Meet Me On Monday…On Halloween!

I’m joining Java for “Meet Me On Monday”, the meme that gives us a chance to learn a little more about each other, but first I want to show you our “official” family portrait from the Halloween Party on Saturday night…

My Family...Halloween 2011

Our party on Saturday night was a success.  Lots of food and fun with family!  It was also lots of hard work and I’m still tired today!  I’ll be back tomorrow with more details of our activities.

Java’s questions:

1.  My current weather is ...cool and dry.  Our morning low on Sunday was around 40 degrees, and we are in desperate need of rain!
2.  What is your favorite sound?  I love to hear the sound of rain on our tin roof.  I’d especially enjoy hearing some rain on the roof right about now!

3.  What is the worst flavor of ice cream?  I’ll say cherry vanilla.  It’s a little “too much” for me.

4.  What magazine do you look for when you are stuck in the waiting room?  People Magazine.  I love reading about people who are in the news.
5.  What is your favorite condiment? Ketchup  I eat it on most kinds of meats–and of course my fries.

Today doesn’t seem like Halloween to me.  It seems like “the day after” since we had our party over the weekend.  Of course, it is Halloween, and sometime this evening our two grandchildren will stop by looking for some “goodies”…I have their goody bags ready and waiting!

It’s Party Time…

I’ve been as busy as a little bee getting ready for our family Halloween costume party tomorrow night.  Most of the  Halloween decorations are out, the costumes are ready, and the games are planned.  All that’s left is shopping for and then cooking the food.

I spent the greater part of yesterday hanging fake spider webs…There’s just something so wrong about doing that!  I actually noticed a few real spider webs while hanging the fake ones…

There’s also something not quite right about putting fake rats, spiders, and roaches in your house!  Those rats and roaches just look nasty–even if they are plastic!  Ha!  Did I mention that I have a few bats hanging from the ceiling, too?

It’s become quite a challenge to plan a family party.  I wanted to find games and activities suitable for all ages, so I chose several “carnival type” games.  There’s a little kid in all of us, right?  If not, we can always pretend!  Everyone is usually a  good sport.  I’ve got one funny activity planned for the adults that I hope will be good for a laugh or two.  I’m afraid I can’t top the “mummy wrapping” contest of a couple of years ago, though.

I’m excited about seeing everyone’s costumes.  I think I know what everyone is dressing as, but you never know when someone might pull a last-minute surprise!  The last time I threw a party,   my son swore he wasn’t dressing up, then he showed up dressed as President Obama!  He won the prize for best costume, rightfully so.

I mentioned earlier in this post that I still need to do some shopping and cooking.  Time is passing, so I’d better get busy.  Tomorrow night I’ll have several hungry mouths to feed…and I’ve still got to decorate the haunted cookie house!

Have a great weekend, y’all.  I’ll be around to visit as soon as I can…

Invasion of the Gord People…

Every year in September,  a strange phenomena takes place in the nearby town of Reidsville, Georgia.  Without warning, the little town suddenly becomes inhabited by some odd-looking creatures I’ll lovingly refer to as ” The Gord People”.

I’m not sure who thought up the concept of “The Gord People”, but it began several years ago, just prior to “The Wiregrass Festival”. Gord People and Wiregrass sort of sound like two things that would go together, don’t you think?

“The Gord People” hang out around downtown Reidsville for several weeks each year.  They can be seen standing beside the road, perhaps trying to hitch a ride, or they can be seen relaxing and sharing a bale of hay on the sidewalk.

Each of them is just like you and me–they are unique!  Some are definitely better looking than others, and each one appears to have its own distinctive look and personality.

Some may seem a little friendlier than others (see photo above).  Do you suppose one gord person might be giving the other “the cold shoulder”?  Perhaps one is just shy…

One year, two “Gord People” were even spotted sitting in a parked car–in front of the downtown courthouse!  There’s no telling what those two were up to!

