The Needle in a Haystack

Just another Thursday

..Isn't this what everyone does at 10:00 on a Thursday night?

Thursday Modge Podge

I am still tweaking Typepad's link/photo thing... doing better...but not there yet..

 Yesterday I tried a new cookie recipe... These are tasty with a bunch of flavors blended.  We enjoyed them for dessert...and having oatmeal in them, of course they automatically fell into the breakfast food category. . I am enjoying a couple right now with my tea...My mouth is happy...I'm happy..

Oatmeal Toffee Cookies

1cup butter ( I use butter flavor crisco)
2 eggs
2 cups brown sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla
1-3/4 cup flour ( all purpose)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 cups quick oats
1 1/3 cups Toffee Bits
1 cup coconut
Preheat oven to 375 Beat butter, eggs, sugar & vanilla in a large bowl until well blended.  Add flour, baking soda, salt & cinnamon beat until blended. Stir in oats, toffee bits & cocnut  Drop by teaspoon on lightly greased cookie sheet and bake for 8-10 minutes ( my oven took 12 so use your judgment)..I usually leave them on the cookie sheet out of the oven for a minute to firm up before I transfer them to cool..less broken cookies that way..


 Chris and I began the task of  getting Christopher's subjects together for the fall.  We won't start until Sept with my surgery  being in Aug, but we have alot of reading to do before he starts.  We use  Ambleside . For those of you looking for an inexpensive yet comprehensive curriculum, this is it.  The have all years and most of the reading can be found online or from the library.  There are a few books we just choose to order and usually buy them at Amazon used books or half.com.  I am looking forward to two of the books myself!  Theodore Roosevelt's Letters to His Children  is one of the books.  The other I plan to read as soon as it arrives is Our National Parks by John Muir.  I love travel..

  My hands have been busy the last couple of days. I made the sweetest little bib ( picture below)  using the Bernat free pattern and some soft cotton-tots yarn. This will go to a friend of mine whose daughter is having a baby. They work up so quickly I believe I'll have to make a few for the charity donation pile. Everyone does booties and blankets for our local health pregnancy clinic, I think bibs would be a nice touch...


  Josh is now at Point B.... he has to make his way to point E before he is home...but it's a start!!

Christine , whose hubby is one of my forever heroes, sent a link to me about Michael Beck he is one of  Josh's buddies from the 1132nd who was wounded in April also. I attended Pickett's funeral and can't wait to hug this fellow's neck when he comes home. Josh has plans to head to Washington to visit him in late June....after he spends time at point E!

 Today is basketball practice & a Guard reintroduction meeting... busy afternoon but all good things. I can take a book and some hand work and visit with folks...Chris has promised me the ultimate supper... My favorite Quarter Pound Hotdog.... piled high with slaw, mustard..onions... I an't wait ~smile~

  I never shared the pictures of our wonderful Memorial Day.  We got to hang out with our oldest friends This little group gets together 3-4 times a year and we've been doing it for almost 20 years now... It's always a blessing to be with them and leaves a smile on my face for days afterwards!

So since I have a problem with photos and typepad ..here are some pics... the first is of Jen & Dave,then MAry & Al with Judy, then Warren ( Judy's hubby and his lip smacking ribs) & the last one is of the baby bib

 Continue to pray for the troops.. those coming out... those going in... and have a fine day... all  day long!

7 Random Things

Melissa  tagged me for 7 random things about me..hmm...last go round about wiped me out of random things...but here goes...

1.I got food poisoning in 1973 after eating fish sticks... and I haven't been able to face a fish stick to this day..

2.  I played violin for almost a year before they realized I was playing mostly by ear and not reading notes..

3.  My first two boys were born with midwives..Josh would ahve been if he didn't burst into the world in 45 minutes..and Christopher was delivered by a very creepy rural Dr....that was the trade off living int he country with quick labors!

4.  I consider oatmeal cookies & milk breakfast food..

5. My best freind in highschool ended up marrying my first boyfriend.... she said they were just friends... I was in the wedding..

6. To this day I am scared to go down into my Gram's basement alone ... its not even that creepy but my uncles use to tease me alot..

7.  I wish clothing from the late 1800's was the current fashion...~sigh~ I absolutely love long skirts

.there you have it!  The idea is to tag a few other blogs... I love so many blog peeps I can't pick... so if you want to play along  let me know and I'll link you!

