From My Dad's Front Porch

I went next door to my dad's house and visited for a little bit. I just happened to have my camera with me and I tried to play with some of the settings. Here is what I got!

Peach Blossoms

The hens

Gypsy

King of the Farmyard

I just thought this was an interesting shot.

When ya live so close to the water, you must watch out for gators!

A close up of the beautiful sunset tonight.

Another sunset shot.

The night photos are kind of challenging. I think I need to take a photo class or something to learn more about this type of photo settings.

Easter Dress Fabric Shopping

This afternoon, I had to take The Teen to get the hardware off of his chompers. Just look at this beautiful smile!!! You cannot imagine how many shots it took to get this photo. It finally took a threat from the orthodontist to get this grin. What a handsome teen!!!

Yeah, I know his eyes are half closed but I guess I settled for what I could get.

In order to kill 3 hours of orthodontist time, I left the Teen and went in search of fabric for my girls Easter dresses. I chose these beautiful cotton florals AND

This gorgeous polyester Taffeta. You can see that it has a grain to it. There was another word after "Taffeta" on the bolt but I can't remember what it was. It started with an "M" though!
Now, for the hard part. Choosing which fabric to make the Easter dress out of. Hmmmm.

Easter Dress Pattern Shopping

I went to Walmart today and did some looking around in what's left of their sewing department. Even though they've moved all the fabric out, the patterns were still available. I'm really upset about them getting rid of the sewing department. You have no idea! Some of that $1.00 a yard fabric is really cute! But alas, I'll have to find another source. In the meantime, I came home with the following patterns. I'm trying to find simple pull over stuff as I really don't want to take the time to mess with zippers or other fasteners.

Simplicity pattern #2711 - Isn't this cute? I especially like the pin tucks on the front.

Simplicity #3510 - Another cute pullover
Simplicity Pattern #5695 - Pullover
New Look Easy Pattern #6309 - Now this one does have a 14" zipper up the back.

However, I think I can modify it to pullover.
McCall's Easy Stitch N Save Pattern #M5908 - Also a pull over pattern

I'm leaning towards the first picture or the 2nd to last one for the Easter dress but the other patterns can be used for other outfits later. Wish me luck!!!

The Easter Dress experiment

On Friday, I did some more sewing. I finally finished this one for my Kangaroo.

She seems to like it.

Here's the flip side.

Then after daydreaming a bit about Easter dresses, I tried to do this with the same pillowcase pattern. I'm not too keen with the way it turned out. There's just no shape to it. It's made with a lavender cotton underdress and a chiffon sheer overlay.

During the sewing process, I began seeing a different dress in my mind. I just have to find a pattern. I'm thinking of doing something like this without the sleeves or collar.

So, what do you think?

Date Night: We Saw Dead People!

Naw, not really. DH and I were looking for something different to do for date night. Usually, it's dinner and a movie or something. I'd read about this production in a newspaper article last week and thought it looked interesting. Since my husband is a history buff, I decided to surprise him with this date activity.

I told him prior to leaving the house to dress comfy and be prepared to leave the house by 6:30 p.m. He gave me a strange look and replied, "Ooooookay?".

So, we hit the road and were on our way. About halfway to our destination, he asked where we were going. I responded by asking what he thought was the fastest route to the corner of Florida Blvd. and 22nd street. He turned and said, "That's the cemetery! What are we going to the cemetery for? I'm not spending the evening doing geocaching. If that's what you've got planned, let's do something else."

I was like, "The cemetery? Really? That's where it is? Now, just how is it that you KNOW the address to a cemetery!? What's the deal there?"

Now, I don't know if he had also previously read the same article I had, but I had a sneaky suspicion that he already knew what was up. However, he kept quiet, which was nice since I was trying to spring this surprise on him.

At approximately 7:15 or so, we finally arrived at our destination where the annual Magnolia's Memories was being played for the 7th year.

We were admitted to a "staging" area where attendees could browse book and CD vendors, enjoy a bowl of Shrimp and Corn soup, imbibe in a fine wine, and listen to some outstanding bluegrass music provided by Thibodeaux's Mosspickers.

The "staging" area is also where we waited to be angelically escorted into Baton Rouge's old Magnolia Cemetery which is where the major action of the August 5, 1862 Battle of Baton Rouge took place. Many of Baton Rouge's prominent citizens are buried in this fascinating place.

My sweet hubby patiently waits his turn to "cross over".

Once we were escorted to the other side (meaning the cemetery across the street from the "staging" area), we were greeted by Mr. Charles Rabenhorst. (Okay, so it isn't REALLY him but a local actor - Robert Wilson - who is portraying him). Mr. Rabenhorst regaled us with stories of how he came to the U.S. as a 14 y.o. boy, met and married his wife, and lived his life. He also enlightened us as to how he came into the funeral business.

When Mr. Rabenhorst finished his 15 minute monologue, we were then escorted by one of several individual musicians strategically placed throughout the cemetery. Each one played some sort of period instrument and a respectful melancholy tune.

At our next stop, we "met" siblings Henry and Sarah Morgan who grew up in Baton Rouge as children of Judge Thomas Gibbes Morgan. The family lived on Church Street which is now called 4th street. There is a historical marker located at the home site which is now the Chase Bank building (I think). Sarah also wrote a diary called "A Confederate Girl's Diary" in which she wrote about the Union troops garrisoned in Baton Rouge at the time.

We also "met" Cecil Morgan, who led the fight to bring about the impeachment of Huey P. Long as governor in 1929. We were entertained by the political bickerings of early Baton Rouge mayors James E. Elam, Henry Schorten, and Leon Jastremski. A funny moment happened when Schorten and Jastremski were loudly bickering and Elam interuppted them with, "Fellas, we don't have forever."

Schorten and Jastremski stopped bickering and slowly turned while gazing at their surroundings. They then turned their attention back to Elam and said sarcastically, "Really?"

A more recent honoree of the evening was Bill Long, a talented Baton Rouge photographer who was just getting his business started when his life was cut short by a heart attack.

