Monday Randomness!

Below is a picture of Jaylon looking through one of his favorite books, "Spot Can Count". He loves the Spot books! And he is wearing his little spaceship jammies! He has the cutest jammies! I always look forward to seeing what ones he'll be wearing when he comes over in the mornings. :-)

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Every spring, I buy a pot of hyacinths to put on my kitchen table because I love the smell of them and the fragrance wafts through the house for us to enjoy. Ahhhhhh!!!! I purchased these at Walmart and on my way to the checkout lane, I noticed 4 or 5 little old ladies with hyacinths in their carts, too. I asked Ed, "Oh my....am I becoming a little old lady who buys hyacinths in the spring?" :-/ I don't remember him answering me. :-) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As you can see in the picture below, we had some pretty stiff winds one day this past week! If it wasn't nailed down, it probably got blown over or was sent on a short flight to somewhere else in the yard! :-)

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Erin got a great deal on a Little Tikes water play center for Jaylon. He loves it, as you can see below. I got a picture of his daddy videoing him playing in the water!! :-)
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The Tuesday before Easter, we had Daniel, Erin and Jaylon over for an early Easter dinner. I used some of the leftover ham and delicious broth to make what I call "Ham Stew", pictured below.
Now, I've made this before with leftover turkey and broth from Thanksgiving dinner. It is really good, too. But I've never made it with ham and broth. I also used the pineapple chunks that I had put on the ham when I baked it.

All you do is put the leftover broth, pineapple chunks and ham, which has been cut into chunks or shredded, in a dutch oven and bring to a simmer. To this I added 2 cans of drained green beans, 1 can of whole potatoes, drained and diced, 1 can of sliced carrots, drained, and approximately 8 oz. of rotini pasta. I like to use rotini because it stays firm. I add the rotini uncooked and let it cook in the broth. Add parsley flakes and let simmer until the rotini is tender and all of the vegetables are heated through thoroughly. You won't need to add much salt, if any, because of the saltiness of the ham. I served this with corn muffins and butter. Yum!

In order for there to be enough liquid to cook the rotini, I either add approximately 2 cups of water or just don't drain the canned vegetables. Either will work. :-)

Hope you are all having a wonderful Monday!

Easter pictures of "You-Know-Who"!!! :-)

Whoever said eating a marshmallow bunny on a stick was easy? :-)













I'd post a bunch of words with these pictures but sometimes I just can't find the right ones to express what is filling up my heart to almost bursting.
But one thing I can say is: Do you see why I love this little guy so much? *sigh* He's just so stinking cute and lovable!!! :-)
AND he'll be here in about fifteen minutes so I have to get this posted!!! There's not much time for blogging or anything computer-related when his little hands he is here! :-)

A change of plans

Ed and I had made last minute plans to travel to Washington D.C. for three days to see the cherry blossoms! I've always wanted to go and, on the spur of the moment, we planned to. Hotel reservations made. Luggage packed. Other essentials ready. The pets provided for. Got to bed early Wed. night in expectation of leaving at 5:30 the next morning.

The phone rang at 3:20 in the night. It was Ed's sister. She called to tell us that his older brother, Paul, had passed away a few minutes prior to her call.

His health had been failing. He had several issues that just come with age, the doctor said. Paul was 81.

Of course, our plans changed. Thankfully, the hotel management was understanding and reimbursed the charges to our credit card. The luggage was unpacked. Things put away.

Paul was a quiet man. He had never married. He lived with his mother and helped her maintain the homeplace until her death at age 94. He continued to live there until he was no longer able to keep up with everything and the house was sold to Justin, Ed's nephew, who has really spruced the place up, with his new wife, Ashley, by his side.

Though losing a loved one is so difficult, it brings the family together and that is always such a precious time. I love to watch Ed interact with his sisters. :-) They always laugh and have a great time together. :-)

There were ten Cavinee children. Three older brothers, three older sisters, then Ed, and three younger sisters. Can you imagine being born in the middle of six sisters? Oh my. The stories they tell. And do they ever laugh! :-) They are all a joy to be around.

We all gathered at the little Methodist church fellowship hall afterward, where Ed had attended as a child. He showed me the pew where he used to sit.

An older couple, Jim and Maggie Barber, had stopped by their house one day and asked if any of the kids would like to go to Sunday School and Ed was the only one who said he would like to. So, they began picking up on Sunday mornings. He told me that he would get in the car and they always offered him a stick of Beeman's gum. :-) Precious memories.

It is such a beautiful little church nestled in the small village of Moxahala. The ladies had prepared a delicious array of food for the family to enjoy and indeed we did!

While the death of a loved one is always very difficult, to say the least....and I can't even imagine losing a sibling....it always brings about good, too, it seems. We get to see friends and relatives that we don't see often. Precious memories are shared and savored. Promises to get together more often are made sincerely, though the busy-ness of life many times impedes those heartfelt plans.

Paul was buried in a beautiful little cemetery in Oakfield, where many of the Cavinee descendants are interred. It is situated on a hillside and was a beautiful sight on Saturday afternoon. Though there were flowers on the different gravesites, fresh spring flowers and newly vibrant green grass blanketed the ground.

The only negative was that the wind about blew us off of that hillside. Literally. Whew!! :-)

Something a bit comical: A frail little man....one of the military veterans....was standing at the corner of the tent, holding this humongous American flag which was attached to a pole and the wind was giving this little man a run for his money! I thought for sure that a big wind was going to take him and that flag off into the wild blue yonder before it was all over with but finally another gentleman stepped up to help him hold the flag through the remainder of the service. :-) Thankfully.

Below is a picture of Ed and his brothers and sisters. His oldest sister, Ruth, lives in Alabama and because her husband is not well, has not been able to make the trip home for some time.
Paul is sitting in the chair. This is such a good picture of him and we are all the more thankful now that we have it.

The Quiet Man

He is not one who does yearn for renown,
And he never will be the toast of the town,
The quiet achiever in his own quiet way,
Of himself he never has much for to say.

The quiet man he is happy in his life,
He takes care of his own, never stirs up strife,
He rise at dawn to go to work every day,
And he is one who earns his every pay.

A paid member of the local football club,
And on saturday evening at the local pub,
He joins his mates for an hour or two of cheer,
And he does enjoy a good laugh and a beer.

A family man and quite a gentle soul,
And he has his ego well under control,
A good friend to have those who know him will say,
And to help others out he goes out of his way.

