Take it or leave it

I wanted to post a delicious picture of one of my tasty grilled cheese sandwiches. Unfortunately, I didn't check the picture until after I ate the sandwich and by then it was too late to take another picture!

Do you think I'm going to make and eat another sandwich, just so I can retake the picture for you all?? I don't think so! So you can take it or leave it!



I have to admit, I make a GREAT grilled cheese sandwich and this rainy day was just perfect for making them.

I use Italian Bread (French is 2nd choice).

Arrange one slice of American Cheese on a slice of bread.

Cut VERY thin slices of Mozzerella and Cheddar Cheeses and lay on top of the American slice, staggering so all of the bread is covered.

Place top layer of bread on top and spread with margarine.

Place sandwich butter-side-down in hot pre-sprayed skillet, spread margarine on the the remaining side.

I like to cover it with a lid in order to ensure that the cheese gets all melted and gooey.

Flip sandwich when it starts browning and brown remaining side.

These are FANTASTIC! The combination of the Italian bread and the cheeses is just perfect. Mmmmm. Just thinking about it makes me want another one.

Need a laugh?

You know that every once in a while someone's blog entry really strikes me funny and I just HAVE to let you in on it.

Go to Blessed and read today's letter that she wrote to the dressing-room mirror! It's a riot!

Alan Henley

I have requested prayer several times for Alan Henley. (I found out about Alan through their friend, Megan at Hold It up to the Light.) For those of you who don't know, Alan was a lead pilot for Aeroshell before he became paralyzed in an accident last summer. He was in the backyard with his children and doing chin-ups, when the bar fell and injured him.


I have been continually amazed by what Alan and his family have been through since his accident.

Recently they battled the insurance company in order to get help that Alan needed. He was allowed 2 weeks at Lakeshore Hospital for intense therapy and help that he needs. Until now he hasn't been able to do ANYTHING for himself. His wife, Jen, has been turning him every 2 hours throughout the night. She's lifted him out of bed and into the wheelchair (sometimes not quite making it to the wheelchair and having to call 911 for the men to come help get Alan up for her!), bathed and dressed him. In addition to taking care of her 2 children and home.

At Lakeshore, Alan has been learning to feed himself, move himself in bed and even write with a pen! That is so amazing and such big stuff for them!

From what I understand, they have not had income since Alan's accident and finances have been an additional stress.

They are having an AirShow in Florida April 18-19 to raise money for the Alan Henley Foundation. I wish I could go!!! They said it's turning out to be the largest Airshow ever, by means of performers. If you are interested in attending this very exciting airshow, you can find out more here.

To learn more about Alan Henley, see more pictures, etc., visit Alan's CaringBridge site.

Hey, that's MY seat!

My parents were here this weekend to help us out. My dad helped J patch up the ceiling where J had fallen through on Friday. Lots of noise and mess! In my kitchen eating area, no less!

My mom helped put some meals together for me. Actually, she did most of the work! I've been feeling so tired and drained again lately, but it's hard to see my mother helping me when I feel I should be helping her!

They brought their small dog along. When my husband sat down after the work was done, little Toby jumped up and claimed ownership.


Rico's nose was very out of joint because that's HIS spot! He thinks the leather loveseat is his and he just lets us use it sometimes. But he is afraid of little Toby, which we think is hilarious, so he wouldn't get up there while Toby was there. Here is Rico with R over the weekend. In case you can't tell, his chin is resting on my son's leg, watching every piece of popcorn going into his mouth!


Of course, we have a lab-mix, too. She's a great big fat girl. She gets very jealous seeing my husband always sitting there petting Rico, but she won't take the initiative to jump up there. So the other night J half picked her up onto the loveseat. You have to "half" pick her up because she's a BIG girl!


No room for me, there! I seldom sit next to my husband because...there is no room! I sit in a separate recliner!

Later after everyone had gone to bed I discovered this:


I guess she decided she liked it up there!

