So, how did you spend your weekend so far? Friday night out with friends? Dinner and a movie? A romantic play with your darling husband, perhaps?
Well, I spent my Friday afternoon trying to beg, plea, borrow, and steal with blogger and a four letter "word"- html. :>) Thanks to help from Nancy, I was able to upload the pictures I wanted for the Grand Poo-Bah of all Bloggy Tours- BooMama's First Tour of Homes. And, it was a lot of fun. Even George was happy with the results.
Friday night I sat in front of the TV, flipping between O-Reilly and HGTV and enjoying some real home tours. It was nice to travel from my humble abode here with Georgie to the Pacific Northwest, then clear across the ocean to the place down under! No lines at the airport, no luggage, and no jet lag.
I was thinking that only a woman would understand why a group of complete strangers would spend hours cleaning their homes, hours more taking pictures, posting, and then nosing around other homes of people they have never met! Men just wouldn't get it. But, we do. And that's why we are all bloggin' "friends," so to speak.
So, from one friend to another- consider this my o-fficial thank you note for your wonderfully hospitality! And you are always welcome here at our house- if you can get through the secret service...
Saturday, July 29, 2006
Friday, July 28, 2006
PSS...
After seeing these photos, I am pretty sure I am going to paint that green wall in the living room. We are in a rental, so I thought I could live with it for a short while. Kinda clashes with the rug... and my noggin is tired of bloggin. (for today! haha)
The O-fficial Bloggin Tour of Homes
Thank you, Hostess BooMama!
Welcome to our house. We are glad you stopped by!
This is our house from the street.
If you look real close, you can see George waving from the window.
Hey, George!
Ok, I'm kidding. But, when I was getting this whole tour of homes thing together, and I thought about BooMama's guidelines, I just couldn't bring myself to follow them to the letter. Because, for me, that would be just too, hmm... what's the word... normal! So, I just had a little fun with it.
Our Real Front Door
Those are my toes, ya'll.
Lemonade Anyone?
This our our living room. I decided to leave it the way it usually is-full of fun stuff! We are in a rental right now, and that green wall was not my creation. Not my shade of green. May have to paint that, after seeing it clash with our rug.
That's our daughter's lemonade stand. It was a gift from her very cool aunt (my sister-in-law.) "Bunny" is sitting in the princess chair. Her eyes are covered
to protect her identity, you know.
This is me bloggin'
This is me bloggin'
Sometimes I sit at the computer in the office, but at night my husband likes to get on there. So, I use the laptop and watch tv with my feet propped up. Those are not my toes, ya'll. Those are my funky feet slippers that I ordered from JCPenney outlet online. I love them! One day, I am going to be brave and walk in the salon with them on and ask for a pedicure. And, in case you're wondering, that's The Antiques Roadshow on tv.
This is our Master Bedroom. I am so thankful to have a place to lay my head at night. Really, I am. And, as for the kitchen, just use your imagination. We are stripping wallpaper right now. Can't you just smell the homemade cookies baking in the oven? Me neither.
Thursday, July 27, 2006
Thursday Thirteen
Thirteen Things you will never see on my "Tour of Homes"
1. An exercise room complete with nordic track (Remember those? I could never master the nordic track. I can't get my arms and legs going at the same time. Call me "Gracie.")
2. Diet Pepsi
3. Green plants. Unless they are fake.
4. A huge portrait of General Sherman. Haha
5. All flat surfaces free of dust, toys, and clutter. You will, however see at least one 20 oz. bottle cap that has gotten lost from its 20 oz Diet Coke or Diet Mt. Dew Mommy. These drive my husband crazy!
6. A picture of me, just after waking up, no coffee, no make-up, a bath robe and my funky feet slippers (save those for tomorrow!). And the picture is super-sized and close-up. NOT GONNA HAPPEN!
7. Sushi in the frig., unless you count frozen fish sticks...
8. Incense. Yankee candles and PartyLite you will see.
9. Me standing in high heels and wearing pearls with the most delightful smile on my face, scrubbing the toilet.
10. The "look what Hildi did" finished room after being on Trading Spaces. Scary.
11. Speaking of scary- white carpet. I have a kid and a black cat.
12. Our family sitting around the kitchen table playing chess. (But I can play a mean game of Cooties!)
13. Size 2 Ralph Lauren jeans. If only I could swing my arms and legs at the same time...
Thirteen Things you will never see on my "Tour of Homes"
1. An exercise room complete with nordic track (Remember those? I could never master the nordic track. I can't get my arms and legs going at the same time. Call me "Gracie.")
2. Diet Pepsi
3. Green plants. Unless they are fake.
4. A huge portrait of General Sherman. Haha
5. All flat surfaces free of dust, toys, and clutter. You will, however see at least one 20 oz. bottle cap that has gotten lost from its 20 oz Diet Coke or Diet Mt. Dew Mommy. These drive my husband crazy!
6. A picture of me, just after waking up, no coffee, no make-up, a bath robe and my funky feet slippers (save those for tomorrow!). And the picture is super-sized and close-up. NOT GONNA HAPPEN!
7. Sushi in the frig., unless you count frozen fish sticks...
8. Incense. Yankee candles and PartyLite you will see.
9. Me standing in high heels and wearing pearls with the most delightful smile on my face, scrubbing the toilet.
10. The "look what Hildi did" finished room after being on Trading Spaces. Scary.
11. Speaking of scary- white carpet. I have a kid and a black cat.
12. Our family sitting around the kitchen table playing chess. (But I can play a mean game of Cooties!)
13. Size 2 Ralph Lauren jeans. If only I could swing my arms and legs at the same time...
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
Seven General Household Tips!
1. Garlic or onion smell on your hands after chopping? Rub a small amount of salt on hands, rinse away. (just check for boo-boo's first! Ouch.)
2. Out of brillo pads? Ball up a piece of aluminum foil to scrub pots.
3. Soups or stews too salty? Put in a piece of peeled, raw potato. Potato will absorb the extra salt. Throw potato away.
4. Spilled juice on carpet. Immediately pour salt on the spill. Salt will absorb most of the liquid. Clean up salt,then shampoo any remaining stain. Works great for Kool-Aid or juice.
