Holy Trinity

If you have read Jen Lancaster's "Bitter is the New Black" or "Bright Lights, Big Ass", You know that she has her Holy Trinity of Stores. (BTW...Such a Pretty Fat comes out in May!!!)

This got me thinking.....What are my favorite Stores? Where do I shop most often?

So here we have .......Carolyn's Trinity of Stores:

1. Sam's Club- http://www.samsclub.com/
I love, love love to buy Bulk!!

2. Aldi- www.aldifoods.com/
Great prices on food items.

3. Big Lots- http://www.biglots.com/
Brand Names, Closeout Prices......'nuf said.


What are your favorite Stores???

Ready for my Close Up

Macro shot of one of the pretty flowers in my

Just because bouquet

No sure what it is but it is pretty and smells good !

A Surprise for ME!

Just because He loves Me........

Why did the Goose cross the Road?

Why did the Goose cross the Road?

Kylie

Here she is.......

Kylie Isabella Goodman

My Purse

I got a new purse recently. I am sad to say I think I have outgrown it.

What is it with us women?
We get a bigger purse and we find more stuff to carry. We outgrow the purse. We buy a bigger one then we find more stuff to carry then we out grow the purse. A vicious cycle!

Here is a pic of everything I carry in my purse.

Crazy.... I know....posting everything in my Purse.

But taking the picture gave me a reason to clean out my Purse!

Swimsuits

I got a new swimsuit the other day. A modest tankini that covers what should be covered and has some spandex in it to suck in what should not be there.

I tried it on for the Hubs:

Me: So do you like my swimsuit?
Hubs: Well................
Me: Go on......tell me......be honest.
Hubs: It is not that flattering.
Me: What's wrong with it?
Hubs: There is a lot of material there. It is not that sexy.
Me: I am really not going for sexy, Honey. Just something to cover this 40 year old body.
Hubs: But you should get something sexy.
Me: OK......what would you have me wear.
Hubs: (running to the computer)......OK..... I'll show you!!!!

Then he shows me pictures of girls in bikini tops, thongs, G Strings and the like.

Me: Honey!!!! I can't where those things!!!
Hubs: Why Not????
Me: Look at me.......
Hubs: What????
Me: Baby......I would need to lose 20 years and more than 20 lbs! Just because you buy the same swimsuit does not make you look like the girls in the picture!

Hubs: Oh

Still more Cox Arboretum Pics

Cox Arboretum

Dayton, Ohio

Today is the day!

Today is the the Day! Today my best friend becomes a Grandma!

Her Son and his Wife are having their baby today!! She should be here soon. The c-section is scheduled for 7:30 AM.

We have been friends for 13 Years. We have been thru it all. I can't wait to share this with her!

She is gonna be a great Grandma.

*Update:
She is here!!!! She weighed 8 lbs and 8 oz and is 20 inches long. Born at 7:45 this morning. No name yet. They are waiting for Mom to get out of recovery and is feeling a little better before making the final decision.

* Update:

We have a name!

Welcome to the World

Kylie Isabella Goodman

More Cox Arboretum Pics

Cox Arboretum. Dayton, Ohio

Remember the Homemade Dog Treats?

Remember the homemade Dog Treats I made????

I gave some to my Mom yesterday to give to her two little Dachshunds Abby and Gabby.

E-Mail from my Mom this morning:

Also have to tell you what your Dad did. I had that bag of dog treat on the table. He got home before I did - didn't know what they were - yep - you guessed it - he ate a couple!! Asked me what in the hell they were when I got home - what a laugh for both of us and now you too!!

Too funny!!

Sorry Dad. I just had to post it on the Blog!

But I have one question........were they any good?!?!?

My Flower Beds

I love to Garden. Or I should say....... I used to love to Garden. But with my physical disabilities it is impossible for me to do it without inflicting much pain upon myself.

When we first moved in to our Home. I was able to get the Hubs to help me plant some bulb plants and lay some mulch. I made sure to plant plants that were perennial and were low maintenance. Because if Hubs had his way he would lay concrete and paint it green instead of having grass and pretty flowers. Over the years I have got some starts of plants from my Mom and his Mom as they were thinning out their Gardens. So I am proud of my pretty, low maintenance Gardens until.........

