My Latest Creation: Fried Pies

Make a Smilebox recipe

this is my first time to try Smilebox, just hit play and the recipe will appear. Kind of cool. Enjoy.

Favorites: Troop Support Group Event..

This is one of My Summer Favorite Photos...

As some of you know I belong to a Troop Support Group..
"My Heart Supports The Troops" (http://www.mhstt.com/) Our group mails Theme packages to our deployed Soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan about every 2 weeks for the length of their deployment.

The photo above was taken at one of the many events we are invited to each year. We set up the trailer at various events in the area. We have information about the group available, letters from the Troops, photos they have sent us, along with some cool stuff that is available for a donation.. The donations are used to pay our shipping costs.

I love attending the events. I love meeting people, especially our Troops and their families. At many of the events we bring stuff and let anyone who wants, pack a box complete with a note from that person. It's interesting to watch the people who will pack a box. They are hesitant at first, then once they start they really get into it.

I've been part of the group since May of 2003. (they started in March of 2003) I love it. It is one of the most fulfilling things I've ever done. The group members can adopt a name off the list. That means that they will pack that box, write letters, and add an extra little treat or two occasionally. I've met some of the most delightful young men and women during the last few years. I still hear from a few of them even though they have returned home. I have made some great new friends too.

I hope that if you get the opportunity, that you support our Troops in a similar way. Letters from home are so important. We just had two of our Troops visit our last meeting. They both repeated what we have heard from every person on our list. " The boxes are great".. "It's so great to know we have so much support from home" etc. the list could go on and on.
take time today to thank a member of our Military. Let them know you support them.

Sunny Day Sweeping The Clouds Away...

This tune just popped into my head.. "Sunny Days, sweeping the clouds away, Friendly neighbors there that's where we'll meet.. can you tell me how to get, how to get to Sesame Street"... How do I get to Sesame Street?? I want to go.. Today. I want and Need some sunny days.

Just for fun this morning I clicked on the "next blog" tab at the top of this blogger page.. Just something to do. My truck was not running right, and so fear got me to turn around and skip church. anyway, when I got home I thought I would get on the net and see what was happening with my friends. No new additions. I was bored so I clicked on the "next blog" tab. Wow, are there lots of different blogs out there. I wonder how many.. I bet on this site alone there are hundreds if not thousands.

While I was glancing through the different Blogs I noticed one central theme in almost every one of them. The winter blues, blahs, or ho-hums. Amazing !! I had no idea that the winter months effect folks like this.. I thought it was a "cold weather" state thing, or maybe even just a "me and my friends" thing, but almost every blog I read mentioned "being bored" or "trying to get motivated", or feeling "blue".

I myself am a lover of spring. I know things have a time. Winter has to come. The earth has to renew itself. It has to rest and rejuvenate. I know that spring won't come if winter doesn't happen first.. It is so hard to wait. I'm impatient. I detest waiting for anything. I want it now. I want spring now. It has been dead and dreary enough. I'm ready for sun, and warmth, and color.

I'm ready for a Sunny day that sweeps the clouds away. I'm ready for Spring.

I'm Trying To Put On My Smiley Face...

Hi, I'm trying to put on my smiley face today.. I think I'll have to do like my friend above and Fake It...

The day didn't start out badly.. hey wait, maybe it did.. The Cardiologist's office called to schedule my stress test.. A test I do not think I need.. I hadn't heard from them (it's been a week since my Dr.'s visit) so I figured they forgot it.. They didn't... so it's scheduled.. As I sit here I'm thinking seriously about cancelling it.. I'm not having any trouble.. I think I will call the ins. We have new Ins. now.. and see what we will have to pay.. I may yet cancel it..

Well and then there was the delightful discussion with my dear precious husband about the credit cards, and how we have to pay them off.. and Why does our Mail order pharmacy not take checks.. Why can't we call and demand they take a check instead of billing the credit card.. blah blah blah...

We have classes at Church.. I popped into the "budget and your credit score" class this week.. I was late and hadn't practiced my Spanish (taking basic Spanish) at all, so I snuck into the budget class.. We discussed how I really needed to get a personal loan to pay my credit cards off.. better interest rate; or I need to consolidate and pay on one.. The loan thing is a no go.. personal preference.. So we move on to the idea of consolidating onto one card.. and only one.. No Matter What Earth Shattering Event Happens..

