Memory Lane Monday's On Thursday!

Nothing like linking three days late for Memory Lane Mondays over at Donna's. She has the site Brynwood Needle Works and host Memory Lane Mondays the last Monday of each month. Sorry Donna for taking so long to join this month.

Thank goodness it is Thursday and not Monday because as crazy as this week started I could not relive it. lol

For my walk down memory lane I chose one of my memories of the San Jacinto Monument near La Porte, Texas where I grew up.  On April 21, 1836, Mexican rule over Texas came to a dramatic close where this monument now stands. It was here the famous saying Remember the Alamo was the battle cry for all the men lead my General Sam Houston to win our Independence from Mexico.

The climax of the Texas Revolution, the Battle of San Jacinto eventually moved America’s western border to the Pacific Ocean.

The San Jacinto monument stands 15 feet taller than the Washington Monument. Since it is so tall you can see it for miles along the Texas Coast line. Growing up I could step out on my front porch and see the very top which is a Star.

One Sunday morning I was reading the Houston Chronicle and it had a big picture showing that the monument had fallen. I was stunned because I could not imagine something like this falling.

Also on the monument there are all the mens names inscribed on the walls outside of who fought for Texas Independance. One name is John Duncan who is a great great Grandfather of mine. He was my Mom's great granddad and to this day I love reading Texas History.

I laid down the paper and went out to our front porch and there thank goodness was still standing proudly the Memorial to all of  the brave men who fought for our Independence.

Not sure how old I was when this happened but I went back into the house picked up the paper again and read the article all the way through. The last sentence was April Fool! Yep it was April Fools Day and they got me good. lol

So I know it is not April Fools Day but what memory do you have of someone playing a Aprils Fools joke on you..would love to hear your stories.

I hope you are having a good week. Next month be sure and join Donna for Memory Lane Monday's.

I need to do a post about my Monday of this week. Talk about a Monday OMG. Maybe I will make that my next post.

Also thank you so much for supporting Kaci on her Race for the Cure Contest for Juvenile Diabetes. The contest ended at 5pm today and the last time I checked she had dropped out of the top five so her entry will not be considered for the final judges but my little sweetie raised over two thousand dollars for fighting this disease and because of you she is still a very happy contestant. In the two years Kaci has had Juvenile Diabetes she spends hours trying to help the Juvenile Diabetes raise money for a cure. Along with Kaci and her family I Thank you from the bottom of my heart for helping her raise this money. You are such a blessing to me and I love you all.

Maggie

New Hair Cut!

Silly me was trying to capture my new hair cut in the bathroom mirror. How you do it on your post I don't know but I am not very good at it. lol For the life of me I can not take a good picture even if I take it myself.

My hair was getting so long I had to wear it up or in a pony tail all the time so I finally got it cut. Not quite the look I wanted but it will do for now. At least it feels better.

My doctors appointment went okay. He can not understand why the other doctor just chooses to pill me up all the time instead of trying to find the cause. So at least he and I are on the same page. Problem is timing. I am having trouble with Workers Comp. I have a Endurance Test already scheduled by the other doctor for July 6th and then see him on the 11th. I have to do both so not happy about that. These test takes two hours and they use it to determine if you can go back to work. The last one I did they of course let me go back for four hours a day with lots of lay down breaks Can you imagine lying down in a jail cell. lol

So by July 11th I will know a llittle more about my situation. Hopefully it will turn out for whatever is best for me..

Work is still crazy.....sometimes I think you have to be crazy to work there. Another young man tried to kill hisself with me watching him on camera. Very stressful to get him help in time to stop his attempt. Thank goodness I was doing my job and not goofing off. There are so many that don't take this job serious enough that it scares me 

Here is a picture of Christi and Toby.  I took this in the hallway between my bedroom and hers.

She loves her Toby!

Later today Gretchen and I are suppose to keep our date for writing. I am looking forward to it since I have not seen her in a while and we both miss writing too. It will be fun way to spend a few hours.

Christi has so many great cook books and she found this Sour Cream Noodle Bake recipe and I have to tell you it turned out excellent. 

We both joined Weight Watchers this morning so I probably want be making anymore dishes like this for a while. lol

If your looking for something quick, easy and good then try this dish.