A man who does laugh loudly at a good joke,
And a hard working person and quite a good bloke,
He never does yearn for great wealth and fame,
And to him all are equal and all are the same.

~Francis Duggan

Easter week!!!

Hi everyone!!! This week has been so busy AND beautiful!! Thank you, Lord, for the sunshine!

Here's Jaylon letting Grandpa know that he would like to go outside! :-) He is such a cutie pie!!!



We are doing something a bit special this week, so I won't be blogging again until possibly Saturday or Sunday!

Have a wonderful week and Easter Sunday!!!

Wednesday's Random Dozen!

It's that time of week again! Time for Wednesday's Random Dozen! And this week it has an Easter-y kind of theme! :-) If you would like to join in, just go over to Linda's blog at 2nd Cup of Coffee and enter the fray! :-) It is so much fun meeting new friends and getting to know more about one another!! Hope you are having beautiful weather where you are!!!


1. How do you feel about the marshmallow Easter Peeps?
Ohhhh, I don't care for peeps at all. Huh uh. No, thank you.

2. Chickens are notoriously nervous creatures. When you are nervous, what is the best way to calm down?
The best way for me to calm down is to find a quiet place and spend some time with the Lord and His word and I usually end up playing the piano and singing and worshipping Him, too.
"Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved." ~Psalm 55:22
"Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you." ~I Peter 5:7



3. People say, "April showers bring May flowers." Do you enjoy Spring rains?
Oh yes. They make the air smell and feel so fresh and wonderful. And I love to hear the rain on the roof. Ahhhhh.

4. When I was randomly flipping through TV channels this week, I saw a show in which tattoo parlor employees received tattoos of a co-worker's face on their bodies. I can't imagine having a portrait of a colleague tattooed on me. But if someone forced you to receive a portrait tattoo (face only) of anyone, who would it be? Why?
Hmmmm....I would have to say Ed, my dear husband. He has been a wonderful companion to me for these past 24 years. I don't know what I would do without him by my side!

5. Would you rather have a tattoo (any kind) or a nose ring?
Neither, thank you. I came into this world without either and I would like to leave this world with neither. :-)

6. Do you have any special plans for Easter?
No, not really, though Easter is always special to me whether I have special plans or not. :-) I'm working on special music for the morning service at church and we will be taking communion in the evening service.
Easter is always a special time of remembering the overwhelming price that the Lord paid to set me free and give me new life in exchange for the old. Oh, what a Saviour!
We had Daniel, Erin and little Jaylon over for an early Easter dinner yesterday evening (Tues.). That way they can be open on Sunday to spend time with Erin's family or do whatever they want as a family.

7. Cadbury Eggs or Reese Eggs?
Welllll....if I am going to have one or the other, it would have to be the Cadbury Egg, but, in all honesty, I am just not a candy-lover, so I won't be having either. Now, the Easter ham? Oh yes!!! Seconds please!!! :-)

8. What was the last thing/person you took a picture of?
Daniel and Jaylon! Hard to believe, hm? :-)
I fixed an early Easter dinner for Daniel, Erin and Jaylon this evening. After dinner, Daniel was lifting Jaylon up so that his head touched the kitchen ceiling and Jaylon was just laughing! It was so cute!! Had to have a picture of that AND video!!! :-)

9. What book are you reading now, or what was the last one?
Game Change by John Heileman and James Halperin. It is about the presidential campaign of 2008, the 4 years preceding it, and the candidates who were running, specifically the Obamas, the Clintons and the McCains/Sarah Palin, with a few others thrown in, i.e. the Edwards, the Romneys, the Guilianis.

10. What do you think is the most difficult task when it comes to Spring cleaning?
Moving the appliances and cleaning behind them. Or possibly washing walls. Or maybe cleaning windows and blinds. Or.....all of it! :-)
No, really....the first one...moving all of the appliances, i.e. washer/dryer, stove, refrigerator.....and cleaning behind them.

11. How many pairs of flip-flops do you own?
Nada. Zilch. I've not been able to wear flip-flops for years because of back problems and so on. But then, I never was a big fan of flip-flops. Oh, wait! I did have a pair of "Jesus" sandals back in the '60's. Remember those? Anyone? :-/ (Am I THAT old? LOL)

12. Which color makes you happiest?
I would have to say PINK!! I do love pink. I've finally come to realize just how much I really do love PINK after a random dozen question of a few weeks ago conerning which was our favorite, ed or pink?! :-)

Monday Randomness!!

Good Monday Afternoon, Everyone! :-) I had hoped to get a post up before now but, as you can see, I've been redecorating my blog. I think I finally have it the way I like it. :-) At least, for a few days. I have learned how to do a couple of new things in the process: How to use a different blog font for my title other than what blogger offers AND....well, would you believe I can't remember the other little tidbit? *sigh* (the story of my life. :-/) :-)
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I finished the afghan I was making for little Hayley, my great niece, who is now one month old! Does time fly by or what? Oh my!!

I took it to her on Friday and had such a good visit with Bethany (Hayley's mommy, my niece) and my sister Bev, who got home from work while I was there. Bethany and the little ones have been spending a few days with Grandma and Grandpa. :-)
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Saturday was a wonderfully relaxing day for me and Ed. We slept in until 7am. Wow!! :-) That's late for us!!! (We're so old! LOL)
I fixed us a hearty breakfast; then we went in and cleaned the church. We then grocery shopped and came home, where we watched Tennessee and Ohio State. :-( I crocheted, as I am working on another afghan for our adopted daughter, Kaitlin, who is now married and lives in Bossier City, La. Her husband is in the Air Force and is stationed at a base close by.
This afghan is the most colorful one I've ever made as Kaitlin's favorite color combo is black and hot pink! Ooolala!! :-)
She doesn't know I'm making it for her, so I'm hoping she'll be really surprised and happy with it! I know she will be! Kaitlin also likes travel size toiletries, so I've been saving some little shampoos and such that I've saved over the past few months when we've stayed at a hotel somewhere and I'll be sending those to her, too. :-)
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Little Jaylon is here today!!! Yayyy!! When we don't see him for a couple of days, as in the weekend, it is so wonderful to see him on Monday morning!!! He is so happy today!! And he is usually in a good and happy mood, except when he isn't feeling well or he is grumpy, as pictured below:

Don't you just love that picture??? :-) He was wanting me to do something and came over to me as I was sitting on the sofa and apparently, I wasn't moving fast enough to suit him and he started fussing. Thankfully, Ed got the camera to me in time to snap that cute picture above! :-)
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Although I feel like I should have all kinds of stuff to blog about, I have just not really felt like blogging lately. *sigh*
Do any of you go through that?
And I don't really know why I've been feeling this way. Just a part of being me.
I'll get back in the groove before long hopefully! :-)
AND I will be doing the Wednesday Random Dozen, of course!

