She Was Not At Home

Wow…I really enjoyed my trip to New Orleans to visit my daughter and favorite son-n-law…Holly and Richard. We had lots of fun shopping, dining out, junking, picking, and some site seeing. Now that I’m home, I have lots to share…places, portraits, painting and jamming. The first thing I want to share is our visit to Sandra Bullock’s. Now I have to tell you that I am not a star stalker and I do not follow their lives or relish in the gossip. But I have to admit that Sandra has always been one of my favorite actresses because of her nature and good humor.
As you may know, she and soon-to-be-ex, Jesse James, bought a house in New Orleans after adopting a new baby, Louis...he’s so cute!

 Her new house, a beautiful Victorian mansion, is located in the beautiful Garden District on Coliseum Street. Knowing only the street and the looks of the house we set out in search for it…and believe me when I say that Coliseum Street is looooooonggg...and of course we started at the wrong end!  Holly is looking at all the roof tops in search for the decorative finials, the right color, and a house on a corner lot.                              Finally she sees it…. “That’s it!!!”

The historic mansion, known as the Koch-Mays house, was built in the 1860s. It is 6,615 square feet, with five bedrooms, and four and a half baths. In the private back is a lagoon-like pool. Sandra Bullock bought the house for mere $2.25 million last June. Shut-up!

 Since she was not at home to enjoy our company, chat with us and offer us a cool drink, we did not get a grand tour of the inside. So I had to do my own online tour to discover what lay behind these beautiful walls. Ornate chandeliers, carved columns, ornately carved marble mantels, large plaster medallions, antique shadow molding, a grand entry foyer, alternating pecan & sycamore floorings, a large parlor, ballroom & dining room, all with 14′ ceilings. And to top it all off an unfinished 3rd floor with an additional 1935 sq. ft. with 10 ft. ceilings. Man, I can only imagine!

 I love the Victorian look of it all!!

How did we know that Sandra was not at home…Richard rang the gate bell and no one answered…or maybe they just saw us mere Alabama folk standing on the side walk and laughed? Anyway we had fun gawking over the beauty of this home and thinking that we may get a glimpse of Sandra should she come out into the iron fenced gardens.

No luck with that but we did get to see her garbage…hahaha

I wonder if she put Jesse in one of those bags. *smiling*

No, I did not go through it…that’s nasty!

We enjoyed our meal that day at Juan’s Flying Burrito…located on Magazine St.

One of Holly and Richard’s favorite places to eat something besides seafood. Yep it was delish! Biggest burritos I have ever seen!! I gave most of mine to Richard and helped Holly eat her Nachos Supreme…it had everything on it and it was fine! Sorry…we got so excited when it was brought to the table that I forgot to take a pix!

I’m excited to have some new things to share with you this week, so please come back for more. I enjoy each visit…now I have some catching up to do by visiting all of you!

See ya soon! Happy Sunday to you with lots of blessings!
Thank you all so much for all the Anniversary Wishes
and sweet comments on my last post.
~Loves~

2 photos of Sandra's baby Louis-Google search 

30 Years Today!

                     Our Wedding May 17, 1980                      High School Prom 1976

These are for your viewing pleasure, please do not get too much entertainment

from the BIG glasses, etc... A definite fashion faux pas mistake.  hahaha

Jackie and I have been married 30 years today! Wow, what a major milestone! We began our story in 1976…Our 11th grade in high school. We shared 2 classes together, history and a two hour drafting class …so it was inevitable that we started talking to each other and I helped him with his class work. Soon after the dating began…we went to the prom…and all those other good things too. After graduation we got engaged and after I finished college we got married. Just prior to the wedding, when I had already ordered the wedding invitations, Jackie lost his job. Oh my…what to do? After much job searching and the feeling of hopelessness was beginning to set in, he got two interviews in one day. Went to the first one, was hired, sent for a physical and was cleared to begin work at the start of the new week. That same afternoon another company called him and wanted to talk to him…everything went well and they wanted to send him for a physical too. He asked them if he really had to because he had already had one that morning and surely things had not changed that quickly! They laughed and said no…they would get the doctor to send the results over to them…and so he was hired. Now…with two offers on the table and no comparison in the two, the better one won out!! So 30 years later we are still happily married and Jackie is still with the same company, eligible for retirement, but too young to draw!! God has been so good to us. He not only blessed us with one child, Holly, but with a wonderful son-n-law, Richard.

