JUST BETWEEN ME AND YOU

Last Weekend!

2012-02-02T09:53:00.000-06:00

How are you this morning? Gosh I have missed you! Another week of me neglecting you is just not acceptable. I do have a good excuse so please forgive me.

I wanted to give you a little peek of what a awesome time I had with my family last weekend.

If you can remember a week back I posted about giving my grand babies tickets to see the Harlem Globetrotters in Austin. Wow it was a terrific fun evening one filled with nothing but smiles. Those guys know how to entertain you. The best memory came when the game ended and Bailey stood up beside me and just went wild cheering the guys off the field. I think you could of heard a pin drop with everyone watching his salute to them. haha

Of course the good blogger that I have turned into my camera was left in my suitcase. I did buy Bailey and Kaci a throw away camera for them to take pic's of the game and they loved doing that so maybe I can get some of their pictures and share.

The fab pic's I am sharing with you today are of Bailey and Kaci on their way the next morning to Bailey's Boy Scout Derby and fundraiser.

As you can see I am just the luckiest ole yellow haired grandma alive to spend the day with family. Well in the picture below you will question why they call me Grandma Yellow Hair. As Bailey once brought it to my attention....Grandma I don't think your hair is yellow anymore! hahaha In this pic is Kaci and her Beautiful mom Andrea selling Girl Scout cookies at the same event of the Derby. How cool Girl Scouts at a Boy Scouts function. Anyway Bailey's scout leaders wife jumped in the picture the one in the middle. Some people run for a camera when they see while others like me run from it. I was not suppose to be in the pic but my son Clint included me.

As I am writing this post this morning I am having my healthy breakfast of Diet Dr. Pepper and Girl Scout Cookies. Lemonades are the choice this morning and boy are they good.

Bailey's car did not come in first but he was first with me because he walked around his big neighborhood gathering food for this fundraiser. He hung pamphlets on their doors asking for donations on one Saturday and then the next he picked up boxes and boxes of food.

Great job Bale's you worked really hard and I am proud of you!

Here Bailey on the left and a friend are up in the bleachers waiting on their cars to run.

I have to tell you a quick funny about the night before when we were driving to see the Harlem Globe Trotters. I of course was the one talking and I was telling them about Gov. Rick Perry dropping out of the debates. My Kaci says I can't stand him. This shocked me because in her ten years of life I have never heard her say something bad about anyone. I turned and said," You don't like Rick Perry!" she replied WHO Does!.........from the mouth of babes. Priceless!

After the derby event Bailey went into their bathroom changed into a basketball uniform and off to his game at 11:00AM. Then home for lunch and then at three we went to Kaci's Basketball game.

My son Clint said, Mom Welcome to our Saturdays. haha

I have to say this without sounding like I am bragging but Clint and Andrea were meant to be parents. They give their all being the best parents any child could dare dream of having. Every time I think of how they are raising my two grand babies I turn my head upward to Heaven and Thank God for these two. God Bless Them Both.

God Bless You too and thank you for being my friend. I hope to be back soon.

Love to all

Maggie

Magnolia Plantation near Charleston!

2012-01-26T18:05:00.000-06:00

Hope you don't mind more pic's of my trip last week. It has taken me all week to recover and to think that my landlady is still gone and enjoying herself in Florida. She so wanted me to go on to Tampa with her to the debate there but I had to get back to the North Forty.

One reason I had to return is tomorrow night I am going to Austin to take my grandbabies to the Harlem Globe Trotters Show. This was part of their Christmas from me. They are both excited and I am too.

Today I wanted to show you the Magnolia Plantation and Gardens near Charleston. While Barbara was doing a lunch with Newt I begged out so I could see this famous plantation.

This plantation is located on the Asley River and has been owned by the Drayton family since 1670's.

The home was so different looking from most southern plantations that I have seen.

This one had a huge basement that surrounds the home and you had to walk up a lot of stairs just to reach the veranda and entry into the home. Of course there were the huge porches surrounding the home.

It is famous for it's beautiful gardens and where the most ancient azaleas and camellia collections in America were developed. Also I found out that the garden is where azaleas were first planted out of doors in a landscape setting.

I only got to visit a very small part of the gardens because the tour bus left early to take us back to Charleston.

Look at these pansies planted in a cross flowerbed with a gorgeous statue.

On the plantation four of the slave houses have been saved for tours.

I found these quarters sad and each house except the one shown here was divided with a fireplace in the middle to serve two living quarters for two families. Very small with only One small room for a family.

Look at the size of this Oak tree. I thought the ones out here on the North Forty are huge but I believe these in South Carolina have them beat.

The slaves on this plantation grew rice instead of cotton. Charleston is famous for it's Golden Rice.

I was quite surprised at the swamps all through out the land. The plantation was once 1500 acres but after the civil war the family had to sell 1000 acres in order to keep their land.

These are palemetto trees that are famous all in the Charleston area.

This is one of the many lakes that we rode across on the tram. If you look closely you can see a big ramp out in the lake built for the aligators to sun theirselves. We were told to be careful while touring the grounds because of the aligators. Take it from me with the luck I had been having on this trip I stayed close to the main house. lol I was bound and determined to try and get back to Texas with all my limbs.

Since this was winter time the azalea's and magnolia's were not in bloom but we did see some beautiful camelia's. Every time I tried to take a picture of a camelia bush the tram would move and my pic would be fuzzy.

I stood there that afternoon trying to picture this plantation back in the day when it was in it's full glory. I just can't imagine living like these people lived. If not for their slaves they never could of managed. Which of course this broke my heart thinking of their hardships.

While touring the grounds the tour guide showed us a man driving around the property and said he had lived there all his life and his family had lived in one of the slave houses. He now owns a piece of the land and still lives on it. I thought I heard he was 92.

Hope you have a nice weekend planned. I am looking forward to mine since I am seeing my family. I have not seen them since Christmas Day so you know how happy I am to be able to spend some time with them. I can't stay long because I am suppose to have renters moving in my home on the lst and I am still cleaning and painting over there. Also we had a tornado come through here last night and boy do I have a mess to clean up but it could be a lot worse. Just limbs thank goodness. So I have that waiting on me when I come home.

Thanks for coming by and visiting with me.

Love to all,

Maggie

Charleston's Historic District!

2012-01-24T16:21:00.000-06:00

After the debate in Myrtle Beach we headed for downtown Charleston and stayed several nights at the Old Hampton. Gorgeous old hotel with a courtyard that reminded me of New Orleans. Here Barbara is checking in and right by her side was Henry the bellman.

Henry ask us to call him Happy which we were glad to do. He sang and danced his way through his work day. I never met a happier man in my life. Born and raised in Charleston.

I found all the people in Charleston to be warm and friendly. My hope is to one day return to this beautiful city and enjoy my time there with no meetings.

In the Lobby I caputured Barbara while we were waiting on our tour of the historic district of Charleston. We got to the hotel early so we were able to take a 90 minute tour and I loved it.

I begged our tour guide not to mention Newt's name or the debate so we could enjoy the day. lol

They did have to get on that subject once or twice but he was kind enough not to let it happen for long.

Several homes were in this color of pink which we both loved.

It was a bus tour and since Barbara and I were lucky enough to be the only two on the tour I jumped back and forth to one side of the bus taking pictures. Of course there were way too many beautiful homes to capture but I did manage to take a few.

Our tour guide was excellent. He knew his history of not only Charleston but the United States. I have to find his card he gave me because he has written a book. He also did ghost tours at night and if I could of slipped out of one of those conferences unnoticed I would of loved to have taken one of those. lol

According to our guide most of these homes are all single family dwellings which I found incredible since their huge. He did show us some where just some older ladies lived there by themselves. I can't imagine Can You?

Every time I saw one of the horse drawn tours I made a mental note to take one but we left before I could. I also very much wanted to tour Fort Sumter by taking a boat to the island and then tour the fort.

I have more pic's of Charleston's homes but I know you have seen enough.

It stormed here today on the North Forty so I was able to take a nap and download these pictures. For some reason I just don't feel good. I think the seven days of constant going has finally caught up with me. Would you believe though Barbara is 78 and is still on the road chasing the politicians.

She makes me feel like I am really out of shape. My back held up pretty good but I found that I took a lot of pain pills in that week so maybe that is one reason I don't feel good since I returned home. I am back to taking only a few a day.

Our next stop after the Hampton was the Beautiful Charleston Place where all the politicians were staying. I will try and do that post tomorrow. In both Myrtle Beach and Charleston we switched hotels twice so that added to the confusion. Charleston Place was the most beauitful but the Hampton was located where I could walk easily around. The Hampton was right across the street from the old train station and it looked just like the one in the movie Gone With the Wind.

I loved all the history in Charleston. Lovely place to visit and I think I could easily live there.

Love to all

Maggie

Home Sweet Home!

2012-01-23T15:10:00.001-06:00

The ole saying be careful what you wish for is certainly one I should remember for myself. When things are hectic around the North Forty I am wishing I were traveling. Then when I get the chance to see some beautiful places I am wishing for the North Forty. Go figure!

The first night in Myrtle Beach we stayed in the Sheridan where the debate was being held. Security was so tight it was hard getting around. These pictures were taken across the street from the Sheridan where they had a rally the night before the debates. I thought this was pretty neat how they carved each candidate in a huge pile of sand. No sand castles just Republicans.

I do know that if I ever hear or see another politician in the next few weeks or Fox News I am liable to admit my own self to the State Hospital in Austin. Two GOP debates in less than a week was incredible but oh so tiring. Here is a picture from the Rooster's Nest as Barbara called our seats of the debate in Myrtle Beach. We were not allowed to take pic's but Ms Pearl just had to take one quick one.

The first debate in Myrtle Beach was a lot more interesting than the one in Charleston. It may be because I was so tired by the time that debate started I felt myself almost falling a sleep during the two hours they were talking. Of course the first five minutes with Newt defending himself against his ex-wife's interview was pretty hot and you could feel the steam coming out of his ears all the way where I was sitting but other than that question it was boring.

Ms Pearl did her best to stay contained during the trip. I did though have to request to drop out Saturday and fly home from Charleston. My landlady is a sweetheart but she wanted to drive from there to Tampa for another debate and I could not do it.

We went to sleep at night listening to Fox and woke up to Fox at 5:30 every morning so my nerves were shot after seven days of Fox.

I missed though getting to stay in Savannah on the way to Florida but we did drive through it for a half of an hour going to Myrtle Beach and I got to take a few pic's.

My favorite City was Charleston which I will share some of those pictures with you in the next few days. Right now I am so tired I feel like a Zombie. I flew out of Charleston to Houston Saturday evening and when I got home late that night Tinkerbell cried when she saw me. Well at least that is what is sounded like to me. I of course cried when I saw her and my other babies outside. That night I could not sleep because she made me rub her the whole night. She purred so much I was worried about her. lol

Never have I been missed so much while away on a trip.

I do have some funny stories to tell when I can get the ole brain ticking again. But wanted you to know I am home safe and half way sound. Enjoy these pic's of my short half hour on the beach in Myrtle Beach.

This is where we stayed one night at the Hilton. I wish we could of stayed longer here because of it being on the beach but Barbara found out that there was a debate in Charleston so we packed up and headed for Charleston. I only had maybe thirty minutes one afternoon free to walk this beach.

When I agreed to do this trip it was for the debate in Myrtle Beach and then come home but as you know it ended up being two debates. I think if I had been prepared for what all is involved in going to these debates I might have had a better time. I did not pack for parties, conferences and banquets that were going on twenty-four hours a day and everyone that Newt was at she tried to be there too. I begged to be left in the room or on the beach but not even begging got me out of these meetings.

It was intimidating to be around all these delegates and their families dressed to the nine's while I brought nothing nice enough to attend these different functions. It upset me to the point where on the night before I flew home and the last banquet I attended I was throwing up back in the hotel room.

Barbara kept telling me I should not care about how the others were dressed but it bothered me a lot and I found myself several times clicking my heels wishing for Kansas or Texas. lol

I missed all of you and hopefully in a few days I will be caught up with you.

Next post I will share some beautiful pic's of Charleston. I am in love with that city and want to go back again when I can just be a tourist.

Thank you for all the sweet comments. I missed you too and I am so glad to be home.

Love to all

Maggie

Charleston South Carolina Today!

2012-01-18T20:47:00.000-06:00

Gosh I have missed Blogging with you! I am still a hostage of my landlady and today we are in Charleston. I think if your going to be held hostage that Charleston is place to be. It is a everything I ever imagined it would be.

Here is the bridge we crossed going into Charleston from Mrytle Beach.

The GOP debate was more than I expected. I actually dreaded going but I did enjoy the actual debate.

When I get back home I will tell you of my adventures going to Mrytle Beach and the debate. I will also share pictures of the Beach.

Here is one of the streets in Charleston. I took a lot of pic's of the old homes. Some of them are pre-civil war homes and are gorgeous. Can't wait to download them.

When I agreed to this trip it was for the debate only in Mrytle Beach but now we are in Charleston for another debate. So yes I guess I am lucky to be able to see two debates but I had planned on being home today. Now the way it looks it's likely I may not be home until next Wednesday because she not only goes to the debates but goes to Town meetings where New Gingrich will be and any place else he might attend so this trip is dragging out.

I felt bad because she is having a fit to leave Charleston and drive to Tampa or somewhere in Florida for the next debate but no way can I be away from home that long. Poor Tinkerbell is never going to forgive me now.

I told her I could fly home and she could drive on to Florida but I don't think she is going to take me up on that. After driving 18 hours the first day and 12 hours the second day to get to Mrytle Beach it would not hurt my feelings at all if I flew home. haha

Ms Pearl has did her best to not come out during this trip but let me tell you there were so real close calls that I have admit she did make small appearances. There is only so much politics you can listen to in a 24 hour day. In the hotel rooms Fox News is on and I don't dare change the channel. We even sleep with it going. Trust me if I never see or hear Fox News again I won't complain.

While we were in Mrytle Beach one of the nights we stayed at the awesome Sheridan where the debate was being held and we were walking in the front area of the hotel where the big concrete pond is shooting water up and is a lovely fountain. Well I came so close to being knocked into the water that all I can say is God's Angels were with me because I managed to only get one foot and leg wet. My friend and landlady tripped and fell. Since I was in front of her I blocked most of the fall and she was not hurt but she knocked me backwards and all I could think about was my back. I did not even think of the fountain being there. Somehow I guess me trying to hold onto her kept me from falling backwards into it.

Talk about embarrassed! One security officer helped me out of the fountain and several tried to help her.

If I had fallen completely in I would of died.

Security was so thick at the Sheridan and surrounding area that is why they were there to help us. Going inside the debate was worse than boarding a plane. lol

I am sure that it will be that way tomorrow for this debate in Charleston. If the debate tomorrow night is as good as the one Monday night then I will enjoy it.

You know I miss you and have been wishing you were here with me because then I know it would be a great trip. Would love to do this trip sometime in the fall when there is not one politician within a hundred miles of here.

Much love to you and Sweet Dreams!

Maggie

Blogazine Guest Kathy/ Leaving for a While!

2012-01-13T21:14:00.001-06:00

Tonight I want to introduce you to another sweet friend out here in this huge world of blogging. Meet Kathy from the blog Shawkl!

She has been patiently waiting for several weeks for me to publish her story so sit back and enjoy my new Blogazine Guest.

Oh but first let me tell you this crazy story.....My landlady Barbara phoned me last night and told me to pack my bags we were leaving for Mrytle Beach, South Carolina. Well tonight not more than an hour ago she phoned and said to be ready by 2AM that she was coming by to get me. Something about having to get to the Republican debate early because she has an appointment to sit down with Newt. Are you kidding me? Two in the morning. It is already late tonight and so who can lay down and try to sleep for a few hours. haha If I know Barbara she will be here long before 2AM so I guess I need to try and at least lay down for a while.

I looked on map quest and it is over 1200 miles to Mrytle Beach and she drove 1175 miles to get to Texas today so we could leave in the morning. Crazy right? Now where did I last see my Prozac?

OK Now let me introduce you to Kathy!

Hi, my name is Kathy…but most folks know me as Shawkl (Shaw – K – L) which is the name of my blog and my “cyber space” name on several other boards. I am in my mid-fifties…and live in a tiny little town in Alabama…almost on the Georgia line. My entire family lives here…all six of my siblings and their children, my mother, my two children, and my three grandchildren. So, it’s a nice place to be. I am retired and now get to call my time my own! Before you get too bored…let me share photos of two mermaid silkies I embellished for a friend. In the first one, my friend beaded the baby…and the mother was done by me.

The second also required me to bead a cabochon for the mermaid’s staff.

My stitching began at an early age…mostly to dress my dolls. I did not really get serious until graduating from high school; and mostly it was cross-stitch, crochet, and dress-making I attempted back then. Even to this day…anyone in the family that needs pants hemmed or patches sewn on their jackets…brings them to me. Over the years…I’ve been the “family sewer”. Not just quilts…anything that needed to be done. Wedding dresses were my job as well for several in the family…here is my niece’s wedding dress…with her 15ft train. At this wedding, I also made the flower-girl’s dress; and because I’m also a crafter… made the flower girl basket and all of the bridal party’s flowers.

Over the years, I have done plenty of cross-stitch, Hardanger, and long stitch needle-arts. Quilting did not become a passion until the 1980’s after attending a class with a friend in Indiana. Since the 1990’s, I have taught quilting. Sometimes in my home, sometimes at craft shops, quilt shops, the Alabama State Fair, or at the local college. This year, I’m also offering more “traveling classes”. But, mostly rely on my blog (http://www.shawkl.com/) as a vehicle for me to instruct and share my stitching adventures.
Even though I have been quilting for about 30 years now…Crazy quilting has only recently come into “vogue” for me. I have no idea what took me so long to try it! And, now that I have…it has been a primary focus of mine for almost three years now! It is also the reason I began my blog. I have stitched on a lot of crazy quilt round robin blocks and different projects in this short amount of time. Most days, I have a needle in my hand about six hours of that day. In 2010 my tote bag “The Queen” won first place in the Crazy Quilter’s International Yahoo Group’s purse contest. She has over 400 hours of embroidery work on her…and I was very proud that she was recognized as a favorite among such great and accomplished needle-artists in this wonderful group!

Just recently, I authored my first book “Embellishing Crazy Quilts”, available at http://amazon.com/ and autographed copies are also available from my studio at http://www.etsy.com/shop/shawkl . This book gives me another opportunity to share my stitching and embroidery motif patterns…and hopefully it will also entice more folks to try crazy quilting.

My second book is also in production and I hope to have it out this spring or summer. It deals with a traditional quilting design that I have been teaching for decades. Plus, I also have three other book concepts that I have not started stitching models for…but they have been in my head for some time. One has been in concept for over ten-years…and the cover photo (in my head) is of a wedding gown with the train showing…and it is full of shadow appliqué flowers flowing down from the dress bustle. The train is totally designed and about 1/3 of the way appliquéd…but it had to be stored away when my grand-daughter was born in 2003. It’s difficult to work on a large project when you have a little one at your feet…with sticky fingers! Here is a sample of one of the shadow-appliqué floral patterns that will be incorporated into the wedding train.