Work in progress

I'm under construction again!

It takes me a while to figure out the html codes - what goes where, so I don't know how long it will take until I'm finished.

I'm having to share the computer, which makes it take longer!

Accidents and more

So, do you want to hear about the accidents first?

This one did not involve us (Thank God!), but was viewed from our deck yesterday. I heard the squeal of brakes and a crash. I was expecting my husband home anytime and was scared it was him. It was some high school kid.


Unfortunately, the next accident did involve someone in my home! My husband drives truck and he got to his destination yesterday and found that someone else had taken his load. So he came home and decided to work on insulating our attic floor. They don't do that in the south but he thought it would help.

My son and I were talking in the kitchen when we heard a crash and saw my husband's LEG sticking out of the ceiling! He had fallen through! We called up and asked if he was okay, then I grabbed my camera. I missed getting a shot of his leg, but here is the hole:


My husband has really bad knees from years of driving truck. He already needed surgery, but has been putting it off as long as possible. Through the fall, he hurt that knee further and can hardly walk on it. He's planning on repairing the ceiling (with my dad's help) tomorrow, but I don't know how he's even going to MOVE. Let alone drive truck. I feel so badly for him. Kind of like "Takes a lickin' but keeps on tickin'!"

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I went to pick up prescriptions the other day and was told our ins. had lapsed. So I called the company and the girl had screwed up paperwork. She said she'd send it in right away. The one prescription is for Advair and I can NOT go without it. My husband went to pick up 2 prescriptions for me yesterday, with the promise from the insurance co. that they will pay us back. $750 for 2 prescriptions! So he just got the one. I sure hope they fix the error because I'm getting low on another one now.

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I find that I am getting exhausted much more easier again. You would think you'd get more "mileage" out of the IV's. I hate it that I have to keep slowing down, keep stopping to rest, can't get as much done.

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Yes, we really liked the movie "Fireproof." I bought the movie and 2 copies of the Love Dare book in an eBay package. Even though funds are low, I felt like I needed to make this investment in our marriage. I'm on Day 2 in the book. Today is "Kindness". I've been practicing it all day, but especially since J hurt his knee!

Grilling Goodness #24

Grilling Goodness #24
1. Do you prefer to write with pen or pencil?
Pen!

2. What was off limits to you growing up that you do all the time now?
That's a hard one. I can only think of one thing I wasn't allowed to do growing up, but I'm sure there was lots more. What I remember is that I couldn't listen to rock music. I don't listen to it now, either, but I do listen to a little more contemporary Christian music than my parents.

3. What is the age difference between you and your spouse?
5 years

4. Did you hurt yourself in anyway this week?
No

5. Do you like wallpaper enough to hang it in your home?
No, no, no! I'm not a wallpaper person. I'm a neutral-color-paint type of person.

6. What do you need to do that you've been putting off?
Immediate? Clean the fridge and floors.
Long Term? Lose weight!

7. What did you do this week that you wish you hadn't?
Ate too much. I have such a sweet tooth and it's so hard to kick.

8. Did anything keep you up late this week?
Last night my husband and I stayed up late watching Fireproof.

For more Grilling Goodness go to Golden Goodness.

Pumpkin Whoopie Pies

Some people have expressed an interest in my recipe for Pumpkin Whoopie Pies. I went to Google Images to see if there was a picture to put with the recipe, since I didn't make these recently, and I could not believe how many pages and pages of Whoopie Pie pictures there were! Here are just a few, to wet your appetite! Because I use homemade pumpkin, mine are always pale in color like the picture to the upper left.





PUMPKIN WHOOPIE PIES

4 c. flour
2 tsp. baking powder
2 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. salt
2 c. sugar
1 c. shortening
1 c. margarine
2 c. mashed pumpkin
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 c. oatmeal
1/2 c. coconut

1. Cream shortening, butter and sugar.
2. Add pumpkin, egg and vanilla.
3. Add dry ingredients gradually. Stir in oatmeal and coconut.