..Thnaks for tagging me Melissa

Memorial Day

.. memorial Day is a holiday to remember those who lost their lives in military conflict.   Since  Revolutionary War times, my family have always had their soldiers return.  Looking back over family records, none were wounded in service.... one fought for the north...one for the south... one was a flying ACE in WWII... several fought in Korea... 1 uncle went to Nam.. a cousin to Desert Storm...my son now falls in the hero category with his Purple Heart.  He doesn't really care so much about it...his mind is always on the fallen...

  I've thought alot about those fallen this weekend... remembering the look of the mother's faces ..the young heroes whose eyes were closed in eternal sleep.. I've thought about  how mnay mothers in how many wars have had the same look.... the children who don't come home...

  It makes me cry.... alot...


  War has always made me cry....I remember one 24 hour period in 1961.... I was a three year old... we lived in Belington WV.. my father was a teacher at the local high school.....my mother was a young 23 years old... one evenign my father received a message that would haunt me in a nightmare for years... not so much because I understood what was going on... but the absorption of the feelings around that message...

    My father was in his time period with the USAF where he could still be " called up"... but our nation was threatened... he was but on alert.... I had no idea until later that the situation was the Bay of Pigs... how close our country came to another way that night... how close my father was of taking that packed bag and heading off to serve his family yet again... The words were hushed... my mom's tears very real... I slept on the sofa near my parents that night... because the mood of our home was scary......My dad never hid things from us... he explained as only an adult could to a 3 yo that bad men might come into our country... and he might have to go fight them... to protect us.... cause that's what men do... they protect....

...... I sometimes wonder if that is genetic.... protecting... going off to serve and protect... cause that's what men do...

War....its ugly isn't it?

   Do you have those who have served in any branch of the armed forces?  Those that are safely home... those who didn't.... those who served state side during war times...those patriotic enough to step up to the plate...to protect..  Post them in the comments if you would like...and I will add them to the list

John Russell
Perry Cummins
James Wilson
Drexel Wilson
Richard Wilson
Don Shimskey
Bill Russell
Dan Barclay
Alan Leckrone
Danny Wilson
Josh Freeman
David Stelamt
Thomas Ray
Blake Williams
Edmond Pickett
Lance Eakes
Adam Marion
Bill Eaton
Ben Parrish
Brian Cail
John Y
Paul
Alex Herbert
Lucas Elliot
Matt Black
Stuart
David Barnette
Steven Salana
James Westbury
Cory Thorton
Patrick Lenahan
Jonathan Lanier
Colin Kelley
Jeffery B
Sgt Dorn
Sgt Cresson
Everette H
Earl G
Dave T


..Thank You!!!

Morgan's Graduation

 Yesterday we had the honor of attending the graduation of the daughter of our friends Dana & Brian. It was a great celebration  with lots of good food and fellowship.  "Uncle Chris" shared with Morgan ,Psalm 37.  This is one he had prayed about speaking to her on her special day from the highschool years into being a young adult.

She was very solemn as she listened to what he had to say....


... Congratulations Morgan... We love you!!

Morgan and her mama

Link Test

.. I heard back from the help ticket with Typepad... just doing a test to see if what they suggested works.

Chris

 ..I am still having serious  issues with Typepad... not sure if that is a sign I should just  end blogging days or not... the idea of starting over somewhere else doesn't have the appeal to me.. perhaps I'll give typepad a few days to get back to me and perhaps we can fix the problems...~sigh~   
   Well, today was  eye dr. day... the good news is my eyes have gotten better for close work... bad news is my astigmatism has gotten ALOT worse...  oh well...  bad news is my hubby's company cut out vision coverage and I didn't find out until I was AT the eye doctor... good news is I DID hav the stimulus check  and certainly stimulated the economy with my eye glass purchase and exam today....lunch with Jesse and her very lovely mother.  ... a browse in the antique shop where I found 2 of my Liberty Blue  china plates for 5.00 each and 3 fruit bowls for 4.50 each... I am in love with the pattern and have been for the last 20 years.  Chris's grandmother gave them to me  along with her wedding china and I TREASUE  both.  I almost have as many plates as I want for a set ( 12)  and can work on the fruit bowls and salads next.  I have the meat platter.  I was so happy to find  them!   Isn't this little gnome the absolute sweetest... I think he needs to go on a onsie for the new niece or nephew...I'm looking forward to a wonderful  weekend... remembering... honoring... Josh will receive his Purple Heart on Memorial  Day.... a memory... a memory that my dear 22 yo will carry... forever...    I pray everyone has a safe Memorial Day weekend...Pray for the troops!

