Happy Mother's Day

I love this picture of my Sweet Baby M and her volleyball friend. This picture is so indicative of her effervescent personality. She is bubbly and fun and always pretty happy. When Sweet Baby M was a baby, I thought she was the most challenging child I'd ever known. I so wanted her to be well behaved and submissive...and for the most part...she wasn't. She was a ball of fire, always ready to run in the street, climb to the highest point on the jungle gym and pet any strange and vicious looking dog. She spoke to any human, took candy from strangers and generally disobeyed more than obeyed.
Oh, how I loved her! She was a complete breath of fresh air in her obedient Mother's life. She fascinates me always with her boldness. She has taught me so many things over the years. She's taught me that family comes first, how to live for the moment and that what people think is just what they think...I can't change it...I can just live life the best I can. She definitely taught me that unconditional love exists! She's everything I could ever want in a daughter and then she continues to surprise me and be even more.


Once I had a darling daughter, I could think of nothing better than a strong and handsome son to adore forever. I certainly got that gift also in the Big D. He was the sweetest baby I'd ever laid eyes on. He was chubby and had the wispiest blonde hair...and he was so quiet. I spent the first two years of his life just holding him and never regretted one minute of time spent with undone "things". He was worth it. Big D spent the first half of kindergarten chasing my car around the circle drive at drop off yelling, "Mommy..don't yeave me heaw!". He broke my heart. The number of days that I spent sitting in my car at the school for those 3 hours a day of kindergarten outweigh the number I actually got to go home. Now he's a big seventh (almost eighth) grader and quick to jump out of the car and join his friends at school. I still like to think he misses me a bit. Driving my kids to school has been one of the joys of my life. Time spent in the car with them has always been special. Whether we listen to the radio together, talk or pray..it seems like it's always a good time to connect. Now this big guy is into dirt bikes, atv's, raising a dog, camping and all boy stuff. Once upon a time though, he was his Mom's boy and I hope he remembers those times fondly.

My children have been the delight of my life. God gave me such a tremendous gift when He gave them to me. I had longed for them for eight plus years and the day I became a Mommy was it for me. I finally felt like I had fulfilled my destiny. I've never loved anything more than being a Mother and caring for my children. They make me who I am and I adore them.

Once Upon a Time...........

........this little Princess went to the prom.

Oh...my! Sweet Baby M went to the prom last night with her boyfriend. They looked so glamorous and gorgeous. Sweet Baby had a dress that was actually once full length that we had cut off to short and bubbled on the hem. It was too die for on her. That hot pink color set off her tanned skin and dark hair to perfection. She wore the gorgous triple string of pink, ivory and white pearls her Daddy bought her in Japan and my diamond studs in her ears with silver sandels. Yummy!

The evening began with pictures and proceeded to the event location with a sit down dinner and dancing. Then a party followed, culminating in a breakfast which ended at 2:30. She spent the night with a friend and now is coming home soon to work. What a trooper!

She's a beautiful girl and looked so happy and gorgeous last night that it was a real night to remember.

Sleepy Saturday

Jim is getting a cold. He's horrors with a cold! He can't bear being sick and it will be a misery for all...that's my prediction. The yard needs mowing...it's way too wet, the garden needs weeding...it's way too wet, the laundry needs doing...it's way too...oh, I guess it just needs doing. UGH! I hate the laundry.
Tonight is the big Trinity Prom which Sweet Baby M is attending with her boyfriend. It's technically not a prom since they don't endorse dancing but since they dance and do all the normal prom stuff...I guess it's an unofficial prom. It certainly requires all the preparation of a regular prom. She hits the road at 9:00 a.m. for mani and pedi and doesn't stop until pictures at 5:00 p.m. She is such a sweet girl and we are so excited to see her mani'ed, pedi'ed, make up, and hair wearing her very beautiful pink dress with the pearls her Daddy brought her from Japan. She will look like an angel I'm sure! Expect pictures posted tomorrow!

On another note, Oklahoma is playing on my blogplayer and that always reminds me of The Surrey with the Fringe On Top song. Then the next thought is owning a rickshaw which I have ALWAYS wanted since I saw one at an estate sale that I should have bought but passed on. I like the charm of the one in which a person runs in front or bikes with it but it might be hard to convince someone to do that while I rode in back so maybe I need the motor driven one.