Apparently, I write like I talk…long winded! So, let me finish by saying that presently I dabble in stumpwork and want to do more of that in the coming months…and I recently got interested in learning about Brazilian Embroidery as a natural progression (I think) of dimensional type stitching. I stitch a lot these days…and quilt very little…but have several Un-Finished Objects that are long-term projects to also keep me busy! Thank you for reading such a long post! And if I hope you will check out all of my tutorials and blog posts at http://www.shawkl.com/ Big Hugs! Kathy (aka Shawkl)

Hugs!
Kathy Shaw
http://www.shawkl.com/
http://www.shawkldesigns.com/
www.etsy.com/shop/shawkl

Thanks Kathy for sharing this with us. I appreciate you for taking the time to show us all your gorgeous pieces. I enjoyed this very much.I started a quilt years ago of pictures of my family and I tried to finish it with the crazy quilt look. Now it makes me want to pick it up again and finish it.

Be sure and visit Kathy's sites. She is quite the inspiration and I am glad she is my friend.

Not sure when I will be back home but am taking my computer with me so hopefully I can log on now and then. I have never been to South Carolina so I know I will have lots of things to share with you when I come home.

Just realized it is Friday the 13th ....glad I did not know that earlier in the day. hahaha.
Boy I hope my computer is not fixing to crash on me I had so much trouble trying to do this post every time I thought I was going somewhere I would take two steps backwards.

Miss you already but I will be back

Love to you
Maggie

The Cowboy/Christmas Pics Too!

2012-01-11T20:19:00.002-06:00

Yes I know it is already mid January but you know I run late all the time so please bare with me while I show a few pictures I took at Christmas. Not many by me because I was too busy enjoying the day to snap a lot of pics. Chad or Christi got some of me and the grand babies that I am going to have to get them to send them to me. In this top picture I bought Tinkerbell the bird toy that Patti was talking about on her site Arkansas Patti. Most of you know and love Patti. Now that is a woman that can write some tales. She just wrote one about Elvis. A must read!

Have I mentioned before that Tinkerbell is fat and lazy well this proves it right here in this picture. She does not play with this toy unless I lay it on the bed and she can enjoy it lying down. What a life this girl has before long she will be too big for her litter box then what.

Here you see my two grand babies Bailey and Kaci handing out toys. They love doing this and what a great job they do of it. After their all handed out we open one at a time so it takes a long time for our present opening.

Look at my sweet Kaci! Every year she ends up with something on her head while opening present. I think this is a gift bag.

Love this picture of Bailey! He is demonstrating or explaining something to his Aunt Christi.

Kaci is giving her Dad his present or is she helping him open it. This is my middle son Clint. What a handsome young man!

My baby girl Christi. Sitting back waiting on her presents. I think your beautiful Christi!

Bailey has his eye on something. Look how serious. He must be watching Kaci open one of her gifts.
Chad is my other handsome son on the couch with Bailey. Sitting in the chair to his left is my lovely
daughter-in-law Andrea.

Not a lot of pictures and of course I don't take really good pic's but wanted to share my happy day with you.

I noticed a clothes basket in the floor near Kaci. hahaha I guess someone brought their gifts in it from Austin and left it sitting there for me to capture. I normally don't have one in my living room.

The green on the walls is the color I am using with the rose paper upstairs. I think it will be a good combination. Have not been upstairs to work on it this week. Hopefully in the next few days. I have
to take breaks because of my back. As most of you have been kind enough to mention that I should be careful and not over do which is one of the reason I have not worked on it in a few days.

Another reason is I have let myself go bat crazy over one of my kittens that lives outside. He has gotten something that has caused him to be loosing hair in patches. I talked to a vet and he thinks he might have
ring worms. I of course flipped out when he told me that. Just what that poor cat needs and me. I have washed my hands so many times today I feel like a Prune.

I took your advice and made the Cowboy some chocolate peanut clusters and took them to him yesterday evening. We stood on his porch talking for a long while and I have to tell you something really funny. I already shared this with Maggie from Mumsy Fur Kids site but I will now tell you. Yep her name is Maggie too and she has been kind enough to try and calm me down for the last few days about my fur kids. Another friend of mine who can write some good stories. She started a new blog just about her furry kids and it is a fun site. Thanks honey for helping me this week. I appreciate it.

After a while he mentioned something about he had been wondering what to give me for Christmas and I thought he said something about fixing me dinner or something to that effect. I for some reason was embarrassed that he had been talking to his daughter about what to give me because we are just neighbors and I did not want him to get me something.

Any way I interrupted him and said, "I have something in mind you can give me for Christmas!" Honey if you could of seen the look on his face. I felt so bad for him because I don't know but that must of really scared him. I think I laughed and then said, "One of my kittens is in trouble and I don't know what is wrong with him." Before I could finish what I was going to say he quickly volunteered to take him to the vet the next morning. I then did not know what to say because I just wanted him to come over the next day and look at Snowball and see if he knew what was wrong.

He was probably so relieved when I told him it involved a cat and not me that he did not know what to do.

Well we stood there back and forth me saying one thing and he another and finally I agreed he could take it to the vet if I paid for it. So when I left the plans were for him to come by this morning early and pick him up.

I was grateful for this kind deed and got up at 6am this morning so I would have time to be dressed/make up on and no purple pj's when he came by. Well I waited all morning and worked in the front part of the house and yard so I could hear him if he showed up. About 1pm his ex-girlfriend called me who I really love and told me that he was working on one of his horses that was bleeding. I of course told her no problem and she said he still planned on coming today. I guess it turned out to be a big problem because he never showed up.

A couple of days ago I googled ring worms on cats or animals and there were quite a few people suggested using Apple Cider Vinegar on them and also Selsum Blue Shampoo. Some swore by the Apple Cider Vinegar to wipe on them two or three times a day and some even give it to them to digest.
They all claim their cats were cured by doing this. Naturally I went to town bought the vinegar and gloves. Can not tell you how paranoid I am about getting this too. Oh man I would just freak out.

Anyway I can hardly walk today from trying to chase the cat down to doctor it. The first time went okay because he is a friendly cat and did not know what I was doing. But...........today was another story.
I put the vinegar in their cat food and some in the water. I also ordered the tablets from HEB yesterday.
Those are for me and Tinkerbell. haha

Hopefully the cowboy will show up tomorrow and my Snowball can be taken care of. Christi, Kaci and I have become quite attached to these cats and I would hate to see something happen to them.

Thanks everyone for coming by and leaving me such sweet comments about my room redo. I will be so glad when I get that project over and done. You gave me some great ideas and I can't wait to try them.
I also have thought of a couple of things that would be good to do in there also so I am excited to see if it all pans out.

After talking about the cat I have got to go jump in my tub. Scrubby dub dub. Can you tell I have a problem with worrying about what he has got.

Sweet Dreams
Maggie

My Wall Paper Project!

2012-01-08T19:42:00.000-06:00

Can you believe it is already Sunday night! Where oh where has this past week gone to.

I had promised you that I would show you what I have been working on in the attic room upstairs of the ole farm house. It is a big room so I am not finished but I am excited of what I have done so far and wanted to share it with you.

Being an attic room the ceiling is slanted down almost to the floor and was in bad shape. An old wall paper was peeling off and there were leaks in several places so on a budget I could not figure out what I could do to make this a liveable but pretty room.

The only thing I could think of was to use the idea my SL Linda used in one of her rooms last year that turned out spectacular. I have to go by there and take pictures for you of this bedroom. Beautiful room and she gets so many compliments on it.

So I went to Home Depot and bought a roll of Rison Paper in a rose color. The only two colors they had were brown and rose. My SL Linda used brown in her bedroom but since I was using this for a ceiling that almost touches the floors I chose the rose color. It is only $12.00 a roll and one roll will cover a regular size room.

To begin your project you tear a piece from the roll whatever size you want and then you wad the piece up. Then take the piece spread it out on a work space that you don't mind getting sticky and spread some wall paper adhesive paste on it with a brush.

Take the piece and stick it where you want to start and then just repeat this process over and over until the room is covered.

These pictures are not great but I was trying to show you how it looks after it is on the wall or ceiling in my case.

On the walls I painted them a pretty green that I have in other areas of my home. It is called Quaking Grass and I love how it looks with this rose color.

I have finished papering one side of the room and have a lot of the other side done. Of course I had to grab the paint brush and see how this color would look on the low walls before I even finished the papering. lol

My plans were to have the room finished by the 15th of this month but I had expected to work on it this past week but as always other things usually come up that have to be taken care of first. So it will take a lot of effort to finish it by my planned date but I am just proud of how much I have gotten finished.

I would show you a picture of the whole room but I would like to keep you as a friend and if you saw what it looks like now you would think OMG she lives like that. hahaha Yes there is a little bit of everything stored in this room. Where oh where will a lot of this go when I finish the project.

I have my grandmothers old bedroom suit that I painted black. It turned out so nice. Thanks to help from Dan at Yesterday Once More. He is always painting something in his gorgeous home so he shared his secret with me and thanks Dan I love the way my MaMa's bed and dresser look now. Will show you them in a post soon.

Also I plan on keeping the wicker I have stored there too. I had a sunroom in my home in town and have been keeping it upstairs for now. It is a old antique sofa with chairs and a pretty lounge chair. Their all white for now and I am trying to decide if that is the color I should keep them since the bed and dresser are black. Any ideas?

Is this project something that you would do to a room? Honestly these pictures don't do it any justice. Maybe when I share the whole room with you or the pictures from Linda's home.

I hope you had a chance to meet Anni this past week who was my last Blogazine Guest. Thank you Anni for sharing your great story with us.

You all have a story to tell and if you want to share it on here just let me know. I have another great blogging buddy to share with you this week so stay tuned.

This was a week though of good things happening for me and Christi. She phoned and told me she has been offered a job. YAHOO! Then I have a nice couple that want to rent my home. They can not move in until the 1st of February but have given me the deposit to hold it for them. So yes it was a good week.

A lot of prayers answered.

Hope all of you are well and I thank you for coming by and leaving me your awesome comments.

Let's all have a great week. My word for the new year is productive! What is your word for the new year.

Sweet Dreams

Maggie

Blogazine Guest Anni!

2012-01-03T20:05:00.002-06:00

Brrrrr it's cold outside.....I know I live in the South so what do I know about cold. But right now I am wrapped up in a quilt with a cup of hot chocolate trying to get warm. Can not wait for my room upstairs to be finished where it will be nice and warm. Took some photo's today so I will share what I have done on my next post. When I ever finish it will be a complete redo of what I use now for the attic. In the ole farm house there are no closets so this poor room has collected all kinds of my junk. Some of it will stay like all the wicker but a lot will have to find a new home. Stay tuned for what I have been up too the last month. You will be surprised at what I am using on the walls or in this case the ceilings.

Tonight though I have another friend that sent me her story. Remember I gave you a hint that she was a hoot well it's Anni from the site Hootin Anni's. Just click on her site name and it will take you to her site of course after you read her story.

You will enjoy getting to know Anni and her stories on her site make me want to move to the coast again like she has done.

Sit back enjoy meeting another blogging buddy who has quite the story to tell. Please welcome my next Blogazine Guest and let her know how glad you are to meet her.

I guess the best way to begin is by telling you I was the last of five children born to my parents who, at the time, resided in Nebraska. Most memory of living in Nebraska has faded. Except I do remember one thing...in the late summer, I would disappear from inside, only to be found with my stolen salt shaker from the kitchen --in the tomato patch [acres],,,just sitting in the dirt, next to all the ripening tomatoes, munchin' away at those ruby red fruits, and enjoying my summertime; alone with something I loved. At the age of six I was going to school in Colorado. Growing up in the foothills just north of Denver Colorado didn't give me much of a chance in my youth to do much exploring of life as I lived far away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Life was mundane in the foothills.

I attended school and did my assigned chores...all the while, becoming a tom boy. Being the youngest girl in the family I was probably spoiled, tho I think not. While my older siblings would tell you otherwise. My youngest, older, brother, by the time I became a teenager, was into cars. Literally following his footsteps, I too became interested in cars...learning how to change spark plugs, oil and oil filters, timing the pistons etc., and the two of us would oftentimes drive to a small race track in a town called Erie...to race on the track. It was thrilling and heart-stomping scary all at the same time. When my brother went off to join the Army, I inherited his souped up '63 Chevy with mag wheels and pin-stripes and drove it to school [and eventually to work]. Yes, the cops knew the two of us by our first names!! I, too, knew them by their given names. Today in my mind, that is nothing to be proud of, but back then...I was cool!!

My first job where I'd make my own money was babysitting, but through school, I was interviewed one summer during vacation at the Chamber of Commerce close to our area, and the staff liked me. I was hired part time.

My junior and senior year, with all my required courses taken and given a 4.0 average in my sophomore year -- the state still required that I graduate with my class. So, I had to attend school anyway instead of getting my diploma early; signing up for three elective classes in the morning, and driving to work in the afternoon until 5 pm. During the summer in my Junior year, I worked full time at the Chamber. After graduating, I took a month off and spent the time in our country's capital...Washington D. C. At that time, I became highly interested in politics. To this day, I still follow it. Returning to Colorado late in the summer of '67 I continued working full time. Winter was becoming a 'down time' for me. I really started to dislike the long cold months. I longed for a warm tropical beach. Then, one day in February of 1968, I cheated death. In fact, my mother and brother were also involved. We all woke up one morning ill. I called in sick from work, as did my brother; my dad was too proud to adhere to the whims of headache and stomach pains - he went to work! Mom, my brother and I went back to bed. By 11:30 in the morning, the next thing I knew, I was being shaken...to get me awake. There were paramedics, and even our family doctor was there...they were examining me, while my dad was frantically running through the house, opening all the windows in the dead of winter, where outside temps were below zero. All three of us were found unconscious...I in my bed, as was my brother, my mother was found in the hallway, passed out.   We had been gassed!! Carbon Monoxide poisoning from the furnace. If my father had stayed in town for his lunch hour instead of coming home to eat, I wouldn't be here. The three of us who stayed home, were this close to dying.

And this brings me to Bud. I had a boyfriend, he was in Viet Nam. We agreed that I should see other guys while he was deployed...I being young and full of raging hormones thought that was mighty kind of him!   Altho, if my mother were still here, she'd say I was truly in love. My father, tho, didn't approve of this guy...Frank. So life was a bit on the side of turmoil between my father and me at that time.   My mom...she understood and consoled me during those days.   But I digress---
You see, there was this huge newspaper article written about our encounter with death. Bud read about it. My name and face, he knew; he knew of my existence, but we'd never met. Yet!! I too knew he existed...you see his CAR was something I liked. A red, fast, sports car. Oh and his looks were 'to die for' handsome! Dark hair, tall. But I figured he was married, so, never pursued the flirtations with him. Besides, I was Frank's girl!! To make a long story on how I <strike>reeled Bud in</strike> captured the love of my life, Bud read the article, talked to his friends about me until he found out where I lived at the time, and called me. We made a date on March 9th and that night after wining and
dining me at a posh restaurant, he said "I think I'm falling in love". Frank was always on my mind, but he soon found out that Bud and I were to wed that May. I felt guilty and forlorn that I hurt the guy of my teenaged fantasies.   Yes, that's all within three months of my first date with Bud. By August, I was pregnant. In fact, the day I came home from the OB/GYN after testing positive with my first pregnancy, Frank was there. He was on leave. He had to meet Bud, the man who stole my heart away from him...the two were very grown up about it all...they talked, I listened. I talked, they listened. When it was time for him to leave, I walked with him to his car, we hugged and said our good-byes...that was the last time I saw him alive. By Autumn, he was killed in action. To this day, I think of him and what life may have been like, if fate hadn't intervened. And yes, I still miss him. Bud understands my times of sorrow when his name comes up.

Now to my family life...my own family. From the time of my youth, I dreamed of having a home, a husband, and two children. A boy and a girl. I accomplished that. I was privileged to have a husband that provided enough income for me to be a stay at home mom. I raised the two kids the best I knew how, and when our youngest, born three years after our first born, was going to school for the entire day, I returned to work; working as a superintendent at a local high school office ---having the summers off when the kids were home. We traveled a lot...across the USA, and several times we'd fly to Old Mexico - on the beaches and resorts. I also made time to take some college courses in psychology and psychiatry. Science, art, and crafts have always been my biggest interests. Sketching and painting I've done most of my life as soon as I could hold a brush or pencil...crocheting became something self taught after my mother showed me how to chain stitch.

In the interim, Irene, our oldest --graduated and left home for Florida, only to return to Colorado and home by that December. She moved in with Dan and our first grandson was born.

Born with Down Syndrome, he too cheated with death. After Irene fed Clint [5 months old ] he died in her arms...Irene resuscitated him...got the flight for life to get him to a Children's hospital in Colorado Springs...they found a hole in Clint's heart - operated on him, saved his life!! It has been an uphill battle for his survival with many close calls.

Irene's family relocated to a lower elevation, eventually moving to Missouri, and our now 21 year old grandson thrives. And to think, the specialists told us all that day back in '89; after five month old Clint's open heart surgery, that he'd not live to see his fifth birthday!! While all this was happening in our lives, our youngest, Erik, joined the Marine Corps. His travels through this experience took him to Japan, Okinawa - serving in the Gulf War era - and eventually stationed in Pearl Harbor Hawaii.

Those courses I took in mental health, helped me land a full time job. I became the head patient corridinator and office manager of a large firm of psychiatric care. I worked there until Bud retired.

Upon retiring, and after my parents passed away, we decided that this is our opportunity to get out of the harsh winters, away the snowy country of the Rocky Mountains for good!! The two of us enjoyed the desert life around the Tucson Mountains in Arizona for a decade, until my heart was broken. Well, broken to the point that one day I experienced a heart rate of 252 beats a minute. Cardiologists returned my heart rhythm to 70 beats per minute with what I call a miracle drug injection. But, the problems with my ticker remained and I spent many a days in the ER with a 'tachy' heart. I saw a specialist at that point in my life and he suggested an operation that at the time was still quite 'experimental'...that word, experimental scared the crap out of me!! I opted for taking medications for my entire life instead. Up until the medications didn't help. By that time, we had relocated to the beach...a dream life for me. As I stated at the beginning, I love being on the beach listening to the gentle surf and just enjoying the ambiance and how the sounds of the waves draw me into such a serenity that I don't want to leave. Anyway, once again, I was having frequent episodes of tachycardia and once again, I was referred to an electrophysiologist who performs heart ablations. I was ready to have it done. And I'm glad I did.

I'm still here, and enjoying being with my Bud after 43+ years together after our whirl-wind romance in the Spring of 1968...and blogging about it.

Thanks

Anni

Anni I enjoyed reading your story so much and I appreciate you honey taking the time to write this and share it with all of us.

I know it takes a lot of time for you to write these stories but gosh look how much fun they are when everyone gets to know more about you. What a great time I am having with these stories. I have another guest waiting in line and you will really like getting to know her as well. Creative is her middle name.

Did you catch the story Dr. Kathy McCoy shared as my previous guest. If you did not be sure and visit her post too.

I promise to catch up with posting all my guest in the Blogazine Hall of Fame at the top of this site real soon. Hopefully this week. I know you have heard that before but I promise to take the time to do it.

