is it wednesday yet ?????

at least it was sunny today and i was not as cold today as i was yesterday...last night was night number 2 for no sleep...not sure why...just a lot on my mind ...i guess...my neighbors next door are playing music really late at night...that does not help i am sure ...i really hate to say anything to him ...cause if i was living in that house i would need to do more than play music to be able to sleep there...he seems content there...the only home i am sure he has ever known...but...his grandparents are not there and never will be again...he seems to be able to handle it more than i can...still have my good and bad days...just try and keep it to myself...oh gosh...until now...as i have said this blog is cheaper than a shrink...

i was doing some research on the computer today...while journey was napping...and i had the news on...and herman cain was on singing amazing grace...oh my gosh...he needs to just leave...his poor wife...how many more women will come out before he gets out...and newt is no better...on his third wife...really not much worse than a cheater...really i am afraid i may not be voting republican this next year...we will see...

i am hoping to go to an auction on friday night...just afraid if i find some pieces of furniture to work on...that i will not have anywhere to store them...have a lot of plans to re-purpose some furniture...just not sure if the winter is the best time to start a big project...we shall see...i hope everyone has a great evening :) see you back here tomorrow...

Chillin Monday :)

What is it with me...i can not get warm...it was only 51 degrees here today and i was freezing cold...this is not a good sign...winter really has not kicked in here yet...i do not know if having the house insulated during the summer ...just seems to keep our house at 70 so far...just does not get cold enough in the house to kick the heat on...if it is set on 72 and the heat decides to kick on... it is pretty toasty in here...of course the heat is only on a minute or two before it shuts off...must be that high efficiency thing working...all i know is that i am cold...

journey was back to her regular schedule...she seemed really happy to be back with her ginny ...but was so glad when mommy came to pick her up...not a really productive day today...still tossing around a few business ideas with michelle...even though her real love is her aunt mimi's morsels business...as it should be...

I'm still hoping to get a website up and running by the first of the year...thinking about doing another cookbook...just not sure about what...i had a cookie cookbook about ready to go to print...when michelle decided to go into baking...and since my cookbook had all of our family recipes in it...i gave it to her instead...and those recipes will be shared with NO ONE...they are her bread and butter...which is fine with me...it is the way my grandmom and my great aunt would have wanted it :) i did a wild game cookbook 19 years ago....to help pay off the balance of michelle's medical bills after she was born... after insurance paid their part...that cookbook did really well...just have lots of ideas and want lots of irons in the fire come first of the year...still been feeling that tug for a new dog...just deep down...i know i do not need one...i am hoping to get over this feeling soon...you all enjoy the rest of your evening...i hear a sink full of dirty dishes calling :)

Wind ...wind and more wind this Saturday :)

They say it was a little over fifty today ...but with this wind how could you tell...it was just down right cold...i helped michelle a little today as she took down the fall outside...and we put up christmas outside...we kept it very simple...when it is not so windy i will get some pictures...

michelle was very busy today doing several odds and ends...alan was busy in his workshop working on a retro hutch..it may have been a tv stand from the 50's...he is flipping it into a hutch...should be cool when he is done...will keep you posted...i never stopped all day ...but i really can not tell you what i did do...we still have lots of leftovers...i need to give them away or freeze them...we just do not use a lot of leftovers...i have not seen journey all day that is unusual in a way...she must be busy with mommy today...

on thanksgiving as we were all getting ready to eat...journey told her aunt mimi (michelle) that she was beautiful...i thought that was such a sweet thing for her to say right out of the clear blue sky...i said to journey well you are beautiful too...to that she looked at me and said "no biggie"...all weekend i have thought of that and laughed...where did that come from...what kids will say...i love it ...kids are so honest...i know sometimes that can be scary...but you got to love it...

i am pretty much done with all of our christmas shopping...i need to pick up a few stocking stuffers but that is all...i have a few things i ordered over the weekend to arrive and have wrapped...but i am done...with michelle's birthday being the 23 of dec. ... i just need to get her 2 o 3 more things and i am done with her birthday...i will add she is the BEST christmas present that i ever got...enjoy your evening...i am off to take a bath and get ready for bed :)

Busy Black Friday :)

Just had a wonderful black friday...started last night ...went out at 10 pm to shop at wal-mart with my daughter michelle and my daughter in law kayla...just had a blast with the two of them..we all got some great deals...

michelle then went out with her brother mark...they had a great time....

michelle and i got some great deals online over the last 48 hours...then michelle and i went out again this morning...back home to fix breakfast for alan...then alan and i took a road trip to check out a weird kind of used furniture store...he loves to stay busy...and has really gotten all of the projects around here done...and i really have no place to put anymore furniture...so he needed a new project...he just loves to re-purpose things...so off we went on a shopping trip...we bought three pieces for under 50.00...i will put pictures of the pieces on here tomorrow and then show you the finished pieces...that will also have to be re-homed..cause there is no room in this house for any more furniture...and that is hard for me to say...i fall in love with the pieces he makes...michelle usually is the painter on them...we all get attached...

Alan has been doing his energy manager job for over a year and i think he just hates to see waste...so i see a new business coming for him to add to the many things ark valley environmental already does...that is exciting...we all love to stay busy...i hope to build website real soon...with the help of my son mark...we shall see...i hope you all had a great thanksgiving and a wonderful black friday...see you back here tomorrow ...i promise some pictures :)

Happy Thanksgiving :)

I hope all of you had a wonderful day...my daughter did most of the cooking and surprised me by doing most of the clean up...the food was all wonderful...kayla and mark brought over the most wonderful biscuits...i ate 3...i will pay for those tomorrow on the scales...alan's smoked turkey was perfect...we are about to head out for round 1 of black friday shopping...the bargains online the last 24 hours have been wonderful...so that marked off a few places that i needed to go...before i forget...maddie was able to only get her front nails done last night...but that is a start :)...back to thanksgiving...so great having family around...it was just wonderful...and that little granddaughter of ours ...is just simply the best and i enjoy every minute with her...she is the true meaning of a holiday ...enjoy the rest of your holiday...as i am off to shop :)


Mark's biscuits...



