shoes or jewelry. If you want to make a statement that everyone will notice, go for the finger guard. Got lots of sympathy too!!! Everyone was saying "oh my gosh, the tip of your finger---that hurts sooo bad".

Now I'm just worried about having the stitches taken out. They have to stay in for 14 days---this should be really uncomfortable!!! But I'm keeping it really softened with Neosporin. The paper said this would help --- right!!!

The up side you ask??? I can't do dishes for a couple of weeks. And it's my right hand--typing is difficult. Do you know how many times a person types "i's" and "k's"????? I'm looking for lots of understanding at work---after all I'm returning from a week's vacation---can't really take another couple of days "sick" days!!!

Well, I'll try to keep you posted in correct typing!!!

Please Add Mackenzie To Your Prayer List

Hi everyone---I just have a quick moment this morning, but I want to seek the prayers of everyone out there.

There is a 14 year old young lady, named Mackenzie, who is in a children's hospital in Tulsa Oklahoma this morning, and she and her family have received some very grave news.


After struggling with severe back pain for the past several months (and being under Drs care all of this time), they finally did MRIs and found two large masses in her pelvic area. She had exploratory surgery on Tuesday which revealed Stage 4 Ovarian Cancer. Additionally, they found a "spot" on her back--results haven't come back on this yet.


Last evening at church, the pastor seemed quite reserved when telling the congregation--which isn't good. He then prayed for a miracle in Mackenzie's body--which is unusual for him.


Please, please send this request on, pray for her, and stand in faith for her.


I'll be back after the day of shopping I have planned!

NO TV---WHAT ??????

We lost our cable connection!!!! It's been off & on since Friday evening. Saturday we watched Talledega Nights in desperation. It came back on, and then Sunday we lost it again! So we watched Volunteers in desperation. Yea, I know, we have no good movies in the house! Although, Ricky Bobby does bring some laughs. Come on, he really does! Who else prays to 8 lb 6oz baby Jesus---(forgive me for laughing through that one dear Lord).

And, I am off this week, and nothing spurs my housekeeping energy more than hearing the drone of the TV in the background. When it's tuned to HGTV I get all inspired, and begin rearranging furniture. When Food Network is on, I begin cooking. And when I Love Lucy is on, well, the day is free range! Now I have nothing but the CD player (which I have to change each hour or so, along with finding inspiring music) and the radio station. It gets pretty challenging talking back to those DJs.

So, here I am, talking to my bloggie friends. With music playing in the background. I'm thinking of tuning into a "foreign" station, and trying to decipher the meaning!!!

I did have one "literary" moment last night. I read Vanity Fair---the article about Bobby Kennedy. You know, I was 13 when he was killed, was 8 when JFK was killed, so I don't have alot of "internal background" on those times. Textbook authors didn't have time to disect the history by the time I got into high school or juco. So there is so much I didn't realize about those times. Or maybe I was too interested in "Letting The Sunshine In"--- "Hair". Somehow so much escaped my memory. Like the fact that LBJ HATED Bobby. And didn't even like JFK. And that Mitt Romney's dad was governor of Michigan. I feel so stupid!!! I wasn't aware that Ted Kennedy didn't want his brother to run for president. Or that Bobby was such a looser at public speaking--interviewing--carrying on conversations. Or that alot of Ethel's push for the presidency could have been her jealousy of Jackie! It's a good article, and now I want to read the book. Although, it's going to burst my bubble. In my childish mind, I liked Bobby and thought everyone else did too. They were quite taken with his funeral after all! And he had all those kids. And Hickory Hill.

Sometimes I think it's too much for the "people" to know everything about the leaders. We become calloused to politics, to authority, and, please, please, don't point out all of Washington, Lincoln and Jefferson's shortcomings. I need SOME heroes! We need someone to be leading us for the right reasons!