Now I have to put some more marshmellows in my hot chocolate so I will see you soon with pictures of my room. Oh no that's right I started the diet thing with Susan from Art of Mine so I guess she might be reading this so Ok no more marshmellows.

Sweet Dreams

Maggie

Blessings for You!

2012-01-01T15:22:00.001-06:00

And now let us welcome the New Year

Full of things that have never been.

-Rainer Maria Rilke

Every new year I grab my Simple Abundance book written by Sarah Ban Breathnach and dream of living a authentic life. Funny how every January 1st, I always think of all the new promises a new year holds.

This is what Ms Breathnach says about January: The month of new beginnings and cherished memories, beckons. Come, let winter weave her wondrous spell:cold, crisp, woolen-muffler days, long dark evenings of savory suppers, lively conversations, or solitary joys. Outside the temperture drops as the snow falls softly. All of nature is at peace. We should be, too. Draw hearthside. This is the month of dream, to look forward to the year ahead and the journey within.

Isn't that a wonderful way to think of the month of January? I had planned today to sit back and relax. Take the day off but instead I put on a CD that Gretchen made for me before she moved to Kentucky that always makes me want to do something creative and I have been working on the room upstairs trying to get it finished before winters end. Can't wait to show you what it is going to look like. I am starting to really like how it is turning out.

Hope you enjoyed my friend Dr. Kathy's Blogazine post. It was the prefect way to end my year of blogging. Thank you so much Dr. Kathy for being my guest. I have another friend who sent me her story this weekend and she will be the prefect way to start my new year of Blogging. She is a Hoot does that give you a hint who she might be.

Thank you for sticking with me another year. I can not begin to tell you how much your friendship means to this ole grandma.

Looking forward to our times together in 2012. Now I must return to my project upstairs.

Sending you nothing but good Blessings for the New Year.

Love to you all

Maggie

Meet Dr. Kathy McCoy!

2011-12-29T12:22:00.002-06:00

Gosh I have missed you! Christmas was wonderful and thoughts of you were often. I was praying that you were enjoying your day as much as I enjoyed mine. Soon I hope I will sit down and load my pictures and share the day with you but today I have a very special lady I wanted you to meet.

My Plans were to have her post on here by the first of the week and here it is already Thursday. When are these weeks going to slow down. Anyway please take a moment to meet Dr. Kathy McCoy! She writes a blog too and one that certainly you will want to bookmark. You can find her site Living Fully in Midlife and Beyond by clicking HERE.

Welcome her as my last Blogazine Guest of 2011. Who will be my first guest for 2012? If you want it to be you just send me your story. This is my small way of helping you meet new friends. Plus I so love reading these delightful parts of your lifes. Like I have mentioned before everyone has a story to tell.

I'm an L.A. native who moved with my husband Bob and our three cats to rural Arizona in 2010, retiring from everything but writing.

Writing has been my first profession all my working life. I have two journalism degrees -- Bachelors and Masters -- from Northwestern University and spent the first 15 years of my career writing full-time -- first as an editor of 'TEEN Magazine, then writing for most of the national women's magazines like Redbook, Family Circle, Womans Day, Ladies Home Journal and Glamour as well as Readers Digest and wrote a column called "Sex and Your Body" for Seventeen Magazine during most of the Eighties. I've written a dozen books for major New York publishers including the award winning "The Teenage Body Book" and "Understanding Your Teenager's Depression." Because of my books, I've done a lot of national television, including two appearances on OPRAH and seven on The TODAY SHOW.

Publishing started changing drastically in the Nineties -- when entertainment conglomerates started taking over publishing houses and celebrity blockbusters became the norm. I had always written in the areas of health and psychology. So I decided to go back to graduate school for degrees in psychology, ending up with a Master's in Clinical Psychology and a doctorate in Human Behavior. I'm a licensed marriage and family therapist and worked both in psychiatric clinics and in my own private practice for 15 years before retirement. I loved working with patients and helping to make a difference in their lives. An unexpected bonus: how much I learned from my patients about courage and the resilience of the human spirit.

I've been married for 34 years to my husband Bob. Unfortunately, we don't have children but he was in the in the Big Brothers program for 23 years and mentored three boys during that time. The third one -- Ryan -- was matched with him at the age of 9. He is now 28 and will be getting his Master's degree in Psychology and Social Work (to become a psychotherapist) this coming May. He is like a son to us and we're so proud of him!

We're now living in an active adult community with great gym, swimming pools and lots of classes at an Arizona State University extension here on site.

I work out everyday -- hoping to lose all the weight I gained during the stress of working multiple jobs over the years -- and taught a class on blogging at ASU this fall. We've adjusted very happily to life in rural Arizona -- living halfway between Phoenix and Tucson. We don't miss L.A. traffic one bit!
I started my blog "Living Fully in Midlife and Beyond" in October 2010 to get an online presence (at my agent's urging) and to practice writing in the first person in preparation for a pair of memoirs I would like to do. But I quickly found that blogging is a pleasure in itself (rather simply a means to an end) and that there are many wonderful people with so much to say and share in the blogosphere. I enjoy reading everyone else's blogs at least as much as I like writing my own!
In my blog, I write about a lot of issues that come up in midlife and beyond. Sometimes I put on my therapist's hat and write about family issues -- finding a balance in one's relationship with adult children -- or helping one's marriage survive and thrive through the life changes that retirement can bring. And sometimes I write about my own life and what I've learned living through some very painful or joyous times. Quite often, these have something of a universal theme and sometimes they're deeply personal. In every case, I've been grateful for the frank, gracious and enlightening feedback from other bloggers. I feel that we're in a very close, loving community -- though some of us may live half a world apart!

Love

Kathy

Wow our Dr. Kathy has lead such a interesting life that each time I read this story I find something else about her that makes me wish I could meet her in person. I do feel like though as sweet as her emails are to me and belonging to her site that we have met. lol

Ok what is my wish for YOU for the New Year? Lot's of happiness comes to mind first. Care free days with sunshine so bright it warms your soul. Healthier than you have ever been and your families too.
No fininacial worries for any of you. May you find joy and prosper in what your doing now and like me if you need a job I hope that comes the first week of the New Year. Of course I wish you LOVE and Peace with each new beautiful day and also Forgiveness to those that are causing you pain in your life.
Without forgiveness towards them you won't find these other wishes I have for you. (Yes I know that goes for me too and the Idiot)
Also lot's of wishes for a good year of Blogging and meeting new friends. Have I told you I have the best of the best in this world of blogging that come by often and leave me some of the funnest and sweetest comments you will find out here in Blogland. God am I Blessed with You as a friend.

Love to you and a Very Happy New Year
Maggie

You Are A Gift To Me!

2011-12-24T22:35:00.000-06:00

Well by this time all the running around looking for that perfect gift is probably over for most of us.

In the end after weeks of worrying we finally realize the prefect gift was not something we could purchase but was with us all along. The gift of Love from our Heavenly Father, Family and Friends! What better gift than these and you know we all have the Love of our Heavenly Father with us each and every day. If you blog then you know the love from friends all over the world. I am one lucky ole grandma tonight having all of these things this Christmas Eve!

Christi came in this afternoon and she and I baked a Pumpkin Pie and had a nice dinner. I fixed a roast in the slow cooker and we sat around the tree visiting. Not to long in the night Christi reminded me of this Cat. She put her comfy snuggly pj's on and headed for bed.

Now I am going to try and catch up with as many of you as I can before I call it a night.

The rain on the Tin Roof may cause me to drift off while trying to visit you. Each of you are special to this ole grandma so if I don't get by tonight I will soon.

Looking forward to tomorrow because my two sons will be here along with my precious grandbabies and my lovely daughter-in-law. Blessings galore surround me this Christmas Eve!

Merry Christmas and Sweet Dreams

Maggie

My Christmas Card to You!

2011-12-22T20:01:00.016-06:00

Glad you came over for a visit because Tinkerbell and I have a few things to share with you tonight. This is a picture I took of her a few weeks ago. I can not for the life of me get a good one of her with her eyes open.
I used this picture for the Christmas Card I want to share with you tonight to see it you have to click below.

First of all next week I am going to share a very special blogger with you as my latest Blogazine Guest. Take my word for it you do not want to miss her post. You will love Dr. Kathy McCoy and her site as much as I do. So keep that in mind for right after Christmas!

Also today I received this E-Card from sweet Sybil over at Day In the Life of Sybs/. I liked it so much I had to make one like it too. haha Hope you don't mind Sybil. The first Url is to Sybil's card and the second one is my card. Hope you enjoy them both. Syb's you did a great job making yours. I look like I have tobacco juice running out of my mouth. Gross.....

Sybil's cardf

My Card to You!

Hope the cards came through because I have spent hours tonight just on this short post. Blogger has not been my friend lately and they just don't know how close Ms Pearl came to rearing her ugly head tonight.
haha

Oh and today is my Christi's Birthday. I hope she had a very Happy Day. I only got to talk to her a minute but hoping we talk later tonight.
Sweet Dreams
Maggie

Lucky Winner to Novica's Site!

2011-12-17T19:34:00.000-06:00

Sorry it is so late in the day getting on here to announce my lucky winner.
I am always so excited the morning of the drawing because I can not wait to see who wins but today I could not get near a computer until just now. Several things came up out here on the North Forty that had to be fixed before dark and boy am I pooped.

So who won this $50.00 gift certificate to Novica's great site. Well the Random Generator spun and landed on number 6. Number six belongs to Lisa Lula from Davis Dialogues
. Lisa I am really happy for you. There are so many nice things on this site so you will have fun shopping. Just send email me and I will give you your numbers to order your gift.

I appreciate each and everyone of you for entering my giveaway. Wish I could send all of you a gift certificate.

Hope you are finished with your shopping and decorating! I shopped one day last week but still need a few things. My plans were to finish today but maybe Monday.

The kids are coming Christmas day and I was going to fix Turkey and dressing but they want something different so let me know what your having so I can get some ideas. lol

You will be glad to know I put my clothes on everyday before feeding the cats. Did not want to run into the cowboy again with my pj's on. haha

Well Frosty the Snow Man is starting to melt on the program I am watching so I guess I will get off here and see how this story ends.

Be good to yourself this week. I know all to well how crazy the week before Christmas can be but it always gets done in the end. Right? Words I need to remember myself this week.

Thanks again for always coming by here checking on me and you know I appreciate you so much.

Love to all

Maggie

The Cowboy!

2011-12-12T20:16:00.001-06:00

Goodness just look how close it is until Christmas. I think December is going by even faster than November. I could be in trouble if I don't get myself organized and quick.

Well I promised you my story about the cowboy so grab your coffee or hot chocolate and sit for a minute. This won't take long because it happened pretty darn fast.

As you know I live in an ole farm house out in the country. I call it the North Forty! Just a name I picked out of no where for this place.

Anyway back to my story. Usually the first thing I do in the morning is feed the cat's outside. Cute little boogers but trouble sometime....like this particular morning.

Without thinking I rushed out the door and shut it behind me. It has one of those locks on it that if you don't push a button on it before shutting your locked out. Well you know how many times I have done that so I keep a spare key outside.

I am in a hurry because this morning I had left on my pajamas thinking I had plenty of time before my neighbor the cowboy would be driving by leaving the ranch for the one next door where he works.

The minute I shut the door I knew I had done wrong and I was locked out. Wasn't worried because I knew where my spare key was hidden.

Feed the hungry little troublemakers and hurry over to spot to fetch the key. Well you guessed it. The key was not there. I wish you could of seen the dance I did trying to figure out why in the heck wasn't the key there where it was suppose to be.

Time was not on my side. I am standing there in my pajamas with my hair standing up in all directions and NO make-up. Now this ole grandma don't go anywhere without her make-up. Mainly because I care about people and subjecting them to me without it would be border line to cruel.

My first thought is to break the glass in the back door. But I just did that not too long ago and I remembered how much trouble it was for me to replace it.

The only window you can get into without breaking anything is on the second floor. I realize I will have to go find the taller ladder and bring it up to the house. I jump into the mule drive it over to the barn and load the ladder. I have no idea what time it is but I am guessing it is almost time for him to drive by. I am starting to get really nervous. Who wants to be seen in purple pj's and no make-up?

I can't carry the ladder but I can drag it. I finally get it up against the house where it feels like it is safe for me to climb.

Geezzz I was scared of falling. You know after my fall any heights scare me. Well him seeing me like that was even worse so I start the climb up. Very slowly one step at a time.

Finally I reach the window and get it open. I forgot to add it is a very small window. Not the average size window. One that was built for looks maybe but not for climbing into. Standing on the ladder I realize it was going to really hard for me to squeeze my big bod inside but I go for it.

Well I am half way inside hanging upside down with my butt and feet out the window and I hear his diesel truck outside. I am praying please Dear God let him not notice a butt hanging from my top window.

I guess that was a foolish prayer because who would not see purple big cheeks hanging out a small window.

Giving it everything I got I am trying to grab hold of something to help me pull myself in. I then hear this Honk. Then another honk.

His honking made me work harder because the next thing I knew I was lying on the second floor trying to sit up.

You know the sound a diesel truck makes. Well I could hear it out there and then I here Maggie You Okay?

I froze on the floor. I thought please just go away. Once again I here him calling my name. I raise up and stick my hand out the window like I am waving a white flag. I manage to yell I am fine!

Before I hear the truck door shut I hear him laughing. I guess he thinks his neighbor is one crazy ole lady.

Sad thing is he could be right! lol

Not much of a story but let me tell you I can just imagine the image that poor cowboy got of my big back side hanging out that little window.

Have you entered my giveaway that ends Friday. If not what are you waiting on? Get your name in the hat it is for a great $50.00 gift certificate to a awesome place to shop called Novica. Click here and enter. Don't make me send Ms Pearl after you!

Love to all

Maggie

Trip Canceled!

2011-12-11T23:45:00.000-06:00

Well it seems I drove you and myself crazy for nothing. After weeks of worrying about the weather in Iowa and having the right clothes to wear the trip was canceled Saturday around noon.

I have to tell you I felt like a 100 pounds was lifted off my shoulder when they told me we would not be going. It just seemed like a bad idea to drive a thousand miles to Sioux City from my part of Texas in December but I did not want my friend driving there alone.

I do feel bad for Barbara because she had already bought the tickets to the GOP Debate and dinner plus she wanted to go so badly. Her sister called me and told me that they had talked her out of it but for me to be on stand by since she might change her mind and not listen to them.

It is late Sunday night so I think if we were going she would of reached me by now. I hope I am not jinxing myself by posting this tonight. lol

This will give me the extra days I need to finish shopping, cleaning, cooking and every thing else before Christmas Day when my kids are coming home. At least I hope so you never know when it comes to my luck.

I do want to remind you of the giveaway from Novica that is going on now until Friday. It is a wonderful giveaway sponsored by them and it is for $50.00 gift certificate to their awesome store. If you have not checked their site out please do. You want be disappointed. Also if you would like to have a chance to win this just scroll down to the post before this and leave a comment. I sure would appreciate it.

Hope you all are not over doing it with all the preparations for Christmas. I know that is easier said than done. I have not let it bother me yet but that's because I was too busy worry about this other. lol

I did promise you a story about the cowboy and me so I have not forgotten. I will do my best to write that one tomorrow sometime.

Have a great week and Sweet Dreams
Maggie

Another Wonderful Giveaway!

2011-12-09T10:46:00.001-06:00

Wow I have another chance to have a Wonderful Giveaway. The other day I was approached by a representative of Novica asking if I would do a review or giveaway for their awesome company. Novica will give one of my friends out here in blogland $50.00 to spend anyway they choose on their great site.

What impressed me about Novica other than their beautiful items is that they support Artisans from all over the world. Like me .... you are in for a surpise when you visit their site.

So I told their representitive how could I not choose to have a giveaway for you? You are the reason I have decided to continue to blog.

Now first of all I have to admit I was not familar with Novica but sure wish I had found them earlier in the month because I found some warm hats and scarfs that would of been prefect for my trip. But heck I
am going to order them anyway who knows someone else might want to take me on a trip up North. You never know right?

They also have anything you might need to end your Christmas shopping. Their just a click away and right from the warmth of your comfy chair and warm fire.

To enter this really cool giveaway all you have to do is leave me a comment on this post only and your entered. I of course again will use the Random Generator to pick my winner.

Now for extra entries visit one or all of these sites and tell me an item you would like to have from that department but please leave a seperate comment for each department you choose to visit. Whether it is one department or all. The most chances anyone person can have in this giveaway is 7 chances to win. It is up to you how many chances you want so have fun browsing their lovely site.

http://accessories.novica.com/womens/

Keyword: womens accessories

http://accessories.novica.com/mens/

Keyword: mens accessories

http://accessories.novica.com/mens/cufflinks/

Keyword: cufflinks

http://accessories.novica.com/womens/scarves/

Keyword: womens scarves

http://accessories.novica.com/mens/scarves/alpaca-wool/

Keyword: wool scarves

http://accessories.novica.com/mens/walking-sticks/

Keyword: walking sticks

Let's end the contest at midnight on December 16th. One week from today. I would end it sooner but my trip starts Sunday. I have got to get busy and pack my suitcase and figure out some last minute things so I need to get busy.

I decided to take your advice and choose things from my closet. I am wearing a pretty black jacket with either black pants or a skirt. I did buy me some new gloves and boots a early Christmas present to myself.

Let's support Novica by entering this giveaway.

Love to all

Maggie

Growing Older!

2011-12-08T12:41:00.000-06:00

I hope this poem has the same effect on you as it did on me - then my forwarding it will be worth the effort. Walk with me by the water - worth the read...

A BEAUTIFUL POEM ABOUT GROWING OLDER:

DARN It

I forgot the words.........................................

Hope your having a beautiful day! I am running around with my head cut off trying to get everything done since I am suppose to be leaving Sunday for Iowa. Keep your fingers crossed Barbara changes her mind and we don't go.

Just got off the phone with Christi telling me she has a job interview tomorrow for a Bank Manger position. She has done that in the past so I am praying this is going to be her next position and that she loves it.

Debbie who won my WayFair giveaway wrote me a sweet email and is using her money to buy some very much needed snow boots. Gosh that warms my heart knowing she is using it for something she needs. You know how we are when we nuture everyone around us but ourselves. So Debbie enjoy your new boots.

I am suppose to be getting the word to have another one any day now so keep checking. Also I have a story to tell you about the cowboy out here on the North Forty.

Sorry I know your busy with baking, decorating, shopping, cleaning and blogging but you have to come back for that story! lol

Love to all

Maggie

Wayfair's Gift Certificate Winner!

2011-12-06T21:14:00.000-06:00

Number 13 come on down and claim your wonderful gift certificate to Wayfair an awesome place to shop.

Sorry I am so late today posting our winner of my Wayfair Gift Certificate. I had to drive to

College Station to see my pain doctor and thought will I ever get home to choose the winner.

Well I could not believe it but sweet Debbie of Mama Bears Thoughts number came up.

So Debbie a great big congrat's to you honey. Send me an email at grandmayellowhair@gmail.com

and we will take care of everything with Wayfair.