The sweet potato pie that Michelle made...



Alan's smoked turkey...



My lovely granddaughter Journey :)...

Perfect Day :) even if it's just wednesday...

This was just a perfect day...the weather was great here about 68 and so sunny and no wind...alan smoked a turkey today and two pork loins...michelle got all of the sides ready to be baked in the morning...desserts are all done as well...

ok so you must be thinking what did i do...well i got the rubs on the turkey and the pork loins...got the laundry done early this morning and all put away...and to make my morning complete...i got to talk to by bestest friend in ark city...we do not always find time to talk..but when we do it makes my day complete...we got all caught up on family and lots of other misc. happenings...you know girl talk...

this afternoon was kinda quiet..alan and i walked to the store...ok...not that far it is just 4 blocks up from our house...picked up a couple of things...alan grilled himself a steak for tonight...i provided the veggies and salad...and michelle served him a piece of sweet potato pie...while michelle and i had squash casserole and a cottage cheese salad...it was so good...then after kitchen clean up...it was bath and grooming time at woodstone manor...i did the black lab...molly...weighing in at 85 lbs....and then i did the chihuahua...magi...weighing in at barely 4 lbs...michelle cut both molly and magi's toe nails in under 10 minutes...but her dachshund...maddie...the bath...no problem...but the nails...she tried to do it...i tried to help her...now alan is helping her and it is not going well...she is always like this...could get the vet to do it ...but they would have to put her under...and with some medical issues...that scares me...we will see i will update you on this tomorrow...not looking too good right now :(...tomorrow i just have to get the turkey breast in the oven and make mashed potatoes...should be pretty simple...enjoy the rest of your evening...have a wonderful Thanksgiving tomorrow :)

Long Week So Far ...

It is only tuesday...seems like it should be friday...it was the last day to have journey this week...which is nice...i hope to get a lot done...and i so love the fact that journey is able to spend the extra time with her mommy...i love to see them together ...they love each other so much and each miss the other when kayla has to work...i know it is hard on both of them...

michelle is doing most of the cooking tomorrow...i am to do the mashed potatoes, gravy, and one of the turkeys...alan is smoking one of our turkeys...we do most of the work tomorrow for all of our sides and desserts...mark is making some cheddar biscuits...it should be a fun thanksgiving...and then bring on black friday...

starting at 9:00 pm with online toys r us and then 10:00 with a trip to walmart...then back home for 12:00 am for kohls online...then we may head back out at 5:00 am for some local sales...9:00 am we will start to hit our downtown stores ...such as stage...willow...i can not wait...then this weekend i have several things planned that i need to do...i am also looking and gathering info into turning my blog into a website...i guess i am feeling the need to have more room for more me space...i will keep you all posted...this mid life crisis is really tough...but in the end this blog is cheaper than going to a psychiatrist ...i have really been thinking a lot today about our oldest son...it was 29 years ago today ...that we got the call that there was a 9 month old looking for a family and we were the lucky couple that were chosen by his birth mother to raise him...we were very lucky for every moment he chose to spend with us...in life you are sometimes thrown a curve...but that is life...you can not change it ...so you accept it and life goes on...we will always be here and you will always be our son...with that ...good night all ...tomorrow will be a new day...yes it will only be wednesday :)

Cloudy Monday ...

We had a very cloudy and gloomy monday on the outside...but inside i had a very cheerful and wonderful granddaughter...she is always good ...but today she was a perfect little angel:)she just brightens up any day for me ...was really not very eventful around here today...

house has already been cleaned for thanksgiving...everything is on track for the holidays... even have the list for shopping on black friday as well...as the list for online shopping...i have a few things to order for alan's parents..but i am having them sent directly to them...need to do a good list for michelle for both christmas and her birthday...i am going to have a final list of things i need to do by the end of this coming weekend...and try and get them done by the first week of dec...if possible...have been with people all day...and stayed pretty busy..but still felt lonely...that is such a strange feeling for me...i have had this come and go all summer..crazy...then i steal a hug from journey or michelle and ...that helps...going to call and check on my neighbor bill tomorrow...i hope to find him doing ok...that may ease my mind some...i think i will turn in for the night...sweet dreams all :)

Simple Sunday :)

Today has just been a simple sunday around here...i really did not do a thing but straighten up a chest freezer...oh i did put a ham in the oven to cook...i always cook my ham in a reynolds cooking bag...i always use a ham butt...it just works well for us...i think this one was about 5 1/2 lbs...it is so simple and no clean up...i put in the cooking bag a can of crushed pineapple, 3/4 of a cup of dark brown sugar, 3 TBSP. of yellow mustard...mix well in cooking bag...add ham...i bake at 325 degrees for about 3hrs....your ham will just fall apart...and just plain easy...i sliced the ham up and put the ham bone in the freezer...to use later...maybe to cook with some cabbage later this week...

i only have jouney on monday and tuesday this week as her mom gets the rest of the week off with school being out for thanksgiving...so glad kayla gets to spend this time with journey...those two girls are very special to me...