AND gorgeous spring weather is on its way this week!!! Yayyyy!! Starting on Wednesday we are to have sunny skies and temperatures in the 70's!!!

I am trying to talk my DH into taking me to Washington to see the cherry blossoms! We'll see! He's on spring break this week!!!

BUT with the nice weather coming, a part of me thinks we should just stay home and do some things around home here.

BUT, alas....there will always be stuff to do here at home, right? :-)

Sooooo, perhaps we will be Washington D.C. bound by the latter part of the week. We'll see. :-)

How quickly a week passes by!

Here's a picture of....who else?....little Jaylon sitting in Grandma's rocking chair, enjoying the beautiful weather we had last week! :-)

ANDDDD....here's Grandpa and Jaylon taking a morning walk down our road one morning last week when the weather was sooo nice! :-)

I made meatballs for the very first time in. my. life! last week and they were sooooo delicious! The recipe is below. I believe I found it at....oh, I don't remember where I found it exactly, but I do remember that I googled "easy meatballs and spaghetti" and it was the first website listed. :-)

1 pound lean ground beef
1/4 cup seasoned dry bread crumbs
1 large egg, slightly beaten
2 tablespoons finely chopped onion
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
1 clove garlic, crushed
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1 jar (26 to 30 ounces) prepared spaghetti sauce

You cook the meatballs IN the spaghetti sauce! Joyce had told me that that was the way she prepared hers and then I found the recipe above which said to do the same. Jaylon loved them so I am going to be fixing them again soon! :-)
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Lastly, but certainly not leastly, Ed and I took Jaylon for his inaugral visit to the park last week....WHEN the weather was so beautiful. (Have you noticed a pattern in this post? :-/ )
He enjoyed himself, though he did seem a bit reluctant to do too much. He just kind of checked the place out. :-)

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I'll be posting the weekly Random Dozen tomorrow, so I'll see you then! Hope your days have been good and that the Lord has been near! God bless!

Wednesday's Random Dozen

Linda, who usually hosts the Random Dozen, is busy helping to take care of a dear friend who is sick, so this week's questions are being hosted by South Lakes Mom at I Didn't Know That! So click on over there and join the fun with the rest of us!!! :-)

1. What is your favorite sign of Spring?

Seeing the faint color of the trees budding out. As I drive up the highway, I always look for the slight fringe of color at the very tips of the branches of the trees. Some are green, some are a dark red. I always look forward to this. :-) The trees that line the river or streams are the first to bud out, I've noticed through the years.

2. Did you remember to spring forward on March 14? If not, how did it impact your day?

Oh yes, my DH is always on top of the time changes in the spring and fall! :-)

3. If soil, time, talent and climate were no problem, what vegetable would you plant in a garden this year?

Tomatoes! I love homegrown tomatoes! Ours just haven't done very well.....ever. We've tried everything! Sooooo, I usually get them from friends, neighbors or a vegetable stand. But I have to be a bit cautious because if I eat too many homegrown tomatoes I get canker sores in my mouth....oweeeee! And then it is almost impossible to eat those luscious tomatoes! Oweee!! BUT the store-bought tomatoes don't bother me at all. BUT they don't have any thing close to the taste of homegrown tomatoes, hm? *sigh* Oh, and canned tomato products don't affect me either.

4. If soil, time, talent and climate were no problem, what fruit would you plant?

Raspberries!!! I looooove sweet raspberries!

5. What is your least favorite insect?
Spiders!!! Without a doubt!!!

6. March 22 was World Water Day. To celebrate, here are some water questions. Do you drink bottled water? If so, what brand?
Yes. Any brand that is on sale, though I love the blue-tinted bottles, i.e. Dasani. The water just seems crisper, cooler, more refreshing when it comes from one of these bottles! :-) I know, I know....it's all psychological!
We use our bottles over. At least some of them. We try to keep fresh bottles available for company but, for our own use, we use the bottles much more than once by just refilling them.

And let me say that we watched a segment on 20/20 some time ago that proved that bottled water is almost always created equal. Taste-testers actually preferred Costco and Walmart water to brandnames, really PRICEY brandnames that I can't recall at the moment. :-/

7. Have you ever been somewhere that it was not safe to drink the local water? If so, how did you handle that?

No, not that I can recall.

8. How many glasses of water do you drink per day?

At least 4 and most days I get the recommended 8.

9. March 24 is the birthday of Harry Houdini. Have you ever watched a professional magic show? Share.

No. But I have seen a couple of REALLY good amateur magic shows.

10. Have you ever been a participant in a professional magic show (up on stage!)?
Uh, no. :-)

11. March 24 is also the birthday of Steve McQueen and Clyde Barrow. Do you like Westerns or gangster movies? If so, what is your favorite?

I've never cared for gangster movies but I do like a good western once in awhile. Two of our family favorites are Lonesome Dove and Return to Lonesome Dove.

12. (Really random) What U.S. state that you've never visited would you like to visit someday?

California. I would love to see San Francisco, the Bay Bridge, the coastline all the way up to Washington, the Sequoia National Park....just sooooo many wonderful sights!

It's Wednesday! Time for some randomness!!