I appreciate each and everyone of you for entering this giveaway. I just wish I could give all of you a gift certificate. I can tell you that another neat company contacted me yesterday about having a giveaway for them so if that works out I will be having another one really soon.

Thank you so much Wayfair for giving one of my dear faithful followers this awesome $65.00 gift.

Sorry about the random generator picture being sideways but everytime I tried to change it

well you can see it kept going back to sideways. hahaha

Also wanted to thank you for commenting about my trip. I appreciate all of you.

Love to all

Maggie

A Week Of Surprises!

2011-12-04T12:57:00.002-06:00

Hello to you! I hope you are having a beautiful Sunday. It is actually raining here which is of course for
our area that is a blessing and a big surprise. This week has been one surprise after another some really nice and others devastating.

For a change lets talk about the really nice surprises first.

After a long day working on trying to finish my house in town I came home to find these on my porch.

Yep I am one lucky lady! Our sweet friend Marydon and hubby Harold from Blushing Rose surprised me with this gorgeous bouquet. As you know Marydon loves to surprise her friends. She has a enormous heart and if you have not met her please click on her site and meet a lovely new friend.

Thank you again Marydon and Harold for these lovely flowers. I move them from room to room so when I look up from what I am doing their there to remind me how God blessed me with so many friends since I started this little humble site.

Another sweet surprise was my dear sister-in-law Linda Mae who I have known since grade school gave me this lazy Susan.

It belonged to my precious Ma Ma and the memories it brings back to me when I look at it are all wonderful happy thoughts of days I miss. Many times I wondered what happened to this piece but never asked anyone.

To my surprise Linda Mae gave it to me this week and I am just ecstatic. It is even pink and you know pink is my middle name.

A lot of you already know about this surprise. Way Fair is now the new owners of CSN and they approached me about doing a review or giveaway to my faithful followers. I wrote back and told them it had to be the giveaway because no one out here in blog land has better followers and friends than I do.

If you have not entered this awesome giveaway to WayFair please go to my post before this one and leave a comment. Only comments on that post will be entered for the drawing. Sorry but I use the Random Generator to pick my numbers. Also please go by their site and check out how cool it is. They have everything and it will be hard to choose just one thing you want to buy if you win the $65.00 gift they are offering for this giveaway.

On with my surprises for this week. My friend Barbara and landlady phoned and told me to pack my bags for Sioux City, Iowa. I of course thought "What is in Sioux City?" Knowing Barbara as I do I should of known it had to do with politics. Yep it is the GOP Debates that takes place on the 15th of this month.

Let me tell you first I was shocked because this was out of the blue invitation but all of hers are big surprises.

Second this is not a good time for me to be out state and so far from home. I have nothing done for Christmas and as you know I hate to leave Christi.

There is one thing you may not know is my dear friend does not take No for an answer. Nope it has never been used when you are having a conversation with her. lol

I called her sister Linda and tried to get her help getting me out of it but she just gave me her sympathy more or less and sent me on my way to Iowa.

OK I can do this I keep telling myself but then I have anxiety attacks wondering how in a weeks time can I find the clothes I need for the cold cold cold weather up North and to wear to a GOP debate. What do they wear to these debates. I would imagine pretty dressy.

Only thing Barbara said was I needed to bring one thing nice for the dinner their having before the debate. Well I looked up the debate on Google and my jaw dropped when I read you can buy tickets for the debate for $50.00 but if you want to attend the dinner it was a whopping $1500.00 I believe for four. Are you kidding me. I go nowhere so I have no clothes especially for a dinner where people that can afford this kind of dinner will be all around me.

You know I am pleading for help from all of you to tell me what do I wear. Please please seriously give me some suggestions.

She also told me to make some hats to wear to this thing. You know the Red, White and Blue. I live in one horse town where will I find this. lol

I hate to give you the bad surprise because it once again devastated both me and Christi this week. I think sometimes I just want to run away but not to a GOP debate. lol

Christi has worked the last five years for a company she loved and she worked from home. This she enjoyed very much. Well Tuesday with no warning they laid her off. Never is there a good time to loose your job but with Christi this could not have been a worse time. It has been a huge set back in her getting better but with all your prayers and arms around her and me it will work out.

No one can control our economy these days and sweet Christi is just one of thousands who have lost their job this year. Of course I am in there too but mine was not due to our economy.

All I could think of when she gave me the bad news was OMG I don't have my job either how can I help her.

Well I am in the middle of fixing a pot of Chicken soup so I guess I should go before I mess it up. I do wish you were here to enjoy it with me.

Don't forget you have several things to do now. Enter the giveaway on the post before this and tell me what I will need to take with me to the cold but beautiful North. hahaha

Love to all

Maggie

Good News/Giveaway

2011-11-29T20:49:00.003-06:00

Hope you are doing well this week! I have missed you very much but I do have some great news to share with you.

Remember all the fun giveaways and merchandise that we have received from CSN? Well CSN in now a new company named WayFair. Same wonderful products and customer service. Look at what I found in their Kitchen Rugs Department. Isn't it the cutiest rug ever. Click here also to visit their site.

It would look darling in my kitchen but instead because I love you I am going to give you a chance to win a awesome gift certificate of $65.00 to be used for anything that WayFair has to offer. You can even purchase this rug!

Yep that's right Sixty-five big ones. Right now wouldn't it be great to have an extra sixty-five dollars to spend for the holidays.

Been wanting to have a giveaway for you for some time now but as you know sometimes life throws curve balls at you and you have to step back and depending on how hard the throw was sometimes it takes longer to get back in life. But I figured having a Giveaway would help me to do just that.

I could not be happier to be able to give you a chance to win something nice from such a great company.

When I visited their site yesterday and today I found so many nice things. Wish I could enter this too. lol

All you have to do enter is leave me a comment telling me that you visited their awesome site and what you might buy if you win. Oh also since my followers are my the best friends in the world you must be a follower to win. If you want a Second Chance to win just copy this giveaway to your side bar and come back over and leave another comment. Two chances are better than one. Right?

Also to make it easy as pie for me and fair to you I use the ole Random Generator thing.

Seriously I wish all of you the best of luck in winning this because like I mentioned earlier I Love You All.

Now I almost forgot...we need a closing date. Ok lets not do this too long because you might want to use this for a Christmas gift. How does December 5th at midnight sound? That gives everyone a chance to enter.

Best of Luck and Sweet Dreams

Maggie

PS
Another week has gone by and Christi is doing good. I will check on her when I sign off here. Your
prayers have made such a big difference in both our lives. I hope no one thinks bad of me for not talking of what happened. All I can say is never take your loved ones for granted and tell them you love them often.
I Love You!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-24T21:03:00.000-06:00

My dear friends it is Thanksgiving night and I am sitting here with Christi going over all the sweet comments that you have left for both of us.

We are so Thankful this Thanksgiving for having all of you in our life. Without you these past weeks would have been impossible.

It was a quiet Thanksgiving with just the two of us this year. My sons spend every other Thanksgiving with their other family which is only fair. We missed them very much but it was a good day.

Now I am so full of pumpkin pie and cool whip I can barely type this post. lol This year I took the easy way out and bought a small Honey Baked Ham instead of baking a Turkey. I did though have to make a pan of dressing. It's just not Thanksgiving without my MaMa's Cornbread Dressing.

So tell me how was your day? I hope each of you had a lovely day with lots of good food, friends and family! Sending you much love and

lot's of Sweet Dreams!

Maggie

Getting Back to Normal!

2011-11-17T21:13:00.000-06:00

Gosh I have missed you! It seems like forever since I have been to your site and said hello. I am hoping that sometime over the weekend I can take the time to visit everyone of you.

Each day Christi and I are both returning to our normal routines of life. Just like these roses that are trying their best to bloom for me one more time this fall.

You would be proud of me...I even cooked two healthy meals this week and some cookies. lol What goes better with a healthy meal than chocolate chip cookies. Yummy! Can't wait to make a Pumpkin Pie next week.

Christi is getting the help she needs to over come and if I had the insurance I would be in therapy myself but right now you are my therapist. Just what you wanted to hear when you have your own problems to deal with.

Isn't it something that we are already in the middle of Novemeber. I find it hard to believe that next week is Thanksgiving. I have so many things to be Thankful for in my life and You are right there at the top of the list.

I wish I could thank each of you in person for all the uplifting lovely comments and prayers but for right now I will have to settle for thanking you through the wonderful world of blogging.

Christi is back at home and I am here back on the North Forty dealing with trying to get the ranch last minute mowing done and some of the fences painted before our first big freeze. Unlike most of you we are still having hot afternoons and we even got rain last week so I have to mow at least one more time. I tried this afternoon late but the durn tractor would not start. I kicked it a couple of times but for some reason that did not help so I called someone to look at it tomorrow.

My house in town is coming along slowly. I have one more big room to paint and some cleaning then I will be ready for the next renter. Will I try my best to pick a good one you bet!

I had a really nice lady close to my age come out here today to look at the pink house that is still for rent. She works as a counselor here at the college and I like her very much. She even wants to see my house in town. As much as I would love to have her for a neighbor I think I would love having someone like her living in my home. Hopefully she will choose one of them.

My landlady is coming the weekend after Thanksgiving and wants to convince me to rent the pink house for a bed and breakfast. I told her we would talk.

It is good to talk to you tonight and I miss you. I am better and will be at your sites soon.

Sweet Dreams and love to you
Maggie

Because of You!

2011-11-13T22:36:00.000-06:00

Because of you and how worried you must be about Christi and myself I had to take a few minutes and update you on how we are doing.

Thanks to all of your prayers we made it through this past week. She seems to be getting stronger every day and assures me that she is going to be fine. We both wanted to thank you for all the prayers and sweet comments.

In all honesty several times this past week I was not sure how to deal with all of this and then I would remember you and how kind, supportive and loving you are and I knew that you were there for us.

One thing I have tried doing this week is to leave it all with the Lord. "Cast your burden upon the Lord."

I am ashamed to admit but I think sometimes I cast it and then recast it not sure what to do being so worried about my daughter. I have prayed to the Lord to help me release her to him because I know He will care for her both spiritually, mentally and physically in a way that I can not do.

Remember the prayer bench I bought at Warrenton this summer. I have worn it out getting up and down but each time after my prayers I knew that tomorrow held great promise.

Still even now I have not been able to talk about what happened to Christi but I know the love we all share out here in this wonderful world of blogging and that you will be patient with me.

Writing is good for me so I will try and write to you again this week. I miss you and love you!

Maggie

About the Wordless Post!

2011-11-08T23:02:00.000-06:00

I owe you an explanation for the previous post. I sat down at the computer trying my best to do a post about what had happened over the weekend. Tears were falling so hard that as far as I got with the post for you was a picture of my daughter Christi and her best friend Andrea. I thought I had saved the picture in draft but I guess that I was over whelmed with sadness I hit the wrong button and published the picture. Christi is on the left and Andrea behind on the right. I love this picture.

It had to of been very confusing for you because of me doing a wordless post. Now it seems I am doing a post without a picture because to tell you the truth I could not find a picture that comes close to my thoughts tonight.

You see Friday at midnight I received a phone call that my daughter Christi was taken to the the emergency room in Austin.

Even though it was four nights ago I still can't talk about it to anyone or even find the words to write about it without loosing control.

Christi is going to be okay but she needs a lot of help and prayers right now. She is with me for a few days and then I will take her back home and stay with her until it is okay to come home.

You know I always find comfort in your sweet comments and I am sorry to leave you without really giving you anything other than we need your prayers.

I hope to be able to find some kind of peace again in my life and get back on here and laugh with you. You know how I love a good laugh.

Just wanted to let you know why I have not been by your place to say hello but promise I will again soon.

I do know that God wants us to love each other and to forgive.

I love you and hopefully one day soon I can find words again because I already miss you
Love to you all
Maggie

Life

2011-11-07T07:00:00.000-06:00

Memory Lane Monday's!

2011-11-02T12:09:00.000-05:00

Yep it's Memory Lane Monday's with Donna at Brynwood Needleworks. It is Monday today isn't it?

Donna suggested Halloween Past as our memory and here I am as Wyatt Earp's girlfriend. Remember the Tombstone movie with Val Kilmer and Kurt Russell. Well I fell in love with Val Kilmer in his part as Doc Holiday.

On this Halloween the idiot and I were invited to a big dance that was held every year out in the country in one of the old dance hall's that use to be so popular around these parts of Texas. I should not say use to be because these country people are serious about their dance halls.

Anyway I was left with the decision on what we could have as our costumes. Since I loved that movie I chose our costumes based on the dress of that era. My daughter Christi, had worn this dress as a Southern Belle so I tried it on and added a big petticoat and made it more into a saloon girl costume. Even found this huge black hat with feathers. Add a boa and your ready to go.

If I remember right I think his was a little bit more difficult. I think we had to rent a western tux. Then found him a black hat and mustache that was always crooked. Of course his tie had to match my dress.

In the goofy picture below we are accepting First Place for Best Couple Costume. Talk about a surprise when they called us out. Then we were laughing about that and then they announce the best female costume of the night and low and behold they put the spotlight on us again. More shock! Then the biggest shock of all was them awarding me the First Prize for the Costume of the Whole Dance. Whoa.....you could of knocked me down with one of those feathers I was wearing.

Have you ever seen a goofier looking woman?

In this next picture I took it of Wayne and another couple who choose the same idea. I wish they had won something too.

I don't remember ever winning a costume contest so this was a night to remember.

As always I enjoy joining sweet Donna for her memory lane Monday's.

Thanks everyone for always coming by and leaving me the best comments ever. My life is better because of you being in it.

Today the idiot turns 60 years old. I am sorry Wayne to have chosen that name for you but it is the first thing I think of when I think of you.

Love to all

Maggie

Erased!

2011-11-01T09:58:00.000-05:00

What's happening in your neck of the woods? Have tried to post since last week but have not made it happen.
Too much going on here and did not want to post until I could post positive. lol But I got this comment from Julia Of Petals and Wool telling me that she has lost her blog. Here I copied her comment for you so maybe you could help me to understand what happened and have you heard of this before.

Hi Maggie, Julia from Of Petals and Wool here. I no longer can do blog post on my blog and my account has been deleted by Google because they say that there was some illegal activity or that I have violated Google terms of service??? I don't know what I did wrong but I now have no Gmail account and no identity. They deleted my second blog and also my new Gmail address.

I've spent a lot of time trying to retrieve my Gmail address but got the run around. It said that they were sending me an email but I was not getting my emails, so couldn't get it fixed.

This is to let you know of my situation. I still can visit blogs through Firefox by googling the name but it's time consuming and I only can leave comments on blogs who allows Anonymous.

Your anonymous friend from the lost paradise of Petals and Wool. Hugs. Julia

It depressed me to think that I could come in here an hour from now and you would be gone. Erased like you never existed. Scared and upset me that this can happen. I then thought of Julia's site and of all people why would Julia's be taken off. She kept us entertained with her everyday life and I loved reading her blog.
She also was kind enough to be a blogazine guest for me and if you missed her story just go here
Julia Of Petals and Wool.

I pray Julia gets her blog back because I miss her.

My plans were to post my Memory Lane Monday for Donna this morning but hopefully I can this evening.
Just had to say hello and to see if you knew about this happening to Julia and if you know anyone else it has happened too.

This ole lady needs to figure out how to get things done without hurting herself. My house in town is not near ready to be rented or to sale. The north forty has me just as busy. One last mowing of the place has to be done before I put the tractors away for winter. We are talking half of the 62 acres out here need mowing. Then my front porch has to be painted and different parts of the fence was replaced last month and she wants it all painted white to match the other. Makes sense. Right? I have to say I am overwhelmed but let me get started so you

Go Out and Make It A Great Day!
Love
Maggie

The Hill Country Weekend!

2011-10-26T06:30:00.000-05:00

A few weekends ago we had one of our girly weekends and this time it was at Ruby's home in the hill country near Marble Falls. This is where Ruby and hubby plan to retire in a few years. It is a lovely home and with my little camera I could not capture the whole house. lol Believe me when I say there is a whole section on the right I did not manage to capture.

Lot's of things I love about this home but my favorite place is the back patio! Everyone but me enjoyed their first cup of coffee and me of course was my diet Dr. Pepper. We planned our day while listening to the early birds serenade us. I could easily retire with a patio like this greeting me every morning.

Hope Ruby doesn't mind that I am sharing part of her master bath. This is the huge walk in shower behind this circular wall. I have seen these in magazines but never thought I would actually ever use one. Pretty darn cool if I say so myself.

Since Ruby's hubby was working in London for the week she brought her precious little King to keep us entertained. He actually kept me from being bitten by a scorpion so King is my new best friend. Sorry about that Tinkerbell!

Saturday morning the first place we stopped was a outdoor furniture store that has everything imaginable for the out door life. Ruby is wanting to redo her patio so she had to show us some of her selections. Here on the way to the car I made Ruby, Oscar and Bonnie pose for this pic. I grew up with these three siblings and their sister Linda who also happens to be my sister-in-law is missing this girly weekend. So we let their brother Oscar join in the fun since he is a hoot and never a dull moment when he is present.

Then Oscar made me trade places and he took our picture. Ruby on the left, myself and Bonnie.

I love these chairs and they come in every color even pink for my porch.

After this they pretty well made me leave the camera in the car while we walked the tourist town of Fredricsburg. It was Market Days so every body and their cousin just happened to be in town for the day. At times I thought I was in New York City instead of a small country town. Gosh everybody came to town that day.

Ruby had gotten us tickets to a theater called the Rock Box and we had to rush our shopping to be there by 4:30. I wish you could of seen Bonnie and myself trailing after the two long legged Oscar and Ruby. Man I was glad when it was theater time so we could sit down.

The Rock Box was cool. A cast of about 10 entertained us for two hours. They sang songs from the 50's and 60's. A lot of times it was hard to believe that they were imitators and not the real thing. They reminded me of a group I saw in Vegas years ago.

What really brought the house down was the last song when all the cast came out and we all joined them in Amazing Grace. Then a moment of silence for our troops.

For a small town this was an impressive performance by these talented actors. I thought of Gretchen and how she wants to have a small theater like this one someday.

When we have these girly weekends we laugh ourselves silly. I think it is because of the subjects we discuss while playing cards.

I thought with their brother Oscar there we might not have these talks but boy was I wrong. He joined in and only made us laugh harder with his man take on things. His wife is a sweetheart and was glad to let him get away with us for a weekend.

Since I have know the Oliver's all my life these talks can lead to places only friends can go.

Oscar was trying to give his sister Bonnie and myself advice about dating again but his advice is not one I would want to repeat on here. His advice made me realize why I don't date. lol

Oscar and I were partners in playing cards and we whopped them so bad that were told we could never be partners again.
I made the mistake and showed them how to find my blog so how do I tell you about our crazy antics. Maybe when the newness wares off for them. lol

I do know that when God gives us friends to enjoy that we need to as often as possible. That is my reason for blogging. Sorry I fooled so many of you with the last post but I laughed every time I thought of Tinkerbell waking me up at that very moment so I had to share it with you. Your comments are always funnier that the actual stories and it was worth fooling you just to enjoy your comments. Several of you mentioned I sounded like a romance writer and maybe should write one. I hate to admit it but I have never read Romance books. I guess it's never to late to try something new.