Ok, don't send me snippets cause of my historical ignorance. I did take Oklahoma History in college & made a 4.0 thank you very much. And took American History 1776-1865 with another 4.0. So I do know SOMETHING!!! It's just current history (what's wrong with that statement!!!), I don't latch onto. My brain is full and small.

Can you tell I don't have any noise in the background, and that I don't have a schedule to which to adhere????? Ok, I'm signing off for now, I have a cake to decorate.

But I'll be back (in the words of the Governor of California!!!).

Have a great morning........

Decoration Day~~

Decoration Day---anyone else remember it being called that? My grandmother always called it that--I guess cause it's the day to "decorate" graves.

It's raining here--wouldn't be Memorial Day if there was no rain! For years upon years, we spent Memorial Day at the lake (hey, we built boats!), and it always, ALWAYS rained. Which brought on the Memorial Day Card Game Marathons. Always played the same game---Liverpool Rummy. I still like that game. And you can not imagine how competitive my family of in-laws are about this game. Especially the more they imbibbed!!! We always had a good time, and lots and lots and lots to eat!!!

So today, we are not going to the lake---no more boats you know!! But we are having the whole fam-damily over for a cookout. Rain or no rain. We're going to grill everything but the cobbler and potatoes! We'll have pork roast, salmon, hot dogs, hamburgers, asparagus, zucchini, onion, corn on the cob--all cooked on the grill! As there will be limited room (!), the baked potatoes (idaho & sweet) will go in the oven. As well as the fresh blueberry cobbler!!! Oh, and the cornbread!!! Come on over---there will be plenty!!!

I haven't been to the cemetery. I really, really DO NOT like to go. But this year I may. I have already made reference to my brother & hubby's brother who were the same age---and they are both there, at the same cemetery. Along with grandparents, uncles, etc. All at the same cemetery--did I mention we have lived in the same town all our lives? And so did my parents, and grandparents. Big Daddy's family lived only a few miles up the road in a little community that is now almost deserted. So, we don't have far to go. I really don't like to go. Mainly cause I think we should honor those we love while they are living--hence the family affair today. I know, I know, there are graves to be decorated, and honored, but it seems so "after the fact". I prefer my family spend that extra few minutes with me NOW, not when I'm not there to enjoy their company!!!

On a lighter note---hmmmm, what can I say that will change the mood? Oh, I know!! I finished the Sunday crossword puzzle yesterday without cheating!!! Wow --- I love doing this! Makes me feel soooo smart!!! It's written that working crossword puzzles stimulates the brain, and keeps your neurons snapping! So, I'm practicing for old age!! ha ha ha ha

And on an even lighter note---I have taken this week off from work!!!!~ I had a vacation day, and 3 personal days left, so I'm putting them to good use--for my own selfish intentions!!! If there is one thing I have learned later in life, it is that there is never enough time devoted to self. Days, weeks, months are filled with obligations of work (which must be had to pay the bills--you thought I LIKED working?????), services for others and betterment of mankind, and not enough time for self!!! So, one of my mid-year (Memorial Day) resolutions is---play a little, sleep a little more, do what one wants to do a little more. I don't think, lying on my transition to heaven bed, I'll be thinking---gee, I really should have gone into work and left all the good times of self service undone; wish I had written one more grant, cleaned the desk one more time, spent extra time at the office one more day!!! Nope, I'm going to remember putting my feet up, splashing in puddles with Hank, and just wasting time! I'm feeling a "channeling" of Jimmy Buffet!

Wouldn't you like to be a Jimmy Buffet song? Wastin away in Margaritaville!!! I am ready to be a gypsy---a free spirit----a hippie revisited----

But for now, I'm going to fix lunch and clean the bathrooms!!! Wastin away in Pinesolville!!!

All of you have a great day--take a nap for me! And waste some time. Memorialze play!

Another Saturday Night~~~

Remember that song? "Another Saturday night & I ain't got nobody, I got some money cause I just got paid"?