Okay...that title might be sounding a bit more chipper than I am actually feeling BUT I press on! :-)
Below, is my contribution to this week's random dozen questions hosted by Linda at 2nd Cup of Coffee! If you would like to join in the fun, just click on her blog back there and share some thoughts about yourself and in the process, you'll meet some great people and perhaps find out more than you REALLY might want to know about us, but, hey, you will probably have a good laugh or six and that never hurt anyone! :-)

Jaylon, our little grandson, is on the mend! Yayyyy!! His body functions are all back to normal!! Yayyy!! And he is on the move, so I had better get this posted, as he will be here in a few minutes!! :-)


1. On a scale of 1-10, how superstitious are you, honestly?
Honestly? I am not superstitious at all.

2. Julius Caesar is quoted as saying, "I came, I saw, I conquered." Which circumstance or experience of yours does this saying best describe?
Would you believe that that is kind of how I felt about the piano when I started playing seriously in my early twenties, after giving my heart to the Lord. AND let me say that I have not "conquered" the piano after 35 years, but I can play sooooo much better than I ever thought would be possible all those years ago.
After becoming a christian at 23, I wanted so much to be able to play all of the new songs that I was learning at church but all I could do was play a few songs that I had learned while taking piano lessons and songs that I had found the sheet music for. I had not really devoted myself to playing the piano.
BUT, once I was born again!, a fresh new intense desire to play was ignited in me! I started taking lessons from Pam Rentzel . The Lord truly knew what He was doing when He made it possible for me to take lessons from her. She was exactly the teacher I needed to inspire me! We still stay in touch and exchange music from time to time. So many times when I am playing, I hear her playing reflected in my playing and I am just simply amazed because I remember so many times while practicing or even in the midst of our lessons when I would think I would NEVER be able to play like her or play the way she was encouraging me to play. I felt like I was all thumbs.
BUT the Lord is good. He is able to take our small offering of what talent or gifts we place before Him and multiply them beyond our wildest dreams or desires. Thank you, Lord Jesus. "You've been faithful, faithful to me."

3. If I peeked in on your day like a mischievous little leprechaun, at what time would I most likely find you blogging?
In the morning between five-thirty and six and in the evening after seven o'clock.

4. Re springing forward for Daylight Saving Time, is there anything you've ever been really early or really late for?
No. I am either just a tad early or a tad late. No in-between. :-)

5. What are you most looking forward to concerning Spring?
The beautiful spring flowers, sunshine, and warmer weather. Being able to be outside more and enjoy the fresh air. Sitting on my back porch with a hot cup of coffee, early in the morning and on my front porch in the evening. *sigh* We're almost there! :-)

6. Shamrocks are the national flower of Ireland and are picked on St. Patrick's Day and worn on the lapel or shoulder. Do you wear green on St. Patty's Day?
I have, but it isn't something that I've done very often because I only have one piece of green clothing in my closet! Green is not a color that enhances my natural beauty. ;-)

7. One of Caesar's assassins, Casca, said, "But, for my own part, it was Greek to me," which of course means he didn't understand something. Probably his own lines in the play. Anyway, what is something that is "Greek to you," something incomprehensible or indecipherable?
How the internet works. The nitty-gritty technical stuff about a computer. I know just enough to be dangerous. :-)

8. Is March behaving more like a lion or a lamb where you live?
Definitely a lamb, so far.

9. "An extra yawn one morning in the springtime, an extra snooze one night in the autumn is all that we ask in return for dazzling gifts. We borrow an hour one night in April; we pay it back with golden interest five months later." -Winston Churchill. If you had one extra hour per day every day, what would you do with it?
Sleep and read.

10. Legend says that every Leprechaun has a pot of gold hidden deep in the Irish countryside. Aside from real gold or money, what material item would be in your dream pot of gold?
A new keyboard for me. A new Honda Gold Wing for Ed.

11. "The best things are nearest: breath in your nostrils, light in your eyes, flowers at your feet, duties at your hand, the path of God just before you." Robert Louis Stevenson. Look around you right now and tell us about something essential or beautiful very near you that you take for granted every day.
The freedoms that we have in this wonderful country.....America, the Beautiful.
While the "government" leaves so much to be desired in this present time, this country is so wonderful, which is attributable to the people, who are the ones that make it so great. We are free to travel and go wherever we desire. We can be whatever we aspire to be as long as we are willing to put in the work and effort. And, as Nel said in her random dozen response, we are free to worship our one true God. And yet, at times, we take it for granted. Alas, we are fickle human beings. But I am truly thankful to have been born in the land of the free.

12. Just for a bit o' fun, click here (www.blogthings.com/irishnamegenerator/) and then report your Irish name. Mine is "Zoe O'Sullivan." I love it!

Caitlin O'Donnell :-) Oh, brother. :-)

Stayin' Alive!

Well, the time change has succeeded in totally messing up discomboobalating my internal clock. BUT! On the flipside of THAT statement....I do love the extra daylight in the evening. THOUGH, so far, I have been too tired to enjoy it. What's a woman to do? *sigh*


Little Jaylon...pictured in all of his cuteness above...has been sick. To be perfectly honest, he has had diarrhea for almost a week. And with the diarrhea has come a pretty nasty diaper rash but we've gotten that all healed up. AND, Mrs. NB, you'll be pleased to know that the doctor recommended a mixture of Milk of Magnesia and Aquafor. He had a pretty high fever for a couple of days but that has gone away, thankfully. The doctor said the diarrhea could last 7-10 days, so we are just praying that it goes away soon. He is still eating and drinking normally, so that is good, but he has been a bit grumpy and fussy and hard to get along with. (Please don't tell me that THAT is going to last! Oh my!).

The SUN (that obscure yellow orb that rises in the east and sets in the west) is supposed to shine the rest of the week until Saturday when we are supposed to be visited by some passing wintry mix (I'm not even going to mention that 4-letter wintry word) that is not supposed to stick or stay around.

My niece, Bethany, gave birth to a beautiful little baby girl a week and a half ago. Here is a gorgeous picture of Bethany and her little Hayley:

And here is a picture of her little son, Nathen, with his little sister:

Isn't that just adorable? :-)

Well, I am going to post this and go fix Ed and little Jaylon some breakast. Jaylon loves his eggies and toast in the morning.

Oh, and yes, I am a bit late in getting breakfast this morning BECAUSE I woke up at three o'clock this morning and lay there kind of fretting about some things, couldn't go back to sleep and, consequently, did not get much sleep last night. So, when Jaylon went back to sleep this morning, I crawled back into bed and slept until 9:15. Now I am ready to greet the day!!!!! :-) AND fix breakfast! AND later today, I am wanting to fix spaghetti and meatballs. I have had a craving for them for some wierd reason and I've never made homemade meatballs but I have found an easy recipe, so I am going to attempt it! I'll post a picture!!!

Wednesday Random Dozen in the nick of time!

