Summer 2013

Well, summer is coming to an end at our house, summer 2013 is past. But now the fishing gets better, the bonfires can be lit and chili dogs can be roasted. The hay wagon is ready for passengers to take a  trip through the woods, around the corner and through the old cemetery, while we scream at the top of our lungs.

So I thought I would share some photos of our summer. We live way out in the country, down a dirt road surrounded by woods, coyotes, and deer. I love the private setting, the quiet, and the dark at night. Until I need some item at the grocery store. It is a half hour drive to town.

Here are a few photos of our summer 2013...

Early in the spring after a rain, looking down our long driveway.

The fishing is always good in our back yard.

Enjoying a lazy day and getting some sun.

The view from our patio.

Girls having fun.

Baby swallows in the corner.

Thanks for stopping by!

What do you say?

What do you say to someone whose infant son dies from crib death? He was just a few months old. She rocked him to sleep and laid him down for the night knowing that he would awake in a few hours hungry for another bottle. In those next few hours his life ended.

She buried her son.

What do you say to someone whose teenage daughter never came home? She had left with friends to go to a school rally, wearing her favorite pair of jeans and laughing with her friends. They went around a curve, lost control and her life ended.

She buried her daughter.

What do you say to someone whose grown son was buried today? She was so proud of him. He was a father to two small boys, a husband and a loving son. He called her and said he would see her tomorrow then he went to sleep and never woke up.  His life ended.

She buried her son.

What do you say?

I needed to know. I couldn't speak. What are those magical words that are going to lessen the pain and give comfort? What do you say to comfort a Mother who just buried her third and last child?

We have all heard them. But do they really mean anything? Or are they just those words we all say to each other when someone we love dies?

I leaned on my faith,

held her close

and told her I loved her.

Dedicated to my cousin Pam, whose heart is hurting.

May God bring her peace, restore her joy,

and bring light into her world.

Seriously...

Well, it has been a while since I posted and I need to get back to putting thoughts and ideas on paper and learning and sharing. It's kind of funny though, I seemed to miss it, maybe my brain likes to empty itself.  I kept reading my favorite blogs, my decorating blogs, my cooking blogs, my organizing blogs and enjoyed each and every post. But I didn't leave any comments, even though I had some. I guess my mind needed a serious break from sharing its thoughts with others. Maybe, I was on information over-load?

I have always appreciated people sharing information. When I was a new bride, I loved my monthly extension club meetings. It was a place to ask questions, share ideas, learn new ways, and rejuvenate my drive to be and do better. I have so many tried and true recipes and household hints that I use everyday, all from those gals at those meetings. Then along came work, a relocation, and those day-to-day serious responsibilities just got in the way.

The blogging world is like a virtual club of great women (and maybe a few men) whom I stay in touch with. I get to share some of their life's experiences, they get to share some of mine. My list of blogs I like to read is growing, so I am certain that the men/women ratio on my favorites blog tool bar will also grow. I have to say though... that my life is really pretty boring, sometimes not blog worthy, sometimes my random sense of humor evades me and hides under a lot of seriousness. And who would want to read a blog about my not-so-great day?

Seems it started with that dreaded phone call that a family member had passed away. A young man, a husband and father to two small boys went to sleep and never woke up. Seriousness kicked into overdrive, alongside sadness and a longing to help in some way.

Now it is time to unleash the seriousness

and bring my everyday, day-to-day self back in.

It started with a trip to the Pet Store for Lillie, our granddog. She has special dietary needs. She went through a serious (seriously? there is that word again) illness and now must eat her special brand. She loves to ride in her car seat and is very good while moving at 55mph.

Lillie in her stroller at the petfood store!
note: she turned her head when the camera came out!

She just doesn't like having her photo taken, no matter how many times you ask or bribe and need her to look at the camera, she always looks sideways when she hears your finger click the button.

Lillie in her car seat riding down the road
note: she turned her head when the camera came out!

Later, and this is a funny story, I cleaned my dryer vent. I must pat myself on the back for doing such a good job, so good I broke the dryer. So off to the appliance store to replace that old noisy set with a quiet and more energy and water efficient one, which they delivered just this morning. The appliance men then tried to turn on my new dryer and it wouldn't work. Turns out the breaker was flipped. I told you I did a great job cleaning it! So I either prevented a dryer fire or caused a short circuit, but it was really, really clean.

I think that is where I went into information overload. So many choices, so many prices, so many stores, so much on-line research! Front loader, top loader, big and really big, free deliver and install, or haul and install myself????????