i had a weak moment today...still trying to deal with this empty hole in my heart...i just do not know where it comes from...last thursday someone posted that they needed to move and could not take their dog with them...i have followed the ad...figuring someone would take this dog...only to get up this morning...and find out no one has taken the dog and the owner has moved and ...it is living in a empty house...the owner goes and feeds the dog everyday...i notice that a couple of people want the dog..but i sent a message that i would take this dog and give it a home today and it would never be alone again...i really thought if it was meant to be...it would be...never heard a word from the owner...had hoped it found a home for tonight...but have learned the woman that is getting the dog can not take him right away...so he will be alone until her apt. approves him living there...which is fine...just kind of sad for the dog...and maybe for me just a little...i think i just need to get a grip...

alan had a busy day today ...as he finished up a castle for journey for christmas...she loves to play my little ponies and we have looked everywhere for a castle for her for christmas...we could find none that looked right...not for her or for our house...i am not a lover of plastic anything...so michelle had a house bookshelf...that alan had built for her and mark had painted...michelle has kept that shelf..cause her daddy made it...so she suggested he use that shelf as the base for a castle...we were thinking something simple...simple... alan makes nothing simple...so he got it done today...it is so special...i will try and post a picture...looking forward to a great week ...enjoy the rest of your evening :)

BUSY Saturday :)

Well yesterday was a first...i did not blog...had a very busy day...with just no extra time...then last night...i decided that i needed to organize my shopping plans for saturday...i planned on doing a lot of price comparing at walmart...walgreens...ace...dillons...and country mart...i also wanted to attend an open house at mccool's flower shop...i had to make my list and organize my coupons...

i really have not done that much couponing in one day in a long time...i was excited...but was really nervous...since walmart can be less than friendly about the price comparisons at times...but the girl i had was wonderful...so my day got off to a great start...the open house at the flower shop was fun and michelle was with me so that made it perfect...

to have a shopping trip pay off you have to make a list and organize all of your coupons...it does take some time and thought..but it has a big pay off at the end...my pay off were as follows:
Walmart----202.00.....SAVED-108.00.....SPENT-94.00
Wal Green-- 96.00.....SAVED-51.00......SPENT-45.00
Country Mart146.00....SAVED-98.00......SPENT-48.00
Dillons-----198.00....SAVED-151.00.....SPENT-47.00

This included a turkey and a turkey breast ...i stocked up my winter pantry...i always do this but just had not taken the time this fall to do it...it feels so good to have the pantry stocked and the freezers full...it takes some time but it is so worth it in the end...off to run through and pick up the house...enjoy the rest of your evening :)

Sunny and Cold Thursday

What a cold day today...but it is sunny...i understand it is cold and damp back on the eastern shore...which is where i am from...i do not know why but i follow their weather...just as close as i follow my weather here in kansas..i guess that will always be home...

today i noticed my cousin's status on facebook...he is going to see the winterfest of lights in o.c. md. sounds like a lot of fun...but it is going to be cold there...

my house is just about finished ...i will post some pictures over the weekend...i just about have my shopping finished ...except for my daughter michelle...she is a tough one..and she also has a birthday on the 23rd. of dec. i like to surprise her but that is hard...she really has her own style...so i really need her input :)

i have a few things to pick up on black friday ...but other than that ..i am done...i will get all of my presents off to md. the week after thanksgiving...michelle has them all ready to go...the girl is a keeper...keeps me on my toes...

where did the afternoon go...i really need to start dinner...but i am really not sure what i am fixing...ok i did not do a meal plan this week...kind of mad at myself over it...my week is always better with a plan...ok everything goes better with a plan...enjoy the rest of your your afternoon and have a great evening :)

Wonderful Wednesday :)

Just a wonderful day...i feel 20 years younger...ok maybe 10....amazing what a trip to the beauty shop will do for you...i usually go every 4 weeks for a trim and hair color...but for many reasons i have not been in 9 weeks...

as i have said before..since the birth of my daughter 20 years ago...i went gray and my hair became thin...that is all that became thin...but i do not know if it was the stress of the summer or what...but my thin hair got thinner...was really not sure if i should go gray and hope the texture would change and maybe cut it shorter...

i had an appt. with my hair stylist michelle for just a cut today and to talk to her about my hair color...she is so good...she thought my gray hair would be very fine and suggested a slight change in color...i could have hugged her for that..deep down the thought of being gray was killing me...my husband looks wonderful with it ...just not me...this is someone who has colored their hair for 34 years....and proud of it...she suggested taking a little bit off the length and not layering it as much...and the best part i think she knew i needed this TODAY...she was so sweet to work me in for the color today...if i had to live with those gray roots one more day...it feels so much fuller...i am so happy...she is so awesome...

now on to the other michelle in my life...my daughter...all i said is i am really craving something sweet...and my wonderful daughter whipped up a walnut coffee cake...it is still warm...light and not overly sweet....so lucky to have two wonderful michelle's in my life :)

boy this blogging always ends up being about me...not sure if i like this ...but it is really helping out and it is cheaper than therapy...our house is really looking like christmas...journey is getting so excited...she is such a perfect age..she gets it...having that little girl in my life is all the christmas presents and birthday presents i could ever want wrapped into her....i hate presents...i love giving them...but never liked getting them... i do not know why..that is just me...michelle gets it and alan is learning... that makes me happy...i would rather have someone treat me great all through the year...not just cause they have to...2 days of the year...the year journey was born mark sketched a picture of journey for me...and he and kayla had it framed...it will forever be on my wall...i love his artwork...he had been so busy...so most of his artwork that i have he did in high school...which i love and have it throughout the house...it was the thought that as busy as he was then...new job...new baby...he found the time to do that for me :) makes a mom proud...enjoy the rest of your evening...headed off to take a bubble bath...