Spoon in equal proportions onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake 350degrees, 12-14 min.

Icing:
1 egg white, stiffly beaten
1 tbsp. vanilla
2 tbsp. flour
2 tbsp. milk
2 c. confectioners sugar
3/4 c. shortening
2 tbsp. marshmallow cream

1. Beat egg whites until stiff.
2. Add remaining ingredients.

* THESE WHOOPIE PIES ARE NOT LOW FAT!!!!!! *
** I use neck pumpkins that I cook down. I think they taste soooooo much better than canned pumpkin!!! In case you don't know what a neck pumpkin is, I am posting a picture below. **


I have only found them in the fall, so don't look for them right now because I don't think you'll find one.

An Open Letter from a Soldier

Linny, from A Place Called Simplicity recently was talking about her son, Tyler, who is deployed as part of an Elite Force.

Linny gave me permission to share this awesome letter that Tyler wrote:

Maybe you can post this on your blog.

For those of you who are diligently praying for the troops I ask you to pray for America. At some point during this war, the death of American soldiers in combat has become unacceptable.

What has become unacceptable is the American public calling for a withdrawl. Our grandparents during World War II had ration cards, victory gardens and a nationwide speed limit of 40 (due to the wear and tear on tires since rubber was in such a short supply). The American public has sacrificed nothing. If anything they have only benefitted from the fact this war has stabilizd this corroding economy.

The fact of the matter is, America, not the troops has become the casualty in this conflict. The will that got our great-grandparents through the depression has disappeared. The heart that got young men through the draft in both World Wars also has dissipated. The heroism that was so commmon in Vietnam has now become a rarity.

I have served in multipule theatres and can say from absolute truth I know exactly what I have signed up for. I have lost friends. But through it all I know exactly what I have to do and that is press on.

Sadly, the same America I signed up to defend is not the America I know now. This war on terrorism has been reduced to coffee talk at colleges and debates on the media. For those of you out there who know how to fix this conflict or at least tell your friends how to, sign up, suit up, and come on over. There's plenty of room for all.

I will get off my soapbox now.....I will ask you once more though, pray for America.

Very Respectfully, Tyler

I'd be very proud to have a son not only who is serving our Country, but who wrote such a letter! Well done, Tyler!

Whoopie Pies

Last night I decided to bake something to send along with my son and his Sensei when they went to Six Flags today. I thought Whoopie Pies might be special since they are more of a Pennsylvania Dutch treat. They sell them at every grocery store up there (except Walmart!) and definitely at every bakery.

After deciding to bake them, my next question was Chocolate or Pumpkin? Personally, I prefer Pumpkin as they aren't quite as sweet but I know most people prefer chocolate so that's what I went for. Incidentally, there are also vanilla and oatmeal whoopie pies.




CHOCOLATE WHOOPIE PIES
4 c. flour
2 c. sugar
1 c. shortening
1 c. cocoa
2 tsp. baking soda
2 eggs
2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. vanilla
1 c. sour milk
1 c. hot water

1. Beat shortening and sugar together. Add eggs and beat until light and fluffy.
2. Add sour milk and vanilla to mixture.
3. Sift flour, cocoa, and salt together. Add slowly to batter.
4. Put baking soda in hot water. Stir and add to batter. Stir in until even consistency.

Put heaping Tablespoons of batter on greased cookie sheet. Bake 400 degrees, 6 minutes.

Cool, then match up cookies in pairs of similar size and shape.

Filling:
2 egg whites
2 Tbsp. vanilla
4 Tbsp. flour
4 Tbsp. milk
4 c. confectioners sugar
1/2 c. shortening

1. Beat egg whites until fluffy.
2. Add remaining ingredients.

I generally add a bit more confectioners sugar - maybe even 1/2c. to 3/4c. because I don't want the filling too runny.

You can wrap the whoopie pies individually for kids lunches. I put them in large freezer containers and freeze them, then take out what I want when I need them.