Yep, that's what it was – 

information overload,

seriously!

I want to take a moment and thank the blogging community for your uplifting and encouraging comments, posts and blogs.  

I enjoy keeping in touch and seeing the world

through so many eyes... in so many places... in so many hearts.

 It reminds me of my 4-H Club pen pals back when I was much, much younger! We live in a very small and rural town, a population of 345 with one 4-way stop, one church, one ballpark and one bar. We live down a private lane, near a river, in the woods, and you can hear a car coming from several miles away. It is quiet here.

We love cruising on the boat on a sunny day!

Myhubs has had a tough couple of years.  He had 3 large tumors removed from his thyroid that had invaded the surrounding muscles and lymph nodes. It was very aggressive and fast growing. The symptoms appeared gradually about a year prior to the diagnosis. Always being an organized and patient man, we saw him not be able to sit down for more than a couple of minutes.  His body and his brain had to be multi-tasking all of the time. If I needed to have a talk with him, I had to put it in an email as he just wasn't able to sit, talk and stay focused. He had to be moving all of the time. At his yearly physical a simple blood test gave us the answer and explained the "got-to-be-busy" behavior.

The past 14 months have been a series of radiation treatments, scans, and modifying prescriptions. He is getting back to himself now and we are seeing positive changes each day. He is still producing cancer cells but by keeping his thyroid levels high (hyperthyroidism), the cancer starves of a protein and dies. Monitoring and controlling these levels is what is keeping the cancer from growing.

We are extremely blessed with good doctors, good nurses and affordable healthcare.  During our battle with cancer, my brother, my uncle and two good friends lost their battles with cancer.  The fight at times felt overwhelming. 

Rest in Peace dear Brother.

I pray that they find a cure for cancer, or even better, a preventive vaccine ending this war on our bodies, our loved ones, our families and friends. 

My everydays...

Since joining the blogging world, I find myself being envious of my new friends talking about their Happy Tuesdays and Dinner Thursdays. They make plans with friends each month on a certain day, they join groups that drink wine together on Fridays or spend their Sundays going to a community event. How fun that must be! To know what is scheduled on next Thursday or the 2^nd Tuesday of each month. To be able to prepare in advance, to pick up that special bottle of wine, prepare a great dessert, or plan that special outfit to wear.

That doesn't happen at our house, at least not often. The past couple of years we have been jumping at the ring of the telephone and canceling our plans if work offers up an opportunity or a trip to the doctor is necessary. Couple the need to work in a depressed economy and a career based on clients needs and schedules and you find keeping a schedule or a routine is nearly impossible. The last couple of years I found myself calling up friends and canceling/rescheduling those moments in our life that make you laugh till your cheeks hurt.

For a couple of years now, we get up when we need to, go to bed when we need to, eat when we need to... and the times all vary, everyday. Each day is different, each week is different.

We were forced to add cancer and hyperthroidism to our list of challenges. We have been through surgery, radiation treatments, prescription changes, dosage changes, and hundreds of blood tests and scans in our battle to defeat this enemy and win the war on cancer that struck our family.

Hyperthyroidism takes time to be discovered and a simple blood test can diagnose it. It effects people in many different ways. Some get tired, some don't. Some gain weight, some don't.

It can effect the ability to track time, to remember and to organize your thoughts, to plan ahead. It can make it hard to concentrate. And this can vary from day to day, some days are better, some days are trying. It takes time to find the best medicine and the right dose to get your life back to what it was before. It is possible but it may take time. The medicine takes time to adjust and monitor, then adjust and monitor, then adjust and monitor...

We are slowly seeing our life getting back to our “pre-thryoidism” normal. I haven't had to erase/reschedule a social entry in my calendar for about a month now.

It is starting to feel normal again at our house.

Just thought I would share some photos from our trip to Integrity Hills in Branson, Missouri. This is a place to turn your phone off, and sit in silence, and look/feel/hear Mother Nature. It was a dream of a friend of ours. He dreamed it, prayed about it and then built it. It is a place for solitude, quiet remembrance and peace.

Bella Vista, Arkansas

"May God bless those in Colorado 

suffering from the rain and floods."

We haven't been home much lately. We have been going back and forth to Little Rock, Arkansas from our home in the southwest corner of Missouri.  

We have not had any rain for more than 3 weeks so our yard is bone dry and full of cracks.  We have been watering our yard with the lawn sprinkler, dragging that heavy waterhose from tree to tree, sometimes watering all night long. The dust and pollen has everyone's allergies flared up.  Our eyes are red, our noses are red, and we have a bathroom counter full of sinus miracle drugs and boxes of kleenex - with lotion, a true miracle product for those of us with allergies.