Late last year on the east side of the house, the flower bed was taken over by thistles. I was not able to get them out before fall and winter hit. So this year I noticed that they were back with a vengeance. I was telling my Mom about it. We agreed it they would keep coming back unless I was able to take them out root and all. My dilemma was I can't do it and Hubs won't do it. But it needed to get done?!?!?!

Imagine my surprise when my Mom called and told me that she would be coming over to my house to help me with my flower beds!!! She said she was coming over with her dandelion puller and she would wage war on my thistle bed! So that is what she did and she did a great job!!

Thanks Mom. You are the best!

* pictures to follow......as soon as the Hubs gets the mowing done. Maybe I could talk him into laying some mulch again this year?!?!?!

Cox Arboretum

Open Crab Apple Blossoms

Cox Arboretum. Dayton, Ohio

God keeps you going

Happiness keeps you sweet,
Trials keep you strong,
Sorrows keep you human,
Failure keeps you humble
Success keeps you glowing,
But only God keeps you going

Cox Arboretum

Crab Apple Tree Blossom

Cox Arboretum. Dayton, Ohio

Freecycle

The Freecycle Network™ is made up of 4,339 groups with 4,899,000 members across the globe. It's a grassroots and entirely nonprofit movement of people who are giving (& getting) stuff for free in their own towns. It's all about reuse and keeping good stuff out of landfills.

Each local group is moderated by a local volunteer. Membership is free. To find a Group in your area. Click the link below.

http://www.freecycle.org/

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I am a member and have had great luck with Freecycle. I have given away things of all shapes and sizes. Clothing to Patio Furniture. Most times I post things and they are spoken for and picked up within 48 hours!

Freecycle not only helps you get rid of unwanted things around your house but it make you feel good when you can give it to someone who needs it.

FREECYCLE today!

Cox Arboretum

Welcome to my first Photo Field Trip of the Season

I went to Cox Arboretum today. What a beautiful Park and a lovely day!

I think this might be my new favorite place!

These are a few pics that I took today.

My favorite Spring Flower - The Daffodils!

Stay tuned......more pictures to follow!

Going Green

You might be living under a rock if you haven't heard all the media attention about "Going Green".

On this Earth Day I wanted to share the ways that I have "Gone Green"

1. Started recycling
2. Bought reusable containers for water consumption. No more plastic bottles!
3. Using canvas bags or reusable bags for shopping

4. Changed all light bulbs to energy conserving light bulbs
5. Turned the thermostat to 68 degrees for the Winter
6. Grouping errands to conserve gas.
7. Using E85 in Flexfuel compatible Vehicles
8. Washing laundry in cold water

9. Using Public Library instead of buying books

How are you "Going Green"?

What I am reading

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith

"Francie Nolan, avid reader, penny-candy connoisseur, and adroit observer of human nature, has much to ponder in colorful, turn-of-the-century Brooklyn. She grows up with a sweet, tragic father, a severely realistic mother, and an aunt who gives her love too freely--to men, and to a brother who will always be the favored child. Francie learns early the meaning of hunger and the value of a penny. She is her father's child--romantic and hungry for beauty. But she is her mother's child, too--deeply practical and in constant need of truth. Like the Tree of Heaven that grows out of cement or through cellar gratings, resourceful Francie struggles against all odds to survive and thrive. Betty Smith's poignant, honest novel created a big stir when it was first published over 50 years ago. Her frank writing about life's squalor was alarming to some of the more genteel society, but the book's humor and pathos ensured its place in the realm of classics--and in the hearts of readers, young and old."

My Review:
I just finished A Tree grows in Brooklyn. This should be on the every ones Must read list Classics list. It is like a time capsule back to the early 1900's. I loved it! Read it if you haven't, get it if you don't have it!

If you are interested in this or any of the other books featured in the What I am reading posts, Please see the sidebar for my Amazon.com Favorites. You can purchase a copy of the book there!

Garage Sale

All our Garage Sale stuff ready to go!!!

The major purge went well yesterday. Hubs started out a little slow but by the end he was yelling "Sell it" when I held up an item! I don't know if he just got into the spirit or he just wanted to be done with the whole thing. Either way...... it's done.

