Thoughts Of Thursday

I didn't write a post on Thursday....I was busy!

After a couple of early morning phone calls and errands I met my SD and her family at the hospital to see her grandma. They live in Oshkosh and don't get here very often.

All the reports we heard were that Loretta was on her last leg.

She was asleep when I got there so I just waited for a bit. Her lunch came, she woke up, and ate very little...but....then she talked up a storm and said she was going home 'tomorrow'. I didn't know what to think. We were all quite surprised to find out that she was much better and did go home on friday. 

Loretta is a very sweet lady and complimented me (that means a lot to me because she doesn't have to - I am married to her deceased daughters husband). Oh, but she is not always so sweet! She is sharp as a whip and has a spunky side, I certainly appreciate that!!!

After our visit we went out for lunch at Panda Express, a treat for me b/c hubby won't go there. 

Jessica and I had 30% coupons for Kohl's so we stopped there too. I hadn't been shopping at a 'real' store for myself in a long time. I bought a cardigan for spring and a pair of good flats.

On the way home I stopped to pick up our 3 grandsons so the cousins could play.

 Yes, the little one with the tongue is a boy.

 The kids love to dress up when they are here.

I have a bin of dress up clothes for them, but this time they got into my Red Hat stuff. Oh well, it makes for great photos. 

(that is if I can change the setting back to what is was so my photos aren't blurry).

 The only granddaughter on hubby's side, cute, huh?

 Just one of my potential blackmail photos I have of grandson J, the 8 year old who comes here often.

 I had to find some boyish dress up clothes, grandson S doesn't like to wear dresses all the time. Although he did have a skirt and wig on earlier. Another time he had a dress shirt and tie on. I aim to please so there's a variety of dress up things.

 I have no words for this one.

 Grandson J had to take a time out for the computer game he is playing. 

 Checking out hubby's photos from Africa.

 Play-do is always a big hit.....that reminds me I need to get some new Play-do.

 The pirate ship that grandson L is playing with is very popular with the 2 youngest grands. 

 What's a play date without some wresting (if you have boys)?

My preferred time of year for cousin get-togethers is summer so I can chase them outside to wrestle.

We did have a nice visit with Chuck and Jessica and the kids.

That's what I was doing on Thursday instead of blogging!

It's sunny out and will be above freezing this weekend...so what you say.... It is a BIG DEAL for us!!! There haven't been very many days with above freezing temps this month. 

Have a great weekend!!!!

An Ordinary Old Box?

I pulled this box out of the recycling bin. 

I am often digging stuff out of the garbage or recycling bin, much to hubby's chagrin. 

I wanted something to store my alphabet stickers in.....

This box looked pretty good, so I pulled out my drawer of patterned scraps, mixed up some white glue and water and slapped on some papers with no plan in mind.

It needed something so I glued some pictures and quotes on also.

Some things are from magazines, a book marker from my grandson's Sunday school lesson, and some cards meant for ATCs.

I like it.

It's eclectic.

It's a cute place to store my stickers.

It was free for me to make.

I find the activity to be therapeutic.

It is inspirational, even though you may not be able to read some of the quotes I added.

I like doing these decoupage projects and have done several. 

If my granddaughter wants to make one we'll cover  a box for her....and the boys too if they want to join in.

As I am going through old magazines I am ripping out pages that I think the kids might like (and some for me too.)

If I can find some appropriate rocks we'll cover rocks!!!

Have fun!

Plain ol' plain is BORING!

Life Is Hard

Ever heard of the saying 'Life is hard, then ya die'? Probably not, I'm not even sure of where I picked it up. As I think about it it's true, our earthly life can be hard.....but, as a Christian, I believe I'm going to heaven and my eternal life will be beyond any flowery words I can express here. 

They also say what doesn't kill ya makes you stronger, but it sure can hurt when you're smack dab in the middle of it. Being an adult isn't easy; we aren't carefree anymore, we have tough decisions to make, there's lots of work and little play....so much on our minds. 

Sometimes you can't just take another shot. Remember Jesus is in control of it all!!!

Some people that I care about are going through difficult times and my heart goes out to them. My bff has been worrying about her mom's pneumonia and hospitalization this weekend, but it looks like she's on the mend now - good news!

My SS is considering a separation from his wife. They have 3 young boys and I worry for them. Their relationship has never been smooth. I can't make it better, only offer my prayers and be there. 

Thanks for stopping by, hope your week is off to a GREAT start!