Our final stop of the evening was at the tombstone of Joshua B. Hare. Captain Josh Hare was the first chief of police in Baton Rouge. He also holds the "honor" of being the first Baton Rouge police chief to be killed in the line of duty. He and his widow Clara, shared stories about their lives in Baton Rouge during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

After the Hares' dialogue, a string band approached as the Hare's walked off into the distance while holding hands. The musicians began playing a haunting tune called "You Will Be My Ain True Love".

We were then escorted out of the cemetery and hubby mentioned that he was hungry. It seems the Shrimp and Corn soup just wasn't enough dinner for him. Looking at the clock, we realized that most restaurants were probably closing. We chose to visit a Waffle House on the way home and rehashed the evening's events.

What a wonderful change of pace from our other date nights! Hubby even mentioned that it stirred up the history bug in him and now he has the urge to do some personal research! I think I might rent that movie, "All the King's Men" to watch this week. :D

Resturant Review: Santa Fe Cattle Co.

For the first time in my life, I was privileged to enjoy a lunch at the Santa Fe Cattle Co. restaurant located in Hammond, LA. I had driven past this place several times and kept telling myself that one day I will go in there. Today was that day.

This restaurant has a very relaxed and casual atmosphere with outstanding service. Our waitress was fast, friendly, and efficient. The decor was a mix of Cracker Barrel antiques and trailer trash kitsch including a Red Bull can mortared into the brick!






But the real reason we come to a restaurant is for the food. Right? If you're really hungry and just can't wait for the appetizers to be served, feel free to indulge in the pail of roasted peanuts strategically placed in the middle of the table. Don't even think of proper disposal of the shells. Just toss those suckers on the floor!

Not being in the mood for peanuts, I perused the menu for a bit, I ordered one of my favorite dishes....the chicken fried steak.

While we waited for the main dishes to get cooked and served, our waitress brought some yummy homemade soft yeast rolls to the table. Next to the rolls was a tiny little tub of cinnamon butter. I have never had cinnamon butter. Most restaurants I've been to in the past had honey butter or something else. But cinnamon butter? Yum Yum!!! I spread this stuff on the roll and it melted all over my fingers.

A few minutes later, the waitress reappeared and sat THIS down in front of me! Just look at the SIZE of that thing! Delish!!!


I would like to have had some veggies on the side as well. But, alas, what you see is what you get. However, the price wasn't bad at only $10 for the plate!!! I plan to return soon and will remember to order some veggies. I just know they'll be yummy, too (as well as good for me!).

Here we are posing with the Longhorn after we sufficiently stuffed ourselves to the gills.

If you get a chance, mosey on eastward from Baton Rouge and stop in Santa Fe for a real western treat.

Happy Birthday Mom!!!

"Whatcha want fer yer birthday Mom?" I asked.

She replied, "A million dollars!"

"Yeah right. I'm just not that blessed. Sorry. Hey, pick a color!"

"What?"

"Pick a Color...one of the basic ones...like from an 8 count box of Crayons."

"Oh, okay. Well, Green! Money's green right?"

"Mom, I can't guarantee that I'll have money for you. Sorry. But I can guarantee that it will be green."

So, today, on my way home from church, I stopped by Dollar Tree and ran down each aisle collecting anything that looked green. I was happily surprised to find some chocolate bars wrapped in a million dollar wrapper!

What you see in the above picture is a feather duster, some cans of Green Beans, Mom's totes (for collecting stuff floating around in the car), and the candy bars dressed as a million bucks. In the basket is some hand sanitizer (green apple), a magnetic shopping list, a candle, kitchen sponges, snack cups, a small laundry rope, a manicure kit, and that's all I can think of. Oh, and of course, everything was the color green.

Then, we went to meet my mom, stepdad, and brother at the Santa Fe Cattle Co. restaurant. (By the way, I have a restaurant review for this place too. It was my first time there.)

As you can see from the following photo, my mom absolutely LOVED the green gift!

She ESPECIALLY loved the million dollar chocolate bars!

The couple shot!

A table shot (well, okay ... half a table).

An after lunch photo op!

My brother gave mom a bunch of roses too! Isn't he sweet?

Happy Birthday Mommy! May all your wishes come true!! I love you!!

Reversible Dresses

I spent my Saturday sewing these cute little dresses for my girlies. Dress #1 is the one I practiced on. They seem a little long for my taste but I'm planning to make some more and included different decorations. I'll make a few more with adjustments until I get one that I like.

Dress #1 - Side A

Dress #1 - Side B

Dress #2 - Side A

Dress #2 - Side B

My Birdie is just the cutest little model, isn't she?

Oops! I did it again!

I've neglected my blogging duties for a little too long. Therefore, I'm typing this nonsensical post to let you all know that I am still here. I've been a tad busy trying to figure out what to sew. I've been digging through fabric (thanks to my under bed diving the other day in search of poodle skirt materials) and re washing it all, ironing it, folding it, and imagining what it might turn into. Easter is coming up and my girls need new dresses.

That being said.....I'm still around. Just focusing on other things right now. Rest assured that there will be many posts of the finished product (and possibly some of the process) very soon!!!

Rockin' with Literacy - 50's Day

Last night at 7 p.m. I happened to go to my refridgerator to get a drink of juice. As I placed my hand on the door, I noticed a note that I had placed there last week. I had forgotten all about it. It was about tonight's Rockin' with Literacy Book Fair at my Little Bird's school. The children were encouraged to wear 50's garb instead of their uniforms to school.

After a brief panic attack, I dove under my bed for the box of fabric I have stored there. The creative juices started flowing and in less than 2 hours I had created a poodle skirt for my dahlin' girl.

Isn't she the cutest?

Here's a poodle closeup.

Am I good or what!!!!? Sometimes I amaze myself! :D

Clean House: Day 30 - Arts & Crafts supplies

1. Gather sewing/craft items; divide into groups
2. Toss any unusable scraps or packaging
3. Wipe drawers with damp dusting cloth
4. Replace items by type; Label outside of drawer or container for easy access. Store duplicates elsewhere

TIMESAVER: Color-code storage boxes or labels, such as red for knitting, blue for sewing, yellow for stamping, etc. etc.


There ya go! 30 days to a clean house! You're all done! Yay!!