On my way to Marble Falls I drove through Bastrop where one of the horrible wild fires destroyed thousands of acres and homes. I tried to find a place to take pictures but too much traffic and construction crews mowing down trees. For miles it looked like a war zone and my heart broke for all the families who have no place to call home.

In this picture you can't really see just how heartbreaking and overwhelming these fires have been to Texas during this drought. We have been told that this drought will not end for at least another year. Hard to imagine a dry winter.

For the last two days I have been sick with my back. I have over did it trying to work on the house in town. My son Clint came down Saturday and helped me and then by Sunday evening I could not function. I tried to work there yesterday but gave up after a few hours and then took today off. I just can't get down completely because there is so much left to do. It scares me to think that I may never be able to hold a full time job again. You guys that live off of just social security may have to give me lessons on living on such a limited income. I admire you for being able to do so.

I love you!

Maggie

Is The Cowboy a Good Kisser?

2011-10-21T19:39:00.000-05:00

How are you this evening! Another week has flown by and I still have not been able to get on here and do a post about my fun weekend with the Oliver's. But I will do it soon. Been painting and painting and painting at my home in town.

It was fun this week seeing beautiful Debby's smile on my page when I managed to come on site and read your wonderful comments. As always I love hearing from you. Thanks Debby for doing such a lovely story for us.

I knew that this post would be of more interest to you than the Oliver"s so let me tell you my story. First before I start don't you just love a good kisser. I have to say I do miss kissing! My hubby may have been an idiot but he could kiss. lol

My friend Barbara and I were sitting on a bench downtown listening to a band play. It was a cool evening and prefect for a street dance. She kept me entertained by telling me of her long day she had gone through of driving a inmate to the Austin State Hospital, We were both laughing pretty hard when I realized someone was sliding close to me on the bench.

I looked to my side thinking it was probably some couple looking for a place to sit. I don't have to tell you the look of surprise I had when I saw my neighbor the cute cowboy sliding near me. His grin was one you see on a romance book cover.

Barbara of course was exploring him like someone who had never seen a cute cowboy. I introduced them and explained to her that we were neighbors out on the North Forty.

He then ask me if I wanted to dance. I don't know what got in me but I jumped up from the bench and was leading him out in the street. We danced like we had been dance partners on dancing with the stars and I could not stop smiling.

The evening was over sooner than I wanted it to be and then he ask if I had rode with Barbara to the dance. I told him that I did and he then told Barbara he would take me home since we lived on the same property.

I was somewhat nervous on the drive home but I do remember my million dollar smile. It was plastered to my face.

He drives up to my house and I am busy thanking him for bringing me home and for keeping me from being a wall flower. He turns his engine off (to the truck that is) and walks me to the door. I remember him saying something about the last time he was on the porch that it was very entertaining.

I finally find my key to the front door and he opens the door. Next thing I knew I was looking really close into his sexy blue eyes because he had taken me into his arms and was going to kiss me.

Then I feel a very familar furry paw slapping me in the face. It was Tinkerbell waking me up for her breakfast. I have never hit a pet but I was really tempted that morning. You would think that she could of gave me five minutes at the door with the cowboy before slapping me awake.

Several times this week I have brought this up to her about her lousy timing. Now I don't know Is The Cowboy a Good Kisser?

Sweet dreams
Maggie

Debby Shares Her Story!

2011-10-17T11:36:00.000-05:00

Once again I have a lovely sweet Blogazine Guest for you to capture your heart. I know she did mine when we found each other out here in this fun world of blogging.

Before I share Debby's story just wanted to let you know Ms Pearl took the weekend off and I went to the hill country with the Oliver girls and their brother Oscar. We laughed ourselves silly and after I recover from the weekend and my hard week last week I will write about our trip.

Wish I could share everything that the four of us got into but I made the mistake and showed them how to read this blog. lol

Now sit back and enjoy my friend Debby!

Hi there, my name is Debby from Cozy Blanket. I started blogging about 18 months ago. I have met so many wonderful bloggers and it has changed my life. I spend way too much time on the computer but that's okay, right?
I have been married to my Hubby for 41 years. We were 19 and 20 when we married. So young.
We have four adult children. The youngest was a foster child that I brought home from pre-school one day and he never left. We adopted him one year later. He had/has special needs and was a handful. I have earned every white hair on my head. Somedays I look back and wonder how we made it through his childhood.
I am a cancer survivor.
A rare type of sarcomas in my leg/hip area. I think God had other plans for me. But some 20 years later I am cancer free.
I have an early childhood degree and have taught at many schools and have been a
Nanny to many children.
My biggest blessings the past 8 years have been my 6 grandchildren. They are ages 8, 5, 5, 5, 2, 1. The fives were all born six weeks apart. Four of my grandchildren live in Colorado while I live in Ohio. I travel to see them as much as I can afford to. I have to mention that one little girl I was Nanny to is also like a grandchild to me. We have continued to be very close. I watched her when I watched my two granddaughters that live here. Now those three are off to school now. But I am still a Nanny. The children change from year to year but the relationships last forever.
I am also a clown, Petals. I have done that for about 20 years and thinking that Petals may be soon retiring.

I enjoy taking pictures of my grandchildren. I think that is another thing about blogs that is so much fun. I love the pictures that everyone posts. It's like a window into the world of others.
We have a Yorkie, a Springer Spaniel, and a kitty. They are our babies.
I have had to live simply the past few years so I enjoy all the DIY and low cost projects. I seem to follow any blog that has the word cozy, cottage, country, cute in their title.
Well that's my story. Come over to http://cozyblanket.blogspot.com/ and say hello.
Thanks Maggie for inviting me over. Isn't she a dear. She tells such wonderful sotries and that Ms. Pearl.....what a hoot.
((((HUGS)))

Really Debby having you over was my delight. In all honesty I love it when someone volunteers to do these Blogazine post. I always learn something new about them or that I had forgotten. Like Debby being a clown all these years. Debby you and Gretchen have that in common. She too loves to preform as a clown.

If I don't get volunteers I then seek Ms Pearl on someone until they do volunteer. lol

So who is my next blogger to tell their story. Remember everyone has a story to tell. What's yours?

Love to all,
Maggie

Part II of Ms Pearl Is Back!

2011-10-14T12:18:00.000-05:00

A big fall good morning to all of you. I love the weather today. It is a beautiful day here and I am hoping you are having the same where you are today.

I know I am late posting Part II but I have been busier than an Aggie football player trying to dehorn the Longhorns. lol Right now I can barely move from all the cleaning and painting going on in my part of the world but we will talk about that later. Right now you just want to hear what Ms Pearl did.

Well to tell you the truth she almost got me seeing the other side of a jail cell the one I am use to looking into from the other side. lol

Yep the last time we talked Maggie agreed that a few days of cooling off was needed before going to the Utility Office to look up the nosy ole lady who messed with her daughter. Of course, Ms Pearl wanted to go there that day but thank goodness Maggie waited.

So on Thursday afternoon I decide I need to meet this woman and give her some lessons on how to deal with the public. I took one of those chill pills that I keep around for this type of happenings and wished that I did the pot thing so I could of had it for backup. Never did try that but maybe I should put in on my bucket list on what I want to try.

It only took me ten seconds to know which lady was the one I was looking for that hurt Christi's feelings so bad. I waltzed up John Wayne style to the counter and there were three young ladies and then there was a woman close to my age. I recognized her right away as someone that knew me and my first husband very well and she would know with out asking my daughter who was her daddy.

One of the young ladies ask me if she could help me and Glady's was trying to shuffle papers around pretending not to see me. I told her no thank you I am here to see a very nosy woman and would she please come up to the counter or would she rather me talk to her where everyone in the building could here us.

Glady's looked around for someone that might be of help and then said, "Now look Margaret there is no need for this. I was told by my supervisor you were upset and I meant nothing by asking Christi those questions.

I took that as a No she was not coming to the counter so by then Ms Pearl arrived and started the biggest stink that when it was over they had to call the trash collectors to haul off the trash in the office.

Ms Pearl said, "Glady's you know da** well that Christi's biological father left her when she was only one years old and after a year never came around for his visitations or child support. You also know how hard it was on me and my three babies to not have his help. Not only the love the kids needed from a father but financial help. Yet you see a chance after thirty something years to re-open this wound and while inside just keep digging and digging until my daughter could not stand the pain."

She then stood up and told me to leave or she would call security. Ms Pearl told her, "Go ahead and call whoever you want to but I am here and I am not leaving."

Ms Pearl then tried to explain to the stupid woman that in all these years she was just as nosy now as she was in the early 70's. She also told her that she was no longer the sweet young lady that she remebered years ago. Ms Pearl told her years of fighting for herself and her children had changed her and now would do anything to protect her children from people like herself. It was obvious she was not listening and wanted me to shut up.

I guess someone else called security and here they come inside the front door. They both recognized me and smiled. One Officer said, "Now Maggie what is going on?" I told them what had happened and they both tried to not show sides but I could tell they were not glad to be called in on this dispute.

One of the Officers asked Gladys if she would just step outside and talk to me in private. She told him no way and so he ask me what was I going to do now. I told him that if I could I would wipe the floor with her but I knew that I did not have time to go to jail. They agreed that they did not have the time for me to do that either.

I walked outside with them and the three of us had a big laugh. They both knew Glady's was a nosy old woman and they advised me to just take it up with the supervisors. I agreed to go away peacefully and leave the nosy woman alone.

You know when it comes to my kids don't mess with me. I may be old but I have a feeling Ms Pearl could of fixed that womans mouth where it would be shut for a good while. lol

Seriously I don't believe in fighting but I came real close to doing something I don't believe in.

Now I am mad again. hahaha....Everytime I think of what that woman did Ms Pearl comes back!

Love to all
Maggie and Pearl

Ms Pearl Is Back!

2011-10-11T11:09:00.000-05:00

In all fairness to my new friends on here let me explain who this Ms Pearl is that we often talk about on my site.

My career in law enforcement gave me the wonderful opportunity to placed me in a bad environment full of every kind of scum bag there is that does not understand the laws of the state of Texas or any other state that they have lived.

In working long days and nights surrounded by low life I eventually picked up some of their bad habits. It seems when I get really upset and angry another person comes out of me that not even myself recognizes and my fellow officers and inmates named her Ms Pearl. Little did I know they had been calling me that for quite some time before I found this out.

In all honesty I try in earnest to keep her buried deep inside where no one knows that she even exists.

With that said let me tell you she does exist and she came out from months of hibernation in a vengeance.

Let’s roll back the clock to this time yesterday. My sweet daughter Christi came to see me over the weekend to help me clean my home in town that I have to rent out. While I was painting the front door of the home Christi took my money and application to the utility office to turn on the utilities at this location.

Since I had paint clothes on and covered with paint it was good of her to do this for me. While at the utility office the clerk sees Christi’s last name and turns on the old town nosy charm of asking endless questions about who your kin too.

Christi tells her who her Aunt and Uncle are who are well known in our small town and the Ms. Have to get in your business Woman this is not enough blood for her to suck on. She has to have more.

She then asks Christi who is your father? Christi politely and uncomfortably said, “I have not seen him since I was three!” Thinking with that said this would surely end the conversation. Anyone with any kind of manners or just plain common sense would of ended it right there but would you believe she just kept digging until finally Christi gives her his name.

Then the stupid clerk had the nerve to say, “You don’t keep up with your Dad?”

By the time Christi arrived back to the house I could tell that something was terribly wrong. Needless to say when she repeated this story to me I lost it completely.

I waited until Christi went after us some lunch and I called the utility office. I ask to speak to the manager of the office. They switched me to Wanda and I told her what had just happened.

The more I spoke to the lady the louder my voice got and before I knew it there was Ms Pearl in all her glory. Ms Pearl has an ugly way of not holding back any feelings.

She asks the lady what the hell does it matter who is your Daddy is when turning on the utilities. I mean the more the lady talked the madder Ms Pearl seemed to get. It was not a pretty conversation to say the least.

It ended with Wanda saying she was sorry this happened and she would check into it. This was not enough for Ms. Pearl. She told Wanda that her clerks were more concerned with gossip than doing their job. Ms Pearl then promised Wanda that when she calmed down she would call the City Manager and let him know what had taken place within his city offices.

I never calmed down enough to talk to the City Manager but I feel like after writing this today he might be getting a call this afternoon.

What angered me so is I am pretty sure I know who the clerk was and I know for a fact she knows everyone in this town and knew dang well who Christi’s legal dad was she just wanted Christi to say something bad about the family so she could repeat it to them.

Now I am getting mad all over again. Lol

Can you imagine that in this century that there are still small town nosy people like this woman that still exist. I thought as big as our town has grown that the people had grown up with it. Boy was I wrong.

Maybe Ms Pearl should just visit the utility office herself today. What do you think?

Love to all
Maggie

The What the Hell Dance!

2011-10-06T12:35:00.000-05:00

Good fall morning to you all! The temps here are finally in the high 50's early morning and 80's in the afternoons. These cooler temps have helped with me trying to clean and paint at my home in town.

Let me tell you about one of those cooler mornings. Living out here on the North Forty I hardly ever see anyone for days unless I go to town or someone drops by. So I sometimes run out the back door in my pajamas and feed the cats and pray no one is around to see the show.

Not so lucky Tuesday morning. I was feeling frisky because the weather was cool and it brought out the little girl in me. This being said I did not just throw the food in their bowls and run back inside I bent down to pick Snowball up and give him a kiss for Christi when wham something hit my rear end. The something was Snowball's sister Twinkie and the dang idiot has her claws attached to my rear and I am screaming doing the What the Hell dance to get her off and out of no where a truck is coming down the dirt rode beside my back yard.

Here this ole grandma has a calico kitten attached to her Loony Tune pajama bottoms and in horror of being seen like that runs to the back door swatting her rear like it is on fire and finally the crazed cat falls off and I am inside my house.

With in minutes I am in the living room putting on a re-enactment to Tinker Bell while she is on the staircase watching the show with what seems to be surprise on her furry face. Like I mentioned earlier the weather had me frisky so I was really putting on a funny show for my audience I thought of one when all of a sudden Tinker Bell looks over me and toward the front door and runs up the stairs to disappear out of site.

You know me I laugh out loud and tell her my performance couldn't have been that bad when I hear this man's voice through the screen door. No Maggie I thought it was a pretty good replay.

I have to tell you if I could have I would have disappeared with Tinker Bell but I was frozen on my stage and I slowly turned around to face the cowboy who lives next door. He is standing there with the biggest grin on his cute face and tells me he is sorry but the door was open and he was having too much fun to knock.

This is one of those moments when you’re locked in sheer dumbfounded unbelievable disbelief that this is happening to you. Not only had I preformed for Tinker Bell but for a good looking cowboy close to my age while wearing not only pajamas but children’s pajamas. I have Tweedy Bird all over my body in pretty colors of green, purple, pink and of course Tweedy Bird stands out in bright yellow.

I have to tell you I honestly felt like a Looney Tune standing there looking at the cowboy. I could see his lips moving trying to tell me he had stopped to see if I was okay after I ran into the house with something attached to my butt. In all honesty I don't even know what came out of my mouth to him. I sure it was not worthy of remembering or sharing with you.

Later in the day while playing this whole thing back in my mind I told Christi that I was pretty sure in my performance to Tinker Bell that I mentioned the hottie cowboy seeing me in my Tweedy Bird pajamas and asking Tinker Bell did she think that he thought I was a cute birdie dancing around. hahahaha

All I can say right now is those darn cats may starve from now on because now they have to wait until I am fully clothed to go outside. lol

At least when Gretchen calls me from Kentucky I can tell her that I am still having adventures out here on the north forty. Not as fun though but enough to make me laugh.

Update on my house in town. The yard is as bad as the inside. Tuesday and Wednesday I scrubbed the brick floor in the den and kitchen then painted the kitchen cabinets. Their not prefect but wow what a difference just those two things have made in that area. I then started painting the front door a red. Yeah red I have seen so many red doors that I now have one coat to my door. My plans were to finish the door today but my back is telling me no.

Several have been kind enough to ask what I am going to do with the house. Well that is a very good question. I can't sleep at night trying to come up with the best way to go from here. If I keep renting it out I am only in for more of this crap. I thought of moving one of my bedroom suits over to it and my beautiful living room pieces that are over at one of my brothers house then renting out the other three bedrooms to women so I could come and go like I live there and have access anytime day or night to keep my house safe but living in a small town I don't know if I can find three older women who need a nice home to share with other women. They would have access to the big kitchen, den, sunroom and garage.

Houses here are not selling and if they do you loose all your equity so what to do is a big problem to me at the moment.

I do know being inside of it the last three days working the happy memories came flooding back to me and makes it hard again for me to come back out here and live alone.

My nephew got his daddy involved in me wanting him to help me clean the house and yard and needless to say the dad sided with his son which shocked the pee doodle out of me because I thought my brother had more upstairs than his son but found out different. hahaha Their story is my sweet sister-in-law spent two weeks cleaning the house before they moved out and their done with cleaning it. Fine a little hard work never killed anyone right? No one has bothered explaining to me why the full rent for September was not pain. I guess their done with that too. God Bless them they mean well.

Enough of that lets enjoy these beautiful days before winter blast us with temps that freeze my toes off.

Love to all
Maggie

Giveaway Wins and Kaci's Art!

2011-10-03T21:08:00.000-05:00

Look what I won from the Rocky Mountain Woman! She had a giveaway last month and I was the lucky winner. Two great bags and a cute magnet bought at her local Farmers Market. These bags are bigger than they look and I have enjoyed using them for my shopping and for taking snacks to Gretchens house many times. If you have not been to RMW site your missing out on a her writing, recipes and a great home she is building.

Another awesome giveaway was held by Kim at Millie's Mats and yep I won it too. I know I am on a lucky streak....well when it comes to giveaways that is. hahaha

Kim gave away one of her beautiful mats that she hooks and I can't believe I now have one in my home to enjoy. It is a starfish and is beautiful!

This mat is made so well by Kim that the back is almost as pretty as the front.

Thank you both for choosing my name and sending me such wonderful gifts. I love them both.

Another piece I love is my granddaughter Kaci's picture she painted of my furry sidekick Tinkerbell.

Kaci is nine years old and loves to paint.

What amazes me about this picture is the markings on the cat she painted for me are so just like Tinkerbells. I am now the lucky owner of another one of Kaci's one of kind art. Life is good.

Here I was trying to get Kaci to wake up for you but she raised up and fell back down. Out like she had a rough day like her mom did. lol

Would you believe that my day was receiving ugly text all day from my nephew about me wanting him to clean my house. I finally turned my phone off but not before he totally ruined a beautiful fall day. He insist the house is clean. His dad told my brother Billy that it was as clean as it was going to get. So.....

Tomorrow my plans are to get up early and over to that house and Clean and Clean some more.

Thanks for all of your comments. I am trying to catch up with all of you and your wonderful sites.

Love to all

Maggie

Disgusting!

2011-10-02T20:51:00.001-05:00

Sorry to have such a disgusting post tonight but I just spent four hours washing down these cabinets in my home in town. Then I was able to give them one coat of paint before my back gave out. It is a huge kitchen with lots and lots of cabinets and everyone of them looked as bad or worse than these two pictures.