I made Hot Milk Cake for R earlier in the week. That's a very old recipe from generations back and it's so delicious you don't need frosting. He just loved it! I'll post that recipe another time because I forgot to take a picture of it.

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Poor Rico. He was messing with his tail again, so I put Tobasco sauce around the wound. He didn't like that very much!

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Well, most of my house cleaning and laundry is done. I'm very sleepy from not sleeping well last night so I'm going to take advantage of my quiet house and take a nap!

Grilling Goodness #23

It's time for another edition of Grilling Goodness.

1. Are you competitive?
Absolutely not!

2. What do you most often eat for breakfast?
Oatmeal. I start with Oat Groats, then add regular rolled oats, then mix in some raisins. Sometimes I'll add apples or applesauce and cinnamon.

3. Do you have a 'raggidy' piece of furniture?
Yes, all of our great room furniture is getting pretty wobbly from our large dogs frolicking. Not to mention the leather is worn from our Golden using it for his own personal comfort...and the recliners are fabric and stained. Need I say more?

4. What do you wash your face with?
Mary Kay soap bar

5. What colors does Spring make you want to wear?
Anything that isn't dark.

6. Do you like working your flower beds?
No!!! Thankfully my husband enjoys that. I hate getting dirt on my hands! After my husband's triple by-pass he wasn't allowed to do yard work and missed it. He would have me dig up something and replant it in another location. I hated it, but it made him happy.

7. What is something you want that you've never had?
A good camera. I have an old POS.

8. How many miles do you have on your car?
83,681

For more Grilling Goodness, and to play along, visit Golden Goodness.

Cole's Foundation

A family who tragically lost their little boy started something called Cole's Foundation. They feature children who have cancer. It's a nice site. You can go there and read updates and pray for these children. It's rather heartbreaking, but a wonderful thing you can do for these children and their families. After all, if you were in their position, isn't that what you would want?

Carrie's 100th Post GiveAway!

Congratulations to Carrie at Capturing Glipses, on reaching her 100th Post. She is celebrating this occasion with a special give away. My favorite kind! A Pampering bag of surprises - or would that be a bag of pampering surprises? Me and my grammar hangup!

Anyhow, visit Carrie's site to enter this GiveAway, but then...if you forget, it's a better chance for ME! lol

This and That

Today is a beautiful day here is Georgia. Much nicer than they forecasted. I spent about an hour enjoying the sunshine out on the deck. la-di-da!

Since I cheated when I posted the last Pear Trees, I stepped outside this morning and shot my neighbors blossoms:


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I've been trying to find a new Internist and it's very frustrating. Our old one left and we didn't like his office at all anyhow. But no one that I call on the BC/BS list will accept out lousy insurance. I found one that did, but they won't take Medicare, which is my primary. Ahhhh! I really need a PCP.

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We got one of these the other day through eBay:


I got it so that my son can be tutored by webcam because the tutor is sick a lot and concerned about bringing her germs here.

My son is having a lot of fun playing with it. Me...not so much. I am one of those people who avoids getting their picture taken. I do not photograph well and since I've gained weight it is even worse. They should make webcams that take off about 20 lbs. I've talked to my mom on it and have to say it is VERY DEPRESSING to see myself on the screen!

I guess if I put makeup on and did my hair it would help (but not much). I'm going to do that now so I can go get my allergy shot, then take R to Karate.

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Keep checking our Prayer Blog. There are a lot of people on there who really need our prayers!

Memory Lane and George

Excuse the picture quality, here, but this picture was taken years ago with an old and free digital camera.

You see, the first Dell computer that I ordered (years ago) got lost. It was signed in at our post office but never seen after that. Then Dell sent me a replacement one and a bill for BOTH! I don't THINK so! Their apology for the whole mess was a free camera. What do you expect from a free camera? I was thrilled it was a digital, tho, even if it was more like something Fisher Price would put out. lol

Anyway...to the picture...my son has this gift with animals. He likes them and they don't seem to fear him. He saw this baby bunny in our yard in Pennsylvania and, as you can see, the bunny let him pet it. There was no mother around. R watched it for a while and decided he'd better take care of it.