Okay...we are off to start the prom festivities...

Friday Night Date

I finally talked(convinced, conned, begged) Jim into taking me out for dinner. It was awesome! We went to Savute's, a complete hole in the wall on N. Broadway that we haven't been to in forever. I don't remember liking it the last time I was there but this time...it rocked! We were by far the YOUNGEST people in the place which is saying alot because we aren't very young. Jim ordered a T-Bone steak and I had the steak and catfish because I live in KS and have NEVER had catfish. They make their salad dressing from scratch...but I'd better start at the beginning.
The water glasses were filled, we were seated at a table with a slight tilt and the bread basket was delivered. Both french and pumpernickel bread and butter and those wonderful little packages of breadsticks. Can't beat it! Then we ordered drinks. For Jim a Boulevard Wheat and I ordered a glass of Cabernet which oddly enough was served in a juice glass. It was great wine however but it was strange to see it in such a stubby glass. The antipasti plate was a strange saucer of iceberg lettuce, salami and pepperoni, an orange cheese and a white cheese (of indeterminate variety), pickles, anchovies and banana peppers. It was delish!
Salads were either the Italian variety or normal with homemade dressing. I chose the ranch and it was icy cold and creamy. Very good.
I have never had catfish and so decided to order the steak and catfish. Jim opted for the T-Bone as I stated above. The T-Bone was cooked to perfection and served with a side of Spaghetti. Both were really good. I expected my steak to be a sirloin or some cheap cut since it wasn't defined on the menu but it was a ribeye and very tender. The catfish was too die for with homemade tartar sauce. Delicate and crispy with a just right fish taste. This also came with a side of spaghetti.
I'd give Savute's five stars. It was a big side of kitchy with a major serving of yummy! I'd definitely make it one of our "go-to" spots. I kept thinking the whole evening of how much Big D would love it!

I Just Want to be your Friend

Poor Shadow. He just wants to be Pup pup's friend but unfortunately she doesn't want a friend. She thought she could sneak into her little bed but alas...he flopped down and proceeded to STARE at her. She retreated to back under Jim's chair.

Rain, Rain Go Away

A Few Things
1. I am so sick of the rain. I have to keep reminding myself that I will be thankful we had all this rain in July when the ground is so dry that it is cracked. It is wonderful that the trees and all my plants are getting this LONG drink BUT please...rain...end.
2. Rainy weather is not conducive to housetraining a new puppy.
3. Shadow is testing my patience with his continual persecution of the little dogs. He is under the impression that Pup pup is a stuffed animal and needs to be carried around by the tail. She is not amused.
4. Shadow spends ALOT of time trying to get up on the couch and be "pals" with the little dogs. They spend ALOT of time trying to get away from him. He finally figured out how to climb up. Happy, happy, joy, joy.
5. I need to go to the grocery store but I don't want to get so wet. I have stuff for dinner tonight and the only other thing we needed were new baseball pants for Big D. It's not looking like that game is going to happen tonight anyway unless they are playing in a swamp.
6. Did I mention yet that I'm sick of rain?
7. Big D and I are so excited about signing up for our Compassion International kids this weekend. He has earmarked a little guy from Rwanda and my little girl comes from Indonesia. We are ecstatic! What a gift to us that we can make a difference in someone's life AND get the extra blessing of hearing about it. Too much!
8. If it doesn't quit raining when my peonies finally bloom I'm going to be so mad! I don't want to bring them in all waterlogged! I have to get out in the garden and make sure all the fragile stems are protected in the peony cage.
9. Soup for lunch? Sounds good.
10. I'm trying to get into a new book. No luck. I've picked up a couple and thrown them aside halfway in...which is very rare for me. I usually finish no matter what. I just haven't found one that kept me interested in a while. I want a book I can lose myself in that I won't want to put down.
Okay....that's it for now. Back to mediating dog fighting, lurking in the basement with my laundry and watching the rain.

Ironing and Baseball and Random Thoughts

My day today has been spent making up for Jim's day off from work yesterday. Isn't that the way it always is? Instead of keeping my usual schedule, I let everything go and lazily sat around with him. We did take Sweet Baby M to Applebee's for lunch which was a treat and then Jim took her to get her first checking account! Big times!

