MAKING EASTER COOKIES WITH GRANDMA

MAKING EASTER COOKIES WITH GRANDMA.......

Cookies are fun anytime of the year..........but homemade Easter cookies with your granddaughter seem to taste even better..............*** Mama's cut out cookies on my recipe sidebar
Sweetest girl and I decided to make some cookies together today....The weather was so warm and beautiful outside and us girls were having "fun" inside........I just LOVE being a grandma and having God allow me to bake with my granddaughter........
She had so much fun mixing the butter and sugar together but then I had to make a quick run into the other room and when I came back she had stirred "ALOT" and had flour and such sprinkled all over the counters; the floor and chair....But you know what that was OK because
thats what happens when your baking with a little one....We just went on our way to the next step...dusting as much flour as possible into the wastecan beside us.....
She was determined and doing so well........I had put a 1940's apron on her and just smiled as I saw it dwiddle down down her waist...........
Fresh eggs; flour ; sugar; margarine..............all good together
She "LOVED" using the sifter. ....round and round she turned the handle as we watched the flour sift neatly into the bowl.............


Little hands are so precious to God............God is so precious to us!
Grandma may I have some dough to roll out??? I gave her a piece to roll; dust with flour; and cut out her cookie..............
I couldnt find my box of Spring cut outs and looked everywhere so plan B..........we used a round glass and then I squeezed them slightly together to make them oval like an Egg.....
Oh..........I just had to try one ..........It is so yummy!
Grandpa came by and I offered him a bite...........I love my Papa!

EARLY MORNINGS.................

EARLY MORNINGS.................

EARLY MORNINGS......


I have thoroughly loved our "Spring mornings" as the season has begun a change....
I like to get up early in the morning. I enjoy the quietness of the day and the still of
the morning. I enjoy making the coffee and listening as it begins to flow and then smell
that sweet moment when it says its done .....grabbing my favorite coffee cup and settling
in the corner of my sofa looking out my large picture window waiting...waiting...waiting..
for the "Sun" to come up so brightly in the sky.

These mornings I have even begun to hear the sounds of the birds returning and the ducks as they fly in formation over the house and make their morning sounds "quacking" swooping down into a nearby pond....

I then...take my Bible in hand and turn to the verses for the day in my little devotion book given by our church in January. I read; ponder; read and listen....and try to underline or write down a verse for me to think on.....

By then; my hubby is up and getting ready. I take him coffee and we sit for a few moments if possible and take in the days events....... Breakfast to ready. Oatmeal with blueberry's; a yogurt perhaps; or maybe some simple eggs and turkey sausage and whole wheat toast.

He leaves on his way....my day begins and my morning melts away into midday........Where did it go??? I go on with everyday events and life itself.............Then as if the same sunshine that beamed into that window in the morning I am starting supper and looking out the back window..
and I notice again...........That beautiful morning God gave to me is now on its way out.....a Beautiful Spring Sunset with all the pinks; hues of yellow; and browns are setting in the West...

As....I grow older I dont want to forget those precious mornings...........I want to remember the days of promise. The days of goodness. The days of thanksgiving.

Its so easy I guess for all of us to turn on the news. Read the morning headlines via the paper or computer and become so easily discouraged with that morning. In fact, it can ruin a whole day as others we meet begin to grumble and complain about all thats wrong in our world.

Take a fresh morning.........Breathe it in! Remember all the good mornings God has given to you and enjoy!!

A LIFE LIVED FOR OTHERS IS A BUSY LIFE

A LIFE LIVED FOR OTHERS IS A BUSY LIFE....