He named it George.



Here is George as he got a little bigger.



(That isn't a real flag, it's a scarf. I don't want hate mail, thinking we used an American flag for bedding!)

Eventually R let him free in our back yard and he found a "friend" and had babies of his own. When he was grown up he would still let R sit next to him on the grass and pet him.

An exciting offer!

Today I took R to Karate. It was rather cold in the dojo, which was making my sinuses hurt worse. It was sunny out, so I decided to go outside and sit in the warmth of the car.

Afterward Sensei walked outside with R and then gestured R to stay behind while he came to talk to me. I wasn't sure what was going on.

Sensei said that he and his wife were planning to go to Six Flags this week during Spring Break and he knew that I was wishing there was someone to take R since I couldn't. (It's about 1.5 hrs. from here, but I can't walk around with him and he's not old enough to walk around by himself. My son has only been to Six Flags once before, with my sister and her family, and just LOVED it.) Sensei had asked his wife how she felt about taking my son along and they would both like to do that.

Are you kidding me? I couldn't believe it!!

He isn't absolutely sure his wife will be able to go, so then it would be him and R. My son LOVES his Sensei and really admires him. This would be such a great opportunity for him in quite a few ways.

(This is an old picture of them together, when R was still a yellow belt.)



They were going to go this Friday, but I saw online that they aren't opened during the week yet, so I'm waiting to hear back from him if he wants to go this Saturday or wait until another time. He's at his dojo 6 days a week so I know it's not easy for him to get away unless it's something like a school/holiday break.

I'm just blown away that he offered to take him!

Soup, anyone?

We're having a rainy day here in GA. A great day for soup.

I blogged about Olive Garden's Chicken Gnocchi Veronese Soup here and here. If this is the 3rd blog about it, you know it's gotta be good!

Well, forget that recipe in that 2nd blog. It's too hard and complicated.

My mom found the following recipe and made it. It is absolutely fantastic and easier, to boot! It tasted just like the Olive Garden one. So here is the best recipe for Chicken Gnocchi Soup in "my mother's own words".


CHICKEN GNOCCHI CREAM SOUP

1/3 c. olive oil or butter (I used butter for flavor)
2 cloves of minced garlic
1 lb. chicken (I just cut up some cooked chicken I had and
"eyeballed" it. It doesn't say the chicken should be cooked
ahead but I think it should be. Also, then it is quicker to put
together.)
1/3 C flour
1/2 carrot shredded (I used baby carrots shredded and again I
eyeballed the amount to what I thought
should be in the soup)
1 stick of celery cut small pieces (I didn't use this much)
1/2 cup chopped spinach (I used frozen spinach,thawed)
2 1/2 C milk (you can use 2% or skim) I used 2 Cups
1 1/2 C heavy cream (I used fat free half&half)
3 chicken bullion cubes ( I used Tones chicken stock which I
dissolved in a small bit of hot water)
pepper to taste
16 or 17.6 oz package of Gnocchi. If I make this again, I will cut
the gnocchi in half. They were kinda
big bites.

Melt butter in pot and add in the garlic and sautee. Add chicken and
heat thoroughly or cook more if the chicken is not already cooked
earlier.
Add flour and stir in flour and mix well until the flour is cooked
into the chicken
Add milk and cream and stir well
Add veggies and stir in
Add the bullion or Tones chicken stock & stir in
Add Gnocchi last. It only takes 4-5 min. to cook through
Mix ingredients well until soup thickens and stir occasionally.
Cover and simmer a few minutes.

I added a bit more Tones Stock as I thought it needed a bit more
flavor. Since dissolving that in water made it a bit thinner, I added
a little more flour to the stock. Stirred it into the soup until it
was of the right consistency and heated through.