Can you imagine living in this kind of filth and then move out and leave it for your Aunt to clean up.

Yep I said Aunt.

This picture below is a small shot of the floors in my once beautiful sunroom.

Here is the brick floor in the den and kitchen. Actually this is not the worse section here.

Look at the ceramic tile in the shower. You really would die if I showed you the bathtub.

This is just one pile of leaves that I guess are from last fall. You really can not tell from this picture how high the pile is but believe me when I say it's high.

What really angers me is Christi phoned my nephew and ask him what his intentions were for cleaning the house and yard. He got really smart with her and told her that not to even go there because they left it clean. Went as far to say that it looks just the way it did when he moved in.

Believe me this house was spotless when he moved in and the nerve of him to say that to Christi. His wife just tried to phone me and I did not answer it because I knew as tired and mad as I am that Ms Pearl would unload on her so bad that you would hear me all the way to Canada.

Since it is my brothers only son I am trying my best to control my true feelings. The sad thing is this nephew was not raised like this and he comes from a good Christian home. Him and his wife are in church every Sunday with his mom and dad. For some reason that makes me even madder. Am I wrong for thinking a good Christian would live better and not leave a rented home like this or any home.

Instead of spending a beautiful day at Warrenton walking around in 80 degree weather which is a first for us in a very long time I was cooped up in a house without the utilities on trying to not find a place in it to hang myself. hahaha

Between this house and all the chores they have given me to do out here on the North Forty I don't know when I can come up for air.

Sweet Dreams

Maggie

PS: It is not my brother Billys son the one in the post before this because if it were I am afraid that Billy would skin him alive leaving me a house like this to deal with.

Big Empty Space!

2011-09-30T20:09:00.000-05:00

Today I found myself pacing the floors. The last time I had paced the floors was the night my best friend and husband did not return home from work. I thought of it when I found myself pacing again today. It must be what I do when I know that my life is about to change forever.

You see at three this afternoon my dear sweet Gretchen left for Kentucky. She no longer will be living out here on the North Forty and now I feel like I have a big hole in my heart.

We said our goodbyes with lots of tears getting in the way. Just in short time this young lady brought so much into my life out here that my heart feels like it is breaking as I try to write this post.

She will be coming back to Texas but not to live out here. About four months ago she met a young man in acting class and has fallen in love. After Gretchen takes care of her mom in Kentucky for three months she will move to Austin where he lives.

Wednesday night my brother Billy and sister-in-law Linda came over to say their goodbyes to Gretchen. If you read the post about us putting the For Rent sign in my brothers yard as a prank well this is the brother.

He never came up with anything to get her back for it. He told her he rented his house and was moving in six weeks but she did not fall for it. lol

In the next picture you can see how Gretchen always is the little actress and is cutting up with Billy.

She captured their hearts too while she lived here on the North Forty.

Friends are the best and I will miss this one terribly.

While I am here tonight I want to thank Julia for her Blogazine post. If you have not read about Julia just keep scrolling down til the next post and read about another good friend of mine.

Sending you good wishes for a happy weekend. I hope that you enjoy some cooler weather. Do something fun and know this ole Texas Yellowhair Grandma sends love to all

Maggie

Welcome Julia of Petals and Wool!

2011-09-28T06:30:00.002-05:00

Please welcome my sweet friend Julia from Of Petals and Wool! She is one busy lady and went to a lot of trouble to write this great story for my Blogazine post.

It seems like just saying Thank You is not enough but I do appreciate all of you and Julia for doing these wonderful stories. So please sit back and enjoy Julia!

Maggie, what an honor for me to be asked to do a story for your Blogazine so this evening I'm all alone and no excuse to put it off any longer, but where do I start?I guess I'll condense my life as briefly as possible so bear with me. Here is a recent bad self photo of me.

I was born in November 1946, third child to what was going to be a very large family of 17 kids,10 boys and 7 girls, My mom got married at 16 to her sweetheart, my dad... Our house was small and always crowded but mom's motto was "There's always room for one more". We lived a sustainable life off the land in the country, with plenty of wild berries in the summer, apples and nuts, fresh fish and wild meat and vegetable garden. My mom baked fresh bread every day. We lived freely and there was never any fear of having someone who would hurt us. We were always outside, either playing ball over the roof top, skating on ponds in winter or swimming in the deep end of brook.

At 16 I left home to get away from a very jealous boyfriend who didn't want to accept that I didn't want to continue the relationship because of his insane jealousy and I came to Fredericton where I found a job the next day, baby-siting the 5 years old girl of an aunt of my aunt and looking after meals and laundry for the rest of the family while the mother went away on business for a few weeks. She kept me on for 9 months as a maid until her older daughters returned home from school in another town. I fell in love with Fredericton, a clean, beautiful and quiet government and University city.

In 1966, at 19 years old, 5 months pregnant I got married to the man of whom I declared that "I wouldn't marry him if he was the last man on earth". He hadn't made the right impression on first sight.

Not having much money at the time I settled for a beautiful new wedding gown that was on sale for $45.00 because they were out of style. The new fashion wedding gowns were plain was and it wasn't for me. I was happy with my purchase.

The day before my wedding, we picked up the brand new car, got our hair done at the hair dresser, picked up the three tier cake, the flowers and other necessities and were on our way to deliver it to the church hall in another town when the weather turned violent and snow was coming down heavily, there were snow drifts and white outs. The roads became impassable and we had to return home.

Half way home we hit an abandoned white car on the road and smashed the grill of the brand new car. No one was hurt as my soon to be husband was driving very slow but I tasted the cake when my face hit the first tier and my sister in law who was in the back seat with my mom had a few flowers broken. Our hair all got wet by the time we returned home and had to put back our hair in curlers. My brother in law fixed the cake by taking the third tier off and he also fixed the bouquets of flowers. We were thankful that no one was hurt. All that mattered to me was that I was going to get married to the man I love... Nothing else mattered...

The next morning my husband got up at 5:00 am to plow the lane all the way to the main road and we made it to the church in the city and although not all the guests could make it, the important people were there. As we came out of the church, the wind had calmed down and the sun was shining and the sky was blue.

Since the reception was cancelled as well as the photographer, we had the reception at the big farm house and what a party that was... Lots of food, booze and good music, lots of gifts and lots of dancing till the wee hours of the morning. My youngest brother in law took some pictures.

From 1966 to 1974, I gave birth to 4 kids, three girls and one boy, and I delighted in sewing all their cloths, making preserves and keeping house. My oldest daughter is 45, a Dr. of Anthropology and teaches and lectures in Scotland and travels the world and does mountain climbing and hiking , my second daughter, 47 lives in Fredericton and has 4 kids and is a master weaver and teaches at the NB College of Craft &Design, my son, 39, is the herdsman on the farm and lives neighbor to us and has one teenage daughter and my youngest daughter, 37, is a Dr. of Chemistry and has an 8 month old baby and lives in Ottawa.

In 1977, we moved in our new house that we built with pine lumber cut on the farm land. My brothers help with the building and I pounded nails and painted. In 1983 I started teaching Hobby Ceramics in my basement for 10 years and then bought a large Ceramic business who was in financial difficulty because of mismanagement and I went into manufacturing greenware and bisque and selling supplies wholesale and retail. I had a registered business and had two employees.I was successful but very over worked. I did this for 10 years and decided that that I needed to slow down. Working all day in a basement wasn't good for my health.

We have been through a litigation with my husband's youngest brother who wanted to have the farm and he did all he could to make our life miserable and in the end his father settled to let him go and the company bought his shares and when my husband's older brother retired he wanted to sell the farm but my husband wasn't ready to stop farming so this too went to expensive litigation. It's a good thing we live a simple and frugal life and had money put aside as lawyers are super expensive.

I intended to go back into ceramic later on as more of a hobby, selling finished decorative pieces as there was still a good market for this in our area. I was encouraged to go on a spiritual journey called The St Ignatius Spiritual Exercises that took me two and a half year to complete with a spiritual adviser and a lot of travel.My husband took the Exercise as well. I even travelled while on chemo every week to be with my spiritual advisor. Then my faith was very strong. I did a lot of inner healing while on the Exercises.

Then in mid December 2002 I was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer and told that I would probably die from it. I had a radical mastectomy and had aggressive chemo treatments and then radiation. My immune system was destroyed so it was either a bone marrow transplant or very expensive medicines that I would have to learn to inject myself. Every 1 cc. of Eprex cost $800. and my hand would shake because I was so afraid to mess up and waste the med. The Nupogen was injected for 5 days and if I remember correctly, cost $96 a shot. These were given to built up my red and white blood cells 48 hours following every chemo treatments for 6 months. Even with my private health insurance that paid 80% of the cost, my out of pocket expenses were a lot. Then My radiation required me to travel to another city for treatments.

Having gone through the Spiritual Exercises had prepared me for this difficult journey. Because I was in a god place spiritually, I had accepted that I was ready to die if it was the will of God and ready to live if this was His will. When I surrendered to Jesus, I was filled with a peace that is hard to describe. I was ready to live fully each day that I was given. I enjoyed even the smallest thing people did for me. I had a lot of support from family, friends and my church community. They donated some money and had fund raiser for me. Even my own family who lives in another part of the province raised money for me. We couldn't have gone through the expenses on our own and we couldn't apply for assistance because we were self employed.

In the spring of 2009 we had a devastating flood and our cattle had to be evacuated to another farm an hour drive away so twice a day it was two hour drive to go and come back to milk the cows. The stress on the cows was evident and their production went down a lot. We lost lots of our hay and silage. Lots of damage to equipments and buildings, erosions of road and land. The government compensated a small amount and our real lost was great.We had hay donated from generous farmers as far as Ontario.

Personally I lost about $30,000.00 in ceramics molds, shelves and equipments that were in the basement. Luckily because the water level was one inch below the window sill, the insurance paid. If the water would have entered through the window, they would have not paid a cent.

On January 31, 2010 one of our bedding barn collapsed under the weight of snow and trapped 70 of our milking cows. They had been milked that morning and had returned to the bedding area. My husband had returned to the barn and found the rafters coming out through the windows. The 911 call was made and also to me and my son and one other farmer. Within minutes there was help from the fire department, the farmers in our area, reporters, curious bystanders. We only lost 3 cows in the mishap. The media were constantly looking for a story. We were not in the mood for being on TV or the newspaper and radio. But they were relentless. We were in shock.

It took only two months in February and March to rebuilt the new barn with the help of volunteers. Even with the red tape of demolition and building permits and and engineers, every thing went like clock work. An amazing show of support carried us through this difficult time. Every day I fed the workers and never knew how many would show up but somehow neighbors and the community brought food at just the right time and we never once ran out of food. Some days there were 15, the next 6, another 20, another 3 and so on. We were grateful beyond measure for all the assistance we got.

I wasn't very brave when it came to cows but I was called out of my deep sleep at 5:00 am one morning by my husband who needed me to care for a frost bitten calf that was born in the cold pole barn in February. The mother had given birth before her due date. The calf had dropped behind the gate and she couldn't reach her to lick her clean and keep it warm. The wet calf quickly was covered with white frost. I cared for it and it survived and she is now pregnant. It happened another time and again I was awaken at 5:00 am but that calf died. I was devastated. I started to care for the calves and since I did such a good job, I was hired. I'm still caring for the calves, small one and big ones.I clean at the farm and clean the pens, I paint walls, I do office work, like filing, opening mail, online banking, payroll deductions, bank deposits, write cheques, calculate the HST tax refund every three months, housework, yard work like gardening and mowing the lawn, meals, laundry, grocery and as if that wasn't enough I started a blog to challenge myself. My blog is called Of Petals and Wool because I like to garden and design and hook wool rugs.

My life is very challenging but never boring. I hope I didn't bored you with this long story. JB

Thank you honey for writing such a wonderful story for all of my friends to enjoy. I have to say I learned a lot about you today that I did not know. Like you owning a ceramic shop for ten years. Wow I use to own one too and loved it.

Isn't it great to learn about our fellow blogging buddies. Julia always inspires me to do more when I visit her site beccause she never slows down. She is like that pink bunny in the battery commercials during the holidays. She just goes and goes and goes. What an amazing woman and friend!

If you want to be the next guest on here please send me your story to grandmayellowhair@gmail.com. If for some reason you have already sent me a story and have not heard from me please let me know because sometimes this happens and I feel bad about it. So don't think I am not publishing your story it's because I don't have it. Remember everyone has a story to tell so send me yours.

This has been a tiring week for me. My renters are moving out of my home in town so I am dealing with that and then Gretchen leaves Friday afternoon from here so l am already crying over her leaving.

I have tried to visit the Round Top/Warrenton show several times with friends but my back just would not let me browse a whole lot. I did take a few pictures that I hope to share with you soon.

Saturday I did get to see my darling family over the weekend and oh how I laughed with those two grandbabies. What a hoot they are! God really blessed us when he gave us grandbabies.

Sending you lots of good wishes and love
Maggie

Three Generations of Brothers and Sisters!

2011-09-26T12:44:00.000-05:00

Today I am joining our sweet friend Donna at Brynwood Needleworks for Memory Lane Mondays. On my way home last night from visiting with my three children, daughter-in-law and grandbabies I thought of how much I love my family.

Since it is almost a two hour drive to my home from theirs it gave me plenty of time for reflections of memories. I thought of how lucky I was to have grown up with four brothers. Yet I promise you it took me a very very long time to be grateful for having four brothers. I mean lets face it being the only girl in the family was not easy. I washed so many dishes and ironed so many blue jeans I still have night mares. lol

Oh and the trips to see my grandparents in the back seat with these four trying to plant a knuckle sandwich in each other over me was quite the experience.

Even though we fought and squabbled over silly unimportant things growing up I have good memories like the time they posed with me in a stage coach while visiting New Mexico. Or the picture above where I am with two of my brothers Doy and Billy!

Or being there for me when my son Clint was married.

Or the birthdays we celebrate with our friends the Olivers!

Here you find me and my four brothers on the left and the Oliver girls with their brother Oscar on the right. Our beautiful moms front and center and their dad Harvey!

Thinking of my brothers of course made me think of how close my children are to each other.

Here Chad,my mom, Christi, Clint, me and the idiot are all together for Clints graduation from college.

No my hair did not stick out like that the whole time the wind was blowing. lol

A couple of years later Clint married and his big brother Chad and sister Christi along with their mom showed up for the happy occasions.

They even go to other weddings with each other!

They show up to help their mom when she is suffering a loss and needs their presence!

Last but not least I thought of the two brothers and sisters who bring new joy to all of us!

Kaci and Bailey in a pumpkin patch!

They even hunt strawberries with their grandmayellowhair!

I hope my post today brings back happy family memories to you my friend!

Love to all

Maggie

My High School Reunion!

2011-09-19T12:48:00.000-05:00

Hello and how are you this beautiful September day. The first thing I have to mention is have you read my previous Blogazine post. If not scroll down and meet Cathy. Thanks Cathy for doing your story for me. Who is next? Don't be shy send your story to grandmayellowhair@yahoo.com

As most of you know I attended my class reunion over the weekend. For some crazy reason they greeted us at the door of the ball room with name tags that showed us at 17 years old. Here is my Senior picture they had me wear around my neck Saturday night so everyone would know who I was. hahaha.... Silly that they would think I had change so much that no one would recognize me.

Ten minutes into the party I realized these organizers knew what they were doing because I kept thinking who are all of these old people. Am I at the wrong reunion?

Thank goodness I went to this with the Oliver sisters that I grew up with because other wise it would have been a long night.

About three times a year I have a girly weekend with three sisters I grew up with in La Porte so I suggested to them we rent a room and attend our High School Reunion.

In the hotel room I made them pose for a picture! I have to tell you the best part of my weekend was spent in this room laughing with these three. We laughed ourselves silly until way into the night.

Ok girls I have to take a picture of you before the big party!

Left to right my life long friends and sisters Ruby, Bonnie and Linda.

Well maybe two pictures!

After the meal my class of 1966 had to pose for a picture together.

Not very many attended from our class. That's me on the right with a black top and long skirt.

Remember last week Gretchen came over and I was trying on outfits to wear to this thing and she loved this black and white skirt that Christi and I had bought a few weeks ago at Stein Mart.

You all know how crazy Gretchen is and when I tried this on she kept saying Oh Yeah Maggie this is so sexy on you. This is what you have to wear. Being the crazy young girl she is she said, "OMG your going to get laid wearing that outfit!" Can you imagine being told that especially from a young 30 year old woman. hahaha....Anyway about twenty minutes ago she texted me the question...."Well did you...Well did you?" Of course I knew what she was asking so I wrote her back the truth.

"Honey the only thing that got laid was the cards we played when we got back to our hotel room!"

Gretchen of course Texted back "LOL"

It was a strange night seeing kids I had went to school with now in their early 60's. Most of these I had not seen since graduation night.

Here is a picture of me and Mike Edgmond. Mike and I attended the same college after high school so we were happy to see each other. In college I introduced him to a girlfriend of mine and they were pretty crazy about each other. Guess you know WHO we chatted about the short time we visited! Our mutual friend of course. Can't wait to call her today and tell her about Mike.

Great picture of the sisters and another friend of ours Bonnie who grew up next door to us. She had not changed a bit. Friendly and lovely as ever.

This is a few of my class mates that gathered later in the evening at our table.

I know some of you wanted me to meet a Handsome prince there and bring him back to the north forty with me but not to be.

One female classmate came and sat down beside me and said she was hiding from her hubby because he loved to dance and she did not want to. I wanted to shake that woman and tell her to get back to her husband and enjoy the night dancing. Strange how we never appreciate what we have!

Would love to keep chatting but if you could see my house you would understand the need to get off of here and get busy.

It is Warrenton/Round Top Antique week too and you know where to find me after today. lol

Love to all

Maggie

Cathy from The Frazzled Homemaker!

2011-09-17T07:30:00.001-05:00

I have to tell you this ole grandma has missed being on here visiting with you. Where did this week go? It seems like the last few weeks have been a blurr since they have flew past me.

Gretchen and I have been together a lot this week. It has been good for my soul to have her walk over after she gets off work and we cook dinner together. Nothing better than spending time with someone that makes you laugh. Since she is moving by the lst it is nice that she has time for me.

My high school reunion is this Saturday and I had to try on everything in my closet for Gretchen so she could help me decide what to wear. She begged me to let her dye my hair pink and I wear leather pants. OMG I told her the three life time friends I am going with would leave me in the hotel room. hahaha

One day next week I hope to share a good time story with you. I am praying it will be a good time.
It will be strange seeing the kids I went to school with as old men and women.

I was excited this morning when Cathy sent me an email this morning with her Blogazine story. She had previously sent it a few weeks ago and for some reason I did not get it. Thank goodness she wrote me and ask if I had received it because we would of missed out on getting to know Cathy better.

After reading her story tonight I realized how much I enjoy doing these post. I love learning things about you that I don't know. It just seems to bring us all closer which is the whole purpose of my blog. Friends connecting with friends.