IT JUST SEEMS THAT A LIFE "LIVED FOR
OTHERS" IS A BUSY LIFE..........
SOMETIMES IT MAY BE THAT PHONE CALL
TO HELP MAKE PART OF A MEAL FOR A
FUNERAL. IT MAY BE A LADY WITH A NEW
BABY; OR SOMEONE WHO IS ILL; OR JUST
SOMEONE WHO NEEDS TO KNOW YOU CARE....
DOESN'T A WARM CHERRY PIE SEEM TO
COMFORT US???
TIME OUT TO ENJOY THE SUNSHINE WITH
THOSE WE LOVE.....
"OH GRANDMA I JUST HAVE TO HAVE MY
SUNGLASSES!!"..........
I LOVE TO BE ABLE TO CARE FOR OTHERS
BUT IN THE BUSYNESS OF LIFE AND WITH
MY MIND ( AGE I THINK HA) I CAN EASILY
FORGET. MY DAUGHTER BOUGHT ME
THIS SWEET LITTLE BOOK TO KEEP CARDS
AND APPOINTMENTS.....
I LOVE TO KEEP THINGS IN ORDER AS
MUCH AS I CAN. HERE IS A PAGE FROM
THE MONTH OF MAY. THE POCKET IS
TO KEEP CARDS AND NOTES.
SHE ALSO FOUND THIS NICE "CARD
MAKING SET" BECAUSE SHE KNOWS
I ENJOY IT.........WHAT A SURPRISE
THESE WERE BOTH FROM VERA BRADLEY
I WILL ENJOY PUTTING THESE TOGETHER
AND GIVING THEM TO SOMEONE........
I ORGANIZED MY OWN LITTLE "CRAFT
CARD" CORNER.......... I PUT MY PAPERS
IN THIS NICE BOX GIVEN BY MY SISTER
PHYLLIS THIS PAST CHRISTMAS.
IT ALL FITS NICELY WITH PAPERS; CARDS;
RIBBONS; AND SCISSORS........
THE SMALL BOX WITH DRAWERS FIT MY
GLUE; SPARKLING GLUES; CLEAR WORDS;
TRINKETS; AND SUCH.............
I THEN CAN PULL IT OUT EASILY AND
DO MY WORK AND THEN PUT IT BACK
IN ONE PLACE..........IN MY HUTCH

I grew up in a large family. We always seem to be busy at home doing the normal things such as going to school; keeping up with our own room; doing the dishes with my sister; working outside in our garden or helping with the trim of the lawn with our dad. We just kept busy.

My mom always seem to keep up with the house; the meals; the laundry; and doing things
with all of her children. My mom also was kind to our neighbors and all the neighbors seem to enjoy my parents. A neighbor might bring a lawnmower over to have my dad "take a look at it" and he would and usually always fixed the problem. This would happen time after time.
My dad took pride in our lawn and the flowers and garden. He worked hard at his job and our yard. The neighbors I think enjoyed all his labor.

All the young neighborhood children would seem to come to our back door. I would see my mom handing our ice cold lemonade in the summertime and bending down to button a sweater of a young child in the cool weather of the fall. Since we had 6 children and I was in the bottom two the older sisters would bring in their families during the holidays. The house was filled with laughing; food; the clatter of dishes; and the hugs and kisses goodbye.

Its not always easy to live for others. It takes time. It can take your time. It can take some of your hard earned money. It can be joyful or sometimes it can be heartbreaking. But............ life is about relationships and people. Its what makes up part of our lives. It builds us.
It makes memories sometimes we will never forget............

I am so blessed that I am loved and cared for by others around me. I remember when our son Joshua and daughter in law made a beautiful video for us to enjoy featuring our son and daughter in law singing a beautiful song they sang in church ona Sunday night. It blessed my husband and my heart......
My husband took me to lunch; my daughter bought me these special little gifts; and my other daughter bought me my favorite "gummy bears". What else could one want or need?

I pray you find someone you can bake a pie for and be blessed................

SPRING CLEANING.....GUEST ARE COMING

SPRING CLEANING.....GUESTS ARE COMING

ITS "SPRING CLEANING' ALL THROUGH
THE HOUSE....GUESTS ARE COMING
SO I WANT THINGS TO BE FRESH AND CLEAN..
HAVING THINGS IN ORDER JUST SEEMS
TO MAKE THINGS GO A LITTLE SMOOTHER....