So after my delightful conversation with hubby... I decided to call one of our CC Co's and see what I could do as far as transferring a balance from another card.. I got my interest rate amount.. and was in the process of figuring out if there would be a transfer fee when I was informed that my 4.95 % rate would be increasing to 15.9 % next month.. I kindly asked the woman if she could check on that because I have never paid that kind of rate with this co. I've been with them for years.. By this time my Blood pressure is rising to epic numbers.. she returns to the phone after 3 minutes to tell me the computers are down and I'll have to call back in 24 hrs.. OK, I will.. But I better hear some better numbers or I'm done..

BTW, I thought that, I didn't say it.. yelling at the people who answer the phone and don't make the polices is silly and rude.. I worked at an ins. co. I know..

So I'm using my fake smile for a bit.. My real one will return.. soon I hope.. It was a rotten day anyway.. Our best friends here in the frozen north are defecting to Florida in a few days.. I'll be without a lunch buddy, or a shopping friend.. yukkk.. I'm thrilled they are getting to head out for some sun, and fun.. but I always miss her tons..

So my day is yukky.. I'm suffering from a severe case of separation anxiety.. and I'm really ticked at the credit card co.. and I gained 3 pounds.. LOL As I'm reading this I have to laugh.. My real smile has returned as has my sense of humor.. thank you God.. I'm chuckling to myself.. Things aren't really so bad.. that dog and those teeth are really funny..

So I'm off to call the ins. co. and see if they will pay for the stress test.. then I'll put calling the CC co. on my list for Monday.. I'll pray that God has them find me a favorable interest rate... He is really good at that..

I hope your day is great.. if not.. look at that dog.. how can you not laugh.. now put on your own smiley face.. it's not so bad..

Time To Start Thinking About The Garden

The first of the garden magazines came in the mail last week. I'm excited... Husband had me get on-line and order about 10 more seed catalogs. I ordered a few extra.. LOL So we have a wide variety to peruse through..

This is a little early for us to start dreaming about the garden. I think it's because we've had a warm up for the past few days. Some of the snow has started to melt, and thinking about being warmer means garden planning..

I have planned some gardens ! I mean, I have P L A N N E D some gardens now.. I have planned rock gardens, herb gardens, rose gardens, flower gardens, butterfly gardens, hummingbird gardens, and vegetable gardens.. I have planned huge gardens, small gardens, window box gardens, and Truck farms.. (giggle) I have planned many an orchard and nut tree farm.. I can PLAN a garden.. It's the getting it all together, working up the ground, planting, weeding, fertilizing, picking, and canning that I'm not in to so much.. I guess I should take back the word canning.. and planting.. I love to can and I love to plant.. I love to watch it all grow.. I do NOT like weeding or picking..

Dear husband has always had a garden. He worked with his mama in their garden every summer as soon as he was old enough to walk. He worked with his brothers in their gardens. (he was the baby in the family) When he had his own home, he immediately fixed a garden spot.. planted fruit trees and grapes. He put a garden in for the neighbor lady. She owns the field behind our house. He put in a garden for her and She let him put in 2 acres of garden for himself as his pay for planting and caring for hers.

Our garden is much smaller now. Just a section of the back yard. Our rototiller needs work, and husbands back won't take much in the way of hoeing, planting, or picking. We have a nephew who came and worked up the garden for us a couple of summers ago. We were so thankful.. It just wasn't a good year. So we didn't get much out of it. Last summer another nephew offered to give us his garden excess (as have other family members) But last year was a really bad year. Cold and wet for most of the summer. We didn't even buy much from the roadside markets.

I'm not sure we will be able to have a garden this year. Husband has mentioned just working up a small area and sticking out a few tomato plants. His back just won't take running the tiller anymore.. He wants those garden catalogs so he can order some plants. He was really excited to see that he could get plants..

I don't know if we'll have a garden this year. I hope we do. Maybe our nephew can come over and work up a little space in the garden for us. Maybe I'll talk our friend into coming over and looking at the tiller. I'll bet between husband (whose eyes are bad) and him, they could get it running again.. For now I'm going to say YES, WE WILL HAVE A GARDEN.. It will take me a little longer to weed it, and I may have to water it. I may even have to pick most of it.. But man will it be great to watch it grow, taste it's goodness.. and share it with friends and family.