All this only takes about 30 min to prepare from start to finish

A Comforting Dessert

It was such a dreary day yesterday (It is today, too!), so we had my parents down for the afternoon and for supper. Mom and I made the meal together. Oven-fried chicken, oven-rice (which is wonderful and makes the house smell so good!), steamed broccoli and some comfort food for dessert.

I was going to make a low-cal, low-fat "Jello Pie" for dessert but Mom said with this weather we needed comfort food. She suggested Peach Cobbler and brought fresh-frozen peaches with her.

Well, I had this recipe from college for Peach Pudding that I hadn't made in a long while and I remembered how we loved it. It really is a "comforting" dish and it's so easy to make with basic ingredients. And similar to a cobbler.



Peach Pudding

1 can peaches (We used home-frozen. You need the juice w/ frozen or canned.)
6 Tbsp. butter or margarine
1 c. flour
1 c. sugar
1 c. milk
1 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt

1. Melt butter in square pan.
2. Pour diced fruit and juice over the melted butter.
3. Make batter of remaining ingredients. (Batter will be thin.)
4. Pour over fruit and butter mixture. If desired sprinkle with cinnamon.
5. Bake 1 hour at 350 degrees.
Serve warm w/ whipped cream. (I like it cold, too!)

Excellent visits

I visited two blogs today who were so eloquent in what they were saying and really hit on what I've been thinking.

Esthermay of The Heart of a Pastor's Wife speaks on the question: Can a Born-Again Christian support President Obama? A definite read!

Then I visited Edie of Rich Gifts and she is talking about the difference in what is implied and what is actually true, regarding Obama, also. We need to listen carefully to what is being said and weed through what is trying to be implied and what really is. Please check out Edie's blog!

Grilling Goodness #22

I haven't participated in this before, but always enjoy when I see it on people's blogs, so I will give it a whirl! Visit here to meet the originator and see Links to more Grilling Goodness!

1. Did you learn anything new this week?

2. Will you wear green on St. Patty's Day or do you not give a hoot??

3. Do you wash clothes throughout the week or only on a specific day?

4. What is one of the most popular 'spams' you get in your junk email inbox?

5. Are you where you want to be? (you decide the meaning of the question for your answer)

6. Do you know how to swim?

7. Do you take trips with your girlfriends?

8. What was your favorite purchase this week? (big or small)

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My Answers!

1. I learned it's too soon to let my dog, Rico, sleep without the e-collar on at night.

His surgical site with starting to scab over and now it's all raw again!

2. When is St. Patrick's Day? If I know when it is and have something green I can wear, I will, but I won't make it a life priority!

3. Oh, mercy, I wash clothes every day of the week. Usually about 2 loads a day. My son still likes to go outside to explore the woods. He looks for snakes and climbs tall trees, then comes in covered with MUD.

4. Stuff from "Fanbox" Ugh! I mark it "spam" and "delete" right away!

5. Definitely not. My marriage needs great improvement. I need to improve my relationship with Christ and get better with those private times with Him. And I'm still overweight!!!

6. I'm not sure how to answer this. I can dog paddle and keep my head above water, but I certainly wouldn't jump off a diving board into 10-12' water! I'm only in the position to swim once every several years so it isn't something I am too concerned with right now.

7. What girlfriends? I always envy when I hear about women spending an evening out with a girlfriend or going on a short trip together. No, I don't do this. I've lived here 2 yrs and haven't established that kind of relationship yet. I do, however, enjoy shopping and lunch with my mom once or twice a year!

8. I purchased the Fireproof DVD and LoveDare book off of eBay a few days ago. I hope it will be an investment in our marriage. I'm excited about watching the movie!

Tim Hawkins on Marriage

On a lighter note than my last post, I saw this funny video on someone's blog and wanted to share it with you in case you hadn't seen it.

The State of Affairs

I don't know about anybody else reading this, but the news has been downright depressing the last few months.

