3 Sides of Crazy

I BET THE TREES USED TO BE SHORTER

2012-01-30T12:27:00.004-05:00

WEEKLY MENUS

2012-01-29T18:00:00.000-05:00

Menu Plan Monday hosted by Laura at I'm an Organizing Junkie

	DATE	BREAKFAST	LUNCH	DINNER
Monday	1/30	CEREAL	SANDWICHES	RECIPE EXPERIMENT NIGHT
Tuesday	1/31	TOAST	LEFTOVERS	ITALIAN CHICKEN, RICE and CANDIED CARROTS
Wednesday	2/1	YOGURT	OUT	Carnitas ~ Traditional Style
Thursday	2/2	FRUIT	CHEESE & FRUIT	Enchiladas Rancheras Casserole
Friday	2/3	OATMEAL	C.O.R.N.	Refried Beans
Saturday	2/4	OMELETTES	CHEESE & FRUIT	Chicken and Rice Casserole
Sunday	2/5	PANCAKES	C.O.R.N.	Chicken Alfredo Rice Casserole

ROCHESTER COVERED BRIDGE GOES TO OAKLAND

2012-01-29T12:16:00.003-05:00

SANDY CREEK BRIDGE - 1921

2012-01-28T23:55:00.000-05:00

WAITING FOR ROADKILL

2012-01-28T00:00:00.004-05:00

Please visit other Camera Critters!

1 LONG, COLD, ICY TRIP - STORM OF THE CENTURY INDEED

2012-01-24T12:15:00.001-05:00

SO PRETTY!!!! & SOOOOO COLD!!!!!!

2012-01-23T12:12:00.000-05:00

TOO COLD FOR ME! TO BE OUT ON THE WATER

2012-01-23T00:09:00.001-05:00

TREETOPS

2012-01-21T15:38:00.001-05:00

TAILGATING TIME - THE PLAYOFFS

2012-01-21T12:02:00.002-05:00

IT'S OFFICIAL - THE PLAYOFFS ARE HERE!

We can't wait to see what you will bring to the party. Let the games begin. Whoo-hoo!

YOU CAN SEE ME? UH-OH!

2012-01-21T00:00:00.005-05:00

Please visit other Camera Critters!

DOWNHILL RIVER RUNS DEEP

2012-01-20T15:35:00.001-05:00

BIG JOHN!

2012-01-20T01:30:00.000-05:00

YAY Mountain tops again...

2012-01-19T15:33:00.004-05:00

I LOVE BARNS

2012-01-19T07:38:00.000-05:00

JUST AHEAD OF THE STORM... BARELY THROUGH LOOKOUT PASS

2012-01-18T18:32:00.000-05:00

GOBBLE GOBBLE

2012-01-18T08:23:00.000-05:00

PRETTY BOYS

2012-01-17T11:45:00.002-05:00

MISS PIGGY EAT YOUR HEART OUT!

2012-01-16T11:43:00.001-05:00

AREN'T I ADORABLE?

2012-01-15T11:40:00.004-05:00

WEEKLY MENU

2012-01-15T00:43:00.003-05:00

Menu Plan Monday hosted by Laura at I'm an Organizing Junkie

	DATE	BREAKFAST	LUNCH	DINNER
Monday	1/16	CEREAL	SANDWICHES	TEX MEX MEATBALL SOUP
Tuesday	1/17	TOAST	LEFTOVERS	SWEET CORN SOUP
Wednesday	1/18	YOGURT	SOUP	TUNA MELTS & TOMATO BISQUE
Thursday	1/19	FRUIT	CHEESE & FRUIT	FRIED EGG SANDWICHES
Friday	1/20	OATMEAL	SANDWICHES	TUNA CAKES with FRENCH REMOULADE SAUCE
Saturday	1/21	BACON & EGGS	LEFTOVERS	CHILI & CORNBREAD
Sunday	1/22	PANCAKES & BACON	C.OR.N.	CRAB CAKES with FRENCH REMOULADE SAUCE

ANYONE FOR SOME WILD TURKEY?

