Christmas is coming and I'm not ready.

Christmas will be here in 4 days and I am so not ready for it.I am running way behind this year.I still have lots of shopping to do,from the gifts to the food.I have my lists all made out.I just can't seem to get out the door and get it done.I am not in the Christmas spirit this year and I am not really sure why.

We finially put up the tree about a week ago.I have lost a box of Christmas decorations.The box is filled with things the kids made in school.I have looked everywhere and can't find it.I would rather have those things than the most expensive ornaments that money could buy.

It snowed here a few days ago.We got about 2 inches.It was very pretty but most of it has melted now.

My family who lives in Asheville got almost 18 inches of snow.They are calling it the Blizzard of 2009.I am really glad we didn't get that much:)

Here is a picture that my sister sent me of her snow.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone.

It's Thanksgiving today. I have the turkey cooking in the oven. The mashed potatoes,baby peas,turkey gravy,stuffing,cranberry sauce,and rolls are next on my list. Oh and confetti cake and cheese cake for dessert. I love the Thanksgiving meal,the thoughts of giving thanks,and family and friends getting together. It's a beautiful time.
We are having another family Thanksgiving dinner on Sunday.This one will be at Grandma and Grandpas house. With even more food and more family.I can't wait.
I am so thankful for my family. I am thankful for our good health.For the food on our table. For the roof over our heads.
I wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. Have a great day and travel safe this weekend.

Cold and Flu Season

Cold and flu season is here. It's scarier this year because of the H1N1 (swine flu) going around. We try to stay healthy all year round but take a few extra precautions when there is a nasty bug going around.
The most important thing that you should do is wash your hands.I teach my kids to wash with lots of soap and water,to wash really good,not just a slap and dash job.We also use hand sanitizers.I keep some in the car to use after shopping,running erands,anytime we touch a door or something some one else has touched.You never know who hasn't washed their hands.
Stay away from sick people,don't go near other people when you are sick.
Sneeze or cough into your sleeve.
Eat healthy.We also take a multi-vitamin.
If you do get sick.Stay home,get lots of rest.Take a medicine that is just for your symptoms,not one that is for a long list of things.You don't need that extra stuff in your system.Drink lots of fluids.
We use Homeopathic things.Boiron has some really great products and here is a link for a $1 off coupon. http://bit.ly/boironcoupon
I have used the Chestal Cough.It has honey in it and worked really well for me.
Hopefully we can all have a cold and flu free year.
Wishing you the best healthy year ever.

Some Of The Things I Miss From Grandma's House.

I was thinking today how much I miss my grandparents. We called them mammie and papaw.They've been gone for awhile now.I still miss them and think about all of the fun that we had at their house.They lived in Tennessee and we live in North Carolina.We would go and visit usually 3 or 4 times a year.
I miss sleeping in the big feather bed.
The sound of rain on their tin roof.
Playing with the animals on the farm.
Hiking all over the mountain.
Picking and eating fresh fruit and vegetables.
Mammie's cooking.
Papaws soft voice.
Watching Papaw work on the farm.
Loved when he would plow and tell the mules Gi and Haw.(that's what it sounded like to me:)
I miss them and that time in our lives.I hate that my kids never got to experience those things that I miss so much:(

Fun at the Nature Center

Christmas Stuff

I went shopping a few days ago and was looking at the Halloween costumes. The next aisle over,they were putting out Christmas things. Is it my imagination or do they do that earlier every year???
I remember the big thing used to be that the day after Thanksgiving you would go to the mall to see the new Christmas decorations that were put up.
I just think it is to early for Christmas things to be out. By the time Christmas gets here,I am usually tired of seeing it every where and I LOVE Christmas.

Harry Connick, JR. YOUR SONGS.

I got to review the New Harry Connick Jr. cd called Your Songs.
I loved it.
Album Tracklisting (Originally performed by):All The Way (Frank Sinatra)Just The Way You Are (Billy Joel)Can’t Help Falling In Love With You (Elvis Presley)And I Love Her (The Beatles)(They Long To Be) Close To You (The Carpenters)Besame MuchoThe Way You Look Tonight First Time Ever I Saw Your Face (Roberta Flack)Your Song (Elton John)Some Enchanted EveningAnd I Love You So (Don McLean)Who Can I Turn To? (Tony Bennett)Smile (Charlie Chaplin)Mona Lisa (Nat King Cole) .
I love his singing voice and thought he did these songs justice.He sang some of my favorites really really well.
And I Love Her,And I Love You So,Who Can I Turn To?and Close To You were some of my favorites on the playlist.
He is going to be doing some press for the New cd and I can't wait to see him talk about the cd and other things.I think he is such a nice man who does a lot of good and just happens to also sing really well. Here is a list of the appearances.