I have been taking the last few weeks to clean; mop; scrub down; get in the corners sweep; change linens; scrub that bathroom from top to bottom; bring out lighter and brighter items; and add freshness to my home.

This is not always our favorite thing to do nor sometimes does anyone ever even notice the deeds done ...but if its part of my life then I am in charge of making sure it is done right.

Here are some things I did to ready for guests:

. The Bathroom: Scrubbed down from top to bottom. I begin with the tub. I scrub it thoroughly ( not just a shower spray) that never really seems to work for the nitty gritty.... ; take any bottles; extra soap; scrubbies all go into a basket for my own use and place it under a sink or in a closet; ( clear it all out); I scrub down the tiles ; soap dish area; and then rinse and dry making sure the fixtures are sparkling and clean...

. Next... is the toilet. I squirt the toilet bowl cleaner in and swish it all around and up and under
the rim. I then take a cleaner and wipe down all the seat; back of the seat and those little hinges;
the back of the toilet top; under the toilet all around including the back nobody sees but the dirt is back there (ha); and the sides where the little round fixtures hold it to the floor. Then... a quick swipe all around the floor area and corners in the back of the toilet.

. Next the sink and the little ledge above the sink; the mirrors and the lighting fixtures ( if any) above the mirrors; the counters all get a clean wipe down and then a polish for the fixtures to
glistening silver......

.Next, the floor. You may take a quick swiffer but sometimes I have to just get down on the old hands and knees and wipe it down to get in those little corners and spills on walls.

. Last....Fresh clean towels that look pretty. A little soap dispenser for hands to be washed.
And.......( my sister taught me this... a pretty hand towel to lie folded next to the sink for the guest to wipe down their hands)... She always had this in pretty lime greens and whites in her
guest bath.........

. Bedrooms : I make sure all carpets or floors are swept and clean. Under the bed is tidy. ( yes this is a great time to do it ha).

. The linens are fresh and clean and non wrinkled. If I have time I press the pillowcases. ( I know I know that is abit much but this is a a little luxery I do for my own bedroom and it makes things
so nice).

. I place a basket or little bag ( this time I am using a bag) with extra goodies in it such as toothpaste; mints; snacks; Kleenex; snack bars) to use while they are here. I might set some bottles of water also on a nearby nightstand. I may add some fresh flowers in a vase.

. I may make some muffins and leave them in my glass cake dish for them if they wish to have a snack or a quick breakfast to go.........

. I make sure the rest of my home is neat and tidy and de-cluttered.

. Floors swept ( that is a constant for me for we have our two adorable Springer Spaniels) ha; and mopped.

. Kitchen decluttered on the counters and clean and fresh.

. Refrigerator cleaned out and smelling fresh.

. Coffeepot clean and ready for use.

. The yard; porch and any area that will be used clean and tidy.

*** *** Most of all my spirit or attitude. I dont want to have a clean home and a bad spirit fussing at my husband or children because they didnt do their part.... I do not want to be exhausted trying to impress others and unavailable for my family........ I do not want to keep my home clean only for company...........So what do I do??? I do it unto Him! I want to my best ; not always perfect but my best
for God.
I really TRY and do this all the time for my family.

But........when guest are coming it can motivate you to push a little harder and the good thing is that it helps you to end up with a fresh and clean home that you are happy with!!

*******God gives me my home. No matter how humble a place in which you live ; your abode can be used to renew or refresh another ..........

I LOVE MONDAYS.........COME SIT AT MY TABLE

I love Mondays.............because they are the start of a new beginning and a new week....

I have a week full of busy things . Things that are good but that can turn sour if I let them...
I am thinking about emotions......I am just full of them. I dont know if its because I am a woman; over 50 or because I love deeply; care much; and sometimes am bursting with thankfulness.

But........all that can turn sour quickly because the garbage disposal breaks down causing the dishwasher to stop washing; someone says something unkind ( and they dont even know it) towards you; your physical body is overdone ; your overweight; overtired...........

