Family Reunions

1st & 2nd cousins.

All the gang who showed up.

Yes I know you don't have a clue who these people are--and I don't intend to list all their names. BUT--this is a family reunion from my dad's mother's side of the family. And these are the remaining few.

It makes me a bit sad that so many of them have gone --- and that a few others don't attend. It makes me a bit sad such a one time large family has dwindled.

My grandmother was one of 7 (I think???) children. And then they all married and had children. So at one time, this was a big group getting together. I remember 35 years ago, when I was newly married, meeting with great uncles, 2nd & 3rd cousins. I just didn't appreciate how meaningful those family ties would become.

Why do we miss those so very much when we didn't even see them that often? Well, because that's our family. It's where we came from and who we were & are. My grandmother stayed here in her hometown until she was unable to care for herself alone. I believe 2 of her brothers stayed here also. Other brothers lived only 30 minutes away; one had the nerve to move out of state. But even with all the closeness of proximity, families got so busy raising their own kids, working, keeping up with daily life, that after "great grandmother" passed, the gatherings diminished. It was too bad, cause we have such a great time when together!

My dad had only 1 sister & i brother--he never married. I had 3 cousins, girls, that we were raised with almost like sisters. We have tried to remain active in one another's lives, but, alas, it is difficult.

Still, when we get together, we laugh til our sides hurt, reminiscise, gossip, eat, hug---we are family. We will forgive faults & failures, rejoice in triumphs, love unconditionally--we are family.

If I Had Known. . . . . .

It's now been a year since I quit my stable, regular hours job & bought a catering business. What a year! A year of getting my feet wet in this business--of learning how to take really deep breaths when frustrated, cause nothing else will suffice--learning who should do what around the kitchen---so many more "learnings" but it would just bore you to tears.

One major thing I have learned is how tough I really am. When I'm dead tired, but have to finish the dishes, set out the trash, make the paperwork for the next day, schedule orders in the right fashion, make a grocery list, I have learned I can keep on moving! And I have learned that I can only please one person--myself.

This "owning one's own business" is not for the frail or weak! The business never leaves--it's like a shadow, always right behind me. Even when I take a day "off" there are errands to run, groceries to purchase, menus to plan. It just never stops. And the stress of it all can be overwhelming! But, there again, I am one tough cookie.

I love the picture at the top of this post--even have a card. But it really, really has alot to say about my life! I "spot" clean, do laundry, wipe off the toilets, but my gosh--how I long to clean out the closets & rearrange the kitchen cabinets! That's how desparate I have become for "me" time!!! I'm willing to do housework to relaxe!!

Just wanted to keep in touch--hope you are all ready for fall cause here it comes!

Happy Fall!

Where Have I Been????

Wow-it's been a long LONG time since I updated my blog--hope I haven't lost any friends--It's just that summer has been long & hot, and alot has been happening. The picture above pretty much sums up what I do 24/7. I cook, bake, serve, arrange, display, and do it all over again. The above was a "pink & black" shower given for a friend of my sisters. It turned out really cute and, of course, the food was deliciouso!!

And then there's Hank--the apple of my eye, the treasure of my heart. I try to have him at least one night every two weeks--I'd have him over more, but his mom & dad are stingy & won't give him up. It's like they LIKE him or something!! ha ha But he is growing like wheat--and now he's going to be a big brother. Mack Alexander will be born sometime around Dec 10. We are too excited to describe. AND--the kids are trying to move back to this area. Like 5 minutes away from me. Like I will see them every stinkin day if I choose!! Nooooo I'm not glad at all!!!

This wasn't part of the above shower, but it was for another shower. Seems like all the gals are requesting pink and black! Well, I like the combo also, and I like the zebra effect on the cake.

These were part of the pink & black shower. They were really cute! Oh it's so much fun to take creative license! And most of the time the shower givers let me.