Thoughts On Thursday

I don't know where I found this image

Here's a couple of things that make me wonder:

• How in the world can I ever say "I'm bored"??? There are a ton of things to do around here and I have many, many interests. What is wrong with me?
• Why would anyone let nearly 400 emails pile up in their inbox....or more accurately why do I do that? Do you?
• Why would a mother put her 3-1/2 year old child in a booster seat and then put the shoulder harness behind the back of the booster because 'he's too small for the shoulder belt'? 
• How a newly hired person, who is in charge of the keeping track of the company checkbook,  let the balance show a negative amount when said person knows the minimum balance is suppose to be 5 figures??? How can that person not ask for help if she's unsure??? How can you just leave a mess for someone else to figure out, especially when I have no idea of how it ended up that way? How, how, how!!!

Can you tell that I am soooooooo stressed??? Tuesday was a horrible day at work. I was trying to figure out what when wrong, digging through bank deposits and calling the bank. I took a very short lunch so I could have some extra time to try to figure things out. After supper I went to a Stampin' Up party, that's always fun. We made 2 nice cards but I really just wanted to be alone and quiet. I slept very badly Tuesday night. I was awake at 3 and got up about 4 to type some notes for the gal I am training. I feel bad b/c I can't spend time with her, she is doing well though :-). Before noon on Wednesday I FINALLY got the checkbook balanced. That certainly was a wonderful feeling....I imagine the business owners were ecstatic! Hopefully now I can concentrate on training my replacement, there's a lot more to my job than punching numbers into a computer program.  Today I'll be working with Cindy (for the first time) and Audrey. I hope we can get on the same page and do it right. I really need the day off, but we didn't get the invoices out....if the company doesn't get paid, we don't get paid....right???

Wish be luck!!! Please..............

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Muffins

Don't these look yummy??? Just look at those chocolate chips.

I love muffins, heavy muffins, not cake-like muffins. 

On my 'break' (there is no break, I just eat as I am working) I almost always have a homemade muffin).

They satisfy my sweet tooth and are healthy to boot!

• 1 cup chunky peanut butter, softened
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cut sugar
• 1 cut milk
• 1-1/2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1/2 mini chocolate chips

Preheat over to 375 F. Grease muffin tins or line with paper cups.
With electric mixer, beat peanut butter, egg, and sugars until smooth. Add milk in 3 parts, mixing between additions to blend. Add flour and baking powder and mix just until flour disappears. Blend in chocolate chips. Spoon into muffin cups and bake for 20 minutes, until tester comes out clean. Do no over bake. Makes 12.

For the peanut butter and jelly purist, place a pocket of strawberry jam or preserves in the center and omit the chips. (Place a spoonful of batter in the bottom, add a spoonful of jelly, then top with another spoonful of batter.) I have not tried this variation.

Enjoy with a cup of hot tea or coffee!!!!

I've Got A Handle On It

I just love these sweet handles.

I picked them up at the thrift store for $2.00.

They'll be so pretty as knob hangers...one of the projects I have in my head.

I'm just wondering whose fat fingers are holding this one???

When (or more likely IF) I use these I'll post photos...but don't hold your breath.

Week one of training my replacement is going well.
I concentrated on only one aspect of the job, I don't wanna throw everything at her at once....too confusing.
She's excellent with phone calls. Next week we'll be onto something new. I am glad I have almost 2 months to work with her.

Happy weekend! Thanks for stopping by!

Thoughts On Thursday

My morning off and I'm up early again...........*sigh*

so here goes.....

• As you know my hubby was gone for the entire month of February. While he was gone I kept the thermostat lower than usual - most of the time I was not at home, I didn't cook as much, laundry was done less often, the TV was on MUCH less, etc. A few days ago the mailman brought our electric & water bill. It was down $77.00. That got me thinking.....I don't think we can afford to have him live here....wait, he pays the bills....I guess he stays! I was really curious to see if there'd be a significant difference. I was right but I don't think I will able to convince him to stop showering, changing clothes, eating, or watching TV. 
• Tuesday I started training a new woman at work to take over my job. Was there a full moon ???? It sure seemed like it! The phone was ringing and ringing, I had tons of work to catch up on, and was trying to explain to Audrey what to do. I found some mistakes the new woman had made on bank deposits......oh me, oh my. I was so stressed! After work I attended a genealogy meeting, it was very informative, I'm glad I went. It was almost 9 when I got home and I still had to wash dishes. After unwinding for a while with the TV and a word game on my Nook I finally fell asleep after 11. I woke up several times during the night, dreaming of genealogy research. Then I'd start thinking about work........what I should have done and what I have to get done. At 4:30  I decided that I'd get up a little after 5, after hubby leaves for work. I did, I prefer being up early on my day off............then I have such a nice long day for myself. Work was slightly better in the afternoon, but I am still soooooo far behind. Today I am working in the afternoon. I am having lunch with my grandsons at their school then I'll work the rest of the day, Cindy, the new woman is in MO with her daughter and new grand-baby. I'll be working alone and I hope the phone doesn't ring so I can get some work done!!! Friday I get to work again with Audrey. I'm happy to say that she is doing well so far. 