2012-01-15T00:29:00.000-05:00

FERMENTING APPLES

2012-01-14T14:42:00.001-05:00

THIS IS WHEN THE APPLES ARE BEST, FERMENTED & CHILLED!

DRUNKS LEAVING THE APPLE BAR - WHICH WAY TO GO?

WE'LL GROW ANYWHERE WE WAN'T TO!

2012-01-14T13:16:00.000-05:00

TAILGATING TIME - THE PLAYOFFS

2012-01-14T12:01:00.000-05:00

IT'S OFFICIAL - THE PLAYOFFS ARE HERE!

We can't wait to see what you will bring to the party. Let the games begin. Whoo-hoo!

BLUFF WATER FALL

2012-01-14T11:17:00.004-05:00

AMBER & HER 1ST BIG BOY

2012-01-14T01:20:00.000-05:00

EAGLE'S FLIGHT

2012-01-14T00:55:00.004-05:00

Please visit other Camera Critters!

CHOW TIME OR NOT

2012-01-13T14:36:00.000-05:00


SORRY, MY MOUTH IS FULL.

WHAT? I'M JUST NOT HUNGRY!

WHAT'S THE RUSH?

2012-01-13T13:03:00.002-05:00

EARLY SNOW MELT

2012-01-13T12:26:00.000-05:00

FRIDAY FILL-INS

2012-01-13T01:23:00.000-05:00

1. When I looked out the window this morning I cringed at the bowing snow and high winds.
2. Why nothing ever gets done about bad politicians doesn't make sense to me.
3. Remind me to vote twice in November.
4. Quilting on a snowy day is something I love to do!
5. TP is absolutely necessary!!.
6. I cleaned the refrigerator recently and I found homemade cranberry sauce.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to warming up from working in the 10 degree snow all day, tomorrow my plans include lunch with old friends and dinner with hubby's 82nd airborne association and Sunday, we will begin our new adventure!

FORECLOSURE

2012-01-12T16:42:00.000-05:00

AVAILABLE CHEAP!

NATURAL ZEN

2012-01-12T16:00:00.005-05:00

BIRD CONDOS

2012-01-12T11:53:00.000-05:00

SMALL STRETCH OF BEACH

2012-01-12T10:51:00.001-05:00

BLUFF FACE

2012-01-11T16:40:00.000-05:00

SUCH A DEAL

2012-01-11T16:00:00.002-05:00

A WALK IN THE WOODS

2012-01-11T12:17:00.004-05:00

Aw mom, do we really have to go back?

CHISELD BY TIME AND WATER

2012-01-11T10:47:00.006-05:00

FALLING ROCK AHEAD

2012-01-10T15:36:00.000-05:00

BARN ROW

2012-01-10T14:14:00.001-05:00

A ROOM WITH A VIEW

2012-01-10T13:03:00.000-05:00

WATER, TIME AND WEATHER ARE A WONDROUS THING

2012-01-10T10:31:00.010-05:00

LONELY TREE

2012-01-09T17:46:00.000-05:00

WHICH TOY TO PLAY WITH?

2012-01-09T15:58:00.000-05:00

GORGEOUS STRIATIONS!

2012-01-09T10:25:00.002-05:00

WEEKLY MENU

2012-01-09T00:35:00.001-05:00

Menu Plan Monday hosted by Laura at I'm an Organizing Junkie

	DATE	BREAKFAST	LUNCH	DINNER
Monday	1/9	CEREAL	SANDWICHES	Heather's GREEN & WHITE CHILI
Tuesday	1/10	TOAST	LEFTOVERS	SPLIT PEA SOUP using last week's ham bone
Wednesday	1/11	YOGURT	SOUP	Ree's CHICKEN with TOMATOES & GARLIC
Thursday	1/12	FRUIT	CHEESE & FRUIT	Chris' TURKEY HOT BROWN CROSTINIS
Friday	1/13	OATMEAL	C.O.R.N.	Michelle's FRENCH COUNTRY CASSOULET
Saturday	1/14	OUT	leftovers	Chris' GARLIC POTATO SOUP
Sunday	1/15	SCRAMBLED EGGS & BACON	TAILGATING FOOD	Ree's FAVORITE MEATLOAF