We are now spending time in our empty nest, building on a future for when Jackie can take his leave from the work force. Retirement is a grand thing and we have much to look forward to. Life is good and God is great!

******

I will be ending my week early, leaving Thursday, headed out to New Orleans to visit with Holly and Richard for a week. We are going to do some serious thrift store shopping, junking, dining out, and I’m going to do a photo shoot of them at a beautiful park in NO. We are also going to be working on a unique dining table that Holly found at the dumpster on base. *They live on a military air station base and people leave good furniture when it’s time to move* Adding a fancy shelf that she purchased at an auction and by cutting the table to a narrower width we are going to alter this into a buffet of sorts...can’t wait to see the results. After we paint and shabby it up some it should be beautiful!

******

So here's to 30 years with you Jackie...Happy Anniversary!

I love you and hope we have many many more!

I hope and pray you all have a great week!

Good Things Everywhere

I’m having lots of fresh veggies from my garden and that makes me giddy!! Yep it does!  Wish I could say that I plow with this old tractor but...
We have extended the size of the garden though... Allllll-most doubled in size, which meant putting up more fence...yuk…hard work. Then we built more raised boxes 3’x10’x10”…building them was the easy part…getting them level on the ground was the hard part! Now we just have to fill them with soil. $$ oh my! But in the end we will reap our rewards with a harvest for years to come…Cucumbers, peas, tomatoes, okra, red potatoes, yellow squash, broccoli and onions. And that just for right now! Fresh is the best! ~Just incase you are wondering why the fence and why raised boxes?…well our dirt is hard clay in most spots and nothing grows well in concrete dirt…and the fence keeps Bambi, Thumper, and Peter Rabbit from enjoying my veggies before we do! ~~~

A friend asked me to share some recipes because she was stumped about what to fix lately for their evening meals. So I thought I would share my favorite Lasagna recipe. It is so easy and so delish. I took this dish along with a lemon cheese cake to my grieving friends when we lost our neighbor to a bad stroke. They raved on it! So here’s my easy

No Boil Lasagna

2-15 ounce containers of Ricotta cheese
2 cups o mozzarella cheese, shredded
½ cup parmesan cheese, grated
2 eggs
1-16 ounce jars of meaty spaghetti sauce
12 uncooked lasagna noodles

Combine ricotta, 1 cup of mozzarella cheese, ¼ cup of parmesan cheese and eggs. In a 9x13 baking dish, spread a cup of sauce, layer 4 uncooked noodles, then 1 cup sauce and half of the ricotta mixture. Repeat. Top with remaining 4 uncooked noodles and 2 cups of sauce. Cover tightly with foil and bake at 375* for one hour. Remove foil, sprinkle with remaining cheeses. Bake uncovered for another 10 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.
I add sautéed onions, mushrooms and bell pepper to mine because I love them!!
This recipe can be made ahead and refrigerated until ready to pop into the oven! Serve with a fresh salad, rolls or garlic toast, and iced tea.

It’s not your basic meat and taters meal *winking* but it is oh so good and easy! Enjoy!

*****

Now on to taking care of some fun business…I have received some nice awards lately and I wanted to share them and thank the givers. First comes from Renee at Sewn with Grace.  She has a passion for quilting, sewing, knitting, and crafting and does a beautiful job while sharing her faith and family. She presented me with The Trendy Blog Award.

Now I am passing it on to 10 of you whom I think are trendy too…yeah I know just 10…this is going to be hard but here’s 10 anyway:

Mama Holli at No Body Put Mama in a Corner 

Cindy at Rick-Rack and Gingham 

Manda at There is a Time  

Cindy at Things About Who, What, When, Where and Why 

Kim at Homesteaders Heart 

Michelle at  Love to Junk

Angie at  Berry Homespun Primitives 

Lindsay at  Southern Cinderella

Jacqueline at My Daily Discovery 

Sares at  Love Leigh Treasures 

Whew…I’m out of breath!! Now go visit these lovely trendy ladies! They are awesome!

My next award comes from Cindy AKA Cinner.

 It is the "Life is Good" Award…That to me is just beautiful! Please go visit this sweet and funny lady who overcomes many obstacles on a daily basis…things we take for granted like the joy of Laughing! Thank you Cindy!
For this award you get to find out a little more about me…so here goes….