Harry’s Upcoming TV Appearances:9/25 – Oprah “Live Friday”9/28 – Today Show9/29 – The View9/30 – Imus in the Morning9/30 – Letterman10/1 – Today ShowWeek of 10/5 – Rachael Ray

I loved this new cd. I highly recommend that you buy it. I think that you will really enjoy it.
Harry's website: http://www.harryconnickjr.com/
Facebook: http://facebook.com/harryconnickjr
Check him out.

Weekend what to do??????

There is not much on t.v. right now.

I'm not sure which book that I want to start reading next.

I need to clean the house,but I have a headache.

The litter box in my bathroom needs cleaning but I REALLY have a headache.

I went outside but my eyes started watering and I started sneezing.Allergies acting up.

This is how my day has went today.

I have not got much done today.One sink full of dishes washed.One load of laundry washed and put away. Chili is cooking on the stove. That's it.

That has been my boring day today:)

I think I'll add some pictures to my blog.

I'm excited to see what I pick:)

Oh look it's the cutest baby in the whole wide world's 1st Birthday. He really liked his birthday cake.

The Shack

I finished the book The Shack by William P. Young. I really like the story about a man named Mackenzie (Mac) Philip's whose daughter Missy was abducted during a family vacation. Evidence that she may have been brutally murdered was found in a abandoned shack deep in the Oregon woods. Four years later Mac gets a note that may or may not be from God asking him to come to the Shack. He walks into his darkest nightmare where he finds out what happened to Missy.
Where is God when horrible things happen to people? How can God let things like this happen to people? When someone prays and prays for a good outcome and it doesn't happen.Did God even listen?
This is a story where those answers are given to Mac.
I thought this book was very good and it has made my conversations with God a little different.
I recommend this book very highly.

Tip For The Day.

Here's a trick that I have for those people that won't eat their vegetables. I have done this for years because my kids are picky eaters.
You would be surprised what you can sneak a can of pureed mixed vegetable into.
I drain a can of Veg-All (you can use any kind of mixed vegetables) puree in blender.It will be orange.I add a can to the meat for my meat loaf,add it to meat for hamburgers,muffin mix,cookies,soups.I have always added a can to plain tomato soup.My kids get extra vegetable servings and don't even know it.You really can not tell it's in there.
Try it for yourself. Just don't let the kids,or any other veggie haters catch you:)

Books, nice weather and my allergies.

Today is a beautiful day with temps. in the low 70's. The sun is shining,a soft breeze is blowing and I think it's about a perfect day.I just back inside after taking a blanket out in the back yard.I found a good spot ,spread out my blanket and finished the last of one book and started another.
The book that I just finished is The Birthing House by Christopher Ransom. It is his 1st book and I really liked it. It's a horror story that is written very well.
It's about a young couple that move from Los Angeles in an attempt to save their marriage.They buy a Victorian mansion that was once a haven for unwed mothers called the Birthing House.It is a story of possession,sexual obsession and ultimately murder.I really liked the book and will be on the look out for Mr Ransom's next book.
The book that I just started is The Shack by William Young. It has been on the best seller list for awhile. One man said about this book,Finally! A guy-meets-God novel that has literary integrity and spiritual daring. Another said The Shack is a one of a kind invitation to journey to the very heart of God. I think it sounds very good.I have just started reading it and will post my thoughts on it when I finish the book.
I laid outside on my blanket reading for a hour or so and then started sneezing and sneezing and sneezing.I think I sneezed about 20 times.My eyes stared watering and I started to get sinus pressure.Time to come in and look for some Clartin,Benadrl or something for allergies.I don't know what is blooming outside to cause this but I am miserable.
The weather is really nice.I wish I could have stayed out longer.

Google G-Mail not working.

Google G-Mail isn't working right now and it's driving me crazy.I probably didn't get any mail and I wasn't going to send any mail,so it really shouldn't be that big of a deal,but you know how it is when you can't do something,that all you want to do.I am not sure why it isn't working.I tried to log on about 8 times in 10 minutes and couldn't so I decided to go on Twitter and see what was going on.Sure enough it's the number ! trending topic:)
All I really found out it that Google knows about the problem and they are working on it.
I hope that if I won something that I can get to my email to find out and to send my information back to them.
I love technology but it's kind of scary when it goes down and doesn't work.Part of my life is in Google's hands.
Hopefully they will get the problem fixed and it's not a big hacker problem or something like that.Now that's scary.
Come on Google get it fixed.

