Happy Birthday Stephanie!

Today is our daughter Stephanie's birthday and she may be feeling like, "How can I possibly be 45?" I can't help but give a little motherly advice, after all I can see the big picture now! Somewhere in my 40's was when the insecurities of my youth began to melt away. I wasn't a perfect size 10 but I realized that being a good person made me far more happy than how I looked in my jeans. I grew up.

I had a new found confidence from the things that I had learned, experience is a valuable thing in life. I could draw from a bank of wisdom to help me with the problems that came with  raising kids and facing the daily grind. My coping skills improved.

It's hard to imagine that there will ever be a day when you can do what you want to do, but with each decade there is more "me time." One day it will just happen and you can go for a pedicure... and not feel a bit guilty!

Your 40's are when you realize that there is going to be a time when it's just the two of you again. Not exactly like when you were in your 20's, but even better! Ahead of you are sunrises and sunsets, whole days with nothing to do but read or nap! Hang on, it's comin'....

Nutty Monkey Memories

Happy 4th.... hope you are celebrating the day with something that sparkles, whether it's the people in your life or some fireworks! I can't imagine any bans this year on the poppers with all the rain we've had across the U.S.

I don't remember ever not having fireworks on the 4th when I was growing up in Springfield. We'd hit the firework stands on the way to Grandma's, my brother choosing Black Cats and bottle rockets and me... sparklers, smoke bombs and the little chicken that layed the fire eggs! You know the one, it's on everyone's "must have list." Well, maybe it's not...

Our GRANDsons make their selection and there's not a single Hen Laying Eggs or Ground Bloom Flower or Nutty Monkey. No sparklers, no Cascading Fountain. Only firecrackers and bombs. Maybe one fountain, but it's called Death Bomb Fountain or something like that. We're invited over for fireworks so I'll be nice and try my best not to complain.... I don't think anyone could hear me anyway!

I see the red barn...

I think of my Grandma Keeling often this time of year. I associate a warm kitchen and the aromas of the holidays with her. Although she's been gone for 40 years now, I can still see her in that little kitchen at Lead Hill. Thanksgiving was always at Grandma's house. We'd make the trip down to Arkansas after Daddy would get off work. I'd sleep part of the way, waking up when we headed down the big hill that turned into their gravel driveway. You could see the porch lights and the glow of the kitchen windows shining brightly in the cold November night. The house would smell delicious as we came through the service porch, pies and broth and sage all mingled together.

The next morning when I woke up, she and Mom would have already started the preparations for the big meal. Grandma in her apron with the big pockets, their voices would go up and down depending on what they were discussing. Grandma was always cheerful and she spoke often of friends and family. She was a prayer warrior, sprinkled into her sentences were the mention of those who were in need of a prayer sent up. "Bless Cora May, she's going through a hard time right now." We always knew who was sick or sad or down on their luck. Grandma would laugh and talk non stop as she cooked dinner, making trips to and from the pantry. In that pantry were rows and rows of tomatoes and green beans, pickles and relishes, jams and jellies. Every jar she opened, she'd say the same thing... "Isn't it good to have plenty?"

Today as we celebrate with a table loaded with our favorite dishes, in a warm house with family all around us, we feel blessed and loved and her voice rings in my ears. Happy Thanksgiving!

Famous people who may or may not be celebrating a birthday...

Here's a fun little test for you guys to take, see if you can guess who these famous people are!  I'll give you a few hints- 

Likes fava beans...

Loves shoes, anything that is pink or sparkles, just found out she's going to be a Nana this year...

Made Evoo a household word...

Can't get no satisfaction...

Famous judge...

Voted by Time Magazine, Most Influential People in the World...

Stays fit writing her name...

Deal or No Deal...

Can carry a note...

Happy as a Waterboy, Wedding Singer or Big Daddy...

Started as a Pretty Baby...

Still has that same goofy smile... OK, did you guess them right?

Anthony Hopkins, daughter Stephanie who just happens to be celebrating a birthday tomorrow, Rachel Ray, Mick Jagger, Jennifer Lopez, George Clooney, Catherine Zeta-Jones-Douglas, Howey Mandell, Celine Dion, Adam Sandler, Brooke Shields, Eddie Murphy.