This summer wasn't nearly as slow as I had anticipated. I really thought July would be a lazy time---but NO! It was extremely busy. No complaints tho--it pays the bills! The past two weeks were a little slower but the calls have been coming in this week. One year ago today I was so afraid of jumping feet first into this venture. I was working my final days at the school and trying to understand all of this catering. Now, after one full year, it is so much more comfortable! I do miss the office crew & the comradery that we shared--I have to stop in & see them every so often. And they do call on me to provide food when needed, so the cord isn't completely severed!

But life has definitely changed. And I am working my butt off and enjoying (almost) every moment! Except when I drag home exhausted. Which is at least 2 or 3 times a week. But after a good nights rest, I'm ready to rock & roll again.

AND--I have become an addict. Yes, I admit it--I have joined the wonderful world of facebook. It has hooked me up with so many friends & acquaintances I haven't heard from in eons. It's been fun to have popcorn conversations.

AND--hubby has gone back to work---yoo haw!!! We once again have insurance & steady income (from him). I'm certain he feels better about himself also. He's back in the aerospace business & we are fully aware that could change at any given moment. But for now, we'll just take one day at a time.

Ok, gotta run & email some quotes for fall events. Just wanted all of my cyber friends to know I will still be reading your blogs!

Hello August!!

Gosh, where does the time go???? Today is the first Monday in August, kids are preparing to return to school, summer is winding down and today I had a ROOT CANAL!!!! Yes, I know none of those things have anything to do with the other--sometimes I talk in circles!



I had today off & tomorrow also, then the calendar is full. Don't you just love a day off? Just the sound of it is relaxing!!




So, not much going on--except the ROOT CANAL. I must confess, it wasn't nearly as bad as I anticipated. Well, that is, after the injection! Since the tooth was a lower one, the entire nerve had to be blocked---ouch! Then it had to be "renumbed" as I felt something! Ouch!!! After that it was smooth sailing. The Dr appeared to be something like 15 years old. It's sad how young the drs are looking these days.




So now it's evening---I have tomorrow off---and I'm enjoying life!



You have a good evening & I'll post more later.

Down Time

I found some pictures taken last year during our Colorado vacation & thought I'd share them--perhaps again? I don't remember! Anyway, today I have a day off. And I'm running around trying to do anything and nothing. I start one thing then decide to go to another. So, as usually happens, nothing will get finished!!! Our days are so filled with timelines, committments, meetings, etc., that we have totally forgotten how to just "be". Just sit & relax. Try it---bet your mind's voice will start to tell you the house is dirty, the laundry needs folded, dinner needs planned, projects need finished, the lawn needs mowed. And on and on and on it goes. Until sometimes one just has to say STOP!!! And see the flowers!! (Nice seguey, huh????) I'd love to be looking out the front window and see this--it was soo cool (temperature) there. I'd like to just take it all in once more. Guess in my mind's eye???

And these beautiful poppies---we were so enamored with the colors of the mountain flowers. With all the 100 temps here, the flowers are spending all their energy here just surviving! But up in the mountains, where the days are cool and the nights are cooler, and streams flow around each and every corner, the flowers can take the time to work on those gorgeous colors!

Aren't these lush? They remind me of velvet. Maybe a Valentine's flower, or a Mardi-gras flower. Love those combinations of Mother Nature!!! She's certainly not afraid to combine the most vibrant of colors in the most unusual of ways. Extravagance of the eye!

And now, I'm thinking of a couple of other things I can run to. Oh right! Relax!!!

Have a great day!

But It Relieves Tension. . . . . .

My name is Pam and I am a tooth grinder---is there a Grinders Anonymous? I grind my teeth in my sleep, when I'm pressured, and sometimes when nothing at all is going on!! If not grinding, then I can sure put a "lock" on my jaw. So anyway, I guess I have been grinding my teeth while sleeping, and now one of my teeth is uber sensitive. It hurts to the touch--it hurts for no apparent reason. So badly that I must take a pain pill daily (and I don't like taking pills, thank you Jefferson Starship).