Please wish me luck.....training new people at work is not always easy. It's not that I don't like it, it's just that when I'm so busy it's hard to spend quality time teaching. 

Freakin' Fabulous

I LOVED 'What Not To Wear' and really miss it. So last week when I saw this book at the library I picked it up. I've read Stacey's book, but didn't know much about Clinton, so why not??

He's actually pretty neat. 

I wasn't very interested in the food, decorating, or crafts. As usual his advice about clothing was great. 

I think we should frame this quote and put it on our closet doors.

"The way you dress tells the rest of the world how you expect to be treated."

It's advice I need to remember as I exit the working world. 

I am loving my sweatshirts and yoga pants of late.

There's a picture of a woman in light colored mom jeans, plain ol' t-shirt, and a hoodie. (She's a don't.)

I have to be careful not to become her....I don't think I will. When I leave the house I try to dress decent, NO light colored mom jeans and no 'manish' t-shirts, although I do love my hoodies and will not get rid of them.

When I dress 'nice' I always feel and act like I deserve respect. 

What I wear around the house is a whole 'nother story :-)

Clinton stole my heart when I got to the last chapter in the book - proper grammar. Bad grammar is one of my major pet peeves!

He explains the various 'yours', the use of to and too, the difference between its & it's, and even when to use I and my. He did forget to differentiate between lend and borrow. That's another one that drives me nuts. An ad on our local radio stations states "Mary and myself are certified...."  I yell at the radio whenever I hear that commercial. Doesn't anyone proofread the ads first????

• Be fabulous! You don't have to be rich!!! Think quality and not quantity. Be the best you can be!

Autographs Anyone?

Remember autograph books? I do and had one. I doubt if I still have it, when I was younger I was shy, not popular, and didn't have a lot of friends so it was not easy for me to ask for autographs. 

I also have a 'thing' for small blank books so when I saw this autograph book at the thrift store (where else?) I 'had' to buy it.

I planned to decoupage the cover and give it to my granddaughter.....that was over a year ago....

...thinking....thinking...thinking....

I grabbed my Xyron (a virgin that I was planning to get rid of) and decided to use it to recover the book. This Xyron adhesive is barely wide enough for this project, but it did work. And I loved it....but I still think I will try to sell it at the used stamp sale when I run out of adhesive, it's expensive and wasteful to use, but it worked great.

 I covered the inside front and back covers. 

 The striped paper is green (not blue as it looks here) and does match the front.

I think it's cute, it's a sturdy little book, and could be used for a lot of things. What should I do with it??? I'm just impressed with myself that I finally covered it.

Thanks for visiting! I have lots of other crafty projects in mind...if I get at them I'll post.

The Joy of Geraniums

Which would you rather see: geraniums or the snow in the background? I'm pretty sure I know the answer, at least I know what mine is!

I have developed a 'thing' for book covers,  old books, album covers, chocolate....and on and on.

I bought this book for the cover, it was copyrighted first in 1946 and lastly in 1965. I think it was 50 cents. 

When I looked through it I found an unexpected, wonderful surprise: these fabulous prints, suitable for framing. 

  There were also a couple of newspaper clippings inside. 

 I haven't read the clippings yet.

 Aren't these gorgeous pictures???

 I MIGHT just frame them.

The problem is that some of them are double sided....what to do.

Spring IS in the air, the sun is getting higher and it's WARM, the snow is SLOWLY melting. I'm getting cabin fever and want desperately to get outside!!! This is my way of sharing a little bit of spring with you. 

Have a great weekend!!!!

A Day Late and A Dollar Short and A Yummy Recipe

Even though I was up 4:30AM yesterday I did not make my usually Thursday post.....so here I am a day late.