Another Attempt at Posting

.. ~sigh~  Typepad and I are still having issues... I know its not me as Chris tried to post and couldn't so I'm not feeling so non-geeky.  I opened a help ticket and check my mail constantly waiting for the reply... I might have to call my fav IT person ( Jeremy, mama loves you) and see if he has tricks...although I doubt he can make Typepad 's new compose feature any better... I might have to transport back to bravejournal or look into Wordpress at this point...I left bravejournal because of spam issues though... oh well... perhpas it might be best to go back to paper and pen... ~gulp~ the old fashion way.

We ended up NOT having the dinner I planned last night. I made a frittata instead...For lunch Christopher and I munched a batch of  bread sticks... I wish I could post a link to the recipe  ( write your local typepad representatives) but if you go to my side bar under Tammy's recipes, look for her Quick and Easy Breadstick recipe.  I sprinkled ours with cheese and Christopher did up a marinara for dipping.

  SO what kept me from plowing ahead with yesterday's menu... ??? The absolute sweetest crochet/ felting project in the world.  I have LIKED several projects I have worked on the last few years... but I haven't LOVED them... this one I do... to the point of losing track of time with it... dangerous I tell ya!!

  I also spent a fair amount of time on the phone with my Grams... she is such a hoot...

Today is an eye doctor / shopping  day.  I am so not looking forward to the eye doctor.... " Oh, I see that you are so blind we'll have to fit you with radar instead of glasses... just let out an ear piercing scream that will echo back when your near an object so you don't bump into it..   I knew I was in a bit of a pickle when I had to close one eye to read the letters at DMV when I renewed my drivers license...~sigh~

  Prayers for Josh please.. the last few times on the phone have been a bit rough.... I hope once he gets on US soil things will perk up a bit... .

Fly your flags for Memorial Day... we have many to remember this year..Eakes, Stelmat, Pickett,Williams & Ray to name a few....

  Continue to pray for the troops...those abroad...those stateside.... those in various states of recovery ... those who would lay down their life for a man.....

.

Rose Petals, Focaccia, and a bit of Wee

My neck tenses up every time I have to log into Typepad for a post ..nothing is working right for me and an email to the tech department is in order for my sanity... so..with that out there... here is what else is ont he list of dos for the day..

Supper tonight will be chicken salad on homemade focaccia ...a side of tomato mozzarella sald from Kelli ..fresh strawberries and cucumbers... I'll also head to the garden to clip a few of the roses hanging off the bush to make a few of these beauties also from Kelli http://kellishouse.blogspot.com/2008/05/victorian-morning-room-and-dried-roses.html ( I am so having issues with Typeppad right now... I am sure my BP has risen to new heights) ..and working on some hand work with Miss Hillary's patterns which can make you just pass out from cuteness here: Yesterday was a fun day ..double lunch dates... One with D & Mo at George's ...always nice and then one at McD's with Jesse who fled her home when the tile folks came to do work... we ended up doing a bit of shopping...I am seriously contemplating a pair of Rainbows for the summer..and she seriously is in NEED of high heeled Crocs... knowing just the store we spent an hour walking back and forth between Crocs and Rainbows to end up with neither... simply a travel mug for me and bites of cream cheese covered in raspberry/pepper jam on crackers... Chris and I weeded the front bed and did a bit of dividing on the hosta plant...and I leave you with a picture of the beginning of the summer battle.... Me vs MINT.... mint usually wins...

Land Post ##2

..The new compose feature on Typepad and I are having issues... I can't get a darn thing to work....

Oh well... you might need a magnifying glass to read this...and I can't do the images like I use to...

Anyhow, I thought I would share one of the treasures the excavator unearthed the other day...the boys "project" car... the one Chris was saving back to work on... with the boys..we only have one boy left..and he isn't much into cars... so... FS: one very used Supra..needs radiator, interior & tires...along with a good wax job.....
( I'm seriously feeling junkyard here.)
.. .