Hellur. I'm beat. Jaylon has been sick today with a fever, diarhea *sp*, and just not feeling good. We took him to the doctor and it's either teething, 24-hour virus, or possibly C-diff, for which he is being tested. I think it is just a combination of teething and virus. Poor little guy. Today is the first day, in a loooooong time, that I can remember in which we didn't read his "bookies". Poor little thing. But we did cuddle alot as he just didn't feel good at all. Hopefully, prayerfully, tomorrow he will be much better!
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Needless to say, I'm more than a bit weary tonight BUT I press on......to do my random dozen! (Because I know you look forward to it, Bethany! *smile* Love ya!!)

1. How old is the oldest pair of shoes in your closet?
Hmmmm......about 4 years old, if my memory serves me correctly. I cleaned my shoes out awhile back and got rid of the ones I no longer wore.

2. Did you buy Girl Scout cookies this year? If so, what variety?

No, but my DH did. He is such an easy mark. He bought the chocolate/peanut butter ones. AND he had just told me, this past Saturday as we were going into Walmart where some girl scouts were selling their cookies outside, that he would not pay that kind of price for those cookies. uh-huh. right. :-)

3. Do you know how to ballroom dance? If not, would you like to?
No and no. I'm too tired to even think about it. Oh, and did I mention that I don't have the time, either? *grin*

4. Were you a responsible child/teenager?

Well, I made my bed AND my brother's bed every morning before I went to school. I helped with the dishes every night after supper. I did my share of the ironing every week. I helped dad in the garden when no one else would. I mowed my share of the grass every week.....just to name a FEW of the responsibilities I had while growing up.

Yes, I believe I was a responsible child/teenager. :-)

5. How many of this year's Oscar-nominated movies did you see?
Blindside and it was sooo good!

6. If you're going to have a medical procedure done, such as having blood drawn, is it easier for you to watch someone else having the procedure done or have it done yourself?

Either one is okay.

7. What is your favorite day of the week and why?

Friday because it is the last day of the work week AND I get every other Friday off. AND the next day is Saturday which really is a day off. :-)

8. Do you miss anyone right now?
Does my bed count? *yawn*

9. Do hospitals make you queasy?
No, should they? I thought that is where you are supposed to go if you ARE feeling queasy for an inordinately long amount of time?

10. At which store would you like to max-out your credit card. Not that you ever would, you responsible person, you.

Hmmm.....this is kind of tough, seeing as how I don't like to shop. It would have to be a store that has everything and a great selection. Before it went out of business, I would have said Value City in Lancaster. Now, I have no idea. Any suggestions? :-)

11. Are you true to the brand names of products/items?
Just certain ones. Tresemme' 2 hairspray. Dortios. Dawn dish detergent.

I'm always willing to try an off brand or house brand of something, except for the above named items of which I am sure there are others that I am just too tired to remember.

12. Which is more difficult: looking into someone’s eyes when you are telling someone how you feel, or looking into someone’s eyes when he/she is telling you how he/she feels?

I don't have a problem or difficulty doing either.

Where do I begin?

Okayyyyy.....here we go!

Last Thursday, my two sisters, two sisters-in-law, three nieces, great nephew, grandson, son and a partridge in a....no, wait a minute....I got side-tracked there.

Ahem....anywayyy.....a bunch of us, excluding the partridge, went to Scrambler Marie's in Lancaster for lunch!

All of us women-folk get together for eachother's birthdays but we don't have a birthday to celebrate between November and May, soooo I came up with the idea of having lunch halfway in the middle.....not EXACTLY, to-the-day in the middle, but you get the idea!

PLUS, my niece, Bethany, was scheduled to give birth.....isn't it amazing that they SCHEDULE births now?......to her baby girl (AND they KNOW what they are having in advance! Amazing!)Tuesday, so we wanted to get together before that wonderful event and wish Bethany and little Hayley well!

I had the most amazingly, delicious hamburger that I have EVER had! It was a Portabello Angus Burger on a pretzel bun. Oh. my. word. I was a little concerned about the pretzel bun, thinking it might be hard and crusty but it was soft, warm and wonderful! :-)

As we were preparing to eat, my sister Bev asked Daniel to pray. I thought he would pray his customary quick-prayer-before-we-eat-prayer. You know the prayer. :-) BUT this young man prayed the most beautiful prayer over our food and our gathering together. Tears came to my eyes as I listened to this young man ask the Lord to bless our food, our time together, and those who had gathered around the table.

It was one of those moments, that as a mother, I will always cherish. :-) Thank you, Lord Jesus, for moments like these.
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I won!!! I really won!!!!

I could hardly believe it! But I have the proof!!! :-)
Angie at Angie's Ad Lib had a spring give-a-way at her blog and I won!!!! Below is a picture of what I won and it arrived yesterday!!!

I'll be sure and take a picture of my dining table once I get it all decorated! :-)
The lovely spring colors just lifted my spirits so!! :-)Thanks so much, Angie!

AND Angie is hosting another give-a-way at her food blog which you can find HERE but hurry because the entry time ends tomorrow night, Sunday, March 7 at 9pm!
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And finally.......here is the newest addition to our extended family! Little Hayley Elizabeth Yerian, daughter of Drew and Bethany Yerian and sister to little Nathen, who loves his little sister bunches! Bethany told me that little Nathen has been sleeping with a picture of Hayley! Awww! AND they have some of the sweetest pictures of Nathen holding little Hayley! I'll try to get one posted soon!
She was born this past Thursday morning and weighed 7lbs.11oz. and was 19 1/2 inches long. She is so gorgeous! I have been feverishly crocheting a little blanket for her and I have it almost finished! I'll post a picture when it is completed!

I hope you are all enjoying the beautiful weather and much-longed-for sunshine!!! :-) Have a great weekend!!!

Wednesday's Random Dozen! :-)

With just 1 hour and 15 minutes left in the day, I am finally posting my Random Dozen for Wednesday, March 3! :-)

If you would like to join in the fun just click over to 2nd Cup of Coffee, Linda's blog!

1. Do you prefer even or odd numbers? Any particular reason?
Well, "8 " is my favorite number because it is my birthdate, so I will say even numbers, though if we didn't have the odd numbers, we wouldn't have the even numbers, but I do like for things to be even, so I'm sticking with my first answer! Even!!! :-)

2. On a scale of 1-10, with 1 being "not at all" and 10 being Carly Simon-worthy, how vain are you?

Hmmm......well, I do like to look nice, BUT I don't think that means I am being vain because I believe the Lord wants me to look nice, too. Soooooo, I'm giving myself a 4-5.

