Friday, November 29, 2013

Thanksgiving. . . . .the day after!


Yes, I know it has been a while since I have posted anything new but all I can say is that I have been busy.

So, how was your Thanksgiving?  Are you finished yet?  We finished yesterday at the in-laws home where we stuffed ourselves with chicken and dressing, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, corn casserole, rolls, green pea salad, gravy, cranberry sauce and green bean casserole.  It was good and for dessert you had your choice of apple butter pumpkin pie and pecan pie.  After stuffing ourselves we watched some Castle reruns and then our standard Thursday night Big Bang Theory.  I took my camera but I never got it out of the camera bag!  We left for home at about 8:15 and I convinced my hubs to just drive past Walmart and Target to see how crazy it was.  Oh My Word!  It was crazy and I am so glad that we had no desire what so ever to go shopping last night!  We may venture out later this afternoon but no sooner than that!!

We had Thanksgiving with my family on Wednesday and it was also a stuff yourself fest!  We had turkey and dressing (my Dad makes the best dressing!), corn, sweet potato casserole, greenbeans, greenbean casserole, rolls, ham, cranberry sauce (homemade), green jello salad, lemon icebox pie, pound cake, peach cobbler, pumpkin and pecan pies (the last two of which we didn’t even touch).  I went to take pictures of the loaded table BUT I had forgotten to put the memory card back in my phone (I was just a little irritated) so I “borrowed” one from my sister!  After eating we just sat around and visited until it was time to head home to get ready for church.  It was a nice day but as always the time spent with my sister and her family was way too short.
 

And now I will give you a run down on what has been happening around these parts. . . . . .on Wednesday the 13th I got a phone call from a gentleman who said that he was from Life Alert and that he had gotten a call from my grandmother’s home but he was getting no response when we called over their box or on the phone, he let me know that he already had an ambulance in route but needed to know how long it would be before I could be there.  I told him less than 3 minutes because I had to put my shoes on and then head over.  When I got there I found my grandmother sitting on the floor in her garage with blood everywhere.  Long story short, she had fallen face first from the steps when she was going out into her garage.  I convinced her to go to the hospital by ambulance because she had a huge knot on her forehead and I was scared that there may have been something else wrong (she had been very slow to respond when I first got there).  Luckily after CT scans and being checked over by the ER doctor it was determined that she had a broken nose but she would be sore and would be black and blue (and she still is).  I spent the night with her that night and luckily my aunt was coming in for the weekend. 

My Aunt got there on Thursday and loaded up firewood to take home.  My sister had to take her to the doctor on Saturday because she woke up and couldn’t bend her knee and it was very painful and swollen.  The doctor diagnosed gout and they left the office.  Right after they left, the doctor called and ask them to please come back.  They had run blood tests and her white blood count was very high and the doctor then diagnosed her with leukemia.  For those of you who know my family know that this is my Mom’s sister, the one who was a match and donated stemcells for my Mom’s stemcell transplant for her leukemia (my Mom only has one sister).  My cousin and his wife came on Monday to take my aunt home. After a week of doctor’s appointments and a few days spent in the hospital, she has been diagnosed with Chronic myelogenous leukemia which is not the same as what my Mom had.  Her doctor says that she should live a long life with the help of medications.

On the 19th, my little sister had surgery which going in she did not know if she would be having a hysterectomy or if they would just be able to remove some large fibroids (my sister is in her late 30’s but she isn’t married and still hopes to one day get married and have kids so she was hoping that she would have need the hysterectomy).  Well, 8 fibroids and 2 cysts later, the doctor was finished and said that everything now looked great.  Our friend Lou Ellen and her friend Shannon said with Rae in the hospital, Dad stayed close by (she went to Houston for the surgery) while the hubs and I headed back home.  I was in charge of taking care of my grandmother, my Dad’s dog and cat, Rae’s cat and teaching her classes at one of the local high school.  She is recovering nicely and I am hoping that she will be ready to go back to work soon (not too soon, I want her to recover completely) because high school is soooo not my thing!!

