Has your child ever said they were bored? Mine has, many of times. I always tell them that if they're bored I can surely find something for them to do.  All of sudden they don't seem so bored anymore, or at least they don't mention it anymore.  LOL

   As an adult and a parent, I love bored. Bored means all is well, nothing bad is going on, there is no drama.  My best friend "D" has a life that I in no way, shape or form would want. I love her to death but her life is full of mishaps, drama, tears, and breakdowns. I have known her for over 20 years and I don't think there was one month that went by that she didn't have something going on in her life. Don't get me wrong I don't have this perfect drama-less life, but nothing compared to her's. She is always in my prayers. Just recenly her 5 year old grand daughter spilt hot coffee on her leg and had to spend the night in the burn unit with 2nd degree burns. But I will say this, that no matter what is thrown her way, her faith never weakens. She is a rock.

    Today my day will be filled with rounding up dust bunnies, cooking, mopping, making beds, teaching my son school and possible working in the yard. Boring? YEP! But I thank God everyday for my boring life. I wouldn't want it any other way.  

  I am curious. I was just going over my checkbook and while adding the most recent reciept from Walmart was looking over some of the prices of the items that I purchased and was wondering if prices are this high all over. So here is a list of a few of the things that I picked up this morning with their prices.

One gallon of 1% milk ---$4.62

A carton of soy milk (for me)----$2.73

5 lbs. of white potatoes --$3.47

5 lb. bag of white sugar, (walmart brand) ---$3.18

A loaf of bread---$2.98

1 lb. of deli ham, the cheapest, ---$5.68

4 green bell peppers @.99 each ----$3.92

1lb of chicken strips ---$4.42

All together I purchased 34 items for a total of $66.99.  Is it just me or are these prices high? I never thought that I'd see milk at almost $5 per gallon or  a loaf of bread for over $2.  And don't even get me started on fruits and veggies. To eat healthy you have to give up your limbs, an arm and a leg, LOL.  Like I said, Im just kinda curious, are these items that high in your area?

On a good note, I did come across some Paula Dean candles on the clearance shelf for $1 each. LOL

POWER OUTAGE

At my recent assault trial, I offered a plea of "Guilty with an
Explanation." The judge asked me what my explanation was,
So I told my story.

"Your Honor," I said, "I had a mammogram appointment, which I actually
Kept. I was met with: 'Hi! I'm Belinda!' This perky clipboard carrier
Smiled from ear to ear, tilted her head to one side and crooned, 'All I
Need you to do is step into this room right here, strip to the waist, then
Slip on this gown. Everything clear?' I'm thinking, 'Belinda, try decaf.
This ain't rocket science.' Belinda skipped away to prepare the chamber of Horrors.

With the right side finished, Belinda flipped me (literally) to the
Left and said, 'Hmmmm. Can you stand on your tippy toes and lean in a
Tad so we can get everything?' 'Fine', I answered. I was freezing, bruised, and out of air, so why not use the remaining circulation in my legs and neck and finish me off? My body was in a holding pattern that defied gravity (with my other breast wedged between those two 4 inch pieces of square glass) when we heard, then felt a zap!

Complete darkness and the power went off! 'Oh, maintenance is working. Bet they hit a snag.' Belinda said, and headed for the door. 'Excuse me!
You're not leaving me in this vise alone are you?' I shouted. Belinda kept going and said, 'Oh, you fussy puppy...the door's wide open so you'll have the emergency hall lights. I'll be right back.'

Before I could shout 'NOOOO!' she disappeared. And that's exactly how Bubba and Earl, maintenance men extraordinaire, found me ... Half-naked with part of me dangling from the Jaws of Life, and the other part smashed between glass! After exchanging a polite 'Hi, how's it going' type greeting, Bubba (or possibly Earl) asked, to my utter disbelief, if I knew the power was off. Trying to disguise my hysteria, I replied with as much calmness as possible 'Uh, yes, yes I did thanks.' 'You bet, take care' Bubba replied and waved good-bye as though I'd been standing in the line at the Grocery store.

Two hours later, Belinda breezes in wearing a sheepish grin. Making no
Attempt to suppress her amusement, she said, 'Oh I am sooo sorry!' The Power came back on and I totally forgot about you! And silly me, I went to Lunch. Are we upset?'