I love the old songs from the 60's. And the 70's. Especially the 60's. I was 5 in 1960, and had already developed a love for music. And I remember nearly ALL the songs of the 60's. There was something really special about that music. Before Acid Rock. Before Woodstock. It seemed like such a simple time.



I remember listening to the radio on Saturdays. Wishing I was grown up and could drive. And could go out with my pals. Instead, I watched Petticoat Junction and let mom put those stupid pink foam rollers in wet hair for Sunday School. Use your imagination--you KNOW how cute the hair do was!!!


And now, it's Saturday night. It's almost 10 and I'm about ready for bed. You've come a long way baby! The last 40 years have FLOWN by. I did get to drive, got in all kinds of trouble, got married, raised kids, and stayed up way late. And now, well, another Saturday night.


TV didn't get much better tho. The shows of the 60's and early 70's had to be the best! I loved My Three Sons, Petticoat Junction, the Carol Burnett Show, Mannix, Mary Tyler Moore, Bob Newhart. The best writing ever---we'll never see that again. I don't care how good it may get, it'll never be that good---and simple.


Did anyone see the cast of Mary Tyler Moore on Oprah? In a way, it makes me sad to see reunions---they are all so OLD!!! And some have had way too much surgery & botox. They didn't even really seem that happy to see each other. When they hugged, it was the perfuntory, "don't hug too close" hug. That makes it even worse! Who wants to know they aren't close? That they didn't stay BFF? Talk about popping the bubble! I want them to drop by each other's homes for Sunday breakfast, raise their kids together, tell each other secrets, borrow clothes or at least sugar! I was really disappointed when I found out that Ethel & Fred from "I Love Lucy" actually HATED each other. It takes away from what one can believe!!! How can I continue to live in a fairy tale land when the fairies are ogres???



Ok, well so much for another Saturday night!



Hope you all have a happy Memorial Day Weekend. Be careful and stop to think about all those gone and not forgotten.


Eat well and prosper! (a little creative liberty!)

NCIS--Don't Ya Love It!!!

NCIS---I really like this show!! It took me a couple of trys to get "into" it, but now I'm hooked. Actually, Big Daddy started watching first, and knowing he holds the remote, and I don't like to go to the bedroom at 7 p.m. to watch alone, I sat and went along. And now, I am soooo into it. Right up there with CSI. And Criminal Minds. Don't care too much for CSI:New York. Somehow I just can't get the flow of watching that. And CSI:Miami--well, watching Horatio is like watching Captain Kirk. They have the same "pregnant pause" motions, and the "talk to the camera" attitude. At least William Shatner doesn't take himself tooooo seriously!!

Now, back to NCIS---one of the things (people) I adore on the show is Ducky. He's just too cute. Does anyone else remember him as Ilya Kuriakan, on Man From U.N.C.L.E.? He was the ultimate sexpot of the late 60's!! Always dressed in black turtlenecks, tucked into black pants, with black Beatle boots. Remember? It's so heartwarming to see him back on TV.

And how about Pauley P? She was in the movie Galaxy Quest. Remember, the alien that "Monk" fell in love with and stayed to marry? She was quirky in that and she still is!!!

And, who can dismiss Mark Harmon? Wasn't it Chicago Hope? Along with others, I'm sure. More bio--his dad was the football star Tom Harmon, his sister was married to Rick Nelson, and his wife is Pam Dauber--you know! Mindy from Mork & Mindy!!! He's pretty sexy himself.

Love the Donozio character! Wouldn't you just love give some people the old "head slap" that he gets on a regular basis??? And McGee, sweet, naive McGee. Want to just hug that kid!

Too bad the director had to be killed off, but WAIT---exactly what was she dying of? Did they mention her "disease" and I missed it???? I know she took pills---they found those, but I never heard what they treated her for!!! Won't miss her too awful much--I didn't really think she & Jethro had chemistry!!!

It will be quite interesting to see how they save the team next season!!

Well, gotta run. Just wanted to hear from all of the fans!