BARN HOUSE IN THE WOODS AS THE SNOW BEGINS

2012-01-08T12:23:00.001-05:00

A LIGHTHOUSE THAT WOULD REALLY MAKE A NEAT HOUSE

2012-01-08T10:23:00.009-05:00

ONE OF MY FAVORITE PHOTOS EVER

2012-01-08T01:37:00.000-05:00

BUCKET LIST ~PLANS FOR THIS WEEK... BUCKET LIST

2012-01-07T22:10:00.000-05:00

PLANS FOR THIS WEEK... NOT MANY!
YOU SEE,

TODAY I AM CELEBRATING LIFE.

1 year ago today, 12-29-10, my life changed forever with a cancer diagnosis. What I am doing this week is making a BUCKET LIST. No, not because I'm dying, but because I'm living. I'm doing well and recovering. Miracles DO happen.

There are so many things I want to do before I do die, but there never seems to be enough time, money or energy so I'm making a list as I go and changing that. I'm fortunate that I have already done so many things, but there are so many more yet to do! I no longer stress out over the small things and they were right, they are all small things!

# 1 - ~~eat a hangover burger~~ - 12-28-11
# 2 - go to a PRO football game
# 3 - go to a PRO hockey game
# 4 - finish my novels
# 5 - finish my cookbooks
# 6 - get published
# 7 - Go to Vermont/New England and see the changing colors in the fall
# 8 - Go to Disneyworld/Epcot Center
# 9 - Go to an Olympics
#10 - Get a postcard series of pictures published
#11 - Go white water rafting
#12 - Go Deep Sea Fishing (if only for the pictures)
#13 - Design and publish a quilt pattern
#14 - Travel 1st Class
#15 -

Every time I update this list I will change to the current date to show my progress.

SNOW DAY!! - weather.com says 32 and PARTLY CLOUDY, SOME FLURRIES but NO SIGNIFICANT ACCUMULATION - yeah right!! It's been snowing for the last 12 hours.

2012-01-07T15:04:00.002-05:00

CROQUE PASTRAMI

2012-01-07T14:35:00.000-05:00

In my opinion the key to a good sandwich is all in the layering. Make sure that your layers are complimentary to each other. I put the cheese on the bottom so it melts better.

I've made my version of Croque Madames before, but today with it snowing like a banshee I am making a new version with what I have on hand and calling it :

CROQUE PASTRAMI
per person
2 slices bread
2 large slices pastrami
1 slice Havarti
2 thin slices red onion
1 1/2 tablespoons of French Island
1 fried egg, basted

Make a basted egg.
Saute the onions until slightly caramelized.
Layer a slice of cheese followed by pastrami pieces to fit the size of the cheese on the first slice of bread.
Spread the French Island evenly on top.
Layer onions in the dressing and top with the fried egg.
Gently break the yolk.
Top with remaining piece of bread and grill until toasted.

**1/2 1000 Island 1/2 French Remoulade

ALL SMILES

2012-01-07T14:17:00.000-05:00

TAILGATING TIME 2.0

2012-01-07T12:00:00.001-05:00

IT'S OFFICIAL - THE PLAYOFFS ARE HERE!

We can't wait to see what you will bring to the party. Let the games begin. Whoo-hoo!

THINKING SEAL

2012-01-07T11:55:00.001-05:00

Please visit other Camera Critters!

ALFRED HITCHCOCK WOULD LOVE THIS PLACE!

