Some Kinda Wonderful

July.....where does the time go?

Well...it's almost half way through July and I can't believe it.  The summer flies by when I'm working so many hours, not to mention all the crazy things that are going on. 

On my dad,after many tests, scans and blood work, the Drs have found no other cancer!  He still has one more test to do, the glands and lymph nodes.  Wednesday he has his surgery on his arm.  They will remove the cancer, (which involves most of the bone in his upper left arm)they will replace the bone with a cadaver bone and and a metal that will not interfere with radiation.  After that they will biopsy the cancer and figure the best treatment options.  The Drs are saying that he may be one of the few (2%) of people with this type of cancer that has not metastasized from an other area of the body.  Let's hope that's the case.  So, now I wait for Wednesday and a call from my mom.  A good call...a call that will make me happy.  I don't think I can handle a bad call  but then, I don't think I have a choice of the matter.  I know that God knows best and will do what's right. 

Summer camp is going strong with kids numbering into the 80's some days.  Can you say busy?!?!  It's so busy at times, I can't seem to find time to do anything.  And when I do have a few minutes to myself...I'm sitting and relaxing.  Not to mention that I'm working from 9 to 7:15!  ACK!  My house is a mess, and I haven't scrapped in a good month.  I haven't posted to any boards and I haven't been able to keep up with blogging (as you all know) I always seem to have laundry to do and no time to do it.  I need a vacation!  And a cabana boy to serve me drinks.  Maybe on a beach somewhere where I can lay and soak up the sun and drink foo-foo drinks with umbrellas and read a few good books.  Sounds good huh?

I've let half of the summer get by without doing anything.  I do believe it's time for a sick day and some soaking of some rays.  It may not be at a beach, but I'll feel better.  However, I know myself well and know that if I take a sick day, I'll end up cleaning my house and doing all the things that need done, not all the things I want to do.  I think what I need to do is leave the house and find a lake or something.....where I'm forced to sit and do nothing.  Good idea huh?  But I know I won't do that either.  I'm to damn practical and won't leave the house with a mess anywhere (except work cause I don't have a choice)  Someone.....come kick me out of my house! 

Rick and Amber will be delivering their second baby next month!  Another boy who's name will be James Truman.  So sometime next month my grandchildren will number 6!  Little Ricky isn't so little anymore.  He's going to be a big 2 the 20th of this month.  He's such a little cutie!  And sure doesn't look like a baby anymore!  He's talking up a storm and trying to do the potty training thing. 

Tre, who goes to the same daycare I work at sees me almost everyday!  I love to hear him running down the hall yelling "my Janie I want my Janie"  as he comes to my room to say hi and bye for the day.  Talk about tug at the ol' heart strings!!  And what a cutie he is! 

Tyler and Makenzie are both growing strong.  Tyler is 3 now and Makenzie just turned 1 in June.  Where does the time go?  We had a graduation party for Samantha last week and they were there to swim and have a blast!  I have pictures, I'm wondering if I'll ever have time to scrap them...maybe I'll be able to post a few!

A couple of pictures from the party.  Makenzie in the grass, the kids in the pool, (Tyler, Samantha, Makenzie and Nik)  Tyler in his swimsuit!

Sunday Morning

It's so nice to get up and not have to go anywhere.  I've been sitting and watching a movie and just playing.  Rob's still sleeping so I need to be at least a little quiet.  When he wakes up, I'll start the regular weekend cleaning.  Oh joy! 

I know it's only the middle of Feb, but I'm so ready for spring.  I really don't care for this month.  I seem to get depressed and a little sad this time of the year, every year.  I try really hard to think of this time as a time to think, reflect, to plan.  It's the slow time, the time before things start hopping again.  I have lists of things to think about...I have lists of lists.  I love to make lists.  LOL.  But I keep thinking of my porch swing in the early mornings and evenings.  The sound of birds singing, the slow breeze in the trees while the leaves move making the soft sound.  The clouds that look like cotton candy and fire flies.  See, this is why I long for spring.

 

I'm going to redo the garden down stairs, and try and fit as many cutting flowers as possible in the small area.  I've decided I still want my tomatoes but I'm going to try one of those hanging tomato plants.  They're upside down.  My Mom loves them.  So, I'm going to get a couple and see how them work. 

I took this picture last June I think.  The lily is from my front yard.  I love the pink tiger lilies and I love the contrast of the orange and black butterfly on the pink.    Another thing that's making me think spring is I keep seeing flocks of Robins.  They usually go south for the winter.  Well, their still around and I'm thinking...winter must be ending early this year.  I know, wishful thinking I'm sure.  Oh well, a girl can always wish and dream.

Found this on another blog and cracked up!!  It's so fun and true.