5. Sand sticking to you at the beach- Sprinkle baby powder on. Sand will brush right off!
6. Toothpaste makes a great acne treatment ( Just don't walk around in public with Colgate stuck to your face.)
7. Keep sunscreen in the cooler while you are out. Feels nice and cool when you have to reapply.
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
That Good, Red Earth
Cheryl (www.lifeismadeof.blogspot.com) left the most beautiful tribute to her home of Arkansas while commenting on my "Priceless" post. She shared how it felt to cross the state line and come home. It does just make you feel good.
As I read her comment, I thought about the many times I have crossed the line into Georgia after living away for so long. I knew exactly how Cheryl felt. I remember many moments crossing the state line. I can see it in my mind- crossing a bridge across the Chattahoochee River, looking down at the river, I think about how the water may be a little low because there hasn't been much rain, or maybe the water is high because of flooding. I can hear the rhythmic sound of the car crossing the bridge beneath, and then the smooth asphalt. There's the sign, "Welcome to Georgia!" I lean forward to be the first one in Georgia and I smile.
There is a really sweet feeling that comes over me when I am home, not just home where I grew up, but "home home"- anywhere in Georgia. I have some of the best memories of Southeast Georgia near the Okefenokee Swamp visiting with my grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins who all still live in that area. Many childhood memories are surrounded by tall, thin pine trees, saw palmettos, moss covered Live Oaks, and dark, murky swamp water.
I grew up in Southwest Georgia playing in red clay. It is so cliche' for a Southern girl to quote Gone With The Wind, but there is a scene when Scarlett picks up that red clay and throws it into the face of a former employee. She tells him, "That is the only part of Tara you will evah have!" There is something special about land, the actual dirt of the earth that makes you feel like you are home. After all, roots plant firmly in good earth.
My home is truly where my own family is now. But, one day I want my daughter to know what it means to own a piece of land, real land, not a patio home, or 1/4 of an acre with a privacy fence surrounding it. Real land with real dirt and real trees. You know, the trees you can climb on or hang a tire swing from. The trees that don't budge in the strongest wind. Trees that have seen generations of freckled faced kids. That is what I wish for her.
I hope that she will appreciate what it means to own the dirt beneath you, to respect the earth God made, and to cherish it deeply. To know the feeling of crossing the bridge into a place she will call home, then to lean into it, and smile.
Cheryl (www.lifeismadeof.blogspot.com) left the most beautiful tribute to her home of Arkansas while commenting on my "Priceless" post. She shared how it felt to cross the state line and come home. It does just make you feel good.
As I read her comment, I thought about the many times I have crossed the line into Georgia after living away for so long. I knew exactly how Cheryl felt. I remember many moments crossing the state line. I can see it in my mind- crossing a bridge across the Chattahoochee River, looking down at the river, I think about how the water may be a little low because there hasn't been much rain, or maybe the water is high because of flooding. I can hear the rhythmic sound of the car crossing the bridge beneath, and then the smooth asphalt. There's the sign, "Welcome to Georgia!" I lean forward to be the first one in Georgia and I smile.
There is a really sweet feeling that comes over me when I am home, not just home where I grew up, but "home home"- anywhere in Georgia. I have some of the best memories of Southeast Georgia near the Okefenokee Swamp visiting with my grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins who all still live in that area. Many childhood memories are surrounded by tall, thin pine trees, saw palmettos, moss covered Live Oaks, and dark, murky swamp water.
I grew up in Southwest Georgia playing in red clay. It is so cliche' for a Southern girl to quote Gone With The Wind, but there is a scene when Scarlett picks up that red clay and throws it into the face of a former employee. She tells him, "That is the only part of Tara you will evah have!" There is something special about land, the actual dirt of the earth that makes you feel like you are home. After all, roots plant firmly in good earth.
My home is truly where my own family is now. But, one day I want my daughter to know what it means to own a piece of land, real land, not a patio home, or 1/4 of an acre with a privacy fence surrounding it. Real land with real dirt and real trees. You know, the trees you can climb on or hang a tire swing from. The trees that don't budge in the strongest wind. Trees that have seen generations of freckled faced kids. That is what I wish for her.
I hope that she will appreciate what it means to own the dirt beneath you, to respect the earth God made, and to cherish it deeply. To know the feeling of crossing the bridge into a place she will call home, then to lean into it, and smile.
Monday, July 24, 2006
My Priceless Commercial
School supplies- $30.00
6 pack of Diet Mountain Dew- $2.50
Welcome mat for the patio- $8.00
New tire that I probably didn't need after waiting for 4 hours for them to check the one I had that was flat, but not really, but it was raining and I didn't want to be stranded, so I went to Wal-mart and asked them to check it, and they did, after 4 hours, so I shopped just like any normal woman would, and then we waited and sat on those ugly mechanic blue benches and watched other desperate people wait in line, and then we got up, pushed our cart around the store a second time, and put more stuff in said cart, and returned to find that our car had not even made it to the rack... so we stared out the window to the garage like puppies at the pound, and we even whined a little, but no one adopted us, so we waited some more; we waited some more; we waited some more; we waited a total of 4 hours, did I mention it was 4 hours? and we whined at the window until finally they put our car on the rack and a really dirty man came and told me that I needed a new tire, and so I waited a total of 4 hours, and my daughter was soooo patient, much more than me, and I pressed my cold wet nose to the window and whined at the mechanic while he put the tire on that I didn't need (according to my husband who says they probably could have fixed it but, Wal-mart likes to sell tires...) and this lasted 4 hours.
And I finally paid the lady- $70.00
Half of the box of Spongebob Cheez-its and the My Little Pony velvet art that kept my daughter entertained for 4 hours and me from jumping over the counter and choking someone in one of those little blue vests- Priceless
6 pack of Diet Mountain Dew- $2.50
Welcome mat for the patio- $8.00
New tire that I probably didn't need after waiting for 4 hours for them to check the one I had that was flat, but not really, but it was raining and I didn't want to be stranded, so I went to Wal-mart and asked them to check it, and they did, after 4 hours, so I shopped just like any normal woman would, and then we waited and sat on those ugly mechanic blue benches and watched other desperate people wait in line, and then we got up, pushed our cart around the store a second time, and put more stuff in said cart, and returned to find that our car had not even made it to the rack... so we stared out the window to the garage like puppies at the pound, and we even whined a little, but no one adopted us, so we waited some more; we waited some more; we waited some more; we waited a total of 4 hours, did I mention it was 4 hours? and we whined at the window until finally they put our car on the rack and a really dirty man came and told me that I needed a new tire, and so I waited a total of 4 hours, and my daughter was soooo patient, much more than me, and I pressed my cold wet nose to the window and whined at the mechanic while he put the tire on that I didn't need (according to my husband who says they probably could have fixed it but, Wal-mart likes to sell tires...) and this lasted 4 hours.