After a few weeks, “The Gord People” disappear, just as quickly as they appear…and we have to wait an entire year for their next visit!  I always wonder where they go…  Have you seen any “Gord People” around your town lately?

The Fabulous 50th Wednesday Hodgepodge…

Welcome to the 50th edition of Wednesday Hodgepodge! Can you believe it? Me either! Even after 50 sets of questions, Joyce continues to amaze me each week. Thank you, Joyce! Want to join us? Just click the cute button at the top of this post and jump right in.

Here are this week’s questions:

1. What gives you goosebumps?  Hearing a child screaming from pain or fear, listening to someone tell about a “hair-raising” experience, going to the”viewing” at a funeral home…need I say more? 

2. Halloween-are you a lover or a hater? Okay, that sounds harsh…Halloween-yay or nay?  Yes, we do enjoy Halloween around here.  It’s all about the candy and the costumes–and nothing evil.

3. Can you respect someone you do not trust, and can you trust someone you do not respect?  No and no.  The two things go hand-in-hand as far as I’m concerned.

4. Apples or oranges? Yes, you have to choose.  Okay, I choose apples, preferably covered with a red, hard candy coating!  Yum!

5. What is something you wish was in your town? (shop, restaurant, attraction, etc)  I’d be  thrilled to have anything other than convenience stores and dollar stores!  We have more than our fair share of those!  A Wal-mart or a Target would be nice!  We have to drive at least 30 miles to get to the nearest Wal-mart, and Target is over 50 miles away.  While I’m wishing, I’d like to have a nice restaurant, too.  Restaurants don’t seem to last very long in our little town.

6. What non-food item is in your refrigerator or freezer?  Would you believe, a suppository? LOL  I find it quite gross that those things must be kept cold!

7. Are you at all superstitious?  No, not at all.  I don’t panic when one of my black cats runs out in front of me, and I’ve broken several  mirrors in my time…However, I do have a habit of knocking on wood!  Go figure.

Random:  Since Joyce brought up the subject of Halloween, I’m going to share my latest video montage.  It’s a montage of our family’s Halloween activities over the past five years.  It consists of a lot of costumes, along  with some decorations and pumpkin activities thrown in for fun!

That Was The Week That Was…

I have so much to share from the past week!  I’ll try not to bore you with too many details, but I feel like I really need to play a little “catch up”.

Last Monday I had two medical appointments in one day.  I don’t know that I’ll try that again, but at least I got them out of the way, and only ruined one day doing it.  However, I was very tired by the end of the day–and it was only Monday!

Tuesday morning was spent hanging around the hospital waiting for Jennifer to have her surgery.  We left our house at 5:30 am in order to get there by 7.  Since Jennifer works as a nurse at the hospital where her surgery was performed, Brad knew a great place to go and hang out while we waited.  It was a very nice lounging area, complete with a “coffee bar” and live piano music–just when I thought I’d seen it all!

Speaking of Jennifer, she’s doing quite well, so far.  Every day gets a little better.  Did I mention that her bed was “taken away” a mere two hours after her surgery was over?  She had to spend the rest of the day in a recliner–until they sent her home six hours later!  I tell you, I can’t help but wonder about today’s healthcare!

On Thursday afternoon my brother and his wife came to town for a few days of camping and relaxation.  They parked their camper a few miles from here at our cousin’s place, then came over to our house for supper.  All of my children and their families came over to have supper with them on Thursday evening.  Even Jennifer was able to come for a short time, so she could meet them for the first time.

Friday morning I hit the road bright and early with my daughter and granddaughter!  Madison’s school took a field trip to a nearby pumpkin patch, and I’d planned to attend before I knew company was coming.  The weather was perfect, and we enjoyed spending most of the day at the Pumpkin Patch.  I was quite impressed with how well-organized the activities at the Pumpkin Patch were.  It was the first time I’ve ever visited a pumpkin patch, and I enjoyed it!

