Sunday, a Week Ago...

Our youngest son never comes to visit, so when he called last Sunday afternoon and ask if we would be home I thought hmmmmm... What does this mean? He lives in Louisiana and it is just a short trip home. He wants to bring his girlfriend home to meet us. They have not been dating that long. OK...

Sissy and I were at the grocery store and I said give me about three hours. He was pressed for time and I said I will do my best to be home earlier. He does not realize how long it takes to drive to another town to buy groceries, and get gas for the truck. Anyway, we go about our shopping and go home.

Youngest son is in training at the Fire Academy so he never can make plans on the weekend because he might get called out to a fire. I usually expect that call telling me he can't come home because he was called out. I ask Hubs if he called him. Yes he did call. He should be here any moment if he is coming. My house was a wreck, my hair was a wreck and I didn't feel good. We barely get the groceries put up when I hear the dogs barking. They are here!

In comes this beautiful blond haired, blue eyed young woman. She is really tall, but then I am really short. Instantly, she is talking and makes herself at home. Hubs, Sissy and I all agree that she is wonderful. She is not timid or scared and has so much confidence. She has a big personality and she is a good match for our son. She is so nice and has the biggest smile and a great laugh. Now this is really good.

It is about supper time and she offers to cook supper for us. My jaw hit the floor. She is too good to be true and she cooks? I turn the offer down at first, but she wants to cook, she loves to cook and I felt bad so I said "Yes, I would be happy for you to cook". She makes Chili con Carney with rice and Mexican corn bread. It was delicious. She is not scared of us. Lord she is brave. She even cleans up the dishes. Where has she been all of son's life?

We laugh and tell her little things about our son and she tells us about her. We had such a delightful evening with them. I forgot my messy house, I forgot my pain. They are a perfect match. She even makes Hubs smile. This girl graduated two years ago with a degree in agriculture business and is the manager for a restaurant in addition she does the catering too. She lives on her own, pays her own way and is independent.

We try not to get too excited, but I pray that she is the one for our son. He has met some real losers in the past. She passes with flying colors. She takes care of him and even ask me for my recipes that are his favorites. I hope this last. Our son invited her to Thanksgiving. If it is meant to be it will happen. She feels like family already. I love seeing our son so happy.

Shelling Peas

There is nothing I like more than shelling peas. These Lady Cream Peas are from Hubs' garden. He is the one with the green thumb. He is the one that nurtures and waters the garden everyday. He is the one that weeds the garden and fertilizes the garden. My only job is to shell the peas and then cook these tender little morsels of goodness.

While I was shelling the peas, I noticed this very tiny little pea and upon further inspection I noticed it was in the shape of a heart. Out of all the peas I have shelled I must tell you this was a first for me. It just reminds me of all the TLC that Hubs puts into his garden.

For me the memory of shelling peas on my grandmother's glider takes me to another wonderful memory, so I thank my darling Hubs for being such a good gardener. So far we have had yellow crook neck and summer white scalloped squash, tomatoes, new potatoes, onions, green beans, bell pepper, jalapenos, corn on the cob, okra and lots of these yummy cream peas. I wish you could taste how good it is, but for now the pictures will have to do.

I hope you have a great weekend. I finally got through this bout of arthritis and today I was able to finish up some major projects. I am feeling very satisfied with the results. I stared last week, but got side lined. I cleaned out two closets, organized my photos for scrap booking, moved some furniture with the help of my sister, cleaned off my table and vacuumed. I even did a little exercise on my elliptical. I am so very thankful for this burst of energy.

I am trying to get things organized because my oldest son, wife and kids are coming down briefly to get the travel trailer. My sister had moved into the travel cottage last year while she was down. She moved the last of her things out of it today and then left to go home to Louisiana to see her grand kids. She will be back when my son is here.

Take care and have a good weekend. I hope I can even get out of bed tomorrow.

Welcome to The Queen's Meme #42 ~ The Beach Meme

The Queen's Meme #42 ~ The Beach Meme
Welcome to The Queen's Meme #42 ~ We're going to the beach!

I apologize for the lateness of this meme posting. I was shopping for a bathing suit. I kid you not. More on that later. Right now....let's hit the beach.
#42 The Beach Meme


1. When is the last time you saw the ocean?
A very long time ago.

2. Where is your favorite stretch of beach shoreline?
Gulf Shores

3. Are you planning a beach vacation this year?
We don't vacation very much anymore. We are home bodies. Besides we have no one to take care of the back 40 and the animals when we are gone.

4. Bikinis or one-piece?
Now a one-piece

5. Do you sunbathe or sit under an umbrella?
I do not sunbathe it is bad for you. Don't forget your sunscreen.

6. Have you ever been to a nude beach?
Yes, in Italy everyone is nude. hahahaha except moi.

7. Favorite activity at the beach while on vacation?
Building sand castles and and shell hunting.

8. Condo, hotel or cottage rental?
What about camping?

9. What beach in the whole wide world would you like to visit for the first time?
I hate to tell you this, but I am not that into beaches. I really prefer mountains.