Ingredients


■1-¼ pound Ground Chuck

■1 can 15-ounces Tomato Sauce

■½ teaspoons Salt

■Freshly Ground Black Pepper

■8 ounces, weight Egg Noodles

■½ cups Sour Cream

■1-¼ cup Small Curd Cottage Cheese

■½ cups Sliced Green Onions (less To Taste)

■1 cup Grated Sharp Cheddar Cheese

Preparation InstructionsPreheat oven to 350 degrees.

Brown ground chuck in a large skillet. Drain fat, then add tomato sauce. 1/2 teaspoon salt and plenty of freshly ground black pepper. Stir, then simmer while you prepare the other ingredients.

Cook egg noodles until al dente. Drain and set aside.
In a medium bowl, combine sour cream and cottage cheese. Add plenty of freshly ground black pepper. Add to noodles and stir. Add green onions and stir.

To assemble, add half of the noodles to a baking dish. Top with half the meat mixture, then sprinkle on half the grated cheddar. Repeat with noodles, meat, then a final layer of cheese. Bake for 20 minutes, or until all cheese is melted.

Hope you have a great week!

Love to all
Maggie

Beautiful Sweet Rain!

               Whoever said Happiness Comes with Sunshine has Obviously Never Danced in the Rain!

Look what woke me up this morning on the North Forty! I can tell you I tried my best to do Kaci's Happy Dance but did not quite master it. 

It looks like our Rain Dance worked. We have been doing it for a while now but finally the rain came.

Hope everyone in Texas got at least the 4 inches that we got here. It has been so dry that the fish are jumping out of the pond. Sad! 

Isn't it funny how something like rain can change attitudes! Even the guys at work acted half way decent today. lol

But......when I got home Tinkerbell was in Time Out because he kept jumping on Toby everytime he walked by. Since Christi works from home I guess she got tired of it. hahaha

We moved the kitties in last night to a room upstairs because of the rain storm. Now their not wanting to go back outside. Little Stinkers. The cowboy picked up his and I have never seen a man so happy to adopt a kitten....

Still trying to decide which baby I am keeping. Toooooo hard to decide!

Hope everyone is having a great week! 

Love to All

Maggie 

Keep these babies or Not!

We were born on April 27, 2011 on the North Forty...

There are four of us and for many days all we did was ly around waiting to nurse from our skinny mom...

Now look at us. We are really growing.... Christi named me Twinkie!

I don't have a name yet but their thinking maybe Nosy....

We love messing with Maggie's plants....it makes some lady named Ms Pearl appear....

Poor Mom thinks I am too big now to come to her for milk.....

Ms. Pearl keeps telling us we have to go somewhere else to live but we are trying to convince Maggie that we are good and will never poop on her floors or porch again.....But she keeps mentioning some one named Tinkerbell wants no brothers or sisters in her life.

Mom keeps telling us that there are bad coyotes on the North Forty so we should be happy to move to a nice home in town. 

What do you think? Country Life or City Life? There is a cowboy out here that wants to adopt one of us so soon it will be just three of us.

If you come by the North Forty and love kittens be sure and take one of us home with you!

Maggie says she misses all of you and is trying her best to catch up with you! She is going to a new doctor tomorrow so wish her luck. She loved all the great responses about What book are you reading. Turns out you left her some great choices and she is excited about reading them.

She would not want this told but hates wearing her new bridge......can't get use to it and even makes her talk funny which if you have heard her voice then you know how could it get any worse. Country Bumpkin is enough said.....

Love to all

Maggie

What Are You Reading?

The only thing that could possibly be me in this picture is the hat....hahahaha

It seems the only way I can stay out of trouble is to read a good book. I am wanting to find one now that will keep my interest for more than the first chapter. One that I can't wait for bed time to come so I can curl up with it. (Sad I know all I curl up with is a book or Tinkerbell)

So since I have not a clue what to read I know you can help me out. What is your favorite read for this summer?

It is 105 degrees here right now and I so need to clean house and do some yard things but I am tempted to take a nap.

Thank you for voting for Kaci in her Race for a Cure. We both appreciate you so much for caring and voting.