The Garage Sale will be on May 3rd

Garage Sale

The Neighborhood we live in is having a Community Garage Sale in May. This is the 2nd year for it. I was amazed last year at how many people were having Garage Sales and how many people were in the Neighborhood for it. So I decided we are going to have a Garage Sale!!! I have been thinning out and sorting for weeks. If I don't like it anymore or don't use it anymore or don't have a place for it or it doesn't go with my current style of decorating....it's going in the Garage Sale!!

Now here is the hard part.....trying to get the Hubs to part with his belongings. He is a major pack rat and throws away NOTHING and keeps stuff "because you never know when you are going to need it". I can see the logic but believe me he is in the excess line here! Example: When his socks and T Shirts become worn and it's time for new ones, he likes to save them for rags. Great Idea... right? NO! Not when you have 3 tall kitchen FULL of old socks and T Shirts in the basement. And he never uses them for ANYTHING!

After some major talking, lecturing, harping and begging. He has agreed to go through some of his stuff and put it in the Garage Sale pile. This is major folks!!! Today we are going through his boxes of VHS tapes to see which ones he can part with. We are also going through his closets and drawers and thin out some of his clothing. We might even try to go through some of his boxes of books. (that is a last minute add on. We'll see how that goes.)

Wish me luck!

A Hot Date

I got a Hot Date with the Hubs today.

We are going to the 2nd Street Market in Dayton. They are having their Springtime at the Market Celebration. There are introducing a new Organic Growers Group in the Area. I want to pick up some information on their CSA (Community Supported Agriculture). They will handing out Tree seedlings too!

What is a CSA you might ask?
Many farms offer produce subscriptions, where buyers receive a weekly or monthly basket of produce, flowers, fruits, eggs, milk, coffee, or any sort of different farm products.
A CSA, (for Community Supported Agriculture) is a way for the food buying public to create a relationship with a farm and to receive a weekly basket of produce. By making a financial commitment to a farm, people become "members" (or "shareholders," or "subscribers") of the CSA. Most CSA farmers prefer that members pay for the season up-front, but some farmers will accept weekly or monthly payments. Some CSAs also require that members work a small number of hours on the farm during the growing season.
A CSA season typically runs from late spring through early fall. The number of CSAs in the United States was estimated at 50 in 1990, and has since grown to over 1000.
If you want more info on CSA's visit: http://www.localharvest.org

If you want more information on the 2nd Street Market visit: http://www.metroparks.org/

Is it just me?

www.brandonstone.com

I was headed to an appointment yesterday. I noticed this Burgundy Mini Van coming up fast behind me. This Mini Van went into the left lane passed and went around me at about 50 mph (in a 35 mph zone). As we proceeded I watched the Mini Van pass no less than 3 Cars ON A DOUBLE YELLOW LINE and on an incline. I continued to watch the Mini Van as it speed along at about 60 mph in a 45 mph zone. The Mini Van literally came to a SCREECHING HALT at a stop light at which point I caught up to it. (Begging the question......If I wound up at the same spot as you at nearly the same time....why speed and break traffic laws??) On the back of the Van were all kinds of stickers and magnets.... "I love my Kids", Jesus Saves Jesus is coming, My kid is an honor student" and so on. There was also a little Family of stick figures showing the Mommy, the Daddy and 5 kids. I then looked at the driver and saw a 30 something year old Mom ON HER CELL PHONE (we all know how I feel out this!!) and 2 Babes in Car Seats behind her.

This whole thing made me MAD! First the whole excessive speeding and breaking traffic laws thing. Then the Driver inattention thing with the cell phone. And all this with your Children in the back seat. I would think that a God fearing woman with five precious gifts would care about her Family's safety and well being.

Actions speak louder than words

Breakfast

My new favorite Breakfast is Kashi Mountain Medley and Kefir!


Kashi Mountain Medley will remind you of your favorite trail mix. Toasted seven whole grain clusters are mixed with: a touch of honey and maple; chewy cranberries and raisins; crunchy almonds and pecans; and delicious sunflower seeds and coconut flakes.