3. Among these Irish stereotypes, with which do you identify most closely? Talkative, Proud, Inquisitive, Love to party, Hot-tempered

I would be of the talkative-inquisitive bent, though I do have my quiet times. And by inquisitive, I don't mean nosey. I'm just so curious about so many things.

4. How lucky do you consider yourself?

Well, I don't believe in luck. I believe in the blessings, provision and care of the Lord for His children and that includes ME! :-)

5. What is the subject of your favorite post that you've written?
Me and my two wonderful sisters! :-) Three Sisters and a Tracker

6. Describe March weather where you live in three words.
Take your pick! :-) (We have it all in Ohio!)

7. How apt are you at detecting blarney when you hear it? (Smooth talk, flattery)

At this stage of the game (life at 58), I can pretty well tell a smooth-talker when I hear one! :-)

8. How "green" are you, environmentally speaking?

We recycle and use our utilities moderately.

9. What is your favorite song this week?

"Better Is One Day In Your Courts" By Indiana Bible College Chorale

10. You are walking along and see a coin on the ground. What denomination does it have to be before you will stop to pick it up?

A Penny.

11. Complete the sentence: "Every time I look outside my window ...."

".....I see snow."

12. What was the #1 song on the day you were born? See this site to find out.

Cold, Cold Heart by Tony Bennett

I've never heard of this song but my DH knew it and sang the entire thing to me! :-) He said he knew it as being sung by a C&W singer, though.

And that's all I have to say about that! :-)
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Angie at Angie's Ad Lib is having a Spring Blogiversary giveaway in celebration of her one-year blogging anniversary! You can enter here if you become a follower of her blog and leave a comment! Angie blogs her thoughts about life, her family and whatever else strikes her fancy. To me, her blog is a breath of fresh air! :-)

Angie is a mom to 4 great kids and has been married for 21 years! She also has a food blog at Angie's Home Cooking!
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I think I am in denial about my love of pink. I have been pondering this ever since I answered Question 12 of THIS Random Dozen. I said that of red and pink that red is my favorite color but I do like pink....ALOT! But when I go into a clothing store, I am just naturally drawn to red, THOUGHHHHHH now that I really think about it, I do have a really pretty spring jacket that is a print and primarily pink with "sequels' on it. I walked into Catherine's that day and there was that jacket just hanging there all sequelly and all, just begging me to buy it and I did!!! Only because it was on sale and I had a $10 off coupon AND I signed up for a charge card and got more off!
And I always get alot of compliments when I wear pink. Our den is done in Ohio State red and gray, while our bedroom is decorated in rose, country green, deep burgundy and shades of pink.
Soooooo, my conclusion is that I like them both about the same! :-)
BUT I have to say that red just edges out pink a tad because it always reminds me of the precious blood of Jesus that He shed for me and what a difference He has made in my life! :-)
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Jaylon loves his little books. :-) I must read his books to him at least two times a day but on Wednesday, I know that I read some of his books to him 7 times, especially his "Spot Goes to the Beach" book. And he loves his "Our Big, Big God" book.
AND I discovered that he thinks I should read to him whenever I sit down in the living room. :-) It is so cute!
I'll admit that none of his books are very long or involved but once in awhile, I just don't feel like reading another book,k?
Sooooo, Ed said he would read to him yesterday morning while I fixed breakfast and it was soooo cute listening to them. Ed changed words and skipped pages :-0 and it didn't make any difference to Jaylon. :-)
I told Daniel and Erin that by the time Jaylon is really talking he should be able to read these books to me frontwards and backwards! :-) Oh, here is a picture of him wearing his little bookbag that we keep his "bookies" in:

AND he calls his little books "ooks" and he says it really quietly but loud enough that you can hear him. It is soooooooo adorable! :-)
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Well, I am going to and work on the afghan that I am making for my niece Bethany's little baby girl Hayley, that she is due to have on March 4th! It will be the first little girl in my sister Bev's family. They have four beautiful boys and are so excited about little Hayley, as we all are!! :-)

Stay warm, everyone, and I hope the snow is not causing too much of a hardship for you.
Joyce, at From This Side of the Pond has some great pictures of the snow where she lives in New Jersey.

Wednesday! Time for Random Dozen!

Happy Wednesday to everyone! If you would like to join in the fun of Random Dozen, click on over to Linda's blog and have at it! You'll meet alot of really great people and have fun getting to know them and letting us learn more about you! You'll probably even learn more about yourself, too....Egads! :-)
As a sidenote: It's snowing! Again! Egads!

1. Have you ever fired a gun or shot a bow and arrow?
Would you believe that the only time I've EVER shot a gun was one time when Ohio State beat Michigan in their yearly football rivalry? I just couldn't help myself! I was so wound up and excited that I asked Ed to get the gun (I don't know if it was a rifle or a shotgun :-/), we went out on the backporch, he helped me put the gun to my shoulder and POW! We about laughed ourselves silly! Gosh, but that sounds so "Hillbillyish", doesn't it? LOL

I really should take a gun course, just in case.......of what, I'm not sure, but, hey, you can't be too careful.

2. Do you know where your childhood best friends are?

Hmmmm.......My gradeschool best friend lives here locally and my junior high/high school best friend lives just down the road from me!

3. Do you usually arrive early, late, or on time?

If I'm going with my husband, I am on time and usually early. If I'm going by myself, I'm usually late. :-/ It's a hard habit to break. (Isn't that a song?)

4. Are you more of a New York or California type?
Now, this is a tough one. I've never been to California but I do think I would love the warmth, ocean, beaches, and sunshine. The wildfires, earthquakes and mudslides? Not so much.

New York? I've been there three times and loved it more each time! BUT I would not want to live there permanently. It's a great place to visit, though! Soooo, I would have to say New York!

5. Do you have a special ring tone?
Yes, LOUD. That about does it. :-)

6. What is your favorite type of chip?
Regular Doritos. Oh.my. May we have a moment of silence please? *sigh* Love 'em, love 'em, love 'em!!!

7. Best comedy you've ever seen is ....

Liar, Liar with Jim Carey.

Years ago, when it was being advertised, Daniel (our son) and I KNEW it would be hilarious BUT we also knew that we wouldn't be watching it unless it came on TV. Eventually, it did, and while it was still pretty racey, it was and still is THE funniest movie I have ever seen! IMHO. :-)

8. Have you ever cut your own hair? To quote Dr. Phil, "How'd that work for ya?"
I cut my bangs when I was in jr. high/ high school and it seemed I ALWAYS got them too short and then couldn't wait for them to grow out a little.