Beautiful Tuesday :)

just a beautiful day here today...not much time to work outside...michelle has been busy working on our christmas decorations...looking good so far...journey had a great time helping mimi decorate the tree...she is really hoping her mama and daddy will put their up tonight..all my fault...

i never did make it to the store to get all the things on my grocery list...oh well...pantry is pretty well stocked...i have a list posted for the thanksgiving menu...need to work on the list for that...

i have an appt. tomorrow morning to get my hair cut...not sure what i want ..going to take a couple of pictures and hope for the best...still not sure on the color thing...but i really want to get away from the coloring thing...of course i can't deal with the months of roots if i grow it out cold turkey...so i hope michelle my hair stylist has some good ideas..cause i need them :)

i went outside to get the mail this afternoon...only to find my neighbors house kinda surrounded by police...well i had a panic attack...made it back up to the porch...called alan...got calmed down...police left...found out one of our neighbors had called them...thought they heard a fight...maybe if you kept an eye on your sex offender son...you would have less time to poke your nose in your neighbors business...ok i will not get on this rant again...

as i am writing alan is in our living room playing with a plastic water bottle...i am about to go in there and take it away from him...annoying...even the dog has come in the room with me...annoying...on my facebook today a man's picture kept popping up it was his birthday... i am not a friend of his...but several of my friends are his friends...his name is mickey justice...the name is so familiar to me because i worked with a woman named hazel justice at a beauty salon in salisbury ...tiffany hair salon...she had a son named mickey...could it be her son...thought about messaging him but then i thought he might think i am crazy...or then i thought...what if his mom is dead...she was older than me...but younger than my parents...i know that hazels husband also named mickey...worked a short time maybe for acme market with my dad... i know he worked in the pr. anne meatland...and i know they had a daughter...can't remember her name...i even snooped in his pictures...oh well ...it will keep me wondering for awhile...small world...really took me back to my first job as a hairdresser...i hated it when people came in with no idea what they wanted...glad i am not the hairstylist for me tomorrow....enjoy your evening :)

Neighborhood Pictures;



Neighborhood Pictures;

Where Was The Sun Today

I hope everybody had a great monday...the start of a new work week for all of us...lets just get right to it...

my thought on having a thanksgiving tree failed ..as of this morning the christmas decorating started at woodstone manor...it will probably take a couple weeks to fine tune it...as michelle and i have found our taste in decorating has changed...simple...more natural elements...i will post some pictures and as we add to our decorations i will post pictures as well...

do not usually complain on here but i am tired tonight...but i am going to see how the decorating is coming and at least offer to help decorate the tree :) then it is off to bath time for me...early morning and a late day tomorrow...need my rest...lol...i have to grocery shop tomorrow as there are some sales ending that i want to take advantage of...should have done that earlier this week...where does the time go...enjoy your evening ...

A Beautiful Fall Sunday

What a beautiful fall sunday...got all the leaves raked and mulched...wish all the leaves could fall at the same time...just want to stay on top of them this fall...michelle was such a big help...she even got the porch swept off...which is a never ending chore...i will try and post a picture of my porch furniture alan made for our porch this summer...it turned out beautiful...

i did take a picture with my phone of my new house sign WOODSTONE MANOR...i just love having it there...i have always loved this house...yes we had really thought about downsizing...but this summer i really wanted to go out and search for some type of peace...and events earlier on in the summer prevented me from doing that...and yes everything does happen for a reason...i found peace in this house...comfort...yes we have lived here for 7 years...but a lot has gone on it that 7 years...A LOT...my heart just felt empty and drained...some really good and some not so good...my 3 sons going off to college, it was soo hard...empty rooms empty heart...my kids are my whole world...alan had a very demanding job as director of a college...was never home...he traded that for a job that had so much travel...and then this last year his office is 15 min. from home and he loves being a Certified Energy Manger for the cities of arkansas city, winfield and wellington...during that period i lost my beloved akita, named makita...he was the boys dog...he ended up mine...when he passed away 5 years ago in my arms...i realized that not only did i lose my baby...that things were never going to be the same ...my boys would never be back home ever again...on that day alan left school early...which he never did... early to bury him...and a part of me too...

on a brighter note..my middle son and his wife ...graduated college and moved back to ark city...bought a home and gave me the greatest gift ever...journey...

but this summer i just needed to try and find me... feeling forced to stay in this house after what had happened this summer...my daughter who always steps up to the plate... as one always there for me...my very best friend here..did as well..i always know she has my back...my husband really has tried hard to understand..and for a man...he did pretty good...but my son mark and daughter-in-law kayla really were there for me..it has meant so much to me...and journey had no clue what her smiles meant to me...but in this house i have found the peace i needed and realized what you are searching for may be closer to you than you think...yes i still have bad days...but very few...i only try and look towards the positive...and only keep that positive energy around me...and that includes family and friends...this is the home that i want to make my forever house...they will pull me out of here kicking and screaming...it is my peace...michelle has taken over the decorating here and does an awesome job...she has helped make the peace as well...enjoy your sunday :)

Scarecrow;



Woodstone Manor Sign;



Our House;



Neighborhood Trees;

What a Windy Day in Kansas

I hope everyone had a nice saturday...it was nice weather wise...but the wind was really strong...i really wanted to do some leaf raking and move some plants around in my yard...but i just did not make the time to do it...it rained here last week and it would be nice to get some mums moved around and i want to separate some grasses that have just outgrown their spot...i think fall would be the best time around here to move them as our springs have been so hot and dry...maybe i will get it done tomorrow...

my new 7 1/2 foot tree arrived today...i know it should have gone to the storage room...but i had a weak moment...michelle put it up...and put a small barn star on the top...and grape vine garland...it is so pretty...i love it...then my granddaughter journey should up..you would have thought she would have been thrilled... NOT...out of her mouth came..it is not christmas time yet...we have to have turkey day first...something i repeat to her mama on a yearly basis..