And that my friends is what has been going on in these parts!!  I hope that you all had a blessed Thanksgiving with the ones you love.  We had a lot to be thankful for this year and enjoyed spending time with loved ones. 

AND now starts the MAD rush to Christmas!  Ho ho ho y’all!

Sunday, November 10, 2013

What's For Dinner November 10-15

This week we are supposed to get another round of cooler weather.  The hubster requested some more comfort food for this weeks cooler weather.  We had a luncheon at church today and I peeled almost 10 pounds of potatoes to make cheesy potatoes.  Well, after filling up my casserole dish with potatoes, I still had about 6 potatoes so I made mashed potatoes for Monday night.  (wow, a sentence with the work potato in it 3 times!!!)  I also made a peach dump cake. . . . .oh my goodness it is so easy to make and so yummy for your tummy!!

Monday:  homemade mashed potatoes and breaded fish fillets
Tuesday:  grilled cheese and tomato soup
Wednesday:  leftovers from church luncheon - cheesy potatoes and whatever else you can find!
Thursday:  homemade chili
Friday:  dinner at a friend's house
Saturday:  fend for yourself

Saturday, November 9, 2013

Beautiful Ending

This evening we met at Freddie's Frozen Custard for our every Saturday outing with my Dad.  When we walked out to head home this was the view we saw.
I am so thankful for the beauty that my God shares with us.

Sunday, November 3, 2013

What's Cooking This Week

We are experiencing cooler weather this week and I am looking at cooking some comfort foods.  Here is what we will be eating.

Monday:  Beef Stroganoff Casserole, corn, rolls
Tuesday:  Spicy Tortilla Soup (for me) and salad (for the Mr.)
Wednesday:  leftovers
Thursday:  crescent pepperoni rolls (recipe later)
Friday:  out to dinner
Saturday:  fend for yourself

Monday, October 28, 2013

After the Storm

We have been very lucky and have gotten some really good rains the last three Saturday night/Sunday mornings in a row.  This is the sky on our way to church yesterday morning.


What's For Dinner - October 28 - November 2

Monday:  breakfast for supper - sausage & cream cheese casserole
Tuesday:  taco salad
Wednesday:  fend for yourself
Thursday:  out to dinner
Friday:  out to dinner
Saturday:  who knows!

Friday, October 25, 2013

Fabulous Friday

This week has flown by at warp speed for me.  I have worked everyday this week but with the exception of Monday, they have all been half days.  I have not taught the same subject twice!  Monday I taught 8th grade math. . .I did not pick this job so I was very apprehensive about it.  If you know me, you know that math is not my thing.  Luckily for me, our junior high teachers record all of their lessons for the subs.  I just had to know how to use the smart board and the computer!  Tuesday I taught Art for a friend of mine which is always fun.  Wednesday was two dyslexia classes where I enjoyed watching two different groups of kids play the game Blurt! which is a fun game.  Thursday I taught 6th grade science and today I am in 5th grade social studies.  I have to say that being a substitute teacher is an interesting job and you have got to be flexible and able to think on your feet.
I can't believe that October is nearly over.  My teaching certificate expires at the end of the month so I have been working on finishing up my hours I have to keep my certificate.  I have to say that I am not as close to being done as I had planned but since I am such a huge procrastinator, I am not surprised that as usual I will be cramming them in at the end.  This afternoon will be spent finishing up the 6 hour course I started on Tuesday.  I have at least two more 6 hour classes so that will help boost the hours.  I have to finish up 150 hours.  Guess you know what I will be doing this weekend!
Have you started your Christmas shopping yet?  I haven't and since I still don't have a full-time job, I am not sure how we are going to swing it this year.  Every year gets harder to figure out what to buy for our family.  Mr. Giggles side seems to be fine with giving and receiving gift cards but I am not a huge fan of gift cards.  I like getting something more personal for my side of the family but it is hard.  If they see something they want, they just go out and buy it themselves or it is way out of my budget!  I really need to start sitting down and thinking about gifts.  I have already made my list of people who we need to purchase gifts for and I plan on getting my Christmas letter and cards done early this year because we basically don't have anything going on to tell people about.  Maybe I will just do Christmas cards this year with no letter.  Maybe we will do picture Christmas cards.  Those are fun and we haven't ever done any before.  I think I like that idea!
Well, I had better go for now.  I hope you are enjoying fall in your part of the world.  I am ready for it to get a little bit cooler around here but it has been nice anyway.