And I finally paid the lady- $70.00
Half of the box of Spongebob Cheez-its and the My Little Pony velvet art that kept my daughter entertained for 4 hours and me from jumping over the counter and choking someone in one of those little blue vests- Priceless
Sunday, July 23, 2006
Here Today, Gone Tomorrow
After reading BooMama's posts about her dear friend Elise's loss, I really started to think about my own husband. What if I were Elise right now? What if I had to sit by my own husband's bedside and see him in ICU, fighting for life, not responding, no hope in sight? What if it what has happened to Elise happened to me?
The truth is that it could. We always think of these possibilities when we hear a story about someone else's loss. It reminds us that there are no guarantees, that only God is in control, and that only He knows the future. So, for a moment or maybe a few days we ponder on the possibilities. We hug our kids a little tighter and kiss our husbands more often.
But, then a week passes. And we forget again.
How sad for us. How sad that we are able to remember lines from Seinfeld or Gone With The Wind, but we forget to truly appreciate what and who we have in our lives.
We forget to savor. I looked up savor in my big, black dictionary. When used as a verb, savor means to "to appreciate fully; enjoy or relish." And that is exactly what I want to do. To truly relish the people around me. To love them with all that I am and all that Christ is in me. I just hope that I don't forget. That my fickle humanness won't fail me this time, and that I won't fail my loved ones.
So, I will choose today, this day, because that is really all I have now, to savor- to love, to cherish, until death do us part.
The truth is that it could. We always think of these possibilities when we hear a story about someone else's loss. It reminds us that there are no guarantees, that only God is in control, and that only He knows the future. So, for a moment or maybe a few days we ponder on the possibilities. We hug our kids a little tighter and kiss our husbands more often.
But, then a week passes. And we forget again.
How sad for us. How sad that we are able to remember lines from Seinfeld or Gone With The Wind, but we forget to truly appreciate what and who we have in our lives.
We forget to savor. I looked up savor in my big, black dictionary. When used as a verb, savor means to "to appreciate fully; enjoy or relish." And that is exactly what I want to do. To truly relish the people around me. To love them with all that I am and all that Christ is in me. I just hope that I don't forget. That my fickle humanness won't fail me this time, and that I won't fail my loved ones.
So, I will choose today, this day, because that is really all I have now, to savor- to love, to cherish, until death do us part.
Friday, July 21, 2006
Thursday, July 20, 2006
Thursday Thirteen
Thirteen Things
I Would Have On A Deserted Island
1. My Bible
2. Bug spray
3. Diet Coke (I know I should want water, but hey-I am the one makin' the list here.)
4. An endless supply of really good smellin' soap, like the stuff at Bath And Body that smells like coconuts or mango. That would be appropriate.
1. My Bible
2. Bug spray
3. Diet Coke (I know I should want water, but hey-I am the one makin' the list here.)
4. An endless supply of really good smellin' soap, like the stuff at Bath And Body that smells like coconuts or mango. That would be appropriate.
I may be alone, but I have to be able to stand myself. Yuck.
5. That being said- an endless supply of deodorant.
6. Cookie dough (the tube of Pillsbury Chocolate Chip)
7. A frig.- gotta keep the dough cold! I don't need an oven, 'cause I don't plan on cooking it.
8. I think you could guess this one- a house. Have to have somewhere for the frig! That's soooo obvious, ladies.
9. Ok, I need a TV that runs off some kind of desert island NASA satellite system that receives HGTV, Fox News, Headline News so I can see my picture on Nancy Grace, and NBC (Law and Order!!)
10. This should be understood- a potty. That goes in the house, but just making sure we are clear.
11. Also comes with the house- a really cushy soft bed.
5. That being said- an endless supply of deodorant.
6. Cookie dough (the tube of Pillsbury Chocolate Chip)
7. A frig.- gotta keep the dough cold! I don't need an oven, 'cause I don't plan on cooking it.
8. I think you could guess this one- a house. Have to have somewhere for the frig! That's soooo obvious, ladies.
9. Ok, I need a TV that runs off some kind of desert island NASA satellite system that receives HGTV, Fox News, Headline News so I can see my picture on Nancy Grace, and NBC (Law and Order!!)
10. This should be understood- a potty. That goes in the house, but just making sure we are clear.
11. Also comes with the house- a really cushy soft bed.
PS- How did I forget to add my hammock??!!
http://this-aint-new-york.blogspot.com/2006/07/its-hammock-time.html
12. A laptop so I can blog the whole experience.
13. Last, but certainly not least- a boat. This isn't Gilligan's Island. I am not going to grow huge nuclear reactive veggies and depend on the professor or my little buddy to get me off the island.
What would you take with you, Little Buddy?
12. A laptop so I can blog the whole experience.
13. Last, but certainly not least- a boat. This isn't Gilligan's Island. I am not going to grow huge nuclear reactive veggies and depend on the professor or my little buddy to get me off the island.
What would you take with you, Little Buddy?
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
Product Safety For Our Families:
Here is an easy way to stay informed about product recalls. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issues product recalls. Most of us see them posted in Wal-mart or other stores. You can go to the CPSC website and subcribe to their emailing list. The best part is that you can be specific about what type of products you are interested in (baby, child, household, all products, etc.). You can also unsubscribe at any time very easily.
This service is really helpful to moms with babies and small children.
To sign up, go to www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.asp
Stay safe!
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
Remembering to be thankful
Today we went out to do some errands, paid 20 bucks for a half gallon of gas, and tried to endure the heat. It is SOOOO HOOOOTTT! And, we need some rain. I joked with my husband that it was like we were returning to the days of Noah. When it finally does rain, people will say,"What's this stuff? You mean water actually falls from the sky? Well, I never."