Crime is up. There seem to be more and more break-ins and murders.

Madoff ripping off people for billions of dollars. (I expect a 70 yr old to KNOW right from wrong!)

Companies closing, employees being laid off. People losing their homes.

It is very hard to listen to. It's overwhelming to listen to.

And then there is the President and his changes. Ahhhhh! I am not happy at all with him. The money being handed out in large sums, but appearing to not be of benefit to any of us and just costing us more in taxes.

His cabinet choices. They don't pay their taxes. They have supported Partial-Term Abortion. He and his choice for Secretary of Health (??) are for over-turning that decision and allowing FULL-TERM babies to be murdered. Parents don't need to give consent anymore.

Now he has overturned the Stem-Cell bill.

There seems to be no value of life.

All I can say is that President Obama is going to have to answer for an awful lot when he stands before God. And I wouldn't want to be him.



I think I'll just stick to listening to the weather for now.

(Sorry for the political blog, but I just had to get this off my chest!)

Wasn't me

Hey, ya'll, I'm glad you liked the pictures of the Bradford Pear trees but I didn't take them. I should have stuck that beneath the pics. I got them online. I'm glad you enjoyed them, tho.

Today was the only day I've left the house since last Wed. because of needing to keep an eye on Rico (so he doesn't chew his tail since surgery) and I forgot to take my camera along when I went out today.

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Wow, Biggest Loser was something tonight! I was so glad that Mike lost enough to rescue everyone from elimination at the beginning of the show, but couldn't believe that the Black Team won after the terrible decisions they made on their 24hr. "binge". I could NOT believe they have been there so long and the first chance they have away on their own they blow it! They really didn't deserve to win the overall weigh-in at the end.

What on earth?

I saw the weirdest thing today on the way home from Karate. We have to pass a military cemetary and I saw an ambulance in it. Since then I can think of a few reasons that it was there, but at the time I thought it looked like the oddest thing and I told my son "I think he's a little late."

I wished for my camera, but even if I had it along I couldn't have stopped the car in the traffic I was in.

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We've had a string of days in the upper 70's, with yesterday hitting 82. Most of the time it's been sunny, so it's been a very nice change. I've had more trouble than usual with depression recently and the sunshine helps.

The Bradford Pear Trees are all in bloom, which is pretty but a terrible thing for allergies. My nose itches like crazy and I've had a constant headache, even with our a/c running to clear the air.




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Blogger sure is having problems lately. I couldn't get half of my blog to come up a while ago and I went to my Dashboard to see who of my Blogger Friends have posted today and nothing comes up at all. Anyone else having these problems?

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I have started using my Total Gym again.


As much as I hate exercise, I love my Total Gym, so it feels good to get back to the habit again. Today was my 4th day in a row!

And speaking of exercise...

BIGGEST LOSER IS ON TONIGHT!!!!!! And they left us hanging last week, so I really can't wait for tonight!!!

Another computer-related question

Can anyone tell me anything about web-cams?

I'm having a hard time finding someone to tutor my son occasionally when he has problems with Math & Science. One of the problems is the illness factor. Someone who lives down the road homeschools and she has a teaching degree and is good in the subjects I need...but she and her kids always seem to be sick and I can't risk that (if I don't have to!).

She said she tutors someone via webcam and if I had one she could do that.

I know nothing about them. What brands are good, what a bad? Prices? I looked at them on eBay and some of the prices seem too good to trust.

Anyone?

When God is Silent

I hear it all of the time: "I pray and ask God for help, but it's like He isn't listening to me." "He doesn't answer." "I feel like he's abandoned me." My son says this all of the time and I hear it from others going through a difficult time, or looking for direction in what they are to do next in their lives.

Dr. Charles Stanley had an excellent message for this week on this topic. The title being "When God is Silent."

It really speaks to you.

You can listen to it or watch it by clicking here: In Touch.

IT IS EXCELLENT!!!!!