Clean House: Day 29 - Toy Closet

1. Group toys by categories: blocks, board games, dolls, puzzles, army men, cars, books, etc.
2. Discard broken toys
3. Put outgrown toys aside for donation, storage, or rummage sale
4. Store keepers by category in bags, boxes, or plastic bins. Label or stick a picture of what’s inside on outside of solid containers
5. Stack containers; label shelves for board game storage.

Questions from the Little Ones

Not long ago, my little ones began asking questions about babies, where they came from, and how they get out of where they are. Since that time, we learned that my oldest daughter, DQ, is expecting. Due to the many conversations that DQ and I have had, my little ones now have new questions that I honestly am not sure how to answer. I'm hoping that someone out there will be able to help me answer the questions of very inquistive little 4 y.o. and 6 y.o. girls.

A bit of background, our family is a blended family. My husband, DH, has 4 grown children from his previous marriage. They have blessed us with 8 grand babies. I was also married to another man many years ago and my DQ and The Teen came to us during that marriage. Then I met my husband, got married, and 5 years later welcomed our Little Bird and Kangaroo.

Now, I'm baffled by how quickly the questions have come. Here are a few:

1. Why did DQ's Daddy give them up? When I answered that he didn't GIVE them up, we had DIVORCED...that led to the What is divorce? question.

2. Mommy, Sissy has a baby in her tummy. Where's the baby's daddy?

4. Is the baby gonna come out AFTER Sissy's married?

5. You mean you don't HAVE to be married to have a baby?

6. Is the baby gonna live with us?

There are many more but I'll leave you with these for now. If you have any advice on how to answer my little ones questions, please help. Especially the ones dealing with morality.

Clean House: WEEKEND 4 - Garage

1. Sort garage items, tools, sports equipment, gardening & lawn supplies, etc.
2. Group old paint, pesticides, and other chemicals. Call city sanitation for disposal info.
3. Clean & sweep floor
4. Check for rodent & pest infestation
5. Vacuum & clean windows & shelves
6. Clean, oil, & sharpen tools
7. Check tools & machinery for damage or wear; schedule repair & maintenance as needed.

TROUBLE SPOT: Avoid water damage by moving items up off floor to shelves, tool-hanging systems, or onto long , thick nails pounded into studs.

100 Places to Take Your Kids....

....Before They Grow Up

Hubs and I had a date night tonight and ended up at our favorite place again....Target. :D When you walk into a Target store, there is usually a section of 3 or 4 small rows packed with $1.00 items. Tonight I found a real jewel. It's a little paperback book from Frommer's. I googled this title "100 Places to Take Your Kids Before They Grow Up" but all I'm finding is "500 Places..." I think THIS particular little paperback is just a watered down list but what a list it is! I'm not going to get into all the little tips and hints this little book contains but I figured it would be okay to provide you all with the list in the index. If anything, it will give you some summer vacation ideas!

Enjoy the list (in no particular order) and feel free to comment back if you have ever been to any of these places.