Kefir is a cultured, enzyme-rich food filled with friendly micro-organisms that help balance your "inner ecosystem." More nutritious and therapeutic than yogurt, it supplies complete protein, essential minerals, and valuable B vitamins.

I learned about Kefir from Robbyn at http://homesteadingthebackforty.blogspot.com/.
I did a little reading on line about it and was happy to find it at my local health food store. I also checked the Companies Website and it said that it is carried in most Kroger Stores. So I will have to look for it the next time I go to Kroger.

My new Favorite Breakfast. It is good for me and YUMMY too!

My Medicine Cabinet

You know you do it.......You go to someones house.

You use their restroom.

You look in their Medicine Cabinet!

Come On...... admit it ...... you know you do!

We are all friends here so I thought I would let you peek into my Medicine Cabinet.

It will save you a trip here

How Many?

I read in a magazine that Women use an average of 21 health and beauty products each day before she feels presentable to the World. Men use 7 to 8.

Let's put this to the test:

My Products
1. Facial Scrub 2. Shampoo 3. Conditioner 4. Body Wash 5. Razors 6. Shave Cream 7. Q Tips
8. Aloe Vera Gel 9. Facial Moisturizer 10. Body Lotion 11. Hair Mousse 12. Styling Gel
13. Foundation 14. Eye Shadow 15. Eye Liner 16. Eye Lash Curler 17. Mascara 18. Blush
19. Lip Gloss / Lip Stick 20. Hair Dryer 21. Flat Iron 22. Perfume 23. Deodorant 24. Toothpaste
25. Toothbrush

*This is on a full hair and makeup day. On more casual days I use 18 products.

My Hubs Products
1. Soap 2. Razors for head and face 3.Shave Cream 4. After Shave Balm 5. Deodorant
6. Toothpaste 7. Toothbrush

How many health and beauty products do you use each day?

Sleepy Mandy

Mandy

Product Review

“Activia® is a great-tasting low fat yogurt from Dannon® that contains Bifidus Regularis™, a natural probiotic culture that can help regulate your digestive system by helping reduce long intestinal transit time*. Bifidus Regularis, available only in Activia, is a live "friendly" bacteria that's beneficial when eaten daily.”

Without going into graphic detail.....We will just say that it works!

What I am watching

The Memory Keeper's Daughter

About the Movie:
The birth of a child should be the happiest moment in a couple's life. But when a doctor's wife has twins, one of whom has Down syndrome, this physician makes the difficult decision to send one of his babies away. An attending nurse discovers his plan and intervenes, putting into motion events that will haunt the doc, his wife and his son for the next 20 years. This all-star movie features Dermot Mulroney,Gretchen Mol and two-time Oscar nominee Emily Watson.

Based on The New York Times best-selling novel, Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My Review:
I liked the Book better than the Movie. If you had not read the book you might get a little lost or confused in the story. All in all it was a good movie for a lazy Sunday afternoon




If you are interested in this or any of the other books featured in the What I am reading posts, Please see the sidebar for my Amazon.com Favorites. You can purchase a copy of the book there!

Dog Treats

I have always wanted to try making some homemade Doggie Treats for my Fur Babies.

I found a recipe at Kari and Kijsa site at http://kariandkijsa.blogspot.com/ (Go there to see a picture of their newest Family member)

The Recipe:
Basic Dog Treats
Mix together 3 1/2 cup unbleached flour,
2 cup whole wheat flour,
1 cup cornmeal
1/2 cup skim milk powder
1 tablespoon (or 1 package) dry yeast
3 1/2 cups lukewarm chicken or meat broth

Dissolve the yeast in the lukewarm chicken or meat broth. The richer this broth is, the better your dog will like the biscuits. Let yeast broth mixture set 10 min. Then stir in flour mixture. Roll resulting dough out 1/4" thick. Cut dog biscuit shapes from dough. Brush biscuits with egg wash. Bake on greased cookie sheets at 300* for 45 min. Then turn off oven and leave in overnight to finish hardening. Makes 60 medium-sized biscuits.

I decided to use my Bread Machine and its manufacturer's instructions on a Dough Setting. The dough was a very wet so I added some oatmeal. That seemed to help. It firmed up after that but it is a very sticky dough to be sure. I also added some bacon bits (Bac-O's) for some added taste and texture.