Today I have done nothing but washing and ironing. I miss the days when I dropped shirts off at the dry cleaners and never paid them any attention until I picked them up and hung them, freshly ironed, in the closet. This ironing is painful! I love ironing flat things, but shirts...ugh. I need a better iron for sure!

Tonight Big D is supposed to have his first baseball game of the season. We will see if it happens since it has been drizzly all day. I think it's going to be too wet. He won't be too sad as then he can go to youth group. He has just begun to attend and really loves it. He is reading his bible in his room (makes my heart so happy!) and is such a good boy. He needs good friends and a group to interact with.

I need to return library books on my way to pick up Big D. Hopefully baseball will be called off and we will have a quiet night at home.

Monday Morning Blahs

Oh my goodness, I have the Monday Morning Blahs. Last night was stormy and no one slept well except maybe Jim. He could sleep through anything! Shadow spent his first night ever in Big D's bed. I was glad he slept the night through and didn't have to go out in the rain. I love having the little dogs sleep on my bed (and in Tiki's case, IN my bed) so I'm so happy that Big D has a friend to snuggle up with.
Sweet Baby M needs to take her prom dress to be altered today and so that is high on our agenda! She doesn't have school and I was so looking forward to shopping and lunch but OF COURSE she has plans with friends for lunch. How did she grow up so fast? There is a 50% chance of more rain today so maybe it wouldn't have been a very nice day for shopping anyway. Better to stay in and tackle the laundry.
At least Big D's baseball game will be canceled. They weren't ready to play a game yet anyway...not enough practice.
Onward with the day. Lots to do...

Benton Garage Sale Finds

After dropping the ATV's off in El Dorado, we took a little side-trip through Benton on the way home. Benton was celebrating 100 years as a little town and having a city wide garage sale event! We only stopped at a few but I got my entire load of merchandise for $3.50!!

Four wine glasses, three cordial glasses, a really unique square pitcher, a small (one person) teapot, a milk glass vase, wonderful plate marked Germany on the back, a really cute, never used dishtowel and a fabulous heavy crystal egg-shaped candy dish. The fabu purchase of the day was the pale green enamelware teapot!

Saturday Morning

The Big Galoot (def. is an old word used, primarily in Scotland, that means a person with an ungainly, cumbersome, and clumsy personality. ...) is growing by leaps and bounds. Shadow is a nice dog but he has his moments. He still sleeps in Big D's room but is outgrowing the crate he's been sleeping in. It's actually a cage. Why am I calling it a crate? Crate sounds more gentile then cage. We keep our dog in a crate. We keep our dog in a cage. Yep...crate it is.
This reminds me of Shadow's first visit to the vet. She asked if he was on "large breed" food. Uh..no. Since both my other dogs don't even weigh enough to constitute a breed between them...I didn't know there was such a thing. Of course, because she asked me like I was a complete ax murderer if he wasn't...I answered yes. And then quickly ran to Petco to get Large Breed Puppy Food.
Right now, The Galoot's favorite activity is to drag poor Pup pup around by the tail! She doesn't exactly resist but she doesn't seem to enjoy it either! He loves that big fluffy tail. Then he will go stand by the couch and bark at Tiki. Usually though, he can be found laying under the kitchen table watching me cook.

It's definitely time for more coffee and I think I'll make a quick batch of pumpkin muffins for breakfast. My pumpkins will love that!

Bird Dog

These funny ducks decided to hang out in our front yard. They obviously don't realize that we now have a bird dog in residence. When they tried to walk around in the back yard, they got a bit of a surprise. Shadow chased the intruders back out front. Then they decided to take a siesta under a tree. Of course he doesn't look too intimidating sitting in his flower pot!

A Moment of Peace

After four hours of non-stop barking, biting, bathrooming, eating, drinking and playing...it looks like we just might have a moment of peace. I'm practically tip-toeing around so they stay sleeping and happy and it's only 8:45 a.m.!

When the Big Dog is away.........

sDSA


the little dogs can sleep all day. And anywhere they want! Are these too cute or what. I love these dogs and this new guy is going to fit in perfectly.