2012-01-07T10:14:00.000-05:00

BELLY FLOP

2012-01-06T11:20:00.000-05:00

READY TO CRUISE

2012-01-06T10:21:00.000-05:00

BELLS OF MISSION SAN ANTONIO

2012-01-06T01:05:00.006-05:00

Aloha Friday

2012-01-06T00:05:00.000-05:00

In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day they take it easy and look forward to the weekend. So I thought that on Fridays I would participate and take it easy on posting, too. Therefore, I’ll ask a simple question for you to answer. Nothing that requires a lengthy response.

If you’d like to participate, just post your own question on your blog and leave your link at An Island Life. Don’t forget to visit the other participants! It’s a great way to make new bloggy friends!

Today’s question is:
What is your favorite recent movie?

♥

FRIDAY FILL-INS

2012-01-05T23:20:00.022-05:00

And...here we go!

1. Discussions help for a general understanding.
2. I try to never ever say goodbye.
3. I think it's time to get a fresh start.
4. Pictures of cute baby animals puts a smile on my face.
5. Maybe sometime we'll meet IRL (in real life).
6. GOD gives me strength.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to movies with hubby, tomorrow my plans include football playoffs and Sunday, I want to watch more football!

THURSDAY THIS OR THAT

2012-01-05T20:08:00.001-05:00

Here are this week's choices. Just pick your fave. You can explain why you made your choice but it's not required. :)

New Year's Resolutions: Yay or Nay?

ABSOLUTELY Nay - Resolutions are not only hard to keep and are usually empty threats to yourself. I like to set smaller, more obtainable goals throughout the year.

Snail mail or E-mail?
While I like Email for some things, I just love getting a snail mail letter!

Rootbeer or Cream soda?
Rootbeer - Cream soda is kinda nasty in my opinion too.

American Idol Winners: Kelly Clarkson or Carrie Underwood?
Like them both - depends on my mood.

Chicken Marsala or Vegetable Lasagna?
Chicken Marsala ALWAYS!

SWEDISH MEATBALLS ~ OLDIE BUT GOODIE

2012-01-05T19:36:00.000-05:00

Traditionally this recipe is served with lingonberries - YUMMMMMMY!!
MEATBALLS*
1 Jumbo egg
1/4 cup heavy cream
1 large slice white bread, crusts removed, and bread torn into 1-inch pieces
8 ounces ground pork, double ground
8 ounces ground beef, double ground
1 medium onion, grated or minced
1/8 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon ground allspice
1/8 teaspoon white pepper
1 teaspoon brown sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons table salt
Olive Oil, heavy coat

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Whisk egg and cream together in small bowl. Stir in bread and set aside to soak.
Blend hamburger & pork, onion, nutmeg, allspice, pepper, brown sugar, and salt smooth and uniform.
Using fork, mash bread mixture until no large dry bread chunks remain.
Add mixture to beef mixture and blend until well mixed.
Form 1-inch round meatballs. You'll have about 25-30.
Bake 20-25 minutes until cooked through.
At this point you can either complete the recipe or freeze the meatballs for a later weeknight.

SAUCE
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups chicken broth
1 tablespoon packed brown sugar
1/2 cup heavy cream
2 teaspoons juice from 1 lemon
Table salt and freshly ground black pepper

Melt butter over medium high heat.
Once melted, add flour and cook, stirring constantly with whisk, until flour is light brown.
Slowly whisk in broth.
Add brown sugar and bring to simmer.
Reduce heat to medium and cook until sauce is reduced to about 1 cup, about 5 minutes.
Stir in cream and return to simmer.
Add meatballs back to sauce and simmer, turning occasionally, until heated through, about 5 minutes. If making the meatloaf, at this point pour sauce over the meatloaf and bake for 45 minutes at 350 degrees.
Stir in lemon juice; season with salt and pepper to taste and serve over noodles.