i do feel thanksgiving is a forgotten holiday by many...i always have thanksgiving at my house and love to decorate for it...it feels wrong to have your christmas decor up...while serving thanksgiving dinner...ok my tree is up...not going to take it down...so it looks nice sitting in the corner in all its glory...white lights...grape vine...barn star...it is my thanksgiving tree...i will decorate the rest of the house the weekend after thanksgiving...enough said on that topic...

alan cooked outside today over a fire in his cast iron dutch ovens...he made a vegetable medley... with carrots,zucchini,cauliflower,broccoli, and onions...it is cooked and then covered with sharp cheddar and parmesan cheese...he also made an apple crisp...both were very good...will try to post pictures of both...i did get my freezers cleaned out...seems like i have more in them now than i did before i started the job..my chest freezer just always seems a big mess...i wish i knew a good way to organize it...that is one area of my home i have yet to master...love any ideas if you have any??? enjoy the rest of your night :)


A bowl of the vegetable medley;




The apple crisp;

My Family Let Me Down Today

I really had not given much thought about what to write about today...but i figured it is 11-11-11...alan is off for veterans day ...he is planning on helping our son mark install a new washer and dryer...not a simple replacement...mark and his wife kayla ..are turning a spare room on their first floor into laundry room and installing a new washer and dryer...their current washer and dryer are in the basement...so this included ...new water lines, running new electric, pulling wallpaper...filling cracks, sanding...priming and painting...a lot of this was done during the week...but i thought surely there would be a funny story to blog about..NOT...

everything went really well and kayla is now doing laundry... while i understand journey has parked a booster seat in front of the washer to count the number of spins :)...yesterday i read that mr. buster bozman had passed away...he lived up a lane called bozman lane...just off a street called crisfield lane...the street that i grew up on and the street that my parents still live on...HOME...it was people like mr. buster and mr. john somers...that made our neighborhood feel so safe..mr. john still lives on the same street with my parents..they were both md. state police...i was so lucky to grow up in a neighborhood where we were so happy and safe...lots of kids there...and so many good neighbors to keep an eye on the neighborhood kids...not too many homes really get put up on the market unless someone passes away...i do not think there are many neighborhoods like that any more..that is sad...

i live in a good area of my town...but i live across the road from a registered sex offender...we do not have a lot of children in our block...but there are a few that have to walk by this house to go to school...yes he is able to live 1 block away from a school...and i guess we never lose the mom in us...cause i always try to keep an eye on our neighborhood children...it is sad we live in these times...do check your registered sex offenders list...you may be very surprised...who lives in your neighborhood...

michelle got the rest of our christmas presents wrapped..still have a little shopping left to do...but i really hope to get it done next weekend...i ordered a new christmas tree yesterday 7 1/2 feet tall...i have had my old one for years and it was starting to shed..pretty bad..i know when it comes i will want to put it up..but i have so much thanksgiving up i would hate to take it down early...i think i am going up to take a long bath...enjoy the rest of your evening :)

Wild Thursday....not really...but got your attention

journey is still not feeling the best with her cold...she can keep this old lady pretty busy...michelle has not been feeling the best and that happens to us all...i really want her back to her old self real soon...i miss my happy girl...i think she really over did it this summer with all of her baking...and the heat we had this summer and her doing farmer's market twice a week...she has taken a little break...very little...but her new web site is up and running...auntmimismorsels.com....very proud of her...she is still tweaking it ...but no one really knows how far this little girl has come since she was born...and yes i still enjoy every minute that i spend with her just like her doctor at john's hopkins told me too...some almost 20 years ago...she is their miracle baby and mine too :)

i promised to share a couple of recipes that we did recently...pork loin in the crock pot and pumpkin pancakes that michelle made the other night...they were so good...i was really not prepared to like them...but i did:

Pork Loin in Crock Pot




2 1/2 to 3 lb. pork loin
1/2 pkg. lipton onion soup mix
1 pork gravy mix
1 cup water

I line my crock with a reynolds crock pot liner bag, because i am lazy...place pork loin in crock pot sprinkle with lipton onion soup mix and the pork gravy mix ...pour over water...place lid on crock pot...cook on high 1 1/2 hours ...turn down to low and cook for 3-4 hours...till fork tender...remove pork loin...mix about 1 tbsp. corn starch with 3/4 cup milk...mix or shake...pour into crock pot ...turn up to high..put pork back in and in about 15 mins. your gravy should thicken...i love doing it this way...remove pork slice and serve...i always have some leftovers and usually shred it and add bbq sauce and serve for lunch the next day on a toasted bun.




Pumpkin Pancakes or Waffles

1 1/2 cups pure canned pumpkin
2 1/4 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 baking soda
1 tsp salt
3/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
2 large eggs, separated
1/4 cup plain greek yogurt
1 cup whole or skim milk
4 tbsp butter or margarine, melted

Whisk the flour, baking powder,baking soda,salt,cinnamon, and nutmeg in a bowl. Whisk the sugar and egg yolks in a separate bowl, then whisk in 1 1/2 cups pumpkin, the yogurt and milk. Whisk in the melted butter. Pour the pumpkin mixture into the flour mixture and stir with a rubber spatula until just combined (it will be lumpy). Beat the egg whites with a mixer until stiff. then gently fold into the batter.

For Waffles;Preheat waffle iron and lightly grease it. Spoon batter and cook until golden brown.

For pancakes; Heat pan or griddle, lightly grease it. Put a small tablespoonful in at a time, and spread it around a little or else it will be too thick. When you see bubbles form, then you're ready to flip. Cook until golden brown. Can also be made smaller into "silver dollar" pancakes.


i hope you enjoy these recipes...have a good evening...enjoy 11-11-11 tomorrow...see you back here tomorrow :)

A Long Hump Day Here.....