Good Early Morning

It's 4:30 here in Kanasas and Pup pup decided she wanted to get up and go out. Since she was up, I decided to stop in Big D's room and see if the new puppy needed to go out too. He was sleeping so nicely in his cage and Big D had made a nest out of his comforter and was sleeping right beside him. Too cute! I think he loves his new friend. Usually when Pup pup goes out she goes right back upstairs and falls back asleep BUT not this new little guy. He went out, did his business and it was play time. He is having the time of his life chasing Pup pup around the family room and making her squeal. Every so often his teeth nip a little part of her back leg. He is chewing a toy right now and she is hiding between my feet. I think her fascination with him might just be wearing off. He's such a good little guy though and when he's not exploring, he wants to lie on the big dog pillow and view the world. He is certainly coming to life!

We have a winner!!

Well..Big D has a new puppy. Name yet to be announced but is he a winner or what? He's as sweet as they come and fiesty too. The girls (Tiki and Pup pup) are a bit unsure about him. He likes them though.

New Baby

We are getting ready to go look at a litter of these. Here's hoping that one "feels right" to the Big D. We went and looked at a sweet litter of Golden Retrievers last night but they just didn't feel like the ones. None of us thought they were quite right so we felt pretty good on the drive home..even without a new puppy. Maybe these little guys will be the right ones for us. Keeping our fingers crossed!

A Rainy Day, Nesting and Random Thoughts

I love nesting. It's a rainy day here in Kansas and the house is dark and gloomy..very Edgar Allen Poe (love him!) but with the lamps lit and coffee brewing it is a cozy house that I reside in. I love this house. I love knowing that my family is the ONLY family that ever lived here. The dirt is related to me. I've already cleaned up the Big D's room (it only took two Hefty bags) and vacuumed AND cleaned the carpet. Whew! And it's only 10:00 a.m.

Wandering around my gaze settles on things I love. The first picture is a cabinet that my husband, the woodworking genius, made for me. I love using it to store all my extra glassware and barware. The little Chinese folk on the top were a gift from my Mother. The little birds are a new find. Hummel figurines that I found at an estate sale and picked up for a song. Too cute! The big cabinet represents one of my greatest loves...my Royal Doulton toby jugs. I haven't added to my collection for a while but I am always on the lookout for new pieces. Finally...I love those California Ted Lewy prints. I found the first two of Lombard Street and the Cable Cars long, long ago (at least 20 years) in Kimberling City, Mo. I wanted them so badly but didn't buy them. A year later my sweet Mother-in-law purchased them and gave them to me. I have added a few more since then and adore the colors and subject matter.

My goal for this week...try to figure out how my Gran made her Chow Mein. It was so good. I know it was pork, browned, onions, bean sprouts, celery and then perhaps a slurry of cornstarch, chicken broth and soy but it had to be more than that. I guess I will defrost some pork and try to figure it out.

Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings

I was cleaning the bookshelves today and came across this book that I've had for some time. It's titled "Songs of a Housewife" and is the poetry of Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings. Marjorie wrote "The Yearling" and "Cross Creek" along with many, many other books.
The poems are so sweet and well worth the read. Here's one:
Duty Books
I don't like books I "ought to read,"
Too dull and ponderous, stupid stuff
I give scant interest and scant heed -
Less weighty tomes have charm enough.

I do not care to read by rule,
To follow where the critics swarm.
I like, regardless of their "school"
The books that keep my spirit warm.

I like to browse in libraries,
And choose at random from a shelf;
To read and study as I please.
My duty is to suit myself.
MKR

Don't you just love that! I think you can still get the book on Amazon. Pick one up and enjoy!

Looks Like Trouble

Don't even show me this picture. I beg you! I'm defenseless against a puppy and I can't stand firm. I'm completely a pushover when it comes to that puppy breath and those big puppy feet.
Big D wants a lab puppy so badly. My fleeting voice of reason says, "Are you insane?". Finally we will have a yard unfettered by trampling children, the "path" around the garden is just filling in from previous dog trampling and we all know who the care and training will really fall on...Mom. However, he's a 13 year old boy. They need faithful friends to tell all their troubles to, run with, grow up with and learn responsibility through. I'm doing this for him. Yes, that's the ticket...it's all for Big D! And besides it's spring and will be easy to housebreak another puppy. I have two dogs, why would I deny him? Besides he has already posted it on his Facebook.
Oh...that face! I can't resist a puppy. We have an appointment to go look at a little guy at 5:00 p.m. this evening. If it's not to be, pray I will have divine inspiration!