And then there is everything that is happening in the Middle East right now. Some days it all just overwhelms me. I try to listen to the latest news, but turn the radio station when they talk about mass bombings and death. We can't protect our children from everything. But, I really don't see the need of my little one knowing all the wrongs of the world- not yet.
I was cooking dinner and Twila Paris' great voice was singing on the radio "God Is In Control." I love that song. No matter what kind of day I am having, that song always lifts my spirits. And, truly, He is in control. I don't always understand what is happening or why he allows tragedy. But, I do know He is sovereign. and I take comfort in that.
And I really think that God has a sense of humor. Because when we came home, I promised my daughter that we would fry eggs on the sidewalk. She thought I was joking. But, I was serious. The egg didn't sizzle, but it did cook. So, we had a little entertainment and a science lesson all in one. And, I think God probably smiled down at us. He may have been pleased that we were taking the heat in stride, just being silly together.
I know that drought and high gas prices are little problems in the grand scheme of things. After all, there are wars going on as I type this post. What an insignificant activity, blogging, while soldiers die for my freedom. It is quiet outside my house, free of the horrible sounds of bombs, because of the courage of people I'll never know.
And I am thankful. And tomorrow I don't think I'll complain about the heat, or lack of rain, or even the price of gas. We'll still take some time to be silly. But, I'll strive a little harder to remember the really important problems in the world.
And then there is everything that is happening in the Middle East right now. Some days it all just overwhelms me. I try to listen to the latest news, but turn the radio station when they talk about mass bombings and death. We can't protect our children from everything. But, I really don't see the need of my little one knowing all the wrongs of the world- not yet.
I was cooking dinner and Twila Paris' great voice was singing on the radio "God Is In Control." I love that song. No matter what kind of day I am having, that song always lifts my spirits. And, truly, He is in control. I don't always understand what is happening or why he allows tragedy. But, I do know He is sovereign. and I take comfort in that.
And I really think that God has a sense of humor. Because when we came home, I promised my daughter that we would fry eggs on the sidewalk. She thought I was joking. But, I was serious. The egg didn't sizzle, but it did cook. So, we had a little entertainment and a science lesson all in one. And, I think God probably smiled down at us. He may have been pleased that we were taking the heat in stride, just being silly together.
I know that drought and high gas prices are little problems in the grand scheme of things. After all, there are wars going on as I type this post. What an insignificant activity, blogging, while soldiers die for my freedom. It is quiet outside my house, free of the horrible sounds of bombs, because of the courage of people I'll never know.
And I am thankful. And tomorrow I don't think I'll complain about the heat, or lack of rain, or even the price of gas. We'll still take some time to be silly. But, I'll strive a little harder to remember the really important problems in the world.
Monday, July 17, 2006
Madder Than A Wet Hen
Today I polished silver and bathed the cat- two things I dread.
I was going to take a picture of Maggie after her bath to post on here, but she hid from me. She always does. I'll spare you a picture of the silver. :>)
Maggie is really good during a bath. She literally can't scratch me and she doesn't even try to bite. She just whines and cries like she is in pain. Sometimes she'll go limp as if she has given up and is going to cooperate. Then she suddenly tries to make a break for it. I no longer fall for this.
When the torture is over, she flicks the water off of her back feet, waddles away, and hides for a long pout. Once she realizes she looks good, she comes out of hiding either to show off or just to get attention. Probably the latter.
I call Maggie my "uncat." She loves attention and cries when she thinks she is alone. At night, after it is quiet and everyone is in bed, she hunts. For socks mostly. Once she has captured her 100% cotton "prey" she moans and groans for someone to come see.
You can tell how exciting my day was. I am blogging about giving a cat a bath. Tomorrow I may post about watching grass grow...
I was going to take a picture of Maggie after her bath to post on here, but she hid from me. She always does. I'll spare you a picture of the silver. :>)
Maggie is really good during a bath. She literally can't scratch me and she doesn't even try to bite. She just whines and cries like she is in pain. Sometimes she'll go limp as if she has given up and is going to cooperate. Then she suddenly tries to make a break for it. I no longer fall for this.
When the torture is over, she flicks the water off of her back feet, waddles away, and hides for a long pout. Once she realizes she looks good, she comes out of hiding either to show off or just to get attention. Probably the latter.
I call Maggie my "uncat." She loves attention and cries when she thinks she is alone. At night, after it is quiet and everyone is in bed, she hunts. For socks mostly. Once she has captured her 100% cotton "prey" she moans and groans for someone to come see.
You can tell how exciting my day was. I am blogging about giving a cat a bath. Tomorrow I may post about watching grass grow...
Sunday, July 16, 2006
The Gladiators Got Nothin' On Us!
Sunday is a day we go to church to worship God, learn about His Word, put something in the plate when they pass it, pray, dismiss, and then try to beat the Methodists to the restaurant.
For some unknown reason there is this "thing", for lack of a better Thesaurus word, between the Baptists and the Methodists. Maybe it goes back to the whole "sprinkle vs. dunk" controversy. I can't speak for the Methodists, but we Baptists leave church to eat faster than Scarlett fled Atlanta.
Why is this Best Seat in the House competition only between these two groups? Don't the Catholics and the Episcopalians eat lunch?
I have actually been part of a Sunday School discussion when the subject was new worship times. (How exciting to add a new worship time in order to seat everyone!) The Sunday School class was deciding which worship hour they would attend. One very Southern Baptist man stood up and said that he would just stick to the early worship hour because he "had to beat the Methodists to the restaurants." He wasn't kidding.
I am also privy to some information about a certain Methodist church in Alabama that actually changed their Sunday worship time so that they could beat the Baptists to the restaurants. Oh, yes they did!
Before you get discouraged about going to church because of this silly Sunday lunch seating issue, please be aware that most of us Baptists and Methodists do still attend church for the right reasons. We just like to eat after it is all over.
One Sunday, we went to an early worship with my in-laws who are Methodist. After church we went to Sunday brunch. As we finished our meal and left the table, a large group of people came in. My mother-in-law said, "Here come the Baptists."