I almost did not blog today...it has been a long one here...journey is still fighting a very bad cold and was not even able to get a nap in this afternoon for her coughing so badly...her mommy was out of town this evening to accept a state award for her grade level at her school and i am very proud of kayla...she works very hard for her students and it shows in their testing scores each year...so i know it was tough for kayla to be gone from journey this evening...but i got in a lot of cuddle time with journey...

mark was busy prepping their new laundry room for the arrival of a new washer and dryer on friday ...so the room has to be patched ..sanded and painted all by friday...kayla got the old wallpaper down over the weekend...she has become a pro on that front...so i thought journey was better off with us than at home with mark needing to get a lot done...he even got it primed tonight...so she got a bubble bath and a popcorn party at my house tonight...but it was a long day for her ...she was glad when her daddy picked her up :) i have been trying to watch the cma's tonight with michelle...love me some blake shelton :) tomorrow i will share a quick recipe for the crock pot ..that is very easy using a pork loin..i will even share a picture...i do want to wish kathy a very happy birthday today....we have been friends forever...one memory i will share with you all is i can remember it like it was yesterday...laying in bed in kathy's bedroom of her two story farm house and some how...i guess she was between boyfriends at the time...told her to get out the yearbook...we had to be 14 or 15...and i said pick out a boy and i will help you get him...pushing her to the yearbook of 1973...cause that was the year my boyfriend graduated...she picked one out...and she is still married to him today...and no i did not marry the boyfriend i had at that time...just twas not in the cards...maybe my calling is in match making....we shall see...enjoy what is left of the evening...really hope journey is better tomorrow ... :)

To Gray or Not........

A really rainy dark day in kansas today...we are getting some much needed rain and the storms have not been too bad...about 8:50 last night we were shaken yet again...it is not scary but it really makes you think for those few seconds...

alan and michelle were upstairs and i was downstairs...talk about some crazy noises...i think i would rather be upstairs...when it was over kayla, my daughter in law called..it was comforting to hear her voice and she said mark had been downstairs at their house and he thought he preferred being upstairs as well...hoping that was the last one of those for awhile...enough of that...on towards my issue...

i have been trying to decide if i want to stop coloring my hair...i graduated from beauty school in 1977...my hair has been every color possible...it can not be good for your hair or your scalp...lets just be honest...i have always had very thick hair..until after the birth of my daughter and then it became very fine and thin...over this summer it has gotten even thinner...i am sure stress played a big part of it...i just wonder if going gray the texture may change and maybe it would thicken up...just not sure i can do it...my mom has no gray hair...and she does not color it either...my grandmom had beautiful silver thick hair..but we are talking about me...gray..and how do i get there...i could have highlights put in while it grows out...but i think my hair may break if i do that..I wouldn't do it myself...i have a wonderful hairdresser named michelle and no not my daughter...she does a lot for me but not my hair...i can't just let it grow out...even i would become ill at that thought...i am going to make an appt. tomorrow for next week for a cut and leave color up in the air until i talk to michelle...boy the decisions us women have to make...i kinda want a new hair style too...she will earn her money next week...she is very good and i am so lucky she works me in...she is very busy...enough about my hair...i will keep you posted...

i was kinda lazy today...journey came with a cold...she was coming down with it yesterday...so i played with her and snuggled a lot...she misses her mom alot on the days she is not feeling well...so i beg her to settle for ginny...it is nice to have time with her...they grow up way too fast...i can't believe my sons are now 29, 27, and 25...and lets not forget my 19 year old daughter...seems like yesterday they were just babies...miss those little guys :( you all enjoy your evening...i think tomorrow i will post some recipes...michelle made pumpkin pancakes tonight...they were so good...

What a rainy Monday

What a very gloomy day in kansas...steady rain and a few rumbles of thunder...nothing severe yet and i hope it will all stay below us in oklahoma...

had a lot of trouble going to sleep last night...i think i was waiting for the next earthquake...and even with the time change it was so dark due to the rain and clouds...

ok i always try to find the good in things...and not bring my whining to facebook...but...i woke up in the worst mood today...i kinda keep this hole in my heart sometimes for what i do not know...it is just an empty feeling..so I have been thinking maybe i should add a new puppy or dog to our family...one that would be just for me...so i started looking for one with the help of journey...i decided maybe a rescue one with some issues...find one that maybe needed me as much as i needed it...found a couple but then as i got closer to filling out the app I really started thinking about it....we have three dogs...they are all three michelle's ...or started out that way..the first one she asked her dad for was a chihuaha that is blonde and weighs all of 4lbs. and is 13 years old named magi...then she asked her dad for a black lab for easter five years ago and we have molly at almost 80 lbs....i think alan wanted this one as much as michelle did...and then came our next addition maddie a dachshund...maddie came from a litter of puppies my son and his wife raised and we were asked to look after the litter while they were at work...and you can guess the rest of the story...michelle got very attached to the litter of puppies...i had been pretty firm NO MORE DOGS...but the litter was ready to go around christmas and of course her dad did not like it that she was upset at the selling of all of the puppies and he went to our son behind my back and arranged to get a puppy to surprise her with...and surprised me too...she is now 4 years old and is with michelle all the time...at this point magi prefers retirement on a pillow on our sofa...molly is all about alan...and maddie is all about michelle...then as i thought about the many times i have told michelle as she was potty training and caring for these dogs...do not whine...just be careful what you ask for...