I hope all of you Dads have a great Father's Day. My son Clint is tops in my book for what it takes to be a Great Father. He works long and hard hours but comes home and showers his two babies with his love and guidance. Thanks Clint for being the best Father to my two grand babies.

Miss my Dad very much as I know a lot of you out here miss your Dad's too. My dad was young when he passed away but left us with nothing but good lovely memories of him.

Looking forward to your comments about what you are reading. Don't be shy I need a good book...lol

Love to all
Maggie

Cat On A Hot Tin Roof!

Let me tell you it is hotter than a Cat running across a Hot Tin Roof here in Texas today! I will also go as far and say that it is hotter than Liz Taylor or Paul Newman were in the movie Cat On a Hot Tin Roof! Now you know that is darn hot.  What's worse it is only June.

I know we are so lucky to already have warm weather but when one walks outside for five minutes and notice's their dripping a puddle of water around them and it ain't rained in months then you know it is to darn HOT. lol

Ok enough because some of you are still wishing for warm weather. We are also in a bad drought which makes it worse. I have cracks in my yard so big I could fall in well maybe big enough for a cat to fall in.

You want to know what else is Hot here in Texas. Well I got an email from my Daughter In Law Andrea this morning and I tell you I almost forgot about my back pain and did a Happy Dance. She told me that my precious Kaci came from way behind in her Car Race Contest for Juvenile Diabetes and is now number four.

Yep went from way down on the list to Top Five. She has to be in the Top Five by June 30th in order to have a chance to win the Race for Diabetes. The top five entries will be judged by Ford. I have not been this excited in a long time.

I can not tell you how much I appreciate you for going to the site and voting for my granddaughter Kaci Borchgardt. As most of you know Kaci is nine and was diagnosed with Juvenile Diabetes two years ago. Since then Kaci has not given up hope that one day there will be a cure if she can raise enough money for the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation. My little Hero puts in many hours a month raising money for this foundation and to say I am proud of her is an understatement.

Not only does she take five shots a day but twice that is finger sticks to check her blood sugar. Never in those two years have I heard her complain once. Her Uncle Chad my oldest son has suffered over 27 years too with Juvenile Diabetes and it amazes me that he too has never complained. I am most proud of them for what they both do to inspire others.

Just pray and vote for Kaci that she will be in the Top Five by the end of this month for this Contest. Kaci has a little Happy Dance she does when something good happens in her life so please help my baby do her Happy Dance.  Here is the picture she entered for the contest and if you can please click on Here to vote for Kaci. Also if you could add this site to your Facebook or Blog asking for votes for Kaci I would really appreciate you.

No one should have to go through what these children go through so every vote is appreciated so much.

 Love to all
Maggie

I Poisoned My Daughter!

Christi by daughter on the left. Me on the Right.....lol

No It's her friend Lisa.....

Remember the post I did about being totally obsessed with my fly problem. Well........I took things to extreme. Now you know that is not something I do. Right?

Last week one of the Officers at work came into the Office and was telling us how he had solved the bug problems around his house. He caters a lot and therefore of course does not want bugs around. My ears perked up when he mentioned it took care of the flies too. I sat up gave him my undivided attention.

Well he told us him and his brother mix Pine Sol and Bleach together and spray the whole outside of their houses. They do this about every two months and they swear by it.

I was sitting in a room surrounded by Officers and Fireman waiting for one of them to jump up and tell him you can't mix anything with bleach. No one questioned his mixture and even agreed they would try it. I so wanted to tell them my belief about the bleach but since one of them at one time had even been a Fire Chief I kept silent.

All the way home I kept saying should I do this....now let me say to you if YOU have to ask yourself over and over if you should do it.....we all know the answer is No. Well my obsessive side won and I wheeled my SUV into Wal Mart and got the biggest bottle of bleach and Pine Sol they sold.

Rushed home combined the two together and started spraying the heck out of those nasty flies. Enjoyed every moment that one fell to the ground. Horrible I know but their disgusting.

Half way through the operation KILL the Bad Boys my daughter Christi came out the front door to take her dog Toby out for his evening stroll. They walked around the area I was spraying and then I continued to spray after they were out of the area.