1. The Grand Canyon, AZ

2. The Redwood Forests of California, Crescent City, CA

3. Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks,Visalia & Fresno, CA

4. Devil's Tower, WY

5. Arches National Park, Moab, UT

6. Petrified Forest & Painted Desert National Park, Holbrook, AZ

7. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, HI

8. Niagra Falls, NY

9. Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, Durango, CO

10. The Seattle-Victoria Ferry, Seattle, WA

11. Cruising the Mighty Mississippi, Various locations along the Mississippi River

12. Scouting Alaska's Inside Passage, Juneau, Alaska

13. Boston Common, Boston, MA

14. Escape to Alcatraz, San Francisco, CA

15. Mount Rushmore & Crazy Horse Memorial, Keystone & Custer, SD

16. The Corn Palace, Mitchell, SD

17. Wall Drug, Wall, SD

18. Winchester Mystery House, San Jose, CA

19. Carlsbad Caverns, Carlsbad, NM

20. Assateague Island, VA

21. El Yunque (Puerto Rico's Rainforest), Rio Grande, PR

Famous Bridges

22. Brooklyn Bridge, NY

23. Golden Gate Bridge, SF

Fantastic Aquariums & Zoos

24. Monteray Bay Aquarium, Monteray, CA

25. The San Diego Zoo, CA

26. The Bronx Zoo, NY

27. Dinosaur Valley, Glen Rose, TX

28. La Brea Tar Pits, Los Angeles, CA

29. Cahokia Mounds, Collinsville, IL

30. Canyon de Chelly, Chinie, AZ

31. Puako Petroglyphs, Big Island, HI

32. Concord, Lexington, & Lincoln, MA

33. Remembering the Alamo, San Antonio, TX

34. Gettysburg National Park, Gettysburg, PA

35. Pearl Harbor, Honolulu, HI

36. The International Spy Museum, Washington, DC

37. San Juan Fortress, San Juan, Puerto Rico

38. Plimoth Plantation, Plymouth, MA

39. Williamsburg, Jamestown, & Yorktown, VA

40. Philadelphia, PA

41. The Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island, New York, NY

42. Amish Country, Lancaster, PA

43. Mystic Seaport, Mystic, CT

44. Stockyards National Historic District, Fort Worth, TX

45. California Gold Rush Country, Hwy. 49 from Nevada City to Angels Camp

46. National Museum of the American Indian, Washington, DC

47. Black Heritage Trail, Boston, MA

48. Dr. King's Legacy, Atlanta, GA

49. Alabama's Civil Rights Trail, Montgomery, Birmingham, & Selma, AL

50. American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY

51. Franklin Institute, Philadelphia, PA

52. The Exploratorium, San Francisco, CA

53. Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills, NC

54. National Air and Space Museum, Washington, DC

55. Kennedy Space Center, Titusville, FL

56. Edison Historic Site, West Orange, NJ

57. Hoover Dam, Boulder City, NV

58. Griffith Observatory, Los Angeles, CA

59. Mauna Kea, Hawaii

60. The Cable Car Hills of San Francisco, CA

61. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY

62. The Art Institute of Chicago, IL

63. Huntington Library, San Marino, CA

64. Graceland, Memphis, TN

65. The Nashville Music Scene, Nashville, TN

66. Rock N Roll Hall of Fame, Cleveland, OH

67. Hollywood, CA

68. Newport's Mansions, Newport, RI

69. Hearst Castle, San Simeon, CA

70. Orchard House, Concord, MA

71. The Mark Twain Home, Hannibal, Missouri

Presidential Homesteads

72. Lincoln Trail, Hodgenville, KY

73. FDR Hyde Park, NY

74. Yosemite, CA

75. The Appalachian Trail, Jump on anywhere from GA to Maine

76. Yellowstone National Park, Cody, WY

77. Nantucket, MA

78. Mackinac Island, Michigan

79. Bicycle the Rim Road, Crater Lake, Oregon

80. Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park, CO

81. Monument Valley, Kayenta, AZ

82. Canoe the Everglades, Everglades, FL

83. Sea Kayak in Acadia National Park, Mount Desert Island, Maine

84. Apostle Island National Park, Bayfield, WI

85. Swim with a Million Tiny Lights, Vieques, Puerto Rico

86. Biscayne National Park, Homestead, FL

87. St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands

88. Santa Monica Beach, Santa Monica, CA

89. Baseball Hall of Fame, Cooperstown, NY

90. Fenway Park, Boston, MA

91. Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL

92. Notre Dame, South Bend, IN

93. The Kentucky Derby, Louisville, KY

94. NASCAR Classic, Daytona, FL

95. Ballooning over the Great Red Rocks, Sedona, AZ

96. Denali National Park, Alaska

97. The Cyclone, Brooklyn, NY

98. Millenium Force, Sandusky, OH

99. The Santa Cruz Boardwalk, between Monteray & San Francisco, CA

100. The Mall of America, Bloomington, MN

Happy Traveling!!!

Clean House: Day 26 - Front Closet or Mud Room

1. Pick up everything from floor; sort & replace where they belong
2. Make a pile of things that go elsewhere
3. Cull extra hangers
4. Place a storage crate for each family member in the closet
5.Label individual hooks for family members
6. Remove, clean & store any out of season items

Clean House: Day 25 - Windows

1. Clean window ledges & sills w/ vacuum
2. Use window cleaner & clean windows
3. Wipe off any smudges w/ paper towels

Clean House: Day 24 - Laundry Room

1. Clear top of washer & dryer
2. Wipe down surfaces, Check inside surfaces of dryer for gum, ink, or other buildup
3. Check hoses, filters, & dryer ducts. Clean and repair as needed.
4. Clean iron as needed
5. Vacuum, sweep, mop floor
6. Check supplies and make a list

TIMESAVER: Get hanger caddy from local dry cleaner to recycle extras.

Clean House: Day 23 - Blinds

1. Close blinds & firmly brush across slats w/ a treated dust wipe, lambs wool duster, or disposable foam brush. Reverse slats & repeat. OR cover your hand with a cotton glove or sock and run each slat between your finger and thumb.
2. Dust vertical blinds w/ dush brush attachment on vacuum
3. Remove smudges & fingerprints w/ a warm, damp sponge.

TIMESAVER: If you’ve had these blinds for a while….treat yourself….go by new ones each time you get a room done! My personal favorite tip!!

Guess what I woke up to this a.m.!

On Friday morning I noticed that Kangaroo had a little redness to her right eye. Thinking it was allergies or even a bit of something in her eye, I ignored it. Bad move! By Saturday her eye was swollen from all the rubbing and stuck closed. Fast forward to this morning, and guess what! I wake up with the same dadgum thing! Yay. (Hear the sarcasm?)

We have doc's visit scheduled for this afternoon and I'm hoping he'll be generous and give a family sized prescription to knock this stuff out.

The last time we had conjunctivitis in the family was when I was still nursing Kangaroo (about 3 1/2 years ago). I had heard that a drop of breastmilk would cure this monster. So, I tried it and lemme tell ya...that breastmilk is a miracle elixir! However, since I'm no longer breastfeeding, I have none available. :(

That being said, I called the doctor and left a message. I was thinking that I would save myself a trip by describing the pink eye to him over the phone and then have him call in a prescription for eye drops. Several hours later and he still hadn't returned my call.

Then Kangaroo starts complaining about her ear hurting. She hadn't said anything prior to this so I didn't know what to think. I called the doc's office again and told them, "Never mind the message to the doc. I'm bringing her in."

It's a good thing too! Kangaroo has a double ear infection in addition to the pink eye! After fighting the evening traffic, we finally arrived back home with a week's worth of antibiotics and eyedrops.

Hopefully, she'll feel better very soon.

Clean House: Day 22 - Kid's Rooms

1. Either tidy or supervise kids efforts to clean up rooms
2. Place a crate or box on closet floor to hold outgrown items
3. Spot-clean windows and mirrors w/ windex
4. Dust surfaces & vacuum or dry-mop floors
5. Help kids organize their stuff w/ over the door storage systems or plastic crates.

TROUBLE SPOT: Initiate a no-food rule for bedrooms.

Clean House: WEEKEND 3 - The Kitchen!!

1. Straighten countertops & tabletops
2. Spray surfaces with sanitizer, let sit, wipe & rinse
3. Survey cupboards & drawers to assess level of disorganization; rearrange & restock as needed with an eye toward storing things where they will be most handy.
4. Spot-clean cupboard surfaces, doors, windows, and shelves: replace shelf/drawer lining as needed.
5. Vacuum, dry-mop, or wash floor
6. Dust baseboards, cupboard fronts, and tops
7. Wipe down stovetop, microwave, and toaster oven.

TROUBLE SPOT: Place 1 cup of water in microwave, can put lemon juice in water, turn on & let warm/hot water sit & everything will soften so it can be easily wiped off w/ paper towels.

Clean House: Day 19 - Bulletin Boards, Calendar, Fridge Door

1. Strip items off bulletin board & fridge door, tossing old, & rearranging the rest by event/family member.
2. Go thru calendar & review scheduled items for this month & next
3. Compare appt. cards & invites against calendar to make sure everything is listed
4. Consider storing & recycling extra magnets

Clean House: Day 18 - Pantry

1. Remove all canned goods & spices; toss outdated items
2. Group by type or arrange in abc order
3. Use permanent marker to label & date can & jar tops
4. Wipe down shelves & replace lining if needed
5. Restock shelves, keeping like things together
TIMESAVER: Use plastic turntables to keep things in plain sight.