Refreshing dessert

I got this dessert from Mari's Recipe Blog.




I tweaked it just a little. I made an Angel Food Cake and cubed about 4 slices. Then I made homemade Vanilla Pudding and when it was chilled folded in a container of fat free whipped topping. I layered the Angel Food cubes, the pudding mixture and blueberries and strawberries into parfait glasses.

My son groaned the entire time he was eating his!

I've made something similar before in an oblong pan, but it had cream cheese in the mixture and homemade blueberry pie filing on top.

A new give-away and the deadline is near

Mama Hen is having a Giveaway on Long Days, Short Years. Check it out! It ends at 5PM today, so hurry on over!

How fun!

Pitiful Puppy

I'm stealing a few minutes away at the computer to post this. It's really crazy in my house and I feel like I have a newborn again. I'm not dressed yet, I haven't brushed my teeth or done my hair, my house is a mess and SMELLS.

Why, do you ask?

My buddy, Rico, had surgery on his tail yesterday. He has a large wart or cyst on it, about an inch in diameter. It kept bleeding and he'd lick at it all of the time, so we got it removed.


Even with this "e-collar" on he can still reach his boo-boo so I'm having to watch him absolutely constantly. And he can't get comfortable so he justs paces around so I have to follow him!


And he smells! I don't know if he picked up an odor at the vets, or if it's from his surgery, but it is really nasty and the whole house is smelling like "nasty dog." I have a candle burning, but not sure if it will suffice.

Last night he got it bleeding again. When they removed the cyst there wasn't enough skin to close it, so it's not stitched entirely and I'm afraid between that and him trying to scratch it, it's going to take forever to heal.

I stayed up about all night last night, so at some point my son is going to have to take over the puppy watch and let me take a nap.

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Thanks for your help regarding computers!

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I was watching Jon & Kate Plus 8 last night and saw them to go Sight & Sound Theater. I went there a few times when we lived in PA. So I looked up where they live and here they live in our old "stomping grounds." I was so surprised!

Well, this is all the time I can take right now. I'll have to find some time later to get on and read your blogs. After I shower and clean up!

Asking for your 'puter input

I hope that I don't need to buy a new computer very soon because we need to pay other bills instead. But our Dell PC is very, very heavily used. We do school on it, my son plays Runescape on it, I use it...It seems to always be in use. We've had it for 2 years.

Lately it's been very sluggish and doing very odd things and locking up alot. I'm not sure if it's the ISP or my computer, but because our computer is so heavily used and because of our schoolwork being on it, I am always wondering if we should have another on hand BEFORE the present one dies.

Our last 2 PC's have been Dell's, but from what I've heard they aren't rated that great anymore like they used to be. We can't have a Mac because our curriculum won't work on one.

I'd like to hear your input. What kind of computer do you have? How well do you like it? Have you had any problems and were they handled well? I'd love to have a laptop next time, but I'm not sure that's feasible. I just read on Rebecca's site that it's not good to do photo editing on them, for one thing. It would be nice to have one, though.

Please let me know your preferences (brand).

**editing after the first 2 comments** I have already emptied the Temp Files, run DeFrag, emptied Trashbin and things we don't use. I also run Anti-Spyware already. I've done all of those things and it still lags and drags.

back board breaking

Last night I took my son to Karate.

Every couple of years they do a board breaking class, but since R has only been going for just over a year he hasn't had the opportunity to do it yet. He was very excited!

Sensei showed them how to do it and gave them choices of which part of their body to use. R chose his arm. He was so thrilled when we broke it on his first try!!!!





I took these when we got home and he'd already changed. What a lousy mom I am! I took my camera along to Karate, but there was another mother there with an Autistic child R's age and she was telling me what fun things are available for them in the area. We were watching the board-breaking at the same time and clapping, but I just forgot about the camera on my lap!

When I was taking these pictures R said "Here, take one for "those blogger people!". So here you are, you "blogger people!"