Let me describe my day yesterday & perhaps you'll join me in a good grind. Hubby called me from the kitchen at 6:15 AM yesterday to let me know the filter on the ice machine had sprung a leak. Water all over the floor--he needed to go on to his "other" job, so I rushed down with the shop vac to sop. When I saw the leak hadn't slowed, I called my father-in-law (bless his heart) who brought his industrial sized shop vac & came to help out. We sopped and mopped til we nearly dropped, then we stopped! I had food to deliver--we sat a pan under the leak and rotated turns emptying it.

Proceed with the morning: I left for a delivery 30 minutes away, Karen left for a delivery 45 minutes away and we left father-in-law to deliver 15 minutes away for a bank board luncheon. As I drove away from my delivery, he called & informed me that the luncheon was not this Thursday, but NEXT Thursday. After calling the gal who scheduled it (and being told, "but I told you in my email"), I just smiled (read gritted my teeth) and told her we'd sure be there next week.

As I pulled into a supply store I looked over and realized I had not taken the hot rolls into the delivery---back to the clinic at break neck speed to get those rolls in. After all, the delivery was for 35 & some of them would have missed the rolls.

So, as I was driving home with the toothache, I broke down & called my dentist's office only to receive a recording that he wouldn't be back in the office til next Monday. Egads!!! Pop another pain pill. No, I won't go to another dentist---I am terrified of them all & this one has "proven" himself to me, so it's him or nobody.

Well, at this point I was as low as a snake's belly and the phone rang. I started to let the voicemail get it and ignore! But being the responsible woman I am, I answered. And I'm glad I did! It was the secretary at the bank telling me the mix-up was indeed her fault & they wanted to go ahead & purchase the food for an ill employee! Somehow, things always work out. Somehow the silver lining shows up just before the trigger is pulled--ha ha.

And that, my dear friends, is why I am a tooth grinder. Not an organ grinder, which has no painful affect on the body, but a tooth grinder. And I shall remain in pain until next Monday. Oh heck, it's not unbearable--not with the "magic pills" but it's there.

Now another silver lining for today--I get to attend Affair of the Heart w/my BFF & Hank is coming to the house tonight. See why the grinding stops????

Now, you go and have a great weekend and keep the teeth apart!!!

Sizzle!!!!

Wowza---it is hot, hot, HOT here in Oklahoma!!! Like in the 100's hot. Like eggs cooking on the sidewalk hot. Like --- well just trust me, it's too hot to move!!

I'm going to share some family pics with you today--we had yet another dinner (we love to eat!) this past Saturday evening at my sister's house. And all the fam came out. Gotta love those family gatherings. Gotta love that food-- Anyway, here's one of my son and his precious girlfriend. They have been dating for -- hey I think it's been about a year now--- and we have certainly been smitten with her. She's a real doll--inside and out.
And this--well need I say this is my favorite little man in the whole entire world????? He's learning to swim and must have his goggles. And his mommy. He loves his mommy---he loves daddy too, but he LOVES his mommy. I never knew I could love another little one as much as I did my own two, but it happened! He stole my heart and I am besotted with him. Can't stand it when he's away for too long---then I find ways to get my "Hank fix". And now we're going to add another one----happy dance, happy dance!!!

Oh, how sneaky of this cake to jump in!!! It was ordered for a baby shower Saturday morning. The top layer is chocolate and the bottom vanilla. They were greatly pleased with the way it turned out.

Well, after the pic of the sneaky cake--back to the fam--here's Hank's mommy & daddy---my darling daughter & her hubby. She's the best mommy a kid could wish for. And she's a doting wife. And a wonderful daughter----couldn't love her more!!

I, like all other parents, are sooooo proud of my kiddos. They have each turned out so very well---hard working, compassionate, funny, loving, thoughtful---all those things you want to see in young adults. So, I wanted to share them with you. I don't do that too often, but today is the exception.

Now, about these HOT days----hard to believe that in 90 days --- just 3 months---it'll be fall, the leaves will be turning, football will be in full swing, the holidays will begin!!! But today it's just HOT!!! And when you work in a kitchen, the heat is monstrous!!! Business is hopping--I've been so busy that I don't have time to think about anything else. Well, almost--

Enough for today--my brain is baked, and I must recline!!! Have a great week.