Two hours later Christi is laying on the couch and I had just put my PJ's on and getting comfy and she turns to me and tell me she is sick. I ask her what was wrong and she complained of chest pains, nausea and sore throat.

My motherly senses told me OH No this is really not good Then I thought of the spray I used. Grabbed the phone and called the Poison Control Center in Texas. Quickly there was help on the line and I explained what I had combined and sprayed and that my daughter was sick.

The lady wanted to know her name and age and then told me to tell her to take a hot shower and then go straight to the emergency room. The hot shower was to help clear the lungs until we could get to the ER.

She also told me NEVER ever mix anything with Bleach. Not anything! I told her I understood and would never do it again.

By this time I felt as low as one of those dirty flies I was trying to kill and wanted to cry. I had poisoned my precious girl.

We both dressed and headed for town. I kept asking her how she felt and told her to hang her head near the window so the fresh air could get inside her lungs.

Once there they did not even wait for us to do the paper work they took her immediately in a room and took her vitals. She had been Chemically Poisoned and they gave her a treatment like they do for Asama. Our sweet friends Donna and YaYa both work in ER's so they probably can tell you more of what went on than I can explain. What a job these two girls have....I so admire them both.

They were nice in the ER but I have to tell you I thought a couple of times CPS was going to come in and arrest me. lol

Thank God her lungs were clear and after some pills and a shot we drove home. I made her sleep in my room the farthest from the front porch. lol

Christi was a sweetheart through out the whole ordeal. Even when the doctor teased her about was she still going to stay with me after this. She said something crazy about me and they all laughed.

Actually she found another apartment in Austin today and is looking at moving around August 15th. It will be strange being out here alone again.
Believe me I have had nightmares about this and how close I came to really hurting Christi.

The next day at work I let all those guys know what had happened and they looked like I was telling a big fib. I even told them that being fireman I thought they would of known better. That cleared the room of the fireman..

My obsession with the flies is still a problem but instead of spraying chemicals I hired someone to cut down one of the trees next to my side entry where a lot of them were gathering. I know sounds extreme too but it drops berries this time of the year and the flies love it. It made more shade than I realized there but I can live with a sunny spot for some plants now.

And on top of all of this I still have sooooooooo many flies. Never seen anything like it. Everyone says it is because we are in a drought. Everything now is blamed on the drought. Who Knows!

Thanks so much for coming by and joining me again. I hated telling you about what a bad mother I am. I know I want be nominated this year in our town for Mother of the Year so I can forget that banquet. lol

Hope you liked my dream wedding and you went by Stephanie's site for her party. I appreciate all of you leaving your kind comments. I have received a few emails asking if I was holding out on you about a guy in my life and have I ever kept a secret from you. No....as long as I write for Just Between Me and You there probably want be any secrets.

Oh today I got my temporary tooth. It is a bridge for now until I decide on doing an implant. Which I am pretty sure that is the route I will take. They did a good job with this bridge but getting use to it may be a while. An Oral surgeon pulled what was left of the tooth and before he numbed my mouth so I could not speak he and I discovered that we both grew up in the same town of La Porte, Texas and his mother went to La Porte High too. She was a few years ahead of me but I remembered her. So now I have to go look her up in my old year book. Being that this dentist is now in Austin which is a long way from La Porte what were the chances of me going to him. He gave me a fifty dollar discount too.....so remember that when you go get your teeth fixed find out where hes from and you never know it could happen to you too. hahaha

Stay well and cool this week. It is a 100 all week here and continued no Rain in sight. Gretchen, Christi and I are working on a Rain Dance one night this week. Do you want to join us?

Sweet Dreams and Love to all
Maggie

PS
That is not me in the picture in case I fooled you!

The Wedding Of My Dreams!

Last year I had so much fun joining Stephanie at Angelic Accents 2nd Annual Wedding Blog Party  that I wanted to do it again. Be sure go by Stephanie's site and check out her wedding collection. I promise you it is one of a kind. She is also having a awesome giveaway too. So let's start the party!

Last year I did a post about my wedding so this year I thought I would share with you a few pictures of  what I have planned for my next wedding.

Of Course, You are invited so please RSVP.

We will be traveling to Greece. I chose to have my dream wedding there so please make your reservations now.