Be sure and welcome Cathy and don't forget to hop over to her site. While your there you will see why I ask Cathy to be my guest. Also please think about sending me your story too. I truly enjoy getting to know you better. Now heres Cathy.......

Hi all,
My name is Cathy Bendzunas and I have about 40+ sites but my main site is at http://thefrazzledhomemaker.com/

I'm a big fan of Maggie's as I'm sure you all are too. A few months ago Maggie stopped by my blog and asked if I'd be interested in writing a post on her blog. I was interested but had no idea what to write about.
Then I saw she had started up the Blogazine Guest posts again so decided I'd tell you my story of how I came to be "happily unemployed."
I was always the black sheep of the family. I felt like I never quite fit in and I also felt like no matter what I did, I disappointed my parents. That's a whole another story though.
Being that I was the offspring of 2 college educated professionals, it was assumed that I would go to college too and become a professional. There was one problem with that. Professional what? I really wasn't interested in any one profession.
I loved drawing and art and wanted to be a fashion illustrator but even with an art school degree, those jobs were few and far between.
I kind of enjoyed writing and my English college professor told me I had a knack for it but what could I do with that? I didn't have the drive to be a reporter.
I guess I could always have gotten my teaching degree in Art or English and taught that but I knew without a doubt I was not teacher material. I would have hated it. And so would the students.
So, as I seemed to do with so much in my life, I disappointed my parents and dropped out of college. I got a job as an accounting clerk. The official title was "Reconciliation Analyst". Fancy title, huh? Really what I did was play detective and figure out what the trouble was when clients had problems with their account. I actually liked that job because you really did have to be a sleuth. But the company did away with that job and I was moved into processing incoming mail. Very boring.
I had other jobs over the years too such as payroll clerk, computer operator, dog groomer and kennel attendant. I liked some things about each of those jobs but none of them were "my Calling". Although I excelled at every job I had, and was a very hard worker, I really hated working. It was so hard to keep my mouth shut when I would see some of the idiotic things managers would do. And even though a tiny part of me liked the structure of a job, most of me hated it with a passion. I would wake up depressed knowing I had to go to work AGAIN. Can I get a witness?
I figured everyone felt that way and jobs were just something we as humans have to endure. There was something in my spirit that just cried out for freedom and just screamed in my head that this was wrong. I was not meant for to work a typical job. Of course my parents thought I was nuts for feeling this way. And I was afraid they were right.
Altogether I worked for over 30 years. There were times when I would just work part time when my children were young, but I never stopped working altogether.
Until 2008. It was a tough time in my life. My oldest daughter got into some legal trouble. My husband also got several DUI's and ended up in jail for a few months. I found out he was cheating on me. That destroyed my marriage although it was never a good marriage to begin with. Both of my parents became ill and disabled and my father died in the summer of 2008, leaving the care of my mother solely to me. Yep, it was a tough year.
The one good thing that happened was that I was laid off from my job in the Spring of that year. When it happened, I felt a mixture of fear, hurt and apprehension for the future. But mostly I felt relief. I was so grateful that I was out of there. I felt like my spirit had been set free.
It's been 3 years since then and I still have not found another job. That's because I haven't looked for another job. I educated myself and learned how to build websites, do affiliate marketing and search engine optimization. I'm doing what I love. I absolutely love the internet and computers. I get to write and I get to design. What could be better?
I am hardly rich, but I'm making it on my own and I could not be happier. Sometimes I'm asked if I feel scared about the insecurity of not knowing what I'm going to make every month. But the way the economy is, I think I would be more afraid to have a job that could end at any moment.
Would I suggest to others to quit their job and work for themselves? Not necessarily. I don't think I would have ever done it if the decision hadn't been made for me. But if you do feel you should be working for yourself, make some plans now while you still have a job.
Save as much as you can. Learn to live on less. Pay off as much debt as you can. And start your business part time now, while you still have a job. Build it up so that it can sustain you if you ever do quit, or like me, lose your job.

Cathy Bendzunas
http://thefrazzledhomemaker.com/
http://www.cathyscreations.com/

Great story honey. I appreciate you sharing this with us. I am curious who will be next.

Remember Love Well, Laugh Often and Love Much!

Love to all
Maggie

We Must Always Remember!

2011-09-11T10:15:00.000-05:00

God Bless America!

John Vigiano Sr. is a retired New York City firefighter whose two sons followed him into service—John Jr. was a firefighter, too, and Joe was a police detective. On September 11, 2001, both Vigiano brothers responded to the call from the World Trade Center, and both were killed while saving others. Here, John Sr. remembers his sons and reflects on coping with his tremendous loss.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfWa9gI-Bks

Sorry I tried and tried to put this on here the right way but for the life of me could not figure it out.

Sending my love to all of you

Maggie

Too Much Fun!

2011-09-09T10:36:00.001-05:00

Good morning! Where oh where did this week go! Already Friday morning and my to do list for the week is half scratched off. Well half is exaggerating somewhat.

I promised you a funny tale of what Gretchen, Christi and I got ourselves into this week so sit back and be silly with us.

As most of you know Gretchen moved out to the North Forty last year at this time and being a actor and writer she and I have connected in so many ways even though she younger than my daughter Christi.

Not only have I fallen in love with her so has my family. Especially my older brother Billy Joe. Immediately Gretchen hit it off with Billy and the two together is quite entertaining to say the least. At times I wonder who is crazier.

Since Gretchen is leaving us for Kentucky at the end of this month she has been playing pranks on Billy Joe to irritate the fool out of him until her move. She thinks she has nothing to loose since she will be in Kentucky for the next three months.

Well now to my part of these pranks. I hesitate to write this story because I know sometimes Billy's wife Linda reads my post. So Linda if you read this Please do not give me up to Billy.

Tuesday night Gretchen came over for dinner. Christi had come to my home for the Labor Day weekend and ended up staying the week instead. How great is that? Well she fixed oven fried pork chops with new potaoes and corn on the cob for dinner. We had a glass of wine on the front porch catching up on what Gretchen has been doing with her writing and screen plays. Then we got to laughing about her and Billy Joe.

The next thing I knew we were in the barn looking for a For Rent Sign and then driving to town to Billy and Linda's house on main street. They live in a big beautiful house in town and Christi came up with the idea of putting this For Rent Sign in their yard after dark.

We drive past their house several times either trying to make sure the coast was clear or just being silly who can remember. Of course I am driving. I pull over close to their neighbors driveway and Gretchen gets out takes the big sign and is trying to put in the hard ground. No sooner than she is doing this a big pick up truck drives right up to her and is asking her directions. hahaha

Christi and I are laughing so hard in the car because we just know that Billy is going to catch her standing there with a sign in her hand because this truck will not go on. I am thinking they are asking her about the house but when we see her hands going here and there we realize she is trying to direct them. That makes us laugh even harder because Gretchen in the year she has been here uses her GPS to navigate her way around.

Finally I shoo Christi out of the car and tell her to go help Gretchen. Mean while I am laughing so hard I thought I was going to choke. That's how hard I was laughing.

Okay they finally get back into the car and we drive to a near by Ice Cream Parlor to plot our next move.

Nothing like ice cream to get the ole brain going!

Somehow we come up with the idea for Gretchen to change her voice and call Billy's and ask about the house. Well she changes her voice to a really funny character and my sister-in-law Linda answers the phone and Gretchen is asking all kinds of questions and Linda keeps insisting they don't have any property for rent. Finally I guess my sweet Linda gets tired of Gretchen and hangs up on her. The whole time Christi and I are laughing so hard because I have to tell you the voice Gretchen used is one out of the old world or some world. Not sure what accent it was. hahaha

Thirty minutes later Christi gets a girlfriend of hers to call and this time Billy answers the phone. Billy actually was very nice to Christi's friend but kept telling her they had nothing to rent. Since this was the second phone call he ask her where she had gotten his phone number. We did not want them to know about the sign yet so she told him Craig's List.

I know you are thinking OMG these girls are terrible. We were having to much fun to think of how bad we were being. The third call was made by Gretchen's boyfriend from his apt. in Austin. He too being an actor disquised his voice and put on quite the script for Linda. Again Linda ended up hanging up on him. They both said it was not like a slamming ugly hang up but a real quiet one. hahahaha

By now we have drove back home but not without laughing our fool heads off the whole time. Silly silly we can be some times.

Gretchen goes home and Christi and I get to thinking about us leaving the sign in the yard and she is one bedroom laughing and I in the other. Hearing her laughing in bed only made me laugh even harder.

Well about 6am the next morning I woke up thinking maybe I should slip into town and remove the sign before too many people see it and start calling.

Then I change my mind and wait for the consequences of our actions. The three of us wait all day to hear something from Linda or Billy. No word all day. We get one of my other brothers to call Billy and he claims Billy never mentioned the sign. Strange really strange. The longer times goes by without hearing anything we are thinking Oh No he is Mad. hahaha

The next morning I talk to Linda on the phone and she starts telling me about the phone calls and then their finding the sign while picking up limbs.

You have to know Billy's personality to know how worried we were over his reaction. The whole time Linda is telling me this I am playing totally dumb and innocent. She said Billy figured immediately it was Gretchen and he is plotting his revenge. OMG poor Gretchen!

Here is crazy Billy last year around Christmas time! He could not resist putting on one of my hats hanging near by on a coat rack.

Silly Gretchen came over last night and wanted to go to town and play another joke on them. We talked her into waiting. hahahaha

Sorry for the long drawn out story. I even left out parts but I have to tell you it is fun sometimes to be a kid again.

Love to all

Maggie

Maine In April

2011-09-08T06:40:00.001-05:00

Since my last post about sleep walking I showed my friend your concerns about her hubby and he has agreed to go see his doctor. Now if he will just keep the appointment and get the help for this problem.

When I told Christi about my phone conversation about his episodes it was just as I expected. She has one of those laughs that is contagious. I am ashamed at how hard we laughed

If you found that story funny just wait until my next post about what Gretchen, Christi and I got into last night. Would tell you tonight but can't make it public for a day or two. Oh my gosh it is hilarious..

This has been a fun and busy week for me because Christi is still here. She came for the weekend and has stayed to help me paint a bedroom set that belonged to my grandmother. It is going to be really pretty when we finish. I will share some pictures later.

Now for some really awesome news. It seems I always have bad news to pass on but not this time. Christi has to be in Portland, Maine in April and guess who gets to fly there with her. She flies a lot with her work so she had frequent flier miles and bought me my ticket. Am I excited! I can not begin to tell you how much.

You see as far back as I can remember I have wanted to visit the East Coast. Especially Maine and Vermont. As a kid I was obsessed with Maine so much that I use to think I was adopted and my real parents were from Maine. I know I have been crazy that long.

I would love for this trip to be in the fall but beggars can't be choosy. We bought a travel book about Maine and I could not sleep the other night after browsing the pages.

So now of course I am hoping that you have been to Portland area and can give us all the advice we need for having a great time. Also is April still considered part of winter there? I am worried it may be still to cold to enjoy.

Would love to hear your suggestions and about your trip there. Also need neat places to stay and visit.

As most of you know Texas has had some really horrific wild fires that have caused not only loss in lives but homes. Since Sunday evening I have been smelling smoke from some of these fires. The first time I smelled it I freaked out thinking the North Forty was burning. Scared the you know what out of me because these old 100 year old house out here would go up in minutes.

I do want to express my deepest sympathy for all who have suffered this week during these fires. There are so many of them the fire fighters just can not get them under control and just north of me over 600 houses burned in a short time.

What scares me living so close to a main highway like I do that some idiot will carelessly throw a ciggerette out their car window and the end result could be tragic just like these other situations.

Please keep praying for rain in Texas. I have lived in Texas all my life but this is the worst drought that I can remember.

Then some of you need for us to pray for sunshine. One thing for sure mother nature does her own thing when and where she has a mind too.

Well I must close for now but wanted to say hello and to check on you. You are always in my thoughts.

Love to all
Maggie

Not Even I Could Make This Up!

2011-09-03T07:05:00.001-05:00

There is no way to prepare someone for what I am about to share with you. Even I could not make this up and you know my imgination. It is so bad I am not even sure I should share it. I mean there are some of you that have already dropped me because you think I could be as Gretchen likes to say about the actors she works with.....Bat Sh** Crazy! I swear to you a woman I use to work with years ago phoned me and told me this about her hubby.

Somehow we got on the subject of sleep walking. I think it started with me mentioning to her that I was up all night and was hoping to go to bed early tonight. She then tells me she is a little worried about her husband because he has been sleep walking. What makes this story even funnier is the way she tells it. I mean she is so serious and never once changes the tone of her voice. It was like we talking about something as unimportant as going to get our nails done.

Well hang on to your coffee cups because when I tell you what she told me about her husband and sleep walking you are going to probably spit your coffee all over your screen. I would give up cookies and Dr Pepper for a wekk if I could just tell this to you the way it was told to me.

It seems for a while now her husband gets up in his sleep looking for something to eat. She started finding things half eaten in their kitchen or laying on the counter and could not figure out why. The very first thing she found was a empty package of cat treats. Now I kid you not when she told me that she ask him why all the cat treats were gone he got a real funny look on his face and told her she must of left them there. She swore to me that she knew dang well she had not given their cat a full bag of treats and then left the empty bag on the counter.

I laughed so hard that I embarrassed myself. I can just see her skinny husband standing there a sleep eating cat treats.

Oh believe me it gets even better. She has found cat food and dog food out along with other things in her cabinets. Then she said one morning she went into the bathroom and her deorderant was on the floor with a big bite out of it. She said when she confronted him with this of course he denied it all.

I have to tell you even now typing this I can not see the key board for tears falling down my face laughing so hard. You read it right he supposedly took a bite of her deorderant. I was laughing to hard to ask her if he ate it. Seems like she mentioned something else odd was eaten in the bathroom.

After the deorderant incident she said she started worrying about him because he is totally unaware of doing this. They think he even drank some of her liquid dish washing.

By now I am laughing so hard that my sides are hurting. It has been a while since I have had a laugh like this.

For the last six months she has been calling me about the fear of him cheating on her. He has been staying out late and not coming home after work and other things. Well you know me I got mad hearing some of things she told me these last few months so when she told me this today I told her its a good thing I wasn't married to him because with him walking in his sleep drinking and eating all kinds of things I could just picture some dishes I would have sitting around for him.

Of course this made her laugh but then she continued to tell me that one night she got up and checked on him and he was peeing in her dryer. I knew then I could not hear anymore. She said she screamed so loud when she found him doing this that it startled him so bad that she thought he was going to have a heart attack.

Oh she also told me that he has banged his head so hard walking into something in his sleep that he has cuts and even one time woke up with a black eye.

If this had come from any other woman besides her I don't know if I could believe all these stories. But she is a shy quite type that would never make up fabrications especially of this nature. By now try to picture her so serious on one end of the phone and me absolutely uncontrollable on the opposite end. I mean seriously how can one prepare theirself for a conversation like the one I had with her.

Even now I can't hardly repeat it without loosing it. Could you tell someone these stories about your hubby?

Then she tells me that he is like 58 and she is worried that this is only the beginning of her life with him in his old age. I can tell you right now Ms Pearl would not allow the man to reach old age. Not if he pees anywhere but the commode in the bathroom. No Way!

Good thing I never see this couple and that we don't live close because I am telling you I don't think I can ever look at the man the same again.

I hope I did not offend her by laughing so loud I woke up everything napping out here on the North Forty but to think of a grown man walking around eating cat treats or deorderant sticks is a little too much for me to not loose it over.

I told her to give me time to recoop from this phone call and to please stay in touch because here lately I have needed a good laugh.

Christi is coming today to spend the weekend and I can't wait til we are face to face so I can repeat this story. Christi has a laugh that makes the world laugh with her so I can just see how she will react to this.

Do you sleep walk?

I told her maybe thats why I have gained so much weight because I don't eat that much during the day maybe I am doing the same thing but just neat about it and not leave the evidence lying around on the counter tops.

Hope you come back soon because I love you visiting with me.

Love to all

Maggie

Good Morning!

2011-09-02T03:46:00.009-05:00

Good morning......it is 3am and I am wide awake. Tossed and turned kicked Tinkerbell once or twice so I decided to get up and check on you. Hope you are sound a sleep and having sweet dreams.

Of course my friends in England like Sybil might be having their morning coffee.

Who knows why I have these nights where I just can not sleep to save my life. Goodness knows I am going to regret it about noon today.

From the looks of this picture of Tinkerbell she is already regretting that we got out of bed. I caught her yawning really big. Goodness I can almost see her tonsils.

First in my thoughts this morning to you is thank you for coming by and saying hello to Kathy from Creative Home Expressions. Also of course I want Kathy to know I appreciate her doing her story for all of us to enjoy and to help me start my Blogazine Guest post again. I truly have missed these.

Now Tinkerbell is running around in circles like she is chasing something or something is chasing her. Kind of spooky to see her doing this in the middle of the night. I hope she is not chasing my ghost. That's all I need is to have to deal with that right now. lol

Hope you have had a good week. Mine has been one of those where running away keeps entering my mind.

My renter phoned me Sunday after church and told me there was water running into the front bedroom. He thought the water heater was leaking.

Of course you know me I thought OH No I can't handle this right now. Well my older brother Billy and I go over to my home in town and yep there is water linking into the bedroom but you could barely see it for all the clothes and toys that were scattered everywhere. I managed to mop up what I could and we went and bought a water heater that surprised me for being close to four hundred dollars. Geeeezzzz when did they get so high. lol

Thanks to my brother by three that afternoon they have their water back on and I am home trying to figure out if I will have to replace the floor where the water came flooded on it. I prayed I would not but I know now I will have too.

Well not long after I get back to the North Forty they call again and said water was going in there again.

Being a Sunday evening I knew that I could not find a plumber to help me so I go back over turn their water off and they spend the night with one of thier parents.

Then for five hours I am with a plumber and he is trying to figure out where the water is leaking when the renter tells him that the bathtub did not drain yesterday either. Oh great so he starts working on it and I am walking around looking at my house and crying. Like the other renters I have dealt with my house is horrible. The bathrooms looked like the tub and shower had not been cleaned since they moved in. My brick floor in the den in kitchen is suppose to be off white but it is black. Unreal how it looks.

I walked out in the back yard and my yard had been dug up by a dog. After the last renters I had said no dogs because her dogs had destroyed my yard. Well surprise I am bending over looking at a whole big enough to have a small swimming pool when out of know where here comes running and jumping on me but this big black Lab. First thought was where in the heck did he come from and then OMG does he bite.

All I could think about was trying to get back to my sun room door and safety. Turns out he just wanted attention.

Well back to the leak. The plumber finds water running from the AC so he unstops it and the bathtub and 600 hundred dollars later I go back home.

I am home crying over my house and how it is destroyed again when the phone rings again. It is the renter again telling me water is coming in the room again. I tell him to turn the water off and I would call the plumber. It is 8 pm by now and the plumber says he will go back over there. My renter calls and tells me they are not going to wait on him that I will have to come to town.

They left and I go back over and mop the room again. The plumber can not get into the attic where he needs to look so we decide to meet the next morning.

Turns out my pipes are so bad in the attic that I am going to have to have new ones. Joy Joy Joy!!!!