My dear husband has always said that the difference between a bad haircut and a good haircut is about 2-4 weeks! :-)

9. If you were going to have an extreme makeover, would you rather it be about your house or your personal self?

Oh, definitely my house. As I get older, I'm lest apt to dig in and change much here at home, though I would love to have many things changed. I'd just like someone else to do it! :-)

10. Are you allergic to anything?

Dusting. Not dust, per se, but the act of dusting. :-)

Besides that, I'm not allergic to anything. Nada. Amazing, hm? :-)

11. Why is it so hard to change?

Because, whether they are good habits or bad, we find comfort in them. They become our version of "normal" in this life. BUT, I can tell you of a surety, after surrendering my life to the Lord many years ago, that with His help, it is possible to change ANY habit.

12. One last question dedicated to February love: CS Lewis said, "To love is to be vulnerable." Please share one example of that assertion or share any thought you'd like to about this topic.

Gosh, but I feel like I've had to do ALOT of thinking in this Random Dozen. My brain is hurting. :-)

I've been the most vulnerable in my marriage and it has been worth it. I am married to this amazing man who knows everything about me and loves me anyway!

Also, I have a very small group of friends that I've been able to share myself with and I know, without a doubt, that they love me just as I am. I am blessed.

Monday Randomness

Good heavens, my mind is a muddled mess as I try to remember what I've done the past few days, when I did it, with whom, where. It doesn't help that I am so tired after a full day of taking care of and playing with little Jaylon. Have I said that I'm fairly sure that he's getting his 10,000 steps in a day? *huff...puff...huff...puff* (that's me tryin' to keep up with him). :-) Below is a picture of him in all of his cuteness! *sigh* :-)

I'm not sure what day it was exactly....hmmm, perhaps it was Thursday? Anywayyy, I baked cream cheese cookies because I absolutely love them, as does Ed, Daniel, Jaylon, Erin...well, you get the picture, hm?! :-)


I've shared the recipe before but, oh well, I 'll share it again, k?! :-)

CREAM CHEESE COOKIES

1 BOX OF YELLOW CAKE MIX
1 8oz. PACKAGE OF CREAM CHEESE
1 EGG
1/4 CUP OF MELTED BUTTER
1 TSP. OF VANILLA

EMPTY THE CAKE MIX INTO A MIXING BOWL.
SOFTEN THE CREAM CHEESE IN THE MICROWAVE.
BEAT THE EGG AND ADD TO THE CAKE MIX.
ADD THE SOFTENED CREAM CHEESE, MELTED BUTTER AND VANILLA.
MIX THESE INGREDIENTS TOGETHER THOROUGHLY.
THE DOUGH WILL BE PRETTY STIFF.
YOU CAN DROP THE DOUGH ONTO A GREASED COOKIE
SHEET BY THE TEASPOON OR MAKE OUT
LITTLE PATTIES ABOUT THE SIZE OF A
FIFTY-CENT PIECE. BAKE AT 350 DEGREES
FOR 10 MINUTES OR UNTIL LIGHTLY
BROWNED ON THE BOTTOM. DON'T OVERBAKE.
THESE ARE SO EASY AND SO DELICIOUS!
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The hubs and I went into Walmart the day AFTER Valentines Day, which was our anniversary, where they had all of the candy drastically reduced! Yayyy!! We purchased a bag of Valentine M&M's Peanuts and a bag of Valentine miniature Reese Cups. They were only $1.37 a bag! Talk about a bargain! This is what was left two days later:

Ed still has some Reese's left, but my M&M's are all gone! :-)

You know, after writing all of that above, I've just realized that I've really been eating ALOT of sweet stuff lately and I've always said that I'm not a sweet tooth. Am I changing in my older age? Hmmmm......
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On Friday evening, Ed and I went to Jack's Steak House for dinner. It was wonderful! I had been wanting a good steak for some time and this did not disappoint!
Ed was not hungry, to be quite honest, but I was, so he had a bowl of vegetable soup while I hogged out on had a 16oz. sirloin with home fries, salad and roll. Of course, I did bring some home as I wasn't able to eat it all.
I find it so enjoyable to go somewhere nice to eat, relax, take our time, have some mellow conversation and allow someone else to wait on me for a change.
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Saturday morning, my friend, Laura, and I got together at church and worked on a few songs that we were both wanting to learn. We always have such a wonderful time together. She is such a blessing to me and I truly thank the Lord for bringing her into my life.
Afterward, I went to Walmart, where I purchased yarn for an afghan that I am making for my newest great-niece who is scheduled to arrive on March 4th! :-)
Then it was on to the library where I spent a goodly amount of time browsing through the books, magazines and newspapers. I could spend an entire day in the library! I could! It is one of my very favorite places to go, next to church!!! :-)
Later, Ed and I went to a birthday party for my great-nephew. Since we were in Lancaster, we decided to do some shopping later which resulted in us getting home a little later than we planned.

Ed said that I set a new record for going to sleep quickly that evening. I mean, I laid my head on my pillow and that was it. Out. Oh, but I am so thankful that I can go to sleep so easily and that I sleep so well. I know quite a few people who have difficulty going to sleep AND sleeping. It truly is a blessing to not have that trouble.

Now, I am not one to lay in bed and sleep late. I am almost always up by 6am, even on the weekends but that is because I go to bed early, meaning I am usually in bed by 9:30. Well, except for tonight because I am determined to get this posted! :-)

Soooo, having said THAT, I am taking myself off to beddy bye! :-) I hope your week is off to a good start and that you have good days ahead of you this week!

Oh, and my friend, Deb, informed me that this is Random Acts of Kindness Week! So get out there and celebrate!! :-)

Making the most of winter!

This past Saturday afternoon Daniel, Erin and little Jaylon and Ed and I went to Ash Cave for a leisurely hike and some invigorating fresh air. Once we reached the cave, we discovered the park rangers had a bonfire going which really felt good! :-)

Below are some great pictures....thank you, Jesus...... we took. I'm am amazed and thankful at how well they turned out!!