1. What is the most memorable dream you ever had? My dreams would be those goals that I wanted to meet…like get married, have a child, and live happily ever after. I am living the dream.

2. Do you have a 'spirit' or totem animal or an animal you feel particularly connected with? Hummmmm…Well now I just don’t know about a totem? And my spirit is not of the animal kind… so I guess I will just say this “I love kitties”…but you already knew that huh?

3. If you could go on any journey tomorrow, where would you end up? Hey I’m on the journey right now…my journey through life…you know the good life…and by the grace of God my life’s journey will end up in heaven for eternity.

4. A cozy winter's eve by the hearth or a warm summer's day by the sea? I’ll take either one of these…both are very nice and comfy.

5. If you could conquer one fear, what would it be? The fear of creepy crawly things and those creatures that slither around…yuk.

6. What is your favorite poem? Not much into poetry but do love a good quote and good books to read.

7. What are your most frequently used herbs and what do you use them for? I have never grown herbs…yet…but I’m planning to grow some lavender and thyme…I already have the seeds, so we’ll see how it pans out.

8. Savory snacks or sweet puddings? both

9. What is one thing you wish to achieve this year? Just one…you’ve got to be kidding me? I give up…………………………

10. What would your perfect day consist of ? Prayer.Coolness.Simplicity.Goodness.FreshAir.Easiness.Happiness.Contentment.

****

OK…enough is enough…sorry this is so long. Thanks to Renee and Cindy for thinking of me. Oh gosh I was supposed to pass this last award on to three friends…but I will let you decide who you are. If “Life is Good” to you, take this one a run with it, let us all know how good it is!!

MY GARDEN IS GOOD

LASAGNA IS GOOD

LIFE IS GOOD

GOD IS GOOD

Sharing My Special Day…

A day shared with loved ones…smiles all around.

Love and hugs. Coolness filled the air from overnight.

A perfect day.

Fresh carnations from a little child’s hand. Praise and worship.

A packet of seeds for taking "thyme" to make a difference…

A candy bar because God deserves "Mounds" of praise.

Wrapping paper torn open as smiles flow out. More hugs and I love yous.

A meal shared around the table all prepared with loving affection.
Stories told
 news updated
laughs lifted
Girl giggles.

Embracing, touching with hands and words.

Fresh flowers delivered from afar.

 Loving chats long distance.
So many miles away but very close in my heart.

Wishes made.

Prayers said.

A warm honored feeling.
Tired sleep with joy and a smile and much gratefulness.

~~~~~

I hope all you mothers had a wonderful day too.

Happy Monday

Praising God

Lilies from Holly

Our Angels

My Mama has molded me into the person that I am today.

This is an older photo of my Mama.

It is one of my favorites because it is beautifully hand tinted.

Her name is Mary.

She has changed quite a bit through the years,

but she is still my beautiful Mama and I love her dearly.

~~~~~~

My daughter made me into a Mama.

This is my daughter~Holly

She too has molded me into who I am today.

Being a Mama is one of the best experiences I have had in life.

There is nothing that compares to it.

There is a joy in your heart knowing that you have raised a child into an incredible young lady.  I pray that she too will one day come to know that joy.

~~~~~~ 

I made my Mama a photo book one year for

Mother’s Day and had the following printed in the back.

I wanted to share this with you and wish each and every

Mom, Mother, Mama, Ma, or Momma

 a Happy and Blessed Mother's Day!

~~~~~~

A Newborn's Conversation with God

A baby asked God, "They tell me you are sending me to earth tomorrow,

but how am I going to live there being so small and helpless?"

God said, "Your angel will be waiting for you and will take care of you."

The child further inquired, "But tell me, here in heaven I don't have

to do anything but sing and smile to be happy."

God said, "Your angel will sing for you and will also smile for you.

And you will feel your angel's love and be very happy."

Again the small child asked, "And how am I going to be able to understand

when people talk to me if I don't know the language?"

God said, "Your angel will tell you the most beautiful and sweet words

you will ever hear, and with much patience and care, your angel will

teach you how to speak."

"And what am I going to do when I want to talk to you?"

God said, "Your angel will place your hands together

and will teach you how to pray."

"Who will protect me?"

God said, "Your angel will defend you even if it means risking its life."

"But I will always be sad because I will not see you anymore."

God said, "Your angel will always talk to you about Me and will teach

you the way to come back to Me, even though I will always be next to you."