He is working up an estimate now for me. He did manage to fix it good enough for the present but who knows how long they will be ok.

Needless to say the renters are suppose to be looking for a new place and be out by the lst of Oct. I have no idea what to do with it now because I have had really bad luck with renters.

Well Tinkerbell has calmed down a little but she is sitting on the back of the sofa slapping the back of my head with her furry paw so who knows what she wants. hahaha At this hour of the morning I am hoping she is trying to tell me to go back to bed.

I know your tired of reading about my leaks and renters so I will stop for now.

Hope you have a safe and wonderful Labor Day weekend. Be careful on the highways their always so packed around here on holidays.

Thanks for stopping by and if you missed my previous post about Kathy be sure and read her story.

Love to all

Maggie

Enjoy Kathy at Creative Home Expressions.

2011-09-01T10:47:00.001-05:00

This is aa exciting post for me today because it is the first time in a long time that I have had a Blogazine Guest on here. I am also linking up with Donna at Brynwood Needleworks today for her Memory Lane Monday's.

I know some of you are thinking now Maggie how does having a Blogazine Guest fall under Donna's Memory Lane Monday. Well here is how I feel I can get by with it. Due to the length of time it has been since my last Blogazine Guest post it is now a happy memory of a time in my life that I looked forward to having guest on this site. Does that make sense to you?

Actually I thought I could get by with this too because Donna is the one that named my post Blogazine Guest.. Cleaver aren't I.

Anyhoo last year I was trying to figure out how to get you better aquainted with each other so I thought of having guest on here from other blogs to come tell their story so we all could get to know them better. What fun I had doing this and then it seems after my accident I just kind of let this part of my blog slide like I did my Temptation Mondays. But my sweet friend Kathy over at Creative Home Expressions agreed to help me start this back up again.

You see Kathy is one of those friends out here in our world of blogging that knows how Maggie so needs some fun in her life right now so she kindly sent this to me.

So enjoy Kathy's story like I did and if you have not already been by her creative site you are missing out on lots of clever and unique projects. Besides that your missing out on what really matters a new friend.

Then go by Donna's and see who else linked up to her Memory Lane Mondays and read their stories. I did and I enjoyed it very much.

Now I have run out of words so my newest Blogazine Guest Kathy takes over ,,,,,,,isn't she beautiful.

Hi Maggie ~

Without getting long-winded. I've been married for 26 years this year and we were both 21 when we got married, first house at 22, first child at 23 and second child at 26. As you and many others have read, we are native New Yorkers moving to Ohio and my daughter, her husband and my granddaughter are moving with us. It is an opportunity not just for the hubster and I, but also for my daughter and her family to get a home and an affordable way of life. We are hoping my son will join us once he finishes his schooling for physical therapist.

I graduated high school at 17 and went right to work. At 19 I started interior design school but dropped out. I then went on to receive my paralegal certificate, an Associates Degree in Applied Science {for criminal justice} and coming full circle back to interior decorating completing a course when I turned 40 and swore I would have no regrets in life. Up until then, my only regret had been dropping out of interior design school.

I love interior decorating and have done it for several years part-time in addition to a job as an office manager in a law firm. I figured part-time was better than nothing! Now that we are moving to Ohio, I am hoping to be able to take interior decorating appointments at my leisure. Other than that, I will enjoy spending time with my granddaughter and family and also enjoy discovering Ohio.

Trying to make the world prettier one project at a time!

Thanks, Maggie! I hope this was okay.

Kathy

Not only was this OKay Kathy I thought it was great. Your pictures are just lovely too. Thank you for doing this for us.

Now I will be checking my email box at grandmayellowhair@gmail.com to see who is going to volunteer to be next. Please don't make Ms. Pearl come looking for you. Just do it! Get it over with and you won't have to worry about ok when is she coming after me to do this. Sometimes fear is our worst enemy.

Life is too short not to tell your story on Just Between Me and You!

Love to all

Maggie

After The Burned Sausage!

2011-08-28T11:10:00.000-05:00

Since I could not eat my burnt supper of sausage I walked outside.

At one time there were stables out here on the north forty and each horse had its on stall which of course on the gate hung their name. My favorite of course was Gypsy. The only thing left of the stables and horses are the signs that I could not throw away. Here as you can see, I have Gypsy's sign by my pots of Rosemary and Lavender at the side gate walking into my front yard.

Frogs, turtles and I hope pigs are suppose to be good Feng Shui so I have several sitting near my porch.

Fat big muddy Pigs and little ones that think they can fly.

One of my favorite watering cans is this turtle.

One of my smaller angels that watch over my yard at night.

Opps found another pig hiding by the pink rocker.

Saw this metal flower vase or whatever they call these....lol.... hanging on the fence that says America and thought of all of you and how some of you are in the path of that crazy storm Irene. You have been in my prayers and thoughts for days now. Praying that you will be safe when this storm goes thru your area.

Enough pics of my funky yard art. You should thank me I only showed you some of what is sitting around the north forty.

After my walk last night I came back inside cleaned up my burnt mess and then I did a little blogging. I was enjoying visiting some of you and checking on my East Coast friends too. Well I went by a site that I always makes me feel better after visiting. She did a post about the Blessing of Silence. If you get a chance go by Dr. Kathy McCoy: Living Fully In Midlife and Beyond because I know you will be inspired too.

Something else I have been wanting to mention but have not is I miss my Temptation Monday"s post. Also I have missed you being my Blogazine Guest..... those post were so great reading ....yeah I know what your thinking they give me a chance to have someone else do my writing for the day. Well shame on you for even thinking I would stoop so low. hahahaha ....Seriously I was going back through some of my old post and realized how much fun I had with these stories. So who is going to volunteer and be my next Blogazine Guest. I know there are several of you out there that have talked about doing this for me so don't be shy send me your story to grandmayellowhair@gmail.com along with a picture or two. It will be great having your story added to the Writing Hall of Fame under my Blogazine Page of guest. Someone ask if they could be on here again as a guest and of course I would love to have any of you again and again.

I think I will start doing the Temptation Mondays on my other site called what else Temptations. lol So will let you know about doing those post as soon as I figure out how they should be done. If you are one of the many artist on that page I am open for suggestions. You know I am living in a fog right now and can't think of everything. lol

Also I think this Monday it is time for me to link up with Donna for her Memory Lane Monday's. Why don't you join us. It would be fun to read some of your memories.

Just click on Donna's button on my side bar and join in on the fun.

Sending lots of love to all
Maggie

Hitting the Bottle Again!

2011-08-24T07:14:00.021-05:00

Lord knows I have a drinking problem....I roll over every morning in my bed feeling for my bottle on the night stand to see if there is a drop left in it. If not I stumbled like a 110 year old woman to the refrig to find another bottle. God help Tinkerbell if she is in the path to the kitchen.

Then I unscrew the lid and ah my first drink of the morning. It is like no other! Is it my fault over a hundred years ago some man in Waco, Texas invented a drink he named Dr Pepper. Now fools like me all over this great nation are adicts.

Am I proud of it. No! Is there help for me? Probably not. I thought of joining AA but then I know me and my addictive personality I would feel bad for the others that have other drinking problems and the I would probably come home and hit the liqour cabinet. Well I don't really have a liqour cabinet but I do have a amour full of it but that is another story for another day. Has nothing to do with my problems right now.

You ask What is my problem right now that has got me drinking more? Well let me see if I can fill you in this morning without forgetting anything.

Number one is this freaking thing called Blogger. It wasn't going to be number one on my list tis morning but when I was getting ready to type my list for you I hit the longer key thingeee that says enter because I thought that would bring me to the next line and instead it published this page. Now why would hitting that button publish my stupid work before I am ready to publish it for the world to see.

I instantly screamed WHAT and grabbed my bottle. Tinkerbell jumped a foot from my desk and landed on the keyboard and hit all kinds of keys. Another swallow from the bottle.

Ok here I go again with my reasons. Well you know while I am on blogger I might as well get it all out. Here lately I can come on to my site and I have no friends on the sidebar. I mean 99 percent of the time you are not there. Sometimes u are and sometimes your not. Another drink.

Then last night I was suppose to be doing research for a book that heaven knows only if it will ever be written and I am thinking you know I need to try and make some of my post into one of those books that everyone does on Cutest Blog site and I kid you not if I had not had some restrain left I could of drank a dang six pack trying to do that very project. Let me tell you I sat here in front of this computer until after midnight and I still did not order a book of my pages. One time the book was 200 pages over their limit. I for the life of me could not figure out how to delete post so I go back in and make another one. Not an easy thing for me to do. Then they show me the results of that book. Well it was not in the freaking color I picked out for the jacket. So when I try to edit that it won't do it. Have you ever just wanted to throw your lap top clear across the room. Another drink!

After three long enduring hours and I don't know how many swallows I had four books made and none I mean none o them were what I was trying to make. God help me could I be that dumb. I closed the computer not even caring if I logged off. I was too busy trying to find another bottle.

Then I think ok I don't have a certain time any more to be up so I will try and research some of my material. Well I crawl in bed get all comfy with a half dozen pillows behind me and all of a sudden I am the one jumping a foot off the bed. Tiukerbell either half drunk herself or just old missed the bed when she jumped up and instead landed on the night stand. Knocked my lamp off on the floor and by the time I managed to get to the wall switch to see the damage there is Dr Pepper running on my pages of notes. Holy freaking whatever I run to the bathroom for a towel and almost break my toe because I hit it on the edge of the doorway.

Clean up that mess and go to bed. lol The heck with research.

Back to my list of things driving me drinking. You know I still have not sold my home yet in town. I have a nephew living there and I love him dearly but he can't afford it so I don't charge him the full rent. Well now that the sheriff's office thinks I am not healthy enough to work for them I can no longer keep letting him live there so cheap. Well me and him have been back and forth on the phone and emails trying to figure out what to do. He claims he can't come up with anymore money so he is talking about finding something else. Well believe me in this town he will not find anything near the size of my home and no where close to what he is paying now. So I get this email from him last night about he is going to have to finish the floor in the bathroom and then put a sink in the first chance he gets when he is off. Now when I read that there were not enough DP's in my house to calm me down. What does he freaking mean he has to finish putting in a bathroom floor and sink. What the heck does that mean. Where is the one that was there when he moved in.

More drinking!

Another problem I am having which I know it's all my fault but I can't be me. Does that make sense to any of you. Ever since I have found myself with out work I am like in a fog. I can't even keep up with you on here. My desk right now if you were to ask me for a pen to write with I am guessing it would take me ten minutes to find one. Right now I am looking at a Fat cat licking her paws and scratching the back of her ear all at the same time. There is a halff eaten Church's apple pie inside their bag under the cat. Mail piled up that needs to be either tossed in the trash or put God knows where. Books here, there and everywhere. Pictures of my kids and grandbabies that some are standing up others are laying down. My breakfast of peanut butter crackers and yes a Dr Pepper are in lying here somewhere. Oh and a package of cat treats for the fat cat.

Somewhere under all of this is a list of things I need to get done this week. More swallows.

Plus it is going to be 103 or more today and no rain. Another big swallow. hahahaha

Ok I will stop but believe me I could keep going with this drinking list until the cows come home. Another problem. The ranch next door and all their cows. lol

Sorry I have to leave you now some how today I need to find me in all this clutter and do something today besides drink. Now where the heck is my to do list?

Love to all

Maggie

Sorry I Had To Share!

2011-08-23T14:58:00.001-05:00

WHAT PART OF YOUR BODY GOES TO HEAVEN FIRST?

       The nun teaching Sunday School was speaking to her class one morning and She asked the question:
'When you die and go to Heaven... Which part of your body goes first?'

Suzy raised her hand and said:   'I think it's your hands.'
'Why do you think it's your hands, Suzy?'
Suzy replied: 'Because when you pray, you hold your hands together in front of you and God just takes your hands first..'
'What a wonderful answer!' the nun said.

Little Johnny raised his hand and said: 'Sister, I think it's your feet.'
The nun looked at him with the strangest look on her face.
'Now, Little Johnny, why do you Think it would be your feet?'
Little Johnny said:
'Well, I walked into Mummy and Daddy's bedroom the other night, Mummy Had her legs straight up in the air and she was saying: 'Oh ! God, I'm coming!' If Dad hadn't pinned her down, we'd have lost her."

The Nun fainted!......



  Too good not to share with you!

Busy day but hopefully I can blog tonight and catch up with you!

Love to all

Maggie

The Oliver's

2011-08-22T16:19:00.000-05:00

In Back my sweet Sister-in-Law Linda, her sister Ruby, brother Oscar

Front Harvey, Lou and Bonnie

Yesterday at my oldest brother Billy's home we celebrated Harvey Oliver's 85th Birthday. There are no memories in my life without the Oliver family.

Our two families lived by each other for the first 17 years of my life. They are my extended family. Their Mom Edna and Harvey were my second parents. Edna passed away a few years ago and Harvey remarried Lou who is pictured here with the family.

Where ever I went Linda, Bonnie and Ruby went with me. Visa Versa. We were inseparable until I moved away to college. The same year Linda married my older brother Billy and made our family ties legal. haha

Linda and Billy have been sweethearts since grade school. Linda always knew she was going to marry Billy.

My brother Billy is the tall good looking guy in the middle. See Linda attached to his arm. haha

Oscar's family was there also his wife Carol beside Lou and Lauren next to Carol. On the other end is Jeff who is happily married to Ruby.

Here I caputured Harvey by his handsome self. Does he look 85 years old. I have to tell you several times during the day I caught his new bride saying to us or herself how handsome Harvey is. Each time I heard her say that I had to smile. Last night lying in bed trying to sleep I thought of this day and how I would see Lou sitting on the couch holding hands with Harvey. How sweet to see an older couple holding hands.

I have to admit it is strange seeing Harvey with someone besides our lovely Edna but then I am so thankful he is not alone.

Just wanted to share a little of my weekend with you! Friday and Saturday I mostly caught up on research for my writing. I have to say this research is starting to take up way more time than I ever thought of spending on it. I actually had intended to get Harvey alone to ask him questions about his childhood since my story takes place near that time but was not to be. We all were laughing and catching up to much to do any research.

I talked Ruby, Bonnie and Linda into attending our class reunion this September and much to my delight we are all going. Billy went last year so he told Linda just to go alone with us. I find that hard to believe and think he will change his mind on the day of the reunion. haha

So I made the reservations at the hotel for us and bought our tickets today so now no one can change their mind. It is 5 classes together so we each graduated a different year so how great that worked out for us.

A girls weekend out is just what the doctor ordered for me so yippeeee!!! Now how to loose 30 pounds in less than 30 days and to find the prefect outfit. I have not seen my classmates since my 10 year reunion and believe me that was many many moons ago. Will anyone recognize me?

Billy just phoned and wants to come out this evening and help me mow my yard so I am no dummy I told him to come on out. It will be late though because we are at 104 right now.

I know there was other things I was going to talk to you about but after my phone conversation with Billy I totally lost all thoughts of doing this post. Gosh its great being old.

So I will close on that note. Wishing you all a wonderful week. Hopefully I will be back soon.

Love to all

Maggie

Artist in the Family!

2011-08-18T21:41:00.004-05:00

Hello Everyone! Gosh I have missed you this week.....where does the time go. It seems like the weeks are flying by.

Look what my darling Kaci painted today! She called me about an hour ago and told me her mom was sending me a email with her picture she painted today. I knew that I would love whatever she painted but I have to tell you when I opened the pictures up I was completely in awe of how this turned out.

Kaci is only nine and what a gift God has given her. I love that she is always doing something creative and when not doing this she is busy raising money for Juvenile Diabetes.

Kaci darling you are certainly a gifted artist and I am so proud of you. Don't ever stop painting you really have a gift. Also Kaci your doing what your grandma always wanted to do on canvas but never could get the brush to cooperate like you gets yours to do. I love love your picture!

Maybe I could pay you to do a picture for me to giveaway on here. Would you do that for me?

She told me tonight she bought two more canvas and she was painting me a cat. I am the luckest person in the world.

Been wanting to thank you all for helping Kaci raise money for her painting for the Race for the Cure. She did not win first place and get to go to Michigan this month but she raised a lot of money for such a wonderful cause. Thanks from the bottom of my heart for supporting her and Juvenile Diabetes.

Can't wait to hear what you think of this piece of art. lol

Well I am Alone Again! Christi left here about 6AM Wednesday morning and yes I have been singing the blues but she needed to get back to Austin and start her life again. It took me a very long time to get use to being alone after the idiot left but I finally did. Hate to admit it but her being here these past two months made me realize how much I miss having someone here. Now I have to get use to being alone again.

I do miss you Christi and of course Toby too. I think even Tinkerbell is missing Toby or maybe not. lol

One thing I am looking forward too is fall. I know we don't have falls like you guys do up North but if we can just get in the low 80's here I would think it was fall. lol We were lucky to get about an hours worth of rain last weekend but their predicting another six months for Texas to be in this drought. Let's pray they don't have a clue what their talking about. hahaha

Monday Christi and I went to Austin to meet her movers. They were over two hours late meeting us so they kept me from seeing Kaci and Bailey while in Austin. Gosh I was upset with those guys. Plus they scratched Christi's fairly new desk and broke some glasses.

Anyway on the way home we are both exhausted so I let Christi drive my car. I did not lift anything but just small things but she moved to an apt on the second floor so that going up and down wore this ole grandma out. Well back to coming home. We are going down the highway and I look over at this guy standing at his fence line with a watering can in his hand. Now first of all it was like a pasture where nothing is in it but dead grass so he stood out with a watering can in his hand.

But what really got me about this picture was he had a red speedo on and nothing else. Now let me tell you this was not a young guy. I am sorry but I laughed my fool head off. I mean out in the middle of no where ten miles between towns are more a older guy standing near a real busy highway in a speedo with a watering can. Never could see what the heck he was watering.

I was laughing so hard Christi offered to turn around so I could get you guys a picture but the traffic was so bad I did not take the chance. hahaha Just had to share it with you because WHY was he dressed like that....anyway if your reading this sorry I thought you were so funny.

Hope your all well and that you have a wonderful safe Happy weekend

Sweet Dreams

and Love to all

Maggie

Mircle Makeover Post!

2011-08-14T18:15:00.000-05:00

Please Please click over now to sweet Marydon at Blushing Rose and leave a comment on her Mircle Makeover Post. Each comment left will raise $1.00 for this makeover. Miracle Makeover on Blog Week is August 12-18th. Stop by and leave a comment and be inspired by the latest makeover story about two boys struggling and the room that is giving them hope and happiness.

This is a wonderful cause and all it will cost you is a moment of your time. Marydon explains it all on her site.

I love all of you for taking the time to come by here today and check on me. It has been a busy day trying to get things packed for Chrisit's move tomorrow.

Right now she is standing out in the rain begging for the kitties to come end to the mud room. hahahaha You should here her....kitttttieeeee kittteeee over and over and their under the car looking back at Christi like yeah right. Something wet is falling all around us and you want us to run to you. No Way!

Yep friends you read the words right! It is raining!!!!! After months of no rain we are having a small rain storm. I think I will sign off and play in the rain. Nothing smells better than the fresh rain falling from heaven.

Now where are my pink slickers?

Sending love to all

Maggie