Magazine Fall Covers.

Today has been a lazy day for me. I have been getting caught up on my reading. I get a lot of magazines in the mail. Today I have been reading Family Circle,Good Housekeeping,Woman's Day and my new favorite All You.(all you,ideas,tips,life with a reality check).I get 10 or 11 other mags. but those are the ones I have been reading today.
The magazines have their new Fall covers. I love Fall and always get excited when they come out. The bright colors,the pumpkins,I don't know what it is really,I just love them.

Family Circle- has 4 jack-o-lanterns on the front cover/with Speedy Weeknight Suppers,Lower Your Credit Card Bills and How to Raise Ethical Teens.

Woman's Day- has 3 jack-o-lanterns on the front cover/Giant Issue,What's For Dinner? 12 Quick Meals,65+ pages of Food & Tips,Relax! Find Calm In Tough Times,15 Minutes to A Clean House Our Mess-Proof Plan,and Simple,Spooky Halloween Crafts,Pumpkins,Food & More.

all you- has 3 small pumpkins,1 has cute cat ears and face/Hundreds Of Ways To Save Time and Money,This Magazine Pays For Itself!,Walk Off The Weight,Watch 5,10,15 pounds melt away with our daily plan,Look your best with great new makeup,Health Report Start Saving! Cut your prescription drug costs,Plan ahead for Halloween,go all out this year with decorations for your house,Over $83.00 worth of coupons,Low-cost recipes,quick dinners and easy desserts,Throw a party on a budget,Affordable Style,find comfy jeans that flatter,Your Health,Kick the fast food habit,and Get a boost from vitamin D.

I forgot what was on the other cover.My neighbor just borrowed it.
Anyway what I was saying is I love Fall and the new magazines with all of the Fall related stuff.Pumpkins,Fall Leaves,Halloween stuff,costumes and decorations.Love it.
Cooler weather,the bright leaf color in the mountains.I LOVE FALL.

Blueberry picking in the North Carolina Mountains.

Bigger pictures of our view from the top.

Picking blueberries in North Carolina.

Here are a few more pictures of our berry picking adventure.

This one is of me and my Brother picking blueberries. I had a great time. We meet up and walk to the top of the mountain.My Mom,Dad,2 Sisters,3 Nephews,1 Brother,My Husband,and 1 Son and I spent the day in this paradise. Isn't it beautiful ???

Blueberry Picking.

This was our mountain top view. I kind of feel like I am on top of the world,standing there looking out at the other mountains. I think everyone should visit The Blue Ridge Mountains

We went blueberry picking on Saturday. The weather was perfect. The blueberries were plentiful. The berries are really big this year,we had just the right amount of rain and no late frost or freezing. We go up on the Blue Ridge Parkway,near Graveyard Fields in North Carolina. The pictures that I am posting were taken by my nephew. He did a awesome job.

It's A Robert Frost Kind Of Day.

O.k. I love to read. I will read almost anything. I love Thrillers, Chillers, Mystery,Romance,Scifi,True Story,Bios,Drama, and everything in between.
I finished the book that I was reading yesterday. I'm caught up on all of my magazines. I've read todays newspaper,so I thought what will I start on today? I usually have at least 1 or 2 new books laying around,plus a couple of older books that I haven't read yet.
Do I want to start a mystery,drama,chiller,romance or what today? I'm not really in the mood for either. I'm not really feeling good ,just kind of blah today.What might make me feel better,up my spirits??
Poetry !!!! And to me if I say poetry in a sentence,I have to add Robert Frost. He is my all time favorite!!!!!! A true genuis !!!!!
O.k. now that I've decided what to read,it's time to find and dig out my favorite book of poerty. " The Poetry of Robert Frost" All eleven of his books-complete.
Some of my favorite poems are,Stopping By The Woods On A Snowy Evening,Nothing Gold Can Stay,Dust Of Snow,Desert Places,The Wind And the Rain,The Road Not Taken, plus many,many,many others.
Reading his works allways puts me in a good mood,even though some of his poems are really sad.
Well I'll go for now.I have poems to read,poems to read.

Woodstock 40 Years Ago Today.

Today I am listening to music from the Woodstock era,which happens to be my favorite kind of music anyway. 4o years ago they had a heck of a music festival. I would have loved to be a part of that. I was 9 years old at the time and I can't remember what I knew about it then. Mom and Dad mostly listened to country music and I wasn't inside much to listen to music anyway. I spent most of my time climbing trees,going on hikes,playing kick the can,ghost in the graveyard,freeze tag,hide-in-seek and playing in the creek. If the weather was bad and I had to stay inside,I was usually reading a book like,Nancy Drew,The Hardy Boys,The Secret Garden,Harriet The Spy and many other books that I loved. I have such great memories of those times.
Today I will listen to the music and maybe watch a little bit of the Woodstock experience on t.v.
40 years,boy how times have changed.

