Jumpin' In The Jungle!!

Hope It Was A Great One!

2011-12-26T14:11:00.002-05:00

Y'all know I LOVE Christmas, this one was good also. Had a lot of sadness though....had to say goodbye to Cate on Thursday afternoon. She had started having seizures this summer, really escalated the past few weeks......she was 14 yrs old......after 3 seizures back to back, I knew. And I did.

Man Vs Woman

2011-08-27T21:06:00.002-04:00

When I put on a shirt and it's feeling a bit tight, I look at myself and comment "I need to lose a few pounds". When Greg tries on a shirt and it's a bit snug, his comment "I need to buy some bigger shirts"!

Join Me....I Just Need Three!!!!!!

2011-07-31T15:54:00.005-04:00

Pay It Forward Project...

Heckety wrote about this Project, and I think it sounds fun! The idea stems from the idea of not paying back someone who does something for you, but paying it forward to someone else.

So here's my deal....I promise to make something for 3 people and send it to them within a year. To take part, you have to post about the PIF project yourself, and promise to send a gift(handmade or bought with love) to each of three people before the end of the year. So now.....if you have been just waiting with baited breath to see what totally, completely, unique, fun "thingy" I come up with to give my friends...here is your chance to find out!

So! Who is ready to Pay It Forward????? Come on...it'll be FUN!!

How I Roll When The Lights Go Out!

2011-07-28T10:09:00.002-04:00

You have to do something to keep your strength up for lighting those candles at night!!

Where I've Been

2011-07-19T20:03:00.005-04:00

On April 26 and 27, a series of tornadoes broke out in the southeast. On the morning of the 27th, a tornado decided to roar through our neighborhood....it tracked for 2 miles....it came roaring up the backyard of our 3 neighbors across the street....we were so blessed in that none of our houses blew apart....roofs lost shingles and walls were bowing, but we made it. Many of the houses had damage from trees landing on and in houses....we did not...we have only 1 tree left, but our house still stands. Our neighborhood was totally impassable. All 4 ways were blocked by trees. We knew 2 more waves of storms were coming. The boys got in our truck and loaded up chainsaws and cut a path through the street behind us. Greg tried to get to us right after the storm and couldn't until the afternoon. For 10 days we had no power and Greg worked 21 hour days. He was in charge of 4 crews...one from Michigan, one from Ohio, one from Virginia and one from Tennessee. After the last wave of storms on the 27th, we had 161,000 people without service. As soon as Greg was able to make it here, he turned on the generator for us. I ran it first thing in the morning and alternated between the refrig and the freezer...and of course the coffee pot first thing :) We ate one meal out a day and scavenged the rest. I had 2 showers in 10 days, we had no hot water. Luckily one of my neighbors did. I read at night by flashlight while I waited for Greg to get home. He would sleep 2-3 hours and then go back in. We just went day to day, it's still hard to believe we went without power for 10 days....our group of houses were the last in the system to get back on. ....too many broken poles, downed trees, damaged wire and crushed transformers....add that to a very hilly terrain. I never knew tornadoes liked mountains so much. I do now. It has been very hard for me to get back in the routine. Our cut up trees were not picked up until last week. And some neighbors are still working to get their houses and yards repaired. The landscape is totally different...kinda like living in a new place. I'm sorry I have not been around....and I really appreciate those of you who have stayed with me. I'm working on getting school stuff together to start in 3 weeks, I'll have all 4 in this year. I've had to step back from some things and I'm hoping for a little more free time so I can get back to visiting all of you. So just hang with me....I promise I'm still here!

Happy Seventeen Derek

2011-06-21T01:18:00.001-04:00

I was going to include a youtube of Janis Ian's "Seventeen".....but somehow, I just don't think it fits this kid!

That canoe in the background......birthday present.....it is fun!

Happy Birthday My Oldest Child!!

Cat Whisperer

2011-04-26T08:40:00.004-04:00

This little lady showed up a few weeks ago.......

She stayed.......

Her name is Princess Kitty......

Courtesy of The Cat Whisperer.......

Gotcha ya!

Question Of The Day.....

2011-04-20T20:39:00.003-04:00

BLACKBERRY BOLD...........OR

DROID X....

HELP??????

He's NINE Today

2011-03-25T01:29:00.000-04:00

Happy Birthday Colin......

This is one unique kid, can take an idea and work on it for hours.....no help needed....

He is cute, funny, has to win every argument, stubborn, bossy.......

Loves rockets, fishing, talking, playing, Lulu his dog and Joe his cat......

But these next pictures describe Colin to a "T" much better then I can....found them on my camera....a bucket of grass clippings.....

Dig a really deep hole in it......

And then get the yardstick and measure it......all this.....just because he can....I just shake my head and keep on going......

Happy Birthday Colin!

Random Pics

2011-03-09T22:05:00.005-05:00

You know the drill......found these on my camera....

I have no idea.....

Shea and Muffin washing Quack-Quack the duck....

Snow and Colin...

Santa Snuggly my husband bought at Lowe's after Christmas sale....I have no idea why...

Joe's paw....

Muffin Man on Will's back....

THE truck's tire...exciting....

I just don't know why we needed a picture of the Christmas tree after it was

de-decorated and taken outside?????

Hard day obviously....

Look closely...there is a cat in that window.....
Enjoy!!

I've Been Replaced

2011-02-24T19:24:00.002-05:00

My husband's new love.........1983 Ford F-100 Pick-up..........

....... sigh.......think those two might be up for a threesome??

Cheer Up Swap

2011-02-23T21:08:00.016-05:00

Ok I joined Brandy over at "You Don't Know...." for her totally awesome Cheer Up Swap. And I had the pleasure of getting to know someone new whom I now consider a bloggy friend, Beth at "Living A Goddess Life". Even though on paper you would think we have absolutely nothing in common...we are kindred spirits. And she outdid herself with the goodies she sent me....take a look:

I just love opening a box and getting a first look...the excitement builds from there...

Beth even sent treasures for the cats!!! Except the kids were trying to take off with these before the picture...and look at the notes, she sent a note for each item...I LOVE THAT!!

A beautiful journal, lavender soap, and bubbles the kids could use inside...and they did 2 seconds after this was taken, LOL!

A Fleur-de-lis planter....y'all know I LOVE my Fleur-De-Lis...and amazing smelling body lotion, a very colorful bookmark or Shea says bracelet for her...and Burt's Bees lips in pomegranate!!

A Glow Bracelet that I love...and an exquisite box, I wish the picture was better...but look in the box...coffee cup earrings just for me!!!!! Does this girl know me or what!!! And notice the beads she also sent throughout the package....

And a beautiful hand painted mega-cup and plate that she had picked up in California...the colors are perfection...so bright and colorful...love it!

And to go in that mega-cup.......VIVA by Starbucks...individual coffees caramel flavored...woohoo!!!!!!!

Thank you Beth so much for everything you sent me!!! And I'm so glad I got to meet you and get to know you!!

People this is what a swap is all about...meeting new people and sometimes if you're lucky...you meet someone whom you are excited to call a friend....and thanks Brandy for hosting a great swap!

Dam

2011-02-22T21:19:00.003-05:00

Colin watched a show on the history channel about the TVA and their building of dams. We have the Chickamauga dam about 2 miles from where we live. He called it "that dam show" ...the big brothers loved that....
So of course, he decided one weekend to build his own dam........

In the backyard where the pool is during the summer....he worked very hard on it.....

He built it...and then flooded the area.....he named it "Dam Greg" after his father......

I seem to recall having said those same words a time or two myself.......

Moment In Time

2011-02-15T12:33:00.004-05:00

Shea and I were curled up on my bed one afternoon last week. The boys were working on school work and playing and she was working on her Dino Dan Field Guide and I was reading. She was being her usual chatty self and I was doing my normal "uh-huh, hmm" answers while reading. Suddenly I put my book down, looked at her happily working away, and was awe struck at the realization of pure happiness...that one moment in time was pure joy with my life and how it has turned out.