Where's the laundry fairy when you need her?

Obviously this is how I will be spending my day. I don't mind the jeans and towels..easy to fold. The underwear and socks are the WORST..we never have the same socks to mate up and I am very particular about the way the undies are folded. I like to hang all the shirts. It is such a sense of accomplishment when it is done but so depressing before it is started. It reminds me of that Elisabeth Elliott quote that I think she quoted from someone else that went..
Be a labor great or small,
do it well or not at all.
If a task is once begun,
never leave it 'til it's done.
I think that's how it went. Sounds good anyway she probably loves laundry! The thing that really burns me up is when I sort it out and find FOLDED underwear and socks in the bottom of the basket. Ugh..excuse me, but when did people start re-folding their dirty underwear? Is it so that it will look tidy in amongst the dirty clothes? Puhleze! Everyone knows the culprits were just too lazy to put it away and threw the dirty on top of the clean. The little beasts.

Monday Morning Blues

I have realized that after the weekend, I really miss my little family. Since quitting work, the hardest thing is the quiet of the house day after day after day. It makes me realize how much I loved the stimulation of people and ideas. I enjoy listening to the radio and really love NPR in the mornings and K-LOVE (Christian radio) after that but I've noticed that on K-LOVE they play the same songs in the morning and afternoon. I guess they figure no one is listening all day. When I was between jobs with Old Splurge and New Splurge...I used to listen to books on tape, especially ones that I couldn't quite stay engaged with in text. One series in particular that I love LISTENING to but can't quite stay with READING is the Amelia Peabody books by Elizabeth Peters. Love, love, love listening to them when I iron. Yes, that is another horror of not working for a paycheck...ironing. UGH! Maybe I need to get a few books on tape for the afternoons...of quiet.
My library list is long today, my chore list is long today, my laundry pile is so huge it's overwhelming and I want to plan my garden today. Obviously some of those tasks are rolling to tomorrow. Not the laundry and kitchen however...they are immediate concerns!

Sour Cream Coffee Cake

This recipe is nothing new but it is such a yummy coffee cake (or anytime cake) that I thought I'd add it to my blog. It is fail-proof. Big D seemed to really enjoy it this morning when he finally rolled out of bed at 10:00!

Sour Cream Coffee Cake
1 C. butter, room temperature
2 C. sugar
2 lg. eggs
2 C. flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 C. sour cream
1 tsp. vanilla
For Streusel Swirl
1 Tb. sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 Tb. brown sugar
1/4 cup chopped nuts (optional)
Cream together the butter, sugar and eggs. Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt and slowly add it to the creamed butter mixture. Stir in sour cream and vanilla. Grease (or just spray with Pam) a bundt pan. Spread 1/2 batter in pan (it will be very thick). Sprinkle with streusel. Spread rest of batter evenly over top. Bake at 350* for 45 minutes or until a pick comes out clean.
Cool about 15 minutes in pan then invert on pretty plate.
If you choose, you can glaze with the following:
1 C. powdered sugar
1 1/2 Tb. milk
1/2 tsp. vanilla

I did not glaze mine, it was plenty sweet, but the glaze would have been a pretty finishing touch. Since mine was consumed almost as fast as it was cool...it didn't matter. I listed nuts as optional only because my anti-nut-ites would revolt. I think they are extra yummy in this. Enjoy!!

Alan Jackson Concert

After belly-aching all day about going out in the cold, agonizing over nothing to wear, finally deciding on a sweater and jeans..we ventured out to the brand new Hartman Arena located across the highway from the existing Coliseum. VERY ODD. We drove North on I-135 (is that right...I really just know it as the canal route) and when we got to 61st street exit noticed cars lined up on the shoulder. The Hartman Arena is located at the 77th street exit! Oh my gosh..we were 1 1/2 hours early and traffic was horrible. Jim wisely decided to zip up to 85th and come back South to
77th street in hopes that exit wasn't so bad. It wasn't nearly that crowded but we were still stopped at the bottom of the exit ramp off the canal route. We weren't even close to the Hartman Arena. Finally after about 1/2 hour of creeping up the off-ramp, a police officer came and directed traffic and it got a tiny bit more efficient. By the time we parked (7:00 a full hour after we got off the highway), we heard that the line on the canal route was backed up over 4 miles each direction.