10. Did you ever have a special romantic time at the beach?
Not a single "From Here To Eternity" moments. LOL!

11. Tell us about a favorite beach memory.
When I was in high school,my best friend's dad worked for the trains. Judy and I would go via train to New Orleans and along the gulf route to Destin,Fla. We stayed with her brother every year. He was a bachelor and and officer in the Air Force. He had a GTO convertable and we thought this was so cool. This was when Destin was still quaint and charming. For two young girls, it was exciting and so much fun.

I am empty

In my therapy I am working on blame versus responsibility. This has been my home work assignment for this week. When I blame someone usually my Hubs, I give up my control and it makes him angry. Just as I expected the answer to be. When he blames me it has the same affect on me. I see just how childish laying blame to someone can be. In fact it is totally unproductive. Usually, I blame myself for everything. I know...I am working on it.

I am an empty vessel. I used to be full of life and I don't know what has happened to my zest for living. During therapy sessions I am finding out a lot of things about myself that I do not like. Maybe I am the one to blame for my emptiness. I have been so fully vested in my family's life that some how I forgot to invest in myself. This is frightening to me to realize that I have nothing in my vessel called life. I feel empty. Empty in a way that I have never felt empty. This is totally new to me. I am not sure what I should do about it. I feel alone. I am lonely. I am empty.

Responsibility on the other hand is sorta the same thing as blame but the outcome is different. I think responsibility one actually owns or accepts his knowledge of his part. You can grow with responsibility. It is good for you to be responsible. Take charge of you own stuff and quit blaming anyone for any other stuff. Pretty simple I would say.

I think when I remove the blame and the anger my vessel will fill up again. This is my prayer. This was an AHA moment for me. It got me down thinking that I was empty, alone and unhappy about my life. I am an empty vessel. Oh, I don't like the sound of that. I have always had my identity as a wife, mother, sister, daughter, aunt and grandmother. Take those away and I am nothing. Labels that identify myself. I prefer to be kind, loving, loyal, gentle, spirit filled, funny, compassionate in addition to my labels.

The Queen's Meme #41 ~ The Nosy News Meme

Monday, June 14, 2010
The Queen's Meme #41 ~ The Nosy News Meme



The Nosy News Meme



Welcome to The Queen's Meme #41

So much crazy news out there lately -from sunbursts to outbursts to implants to supplements. Here are a few topics spinning off the newswire.. Sound off and tell us how you really feel about it. Your opinion counts.

1. What would you do about the BP oil spill? Give us your suggestions.
There is no punishment great enough for the CEO of BP and BP and Haliburton. This has done horrible damage to the coast line, marshes and the estuaries of Louisiana and will destroy the delicate Ecosystem for years. Pelicans were once on the endangered list and after this catastrophe I imagine they will be as well as turtles and other animals. It makes me mad. I want someone to pay for all of this and clean this stuff up. I heard today that the well was damaged from the get go because of short cuts made in cementing. Just to save a few bucks. BP does not understand what they have done in my opinion. I hope they have to pay out the waazooo!
Being from north Louisiana, I love the beauty of the Gulf and all that it offers including the incredible seafood and the love of life and the way of their world in the southern part. The charm of southern Louisiana is like no other place in the world. I hate what this will do to the fishermen and shrimpers and their livelihood. I have kept quite as long as I could.

2. Tipper and Al Gore are calling it quits.
If forty years of Al was not enough for Tipper, then I don't know what else it could be. I guess the just grew apart...

3. It’s hot! The heat index topped 104 degrees today in some parts of the United States. How is the weather in your part of the world?
I live in east Texas and it is so hot right now with about 90% humidity. I was not made for this type of heat. There is nothing to compare to Texas Heat. Even when plants are grown for full sun exposure, they do not know about Texas Heat. It has to be the hottest place in the world.
This heat could kill person if you stayed out too long. Now if you are acclimated to this horrid heat like my Hubs, then just drink lots of beer and water. If your like me, then you go out early or late at night and run from one place to the other. Jeez...it is so hot!

4. Do you think smoking should be banned in public places?
Sorry to all you smokers, but I used to smoke and I did not smoke in public places. It is just so gross to smell smoke while trying to enjoy an evening out. I feel sorry for the wait staff. That was the dumbest thing I ever did. If you smoke please try to quit. Please? My mother died of Lung cancer and she smoked for 44 years. It is so painful to see someone you love die that way. OK..I am off my soapbox.

5. Unemployment from the top down: Do you think President Obama has a good chance or no chance of being re-elected in the next US election?
I did not vote for him and I don't think he has a chance of being re-elected. He has even called himself a one term President. There are no qualified candidates.

6. What??! Actor Gary Coleman’s wife reportedly sold private pictures of the deceased actor on his deathbed.
I can't go there because she is sorta creepy and scares me.