Astronomy Lesson Via Shea

2011-02-08T16:37:00.007-05:00

Shea was watching "Olivia" today while Derek and I were talking. Olivia was giving a lesson on the planets so Shea proceeded to fill us in on the info about each one:

Shea: Mom, Jupiter is a stinky planet.

Me (puzzled): OK??

Derek: No Shea, Jupiter doesn't stink...it's MADE of gases, it doesn't have gas...

Mid-Week Motivation

2011-02-01T21:32:00.007-05:00

Joining Ann again over at Harvest Moon By Hand for Mid-Week motivation. What I love about her mid-week linky is that you can post all sorts of things, crafts, recipes, pictures, anything you've made....she's covering all the bases. So please be sure and visit her to check out all the other Middies and think about joining in next week! I have a couple of pictures to share today.

Shea decided Muffin Man needed a crown...so she cut, colored and taped...and the cat sat there and fell asleep with his crown on his head....I thought it was just hysterical....maybe she's a "Muffin Whisperer"......

2011-01-30T21:44:00.003-05:00

OK I know I am last minute getting this up but I just found it tonight (thank you Angie) and you know I LOVE swaps!!!! So check out this one over at Brandy's....you still have a few hours left so HURRY!!!!!

Mid Week Motivation

2011-01-26T08:24:00.003-05:00

Joining in today with my fellow SheTeamer Ann, from Harvest Moon By Hand. She has a Mid-Week Motivation linky going on so be sure to check it out.

This is Muffin Man in his Bunchie Blanket. He LOVES being warm and cozy....even lets Shea bundle him up in her Princess sleeping bag! But fleece is a fave around here. And actually....Oliver the dog stole his blanket.....so now they all use it, and the other one I gave the dogs!. Easy to make, any size fleece you want, cut the edges in strips and tie 2 together, it makes the blanket bunch up around the pet. See, EASY!

Emails from 2010

2011-01-17T20:59:00.000-05:00

Now that the year 2010 is over, I want to thank all of you for your educational e-mails over the past year. I am totally screwed up now and have little chance of recovery.

I no longer open a bathroom door without using a paper towel, or have the waitress put lemon slices in my ice water without worrying about the bacteria on the lemon peel.

I can't sit down on the hotel bedspread because I can only imagine what has happened on it since it was last washed.

I have trouble shaking hands with someone who has been driving because the number one pastime while driving alone is picking one's nose.

Eating a little snack sends me on a guilt trip because I can only imagine how many gallons of trans fats I have consumed over the years.

I can't touch any woman's purse for fear she has placed it on the floor of a public restroom.

I MUST SEND MY SPECIAL THANKS to whoever sent me the one about rat poop in the glue on envelopes because I now have to use a wet sponge with every envelope that needs sealing. ALSO, now I have to scrub the top of every can I open for the same reason.

I no longer have any savings because I gave it to a sick girl (Penny Brown) who is about to die for the 1,387,258th time.

I no longer have any money, but that will change once I receive the $15,000 that BillGates/Microsoft and AOL are sending me for participating in their special e-mail program.

I no longer worry about my soul because I have 363,214 angels looking out for me, and St. Theresa's Novena will grant my every wish .

I can't have a drink in a bar because I'll wake up in a bathtub full of ice with my kidneys gone.

I can't use cancer-causing deodorants even though I smell like a water buffalo on a hot day.

THANKS TO YOU I have learned that my prayers only get answered if I forward an e-mail to seven of my friends and make a wish within five minutes.

BECAUSE OF YOUR CONCERN, I no longer drink Coca Cola because it can remove toilet stains.

I no longer buy gas without taking someone along to watch the car so a serial killer doesn't crawl in my back seat when I'm filling up.

I no longer use Cling Wrap in the microwave because it causes seven different types of cancer.

AND THANKS FOR LETTING ME KNOW I can't boil a cup of water in the microwave anymore because it will blow up in my face. Disfiguring me for life.

I no longer go to shopping malls because someone will drug me with a perfume sample and rob me.

AND THANKS TO YOUR GREAT ADVICE I can't ever pick up $2.00 coin dropped in the parking lot because it probably was placed there by a sex molester waiting to grab me as I bend over.

AND LASTLY, I keep my toothbrush in the living room because I was told by e-mail that water splashes over 6 ft. out of the toilet.

If you don't send this e-mail to at least 144,000 people in the next 70 minutes, a large dove with diarrhea will land on your head at 5:00 p.m. tomorrow afternoon, and the fleas from 120 camels will infest your back, causing you to grow a hairy hump. I know this will occur because it actually happened to a friend of my next door neighbor's ex-mother-in-law's second husband's cousin's best friend's beautician ..

NOW YOU ALL HAVE YOURSELVES A WONDERFUL DAY………….AND A HEALTHY LIFE…………….
Happy 2011

Soup Love

2011-01-11T20:10:00.003-05:00

Here in the "snowy south", I love to have soup on the stove for dinner. This is one of my faves and so easy. Now I am not one of those cooks who can follow directions...I always have to tweak it, even just a little. This is a Creamy Corn Chowder mix by Homemade Gourmet. I use it as my base for Potato Corn Chowder. It's this easy:

The creamy corn chowder mix
2 cans cream style corn
2 cups water
2 cups milk
1 cup chopped ham or use crumbled bacon
half bag of frozen hash browns
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
optional; 1 cup frozen seasoning blend (onions, peppers, celery chopped)

Throw all of it together in the pot, bring to a boil, turn down and simmer 20-30 minutes, stirring often.

It's a hit!

She's 5 Today

2010-12-28T09:04:00.002-05:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY GIRL!!!

Oh Christmas Tree....

2010-12-23T10:54:00.003-05:00

Best Friends

2010-12-14T09:56:00.003-05:00

Lizzy the dog and Muffin Man the new kitty.....BFF's.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

2010-11-24T23:25:00.012-05:00

Menu:
Smoked Turkey
Fried Turkey
Cornbread Dressing
Sweet Potato Casserole
Green Beans
Corn
Warm Macaroni Salad
Cranberry Sauce
Gravy
Rolls
Pumpkin Pie
Chocolate Pecan Pie
and
Sweet Tea.......
Y'all be careful travellers, and may everyone enjoy a bountiful Thanksgiving!!

Last Call

2010-11-20T17:17:00.003-05:00

My good friend Shannon over at Reviews From The Nuthouse is having a giveaway featuring one of the blankets from my new ArtFire shop and tomorrow is the last day to enter....so run on over to Shannon's and get in on the fun! And be sure and check all her other giveaways while you're there!!

From Me To You!

2010-11-18T08:57:00.003-05:00

Passing on the joy.......Buy one holiday drink, get one free. Nov 18-21, 2-5p.m.

Will I see you there????

NEW

2010-11-13T21:35:00.001-05:00

OK...I'M UNVEILING...TAKE A LOOK TO THE RIGHT....YEP, OVER THERE...DO YA SEE IT...HOW DOES IT LOOK...I'M SO GLAD THE NEW SHOP IS FINALLY FINISHED!!

If You're In Town..........

2010-11-10T12:15:00.002-05:00

THIS WILL BE THE 8TH YEAR DEREK HAS BEEN BEEN PERFORMING IN

THE SINGING CHRISTMAS TREE!

SATURDAY DECEMBER 4, 2010 AT 2PM AND 7:30PM....SEE YA THERE!

Happy RESTFUL Weekend!!

2010-11-05T13:04:00.002-04:00

Everyone needs a "little fur" now and then!

NEW

2010-11-03T08:00:00.001-04:00

It's starting to look like a shop.....finally....check it out HERE!!

Asking For Suggestions....

2010-11-01T22:28:00.002-04:00

The 16 year old has started a blog....and he's stuck after 2 posts......so he's reaching out...for help.....click HERE...this is just cracking me up....

Crazy 16s......