I tried using the drop and press method at first, thinking the dough would flatten out more. But in the end I rolled out the dough and cut the biscuits in to varying shapes and sizes to see what cooked the best.

Below is a Drop Method Treat. Pretty............. but too big for the Dogs. I ended up cutting these treats into 4 pieces.

The smaller pieces did seem to turn out better and the ones I baked on a vented Pizza Pan worked out the best.

The end product...... a big pan full of Doggie Treats

Now I bet you are wondering......"Did the Dogs like them?"

I can safely say yes. It was like a Shark feeding frenzy when I started handing out treats!!!

Sam...smiling for the camera.
OK....not really ....but she is looking very intently at the camera.
Maybe it was because I had a treat in my other hand?!?!?!

And the Winner is

And the Winner of the Name the Ladybug Contest is..........

Lady Lila Littlewings

submitted by Kari and Kijsa at http://kariandkijsa.blogspot.com/

Thanks to everyone that participated in My First Contest.

Bodies: The Exhibition

I went on a field trip today with my Mom and Aunt. We went to Cincinnati to see Bodies: The Exhibition. It was very interesting and informative.

A little information on the Exhibit:

"This is a one-of-a-kind opportunity to come face-to-face with full human bodies and partial body specimens in a way never seen before. It’s the ultimate anatomy lesson, featuring real human bodies. These meticulously dissected bodies are preserved through an innovative process and respectfully presented, giving visitors the opportunity to view the beauty and complexity of their own organs and systems.
In addition to providing an up-close look inside our skeletal, muscular, respiratory and circulatory systems, visitors will walk away with a better understanding of what makes us tick and the importance of healthy lifestyles and taking care of the only body you’ll ever have. The basic premise of the exhibition is simple: If people better understand their bodies, they’ll better understand how to care for them. And in a society filled with an overweight, over medicated, and sleep-starved majority, it seems the best medicine could be a healthy dose of body education."

If the Exhibit is in your area...... I would highly recommend that you see it.

What I am reading

Bitter is the New Black by Jen Lancaster

Jen Lancaster was living the sweet life-until real life kicked her to the curb.
She had the perfect man, the perfect job-hell, she had the perfect life-and there was no reason to think it wouldn't last. Or maybe there was, but Jen Lancaster was too busy being manicured, pedicured, highlighted, and generally adored to notice.
This is the smart-mouthed, soul-searching story of a woman trying to figure out what happens next when she's gone from six figures to unemployment checks and she stops to reconsider some of the less-than-rosy attitudes and values she thought she'd never have to answer for when times were good.
Filled with caustic wit and unusual insight, it's a rollicking read as speedy and unpredictable as the trajectory of a burst balloon.

If you are interested in this or any of the other books featured in the What I am reading posts, Please see the sidebar for my Amazon.com Favorites. You can purchase a copy of the book there!

What's for Dinner

www.kraftfoods.com

Orange-Glazed Pork Chops

Prep Time:10 min
Total Time:50 min
Makes:4 servings

2 cups STOVE TOP Stuffing Mix for Chicken in the Canister
1 can (11 oz.) mandarin orange segments, drained, chopped
1 cup hot water
4 boneless pork chops (1 lb.), 1/2 inch thick
1/4 cup orange marmalade
1 Tbsp. GREY POUPON Savory Honey Mustard

PREHEAT oven to 400°F. Combine dry stuffing mix, oranges and hot water; stir just until moistened.
SPOON into 13x9-inch baking dish; top with chops. Mix marmalade and mustard; spread over chops.
BAKE 30 min. or until chops are cooked through (160ºF).

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This is a new recipe for us. I will let you know how we like it.

My First Contest

Announcing my FIRST CONTEST!!!!!

We are going to have a "Name the Ladybug" Contest !!!!!

Please leave a comment with your entry for a name for my Ladybug.

(As we learned yesterday, Boy Bugs are called Ladybugs too but for purposes of this contest we are going to assume the the Ladybug is a she.)

The Winner will receive.........Not a dang thing but the distinct honor of having named a Ladybug!!