Clean House: Day 17 - Freezer

1. Do a quick survey of freezer items: rearrange items, grouping like things together, such as meats, veggies, dessert items, pizzas, etc.
2. Check dates on packages, & move oldest up front for next use
3. Spot-clean any spills
TIMESAVER: Date any new items before storing in freezer; keep a list on front of fridge of meats & leftovers to help w/ meal planning.

Clean House: Day 16 - The Refridgerator

1. Toss expired products & past prime leftovers, fruits, & veggies
2. Wipe down the fridge walls, bins, shelves, and gaskets…I use warm soapy water for inside. All purpose cleaner or Pine Sol for the outside.
3. Restock after grouping like things together; consider clear plastic storage bins for jams, breads, or condiments.
TIMESAVER: Clean fridge before you go shopping to better complete your grocery list.

Clean House: Day 15 - Recipe Books & Boxes

1. Gather recipe books, binders, & boxes in central location
2. Review books & move those you seldom use to another bookshelf
3. Toss clipped recipes that you haven’t made or didn’t like.
4. Paste “keepers” on to paper sheets and file in a binder
5. Flip through recipes & make grocery lists for needed items for the next few weeks.

Saintly Louisiana mammals

A normal passage of time in Louisiana will show us the slight chills of winter time, pleasant weather during fall and spring, and heat and humidity during the summer. Of course, the flora and fauna react to the change in weather as always. Green can be seen all over the place in the spring and summer..and of course, brown during winter...or, depending on the tree...no leafy greenness at all.

Lately, I have noticed something else..something peculiar. While the color scheme is in keeping with the season..it’s the fact that the animal life seems to have adopted the behavior of the plant life that I find interesting. Specifically- I have begun noticing far more frequently some mammals who are gold and black...perhaps as a natural camouflage and in order to avoid predators. However, the color change seems to be on those more usually at the top of the food chain: Humans.

Peculiarly, these people have begun wearing gold and black everywhere. But there is more evidence to consider: The same people will be seen with some emblematic flower artfully done and also emitting(often and seemingly as a call to other tribesmen) a loud (and joyful?) "Who Dat?".

While I had seen this species before, I confess I have not seen the population increase so rapidly as during the past year and beginning of this one(2010). I am thinking there is something in the water down here or perhaps, the natural predators have gone into hiding.

Whatever the case, in each member I sense an increasing urgency in their tribe-speak...as if something is coming that only the members are privy to. In fact, I have heard one or two..after a particularly boisterous rendition of 'Who dat's?'..echoing all around, refer to something coming on the 7th of February somewhere south of here.

Well, all I can say...is there were far fewer of this species around until recently. I find this interesting.

Clean House: WEEKEND 2 - Master Closet

Oh my! This is even worse than my bedroom! Eeeek!!

1. Clean off floor & straighten up shelves
2. Go thru clothes & shoes, Pull out anything you don’t wear or that needs repair
3. Cull unused hangers
4. Keep a dry-cleaner storage bag on a hook to stow items that need cleaning. Check it weekly to see if it’s time to drop it off.
5. Vacuum floor & dust shelves
TIMESAVER: Either hang entire outfits together or group similar items such as skirts, tops, and pants.
Another tip: Color coordinate your closet according to rainbow colors … off colors (pink, lilacs, etc would go with the color closest to them).

Clean House: Day 12 - Master Bedroom

I don't know about you but I've been dreading this particular chore! My Master Bedroom is also my sewing room, craft room, library, and everything else room. Arrrghhh!

1. Pick up clothes, tidy dresser, & table tops
2. Open window to freshen room
3. Vacuum or dry-mop floor
4. Spot-clean windows & mirrors
5. Dust furniture & baseboards
6. Change linens & fluff pillows

Clean House: Day 11 - Houseplants

1. Transfer portable plants to kitchen or utility room counter
2. Trip or snip any dead leaves & flower heads
3. Dust or wet-wipe dirty leaves as plant – appropriate
4. Water & fertilize as needed
5. Dust & spot clean surfaces where plants are displayed

Was Broken Heart, Now DQ Update #1

Sometimes it amazes me how quickly we adapt to stressful and trying situations. I'd like to give you an update on the situation here. As you know, we received the news, not quite a week ago, that there will be a new family member joining our household. At first, I was disappointed in my daughter (age 22), but now I'm slowly looking forward to sharing this experience with her and helping her as she adjusts to single motherhood. She's got a lot of growing up to do in a short time.

My husband finally warmed up enough to speak to me about the situation and we were able to have a productive discussion. He's still upset with DQ and hasn't spoken to her yet. She expressed to me how hurt she's feeling by his silence. When I brought it up to him during our separate conversation though, he explained that he's just trying to get his thoughts together before he speaks to her. He wants to say it "just right".

Yesterday, we had a discussion about what she's going to do in order to make a living and support herself. He did have some input there that she REALLY listened to (for a change).

She currently works as a "beverage server" at a local casino...not a job that's really conducive to pregnancy and impending motherhood. We took a few minutes to pray about the job situation. I specifically reminded the Lord that when He created me He gave me a visual learning style. Then I reminded Him, that in order to communicate with me He will have to literally write on the wall (in really big letters surrounded by flashing lights).

A few hours later, LITERALLY, a friend of mine (who didn't yet know of my impending grandmotherhood) called me up and asked if my daughter might be interested in a temporary job paying $13 per hour!!! It's only a 4 - 6 month position but it's closer to home! I told her, without hesitation, a huge YES! Then I told my daughter, who was also very excited about it and at the same time learned that God is really there and listening.

As for now, she went to the Health Unit for a pg confirmation followed by an application visit to Medicaid. Next week, she'll be meeting with a counselor (or helper) at the Women's Hope center. I've told her several times that I love her and she is not alone. I have also warned her that the next couple of years are gonna be real tough but she just has to pull up those boot straps, dig in, and she'll be fine.