2010-09-05T15:52:00.010-04:00

I was tagged for a meme by my friend Audrey over at Audrey's Country Crafts.
This is a really fun meme where I answer 8 questions from Audrey so here goes:

1) What's your favorite song?
Oh man....I love music, old school, head banging rock, very contemporay Christian(think rock like Skillet, Hip-Hop like Toby Mac and crunk like FF5) so picking a favorite for me is near impossible...but there is a song that transports me and brings back a wave of feeling, if I had had a wedding this would have been our song...so in honor of my husband and our marriage, "Born Again" by Billy Preston and Seleatha, I posted it once so you can find it HERE.

2) If you were a flower - what would you be.
This one was hard...... one of the exotics...Bird of Paradise....difficult but worth it!

3) Summer, Winter, Fall or Spring?
Fall-Winter, Winter-Fall, Fall-Winter etc etc....I HATE hot weather..that's why I live soooo far south!

4) Do you collect anything? If so, what is it?
Keeping with the winter theme...Snowglobes! My husband and I started doing this before the kids were born and it has stayed with us!

5) Do you have a hobby?
Besides raising children and pets...I have my button art, I'm also making blankets...anything that feeds my creative side I consider a hobby including READING!

6) If you could go anywhere for a winter vacation, where would it be?
Easy...my SIL is from Vermont and I've been there a few times, for vaca I would pick Stowe Vermont...it's beautiful and ski-able...what more could I ask for!

7) What color is your purse?
Multi color, bright tones...kinda like me.

8) What is your favorite TV channel?
Don't laugh...Discovery Channel...the home of my favorite show "Deadliest Catch" and home to a new favorite...."Swamp People"....throw in a little "Ax Man" and I've got it made, LOL!

And then wouldn't you know it, my friend Shannon over at "Welcome To The Nuthouse" tagged me with the same meme....and because I've been "gone" for so long...I decided to do both just for the fun of it. So here are Shannon's questions:

1.What was the 1st car you drove?
The first car I drove was my dad's Ford Pinto...straight shift...woohoo!

2.Who is your favorite author?
Hmmm ok, I have a favorite Charlaine Harris, a kinda new favorite Janet Evanovich and a really new favorite Sandra Brown.

3.Do you collect anything?
If so, what? SNOWGLOBES...and I wish it would snow right about NOW!

4.What is your favorite vacation destination?
This is what is so strange to me, when I was younger (cause I'm still so young ) I LOVED going to the beach. I also liked the mountains....then I lived in the mountains, moved away, and now my favorite vacation is...going back to the mountains!

5.What season is your favorite? What is it about that season that you like best?
Fall and Winter kinda tie...with winter ahead by a smidgen cause I love the cold! I love hiding under all those layers....and I love walking around outside without sweating...I do not like to sweat...at all!

6.What song can you listen to over and over and never get tired of hearing?
OK I'm gonna change it up from the answer above and go old school rock, but this has been the hardest question for me....there are so many songs that I just never get tired of hearing with so many different genre's from so many different decades...but this one I'm taking back to the 70's with Blood Sweat and Tears "Ride Captain Ride" or Grand Funk Railroad's "Captain, I'm Your Captain".....but then take me to the 80's with U2 and Genesis....then hit me with the 90's with Hootie and the Blowfish and DC Talk....I just can't decide....ARGHHHHHH

7.At what age did you receive your 1st kiss?
I think I was 13...and it was with a an "older man"....he was 16!!

8.What fast food restaurant is your favorite?
Ok since I just got home from Zaxby's and drank one of their absolutly fabulous Caramel Pecan Pie Milkshakes...they've got my vote!!

OK Ladies, thanks for the meme it's been fun! And I'm gonna mix this up a bit and instead of tagging others (since I'm so late with this anyway), I'm leaving YOU a question to answer in the comments...YAY ME....... Ya ready....here it is........the similar question from both Audrey and Shannon that gave me the dickens....leave me a comment with YOUR FAVORITE SONG!!!!

LOVE Y'ALL!!

Happy Birthday Will

2010-09-03T05:01:00.003-04:00

He turn's 14 today.....hard to believe. He is smart, funny, cute, has a killer smile but most of all....this boy marches to the beat of his own drummer and doesn't care what others think about him....he is comfortable with himself! He is very much an individual....and I am proud of him!

You Are Missed

2010-07-15T07:09:00.001-04:00

Cassie died last night.....I will miss her.....the hardest part of having a pet, the loss.

Thought

2010-07-03T07:40:00.003-04:00

Jesus died over 2000 years ago.
Nobody has ever referred to him as the late Jesus Christ.....

I LOVE this!

SIXTEEN

2010-06-21T03:22:00.000-04:00

Another milestone for this one. Derek is sixteen today.....so hard to believe we've come this far.....and survived. And you know what comes next, although it won't be today, not enough practice yet......

You wish big boy...dream on, that one's mine!!!!

OK I'll let you borrow it....until that first ticket or wreck comes along...then she's all mine again!!

One Down.....

2010-06-10T09:57:00.002-04:00

This one is on tour with his choir. He left last Friday morning. So far he's been to Charlotte NC, Williamsburg Va, Richmond Va, Herndon Va, Washington DC, Baltimore Md....in fact they are in Baltimore now, saw the Orioles last night...dinner cruise tonight...tomorrow Charleston WV...and then Saturday...home.

I'm unbalanced not having him here....I'm so used to even numbers. I still get out 6 plates for dinner, and plan for 5 when it's just me and the kids out and about. Yes, unbalanced.

Summertime.....And The Living Is Easy

2010-06-03T21:41:00.001-04:00

Homemade slippy-slide! Have a great weekend Y'all!!!!!

Happy Birthday Big Guy!

2010-05-31T00:27:00.002-04:00

Hope you enjoy the steak, grilled shrimp, salad, french bread and cake with buttercream icing I have planned for you....I know I will, LOL!

Happy Memorial Day Weekend!!

2010-05-28T08:54:00.008-04:00

May we all remember why we have this holiday and how blessed we really are!

Please visit my friend Kat at Heart 2 Heart as she has a number of prayer requests.

And don't forget to visit my buddy Angie at Queen of the Castle Reviews for a final chance to win a custom Butt-Art piece! Giveaway ends Sunday so enter now!

Have an absolutely awesome weekend y'all!!

Table Topics Tuesdays...Habit!

2010-05-25T07:50:00.002-04:00

OK Shannon, girl you stumped me this time...I've been thinking and thinking about this one...

what habit of yours would you
most like to break?

I have so many habits, and that's the problem..I drink waaaaay too much coffee, I eat late at night, I stay up too late, etc. etc. etc. Soooo I decided to ask for help...from my hubby! I can always count on Greg for coming up with something....
And he did....POUTING...yes, I am a pouter and have always been....the difference is I do not stick my lip out anymore, I leave that up to Shea. And not only do I pout, but when I am angry I refuse to say what's wrong...I hold it in...and Greg can't stand that! When I'm mad, he wants me to let it all out...I want to hold it all in! My reasoning is; "Leave me alone to get over it cause if I open my mouth you are not gonna like what I have to say to ya Big Guy!!" So there ya have it....my habit, pouting!! Just ask Greg, LOL!

Join us every Tuesday at Shannon's Welcome To The Nuthouse for more fab topics!!

Friday Foxy Fotos ...and a Giveaway!

2010-05-21T00:10:00.003-04:00

Hmmmm....I get such joy living in a "Foxy" neighborhood!!!

And yes, these were taken in my backyard, by my oldest son with his trail camera, and we do live in a city neighborhood.....just goes to show, you never know what goes bump in the night out there!!

My good friend Angie over at Queen Of The Castle Reviews is hosting a giveaway....featuring moi!!! So click here on the crown to get entered!!

Have a great weekend!!

Thankful Thursday...Heritage.

2010-05-20T01:30:00.001-04:00

RIVERDANCE

I am very thankful that tonite I was able to see "Riverdance" on it's Farewell North American tour. This is actually the third time I have seen it. The first was in 1998 in Atlanta, the second was in 2002 here with Greg and our 2 boys at the time. When my oldest read in the paper it was coming to Chattanooga, he asked me to take him. He was 6 yrs old the last he saw it. He was amazed at how much he remembered, it had a lasting impact for him.