Have a Happy Birthday Sweetie!

My Girls

I knew, even when I was a kid that my Mom was something special. Like so many women in the 1950's, she was a stay at home Mom. I never remember a time when she wasn't there after school with a snack setting on the kitchen table for me. She could read me like a book and often would know when something was bothering me. In tune, she knew what was in my mind and on my heart. I don't know how she would know if I'd been bad, but she could pick up on it like she had radar mounted on her head! One time I had rode my bike outside the perimeter that was deemed safe-- the two blocks around my house. I guess I had been gone just a little too long. She met me at the end of the driveway with a switch in her hand. I immediately told her what I had done and faced the music. It wasn't too bad, and it wasn't child abuse- she was just doing what her own Mother would have done. She had a clear goal, to raise me right. A good dose of morals and a strong faith would help me with whatever life had in store. I owe so much to the lessons she taught me and the example she set. 

Everyday my daughters face the struggles of raising kids. Often times you just don't know if you are doing the right thing, at the right time, for the right reason. But deep inside are all the guidelines we need to raise our children. It comes from our own upbringing, the things we've been taught and the wisom we've learned all along the way. Keeping a prayer going up every day doesn't hurt a thing either...

Sponge Baths...

Remember those days when you didn't even know how you got in the bed, you just remember watching tv and then it was morning and you were still in your shorts and top! I think we played harder than our kids or grandkids... rode our bikes, ran like wild Indians (I can say that since I am 1/8 Cherokee and I did run like a wild Indian) and sometimes fell asleep while we were eating. It wasn't unusual for me to go to bed without a bath... Mom would insist on a sponge bath and I was so cranky I'd put up a fight for that. She gave up on trying to keep us spotless in the summer, medium clean had to do!

As I got older the requirements for a good nights sleep changed. What came so easy as a child was a trick in my 20's when the girls were babies. I wasn't good for much when I tried to go on 4 or 5 hours sleep. 

By the time I was in my 30's I could claim 8 hours again... unless I was worried about something. Kids or money, sometimes it was kids AND money! 

Then along came 40's and we had teenagers. No one ever escapes those teen years without a few sleepless nights. Sometimes the teen years can last longer... you just want to curl up in a box and sleep until it's over!

By the time we finally reached 50's and the girls were grown with kids of their own, we both began to sleep sounder. That's the thing about getting older.... you like the same food, you find yourself wearing the same color shirts and you even sleep in the same position. If you're not there yet you won't understand, if you are then you're nodding your head "YES!"

Cincinnati Fun

Well, we're back from our trip to Cincinnati, worn slap dab out! It was a long drive, but we took the whole week to do some sightseeing along the way. You know I'm going to be blabbing about it for awhile, just warning you! I love traveling though, seeing new places and if you keep your eyes open you get some great pictures...

 Three generations spitting in the Ohio River!

 Purple People Bridge-Cincinnati,OH/Covington,KY

 Carew Tower-Downtown Cincinnati, bee was sightseeing too!

 Cincinnati's Famous Skyline Chili

 ...and sometimes that shot that you didn't quite get turns out to be a good one- GRANDson Jackson jumping for joy at his graduation!

Easter Bunny Cake

 I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter and was able to be with family. That's really what I miss the most about our girls growing up, we just live too far from each other to all be together on every holiday. We broke tradition yesterday and had roast beef for dinner, no ham for us. That meant the sides had to be different as well, I made rice dressing and of course we had mashed potatoes and gravy to go along with the roast. There were enough carbs in the meal to put us all under!

When we have a big holiday meal planned, I like to go light on the appetizers so that no one gets too full. After all the planning and cooking that goes into the meal, I want everyone "hongry"....(hong-ree), that's "cowboy hungry" when you can eat the whole cow!