Keep praying for us. We have a long two years ahead of us but I'm getting excited to see what the Lord has planned.

Clean House: Day 10 - Bathrooms

1. Tidy counters, wipe down shelves & cupboard surfaces
2. Use degreasing cleanser on sink, tub, and shower walls
3. Launder bath linens
4. Sanitize toilet bowl and seat cover
5. Clean sink & tub fixtures with all-purpose cleanser
TIMESAVER: Spray tub, showers walls, & sink and move on to other chores, letting the cleanser do its work.

Clean House: Day 9 - Dining Room

1. Clear off piles of junk that have accumulated on the table, then dust.
2. Return clean dishes and vases to storage areas
3. Spot-clean any stains or chair covers & spray with stain repellent
4. Spot-clean windows & mirrors w/ damp paper towel or windex.
5. Vacuum or dry-mop floor
TROUBLE SPOT: Remove scratches from wood floors by sanding very gently with fine steel wool that has been dipped in paste wax.

Clean House: Day 8 - Living Room

My poor house doesn't have a basement....or an attic ....or even a separate family room .... but we do have a living room.

That being said, here's the game plan for today:

1. Make a sweep of the living room with a bag or basket to hold items that go elsewhere.
2. Straighten items on mantel, coffee and end tables.
3. Vaccum, dry-mop, or sweep floor.
4. Spot clean dirty surfaces and dust the rest.
5. Wipe mirrors and TV screen with damp paper towel.
6. Straighten or flip cushions and fluff pillows

TROUBLE SPOT: Use a dry sponge or vacuum on low suction with dust-brush attachment to clean lampshades

Clean House: WEEKEND 1 - Attack the Attic!

Just like my previous post about the basement, my home also does not have an attic.

But in case you do have one, here's what you're gonna do while I play catch up on the things I didn't get done this week.

1. Tidy up, grouping like things together
2. Take quick inventory; label storage boxes
3. Make piles for tossing, donating, or selling
4. Check for water damage or rodent infestation
5. Sweep or vacuum surface areas
6. Schedule any necessary maintenance or repairs

TROUBLE SPOT: Seal any holes in the walls, roof, windows, or eaves to keep out water, pests, & rodents.

Have fun!

My Heart is Broken

My 22 y.o. daughter lives in my home with my husband, The Teen, Little Bird, and Kangaroo. She's currently working as a "beverage server". It isn't the best job around. Her hourly wages are only $2.75 and she gets to keep whatever tips she makes. Basically, she's driving all the way to the job (71.2 miles round trip) for tips. The vehicle she drives is not hers. It belongs to my husband and I but we allow her to use it until she can save enough money to get her own car.

She has no ambitions to go to school or anything. She likes this job because it offers all the perks of a "real" job.....i.e. 401K, health insurance, etc. She really doesn't want to leave this job.

Then, I got the phone call this morning. It looks like I'm gonna be a grand-mother. She had stopped on her way to work to get a home pregnancy test. When she got to work and took the test, it was positive. She called me immediately, crying and blubbering and saying, "I didn't want it to be this way" and "Momma, I'm so sorry".

I told my hubby about it and he just clammed up. Didn't say a word to me all day. Kept a chip on his shoulder. When he came home and I said to him that I needed to discuss it with him, he replied, "I don't care and I don't want to discuss it. There is nothing to discuss."

I'm really feeling torn apart right now. This is my daughter! My child! My first born! I can't just throw her to the wolves! She needs me!

I know there aren't many people who read this blog, but if you're out there....please add my family to your prayer list and add a specific little ditty there for some extra enduring strength for me. Thanks.

Clean House: Day 5 - Basement

Our family has had a little crisis today. I didn't do much of anything except sit in my easy chair, talk on the phone, cry a little, eat some lunch, and do more of the same. As a result, I didn't get to any house cleaning today.

I'm feeling better right this second and plan to do a little more cleaning tomorrow before settling down to watch the Saints game with my hubby.

I live in Louisiana. We don't have basements here. If we did, it would be full of water. Swamp land is not conducive to basement building.

However, for the sake of staying on schedule, I'm posting cleaning tips for the basement. If you don't have a basement, feel free to catch up (if you need to) on the previous 4 day schedule. If you're caught up, you can always move on to the next day, or (my personal favorite) simply take a day off to recuperate. Believe it or not, all this house cleaning is burning calories. Take a break from all this "exercise" and rest. You can pick it up again tomorrow.

Okay, well, here's the Basement to do list, just in case you have a basement.

1. Neaten basement storage area
2. Move items off the floor to pallets or shelves
3. Sweep or mop floor
4. Label boxed items
5. Check for water damage or pest infestation

Date Night: Catfish Charlie's

NightOn Thursday evening, our family went to a little restaurant out in Hammond, La called Catfish Charlie's. It's located at 14256 W. Club Deluxe Road. Their specialty is seafood...mostly fried. However, there are a few healthy selections on the menu. We started out with a little appetizer of Gator Bites and salad. The waitress then brought the rest of our foods. The kids weren't in a seafood kind of mood so they all ordered standard kid's fare.....fried chicken tenders. Hubby ordered the Soft Shell Crab platter and I ordered the Grilled Shrimp and mushrooms dinner. Yummy stuff!!!

The food is good but the prices......well, not so good. For our family of 6, our evening out set us back $110.00!!! Maybe they'll come down on prices but I don't think it'll be any time soon.

Catfish Charlie's decor

The best part of enjoying a meal at Catfish Charlie's is the duck, turtle, fish feeding experience. The restaurant provides buckets of leftover biscuits for the kiddos to take out to the back deck and throw into the water to the wildlife.

And here's a shot of the wildlife! Before we even exited the building, they heard the footsteps on the hardwood floor and came running....or swimming ....or flying. They wanted some biscuits!


Does this look like a duck? At first my son yelled "Otter!" but it is in fact, a nutria rat. They are not native to Louisiana, having been imported in the 1930's for the fur farming industry. They were release, either accidentally or intentionally into Louisiana's coastal marshes.