As I sat in the dark and listened to it begin....the music....I am so thankful for that music....it truly speaks to me. I closed my eyes and listened....it's haunting sound. My heritage is Scotch/Irish....and I feel it in the music....it's almost like a pull to my homeland. I've listened to many, many genres of music over the years....my heart listens to the Irish and Scottish pipes and yearns.... for a faraway place I've never seen....but a place I can feel in the music of the land. I hope to one day write a Thankful Thursday post about a trip I've taken to Ireland and Scotland. But until then, thank you Lord for bringing me "Riverdance".

Table Topics Tuesdays..Honestly???

2010-05-17T23:23:00.007-04:00

She's done it again...Shannon that is. Here's the topic:

is it harder for you to speak kindly
or honestly?

OK, I'm gonna lay it all out there for ya. I am Southern born and bred...and I'm talking old school Southern, deep South region. My maternal Granny was what would be described as a Gentile Southern Lady...she taught me a lot. And one thing she burned into my little child brain was how to be kindly honest with others. It was in her raising, and she was determined it would be in mine. She knew I was a wild child, but she also knew she could mold me...and she did. I cannot be brutally honest...I don't have it in me and my Granny would get me if I did when I see her again. But I can truly be kindly honest, I will not hurt your feelings but I will be honest with you....we called it "sugar coating" when I was growing up. It is an art form in the South. So if you want to know if your butt looks big in your new britches...girl ask me, you'll still be smiling afterwards...even if your britches are a bit snug and you now you know it!

Join us over at Shannon's Welcome To The Nuthouse every Tuesday for more fun topics!

Table Topics Tuesday...Road Trip

2010-05-10T22:19:00.008-04:00

OK here we go, Shannon's question for today:

where would you like to go on vacation this year?

OK now this is NOT where we are going for vacation, but it's someplace I would like to go. We always vacation in the fall, school's in session so less crowds(one of the pro's of homeschooling)! So my desire is to travel the east coast to Vermont and Maine. My SIL is from Vermont, so Rita and I used to take off in the fall and go stay with her family. This was before Greg and children. I LOVED it! So I would love to pile in the Sequoia and road trip it all the way up staying in Vermont and then Maine...for the lobster rolls of course!! Alas...we are road tripping this year, just not quite that far...we're heading to Wheeling WV by way of the Blue Ridge Parkway...why Wheeling....it has the closest Cabela's!!

OK now head on over to Welcome To The Nuthouse and see where the rest of the nuts would like to gather!!

Shop Vac + Plastic Eggs =

2010-05-09T22:24:00.006-04:00

Annual Easter Egg Shoot.......

Has to be one of my favorite Top 10 Things to do with our kids!!

HAPPY

2010-05-08T23:14:00.002-04:00

MOTHERS

DAY!!!

Thankful Thursday.....Friends

2010-05-06T00:22:00.001-04:00

I see Him in their faces.......smiling...

Story Of Me.............

2010-05-03T20:46:00.005-04:00

A Lovely Story About Me:
One day, long, long ago, there lived a woman who
did not whine, nag or bitch.
(That would be me...)

But that was a long time ago and it was just that one day.

The End

Thankful Thursday....Nature

2010-04-28T22:44:00.007-04:00

1.
2.

I feel like I can see HIM in these clouds....Heaven....

Join Greg at his General Store every Thursday for more Thankful People!

Table Topics Tuesday... Tat!

2010-04-26T21:40:00.011-04:00

Yes once again it's time for Table Topics Tuesday. Shannon really busted it this week..LOVE IT...here's the topic:

if you were to get a tattoo right now, what would it be?

I have always wanted a tattoo, except for the pain. But Greg...oh no...he prefers my skin un-inked. I wanted one for my 50th birthday....didn't happen, sigh.

But I sooooo know what design it would be.... a Fleur-de-lis....you know, looks like this:

I love the design and always have. And I would have it on my lower back, about 3 inches tall, so that the bottom point would be right there at my butt crack....OH YEAH....SNAP!

So get on over to Welcome To The Nuthouse and see what everybody body else is painting on their bods!

Colin's Treasury

2010-04-26T07:59:00.005-04:00

Remember this? Colin's button art he did? Well, I listed it in my Etsy shop and it has ended up in a "Treasury", which is a collection that etsians hand pick that they like! I've never made a treasury but this boy sure has....Here's the link to check it out: http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4bd18b0cef816d9198db46be/youth#4bd57fb6eeb78eef8adb8e36
Props to Christie at LuvNCrafts for making my day!!

Thankful Thursday.....No Words

2010-04-21T23:39:00.006-04:00

2.
3.

Join Greg and the gang over at his General Store for more Thankfuls!

Table Topics Tuesdays

2010-04-19T21:50:00.006-04:00

Yes it's that time again, and Shannon from Welcome To The Nuthouse comes to us with this thought pondering question:

if you could win unlimited shopping from one store,
which one would it be?

OK I'm going to break this down 2 ways...one time vs lifetime...

One time unlimited would have to be Target...I can get everything I need for the house, cleaning supplies etc., clothes for the family, some groceries, and the normal dog/cat stuff etc. and the best part...we have a Starbucks in our Target, I would load up on so much caffeine I would not sleep for years!!!!

Now lifetime unlimited...I have to look at our expenses and see where we could save the most...groceries...I spend a small fortune on groceries, especially when I have a few of the kids with me...so my pick for lifetime would be my fave....PUBLIX....Love them!

Come on by Shannon's place to see all of us!

Random Pics From The Kids!

2010-04-18T20:30:00.004-04:00

ENJOY!

THANKFUL THURSDAY

2010-04-14T21:46:00.008-04:00

I am joining Greg and the Gang over at his General Store once again for Thankful Thursday. Here are my top 5 for the week...cause I know I have lots more then 5 to be thankful for!!

1. Music from the past that I can hear and be transported back in time...and feel that same emotional connection....just like this particular song.....I remember hearing it when Greg and I had gone through a really bad time....but we stuck it out...and I can hear this song so clearly from that time, and the song itself was enjoying a re-newel also.

2. We had a really good class tonight. Sometimes I really feel I'm getting through to the youth.
3. My oldest is singing today in Nashville for the Tennessee Music Educators Conference.....I am thankful he has had all these opportunities with the Boys Choir...including visiting Heather's neck of the woods a couple of years ago..Ireland.
4. OK random....my big V8 engine in my Sequoia...I can pass slower cars quite quickly now....scares my children but I enjoy it!
5. I was trying to explain tonight to my youth class how this name just fills me up and just evokes amazement within.....JESUS THE CHRIST.....can I get an Amen to that!!

Join us at Greg's every Thursday and link up!

Table Topics Tuesdays

2010-04-12T23:48:00.005-04:00

OK Shannon has done it again over at Welcome To The Nuthouse! I love this week's question:

if you had to eat one meal for the rest of your life,
what would it be?

Oh Girls I have this one down pat!!! And I'm talking 3 course meal....let's start it off with a nice crisp Caesar Salad with lots of cheese....then because I am a protein hound.....for my entree I am going with a 6 ounce rare Filet Mignon...and it's only 6 ounces because I am pairing it with 2 lbs of King Crab Legs with 2 bowls of drawn butter...yes I said bowls 2 for the 2 lbs....and to finish it off.....drum roll....Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Fresh and HOT!! And of course, sweet tea with it all...except for the cup of coffee with the doughnuts...duh!

Come on over to Shannon's every Tuesday to play along!

Firday Foto Finish In The Sun!!

2010-04-09T08:56:00.003-04:00

It's been kinda sunny here lately.......can you tell??
The "pond" Colin and Will worked on...Lizzy loved it!

Sorry I haven't been making my normal rounds lately....life is getting in the way...sigh.
Have a Great Weekend

Happy Good Friday

2010-04-02T14:05:00.002-04:00

Greg has the day off, he took the boys fishing....they all did well...but Will won the prize!!! And yes, he threw it back in....for the next time.