Yep, it's time to start thinking about the garden. Time for me to PLAN...

Today I Had To Say Goodbye...

I love this picture. So peaceful, so quiet, so tranquil. So unlike my thoughts and emotions.. Today I had to say goodbye. One of the members of our Troops Support group passed away in the night on wed. Today I took the long quiet drive to the funeral home. To pay my respects, to hug the grieving wife and children. To recall a joke that Jack and I had between us. To remember..

I haven't known Jack and Shelly for long, but they have touched my heart. Jack especially. He is a Vietnam Vet. I don't mind telling you that Veterans hold a special place in my heart. I think Vietnam vets touch my heart in a special way because dear husband is a Vietnam vet.. I know from his stories and those of other Vets of that time, that theirs was not a pleasant or joyful homecoming.. I try to make sure I always thank them for their service and if they don't mind, I want to hug 'em.. I am a huggy person and I'd love to hug everyone I see. I have come to realize some people do not want strangers coming at them, let alone hugging or touching them.. so I ask.. I asked Jack.. just to make sure it was ok with him.. and with his wife Shelly.. Jack laughed.. and he gave me a big ole bear hug.. That was our greeting always.. a smile and a quick hug..

Our Support group packed boxes on wed. night. (We send the boxes to deployed troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.) Jack packed a box. He usually helps tape them up, but wed. night he packed a box.. Jack felt good wed. night.. He even remarked to a few of the guys how great he felt.. I noticed that he like several others were touched by an especially sweet letter that was sent to the group from one of our Troops.. The letter mentioned how special the group was and how they would never forget all the love and smiles that were packed in each box from our group. That was the last time I saw that smile.. and my heart is grieved.

I don't know Jack's personal beliefs. I do know he loved his wife, his family, and his country.. I know that an American Hero left us. I know that I will always remember the smile that filled up that face.. and I'll remember that big Ole bear hug.. Today I had to say goodbye.. and my heart is grieved...

Another Year, Another Diet aka: Healthier Way of Living..

Another Year, another Diet... Holy Moly, I'm attempting it again.. I do so well for the first 15 or 20 minutes.. then it's a struggle. A stronghold... A battle of epic proportions..

Diets, I have tried them all, well most of them. I have never been big on just eating one food, or gross out diets that have you eating some weird thing, or "cleansing your innards", and I have never gotten acupuncture, or been hypnotised. I just resolve every year to make healthier choices and to do some kind of exercise..

Some of those healthier choices include getting off the diet pop.. I did it with great gusto last year. and did really well until the fall when I kept finding great pop sales.. you just can not miss a good sale.. so it's some weird brand and it's a weird flavor.. hey, it's on sale, buy it.. LOL but I digress.. or should I say I'm off chasing a rabbit.. Yes, last year I replaced pop with good old water. I am trying it again this year. I really like those little packets of sugar free drink mix, so when I want to change it up I add one..

I still have a house full of Christmas Groceries.. the stuff I never got around to making. Cookies, peanut brittle, cheese balls, etc. I plan to use them, just sparingly, and when I do make something I plan to have someone here to send it home with.

I went to the grocery store and started stocking up on low-calorie soup, low fat dairy, low calorie bread, along with fresh veggies, salad stuff, fresh fruit, etc. I like it all, it's just so dag um expensive. I'm not surprised that we are a nation of obese people. healthy food is expensive, and if you have a family to feed you skimp where you can.

I have a little group of friends on fb that have joined me in this years endeavor. They are fun and supportive. Something I need. It's always good to know we don't battle things alone.

I haven't started exercising yet. I have done some weird thing to my knee. I had surgery on it in '91. I finally decided that it's gotten bad enough to warrant a visit to the Knee dude.. I have my appt. for the end of the month. I'm hoping some meds and maybe some therapy will get it back in shape.

I'm glad I started this again. I need it. I need to stop looking at it as another diet, and keep thinking about it as a lifestyle change. I need to remember I want to live a long time, and I want to be healthy.. So I'll begin again.. I'll watch my portions, I'll eat when I'm actually hungry (not mad, or sad, or stressed, or moody, or happy), I'll make healthy yummy choices, and I'll pray about it. "I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.."