Madison and me at The Pumpkin Patch

Following the field trip to the Pumpkin Patch, I returned home to cook supper for my brother and his wife, Kay.  They had spent the day fishing and visiting with our cousins, while I was on the field trip.   On Friday night they decided to spend the night with us so we could sit up late and talk.  They also wanted to try out one of our beds since they are in the market for a new mattress.

We talked and laughed until near midnight.  We had a lot to catch up on!  It’s a shame we don’t get together more often.  Bedtime was hilarious as they tried out each bed to find just the right one!  It was like a scene from Goldilocks and the Three Bears…but I promised I wouldn’t blog about it!

Saturday was spent doing a little shopping, making a quick “side-trip” to the fair to see our granddaughter ride a few rides, then riding over to the cousin’s house where my brother was camping and relaxing.

Our cousin’s “get-away home” over-looks a beautiful pond, surrounded by woods.  My brother loves to park his camper beside their pond.  It’s a relaxing, peaceful place to get away from everything.  Of course, it didn’t help me to relax when someone revealed that an eight foot alligator resides in that pond!  As darkness approached,  a fire was built, and we sat around it and talked for a while…with no alligator in sight! Sometimes the simplest times are the best times…

The week ended on Sunday, with my brother and his wife heading back home to Florida, while we headed next door to attend the birthday party of a very special little girl, our granddaughter, Madison, who happened to be celebrating her fifth birthday on Sunday!  What a week!

I’m still recovering from all of last week’s activities, and it looks like this week isn’t going to be much slower.  I’m already gearing up for a family Halloween party on Saturday night!  If I drop out of sight for a day or two, I’ll be working on party plans–or I will be dead from exhaustion..

I’ll be posting more detailed  accounts of last week’s adventures with granddaughter, Madison, over on my other blog, MiMi’s Mini Tales.  Today’s post is about our visit to “The Pumpkin Patch”.

Have a great day, everyone!  I’m joining my friend, Donna, for a ride on Tuesday Train!  Check it out by clicking on the train button below.

Meet Me On Monday…I’m Back!

It’s Monday, which means it’s time to join Java for “Meet Me On Monday”.  Here are Java’s questions for this week:

1. My favorite kind of animal is …a cat.  I love all kinds of animals, but there is just something special about cats. I have 15 outside cats–all are rescues from our local animal control shelter, except for the two who “just showed up”.  All of my kitties are spayed or neutered, and all of them are very fat and lazy!
2. Do you like your handwriting?  Yes, I like my handwriting.  I don’t love it, but I like it.
3. What is the last movie you saw?  I believe the last movie I saw was “Salt”.  That was over a month ago, and I watched it on television.
4. Do you buy things on eBay? Yes, we’ve bought tons of things on eBay.  Our largest purchase was a pool table, back in 2004.  In fact, I decorated our game house in 2004 with Coca Cola items purchased entirely from eBay–everything from dishes to wall decor.  I even found Coca Cola knobs for our kitchen cabinets on eBay!  Our oldest son actually purchased his car from eBay, as well!
5. What did you have for lunch yesterday?  Funny that you should ask!  I had a hot dog, some cowboy beans, potato chips, a piece of cake, and some ice cream.  It was our 5-year-old granddaughter’s birthday lunch!

Madison with her "Tinkerbell" birthday

It’s good to be back on-line again, after a four-day absence.   I’ve experienced several days of fun activities–including a birthday party, sitting around a campfire visiting with family, going to the fair,  and watching our granddaughter enjoy the day at a Pumpkin Patch!  I’ll be sharing some of these fun experiences throughout the week, but for today I’m just going to visit and catch up with what everyone else has been up to.  I’m too tired to do anything else!  Having fun is just plain hard work!  Have a great Monday, everybody.

 

Temporarily Out Of Sight…

Please forgive my absence on-line this week.  It’s turned out to be “one of those weeks”.

Monday was spent having tests and doctor appointments.  All turned out well, thankfully.  I always hold my breath until I hear those words, “all is well.”

Tuesday was spent traveling to and from the hospital to be with Brad and Jennifer during her surgery, which, thankfully, turned out better than expected.