They Say It's MY Birthday!

2010-03-31T00:14:00.000-04:00

Just for ME!!

And now drum roll please....the Huge.....50!!!!! And I was going to post a smiling picture of myself except I have a ZIT on my chin....uh hello...I'm too old for that!!! This one kind of freaked me out...the birthday not the zit. But then I freaked at 30 and 40...and awoke with a brand new attitude each time..I hated my birthdays as a child and all the way till 29...Greg was really dreading me turning 30 cause I was so distraught at 29! But I woke up and went hey, I'm a grown up now...and I can say whatever I want! When I turned 40, I had the great revelation that I did not have to try to have the same body as I did when I was in my 20's...mind you, half of my 20's I was anorexic. I loved not feeling that "need" any more. And now with 50...I'm feeling strong, as in tough, as in don't mess with me...I'm FIFTY!! LOVE IT!!

Table Topics Tuesdays

2010-03-29T22:55:00.006-04:00

It's that time of the week again and boy has Shannon got a good one for us:

what three celebrities would you invite to dinner?

She did leave living or dead up to us who join her Table Topics Tuesday over at Welcome To The Nuthouse.

OK this one I gave a lot of thought... my first inclination was: Betty Davis, I've always been told I have Betty Davis eyes...yes now you hear the song, Katherine Hepburn a woman after my own independent heart, and Lauren Bacall another smokin' woman ahead of her time and gotta love her voice. But then when I really thought of who I would like to sit down with and talk, that had relevance for my life...I had to turn to musicians, ones I really felt I could connect with and talk with, about what is going on right now and what has gone on before ... so my 3 are:

Toby Mac...anyone who knows me could have guessed this one, would love to be in the presence of his energy!

Steve Perry....I HEART him...big time...of the music I listened to while growing in my decisive years of 20's and 30's, his music touched my inner core...I FEEL his music, then and now...and man that voice...I feel the tears coming on...if you want to hear what I mean, go to Youtube and pull up Journey's When You Love A Woman, but make sure it's with Steve Perry.

John Cooper of Skillet...as a pure rocker, I appreciate what this man can do with his music. I also appreciate the time and care he takes with his audience. He is REAL. And in this day and time...no one rocks it better!!

So there you have it...and believe me if I ever get the chance to talk to any of these guys...you'll hear about it!!

Join us at Shannon's every Tuesday!

Firday Foto Finish.....Timber!!!

2010-03-26T00:53:00.001-04:00

We had a tree that needed to come down... so Greg did it last weekend...
He knows what he's doing.....

These 3 don't.....

I love this...I caught it mid-fall!

Down....

I actually think they've been watching too many episodes of "Ax Men" on the History Channel!!

Have a Great Weekend!!

Special Thankful Thursday Featuring Colin

2010-03-24T21:57:00.008-04:00

Today is a special Thankful Thursday for me...it is my 3rd son, Colin's birthday. He is 8 years old today....so hard to believe...to read his birth story click HERE, it is funny. Today I am rejoicing in the child we named Colin....and here are my 5 Thankfuls featuring the Birthday Boy!:

1. Colin is my funniest child....if he wasn't he would not have made it to 8 years!
2. Colin has been my biggest challenge...and I am Thankful I am up to the task.
3. This child never stops talking...I am Thankful for it and hope it continues thru his teenage years.
4. And you never know what is coming out of that mouth, Thankfully it's usually good but it still keeps me on my toes!!
5. He loves God, Thankful!

Happy Birthday Colin!

Thanks Greg for hosting Thankful Thursday at your General Store...now y'all go visit!

Homeschool Art Class

2010-03-24T00:29:00.004-04:00

My younger kids opted to have a full morning of art the other day.

They sat at the table and dutifully worked on their projects....

Oh My Gosh, where did they get such an awesome idea, LOL!!

This is just phase one, they completed them the next day....

Button Art...or as my 15 yr old calls it........Butt Art.......I've got the piece I was working on with them, over at MyArt...check it out HERE.

Table Topics Tuesdays

2010-03-23T07:00:00.001-04:00

OK, now Shannon is outdoing herself today over at Welcome To The Nuthouse. Our topic is:

would you rather live for a week in the past
or in the future?

This one is kicking me....I really don't know which way to go...the past can be rather unpleasant but the future can be downright scary....there are probably a few times I've really let the B out in the past and would like to go back and negate....but at the same time I do not like living in the past, revisiting the past, and when I say past I mean pre-Greg days...but in saying that, I can think of a few weeks I would like to go back to with Greg...oh yeah....

But when I look at the future, I see the time including Greg and the kids...and ya know, I could live there all the time without thinking twice....so I guess I just gave myself my final answer.

Join us over at Shannon's place each Tuesday and link up....and if you visit her late on Monday, you get a head's up on the topic!

Pics Of Will By Will

2010-03-19T00:44:00.001-04:00

OK son number 2, before this goes any further....if you are going to leave goofy pictures on MY camera....then you can expect for me to show them to my friends!!!
Love Ya!!

Have a great weekend!

TT.....Again

2010-03-18T00:15:00.000-04:00

I am celebrating Thankful Thursday once again. My 5 for this week are:

1. My youth group for participating in Spirit Jump's Cards For Cancer Day on April 10th.

2. One of my BFF's sister-in-law had her baby girl this morning...I just love babies...obviously.

3. This is random..my cowboy boots....I always get a little swagger when I wear them.

4. Forward progress in the continuing 5 yr remodel of the basement, woohoo!!

5. Jesus The Christ....I so look forward to seeing his face one day!!

Thank you Greg for taking up the TT banner at your General Store. It helps to hold me accountable to what is really important in my life...my thankfuls!

Table Topics Tuesdays

2010-03-16T07:46:00.000-04:00

Thank you Shannon over at Welcome To The Nuthouse, I love this question....

is it harder for you to eat healthy or get exercise?

Oh my gosh...now I have absolutely no problem eating healthy...with a few little treats thrown in here and there...but exercise!!!!!!!! Take me out back and shoot me. The funny thing is that I have always exercised until the past 10 years, I was obsessed with it in my teens, 20's, 30's ...but once my 40's hit, I knew no matter what I did I was NOT gonna get hard body 20's back, so hey just have fun and enjoy...whoohoo!! But the sad thing for me is that with 50 looming....I'm feeling the need to start back the madness...OH NO!!!!!!

Join us over at Shannon's each Tuesday for Table Topics and link up!

Giveaway, If You Must

2010-03-14T09:56:00.003-04:00

Y'all know how I love Tonya from Lucky Girl Design Studio...she did a rockin' job with my look. Well, Shannon from Reviews From The Nuthouse is having a giveaway from Tonya.....for a blog makeover....Now I do not need one for the Jungle, but I do need one for MyArt. Tonya did my button and siggy for MyArt, but I need her to do the rest...I've already picked out the kit to use....and yes, the reason you're hearing about it from me is so I can get extra entries, LOL!! So if you really MUST enter, go hit up Reviews From The Nuthouse...and join in all of Shannon's giveaways..she's got some great ones going on!

Hey Y'all....Come On In And Stay Awhile!

2010-03-09T13:43:00.028-05:00

Hey all you Fellow BlogTrotters, I am thrilled to be your travel hostess today in my hometown,

Welcome To Chattanooga, Tennessee. Now there are lots of things I love about my city and tons I could tell y'all about. I am not a native Chattanoogan, and I've lived in many places in Florida and Georgia, but none have I enjoyed as much as Chattanooga. And today, I'm gonna show ya a few reasons why, in my native tongue, Southernese of course....
There are a few places you may have already heard of in Chattanooga...The Tennessee Aquarium.. the largest fresh water aquarium. Here you can see everything from sharks, penguins(sooo cute), river otters and catfish, just to name a few.

Rock City, yeah the same place you see on those barns, is up on Lookout Mountain (the mountain you see in the distance in the above picture). Now this is a picture of Lovers Leap at Rock City. You can see 7 states on a clear day...and boy you should see it decorated for the holidays.