See, the First Baptist Church and The First United Methodist Church are across the street from one another. This can be seen in many small towns across the South. I joked with my Methodist friend Nancy once that I had never seen a Baptist and a Methodist church share the same side of the street. She shared that, in her town they actually shared the same block and even shared parking lots!
Wow!
In most small towns, there are only a few restaurants. You have the southern homecooking buffet place called "Mama's Kitchen" or "Billy Bob's Family Restaurant." Or you may even have a fancy place with the word "Magnolia" in the name. Then, there is usually a good BBQ place, a fried seafood restaurant if you live near the coast, and maybe a steak place, if you're lucky. That's it. Unless you eat at Hardee's or Dairy Queen. So, really the Baptist/Methodist restaurant relay is a result of supply and demand.
I may never know why this Olympic level of competition remains between these two denominations. But, I am certain that it will continue in small towns for centuries to come.
So, to all of you Methodists out there I say, "See ya next Sunday! Let the games begin!"
For some unknown reason there is this "thing", for lack of a better Thesaurus word, between the Baptists and the Methodists. Maybe it goes back to the whole "sprinkle vs. dunk" controversy. I can't speak for the Methodists, but we Baptists leave church to eat faster than Scarlett fled Atlanta.
Why is this Best Seat in the House competition only between these two groups? Don't the Catholics and the Episcopalians eat lunch?
I have actually been part of a Sunday School discussion when the subject was new worship times. (How exciting to add a new worship time in order to seat everyone!) The Sunday School class was deciding which worship hour they would attend. One very Southern Baptist man stood up and said that he would just stick to the early worship hour because he "had to beat the Methodists to the restaurants." He wasn't kidding.
I am also privy to some information about a certain Methodist church in Alabama that actually changed their Sunday worship time so that they could beat the Baptists to the restaurants. Oh, yes they did!
Before you get discouraged about going to church because of this silly Sunday lunch seating issue, please be aware that most of us Baptists and Methodists do still attend church for the right reasons. We just like to eat after it is all over.
One Sunday, we went to an early worship with my in-laws who are Methodist. After church we went to Sunday brunch. As we finished our meal and left the table, a large group of people came in. My mother-in-law said, "Here come the Baptists."
See, the First Baptist Church and The First United Methodist Church are across the street from one another. This can be seen in many small towns across the South. I joked with my Methodist friend Nancy once that I had never seen a Baptist and a Methodist church share the same side of the street. She shared that, in her town they actually shared the same block and even shared parking lots!
Wow!
In most small towns, there are only a few restaurants. You have the southern homecooking buffet place called "Mama's Kitchen" or "Billy Bob's Family Restaurant." Or you may even have a fancy place with the word "Magnolia" in the name. Then, there is usually a good BBQ place, a fried seafood restaurant if you live near the coast, and maybe a steak place, if you're lucky. That's it. Unless you eat at Hardee's or Dairy Queen. So, really the Baptist/Methodist restaurant relay is a result of supply and demand.
I may never know why this Olympic level of competition remains between these two denominations. But, I am certain that it will continue in small towns for centuries to come.
So, to all of you Methodists out there I say, "See ya next Sunday! Let the games begin!"
Saturday, July 15, 2006
Pregnant and Clueless
Today I attended a baby shower. This is the mom-to-be's first baby, so you know everybody is just giddy with excitement. And the poor mom-to-be, well she is just clueless. Bless her heart. She has no idea what is ahead.
Ahhh... the good ole days.
Before I had my daughter, I was a little anxious, but I was fairly confident that her room would stay neat and her clothes pressed and adorable. I also was pretty confident that I was going to return to my pre-baby weight. Denial ain't just a river in Egypt, girls.
I could just picture my baby's room in sherbet lime and buttery yellow, bunnies dancing above her head, the scent of Baby Magic filled the room, and Pottery Barn baskets organized it all. HA!
Then, reality kicks in and you find out that the only time everything is perfect is either on TV or in Parent magazine, or in Pottery Barn catalogue.
Once you find out that it is perfectly ok not to be perfect, you can just enjoy being a mom. You can make it through the sleepless nights of ear infections, coughs, teething, and whatever that thing was wrong that night that you couldn't figure out!
Spit up comes out of clothes. And carpet. And car seats. And out of your hair. And maybe even out of the cat's hair. Boo-boo's heal and teeth do finally come in. A toy- or two- or three in the floor is ok. Dishes in the sink can wait while you play. Life is living.
I just wish someone would have given me this at my baby shower- a big box of reality, and a card attached that read...
"Dear Mom-to-Be,
Congratulations on having a precious baby! I am here to tell you that there will be days when you question your mothering choices and have no clue of the choice to make. It is ok. It is going to be ok. No mom is perfect. That is why you have The Lord to comfort you and His Book to guide you. Don't buy into what the world has to offer you as a mom. Only God knows best. He gave you your precious child. Surely He will help you care for her.
Love, A Mom Who Has Been There
PS- The diaper genie is the most wonderful invention evah!"
Then again, for new moms, the "clueless" time is so short. Maybe we should just let them enjoy it while they can.
Ahhh... the good ole days.
Before I had my daughter, I was a little anxious, but I was fairly confident that her room would stay neat and her clothes pressed and adorable. I also was pretty confident that I was going to return to my pre-baby weight. Denial ain't just a river in Egypt, girls.
I could just picture my baby's room in sherbet lime and buttery yellow, bunnies dancing above her head, the scent of Baby Magic filled the room, and Pottery Barn baskets organized it all. HA!
Then, reality kicks in and you find out that the only time everything is perfect is either on TV or in Parent magazine, or in Pottery Barn catalogue.
Once you find out that it is perfectly ok not to be perfect, you can just enjoy being a mom. You can make it through the sleepless nights of ear infections, coughs, teething, and whatever that thing was wrong that night that you couldn't figure out!
Spit up comes out of clothes. And carpet. And car seats. And out of your hair. And maybe even out of the cat's hair. Boo-boo's heal and teeth do finally come in. A toy- or two- or three in the floor is ok. Dishes in the sink can wait while you play. Life is living.
I just wish someone would have given me this at my baby shower- a big box of reality, and a card attached that read...