After finishing our hike, we went to Pizza Crossing for our favorite pizza! Oh my!!! :-) Pizza Crossing pizza is my favorite food group! :-) Ed had lasagna and Erin had spaghetti. Jaylon ate a little bit of everything and entertained all of the people around us! :-)

Later, we came home and settled in for some rousing games of Euchre. Daniel keeps a running tally of our wins and losses and at the present time, he and Erin are ahead by like 7 games! *sigh* Oh well. Ed and I may never catch up to them but we sure are having fun trying!! :-)

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Today was the first day of school for our local district since last Friday but we are on Plan A which means the buses are running limited routes.

I don't think we are supposed to have any more snow until next Monday or Tuesday.
AND while I do love the snow...it is so beautiful...I am getting just a weeee bit weary of it. *sigh*


I'm needing a little hint of springtime. *sigh*

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If YOU'RE needing a little springtime pick-me-up, too, you might trying clicking HERE! My friend sent this to me and I thought it was so sweet! Just click all over the page or hold the mouse button down and just move it over the picture!
Happy Thursday!! :-)

I'm off to bake some cookies!! Mrs. Lemon at Lemonade Living got me all inspired with this post, though she was a bit more ambitious than I am! Thanks, Mrs. Lemon!! :-)

Wednesday's Random Dozen/Olympic Version :-)

It's time for another Wednesday Random Dozen which is hosted by Linda at 2nd Cup of Coffee. If you would like to join in the fun and meet other bloggers, just click on Linda's blog and join the fun! :-)

1. If you could compete in one Olympic event (not necessarily winter sports) what would it be?
You're kidding, right? :-0
Okayyyy....at this point in my life, I'm going with shooting in the Summer Olympics,k?

2. Do remember a specific Olympic moment from the past?
I remember the women's skating when Oksana Baiul won the gold in 1994. I thought her skating was beyond beautiful. Her program was either called The Dying Swan or that was the name of the song she skated to and she wore a feathered camp headpiece. It was beautiful.
Also, Paul Wylie skating to the theme song from Schindler's List in 1994 at the World Professional Championship and, if I remember correctly, he won! He is my all-time favorite male skater. He puts so much feeling and emotion into his performances.

3. Have you ever known anyone who competed in the Olympics?
No

4. If everyday activities were Olympic-worthy, which activity would you have a gold medal in?
My husband would say: Fixing a delicious meal in just a few minutes! :-) And he should know!

5. Do you know anything about your ethnic heritage?
The only thing I know about my heritage is that Peters, which is my maiden name, is of German origin.

6. Do you enjoy sleeping late?
No, I love early morning, seeing the sunrise, and getting a good start on the day. That being said, I love taking an afternoon nap! :-)

7. Have you ever performed CPR on anyone? Do you know how? (Yes, that's two, I know. Whatevs.)
No, but I know the basics of CPR. I need to take a refresher course!

I have performed the Heimlich maneuver on three people. Two of them were choking on breath mints and one on a piece of meat. It was a bit frightening but thankfully, I knew what to do and did it!

8. Name one country you'd like to visit and explain why.
I've always wanted to visit England. I'm not really sure why. It has just always intrigued me. Now, I know you HAVE to see London when you go, but I would mostly want to visit the countrysides, the coastlines. I just want to see it all!

9. Have you ever fixed up a couple romantically?
Oh yes! Actually, I've fixed up a few couples!

10. What is the last book you read?
Besides my Bible, it would be The Choice by Nicholas Sparks! He is one of my favorite authors!

11. If you could spend the winter somewhere else besides cold, snowy Ohio (where I live) or wherever you happen to live, where would it be?

Hmmm.......my first thought would lead me to say Florida, but maybe Arizona would be an idea, too?

In all honesty, at this point in my life, I couldn't see myself leaving little Jaylon, my family, siblings or church for very long. :-) But you never know.......things change.

12. What is your favorite meal at your favorite restaurant?
It would have to be all-the-way pizza at Pizza Crossing! Now, you may say, "Pizza?", but you would have to taste this pizza to understand. It is the BEST!!!!! :-)

Happy Valentine's Day!

Friday Evening Ramblings

Some time last week, Mrs. Nurse Boy posted about having hot chocolate with her family (one of my favorite blogs!) and it started a craving in me, sooooo I gave in and made some for me and Ed and what better time than on a cold winter's night, hm? It was delish! And I made it with REAL cocoa and cooked it on the stove and all! :-)
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Is it just me or were there ALOT of participants in the Random Dozen this week? Not that I'm complainin'! :-) It's just that I had alot of new visitors to my blog and I've met some new friends and all and I love their blogs!

And let me just give a shout out to Linda who is so faithful to do this meme every week! I've done other memes but kind of faded out on them after awhile but not this one, for some reason, and I am so proud of myself AND glad that I haven't for the reason that I put at the beginning this paragraph! :-)

One of the bloggers I've met is Kara at Kara with a K. Her writing is so refreshing and honest and she has such a sincere love for the Lord!
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ANDDDD.....remember I told you HERE about Jaylon mastering climbing over his rocking toy to gain access to ME in the bathroom?
Wellll.....here is a picture of him clinging to the gate that we now put up in the bedroom doorway.
He looks so pitiful! :-(


BUT, I didn't give in! I finished what I had to do and returned to the kitchen and scooped him up and loved and kissed on him! :-) That's what grandmas do best!
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AND here are a couple of pictures of Jaylon all buckled in ready to go to the library yesterday! :-)



I've read to him since he was only about 4 or 5 months old and he loves his "bookies". :-) He has a little Winnie the Pooh bookbag that our pastor's wife gave him. We keep his "little bookies" in there and each day, after lunch, we get them out to read and he gets sooo excited!!! :-)
Then we sing songs and do hand movements to them, too, like Itsy Bitsy Spider, Deep and Wide, Ten Little Indian Boys...just to name a few.
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Oh, and one last thing about the grandson....well, for THIS blogpost, that is, 'cause you will definitely be seeing more pictures and reading more stories about him! :-)
Anywayyyyy.....I found him in the bathroom, bouncing up and down with his hands on the scales! He thinks it is so neat that the numbers move and bounce! :-)


Wish I found stepping on those things as entertaining as he does. *sigh* LOL

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Ellie,the cat of the house, has had a very exciting winter. Yes, she has. This is her favorite activity:

Soaking up heat in front of the woodburner! :-)
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AND while I'm at it, I might as well show you what Ed has been doing this winter, so he won't feel left out! :-)

Good night, everyone!! :-)