Pardon me Ladies...but is that the Chattanooga Choo Choo?? It sure is. You can dine in the old depot or one of the old dining cars. It is a hotel also and you can sleep in one of the old cars if you want...oooooo romantic!!

Now for a few places that are off the normal vacationers beaten path..

The Hunter Art Museum...we enjoy going here and spending time..saw the Grandma Moses exhibit a few years ago...it's also on a bluff overlooking the river...very pretty!

We are also home to The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga. We have about 10,000 students and the campus is beautiful....I should know, I worked, and walked, there before I became a SAHM.

And here is one of the best family fun places my family enjoys... The Chattanooga Lookouts. They are members of the Southern League, a double A farm team for the Los Angeles Dodgers. These games are family friendly and economical!

One of my kids favorite places is the International Towing and Recovery Hall of Fame Museum. It is located in Chattanooga because the first wrecker was built right here just a few miles from the museum. Now I was not real thrilled at first to go but oh my, it was fun....tons to see and learn!

Let's move across the river to Coolidge Park...look towards the river and oh my....The huge Delta Queen herself! This was the last steamboat to cruise the Mississippi River. We are privileged to have it docked permanently in Chattanooga. It is now a restaurant and hotel...and she is beautiful!! We also have a smaller riverboat named the Southern Belle. She is actually a dinner cruise boat and you can book a ride to go up and down the river, sit inside and eat, go up on the top deck and watch the river roll on by...it's fun!

Coolidge Park...what a fun time for you and the kids...there are green spaces and walkways and in the building in the middle of the picture is a hand carved carousel that you can buy tickets for and ride. But all the kids favorite...the water!!! It actually shoots up from the in ground hoses and man what relief on a hot day!

Chattanooga is always rated highly for it's outdoors activities whether you are into land, water or air! We offer boating, biking, hang gliding, walking, swimming, caving...you name it, we've got some form of it!

But my favorite part of Chattanooga .... the scenery. Chattanooga is actually divided by the Tennessee River. We have 4 bridges downtown that connect the two shores, 3 are for traffic and one, the oldest, is a walking bridge. Chattanooga is beautiful. We have the river, the valley, and the mountains.

And at night...oh my...look at those lights!

Hope y'all have enjoyed my little hometown tour. There is so much more then just the little bit I've shown you, so y'all just have to come on by and check us out for yourself. And when you do, just give me a call and I'll have a big ol' glass of sweet tea waitin' for ya as we enjoy the view from my back porch, can't wait!!!

Table Topics Tuesdays

2010-03-09T08:22:00.005-05:00

OK over at Shannon's our topic for today is....

what is the best way to spend a rainy day?

First of all this will be a fantasy for me cause I am taking my children out of the picture...this will be an ALONE Rainy Day...
Put me on my couch with unlimited On Demand movies and my hubby quietly bringing me coffee and goodies and then leaving the room until I ring my bell for service....THAT would be the PERFECT Rainy Day for ME!!!

Join us over at Shannon's Welcome To The Nuthouse for more Tuesday fun!!

Firday Foto Funnie

2010-03-05T00:02:00.003-05:00

One of my best friends, Tracy is a Mary Kay consultant.....she's my hook-up...she's Shea's hook-up also. I get the big size, Shea gets the samples....last night at church, Tracy gave her a lip liner sample...can you tell??
She did well with the lip circle...then the brothers got involved....

So now she has a mustache like her daddy and a Apolo Ohno thingy.....She's so proud!!!

How nice of her brothers to HELP her!!!!!!!!!

Have a good weekend! And if you want to see something new...check out my new blog..MyArt!!

(Link is working now, don't know what happened before)

My Friend Kat

2010-03-02T19:21:00.004-05:00

My friend Kat over at Heart To Heart is celebrating her Birthday Today....in a big way.... with a Giveaway... featuring ME! I was so thrilled when she asked me if I would like to do a Giveaway on her blog..especially since it's her B-Day!!! So this is what I need YOU to do...go see Kat HERE. Tell her Happy Birthday and get signed up for the Giveaway, she'll tell ya how to get multi-entrees!!

Happy Birthday Kat!! Love Ya!!

Table Topics Tuesday

2010-03-01T21:42:00.004-05:00

Alright our topic for today from Shannon is:

what is the last thing you cried about?

I am not a crier....I don't do it often....and usually it's my husband or kids...the last time it was hubby's doing. And, don't laugh, it was about housework (lack of), but get this...the whole rant was aimed at the kids so they would help me more cause he knows the hard time I have getting them to cooperate. But since he kept using the term" nobody does anything around here but me", I take it as an insult to my abilities....therefore the tears....why??? It wasn't even meant for me...and I sulked the rest of the day! I still haven't figured this one out......

Write your own post and run over to Shannon's at Welcome To The Nuthouse to link up!

Monday

2010-03-01T12:42:00.002-05:00

Nuff Said!!

Thankful Thursday Featuring Audrey

2010-02-25T00:07:00.001-05:00

Today I am featuring a bloggy friend I am thankful for. She is Audrey from Audrey's Country Crafts AND Audrey's Give Away Blog.
She is a very talented lady and has a fabulous Etsy shop. She hosted a Valentine's
Swap and I was blessed to have her as my swap partner.

She sent me the cutest heart soaps, which Shea immediately confiscated, in a reusable gift bag and some Kickin' Dip Mix that I fixed immediately and yes, it was gone before Greg got home from work....LOVED IT!!

AND one of her Blue Raggedy Bags I had been eyeing in her shop. I was soooo excited!!! I even took it out that evening and one of my boys said it looked like me, LOL!!

Audrey actually found me thru my Etsy shop. She has even asked me to be featured on her shop. She was the first person who did not already know me, that really liked and appreciated my art....she encouraged me and for that I am thankful beyond measure. What a blessing God sent to me!

Table Topics Tuesdays

2010-02-22T20:26:00.007-05:00

My buddy Shannon over at Welcome To The NutHouse hosts Table Topics Tuesdays. And for today the question is:

what possession of your spouse's/significant other's would you most like to throw away?

Oh this one is so easy for me! Greg was married before and used to go deep sea fishing with his ex. One trip he caught this big orange fish and had it mounted and everything like a "trophy". Now we've been together almost 23 years and he was divorced when I met him...but that
&%$*@ fish has always been around to remind me of the lovely times THEY USED TO HAVE!!!! But, he does not keep it at the house, he did try that ONCE, so it hangs in his office....I would throw that sucker back into the sea GLADLY!!!! The kids took this picture of one on TV that looks exactly like Greg's fish: Yeah I know....lovely!
Now write your own Table Topics post and link up over at Shannon's so we can all share the joy!!

Smile......

2010-02-22T11:48:00.001-05:00

OK after an extended bout of "I have no idea" I am finally back. Me, Shea and Colin ended up being the only ones who got the whole cough, stuffy head and chest and fever stuff.
That was one strange illness, I literally slept 20 out of 24 hours for 2 days...then for over a week I was in bed at 8 or 9...unheard of for me! I still have a lovely hacking cough, but at least I'm awake and it's after 9:00!!

Thank you so much for your get well wishes and checking in on me. I'll make my rounds this week and have some new posts up....
************************************************************************************

And for today, you can also see me on Organic Mama's Blog, I am featured for the Hide N Seek Etsy game my SHEteam is having....so hey if you would like to win a load of great items....go see Organic Mama Shannon to get started, and to see me!!!!

Sorry...

2010-02-10T15:53:00.003-05:00

I haven't been around. Child number 4 got sick Monday night, croup, fever, throwing up...it's Wednesday...she's better...but now I've got it, except for the throwing up...sigh...

And for those of you who are fan of Discovery Channel's "Deadliest Catch", it is with much sadness that I awoke this morning to the news of the passing of Capt. Phil Harris...I always enjoyed his relationship with his boys, it was a joy to watch, and I know they are brokenhearted...You will be missed Captain Phil......

I'm such a dummy, I just erased my signature.....SHOOTTTTTTTTTTT

I missed him...