i closed out those apps. for adoption...which i will add were tougher than the ones i filled out when we adopted our first son...i have decided to pull magi out of retirement...she is sitting in my arms as i type this in her pink sweater...yes she is growling a little bit...but that's ok...maybe she has a little hole in her heart today too...i hope you all are having a great monday...i did my menu planning for the week:
monday- salad, "not stuffed cabbage",rice,and steamed green beans
tuesday- salad, pumpkin pancakes, lean sausage, and fruit
wednesday- salad, lemon flounder, brown rice, steamed broccoli, and carrots
thursday- salad, sloppy joes on wheat buns, lima beans and corn
friday- salad, creamy chicken and dumplings, aspargus and carrots
saturday- salad, homemade veggie pizza

enjoy the rest of your monday...love from magi and me :)

What a beauitful Sunday :)

First off i have to admit that i was really hard on alan yesterday...about what turned out to be an earthquake that he thought might have been a ghost..why...because..as we were going to bed last night at about 11 pm...it happened again..it was the strangest sound and shaking... i have ever heard..felt...all of the combined...this time michelle flew in our room...pictures went crooked...a few things fell...i will admit if i had been awoken by that at 2:10 in the am as he was ...i would of been a little unnerved..as he was...of course i will never tell him that...and we all know he will hopefully never read my blogs :)

glad we gained that extra hour last night...because it was hard going to sleep after that...it was just beautiful here in kansas...about 70 degrees...sunny and no wind...tomorrows forecast does not sound so good for us...strong storms...high winds and large hail...not liking that forecast...but this is kansas and with weather anything is possible...i really had an easy day today i hit walgreens for some specials before they are picked over...then to walmart for a new steamer as ours went up last night and we steam all of our veggies...at walmart all of their halloween items went to .25 ...so i loaded up for next year...michelle stayed busy... she was trying out a new recipe for maple walnut fudge...it is so good...i know that will be a great seller for her this holiday season...then she got most of my christmas presents wrapped...i still have a little bit of shopping left to do...alan cooked phil mahan bbq chicken today so other then making salad and veggies...dinner was an easy fix...i am happy to say alan got the sign out on our house today that says...WOODSTONE MANOR...he did a great job as always...will try and post some pictures tomorrow...i think that is all for tonight...i am going to watch atlanta housewives with michelle tonight...i do not know why...maybe i just like watching because they are dumber than even me...and always good for a laugh...enjoy the rest of your evening...thanks for reading...connie

The House Really Rocked Last Night...

talk about a priceless night...i had one...you know the kind...if you ever wondered if there was a god...and then something happens and you know there is a god...that's the kind of night i had...

so let me back up and try and set this up...something happened to me early this summer...many of you may know about it...i have blogged about it earlier...but for over 4 months i have been concerned about my reaction to that event...i freaked out...i mean really freaked out and i am not talking about after it happened i mean at the time it happened...i will say my husband is a calm person...he was very supportive during this time in many ways...BUT he has said that maybe i over-reacted a little and he probably would have been calmer during this event...a former firefighter and emt person...this has just stuck in my mind...someday my reaction may go public...and i have worried about how many people will judge me on my reaction...but then there was last night...

i sleep about three hours a night...but last night i was really tired ...i had cleaned our large two story house and watched a very active three year old yesterday...but at 2:12 this morning i was awoken by a man that was a little crazy...at first he thought that i was kicking the bed...he said is that you...what are you doing...do you feel that...i did feel a slight shake of our bed and i did hear our lab bark...one of our three dogs...i did notice a belt moving that he had hung on a knob..this man freaked all while staring at our closet door...and he said it is 2:00 which is apparently a ghost thing...a guy who watches all of those shows...all he would say is someone or something had roughly shaken our bed...we got up..and i asked if i should go to michelle's room...her door was shut...of course he said hell yes...i really just wanted to go back to bed..we opened her door to find her sitting straight up...and yes her bed had been shaken too...she was awake when it happened..and described it just as he had..when asked why she did not get up and come to our room..she replied she was tired and thought she may have been dreaming...and she thought she may be going nuts...then she heard us up and talking...crazy..i know...

now remember we live in a home that is over 112 years old...with a little bit of history to it..and yes we have seen and heard a few things since moving in here 7 years ago...but these were peaceful things and they sometimes left us a little baffled...yes i do believe in ghosts...though not a fan of any of the ghost hunter shows...i do not believe one would come out when being called...i think they have to feel comfortable...hard to really explain...maybe i will write more on these later...on to the bed shaking...

upon looking around at pictures upstairs...they were a little crooked...things had moved close to an edge on our fireplace mantle in our bedroom...and some movement of books on some bookshelves....alan, my husband was beginning to feel better...then michelle got a text from a radio station...about an earthquake 20 miles outside OKC...i called our police station to see if many had called this in ...and was told i was the 4th caller...i said i would of called sooner...but did not want to appear crazy...she laughed...and said always call...that's what they are there for...after coming downstairs and looking everything over we went back upstairs...i asked alan had it not of been an earthquake...we probably would of gotten out of here and put the house back on the market for...

so as everyone was getting back to sleep..i was thinking do not judge anyone on their reaction to any event...because NO ONE really knows how they would react in that situation at all...as i sit here typing...alan and michelle are watching the dead files on tv...will they ever learn...i hope you have a shakin saturday...enjoy your day...i am off to grocery shop and of course couponing...already hit a yard sale...and the laundry is almost done :)

The endless job of CLEANING...