Wednesday was spent working on a family photo book  project, visiting Jennifer, then cooking supper for her and Brad.

Today I’m babysitting my grandson, Caden, for a while, so my DIL can pack for the family’s weekend trip.  They are taking Caden to an event known as “A Day With Thomas” because he loves Thomas the Train.

After babysitting,  I’ll be getting ready to have the family over for supper, because my brother and his wife are in town, and are coming by for a visit to see all of our children and their families.

Most of Friday will be spent on a field trip with my granddaughter, Madison.  She’s going to “The Pumpkin Patch” with her  pre-K class, and my daughter and I are going as chaperons.  I’ve always wanted to visit “The Pumpkin Patch”, it has more than just pumpkins.

I haven’t seen my brother and his wife in over a year, so they will be coming back over on Friday evening to spend more time with us.  I want to spend as much time as possible with them while they are camping in the area for a few days.  I hope to do a lot of  “catching up”.  It’s been way too long!

The weekend will end up with granddaughter, Madison’s, fifth birthday party on Sunday.  It’s hard to believe that it’s been five years since she was born.

Time flies when you’re having fun!

I’ll be back on-line as soon as life slows down a bit!  At least I should have plenty to blog about then!  Have a great day!  See you all soon…

Wednesday Hodgepodge…October 19

1. How do you typically react in a sudden, extreme, pressure-filled crisis? Would we want you nearby in an emergency?  I’m one of those people who tends to “freeze” for a moment or two before I can get my mind wrapped around an emergency situation.  After I do this,  I proceed with caution.  Once I get into motion I’m fairly calm throughout the rest of the crisis.  Knowing all this, you’ll have to decide if you would want me nearby.

2. Caramel apple-caramel sundae-caramel corn-caramel macchiato…of the four, which caramel treat would you choose?  I love caramel corn, but actually I’ve never heard of caramel macchiato.

3. Is there such a thing as destiny? Explain.  Yes, I believe in destiny, but  I’m a bit “brain-dead” at the moment from the events of the past couple of days, so please forgive me if I don’t try to explain why I believe in destiny.

4. What’s your favorite piece of furniture? I’m referring to something currently in your possession as opposed to something on your wish list.  My favorite piece(s) of furniture are the  two matching leather couches in our living room.  They were expensive and I’m very protective over them–just ask my grandchildren 🙂

5. Wednesday night marks the start of the 2011 Baseball World Series. Did you know? Do you care? Will you be watching? Ever been to a professional baseball game? If you’re not an American do you find the title ‘World Series’ annoying or amusing?  I don’t watch the World Series, never have.  We attended a few Atlanta Braves games over the years, while our children were growing up.  I never really watched the games, but I enjoyed the atmosphere.

6. A sound that takes me back to my childhood is...the call of a quail, aka the “bobwhite”.  I still remember my grandmother explaining to me how the quail seems to be saying “Bob, Bob White” whenever it calls.  Recently, I carried on this tradition with my own granddaughter.

7. On average, once you’ve linked your hodgepodge post to mine how many other participant blogs do you visit? Do you ever come back to the Hodgepodge later in the day or even the day after to read posts?  I average visiting about 18 Hodgepodge  participants over the course of the day on Wednesday.

Random:  Let me begin by saying this, “God answers prayers. “Jennifer had her surgery yesterday.  It went much better than we expected.  Jennifer had an abscess concerning one ovary only.  The surgeon removed the affected ovary and Fallopian tube, the appendix, and a small bit of scar tissue in the area.  He was able to leave the other ovary and Fallopian tube, praise the Lord.  It was the best news we could hope for in this situation.  Jennifer was out of surgery by 9 a.m. and was back home by 6 o’clock last night.  I’m so thankful this ordeal is behind her, that she still has one ovary left, and that she is doing well.

Thank you for your prayers and support for all of us during this difficult time.  Could you please join me in continuing to pray that Jennifer will finally heal without any further complications?  It’s been a long year for her.