At that moment there was much peace in Heaven, but voices from Earth

could be heard and the child hurriedly asked, "God, if I am to leave

now, please tell me my angel's name."

God said, You will simply call her, "Mom." 
~~~~~~~~

….Where would we be without our Mama’s….What angel do you call Mom?

My word for 2010-Experience

I’ve experienced being a Mama

Listening From Heaven

President Harry Truman declared a "National Day of Prayer" in the United States on April 17, 1952 and President Ronald Reagan declared that day to be the first Thursday in May each year thereafter. Before the official declaration, President Abraham Lincoln designated April 30, 1863 as a day of "national humiliation, fasting and prayer” in the hope that God would respond by restoring "our now divided and suffering Country, to its former happy condition of unity and peace."     I hope this is your prayer today.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim May 6, 2010, as a National Day of Prayer. I call upon the citizens of our Nation to pray, or otherwise give thanks, in accordance with their own faiths and consciences, for our many freedoms and blessings, and I invite all people of faith to join me in asking for God’s continued guidance, grace, and protection as we meet the challenges before us. ~Barack Obama

Today is the National Day of Prayer in America. Let's PRAY for one another! Each of us, one for the other. What can it hurt, what harm can it cause? Let us remember those suffering from natural disasters, those who serve in our Armed Forces who risk their lives in the line of duty for our very freedom to make the world a safer place. Let us pray for the other nations and countries across the world, the lost, the hungry, the suffering, the poor, and the little children, men and woman; all people everywhere.

Our church, along with many others, is participating in a Bible Reading Marathon this week on the court house steps of our city. It began Sunday with non-stop around the clock reading, ending today with every word of the Bible being read, and ending with prayer on this National Day of Prayer.

Two stated intentions of the National Day of Prayer were that it would be a day when adherents of all great religions could unite in prayer and that it may one day bring renewed respect for God to all the peoples of the world.  Let’s celebrate that intention as it was proclaimed so many years ago, by praying for the good of our country and the world as a whole. Please join me, not only today but everyday.

"The LORD is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth."

~Psalm 145:18

"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray,

and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways;

then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."

~2 Chronicles 7:14

If you have any prayer requests, you are welcome to post them here and I promise you they will be shared by me with the Lord. God bless each and every one of you this day and everyday.

Source: From Wikipedia and other internet sites. 

The Bad Comes with the Good

There is a blog you must visit…Not Quite June Clever.  Susan is a great cook who shares many of her recipes, like one of her favorites: Chicken & Dumplin's! She also likes to garden and play in the dirt, sew the cutest aprons, tend a small farm with some cute animals and get this; She has her own published cookbook!

Which BTW…I want it…hint hint *winking*

Here is the Amazon link for ordering!!

And low-and-behold she had a giveaway in honor of her being picked for Gooseberry Patch’s Featured Friday...and I won!! Yes me! *doing the happy dance while singing*.  She is giving me the "Farmers Market Favorites" Gooseberry Patch Cookbook and an apron which she personally made!

 WooooHooooo! I’m so excited. June Susan really Rocks! And so does GBP!

As you have guessed by now, that was the good news…now for the bad. My hubby left me!  Well just not permanently. ..hahaha, but he did leave me…ALONE…alone for a whole week while he’s in Kentucky with three friends turkey hunting. They are having a lot of fun in beautiful Kentucky country after driving through all the rain and flooding that Tennessee had on Saturday. They stayed just ahead of the worst rain Nashville has ever seen. *Please keep Tennessee in your prayers along with the Gulf Coast which is being engulfed by the oil spill from the rig that exploded. Lives have been lost and it is not over yet* Anyway I sure do miss Jackie…he’s really a quiet man in general so it’s even quieter when he is not here…like a deafening silence. But I’m hanging in there: 

He did pick me some strawberries from our friend’s farm down the road before he left.   YUM! They really DO NOT need the sugar because they are sweet already!

So if this is as bad as it gets for me this week….well I’m doing good!!

All is well! How is your week?

"If all our misfortunes were laid in one common heap whence everyone must take an equal portion, most people would be contented to take their own."

 ~Socrates

The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart,

 and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart.

For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks. ~Luke 6:45 NIV 

What's flowing from your heart?

An Irrelevant Fact to Intrigue You: The sound of E.T. walking was made by someone squishing her hands in Jell-O.  Now you know!  I wonder what flavor it was!?