Anyway, the place was pretty empty for the first hour of the concert (so many people were stuck on the highway) and so we moved from our VERY squished seats between the big man in the Harley shirt with the lip piercings and the couple intent on producing a pregnancy that evening. Yikes, I obviously don't get out to many concerts. We moved over to what was probably considered the complete nosebleed section but was actually great! Able to see the stage head on, we kicked our feet up on the seats in front of us and really enjoyed the show. Alan sang all his greatest hits and everyone sang along, it was a lot of fun. Kind of a mixed crowd...young cowboys and lots of middle aged and older folks. We fit right in there somewhere.

We left during the encore thinking we'd beat the HIDEOUS traffic out of the place. Uh, no luck. I was driving and while we quickly backed into the LINE, the line was so long it would have been at least an hour to get out of the parking lot alone. Jim convinced some people to back up and so that we could cut through a line of cars and go the opposite direction towards another exit. That worked and we were on our way in about 1/2 hour. There had to be people still sitting there an hour later. The Hartman Arena's parking plan stinks. Anyway, had a lot of fun, AJ was great and Jake Owens (the opener) was pretty good too.

Puppy Perfection

Are these not the cutest dogs ever? Pup Pup, the Pomeranian, is perfection. She is a almost two year old Pommie and super naughty but oh-so-cute! She's my super snuggle bunny. Tiki, the Chihuahua, should be known as "the nester" for obvious reasons. She can usually be found wrapped up like a burrito on the couch or on her super big dog cushion lying in the sunshine. She's just a sweet old girl.

A Snowy Snowy Day

Is anyone tired of hearing me complain about how much I hate snow? Yikes, I hate it! Why are these two out instead of in?

Alan Jackson Concert

Poor Alan Jackson! He probably thinks he picked a pretty crummy date for a concert in Kansas. I guess he only has to walk across a snowy parking lot. We actually have to drive there, park, walk across a snowy parking lot, stamp off boots, shed coats/gloves/scarves, and then do the whole thing in reverse to go home. UGH.

The Tattered Cover

This bookstore, which is located in the LoDo area of Denver, is a gem! The prerequisites for most bookstores are as follows:
*at least two floors
*great seating
*areas laid out like a real store, not a book grocery store
*coffee/tea
*some sort of scrap paper for writing down ideas and free pens
*quiet
*good bathrooms
The Tattered Cover meets all the above criteria. It is located in a huge, old building downtown and although the parking is sketchy...it's worth the search. The sections (Architecture/Cooking/Fiction/Art,etc.) are clearly defined. Each section has seating that matches its theme. For example, the religious section has a church pew, the history section has old wing chairs, the travel section has an old fashioned buckboard from a wagon. It's just as charming as can be.

The coffee and tea is great and Sweet Baby M and the Big D really enjoyed the soup which was served in homemade pottery bowls and mugs. Very cute!

I could have CLEANED up on books but instead bought a few I didn't think I'd find at home and wrote down TONS of titles for the library.

Alan Jackson Concert

Jim and I have tickets for the Alan Jackson concert tonight. I was excited about going when we bought them but then this stupid ice hit and I'm not so hot on the idea. I hate going out in the cold and if it's slippery too...yuk. It doesn't sound very fun to go in snow boots and a heavy coat. Not to mention, who wants to go get in a FREEZING cold car afterwards. AJ is one of my fave performers but still....

The Big D

This absolutely darling boy is 13 years old! I can't believe that time has flown so fast that he is no longer a toddler with Curious George in tow. He has even gotten a little large for his very favorite gift ever, The Panda. His voice is deep, he's shaving occassionally and he longs for a "big dog of his own". Nothing is as wonderful as a 13 year old boy!

Sweet Baby M

My 17 year old, Sweet Baby M, is a rockin' volleyball player. She is such a natural and we love spending time watching her play and traveling to tournaments. These pics are from a recent tournament in Denver.

Beginnings

I'm finally ready to jump into this blogging world. I need an outlet for all the thoughts jumbling around in my brain. Blogging seems to be the perfect answer.