• Our local library and senior center are showing some excellent movies free of charge. I'm not really that busy but I still have a hard time committing 2 hours to sit down and watch a movie. I never watch movies at home either. Will I go to see GRAVITY this afternoon? Will I go to see CAPTAIN PHILLIPS later in the month? Last week I watched a 'behind the scenes' about CAPTAIN PHILLIPS, it was very interesting.
• As you know I am retiring at the end of April, but I won't get a SS check until the end of June. BUT in May I am going on a bus trip to Nashville.....hmmmm....that doesn't compute well. There are several things to do right now but I have to watch my funds so I'm saying no to many things.

Here's a yummy recipe I saw on facebook and made for myself this morning.

French toast sticks

I had everything on hand that I needed to make these, so I did. Easy, peasy!!

It's one way to use up some of that yucky white bread that was in the fridge. My grandson wanted some for his school lunch.

After I Dusted Myself Off And Crawled Out From Under The Bus

I headed for work and to a Red Hat Dinner in the evening.

Yup, I was thrown under the bus early this morning.....by....my very own husband.

I woke up shortly after 5AM to the sound of a shovel scraping the sidewalk. Yes, we got more snow overnight. Enough already!!!

I thought it was the neighbor  but then I heard my hubby's voice, so I opened the window (I'm bad, I know). After he thanked Paul for shoveling they talked about hubby's trip.....then I heard hubby say that I was suppose to leave his truck at work. I remember it going down like this: It was my idea to bring the truck home but hubby agreed that was a better idea, otherwise it would get plowed in at work. Hrmph....thanks for throwing me under the bus!!!

Now maybe you understand why I get bitter sometimes.

It was just an ordinary day at work. I wrote a couple of notes to the new gal to clarify a some things. I was busy, the day went by quickly.Only one more work day this week.

After work I came home and washed up my breakfast dishes and was off to our Red Hat meeting. We had a good time! The service was good and the backroom was all ours.

I'm relaxing now with a glass of wine before bed.

Thanks for letting me get that off my chest. Is there anything you need to get off yours???

Favorite New Orleans Scrapbook Pages

My bff and I attended a scrapbook retreat at Pine Lake Camp in WI this past weekend. It's hosted by an Ahni & Zoe representative. This is the 2nd time we've gone and the 2nd time my friend won a good prize, yes, I'm a looser. 

The New Orleans and year were cut with my Silhouette. I'm not sure I like the vellum stickers in the corners........

 You're probably wondering why I have the patriotic red/white/blue paper.

It coordinates with the facing page. I used a couple of postcards for information. I like to tell a story with my scrapbooks, they are not just photos. If I have a story I am more likely to remember the event.

This page was also cut with my silhouette.

 I don't do fancy or elaborate pages.

 I think this extremely simple page is my favorite.

 This street artist fascinated me.

 Just some sights.

 This border was also cut with my Silhouette. The fence looks just like the one in the picture on the facing page.

This is the first time that I actually put it to good use. I love it!

I needed something for a page and found a lamppost; purchased it, sized it, cut it, and voila! It was just I needed to complete the page.

My favorite pages are clean and simple.

One woman was doing a wedding book, she spent hours on a page and they were fit for a magazine layout. They were BEAUTIFUL but that's too stressful for me to attempt.

We left friday morning so we had time to stop at a thrift store, have lunch, do a bit of research at the courthouse, which is BEHIND the jail. I knew the approximate location...but all I saw was the jail, so I had to go in and ask. The roads were bare...that is until we left the courthouse. It was snowing heavily and the camp is in the country so we decided not to stop at the liquidators and just get to camp before dark. The country roads were covered with blowing snow and I couldn't tell what was underneath. Since my tires are not the best I drove slowly and let other pass me.

I LOVE retreats, especially those at church camps. No one cares what you wear or if you comb or hair, make up is pretty much non-existent, there are plenty of snacks, meals are prepared for you, and the company is super!

My friend had a medical problem friday night and two of the gals, one a nurse, drove her to the ER for some meds.  She did end up staying at the retreat the whole weekend, by Sunday morning she felt better. .....for a bit, then it came back and we had to leave earlier than anticipated....we also skipped the liquidator and Red Lobster and just drove straight home.

My husband arrived home saturday evening safe & sound. Now things are back to normal.....laundry, cooking, and attempting to painfully extract words from him. I'm glad the trip was a success and he got  home safely!