7. Texting while driving. Do you? Don't you? Will you? Won't you?
Have you seen how bad I drive? I do not text and drive. Never will. I can't even talk on my steering wheel thingy. I am going back to pulling off the side of the road to talk or make a call. I scare myself.
8. Lindsay Lohan. Has she been treated fairly or unfairly by the legal system?
DENIAL...totally in denial and I am so over her and her addictions.

9. The Sarah Palin rumor mill caught wind of her recent decision to have breast implants….so said the reporters-who-need-to-get-a-job-and-stop-making-up-news. She has denied the earthshaking allegations. Was this really news?
Well she said today that those are real. I would rather see her get a better hair do and some new glasses so she doesn't look so stupid. Really folks? Who cares?

10. An asteroid is supposed to hit earth this Friday. Are you prepared? I must have missed this on Entertainment Tonight. How would you prepare for an asteroid? I think I will go out of town. LOL! Besides this Texas heat will do me in before the asteroid.
Next question please?

Let Your Light Shine

Our Deepest Fear
By Marianne Williamson

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness
That most frightens us.

We ask ourselves
Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.

Your playing small
Does not serve the world.
There's nothing enlightened about shrinking
So that other people won't feel insecure around you.

We are all meant to shine,
As children do.
We were born to make manifest
The glory of God that is within us.

It's not just in some of us;
It's in everyone.

And as we let our own light shine,
We unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we're liberated from our own fear,
Our presence automatically liberates others.

Somewhere In TIme

Some where between sleep and slumber in the dawn of the early morning I feel no pain. Surely this must be what heaven is like. My life is perfect at this one moment in time. I am thankful for the peace and sense of well being I feel. I will add this to my memories of my happy places to recall.

My happy place is where I go to when the pain is so intense that I can't stand it anymore. It is a visual cue for me. More often than not it works for me. I can recall the sweet smell of my grandmother's roses and daffodils even after all these years. Her yard reminded me of the poppy fields in the Wizard of Oz. I could lay down between the daffodils and become intoxicated from the smell. A wondrous state of being that I cherish to this day.

Sometimes, it is a chord of music that transports me to another memory. Have you ever had this happen to you? How do you cope with chronic pain?

The Queen's Meme #40 ~ The Weekend Meme

Sunday, June 6, 2010
The Queen's Meme #40 ~ The Weekend Meme

Welcome to The Queen's Meme #40

Sometimes silly.
Sometimes serious.
Always fun!
Step out of the box.
Be creative.
Use your imagination.
No one's answers are quite like yours


Ogden Nash and Bill Watterson both had interesting things to say about the weekend. "Weekends don't count unless you spend them doing something completely pointless." (Bill) and "Your hair may be brushed, but your mind's untidy. You've had about seven hours of sleep since Friday. No wonder you feel that lost sensation. You're sunk from a riot of relaxation." (Ogden)

I totally agree!
Weekends can’t come soon enough for me. While I try to live my life appreciating each and every day, there's nothing like the sound of the 5:00 buzzer on Friday afternoons. I throw away the alarm clock for 48 hours and the enjoy the spontaneity ahead. What do YOU do?


#40 The Weekend Meme

1. What is your typical weekend like?
Our week end is pretty much the same all the time. Hubs works in the back 40, burns, mows, waters the garden and flowerbeds,uses the brush hog. cuts trees down. As for me if it is too hot, I chill inside trying to always finish up my house work. Since we live so far out in the country, it is a thrill to go shopping.



2. Are you a party animal or a couch potato on the weekends?
I am not really either. I just do what I feel like doing. On a good week end I get a lot done, but if I am hurting then I usually rest and watch old movies. This weekend we had my sister's son and his family. We all cooked together and later that night, the girls scrap booked.



3. It wasn’t until 1940 that the two-day weekend became nationwide. I say it’s time for three-day weekend across the whole world! . Wouldn't you love to work 4 days and off 3 all the time? Do you think this is a good idea?

It would be a great idea if I got payed the same. Of course I have now retired.

4. Do you consider Sunday as a traditional day of rest?


I like to honor Sunday as a special day, but sometimes you have to do things you don't want to do.

5. What are your around-the-house weekend chores?
Cook, wash dishes, sweep,mop, wash clothes, fold clothes,grocery shop. It never ends and that drives me crazy.



6. If you have a significant other in your life or are dating, what is your favorite indoor and outdoor activity?
My favorite indoor activity would be doing something nice for one another, and my favorite outside activity is riding in the Rhino and looking at our land and taking photos.



7. Where would go for a romantic weekend getaway?
Everything we need for a romantic weekend is right here.



8. Do you have any special weekend traditions, quirks or rituals?


I like to cook breakfast late after sleeping in late.

9. What is your weekend blogging routine?
Depends on how busy I am, but I try to read some blogs.


10. Tell us about your favorite weekend memories as a child?

Summer time and being outside. We went to the lake and had picnics.