refinished table

This table was once green and had a wood drawer pull, I painted it black and changed the drawer pull to a glass one. It's outside in the pict. because it is still drying from its last coat of laquer. I had lots of fun refinishing it and am excited to get it in my home, I'll put up a picture tommorrow of it in it's new spot.

tommorrow I also plan on painting a desk and chair for P's room. I'll show you how it turns out.

dress cookies all decorated

cookies every where!

I am doing a little charity drive, I made a hundred dress cookies and passed them out at church, to neighbors and to friends. With the hope of collecting 100 outfits for Dress for Success and the Springs rescue mission, Dress for success needs professional quality outfits and the other needs everyday wear. I'm also collecting coats. The cookies were a fun way to invite people to participate and P.and I had loads of fun making and decorating them. I am hoping to have all clothes by Sept. 25 and I asked people to read The Hundred dresses, to get into the spirit of my little clothing drive. I will let you know how it went . I bundled the cookies up and put a poem on them by Richard Gillard " We are Pilgrims on a journey and companions on the road: we are here to help each other walk the mile and bear the load"

A cascade of morning glories

my back fence full flowers

Hello friends and family,

I have been busy in my gardens, flower and vegetable as you can see from my beautiful pictures.

We have been eating fresh peas, green beans, carrots and onions from our garden we have 5 cabbages on the way and are very excited about eating them when they are ready. We have pumpkins, peppers and squashes.

My kiddies will be starting their 3rd week of school tomorrow and all seems to be going well. N. is holding down 2 jobs and keeping up with his senior classes. He is amazing and I can't believe my little birdie will be old enough to leave our nest.
P. as you remember from last year, had an awful first few months of school, but this year she is doing so well, she started school and hasn't had any of last years drama and I couldn't be more proud of her.

I am a little lost with out my kids at home, even though I am busy, I have some fun things going on that I will tell you about later.

When I get a little down missing my kids I go and sit outside and stare at my beautiful backyard it brings me such joy.

I am training for my 3rd marathon, as most of you know, I have started a new asthma med. and my breathing has improved considerably, but now allergy season has hit and I am a mess, I also re-injured my knee a few weeks ago and I have been walking all my miles, my knee seems to be much better and I will start running again, this weekend I plan on running and walking 16 miles and I am looking forward to it.

large sunflowers

small sunflowers

beets from my garden

Pretty as a picture

our b-day girl rocks!

New dress

Birthday girl

Shasta daisies/ my favorite

I planted some small plants about 4 years ago and they have grown into huge plants and look beautiful, I get lots of compliments on my flowers and i'm finally really seeing the rewards of all my hard work.

The Volvo is a very low rider

I drove 6 youth leaders to girls camp and the road was washed out. The girls had to get out and walk several times, because we would bottom out and there were times I didn't think that my car would make through the deep crags and gulley's, the girls made up this song for me and I laughed and laughed I thought they were hilarious.

we had to walk 500 miles

High adventure/catwalk

If you don't like my singing, BITE ME!

Our Ferocious feline hates my singing, Whenever I sing, she runs up and bites me. Apparently my singing is so bad that she'd like to throw tomatoes at me, but she can't so she shows her displeasure with violence. Someone remind again why we have this cat?

P. is having a hard time going to school these days, she thinks it's more fun to stay home and cuddle with mom. (that's what she tells me anyway to try to get me to let her stay home) she had a day off recently, we read books, ( we are reading Grayson a true story about a 17 yr old girl swimming in the ocean and her encounter with a baby whale) cuddled, and talked about our plans for the summer. We had so much fun, I love having her at home. Today after school we are taking the training wheels off her bike and learning to ride with out them. she is super excited.

Nic and Prom date

a little upadate

I have been super busy, I feel as if I am always on the run and know that most of you feel that way too.

To catch you up, I went to Women's conference with a wonderful Friend, she called a few weeks before and asked me to go, I thought she was crazy but the next day I bought my tickets and just went for it. It was just what I needed and I laughed so much with my friend and had such a good time catching up, we went together 12 years ago and I'm glad we did it again.

Nic, went to prom, a cute girl asked him to go with her, they rented a hummer with other couples, had dinner at P. F. chang's then the dance, bowling and I- hop after that. I think he had a good time and for those of you who have asked about Pict's, they are coming.

Scott has been very busy and alot on his plate he has however found time for some fun concerts lately and has more coming up.

Today I planted grapes, blueberries, 3 trees, Peonie's and my compost appears to be coming along nicely. This weekend I HOPE, to plant my gardens.