It was hard to find the prefect dress but after hours of walking on the Internet my hands are tired but I chose this dress. What do you think?

Then I had to find where I would wear this beautiful piece. I chose a small Monastery on a Mountain Side in Greece for the Ceremony.

The Only problem with my location is I will have to start really early in the morning in order to make it to my wedding on time. Walk with me and enjoy the view!

Wasn't it a beautiful Ceremony.

Now for the walk back down to our wedding reception. Watch your step!

For the reception I chose an amazing place to enjoy with all of you.

.

Before you leave be sure and have a slice of my cake!

I just hope it is taste as good as it looks.

It's late and I am tired so it's time to head to our Villa!

Thanks for coming to my dream wedding and you to can party with Stephanie. Just go by her site and tell her you want to have a wedding party!

Here is a picture from my last years wedding party and if you missed that post you can click here to see more.

Love to all

Maggie

Sunday Writing Session!

Sunday afternoon Gretchen I met for a writing session. We both have been slackers lately when it comes to writing. Both with different reasons for not following our bliss but after such a great session this past Sunday we made a decision to meet every Sunday evening. 

Afterwards we walked around enjoying the gardens. Here I captured Gretchen while she was watching two Robins enjoying their evening. Never could capture a photo of them.

This is where we decided to do our Sunday sessions. Isn't this the most beautiful library ever.

Caught Gretchen coming down the stairs of the activity center of the library.

Here is one of the many Gardens that surround the Library.

I love taking pictures of flowers. Not bad for a small digital. lol

Can you tell that this is a Bird Nest built on a ceiling of a porch. Gretchen being 12 inches taller than me took this picture. I could not believe it turned out where the bird was peaking out of the nest.

Hope you enjoyed our evening together. I have to add that I read several scenes from Gretchen's screen play and WOW has this young lady got talent. She in turn read a few of my chapters and was excited for me and of course encouraged me to quit the Sheriff's Office and just write. Wouldn't that be sweet.

Off to bed here in a little while because I have to go back to the dentist in the morning at 7am because she messed up with my impressions and they have to be redone. Now how is that for continued luck. Especially when her office is two hours away. Then she will send the impressions off to the lab and should have them back by Monday so when the Oral Surgeon pulls the rest of my tooth she can put the temporary in.

Gosh I am still in shock of loosing such a important tooth. As always I laughed my fool head off with your comments about my bad luck. lol.....You guys kill me but in the best way.

I have to be at work in the morning by 11am so I am going to be cutting it close getting there in time. Today we had to book in another murderer. He shot his girlfriend and her mother. I am beginning to think that for a small Texas County that this is starting to be like a bad nightmare. Eight in a small jail now is unreal.

Ms Pearl came out too today at work. My Corporal made a comment that I did not like and of course before I knew it Ms Pearl let him know he was totally out of place. He told the others, "I knew if I worked long enough with Maggie I would bring out Ms. Pearl!"

Enjoy life follow your Bliss amazing things are waiting on us.

Sweet Dreams

and Love to All

Maggie

Toothless Obessed Old Hag!

NOW What! 

I know that's what your thinking....what has happened now at the North Forty. Well if you read the last post you know I admitted to letting my fly problem drive me completely up the wall crazy.  When you post pictures of fly art on your site it does somehow confirm you have totally lost it.

Yep for days now I have tried ever concoction known to man and then some. Went to Lowe's and bought out their section of fly traps. Then went back to their garden center and bought all of their basil since I read that flies hate basil. Moved my Lavender Plants to the fly infected area and still no relief.

First thing this morning before even brushing my teeth I hurry outside to see if a miracle happened overnight. Nope flies and more flies. The guy at the store told me that all we needed was a hard rain and they would be gone so for about the 100th time I washed down my porch and surrounding area. Then I left the sprinkler on hoping I would fool a couple of thousand of them and they would fly over to Gretchen's porch. hahaha

Well after I have everything soaked including myself I decide to go back inside and take my bath. Unknown to me I had locked the door when I came outside. Usually I keep a spare hidden but Christi has it and she is in Austin. Mad at myself for doing this and mad at myself for the obsession of trying to rid the North Forty of flies.