MAIL CALL

2012-01-05T17:03:00.000-05:00

JUNKYARD

2012-01-05T15:59:00.000-05:00

MY DADDY - YOU CAN'T HAVE HIM

2012-01-05T12:19:00.003-05:00

NAP TIME

2012-01-05T11:15:00.000-05:00

FOR SALE

2012-01-05T09:57:00.000-05:00

SUMMARY OF LIFE another email worth sharing

2012-01-04T16:19:00.002-05:00

GREAT TRUTHS THAT LITTLE CHILDREN HAVE LEARNED:
1) No matter how hard you try, you can't baptize cats..
2) When your Mom is mad at your Dad, don't let her brush your hair.
3) If your sister hits you, don't hit her back. They always catch the second person.
4) Never ask your 3-year old brother to hold a tomato.
5) You can't trust dogs to watch your food..
6) Don't sneeze when someone is cutting your hair..
7) Never hold a Dust-Buster and a cat at the same time.
8) You can't hide a piece of broccoli in a glass of milk.
9) Don't wear polka-dot underwear under white shorts.
10) The best place to be when you're sad is Grandma's lap.

GREAT TRUTHS THAT ADULTS HAVE LEARNED:
1) Raising teenagers is like nailing jello to a tree.
2) Wrinkles don't hurt.
3) Families are like fudge...mostly sweet, with a few nuts
4) Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground...
5) Laughing is good exercise. It's like jogging on the inside.
6) Middle age is when you choose your cereal for the fiber, not the toy..

GREAT TRUTHS ABOUT GROWING OLD:
1) Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional...
2) Forget the health food. I need all the preservatives I can get.
3) When you fall down, you wonder what else you can do while you're down there.
4) You're getting old when you get the same sensation from a rocking chair that you once got from a roller coaster.
5) It's frustrating when you know all the answers but nobody bothers to ask you the questions...
6) Time may be a great healer, but it's a lousy beautician
7) Wisdom comes with age, but sometimes age comes alone.

Always remember to forget the troubles that pass your way;
BUT NEVER forget the blessings that come each day.
Have a wonderful day with many *smiles*

READY FOR MY CLOSE UP MR. DEMILLE

2012-01-04T11:11:00.003-05:00

DOES THAT BLACK THING HAVE TO BE HERE TOO?

2012-01-04T09:55:00.004-05:00

ROLL UP THE SIDEWALKS AND CALL IT A DAY?

2012-01-04T09:12:00.003-05:00

TODAY IN MY LIFE...

If your lawyer asked you if you wanted to champion a cause to expose the bungling incompetents in a corrupt town full of bigoted, self-serving personnel, what would you do?

By the way, there are no guarantees of winning because the local justice system is biased against "outsiders" (those with no family in the local area who were looking for small town America) and rumor has it that they can be bought also.

Oh and by the way, the town has lost multiple businesses (some quite large) in the past couple years and several more in just the past few weeks with more to come at the end of the year and is home to multiple sexual predators including the former chief of police and a current "person of interest" for an international child sex abuse pornography ring. And the next town over has removed a stop light and reverted to a 2-way stop sign system.

Remember also that this is the same town that would "not get involved" when you were swindled to begin with when you bought a home full of black mold that was not disclosed, despite the agents and owners as well as the previous owners knowledge of it. Every lawyer you called cited "conflict of interest" because of their involvement with either the previous owners or the real estate company and your were forced to seek out lawyers two towns away. Remember too that of the lawyers that would even talk to you the advice was to spend the money it would take to fight fixing the problem instead of on the layers it would take to get out of the deal.

Remember that now 5 years later you once again spent days finding a lawyer that would even talk to you because your town/country are "goofy" and "do things weird" so they don't really want to take your case.

And don't forget you will be footing the bill for ALL the fees until you win, IF you win.

I just wanted to give you enough background to make an informed decision.