"Dear Mom-to-Be,
Congratulations on having a precious baby! I am here to tell you that there will be days when you question your mothering choices and have no clue of the choice to make. It is ok. It is going to be ok. No mom is perfect. That is why you have The Lord to comfort you and His Book to guide you. Don't buy into what the world has to offer you as a mom. Only God knows best. He gave you your precious child. Surely He will help you care for her.
Love, A Mom Who Has Been There
PS- The diaper genie is the most wonderful invention evah!"
Then again, for new moms, the "clueless" time is so short. Maybe we should just let them enjoy it while they can.
Friday, July 14, 2006
This is what happens when my imagination gets loopy.
Today we went to Burger King for lunch. I just love the drive-thru! My daughter got a Superman toy. This whole Superman hoopla has got me thinking- if I were a super hero, what would I be?
First of all, let me say that Batman has always been my favorite. I think it had something to do with Michael Keaton's voice saying, "I'm Batman." Even so, he was my favorite as a kid. I also liked Spiderman because he could climb anything. (I was a tree climber, so I could just picture myself scaling the side of a skyscraper.)
And of course, deep breath, Wonder Woman. Well, she is just in a category all by herself.
Superman has never impressed me a whole lot. Sure, he can fly. He's really strong. So, he has x-ray vision. But, something about that tacky outfit, well, he isn't all that super to me.
That leads us to my question- What kind of a super hero would I be?
It seems that there are a few key components to being a super hero-
1) Super powers 2)Enemies, and the most important one of all 3) the Outfit!
1) My Super Powers- Once we get passed the "Miss America I would wipe out world hunger and teach everyone in the whole wide world to read campaign", my first order of business would be to install carnival mirrors (the one that makes you skinny!) in all dressing rooms and homes. I would then instantly change all of the women's clothing labels to 3 sizes- "fits most", "fits all", and "dahhling, you look mahvelous!"
This one is for BooMama- Diet Coke will bubble up in the front yard of every woman's home in the form of a sparkling, sugar free spring. Those who drink from the free flowing fountain, will add years to their life, and lose inches and wrinkles instantly.
I would have the ability to discipline children with my super hero "mommy look". Wait, I already have that.
Although I do not fly myself, I will have another super hero fly me around in my very visible Wonder Woman spin-off airplane. The only difference is that you can see the plane, not me, and it is quite fabulous.
In an I Dream of Jeannie blink of an eye, all dust, laundry, and cellulite will disappear. I make house calls, too.
Two blinks of an eye- everything at Wal-Mart, Target and Big Lots is BOGO!
2) My enemies- My true nemesis is Spandex Girl. She wears a very tight fitting leotard and goes around contaminating the Diet Coke Springs, replacing the DC with high fructose corn syrup. Then, she paints the side of my very fabulous plane in a hideous shade of lime green. Her most deviant plot involves the replacement of the skinny carnival mirrors with the fat carnival mirrors. EEEEK!
3) My costume- An old t-shirt, some comfy sweats, and socks.
Up! Up! And away!!! Did I mention I can leap piles of toys in a single bound...
Nancy at http://theultimatecreator.blogspot.com found a really fun super hero quiz that you can take too- http://www.seabreezecomputers.com/superhero/
Take the test and go to Nancy's blog to see her results! (I played and it said I was The Hulk- not cool.)
First of all, let me say that Batman has always been my favorite. I think it had something to do with Michael Keaton's voice saying, "I'm Batman." Even so, he was my favorite as a kid. I also liked Spiderman because he could climb anything. (I was a tree climber, so I could just picture myself scaling the side of a skyscraper.)
And of course, deep breath, Wonder Woman. Well, she is just in a category all by herself.
Superman has never impressed me a whole lot. Sure, he can fly. He's really strong. So, he has x-ray vision. But, something about that tacky outfit, well, he isn't all that super to me.
That leads us to my question- What kind of a super hero would I be?
It seems that there are a few key components to being a super hero-
1) Super powers 2)Enemies, and the most important one of all 3) the Outfit!
1) My Super Powers- Once we get passed the "Miss America I would wipe out world hunger and teach everyone in the whole wide world to read campaign", my first order of business would be to install carnival mirrors (the one that makes you skinny!) in all dressing rooms and homes. I would then instantly change all of the women's clothing labels to 3 sizes- "fits most", "fits all", and "dahhling, you look mahvelous!"
This one is for BooMama- Diet Coke will bubble up in the front yard of every woman's home in the form of a sparkling, sugar free spring. Those who drink from the free flowing fountain, will add years to their life, and lose inches and wrinkles instantly.
I would have the ability to discipline children with my super hero "mommy look". Wait, I already have that.
Although I do not fly myself, I will have another super hero fly me around in my very visible Wonder Woman spin-off airplane. The only difference is that you can see the plane, not me, and it is quite fabulous.
In an I Dream of Jeannie blink of an eye, all dust, laundry, and cellulite will disappear. I make house calls, too.
Two blinks of an eye- everything at Wal-Mart, Target and Big Lots is BOGO!
2) My enemies- My true nemesis is Spandex Girl. She wears a very tight fitting leotard and goes around contaminating the Diet Coke Springs, replacing the DC with high fructose corn syrup. Then, she paints the side of my very fabulous plane in a hideous shade of lime green. Her most deviant plot involves the replacement of the skinny carnival mirrors with the fat carnival mirrors. EEEEK!
3) My costume- An old t-shirt, some comfy sweats, and socks.
Up! Up! And away!!! Did I mention I can leap piles of toys in a single bound...
Nancy at http://theultimatecreator.blogspot.com found a really fun super hero quiz that you can take too- http://www.seabreezecomputers.com/superhero/
Take the test and go to Nancy's blog to see her results! (I played and it said I was The Hulk- not cool.)
Thursday, July 13, 2006
Thirteen Of The Sweetest, Funniest
Things My Daughter Has Ever Said!
1. After seeing the cat scratching her ear- "Mommy! Maggie's kicking herself!!"
2. Watching me paint a mirror for her room- "Mommy, when you grow up, I think you should be an artist."
3. She was about 2 yrs. old, very sick, and would not take her antibiotic. I had to hold her down to give it to her. I prayed and asked God to please help me, please help her take the medicine so we wouldn't have to struggle.
The next time I told her it was time for medicine, she opened her mouth like a little bird, and swallowed it without any hissy fit.