I walk over to Gretchens and ask her if she has a house key of mine and no she did not. She will from now on. lol.....She offered to let me stay with her until Christi came home this evening but I knew I could not do that since it was only 9 in the morning.

So with all my windows nailed shut there wasn't but one way to get in and I sure hated to do it but I grab a tool and a rag from my car and broke one of the panes out of my back door. Did not want to have another problem to take care of but I was hot, thirsty and crazy so I broke the window. I felt just like one of those guys on TV who hit the window reach in and turn the door handle. I made sure my hand was wrapped because I did not need a trip to the emergency room.

Now your wondering what does the title of this post have to do with being a Toothless Obessed Old Hag. Well I now have bigger problems that my flies. The other morning I got up and when I looked in the mirror before brushing my teeth I had one missing. Never have I lost a tooth without having one pulled. This one just broke off without giving me one day of trouble. What really sucks is it is not in the back of my mouth but bottom front towards the side.

To say I was devastated was not the word. I cried and poor Christi thought oh Lord why did I move back home. lol I went to the dentist and she took x-rays and told me my options. Seven hundred dollars later I walk out with the same toothless smile but broker. It seems an oral surgeon will have to pull whats left of the tooth and then she will do a partial bridge for me. I choose to do a permenent one which of course is higher but in the long run I knew it would be better for me. The thing is it takes months to get all of this done.

In the meantime I have to wait on the Oral Surgeon to make me an appointment then she can put a temporary bridge in that she did impressions for.

The dentist is not sure yet but she thinks it is from all the Pain Killers I have taken over a year now. She says certain narcotics can damage your teeth. Now I know why I see so many toothless people in jail.

So your friend this morning has turned into a Obsessed Toothless Old Hag who cries everytime she looks in the mirror or walks outside on the porch. 

You should of seen me at work the last two days trying to not look at anyone or open my mouth. Lord knows that is a real problem for Maggie not to open her mouth. Right now I need to go to town but hate the thought of someone noticing the toothless old hag.

Better days are coming I just know they are.

Have a great weekend and Smile for me!

Love to all

Maggie

Dead Fly Art!

Yep I have finally lost it! I am doing a post about Dead Fly Art. Have you ever seen anything as gross as this.

Or this?

Not sick yet! How about this picture!

NO I did not do these pictures for this post but believe me I could have very easily since there is no shortage of flies at the North Forty here lately.

Just when I think I have seen everything there is to see in life someone sends me these pictures. Actually I am showing the good ones there are a lot worse than these. Why would someone send me these you wonder? Well it could be for almost a week now I have been totally over whelmed with the thousands of flies that are trying to take over the North Forty.

Never thought that I would hate living out here but if I had the strength to move right now I think this would be the time I would do it.

I can handle a half dozen flies bothering me but when you walk out on your porch and at the garden gate there are so many flies swarming that you get nauseated then it is time for drastic measures.

I have tried everything you can imagine to get my yard back. Christi left today for a few days in Austin with friends. I honestly think she could not stand them any more or listening to her mom complain.

Lowe's and Home Depot are running low on every thing that pertains to killing flies because I have bought them out. Believe me when I say not much has helped. I hung up five of those disgusting fly catchers that you fill half way up with water and they put out a disgusting order and the flys go inside and can't get out. Now I have five bags full enough to make one gag and yet they have not put a dent into my problem.

There is a Cherry Laurel tree near the side entry that drops hundreds of black berries and I guess this is one of my problems. Another problem is I live next to a ranch that they feed their cattle near the fence next to our place. Nice huh?  Of course their nice house is the other direction of this feed lot.

I have sprayed and sprayed Eco friendly spray because my out door momma cat had kittens so I am trying not to kill them. Any body out there have a suggestion for me besides moving.

I have been washing my porch down with Dawn liquid and still no help. I guess Christi is right I am obsessed with these horrible creatures. I believe I dream about them too. lol

Anyway when I start doing post about Dead Fly Art you know I need help! So come quickly to my rescue. I am even willing to let you take me to the State Mental Hospital in Austin that is if there are no flies.

Open for suggestions. Just leave me a comment.

Sorry if I have made you sick!

Sweet Dreams

Maggie