1. When you are sad--I will help you get drunk and plot revenge against the sorry bastard who made you sad
2. When you are blue--I will try to dislodge whatever is choking you,
3. When you smile--I will know you are plotting something that I must be involved in.
4. When you are scared--I will rag on you about it every chance I get.
5. When you are worried--I will tell you horrible stories about how much worse it could be, until you quit whining.
6. When you are confused-- I will use little words.
7. When you are sick-- I WILL tell you to stay the hell away from me unitl you are well again. I don't want whatever you have. No cooties puh-leez!!
8. When you fall-- I will point and laugh at your clumsy ass.

Friendship is like peeing your pants, Everyone can see it, but only you can feel the true warmth.

Hope you have a great day!

Rain and I scrapped

Yesterday was sunny and nice.  Not warm, but not freezing either.  It was nice enough to get out and walk the dogs for awhile.  Today, I woke to rain and frozen sidewalks and roads.  Not such a great thing to walk dogs on.  A little slippery.  The good news, it's not snowing!  lol.  I'm so ready for spring, yet I know it's only January.  Trying to keep myself busy with planning the garden, thinking about what I want to do this summer, working on the other blog, and the normal things like cleaning, and work.  I really need to start getting up earlier, because I go to work at 1 in the afternoon, I sometimes sleep until 8.  I need to start setting my alarm for 7 and getting up!  Another thing, I need to stop playing on the computer so much.  I spend WAY to much time on this thing. 

Anyway, I finally scrapped a page on Sunday. 

Little Makenzie Mae.  I actually think this is prunes or something like that.  But I thought it looked like chocolate at first.  OH well.  It's still cute.  Enjoy your day!

A little of this and a little of that.

Well, I finally did it.  I broke down and bought a small digi camera to carry around with me.  I LOVE my Canon Digital Rebel, but for just having with me all the time, it's way to big.  So, I got the Photosmart Mz67.  Got a great deal on it.

• Snap photos at 8 MP for beautiful prints.
• Get closer using the HP Precision lens with 6x optical, 8x
  digital zoom for stunning long-distance shots.
• Easily see your photos-indoors or outside-on a bright
  2.5-inch display.
• Get the photo you intended to take, using
  industry-leading in-camera red-eye removal.
• Prevent blur-get crisp, detailed photos at the touch of a
  button with HP steady photo anti-shake mode.

It was $139.00 at Staples.  I can't complain about that price and it's for those times when I don't have my rebel.  So I'm pretty happy with it.  I'll have to share a photo when I get one.

MMMMMMMM Yummy!

Don't these look good?  I love red velvet cake.  Got the recipe from the food network.  I hope mine look this good when I'm done making them.  YUMMY!

Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

For the cupcakes:
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda                            
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cocoa powder
1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
1 cup buttermilk, room temperature
2 large eggs, room temperature
2 tablespoons red food coloring
1 teaspoon white distilled vinegar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Cream Cheese Frosting:
1 pound cream cheese, softened
2 sticks butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 cups sifted confectioners' sugar
Chopped pecans and fresh raspberries or strawberries, for garnish

For the cupcakes:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 (12-cup) muffin pans with cupcake papers.

In a medium mixing bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, and cocoa powder. In a large bowl gently beat together the oil, buttermilk, eggs, food coloring, vinegar, and vanilla with a handheld electric mixer. Add the sifted dry ingredients to the wet and mix until smooth and thoroughly combined.

Divide the batter evenly among the cupcake tins about 2/3 filled. Bake in oven for about 20 to 22 minutes, turning the pans once, half way through. Test the cupcakes with a toothpick for doneness. Remove from oven and cool completely before frosting.

For the Cream Cheese Frosting:
In a large mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese, butter and vanilla together until smooth. Add the sugar and on low speed, beat until incorporated. Increase the speed to high and mix until very light and fluffy.

Garnish with chopped pecans and a fresh raspberry or strawberry.

Cook's Note: Frost the cupcakes with a butter knife or pipe it on with a big star tip.

Discombobulated

Do you ever feel discombobulated?  Is that even a word?  That's how I'm feeling.  Can't seem to get my feet underneath myself.  Like I'm wondering in all these directions and going no where FAST!  Man...why does it seem that I can NEVER get my "stuff" all in one place?  I feel lost on how to gather it all together.  I'm feeling lazy and don't want to do anything.  I think maybe it's that time of the year.  Holidays are over, and the only think to look forward to is the rest of winter.  (however, it was almost 70 degrees here today, some winter weather, and of course, I had a MILLION things to do and couldn't enjoy it)

I was able to recover most of my pictures on my computer, except all the scans I did of the old family pictures.  Those of course were the ones I really didn't want to lose.  Thank goodness, I still have the albums, but still, it took me MONTHS to scan all those pictures.  I really don't look forward to doing it all over again.  Oh well, at least I still have them.