And that, Your Honor, is exactly how her head ended up between the
Clamps...."

The judge could hardly contain her laughter as she said
'Case Dismissed!!'..

 As the title says I spent the morning catching up on stuff that I've been putting off. Cleaning out an aquarium that I got at a garage sale for my eldest son and dying my hair along with two batches of laundry. Then came the cleaning of bedrooms starting with the smallest and easiest and ending  with the messiest, my teenage boy's room. I wonder what goes through their heads to think it's OK to have a room that could be condemed by the board of health. I was lucky enough to have my own room growing up, because i was the only girl, and my room never ever looked like that. It must be a "boy" thing, cuz my daughter wasn't that messy either lol.  Anyway, it took me nearly three hours to sort through and clean the one room. And for the record I had better not hear him say he needs clothes. Not happening! LOL

  Then I made the mistake of asking the same teenager if he wanted to come to the grocery store with me. I went with a short list and came home having spent $72. I hate hate hate going to the stores these days. I didn't have that much to show for it either. I do know what put me over tho. I told Zach he could get a plate lunch from  the deli in the store. BIG mistake! There is a large sign that reads $5.49 per pound over the fix-it-yourself lunch counter which apparently he didn't see. For starters I think $5.49 per lb for a lunch is rediculous, but again, my mistake in letting him do it himself. He fixed himself a lunch of red beans and rice, one large piece of fried chicken and a scoop of mac and cheese for the grand total of $14.11. YIKES! I was in shock at the cash register, even the cashier past a remark that that was way too high. I didn't say anything for fear of embarrasing both him and I, but I'm pretty sure the look I gave him left a mark. 

   Once we get  home it's starts to rain while we are unloading the groceries where I preceded to drop a gallon of milk at the front door on the porch and yes, it busted. Milk pouring  everywhere. The door, my shoes, my pants, the groceries, the rug, the porch, the steps........get the picture? A mess!   I was actually able to save a little of it and took it inside and poured it into a container. It was that or go back and I wasn't in the mood to do that. Then on top of everything, we sit down to eat our lunch and he informs that the very large piece of chicken that has just cost me an arm and half a leg is raw in the middle. UUGGGG I should have carried it right back, but like I said I wasn't in the mood.

  OK I need a time out lol. Hopefully my afternoon is a little better. Hope your having a good day anyway, lol. Thanks for visiting.

“We do not know how to pray as we should. But the Spirit himself speaks to God for us.” Romans 8:26

You know, we really don’t know what to pray for, do we? What if God had answered every prayer that you ever prayed? Just think who you’d be married to. Just think where you’d be living. Just think what you’d be doing.

God loves us so much that sometimes he gives us what we need and not what we ask for.

This was one of my devotional emails this morning and it really made me stop and think. The things that I wanted back then is not how my life is now. Thank you God for knowing me better than I know myself.

The weather here in south Louisiana is bea-u-ti-ful. I have all the windows and doors opened  with a nice breeze blowing through airing out the house. FABULOUS!!!!  The weather has been terrific for a few days now. Over the weekend we were able to get in the yard and do some major clean up jobs. The biggest being taking down a 75 year old shed that was beginning to become a hazzard. Each time a hurricane passed through we had pieces of tin and wood every where. So I  got together a few strong guys and ripped it down. I was really hoping to find some vintage treasures under the old girl, but alas just a few old bricks, beer cans, and some fish bones that the cats drug under there. I was able to save a few wonderfully preserved cypress planks. My daughter just recently bought an antique cypress fireplace mantel and surround that this would go wonderfully with if she'd like a wider top to it.

   That took us about 5 hours to get it down. We stacked up the tin and that was taken  to the recyclers and the wood was burned. And let me tell you it went up like a match. It was scary to see just how flamable that old wood was. Now there is so much more room in the back yard. But it's not without it's downfalls. According to my 17 year old son, that's just more grass for him to cut. LOL  Im wishing for an extension on my back patio. Wishing being the word.

   I also got some wonderful news just a few hours ago. My eldest son Eric  who was laid off on January 18th was called back to work last Thursday. He took his welding test Friday and his physical this morning and past both. Thank you God above.  There is nothing more sad than a 26 year old with major bills to pay and no money to pay them. He is still too young to have the type of faith that we "older" folks have to know that it all works out if left in God's hands. I kept telling him not to worry. I guess, no I know, I was that way at his age. We all learn from experience. He will too I pray.