Sunday, October 13, 2013

What Does 90 Years Old Look Like?


What does 90 years old look like?  Well, here is my grandmother who will turn 90 on Tuesday.  We had a surprise celebration for her yesterday.  It was a lot of work but so worth it.  She had NO idea what was going on and she couldn’t believe the family and friends who we consider family that kept walking through the door.  We had family from California and Oklahoma and of course but several parts of Texas.  I am glad that I was able to “try” to put a party together like my Mom would have done (she was the party planner and decoration creator) and it was close.  But there were big holes that couldn’t be ignored made by the people who have left us way too early.

I was very lucky to be able to grow up right down the road from my grandparents and spent a lot of time with my grandmother.  Although we don’t always see things eye to eye and I sometimes get very impatient and irritated and feel pretty overwhelmed sometimes by all the things she needs from me, I am so glad that she is my grandmother and that I have been able to spend 43 out of her 90 years with you.  I love you grandmommy even though sometimes it may be hard to tell!  You have done so much for me and I appreciate it.  I am a pretty lucky girl.
 
The birthday girl!

Blowing out a "90" candle!
 

My grandmother, her brother and all the grandkids except one (who did get there later)

Grandmommy, Bec, me and RAW.
 

What's Cooking This Week 10/13/13

Monday:  homemade tamales, Spanish rice, guacamole
Tuesday:  meatball lasagna, corn, garlic bread
Wednesday:  fend for yourself
Thursday:  leftovers
Friday: out for dinner
Saturday: fend for yourself

Monday, October 7, 2013

Is Fall Really Here?

 
 
The picture quality isn't great but this was the temperature this morning as I drove to work.  I love fall and I hope it is here to stay!!!

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Saturday, September 21, 2013

New Floor


A year or so ago we found a spot in our kitchen floor was very soft.  Our house is on pier and beam so there is no concrete.  Of course this soft spot was where I stood all the time to cook.  Well, about a month ago it finally was time to get the floor replaced.  The first day they worked, they took out the floor and subfloor, replaced some of the beams and added some boards to a couple of others.  I thought I had taken more pictures of the before work but I guess I didn't.  Here it is down to the dirt under the house.  There is NO WAY in the world that I could ever do this kind of work.  It freaks me out thinking about what could be under the house!! 

 
About three weeks later they came back out to finish the job.  Now that everything is completed I can take my kitchen table apart and store and put my “new” Hoosier cabinet in its place for some more kitchen storage!!




 
It is so nice to be able to cook without feeling like I am standing in a hole!!

 

Monday, September 16, 2013

Supper Menu - Sept. 16


Monday:  leftover spaghetti, corn and French bread

Tuesday:  $5.00 footlongs from Subway

Wednesday:  fend for yourself

Thursday:  meatballs and mashed potatoes

Friday:  out to eat

Saturday:  fend for yourself

Sunday, September 15, 2013

Stuck!


Uggghhh. . . . . .I finally started another post and word stopped working and lost what I already typed up.  Lately I have been stuck when it comes to blogging.  I have started several over the last few weeks concerning things going on in my life right now but they didn’t get finished because was worried about how they would come across and the one or three people who read this would wonder what my problem was/is. 

I am still looking for a job.  This is very stressful.  I feel that teaching is what I am supposed to do but it just isn’t happening.  We are to the point that I am going to have to find something non teaching related and that breaks my heart.  I do not want to get stuck in another job doing what I don’t love but for financial reasons I am going to have to.   I am 40+; I should be doing what I love not working just for a paycheck (at least that is how I feel about it).