I can say things; think things; worry; complain; feel sad; drift; become anxious; or many other things all within an hour! What can we do??? Life goes on and comes with good times and times when things happen.......

I love that our pastor taught us to take it to the cross....take it to Jesus. He is there with His hand to lift you up. He can take care of situations better than we ever could.....He will never leave thee or forsake thee...........He is my best friend.........

Come sit at my table...........and enjoy a glass of ice cold tea! Take all the worries of yesterday and
learn from them and then let them go.........Laugh! Take the day God has given and thank Him
for small things......Dont take things so seriously.......After all it is life! Forgive; love; and concentrate on things that are good.............

I can start off in the morning saying I can walk; I am married to a hard working man; I have a nice home in which to live; I have adult children that love me and I love; I have sweet little grands; we have food to eat; I had a mom and dad that lived into their 90"s .......and the list
could go on and on.............

I pray when these times come........and they will everyday........I can STOP and pause and thank Him for even these times and start again walking step by step.

GIRLS DAY OUT...............WITH THE GRANDS

The weather turned warm here for the first time .........I just am blessed by the Springtime God gives and the warm breezes He brings along even if only for one day.........

My daughter and I decided to take her and my granddaughters out for a "Girls Day Out"
We took off for a little "resale shop" in town....this way we had carts to use and they could pick out a "treat item" as well.....My daughter found a nice Spring jacket for one; a beautiful skirt; and two tops for Spring Summer for herself; and a cute Easter Bunny purse for one grand girl to
get for Easter filled with some goodies.....I found a nice book to read for a few cents...

Off we went to get "nuggets" ( I know they are not as healthy as we need) but its the fun of the day........McDonald was on the menu...........We took bags in hand on to the park where we ate
giggled and got tummies full! Then on to Swinging..........running........swinging again..........down the slide..........until they couldnt run anymore.......( Baby K just enjoyed the warm breezes while grandma held her in her arms most of the time)..............

Then on to the grocery store ......A cart for little ones to push........One for mommies and grandmas.........picking up bananas; hamburg for the grill; fresh asparagus; and salad..........
for supper...............

What a fun day out ..........Simple memories that mean the world!!!!

*** Happy Birthday today to our son Josh who turns 30! I am so proud of him and Jenny.
We love him and see how he has taken his life and turned it for his family and for others and for God.........You make us proud; you make us laugh; you brought us joy! Happy Birthday!

SAVING MONEY EVERYDAY..........

Saving money has become a normal thing for me to do. My mom did it (she lived during the Great Depression) when they learned to live with what they had.

Our children never thought we didnt have "money" or if we did. We just did our best. We worked hard and saved where we could. We had dinners on the table; went to a Christian school; youth activities and other events. My children worked and paid their way through college.
It just was what we did. No one felt bad about it . We were a team and worked together for the family.....

What are some of the ways we worked on this?

. Dont compare yourself with others. Have the happiest home on the block....Give your best!

. Dont over worry yourself if you have times of feast or famine. Use the same "Plan" and pinch and save.....

. Save with food. Learn to make great dishes with beans; less meat; whole chickens. I have to admit I have done this and then gone back to buying only chicken breast. Do what you can and make it delish!

. Save with furnishings. Bring flowers; pretty quilts; tablecoverings into your home to warm.
I know a lady who didnt have any money for a garden but she researched many sites on the internet and found some FREE plants and seeds for a small garden....

. Save with medical care. Research and educate yourself on what you need and how to provide it for your family.

. Save on clothing and personal care. Sew; thrift stores can help provide on these. Be update and current and help your children to look their best......
Learn to color your hair if needed. You can go get a good haircut for a little money or pay abit more and it may last longer.
Make up; samples of fine perfumes .....can all be found if you look.

. Have a budget. Have a plan then the next time the finances take a "dip" you can take the challenge and have fun saving money everyday.