Clean House: Day 4 - Home Office

I didn't get to this today. DH and I spent time together at Target shopping for some storage solutions for the girls bedroom. We ended up purchasing 2 of the 8 cube "Cubeicals" in order to organize their toys and things. I guess I'll try and get to the Home Office this weekend.

If your home is like mine, your home office has a special place in the distant corner of the family/living room. That being said, I will concentrate on that corner today.

Bill paying center:
1. group bills by category
2. file bills, user manuals, warranties, and receipts
3. cull old papers from files and countertops
4. replenish supplies such as stamps,envelopes, staples, and pens. Keep in one drawer or container
5. wipe down telephone
6. clear bulletin board of old notes

Dust:
1. Shelves, desktop, computer, monitor, keyboard, etc.

Computer:
1. Delete old files from hard drive
2. creat folders for each computer user
3. organize games, software, disks


TIMESAVER: When you open bills, immediately toss outer envelopes and any extra inserts.

Clean House: Day 3 - Conquer Junk

How are you doing so far? Today, we'll take it easy with the following chores. Have fun!!!

1. Clean catchall drawers and shelves by culling junk from usable items
2. Group like items, such as pens, tape, stamps, and coupons
3. Use small baskets to hold pens, coupons, etc.
4. Give kids 5 minutes to get all their stuff to their rooms – or else!

Today, I spent time catching up on things I didn't get done the past two days. I don't really have catchall "drawers". I have boxes, big cardboard boxes, full of miscellaneous items. In the past, when I attempted spring cleaning, I would take the above mentioned stuff and just toss it all into a box. THEN I would toss the box to the back of a closet or something. I would even tell myself "Out of sight, Out of mind!"

Over the years, I now have several of these boxes that I really need to go through. I just couldn't get to it yet. On the bright side, this coming weekend has The Attic on the list. I don't have an attic so I do plan to go through these boxes instead.

Where do babies come from?

My girls asked me that question last night while getting ready for bed!!! Can you believe it!!!? I was stunned. I'm not ready for this sort of "Facts of Life" lesson yet!

DQ (my 22 y.o.) was listening (i.e. eavesdropping) from another room as I explained to them that when Mommy and Daddy show each other how much they love each other, God gives them the gift of a baby and puts it in a special place inside Mommy's tummy. They seemed satisfied with that answer. They looked at me with their big eyes and this "Oh, OK!" look on their faces.

DQ laughed at me when she heard the explanation.

I shore wasn't prepared for the "so, how does the baby get out?" question, even though I knew that it was inevitable and would definitely be next in the line of questioning.

I chickened out. Changed the subject. Just decided it was bath and bedtime and who wanted to get in the shower first. They followed blindly and I was able to avoid it for the time being.

They're so sweet and innocent. Must they begin asking about the bird and the bees at such an early age? For I am NOT READY!

O Tannenbaum

My Little Bird serenaded the family with O Tannenbaum on New Year's day. She's so cute!!! If it won't play for you, try clicking here.

Clean House: Day 2 - Family Room

Did you remember to complete all the Everyday Chores listed on Day 1? If not, get those done first and then do the following.

(Oh, Look! It's the Family Room, which in my house is also the "Living areas" that I didn't get to yesterday due to taking a break and doing paint by number with Kangaroo!)

Now moving on to the Family Room. Now, in MY house, the Family Room and Living Room (Day 8) are the same room. So, I would probably combine these two.

Family room:
1. Return videos, CD’s, DVD’s to storage area (Well, I returned the ones to Blockbuster that were due)
2. Spot clean sofas and carpeting as needed (couldn't get to the sofa today due to laundry)
3. Flip and rotate cushions, fold throws (see #2)
4. Straighten magazines and newspapers (done)
5. Spot clean and dust surfaces (not done)
6. Vacuum/sweep family room floor. (done)

TIMESAVER: Clean rooms in a clockwise pattern, starting at the door. (and don’t forget to repeat day 1).

Even though I didn't get everything done today, I still feel like I got a lot accomplished.

Clean House: Day 1 (and everyday)

Ok, well, as Peter Pan says, "Here we goooooooo!" Day 1 of the Spring Cleaning schedule. These chores should be done everyday. I'll be back later to let you know how I did!

1. Make beds (only made my bed, not all the others)
2. sweep floors (more than once!)
3. Clean kitchen tables and countertops (did the countertop, too much junk on the table to mess with today)
4. Load/unload dishwasher (done 2x)
5. Tidy up living areas (Probably WOULD have gotten to this if I hadn't taken a break to paint by number with my Kangaroo. Oh, well, there's always tomorrow.)
6. Sort mail-toss junk (done)

TIMESAVER TIP: Keep a basket nearby to hold things that go in another room.

I also did 2 loads of laundry. Whew! I'm pooped! I do believe I'll turn in early tonight in hopes of having more energy for tomorrow's chores. Pray for me ya'll!!

30 Days to a Clean House

Last year sometime, I had read an article about Spring Cleaning. I couldn't remember where I had found the article, so I did a search on the internet in hopes of stumbling across it. Well, I found several references to it, and even a link or two to the magazine where it had been printed. But no article!

So, I took what information I learned...the name & date of the magazine I had seen it in (Woman's Day, June 2008)...and went to the local library where I knew I would find the magazine I was searching for! Aren't I resourceful? LOL

I found the article, and made a copy of the 30 Day Spring Cleaning schedule. So, am I up for the challenge of getting my house sparkling clean? I don't know...yet. However, I invite you all to join me as I begin this lovely little project on Monday! Let's start cleaning!!!

Homeless in Baton Rouge

After hearing a little story from my daughter about someone she met today, I was inspired to write the following. I'm pretty sure that I've given it the wrong title but it was all I could come up with at this hour. I hope you enjoy the story and please feel free to comment or pass along some constructive criticism. Thanks.

Homeless in Baton Rouge

'Twas a bitter cold night as 55 year old Arnie shivered beneath the bridge. The lights of the casino in the distance beckoned to him. He wrapped his ratty sleeping bag closer around him in an attempt to retain what warmth it provided. As he tossed and turned trying to get comfortable on his cold, hard concrete bed, he thought about his wife and memories of good times past came flooding back.