We had our meal late in the day, that allowed us to have lunch with Mom at the nursing home. She had roast beef too, maybe this was the year we all decided to break away! Jamestown does an excellent job of preparing lovely meals that are homestyle and pretty on the plate. Mom is assisted now with her meals and the CNA's patiently feed her bites at her speed. I admire the dedication required to be a good nurse, it's definitely a calling.

Last night I was thinking of the many, many times we gathered at our parents houses for holiday meals. Mom and my Mother-in-law took turns until 1976 when I joined the elite group of memory makers! It's an important job being in charge of the holiday memories, the ones our children and grandchilden store.

This was 1977, Stephanie was 5 and the little kitty beside her basket was real... she was thrilled! She looks cute as a button in her pink dress, hat and knee highs!  

Amy was 3 in this one, that would make it 1982. This was taken at Grandma's, I can't remember the menu that year~ it really didn't matter other than the fact that we both had made Easter Bunny desserts! That's what the girls will remember...

"Bunny Toes"

We lived on a small farm when our daughters were young. We had a few chickens, calves and a Appaloosa named Apache. When you have farm animals, a trip to the feed store is a weekly errand that you look forward to. Like a mix between a garden center and a hardware store, the feed store had a little bit of everything. In the spring months trays of bedding plants set outside on the front porch. Tomato, peppers, cucumber, eggplant, spinach…neat little trays in neat little rows to get your Spring Fever going! Inside Rogers Grain and Feed it had a delicious grainy smell of sweet feed. How can I explain this…like fresh baked whole grain bread, with a bit of molasses. The fresh bales of hay added another layer of fragrance to the mix.

Around Easter, they would have little pens of Bright Yellow Ducks and Baby Bunnies of all colors. I’m not telling you that you should run out and go to the closest feed store and buy a rabbit or a duck, a pet should be thought out and well planned for. There is no way you can talk yourself out of getting a bunny once you hold it, so BEWARE! Once the girls held that little white bunny in their hands and saw his cute pink nose we had to bring him home with us!

Bunny Toes was a pure white breed called a Flemish Giant. They are known to be gentle, docile and very affectionate. They do require more cage space but also make great house and yard pets. They come when called and love children. At 14 to 21 pounds they are as big as a small dog or big cat. If you want something to hug and love, these guys are it! Bunny Toes lived in a pen next to the house and was a wonderful pet, very gentle and the girls loved holding him. He ate a little pellet food made just for rabbits, but he munched on the apples and carrots, Cherrio’s and whatever the girls were snacking on. He loved to hop around the yard and he and our dog Lizzie were best of friends!

I still like to go to the feed store, but I stay away from the bunny pen!

Happy Easter to Everyone!

Happy Birthday Sweetie!

Today is my dearly beloved's birthday and we are off on a trip down memory lane. You know I'll share it with you when we get back! I wanted to have a birthday post just for him on his special day, but I don't think I can top this one I did back in 2009....

When you get older, there's not too much hulabaloo that goes on around your birthday like when you were a kid. Most of the time we just get a few gifts, have cake and that's it. So yesterday when I went shopping for his cake, I wanted something special...something that would make him remember this day.

"Older Than Dirt," that's just mean and anyway,

he might get me the same cake on my birthday!

Maybe a "theme" cake, he likes to fish...

This is more up his alley, he would like the extra gift inside too!

This one says "Epi Barfday 2 My Beloved," sweet!

"Happy Briday"...is that a Friday Birthday?

"Happy Barthday," but this one's for Omar!

"Congratulations on Completing your jail sentence"...nope doesn't fit!

Now who would buy this one???

This one says, "You're Thirtee Won"...too young!

"Half way 2 30"...this won't work either.

"Happy Birthday The Big 2 Sex" It's been 34 years since he was 26!

This girl needs more practice!

Too scary!

Balloons too small...

Balloons too large...

Balloons during tornado season. I just want something different than everyone else's cake to show him that I went that extra mile to make his day memorable. Oh, I see it! In the back of the bakery case just waiting for me to come along and choose it for Hubby's Big Day! I can't wait to serve a slice with a big scoop of ice cream...

Where do you think I ought to put the candles???

*Cakes all from http://cakewrecks.blogspot.com/