We often drive to Fayetteville, Arkansas for the day.  We love the drive, the shopping, the people.  I find the citizens of that great state, to be very friendly and funny too!

We travel through Bella Vista, and enjoy the Veterans Monument Park. It is a great place to walk and read about the history of our freedom. It is also a great place to strike up a conversation with a passerby. This monument is located in the heart of the Bella Vista Community and sits beside a lake with a pedestrian bridge over a beautiful running stream.

Here is the link to their website:

http://www.veteransmonumentbellavistaar.com/

“Our military history is revealed through a 36’ Timeline and a series of plaques each giving a brief description of the major military  events in this period.  Over 120 running feet of beautiful cast bronze is used in this historical/educational presentation. Two walls containing the Preamble to our Constitution, seals of each Armed Forces branch and historical quotes  along with 18 historical flags add to the educational display.”

If you ever find yourself traveling through the Northwest part of Arkansas, please make time to stop and see this, enjoy a nice walk, and meet some very nice people.

I just had to share this one...

I have seen many Hog fans along this route.

But this one gets the

spirit award! 

It made me proud to be a friend to the Razorback state!

Pinterest Notes

When I have a few moments

to let my mind wander,

I jump onto Pinterest

 So I thought I would share some

of my collection (Boards)of my favorite quotes!

 I Love this one!

 And I Love this one!

 And I Love this one!

And I Love this one too!
Hope your Friday the 13th is a Happy Day!

You can check out my Pinterest Boards at
Greatfull Dazeez!
Happy Pinning!

My Not so Secret Ingredient!

Cornbread...

Our house is filled with many different opinions, tastes and attitudes. And our cornbread represents all three. Most of my dishes are satisfying to the majority, give or take a few added ingredients. But cornbread is the one that I cannot adjust, alter or fake to please the masses.

He likes it dry. He likes it to crumble.

I like it moist, and heavy.

It doesn't matter if you are having it with fried potatoes and brown beans, catfish, salmon, or chicken, we will never agree on our cornbread. I will not eat His, and he will not eat Mine.

I love MY cornbread recipe. So I have had to surrender to making a half batch, just enough for me with dinner, as a snack and for breakfast the next day. 

 I may even convince someone new to try it, 

or to take a bite if you have never tried it.

But I will never tell them what is in it until they fall in love with it.

Here is the recipe.

I got it from a friend,

who got it from a friend,

who got it from a friend!

Set your oven to 350 degrees, 

and grease 8x8 pan for deep cornbread 

or an 9x14 cake pan for shallow cornbread.

Mix one box of Jiffy Cornbread Muffin mix with:

4 eggs

1 stick butter

1 tlbsp sugar

mix well, batter will be lumpy.

Then add the secret ingredient – 6 oz. Cottage cheese.

Stir just enough to mix, do not over stir.

Then pour into pans and bake approximately 20 minutes for large pan, 30 minutes for smaller pan or just until it gets that touch of brown on top.

This is the kind of recipe that can be adjusted and other ingredients can be added. I have added chopped broccoli or chopped peppers.

My family would eat MY CORNBREAD from time to time, 

even though it was not their favorite until... 

I told them about the Cottage Cheese... 

so keep it a secret!

Just had to share...

We just returned from our trip to Little Rock, Arkansas and were ready to take a day and slow our world down a bit. We decided to head home through The Ozarks and Tablerock Lake and spend a few days relaxing. Coming north oh Highway 65, a two lane highway lined with small towns, we stopped at several flea markets and vintage junk stores.  I want to share some photos I took along our way!

This was my favorite Stop!

This place made me wish we had driven the truck!

 The iron gates were priced at $225 each!

I could have brought all of these home with me!

They had over 200 booths!

Yes, this is a piano turned sideways and made into a book shelf.
 Behind it are several other similar pieces!

Lots of Iron Beds were available to come home with me!

One of my favorites, the recycle, upcycle booth!

This booth made me feel like a girl!

Lots of choices in the Vintage Linens Booth!

Couldn't resist this one, old, new side by side.

This bicycle caught my eye next door at the cafe!

Another great store along Highway 65!

I had never seen this before, I guess Tide didn't keep it going long.

This store has everything, even an oil well. 

They called these mushrooms! Perfect for a flower garden!

Next time I will budget for one of these, only $65 each!

Thank you for looking! We will do this same trip again next month!