She was a lovely, God-fearing woman of high morals and standards. They loved each other with a love that most never experience. He remembered when they sat in the room together the day the doctor came in with the results of all the tests they had run on her the week before.

"You have cancer of the stomach that has mestasized and has spread into the esophagus. We think it has spread to your lymph glands as well." The doctor kept talking and giving more details but Arnie didn't hear it. He looked at his wife when she asked, "How long?"

"Not long, probably less than six months", the doctor replied.

Arnie remembered how graceful and fearless she was as she accepted this news. He remembered how her sky blue eyes did not even well up with tears. It was her time and she accepted it.

A bitter breeze shook him back to his place underneath the bridge. Again, the casino lights danced on the water, calling to him. He got up, folded up his sleeping bag, and tucked it up under the beams with the few belongings he called his own. Then he turned and made his way down the levee to the casino where he knew there would be warmth and maybe a bite or two of something to eat.

As he boarded the boat and made his way to the restroom, he noticed there were cash tickets here and there on the floor. He knew that each ticket was worth only pennies, but if he gathered up enough of them, perhaps he'd be able to buy a small meal.

After washing up in the restroom, he returned to the floor and asked a beverage server for a drink. She told him that she could only serve him if he's playing the slots or another game. He walked around some more and gathered up some of the vouchers he had seen and then sat at a machine, inserting a voucher one at a time. The beverage server asked him what he would like to drink and Arnie said to her, "Please bring me a glass with a little bit of cola and a lot of cherries and olives."

Then he pulled the lever on the side of the machine and waited. To his astonishment, he won $50! He turned to the waitress and grinned a toothless grin. She smiled back and told him she'd return in just a moment with his drink. He inserted another token and slowly played the slot machine until she returned. He didn't want to use up all of his tokens here at the casino when he knew he could cash them in and get a meal somewhere later on.

The waitress returned with his glass of olives, cherries, and a little bit of cola. He thanked her and as she walked away, he got up from his chair and made his way to the upper deck of the boat. He climbed the stairs, one burgandy floral step at a time, already feeling the warmth in the air.

Reaching the top of the stairs, he looked around for a somewhat secluded empty seat. Something discreet and out of the way. He found what he was looking for in the farthest corner and he was grateful to see that it was placed directly under a heating vent.

Sitting down, he bit into a cherry and chewing slowly he thought about his wife, her parents, and his parents. They're all gone now. With dismay, he realizes once again that he is all alone. He dwells on these thoughts for awhile, eating his olives and cherries, basking in the warmth coming from the heater.

Things weren't always this bad. He had a good job before. Before his wife got sick. Before his parents were killed in that car crash. Before her parents passed away only weeks apart. Before the big lay off at the plant. He regrets that he and his wife never had children. He always wanted a child but things kept getting in the way and preventing that enjoyable part of life. Now, it's just him and the few belongings he has stashed under the bridge.

He was tired and he must have dozed for he woke with a start, not knowing where he was, and he was momentarily confused. Then he saw the girl, the beverage server who had given him the cherries and olives. She was looking at him compassionately and began walking toward him.

"Hey", she said, "would you like another drink?"

"No thanks", he replied, and as an afterthought he asked her, "Would you know where I might be able to find a job?"

She looked at him for a second, as if trying to picture him in a certain occupation. Then she remembered the "Hire a Helper" place located within walking distance of the casino. She told him about it and said they might be able to help him. At first, he believed her, then he remembered that he had no permanent address or phone number that most employers require.

Feeling the need to do something, he got up, thanked her again for the glass of cherries and olives and walked off the boat. He decided that it couldn't hurt to talk to someone at Hire a Helper so he began walking in that direction. Thirty minutes later he was practically skipping back to the boat to share his good news with the girl. After all, she was the one who told him about Hire a Helper.

He found her quickly and said, "They said they'll work with me. Thanks for telling me about them." She was excited for him and said, "That's great! I know you'll do fine!"

He exited the boat again and walked back to his spot under the bridge. Wrapping himself up in the sleeping bag, he laid down out of the wind and began to happily doze off with the hope that tomorrow he may have a little job. Who knows? After tomorrow, anything could happen.

Prayer Request

A special childhood friend of mine is being deployed again. Louisiana National Guard, Alpha Co., 256th BSTB is headed out and will be there for the next year. Please pray for the safe return of everyone in this group. Pray also for the wisdom of my friend Company Commander Marshall Wilson as he leads his men.

If you're on Facebook and you'd like to keep up with the goings of the Alpha Co. or just send them a message of support, you can become a fan HERE.

Thank you to our armed forces for their enduring protection of the freedoms we enjoy!

From the mouths of Babes

Hubby and I have been sitting around just relaxing today. He has finished a bookhe's been reading and I've been researching our upcoming summer vacation. It was just us here .... and Kangaroo.

Kangaroo rose wide eyed and bushy tailed at 6 a.m. this morning and boy, was she raring to go! She ran and played all day! So sweet! She eventually pulled out her make up kit that she received for Christmas from our babysitter.

She sat and primped and got herself looking all pretty. Then she presented herself to us. Well, to her daddy anyway. Not to me.

She approaches her daddy, blinks her sweet little blue eyes, and coyly gushes, "Daddy, do you think I look pretty?"

He chuckled and responded, "Yes, honey, I sure do! I think you look just like mommy!"

Kangaroo is a little takin aback and says, "Mommy!? You gotta be KIDDIN' me!!!"

I wasn't sure how to feel as I sat here listening to this little exchange. I recognize that hubby was paying me a compliment...in a way. But her response? I don't know if it was taken as a compliment or an insult from her daddy. Is my own appearance so horrible that my child doesn't want to look like me?

Oh well, she's a sweet little cherub anyway and I love her bunches! :D

Paul B. Johnson Trip Report

Well, I've got the first day up for the State Park Trip Report. Here is a post about the cabin we rented.

Day 1 report is divided up into 2 separate posts. The first one is about our Bald Eagle experience. The second one is about our trip to the Hattiesburg Zoo that same afternoon.

I still need to post our Day 2 report but I don't have the time at this very second. I will post an update soon.