Meet Me On Monday And The Weekend Wrap Up…

 Wow, another weekend has come and gone, which means it’s time to join Java for “Meet Me On Monday”. Here are Java’s questions:

1. The thing that scares me the most is ...the thought of my husband, Ed,  passing away and leaving me alone.  I know one of us has to go first, and I selfishly hope it will be me.  As we grow older, I think about this more often, and it’s serious and scary stuff.
2. Do you like nuts in your Chocolate Chip cookies?  Yes, but I never put nuts in mine.
3. If you couldn’t change the channel, what tv show would drive you from the room?  Anything that comes on The History Channel…everything on the channel is boring.  It reminds me of those boring film strips we had to watch in school.  Did I mention that Ed enjoys watching this channel?

4. Pulp or no pulp in your Orange Juice?  Usually no pulp.
5. Who do you miss the most?  My father-in-law.  He was a very special person.  He found good in everything and everyone–and he was always cheerful!  He was a loving and devoted family man, who enjoyed helping others.  He was also a very good cook, and made the best fried chicken I’ve ever tasted.

Ed's daddy, aka "grandpa"

Weekend Wrap Up:  We had a “picture perfect” weekend here in southeastern Georgia. Cool nights and warm sunny days–and I spent most of the weekend indoors! I was working on a project that had to be finished by midnight Sunday evening. I did manage to sneak in a few minutes of outdoor fun, but I’ll blog about that another day.  I’ll give you a hint–it involves wieners and fire!

I have two appointments today, so it’s going to be a very busy Monday! I’m beginning my day with a mammogram. Things can only get better from there, right?  Maybe not.  After the mammogram, I’m off to meet with my primary care physician to discuss lab results and prescriptions…

Jennifer told us, last night, that she has to be at the hospital at 5:20 in the morning on Tuesday! Gotta’ love being the first surgery of the day–especially when you live over an hour away.  I think she and Brad will be spending the night in the city, and I don’t blame them.

Ed and I are planning to go to the hospital on Tuesday morning to help keep Brad company while Jennifer is in surgery.  Her surgery is supposed to last four hours.  She’s going in as a “day surgery” patient, but I sure hope they will decide to keep her overnight!  Today’s healthcare is just ridiculous, in my opinion, but that’s a story for another day.

I have so much I’d like to write about, but so little time to write it!  Things are a bit hectic right now, so please don’t be upset that I haven’t commented on your blogs much lately. I will make it up to you soon, I promise.

Okay, that’s it for me.  I’m out of here!

It’s Good To Know That You’ve Got A Friend…

I’m overwhelmed by the amount of  love and support being sent our way concerning Jennifer’s ordeal.  Brad and Jennifer both read my blog (and comments) so I’m sure they can feel your love and support as well.  Thank you so much for your prayers and kind comments.  You are all a special group of people and I treasure your friendship more than I can say.

I began this blog over two years ago as a way to record some of our  family’s history and my personal thoughts about different things.  I wanted to leave a bit of myself behind for my family to have one day after I’m gone.  I’ve always loved to keep journals, and blogging sounded like a fun way to journal.

I never dreamed I’d meet so many wonderful people while doing something that I love!  Whenever I read the blogs of my friends or read the comments that have been left on my blog, I feel like I’m spending time with  friends. I treasure time spent with friends.

One good thing about the “valleys” of life is they bring people closer together, and closer to God.  For that, I’m always grateful.  Our family has been through our share of “valleys”” over the years, and we always come out on the other side being stronger, better people.

I know that several of you out there in blogland are also traveling through some “valleys” at this point in your lives, too.  Just know,  I think of you often, and include you in my prayers, as well.  It’s my hope that you will feel my love and support just as strongly as I feel yours.

Speaking of  friends–I’m dedicating the following song to one of my dear blog friends (and personal friend) who has been going through some “valleys” of her own, but  is celebrating a birthday today!  Happy Birthday, Cindy!  I hope it’s a great one!

Ah…the seventies.  Those were the days, weren’t they?