I hugged her and said, "Thank you, God."
She said, "I'm not God."
4. It was Fire Safety Week at school. Coincidently, she had also been asking me questions about hell. (We don't exactly dwell on this topic, but she knows there is another place other than Heaven. I promise we are not terrorizing our child with fire and brimstone...)
This conversation nearly made me wreck the car-
"Mommy, what happens to the people when they get to hell? Do they die?"
"No, they live there forever just like the people in Heaven."
"Does the fire go out?"
"No, honey. It will burn forever. That's why it so important to tell people about Jesus."
"How do you know?"
"The Bible says so. It says that the fire will never go out."
"Boy! I bet those people want to stop, drop, and roll!"
5. While we're on that subject-
We passed a cemetery, and there was a house right next door.
She said," Those people are lucky!"
"Lucky? Why are they lucky?"
"Because whenever they think of a loved one who died, and they miss them, all they have to do is walk outside to remember them... and I bet their backyard is decorated soooo pretty!"
6. She had just given me a toy stuffed possum for my birthday. (Hubby prepared me for opening that gift!) She "adopted" him and he went with us everywhere. While riding in the car, we smelled a skunk somewhere in the woods.
She said, "Posse! Have you been eatin' garbage again! I told you not to eat garbage! Mommy, Posse's mouth smells like garbage! And last night I caught him up chasing Maggie, you know, because he's nocturnal. He got in trouble with his mommy for being up chasing the cat. He tried to pretend he was asleep."
"Oh, He was playing possum."
"No, he wasn't playing possum. He is a possum."
7. During one of her picky food days-
"I don't like this. This food is too tasty."
8. "Why don't some mommies go on field trips?"
"Because some mommies have to work. They would go if they could. One day, I may have to go to work too."
"I hope that day isn't today."
9. After going out and running errands all over town-
"Mommy, how many people told me I look nice today?"
"I don't know, honey. I wasn't counting."
10. (Age 4)
EVERY SINGLE TIME we passed a neighbor's house with Halloween decorations still up, long after Halloween-
"Why don't those people take down their decorations?! Don't they know Halloween is over?"
11. "I want to wear my tacky pants."
"Khaki pants, khaki honey. Not tacky."
12. (Age 2)
Comment after seeing my mama get up and stiffly walk with her arthritic knees:
"Grandmama does the poopy walk."
13. Written on a homemade Mother's Day card with a drawing of a mommy monkey and a baby monkey-
"I hope you get all the fleas off you."
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
This is my very first "Works for Me Wednesday" and I feel a little special. Thanks, Shannon!
One of my passions in life is removing stains! I get a little giddy just thinking about it, so I thought I would share some tips I have learned.
1. Crayon on the wall- You know, the kind that isn't washable. Take some Crisco shortening, yes, Crisco, and smear a little over the crayon. Rub it off with a dry paper towel. Remove as much as possible with the paper towel. Clean off the Crisco residue with warm water and dishwashing liquid. This really works. The oils in the Crisco bond with the oils in the crayon and it comes off! Make sure you use the shortening, not just cooking oil. Something about the shortening works best.
2. Carpet stains- Soak a light colored towel with water. Lay the towel over the entire stain. Then, on a the hottest setting (no steam), iron over the towel. The heat and water will steam the stain onto the towel. Be sure to test a hidden area of your carpet first. Some carpet colors will actually come off onto the towel. (This is why you use a light colored towel. You can see what is coming up off of the carpet.) Keep rinsing the towel and ironing. Just make sure you don't iron directly onto the carpet!!
3. Favorite products- Mr. Clean Eraser (careful, takes finish off furniture), Bleach, Swiffer wet jet, dishwashing liquid. Dishwashing liquid will get nearly any food stain out of clothes. Learned this from a lot of practice with a child that refused to wear a bib!
Those are just a few tips that have worked for me!
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
Like Jaws 4, Except Without The Shark
Last night I called Aunt Barbara to tell her our mockingbird story. Aunt Barbara loves cats the way I do and she loves cat stories. She shared her own mockingbird story with me.
Aunt Barbara and Uncle Jimmy have always had cats. Needy, homeless, "about to have kittens" cats just show up at their doorstep. They take them in and care for them. Most of the time, the mama cat and kittens end up living with them permanently. OK- I am getting a mental picture here- must clarify- Aunt Barbara is not a cat lady. All these mama cats don't show up all at one time, just in shifts, sort of.
My aunt also has been known to give her cats some rather odd names, like a girl cat named "Jack" and a cat they now own named "Monkey." If you could hear about the visit to the vet's office, you would understand why he is named Monkey. Let's just say, Uncle Jimmy nearly paid for a rather expensive microscope.
The past few weeks, their cats have been taunted, tortured rather, by a mama mockingbird. Monkey was just minding his own business, lounging on the truck and playing with the windshield wipers, when a mama mockingbird swooped down in an F-15 combat maneuver, bombed Monkey with his birdie beak, and flew back up into the trees.
Mama bird's combat headquarters have been located- a small nest of hatchlings in the oak tree. Aunt Barbara hopes the little hatchlings learn to fly very soon so that the mama and babies will move their little mockingbird squadron to someone else's yard, and leave her cats alone.
This all being said, I promised ya'll a story about my Granny. When I wrote yesterday about my own mockingbird moment, I had no idea that my aunt was experiencing hers as well. Ya'll don't understand. I am beginning to get a little paranoid.
One Spring a mockingbird stalked my Granny. Remember the scene from Forget Paris when the pigeon landed in Debra Winger's hair? Well, that didn't happen.
No, every time Granny went outside to water her flowers or just take a stroll in the yard, a mockingbird would complete the same F-15 type combat maneuver and dive for her head. The bird only did this to Granny, not to Papa or anyone else, because Granny had the most beautiful, soft, weekly washed and styled white hair! If Granny wore a bonnet outside, the bird would leave her alone. All we could figure is that the bird was trying to nest in Granny's hair.
SO, you can see why I am starting to get a bit paranoid. It seems mockingbirds are following our family. I am not quite sure why. But I am seriously considering the purchase of a bonnet.
Do you think Wal-mart has them?