My darling daughter has showered me with many cards and letters for mothers day and I feel loved, blessed and grateful.

If my husband calls you and wants to know what I want for mothers day tell him a lg blue or lavender Hydrangea bush from Lowe's for 26.00 dollars, it's for a very lg pot on my porch, I would also like a gift cert. from Lowe's for more flowers, I don't think you can have too many.

I hope to put up pict's. soon of my back and front yard to show you the changes I have made, but first I have to fix my dead grass.

I have been very busy lately and have not been keeping up with my blog. I spent a week with my sis. to help her get ready for her move to Alaska, she is on her way and I am very excited for her. I then drove to San Antonio Texas for my brothers wedding, I took my children and had a great time. I put some Pict's. on of my brothers and sisters from my wedding in 1991 , I am the oldest and the first to get married and some Pict's of us from my littlest brothers wedding the last to get married. The Pict's. are not in any order, I will put some up of my children in Texas soon.

N. looking cool

A little pre -bedtime wrestling match

P's haircut

P. wanted to change her haircut and chose bangs and layers, she could not stop smiling when she was done and it turned out so cute.

A few minutes at the library

Our whole family loves to go to the library, mom took us to the library a lot when we were young and I have enjoyed it ever since. We come home with piles and piles of books we can barely carry out of the library. N. needed to do a report on World War 2 so we loaded up on more books. We have been very busy lately and it was fun trip that gave us a little break from our really crazy week.

Sunday drive

Watch out! Clear the road! N. is taking dad for a ride. Actually he drives very well and is very responsible and he is super cool looking in those aviators.

Spending her tooth fairy money

s
shopping Saturday morning with her newly acquired 2.oo dollars

lost tooth

SHE LOST HER FIRST TOOTH!

compost

I've made a new compost bin, I got it from a DIY web site, Nic drilled holes all over it and I have been filling it up, I'll let you know how it works, I took out my large compost bins to change my landscaping, i'll put in picts when its done.

Someone has a loose tooth, her first!

We are so excited and can't wait for it to fall out... It may be awhile but we'll keep you posted.

N. lost his first tooth in 3rd grade, it was a long wait, most of his class members had lots of new teeth before he lost his first tooth.

P. has been checking her teeth every night for most of the school year and has been sure many times that a well planted tooth was moving ever so slightly, so I was surprised when the tooth actually moved.

Hopped Up On Sugar

Well I am a spoiled girl, my hubby stopped at a couple of stores to try and find my candy hearts, but was not able to find them, I stopped at a couple of stores and was also unlucky. Tues. a good friend a.k.a. my workout buddy surprised me with a gift bag full of my favorite candy. My family and I ate one bag already and I have hidden the others so we don't develop diabetes in a week. I will have candy hearts for a year and I am grateful.

Thanks my friend.

love and all that goo

Dear family and friends,



Valentines day is upon us, I like valentines day. I like hearts, red and pink doilies and the idea of celebrating LOVE. ( I also love Brachs conversation hearts, I can eat them by the bag full and this is the only time of year you can get them.) I have been unlucky in my search for Brachs conversation hearts this year, they are my favorite because they are soft, not bone crushing hard like Necco's. Anyway, back to love, I know that valentines day is for lovers and all that goo but I think of it as a day to show love to all my favorite people and in honor of that I am going to share with you my very favorite roll recipe. Now you may wonder what a roll recipe has to do with love and valentines day and that would be a good question, here is how they come together for me, my family loves these rolls, these rolls take time effort and love. When I set them on the table I tell my family they are love on a plate as are any homemade goodies. Here is the recipe:


1 cup of warm water or milk ( I prefer milk)

2 pkg of yeast (4 1/2 tsps)

1/2 cup butter melted

1/2 cup of sugar

3 eggs

1 tsp salt

4 1/4 cups of flour

mix milk or water with yeast and then mix ( I use my beaters or a spoon you do not knead this recipe) in all ingredients till dough is smooth.
then put dough into a greased bowl cover with plastic wrap and put in the refrigerator for 2 hours up to 3 days. when you are ready take dough out divide into 24 pieces shape into rolls use a greased 9 by 13 pan, let rise for an hour and then bake at 350 for 25- 30 min.

I do sometimes throw the ingredients into my bread maker and let it do the mixing and it works great as soon as its done mixing I put in bowl and into the refrigerator(I don't heat up milk or water)

my all grown up sweetheart

my little sweetheart