Back To School.

Where has the Summer gone? I can't believe that school is starting already.It's crazy how fast the time goes sometimes isn't it ?
I have seen some really good back to school sales lately. The Summer clothes are on clearance and Fall stuff is out now.
I like the Fall weather.It cools off and the leaves start to change colors. The Fall flowers bloom. I love Mums. Mine came back this year and are blooming now. I have yellow ones,my favorite color.

Meteor Showers

The Perseid Meteor Shower was last night. We had some storms early on and I was afraid that it would be to cloudy to see anything. But it cleared up enough for us to see a few shooting stars.
My husband ,my son and I saw one really good one. It was red and had a nice glowing tail behind it. It was pretty cool to see. I made a wish,now we'll just have to see if it comes true :).
It's raing here today. It's cooled off alot,which I am very glad. It has been very hot the last couple of days.
I love this kind of rainy day,it's perfect to curl up with a good book or take a nap and let the soft pitter-patter sound of the rain hitting the roof lull you to sleep.
Speaking of a good book. I am reading The Birthing House by Christopher Ransom. So far I am really enjoying it. If then ending sucks,I'll let you know.

Ants Everywhere.

We have ants in the house. They are everywhere. I couldn't sleep last night because when I went to bed,I had to brush some out of the bed. I felt them crawling on me last night. They are everywhere. We have had a few in the house before but never like this.I don't know if they are coming in because of all of the rain that we have had or maybe they don't like the hot weather either :).
We have fireants outside,a lot of fireants and these look the same but they don't seem as mean as fireants. I don't know if they are what we've always called pissants or fireants,either way they've got to go.
I have some powder that I can sprinkle down and we'll get some traps and spray tomorrow. I think we need to get that lawn treatment for ants. I hate to put down something that will kill other bugs that are not bugging me :).
I think I'll check around on line and see what works the best.
I am used to ants looking for food in the kitchen but ants in the bed.What the heck, that isn't right.

Shaved Cat.

I just wanted to say that I did not shave that poor cat on my page. He looks very cool as in "not hot". But boy he doesn't look very happy does he ?

Blog under construction.

I am trying new things with my blog. I am trying to find a layout that I like,so please bare with me while I work things out.
Have a great day !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lake Douglas

More pictures of the 70th Birthday party fun.Grandpa and a boat full of FUN.

Hot. Hot. Hot.

The temperature,that is. It's 96* right now and I am roasting. I can't wait for Fall. The cooler weather,the Fall colors,kids back in school. I love it.
We are going to Mt. Pisgah in a couple of weeks. It will be a lot cooler there. We go and pick blueberries. It's a pretty good walk back to where we get the best berries,but it is usually worth it. I am hoping with all the rain that we had earlier this year that the berries will be big and plentiful. I'll post pictures of the trip.

Lake Douglas Fun.

We had a great weekend at Lake Douglas, home of the Grandparents :)
It was Birthday fun for the August Birthdays. We have 4 of them in August.
Grandpa pulled the boys behind his boat on a chariot. They love that.
My Grandbaby went for his 1st lake swim.he's 1yrs. old and he loved it. He was so cute with his Dad in the water.
We had a great time and made lasting fun memories.
I'll post some pictures later.

These would look so cute with my flowers.

I think these are so cute. This was at Dollywood. I want to fix my flower garden like that.

Fun At The Lake. 4th of July.

Another Birthday.

Another Birthday come and gone. I swear I don't feel any older, but time seems to go by so much faster the older that I get. That kinda sucks.
Things aren't much different this year than last year. I am still in the same place doing the same things that I did last year. That's kind of boring,but everyone is healthy so I am not going to complain. All in all it;s been a good year.
So many people are losing their jobs and homes. Times are really tough for alot of people and that's very sad. I do think that things are starting to improve though. I hope and pray that they are.

Getting caught up.

Boy it has been a long time since I wrote on here.My new thing has been Twitter. I have been writing on there and following other people. It's fun.
It's almost Summer now. Spring has been nice, a little hotter than normal,lots of rain,but at least we don't have to worry about a drought this year.
The family are all doing good.
I'm getting a cold or something. Hopefully it won't last long.
I'll try to write more later and add some new pictures.
More later.