2010-02-05T19:32:00.004-05:00

My husband works for our electric company. So when we have major weather, snow, ice, wind, rainstorms, he leaves us to go work. He got home at 7:00pm last Friday night and left at 3:00am Saturday morning. I kept trying to figure out what I would do if our electricity went out, we do not have an alternate heat source....he's always told me "You have a generator"....so what does that mean??? I don't even know where it is! We live in a heavily populated area of the county that doesn't have a lot of electrical problems, thank you Lord. My greatest fear is that something will happen to one of the kids....I was the one who had to call Greg to come home from work when Will fell and sliced his leg open and I couldn't look at it enough to tell if he needed stitches.....so I worry. I try not to think about what he is doing out in the cold ice and snow...going without sleep for days at a time. We talk a lot on the phone, I can always tell how tired he is. He was able to run by the house Sunday around noon and get a shower and sleep for an hour....good thing because we didn't see him again until Monday night at 9:30. He hit the wall Monday around noon....that is not a good feeling on this end. He got in that night and crashed...we've both been catching up all week. It's very hard on the kids when he works a weekend like this...Colin cried himself to sleep Sunday night. Shea just asks all day long, "when is Daddy coming home"....I have no answer. I let them have the day off from school on Tuesday so they could have Daddy time....I needed it too.....I missed him....I'm just not the same "me" without him.

Ice, Ice Baby...Day 2!

2010-02-02T12:39:00.004-05:00

My boys helping one of our neighbors shovel his driveway...

Wonder who made those prints????

Ohhhhh...the culprits....

The kids weren't the only ones loving the snow...as long as they got to come in to warm up too...

Still working............

And finished...........

Isn't he cute!!!!!

That's the 13 yr old behind it...............

Of course....what else would you expect from my crew!!!

Snow, Snow Baby...Day One!

2010-01-30T20:31:00.006-05:00

FINALLY...measurable snow. It started here about 12:30 and let up around 5:30. You can see the progression from the pictures throughout the day.....
My kids were outside most of the time...

You can see the dusting....since we'd had temps in the 50s, it took a little while to start sticking......and yes I know one of my children had a short sleeved shirt on...first, he's his fathers child...second, he's thirteen...and you mom's of teens know what I mean!!

I love snowmen...of course that means my kids love snow forts...or as they called this one igloo fort...you'll see the completed project on day 2....now you can see the snow start building on the street...it took Greg 2 hours to get home...in a 4 wheel drive truck...he waited 1 1/2 hrs just to get out of downtown!

Yes....that is our new rain gauge we got the day before.....6 inches...by night fall it was overflowing!!!!!

Friday Finale..... Snow Maybe!

2010-01-29T00:01:00.000-05:00

In eager anticipation of a maybe snow day, and here in South East Tennessee "maybe" counts......enjoy the pictures of our semi-snow day a few weeks ago!

And Happy Weekend Y'all!!

Look Look

2010-01-26T12:50:00.006-05:00

Tonya from Lucky Girl Design Studio who gave me a facelift, has now done the same for my Etsy shop......check out my new banner and button!!!

I LOVE THEM!!!!!! Thanks again Tonya!!

I Am Honest Scrap!

2010-01-25T09:17:00.004-05:00

Sandy from Moments of Mommyhood awarded this to me! I truly appreciate it cause I do like to think that I am being honest with my bloggy friends, even if at times it seems like "scrap", LOL!! Now here is what I need to do:
The rules for accepting this award are that I must tell you 10 secrets about me! Secrets?.....ooooooo how exciting....
1. I was born in Florida and HATE hot weather!
2. Moved to Georgia when I was 2...moved to Tennessee when I was 32.
3. I am 5 feet 2 inches tall.....my hubby is 6 foot 3 ....
4. I would love more kids....not gonna happen cause...
5. In March I will be 50....YO!
6. I act more like I'm 15....my children agree!
7. I am a natural brunette....but my hubby has never seen my natural color cause I've colored my hair all different shades since high school.
8. I am a true homebody.
9. But I love family vacations...
10. I love to laugh....and I'm very LOUD doing it...I don't know why!

So there you have it! That was fun, thanks again Sandy.

Today I am gonna pass this on to a couple of new bloggy friends I've met:
Wendy from Tractors and Tiaras ( No Botox Allowed)
Wendy makes me laugh...LOUD!
and
Lisa over at With All Your Heart..Live, Love, Laugh
Lisa is quirky..I like that!

So go visit these ladies and Enjoy!! And thanks again Sandy!!

Hello, Hello.....

2010-01-22T00:23:00.000-05:00

Is there a piano in there somewhere??????

Ohhhhhhh...... Artist with nowhere to store her work!!!!

TT and Up And Away

2010-01-21T00:33:00.000-05:00

Can't believe it's time for TT again...I am taking the youth of our church up to Gatlinburg Tn for our conference youth retreat called Resurrection. I've been planning and fundraising and oh yeah, guess I do need to get groceries for Greg and our 2 youngest who are staying behind!!

So for now, I'm Thankful for:

1. Friends who are willing to go on this weekend with me!

2. The excitement of the youth who are going.

3. My first "road trip" in my new SUV.

4. Having some kids who are excited about me taking them to my "Ultimate" concert this spring...Toby Man with Skillet!!!! I.Can't.Wait!!!!!!

5. The Man Himself who gives me these opportunities every single day!!

I'll see y'all when I return, everyone have a great weekend!!

Join the rest of the gang over at Sonya's Truth 4 The Journey!!

I Do Not Know

2010-01-18T22:51:00.006-05:00

Where these children came from......

YES, YES, YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2010-01-15T14:18:00.007-05:00

I am a football fanatic, college specifically. I grew up in Athens Ga. home of the UGA Bulldogs. I was a high school cheerleader with the oldest daughter of UGA's coach, Vince Dooley. As cheerleaders, we spent the majority of our time together, at school and off. We went to each other's houses, sleepovers, hanging out....all the things high school girls do. After high school we attended UGA games...to live in Athens meant knowing your football.

When I met Greg, who is a HUGE Tennessee Vol fan, he "recruited" me to the other side. Our first game together was a Tn-Ga game in Athens...he in his orange and white...me in my red and black. But then, I went to Neyland Stadium and finally understood what being a Tennessee Volunteer really meant...and I was "converted".

After a very tumultuous week of Tennessee coaching upheaval, I am so overjoyed to learn that the youngest brother of my high school friend Deanna, is the new coach for the University of Tennessee football team...and it is with much pride that I welcome Derek Dooley to Tennessee....my, my how that kid has grown up!! Who would have thought...a Dooley as a VOL, WooHoo!!!!

Thankful Thursday!

2010-01-14T08:37:00.004-05:00

These are kinda random, but that's the way I am today.....

1. Hubby...just because he accepts me for who I am and has never felt the desire to change me...
2. My kids...because they have given me the greatest job on earth.
3. My artsy side...at the age of 49, I have discovered a hidden jewel within myself...I'm enjoying it!
4. My church...for not looking down upon me for wearing blue jeans and t's to Sunday service, with or without the cowboy boots, I AM ACCEPTED, even if I am a rebel within...
5. One of the biggest rebels of all time....Jesus The Christ....He gets it!

Can You See......

2010-01-12T22:16:00.003-05:00

Can you see me?????

Can you see me now???? This is actually a toy dog bed to go with the doggie stroller and doggie, a friend of ours gave Shea for her B-day...obviously Joe did NOT get the memo!!

Now, my friend Angela over at Hello Darlin' is having a giveaway....so if you must because you like to win stuff, yes Mimi that means you, go on over to Angela's and sign up! Tell her Jane sent you....maybe she'll be so thankful she'll give me extras, LOL!! Yeah, yeah, whatever...I can dream....

Shout-Out Giveaway!