Please have your entries in by Saturday Night. A Winner will be named on Sunday Morning.

The panel of Judges for this Contest will be:

Me and the Hubs.

So get your entries in and spread the word about my NAME THE LADYBUG CONTEST

This is gonna be fun!!!!!

The Gray Sweatshirt

In an effort to be more "Green" and save on our heating bill, we turned down the old thermostat to 68 degrees this past winter. It was a little chilly at first but I got a gray zippered sweatshirt with thermal lining to keep me warm. It has kept me toasty all winter long.

Conversation with the Hubs:

Hubs: I am so glad it is Spring.

Me: I know..... I can't wait to see some flowers. Open the windows. Go for walks outside. What are looking forward to?

Hubs: Not seeing you in that gray sweatshirt!

I saw a Ladybug

I noticed a Ladybug in my bathroom the other day.

I decided to research my lovely lady and this is what I found:

All about the body
Insects have three main body parts. They include the head, thorax and abdomen.

Insects have 6 jointed legsThe legs of a ladybug are segmented.

Ladybugs have two (2) pairs of wings. exoskeleton elytra. Underneath the elytra are another pair of wings, the flying wings.

The antennae of the ladybug are incredible. The antennae are equipped with sensory organs. Ladybugs must keep the antennae clean. The ladybug uses its legs for this job. Ladybugs, also, have a second pair of sensory organs that look like another smaller pair of antennae. These are called palps.

Recent technological advances show that ladybugs have two compound eyes. The eyes are multi-faceted, and deemed simple rather than complex. At this point, studies are not clear on the complexity of information processed by the ladybug eye. The eyes were previously termed photoreceptors, which was understood to process only light and dark images. They don't see colors, only shadows.

Beetles exhibit bilateral symmetry.

Ladybugs reproduce sexually. Each species of ladybug has its own pheromones for attracting a mate. Ladybugs tend to lay their eggs where food is abundant. Learn more about ladybug reproduction.

A few FAQ's
Q. How did the ladybug get its name?

A. In Europe, during the Middle Ages, insects were destroying the crops, so the Catholic farmers prayed to the Virgin Mary for help. Soon the Ladybugs came, ate the plant-destroying pests and saved the crops! The farmers began calling the ladybugs "The Beetles of Our Lady", and they eventually became known as "Lady Beetles"! The red wings represented the Virgin's cloak and the black spots represented her joys and sorrows. They didn't differentiate between males and females.

Q. Are all ladybugs girls?

A. No. There are boy ladybugs and girl ladybugs. It's almost impossible for the average person to tell them apart. But here is clue that might help, Females are usually larger than males.

Q. What are boy ladybugs called?

A. Boy ladybugs are called ladybugs, too.

Q. Are there different kinds of ladybugs?

A. Yes. There are hundreds of different kinds all over the world. There are about 500 different kinds in the United States and nearly 5000 world wide. They come in all different colors, too. Reds, yellows, orange, gray, black, brown and even pink.

Q. Do the spots tell you how old they are?

A. No. Different ladybugs have different numbers of spots. Some have no spots while some have as many as twenty four. Ladybugs generally complete their life cycle within one year. The spots are with them all their life. They don't get more spots as they get older, nor do they lose spots.

Q. What are the life cycle stages of a ladybug?

A. Egg, Larva, Pupa, and Adult. The first three stages vary from 7-21 days each depending on the weather, and food supplies. The adult stage lasts between 3-9 months depending on weather, length of hibernation, food supplies and, of course, predators.

Q. It is almost spring, why are ladybugs coming back into my house?

A. They have probably been hibernating under the sliding of the house or apartment and the warmer temperatures have caused them to emerge- it's just that they are going in the wrong direction. You would think that they would be trying to get out of the house, but they are coming in. It happens. This happens because of the variation in temperatures from the interior of the home verses the outside temperatures. The ladybugs are merely confused.

Q. Once the ladybugs are in my house, will they eat anything?

A. No. Ladybugs don't eat fabric, plants, paper or any other household items. They like to eat APHIDS. Aphids are very small, but very destructive pest that feed on plants. (If you have rose bushes, you have probably seen aphids.) Ladybugs, while trying to hibernate in your house, live off of their own body fats. They, also, prefer a little humidity. But our homes are usually not very humid during the winter. In fact, they are rather dry causing most of your ladybug guests to die from dehydration. Occasionally, you might witness a ladybug in your bathroom getting a drink of water. Now, that's a smart lady!