  I am cooking some pot fried chicken with peas and rice so I'd better head back into the kitchen to check on it. Maybe a fruit salad for dessert.Take care and thanks for visiting.

    Today was really nice. It started out kinda early, 4 AM early. I planed a nice lunch for the family which included a roasted turkey, green beans with new potatoes, rice dressing and a red velvet cake. (The recipe which I posted a few days ago).  Remembering that for Thanksgiving my turkey was put in the oven at 7 am and for some reason was not cooked by 12 which made lunch run a little late. So this morning I set my alarm for 4 am to make sure the turkey was put in the oven in plenty enough time to be done for an early lunch. It's Mardi Gras here in Louisiana and we had all planned on going to town for a parade that started around noon. To get a nice place you have to get there a little early. So lunch was going to be served at around 11 ish.

   So in the oven Mr. Tom went at approx 4:30. Im thinking he'll be ready around 9, I can let him sit for a spell and get juicy, then I would carve and serve him promptly for 11. Well he was done at 6:30. LOL Took a little less than two hours for the timer to pop out of his chest. So needless to say my  lunch was not only on time but very early.  And I missed out on a couple of hours of sleep too. Oh well.

   After lunch  we all headed to the parades and had a wonderful time.Met an elderly couple who needed places to sit, so we shared our chairs with them. They were too cute.

     My 17 year old seems to be coming down with  a sinus infection and a cough, so to the doctors office I will be going with him in the morning. He's also be complaining of a back ache in the middle of his back for a couple of weeks now. I thought it was just a pulled muscle, but now Im not sure.

  My husband gave me some beautiful pink roses for Valentines Day this morning. And I got a couple of cards from the kiddos. The weather was even fantastic today. So all and all, it was a wonderful day. I do hope your days were as good.

PS the red velvet cake came out wonderfully. It was sooo good. I shared it with some relatives who raved over it.

                          Favorite things......

Jelly Beans

Babies

God

Dry humor

Multicolored skirts

Ugg boots

Tie dyed shirts

My daughter

Gone With The Wind

The 70's

Making people laugh

Yellow

Freshly cut grass

My husband

Staying home

Blueberry goat cheese

Thrift stores

My sons

Old people

Driving Miss Daisy

Blogging

Doughnuts

The Waltons

Puppies

Kittens

The Andy Griffith Show

Garage sales

Fried green tomatoes

My brothers

Diet Pepsi

Spinach pizza

McDonalds frys

Lip gloss

White shoes

Flannel pjs

Bird feeders

The beach

Pecan pie

Sandra Bullock movies

Sewing

Cooking

Blackberry dumplings

Puffs tissues with Aloe

Crossword puzzles

Majong

Fireplaces

Vintage cars

Horses

My Ped Egg

80's music

My mom

Chinese food

Fridays

Japanese Cherry Blossom lotion

Boxers

Flowers

Just to name a few..............What do you love?

Ingredients

Cake:

• 2 cups sugar
• 1/2 pound (2 sticks) butter, at room temperature
• 2 eggs
• 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
• 2 ounces red food coloring
• 2 1/2 cups cake flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 tablespoon vinegar

Icing:

• 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese
• 1 stick butter, softened
• 1 cup melted marshmallows (optional) 
• 1 (1-pound) box confectioners' sugar
• 1 cup shredded coconut (optional) 
• 1 cup chopped pecans

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

In a mixing bowl, cream the sugar and butter, beat until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time and mix well after each addition. Mix cocoa and food coloring together and then add to sugar mixture; mix well. Sift together flour and salt. Add flour mixture to the creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk. Blend in vanilla. In a small bowl, combine baking soda and vinegar and add to mixture. Pour batter into 3 (8-inch) round greased and floured pans. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Remove from heat and cool completely before frosting.

Icing:

Blend cream cheese and butter together in a mixing bowl. Add marshmallows and sugar and blend. Fold in coconut and nuts. Spread between layers and on top and sides of cooled cake.

                     SPRING TIME, THATS WHAT!