2010-01-08T12:17:00.000-05:00

LOVE ME A LOADED GIVEAWAY

Giveaways...what can I say...LOVE "EM! And especially when they are LOADED with great stuff!! I have a new bloggy-homeschool mom friend Shannon over at Organic Mama's Blog whom I met through our Schooling at Home Etsy team. Now this girl has been selling her stuff from her store...big time, 100+ and you know with that many sales she has got to be good!! See her shop and find out HERE! She is having a giveaway to celebrate, WooHoo, my kind of celebration!! Now run on over and visit Shannon, and of course feel free to tell her Jane sent you, so you can also get entered in her Fantastic Fabulous Give-It-All-Away too!!!!

Calling All Moms Of Girls, Look What Ireland Sent Me!

2010-01-06T23:45:00.005-05:00

Usually on Thursday I participate in Thankful Thursday but today I am instead giving a "Shout-Out" to a lady I met through TT. Heckety is an Irish Mum with a wonderfully witty blog. I saw one day she was selling her quilts she makes on Ebay. I left a comment for her to look into Etsy, she did and opened a shop. On her shop announcement I saw she makes primative dolls...you know the ones that don't loose shoes, or heads, ones you can wash and fluff so you don't care how dirty they get or even if your daughter takes her doll to play in the mud... I convoed her and inquired if she could make a doll for Shea's birthday the end of Dec. No prob, that girl whipped that doll out in no time and sent me a picture...LOVED it! Then, light bulb...could she make a matching apron...no prob again...it's called a pinny (short for pinafore, thank you Abbe)...she used to make them for her girls when they were little. Now all of this was done in less then 2 weeks...made and shipped....now look at what I got... custom, hand made from Ireland!!!!

Both pinnys tye in the back...
Aren't these the cutest shoes!!!
See the tag????
Shea's hair was still moving but I think you can tell how much she loves her doll...and she wears her pinny for all sorts of play....her doll is 18 inches and Heckety had me measure how long I wanted Shea's pinny to be...the fabric looks like a purple batik cotton, beautiful..and the doll's pinny is pink and white searsucker, but her dress is the same material as Shea's pinny...she did the doll in pink and purple cause they are Shea's favorite colors..I'm telling ya, this was CUSTOM!! And AFFORDABLE!! And from Ireland!!! So now Shea has an Irish doll to go with her Irish name...hmmm might be a birthday tradition in the making!

Go visit Heckety at her blog Heckety At Home and her Etsy shop HERE, be sure to check out the adorable Christmas Elf!! And give her a pat on the blog for a job well done for Shea, all of us who hand make just love pats!! Feel free to ask her questions and requests..you'll be glad you did!!

What I've Been Up To..And A Winner!

2010-01-02T08:19:00.013-05:00

Tuesday before Christmas...went out shopping with Will and Colin. Just had 3 stops....this transpired on a 6 lane ultra busy hwy while I was at a dead stop...yeah STOPPED:
My Sienna did a great job of protecting us, we were un-hurt...

Unfortunately, my van was very hurt...

I found out the Wednesday before New Years my van was totalled...I had a hard time accepting I was now going to have to find a new ride because I was STOPPED in traffic....don't get me wrong, I have had my share of trouble with the van, hit the buggy racks in the Target parking lot the first week I had it, hit some large boulders in our landscaping, backed into Greg's 4Runner.....HARD...etc, etc, so you get my drift...but this time, I can honestly say (to my loving hubby) NOT MY FAULT!!

So we spent New Year's Eve which was also our 17th Anniversary car shopping. Ironically it was exactly 4 years to the day I got the van. The van was paid off....it made me sick to think of another car payment, I had gotten used to not having one, having a little extra each month, so instead of new, I went used....and got a SUV I have been wanting FOREVER, a Toyota Sequioa:

I LOVE her....she's so pretty...and I can see perfectly out of her cause I can see the end of the front hood, the van's hood was angled so I never could see where the end was.....

As we were sitting in the 4-Runner when Greg came to pick us up at the wreck, Will looked at me and went "Hey Mom, maybe this was Santa's plan to get all those bang-ups in the van fixed for your Chirstmas present"!! I laughed....but ya know, maybe he was right after all....................

Now the Winner of my Giveaway is....................drumroll.......

Angie from Angie's Spot!!!

Congrats Angie!!! I will be emailing you to get details of what type of custom piece you would like me to make for you so I can get started...so start thinking!

And ladies, I glady offer this service so if you would like me to make a custom, unique wall hanging just for you, let me know!!

Happy Monday!

Look I'm New!!! And Givingaway!!

2009-12-30T20:16:00.009-05:00

Well, well, what do ya think????
Look at me now!!! I'm so fun and funky!! I had Tonya from Lucky Girl Design Studio re-do me!!! And Oh My Gosh she did a great job!! And I bugged her to death and had her change and re-change numerous times and she just rolled with it!! Awesome to work with! Go see her and see what she has to offer, you'll love her!

And in honor of the "new" me, wish it were this easy in real life, I'm having a giveaway. Go visit my Etsy shop here and come back and tell me your favorite thing.... and I will make a unique, custom designed wall hanging for you if you win!! Just leave a comment! The Giveaway will be open until Sunday Jan 3rd at midnight est.

And please run by Tonya's and tell her how much you like the new Jane!!

SSO and SSS

2009-12-28T21:59:00.006-05:00

This year I enjoyed 2 Secret Santa Swaps.

The first was a Secret Ornament Swap hosted by Valerie over at It's A Wonderful Life

Let me tell ya I hit the jackpot!

Molly and Shelton's Mom from Creative Blessings absolutely went all out for me and I heart her for it.
The ornaments were perfect for my tree and she even threw in 2 towels, a pot holder AND chocolate that I fought with my children over!!!!

Thank you sooo much girl, you ROCK!!!

The next swap was the Secret Santa Soiree hosted by Georgie and Amy.

Alyssa from Out On A Lam had my name and you could tell right away she had been stalking me, LOL!! Look.....gift cards for all my favorite things....food, books and COFFEE!! WooHoo!

Thanks Alyssa, love ya!!

Now please go visit both of these ladies and tell them "Good Job"!!

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-24T22:44:00.002-05:00

From our house to yours!

Train.....Train....

2009-12-20T16:41:00.003-05:00

Do you think she likes it??

Holly Bloggy Tradition!

2009-12-17T22:33:00.006-05:00

Today for the Holly Bloggy Christmas Bash we're hooking up with Tidy Mom and the theme is Christmas Memories or Traditions.....and girls I'm going Traditions since we have so many we've started with the kids.

One of my favorite is a few days before Christmas we bake cookies for our elderly neighbors. I get special Christmas bags, this year I'm using boxes, and we deliver fresh baked cookies, and yes I cheat and use pre-made cookies but they are baked and decorated with love...the kids deliver....I watch from the porch. It is joyful watching the kids and neighbors!

Another is getting together with my BFF and her kids to bake and decorate cookies the day before Christmas Eve...and these are the cookies we set out for Santa...and we also serve them when our families get together for Christmas Eve to eat and exchange gifts.

And last but not least is what we did tonight. Each year since Derek was born we pick a night usually the week before Christmas, and go out to eat(tonight it was O'Charley's) and then drive around to look at Christmas lights. Now our electric company decorates their windows downtown...they are always wonderful and people park and get out and walk and look and oooo and awww at the figures..the great thing is that they use the same decorations just in different decorating ideas...little did we know when we started this, that one day we would have 4 kids who we would take downtown to look at the windows of the company their daddy now works for...... I LOVE IT!!

Thankful, and Heavy, Thursday

2009-12-16T22:07:00.007-05:00

My heart is Thankful and heavy for this Thankful Thursday.

1. Thankful we are all finally well from the stomach bug that has lived in my house for a week!

2. Thankful that my favorite time of year is upon us.

3. Heavy...I just read that Melanie's 12yr old son Andrew lost his fight with brain cancer, his badge "Please Pray For Andrew" is on my sidebar.

4. Thankful that Andrew is now healed and in the presence of our Lord...what a place to be at Christmas.

5. Thankful that Jesus Christ Himself will be celebrating Christmas this year with all of those that have gone before us...PRAISES!

Join the crowd over at Sonya's Truth 4 The Journey.