Family. . . .I love my family with all my heart but things have changed since my Mom passed away.  I thought my sisters and I would be closer but it hasn’t turned out that way.  I don’t know what to do about it.  I think for a while for my own sake, I am going to take a step back from things and be there is they need me but not try to do or be anything else.  That may sound mean but I am really struggling with some very hurt feelings. 

I can’t believe that we are already ½ way through September.  I have not done anything Christmas gift wise and getting some sort of job will determine if we will be Mr. & Mrs. Scrooge this year.  I already told my nephew that he needed to start praying that I find a job if he wants a present!!!  My birthday is in less than a month and my Gmom P’s 90th birthday is a month from today.  Last weekend we celebrated my Gmom W’s 89th birthday.  It was so nice to see family that we don’t get to see very often.

Yesterday was a huge football game in our part of the world.  We have a combined population (between the sister cities we live in) of 175,000 folks (I do not know if that even includes the huge # of students attending TAMU and Blinn Jr. College) and this weekend we had an additional estimated (before this weekend) 75,000 of our closest friends and relatives visiting.  Oh my goodness.  It was crowded everywhere you went.  We did not go to town except for early dinner Friday evening, to DQ and the bank during the game and to church and lunch today.  Needless to say the outcome wasn’t what we had hoped for but we did make a good comeback at the end of the game.  Like him or not, Johnny Manziel is talented and we have some other outstanding players so they made for an exciting game!!!  Now everyone can go back home so we can have a few days of “quiet” before we play SMU here at home.

Well, I hope I haven’t put you to sleep or whined too much.  Just got a lot going on and am finding it hard to express my feelings.  Have a great week.

 

Saturday, September 14, 2013

Sunday, September 8, 2013

Supper Time

Well, it seems like the only time I blog anymore is to give you our boring menu!  Here is what we will be eating this week.  Nothing exciting!
Monday:  baked spaghetti, corn, cheesy texas toast
Tuesday:  sausage on a stick and potato salad
Wednesday:  fend for yourself
Thursday:  leftovers or salad or baked potato
Friday:  out to dinner
Saturday:  fend for yourself

Hope you are having a great September.

Sunday, September 1, 2013

Menu for the Week


Nothing new or exciting this week but just in case you were wondering what we are eating this week this is it.

Monday:  taco salad

Tuesday:  homemade chili and hotdogs with tatortots

Wednesday:  fend for yourself

Thursday:  fish fillets and mac & cheese

Friday:  out to dinner

Saturday:  lunch with the family to celebrate my Grandmother’s 89th birthday.

Sunday, August 25, 2013

Chow Time!


This week I am going to try not one but two new recipes.  I know, I know. . . . . .there is something wrong with that picture!   Cooking three nights one week (that means nothing from the freezer!), maybe it will rain! The hubs wanted shrimp and I wanted chicken so we are both getting what we want.  Here is what we will be chowing down on!



Wednesday:  fend for yourself

Thursday:  Taco Salad and guacamole

Friday:  out to dinner

Saturday:  fend for yourself

 
Can’t wait to tell you what the verdict was on Monday and Tuesday meals!! 

 PS:  I have just posted my 701st post!!!

Friday, August 23, 2013

Waiting for the Rain


They (the weather people) have said that almost everyone would get rain this week.  HA HA HA I say.  We got a little sprinkle this afternoon but it was just enough to cover all of the tire tracks in the driveway and that was all.  We have a huge need for rain around here.  I walked out in the pasture last night to take some pictures of the thunderstorm that passed us by and the grass just crunched under my feet.  Our ponds are going down pretty fast and my Dad has started feeding hay to the cattle.  I decided that I would show you the beautiful cloud formations we have had the last two days even if the rain has passed us by. 
Storm from yesterday (taken with Canon Rebel).










I have wanted to take a lightening shot for a long time and I finally got not one but two!!


 
Clouds from tonight (taken with Instagram).
 




 

Thursday, August 22, 2013

Ch Ch Ch Changes!!


I had decided to make a little change. Here is the before.

Here is the after.  What do you think?

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