Q. How can I get them out of my house?

A. If you don't have a lot, just leave them. They will leave when spring arrives. Disturbing them will only cause them to stress out leaving yellow markings on your walls. The yellow stuff, you see, is not waste matter, but rather, their blood. Ladybugs release a small amount of their blood which is yellow and smells, when they sense danger. Some people have said that it does stain on light colored surfaces.

information courtesy of :
http://www.ladybuglady.com/
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I have heard it is good luck to have a ladybug in your house so I will keep her here.
I have had a few other sightings of her. I saw her in the living room on the window and in the kitchen. And last night I saw her on our roll top desk

Stay tuned for more ladybug sightings.

Samantha

Samantha

I am getting old

I am getting old ......older by the day.

Last Fall I realized that I needed reading glasses. It was to the point that I could not see anything up close. I was straining to read and had to use the old rubber arm....you know stretching your arm out until what you are reading comes into focus. Well.... I went to the store and found me some reading glasses. The good news was I only needed 1.25 magnification. I started using the glasses and things were better.

Fast forward, present date...... I noticed that the glasses weren't working so great anymore. Things were blurry and again and I was straining to read. So while I was at the store today, I looked at some new reading glasses. Bad news is I had to go up to 1.75 magnification.

What's next.... Bifocals?????

Sounds of Spring

It finally got a little warm here yesterday.

I actually had some windows open!!

It was nice........except for the Dogs barking at every little noise!

The sounds of spring............Birds singing and Beagles baying!

Mandy

Mandy

Grandma's Treasure Box

I was thinking about my Grandma today.

My Dad's Mom died almost 10 years ago. When she died I was helping my parents clean and organize her house in preparation for the Estate Auction.

One of the most special gifts she ever gave me was found under her bed in a shoe box. There were six boxes. One box for each grandchild. Labeled with just our names. I found my box and opened it. In it were mementos of my life collected by my Grandmother. There was a birth announcement, a invitation to a baby shower, trinkets from me, original art by me, programs from recitals and plays, school pictures, graduation announcements, newspaper clippings, wedding announcements, Thank You notes and more. This touched my heart and the tears came to my eyes. This box let me know that my Grandmother was thinking of me and loved me enough to save these mementos of my life.

I still have my box. When I am missing my Grandma , I open the box and feel the love she placed in there along with all the mementos.

Jack

My Baby Boy

Jack

Molly

Molly

What's for Dinner

www.kraftfoods.com

Foil Pack Taco Chicken

Prep Time:10 min
Total Time:50 min
Makes:4 servings, one packet each

4 small boneless skinless chicken breast halves (1 lb.)
4 tsp. Taco Seasoning Mix
1/2 lb. red potatoes, thinly sliced (about 2 cups)
1/2 cup Thick 'N Chunky Salsa
3/4 cup Four Cheese Mexican Style Cheese
1/4 cup Sour Cream

PREHEAT oven to 400°F. Sprinkle chicken with seasoning mix. Spray Foil with Non Stick Spray. Place 1/2 cup of the potatoes on center of each of four large sheets of heavy-duty foil; top each with chicken, salsa and cheese.

BRING up foil sides. Double fold top and both ends to seal each packet, leaving room for heat circulation inside. Place in 15x10x1-inch baking pan.

BAKE 30 to 35 min. or until chicken is cooked through (165°F). Remove packets from oven. Let stand 5 min. Cut slits in foil to release steam before opening. Serve with sour cream.

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This a favorite of ours.

One Note: Don't forget to spray the foil with Non Stick Spray. The Potatoes WILL stick to the foil if you don't!

Spring....Finally!

Finally Spring has Sprung!

I have plants popping thru the dirt, the birds are singing and the grass is getting greener.

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I spent some time with my Family today. That is always a good time. I got to see my Sister who is fresh off a Kidney Stone Blasting Procedure. She was a little sore and tired but feeling better.

Get well soon, Sis!