Aunt Barbara and Uncle Jimmy have always had cats. Needy, homeless, "about to have kittens" cats just show up at their doorstep. They take them in and care for them. Most of the time, the mama cat and kittens end up living with them permanently. OK- I am getting a mental picture here- must clarify- Aunt Barbara is not a cat lady. All these mama cats don't show up all at one time, just in shifts, sort of.
My aunt also has been known to give her cats some rather odd names, like a girl cat named "Jack" and a cat they now own named "Monkey." If you could hear about the visit to the vet's office, you would understand why he is named Monkey. Let's just say, Uncle Jimmy nearly paid for a rather expensive microscope.
The past few weeks, their cats have been taunted, tortured rather, by a mama mockingbird. Monkey was just minding his own business, lounging on the truck and playing with the windshield wipers, when a mama mockingbird swooped down in an F-15 combat maneuver, bombed Monkey with his birdie beak, and flew back up into the trees.
Mama bird's combat headquarters have been located- a small nest of hatchlings in the oak tree. Aunt Barbara hopes the little hatchlings learn to fly very soon so that the mama and babies will move their little mockingbird squadron to someone else's yard, and leave her cats alone.
This all being said, I promised ya'll a story about my Granny. When I wrote yesterday about my own mockingbird moment, I had no idea that my aunt was experiencing hers as well. Ya'll don't understand. I am beginning to get a little paranoid.
One Spring a mockingbird stalked my Granny. Remember the scene from Forget Paris when the pigeon landed in Debra Winger's hair? Well, that didn't happen.
No, every time Granny went outside to water her flowers or just take a stroll in the yard, a mockingbird would complete the same F-15 type combat maneuver and dive for her head. The bird only did this to Granny, not to Papa or anyone else, because Granny had the most beautiful, soft, weekly washed and styled white hair! If Granny wore a bonnet outside, the bird would leave her alone. All we could figure is that the bird was trying to nest in Granny's hair.
SO, you can see why I am starting to get a bit paranoid. It seems mockingbirds are following our family. I am not quite sure why. But I am seriously considering the purchase of a bonnet.
Do you think Wal-mart has them?
Monday, July 10, 2006
To Tease A Mockingbird
Yesterday we had a visitor. A mockingbird came to our back patio/lanai/porch to greet us with a most ear piercing mockingbird-like squawk. I have fondly named him Screech. And, like the character on Saved By The Bell, he was very annoying.
Our cat Maggie is an inside cat. We had her de-clawed when our daughter was a toddler- no claws whatsoever. Before you call PETA or the ASPCA on me, know that Maggie stays inside all of the time. The moments she sticks her fat, fluffy body out the door, she quickly sniffs something, turns up her nose, and runs back into the air conditioning. And, I just couldn't see leaving her back claws. I mean, unless she decided to go full Matrix and use some kind of kangaroo kick, the back claws weren't going to help her all that much.
Back to the mockingbird.
The bird was sitting on our patio furniture squawking his little birdie heart out. Maggie was sitting at the patio door. I am not sure which came first- the cat or the bird. I don't know if Maggie was sitting at the door and the bird saw her and decided to tease her. Or if the bird came to the patio first and Maggie ran to the door. But, the exchange of attitude between the two of them was comical.
Now, I don't exactly speak Mockingbird or Cat, but this is pretty much what I interpreted...
Mockingbird- "NA NA NA NA NAAAAA! You can't get me!"
Cat- "Shut up, bird. Don't make me come out there!"
Mockingbird- "I double dog dare you!"
Cat- "Oh now you had to go and use the d-word! You've made me mad!"
Mockingbird- "What are you gonna do? Get your owner to open the door for you, huhhhh?"
Cat- "Yes, I will. All I have to do is sit here and scratch my paws on the door until it gives her a migraine."
Mockingbird- "How can you scratch on the door? You don't even have claws!"
Cat- "I don't need any. I will just flatten you with my massive size."
Mockingbird- "Bring it on."
Cat- "Yawn... This is boring. I think I'll climb in the chair and take a nap."
Mockingbird- "Hey! Where did you go???? Come back!!! My friends put me up to this!!! They are going to make fun of me when I get back!!! I am soooo going to get it."
That was pretty much it. Screech hopped and squawked and Maggie just slept and slept. She was having none of it.
This mockingbird story inspires another post about my Granny... You'll have to check back tomorrow for that one. ;>)))
Our cat Maggie is an inside cat. We had her de-clawed when our daughter was a toddler- no claws whatsoever. Before you call PETA or the ASPCA on me, know that Maggie stays inside all of the time. The moments she sticks her fat, fluffy body out the door, she quickly sniffs something, turns up her nose, and runs back into the air conditioning. And, I just couldn't see leaving her back claws. I mean, unless she decided to go full Matrix and use some kind of kangaroo kick, the back claws weren't going to help her all that much.
Back to the mockingbird.
The bird was sitting on our patio furniture squawking his little birdie heart out. Maggie was sitting at the patio door. I am not sure which came first- the cat or the bird. I don't know if Maggie was sitting at the door and the bird saw her and decided to tease her. Or if the bird came to the patio first and Maggie ran to the door. But, the exchange of attitude between the two of them was comical.
Now, I don't exactly speak Mockingbird or Cat, but this is pretty much what I interpreted...
Mockingbird- "NA NA NA NA NAAAAA! You can't get me!"
Cat- "Shut up, bird. Don't make me come out there!"
Mockingbird- "I double dog dare you!"
Cat- "Oh now you had to go and use the d-word! You've made me mad!"
Mockingbird- "What are you gonna do? Get your owner to open the door for you, huhhhh?"
Cat- "Yes, I will. All I have to do is sit here and scratch my paws on the door until it gives her a migraine."
Mockingbird- "How can you scratch on the door? You don't even have claws!"
Cat- "I don't need any. I will just flatten you with my massive size."
Mockingbird- "Bring it on."
Cat- "Yawn... This is boring. I think I'll climb in the chair and take a nap."
Mockingbird- "Hey! Where did you go???? Come back!!! My friends put me up to this!!! They are going to make fun of me when I get back!!! I am soooo going to get it."
That was pretty much it. Screech hopped and squawked and Maggie just slept and slept. She was having none of it.
This mockingbird story inspires another post about my Granny... You'll have to check back tomorrow for that one. ;>)))
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