Is it not an endless chore...just when you get it done...it is time to start over...over the years i have become a clean freak...i do not know if that was my doing or my daughters...she is so organized...everything in it's place and labeled...and she is a germaphobe as well...does make for a very neat and clean home...she even keeps on her dad about his garage and workshop...i have tried many systems of cleaning over the years and have even read many books on cleaning and organizing..i believe don asslett was one of my favorites authors on the subject at the time...when my children were little i did an index box...with index cards with the things i did daily...weekly and monthly and then quarterly...worked well then as i really had no one day to devote to cleaning with 3 boys that were 2 years apart...but i never really had the whole house cleaned at on time...after years of cleaning i prefer the one day method...the one day method can be tough on you...but when it is done it just feels so good...so far today the whole down stairs is done and i am going to head upstairs...now that journey is gone...then this weekend i need to shampoo the carpets in the living room and dining room...i usually clean my house bottom to top every 2 weeks and the week in between it is a light clean..it works well for me...after cleaning it is on to dinner...salad...ham steak...scrambled egg w/cheese...steamed veggies ...i have been very bad about dinner planning this week but i will be better this coming week...i will post menus this weekend...enjoy your friday :)

Friends...and do we keep them forever ????

A very chilly morning in kansas...but at least the sun is shining...laundry is done for the day and all put away...i use tide for my laundry ...i have strayed away from it a few times thinking it would save me money since i had a great coupon...but i always come back ...just like a good friend...

we all have friends...but how do we pick a good friend...or how do they find us...i have 3 best friends ...one being a childhood friend...we grew up together a bond never really broken..we grew apart while raising our children she raised two boys and i having raised 3 sons and a daughter...but have now reconnected and she saw me through one of the worst periods in my life...the second best friend i met shortly after moving here when i owned a kid's consignment store and the friendship has grown so strong...we have a trust never to be broken...we both respect each other in that our family comes first so if i have to drop the phone because my granddaughter needs me it is ok...the last 22 months for me have been rough and this last summer i became a basket case..without these two people i do not know where i would be today...if we do not talk for two weeks we can pick up the phone and never miss a beat...the third is my daughter who never lets me down... is always there for me...is way too smart for her age..i was her teacher for many a year...and now she is my teacher...i learn from her everyday...

then there are the friends that come and go...use you for what they need from you at the time and then they are gone...then there are the toxic ones the ones you need to rid your life of after talking to them you feel worse they bring you down...you start to feel as bad as they are...i had one like that until i finally realized enough is enough...i knew her for fourteen years she called me several times a day but i have never entered her home...i felt like i helped her out so many times and never got a thing in return...i read an article a while back and it said you could become what you hang out with...i realized she really brought me down...she still calls ...i just do not answer...am i wrong...i do not know...but she has not cried enough about this so called "friendship" to come by and face me...or to see if i am ok..that says something..if she did i am prepared to tell the truth as to why i have to end this for my own sake...i will be honest...this is me now..i will be honest to a fault with all of my friends and family...if you do not want to know the truth or how i feel than do not ask...we are all lucky to have friends and lets do all we can to keep the good ones...they are hard to come by...there is one other person that i hold dear and that is my mom and she knows just where she fits into my heart everyday ...have a great day all :)

Pictures of how I Transition from Halloween to Thanksgiving

Couponing is it just for fun ????

Crazy weather day in kansas i think we hit our high early in the morning...like 61 and by tonight it is to be 31 with a slight chance of a a dusting of snow...journey has been wild this morning..maybe it is the change in weather...today let's jump into couponing...i have done it for 34 years even before i had children...back in the day ...i think it was easier then ...just recently where i live has started several facebook pages...that include items for sale in our county..then someone started an extreme coupon page that i read with interest...several people selling couponing binders for 30 dollars...i have tried them all... a binder just does fit in a shopping cart taking into account your purse and your reuseable bags...i have found what works the best is a rubbermaid storage container that measures 8 1/2 in. by 8 1/2 inches and a depth of 4 inches this will hold a 6 in. by 4 in. plastic index card divider that you can label...i have 25 dividers in my box...i then label them in the order of the aisles of the store that i shop in the most...this makes it so handy....then on this extreme couponing facebook page someone was charging 10 dollars to teach people how to coupon...you cannot teach an art...and charging people who are already trying to save money...i am happy to help anyone that i can... i usually buy 2 sunday papers and then if there is any coupons that i know i will use i buy those off of the internet...i used ebay for years then the seller i enjoyed buying from made her own web page and that worked great she had them listed by sunday afternoon and i always had them by wednesday afternoon...she is now stopping her website and going back to ebay...i will follow her back... she is just wonderful to buy from...all of the "extreme couponing" is really causing the stores to crack down on the couponer...i am going to coupon later in the week as our local store is offering 5$ off 10 certain items and when you can match a coupon that really doubles your savings..i think this is a good time to really use any coupon in order to stock up your pantry for the winter...and with food prices going even higher...in my area i usually shop at Dillons with my coupons as they are not as strict as our Country Mart...Walmart i do coupon there if the price is right but they do not double...i do enjoy price comparing there as we do not have a Target in our town...well i am off to file coupons ...have a great afternoon :)

Here is a picture of my "tried and true" coupon filing system...

Halloween Pictures

these are some of the halloween pictures of my home...soon i will post how quickly i can change over to thanksgiving.

Down with theJack o Lanterns and up with the TURKEYS

the trick or treaters had not left our porch and my daughter michelle had the halloween decorations down and the thanksgiving up...both inside and out...we actually decorated for fall in sept. added in our halloween in oct. then just switched out halloween with thanksgiving...i will post some pictures of my home later today...last night for dinner i used the pork loin from saturday and made pull bbq pork sandwiches with a salad and homemade veggie soup...we sure did not have many trick or treaters last night ..we had only about 70 down from about 140 that we had last year...still have not planned menus but think i will use some leftover chicken and make some type of casserole and a salad for dinner...tomorrow i will go over with you all how i coupon and some things i have tried over the years...been on the phone a lot today trying to get someone to look at our roof we have been told by a couple of contractors that we have some weather related damage...but i am having trouble locating anyone to give us an estimate on it... off to fix journey some lunch...have a good afternoon :)