BUSINESSES GONE IN THE PAST 2 YEARS WHILE YOU WERE AWAY CARING FOR FAMILY AND DEALING WITH CANCER:

BAKERY
CHURCH
2 MOTELS
GIFT SHOP
PIZZA PLACE
RACE TRACK
COPY CENTER
LUMBER YARD
HARDWARE STORE
SANDWICH BISTRO
ANTIQUE/GUN SHOP
CHILD CARE CENTER
AUTO PARTS STORE (ONLY ONE IN TOWN)
ATV/SNOWMOBILE DEALER (ONLY ONE IN TOWN)

1/2 OF SCHOOL SHUT DOWN AND CLOSED UP, BUT NO LAYOFFS

SO RATIO IS NOW 1 TEACHER TO 10 STUDENTS

BUSINESSES GONE IN THE PAST FEW WEEKS:

RESTAURANT
BAR & TAVERN

BUSINESSES RUMORED TO GO IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS:

RESORT
CHILD CARE CENTER
FURNITURE STORE (ONLY ONE IN TOWN)

BUSINESSES RUMORED TO GO OUT TO ATTRITION (RETIREMENT) THIS YEAR:

BARBER SHOP (ONLYONE IN TOWN)
SHOE REPAIR/RED WING DEALER (ONLY ONE IN TOWN)

BUSINESSES STILL THERE (TECHNICALLY), BUT NEVER OPEN:

THEATRE
ANTIQUE MALL
BOWLING ALLEY

THIS MILL HAS SEEN BETTER DAYS

2012-01-04T01:00:00.004-05:00

MEMORIAL CHURCH

2012-01-03T16:09:00.003-05:00

OFF FOR A LONG WALK BEFORE THE BIG SNOW & CABIN FEVER SETS IN

2012-01-03T12:22:00.001-05:00

WHAT'S FOR LUNCH?

2012-01-03T11:07:00.000-05:00

MONTEREY FISHING BOAT

2012-01-03T11:01:00.000-05:00

MISSION SAN ANTONIO PRIMITIVE AQUEDUCT

2012-01-03T00:56:00.001-05:00

ROLLIN', ROLLIN' ROLLIN', 2011 JUST KEEP ON ROLLIN' - YAY 2012 IS HERE.

2012-01-02T15:27:00.004-05:00

Is everybody as happy to see 2011 go as I am? I have high hopes and super positive attitudes towards what 2012 has in store for each of us.

I'm not a resolutions girls, but I am a list girl. So I'm making my lists of all the good things I want to come my way and then I'm going to see what I can do to make each of those things come true. These days it's so easy to just say wait and see, but my goal this year is to proactively set my life in motion! And I'm ridding myself of all the baggage that makes indecision so easy to live with.

Over at THE Motivation Station, Martha has challenged us to:

For the month of January - The 100 things challenge!

"Unlike the original 100 Things Challenge to get rid of everything we own other than 100 things we will start much smaller - how about a challenge to get rid of 100 things in the month of January?

It doesn't matter if you donate, sell, giveaway, throw in the garbage, or recycling - the goal is just to get 100 things out of your home no matter how big or small."

Martha has started another blog also, Minimalist in the Making and would love to have you join her in the endeavor. She's looking for some guest posters too so go check it out.

She and I have agreed that minimalism can be defined as the least number of things to make your life livable. You don't have to go crazy to accomplish this.

So far for her challenge that began today to get rid of 100 things (which sounds like a lot) I've gotten rid of 37 easily. Sitting here right now today in the donate to St. Vinnys pile is a plug in ice chest (that we hate), a DVD player, and 2 sweat shirts. There are 6 magazines and 22 books I'm taking to the VA on Wednesday and 5 DVDs. So 37 down, 63 to go.

ABANDONED FARM EQUIPMENT - looks like it belongs on the Ponderosa set for Bonanza

2012-01-02T09:52:00.002-05:00

ANOTHER EMAIL STORY WORTH SHARING

2012-01-02T08:26:00.003-05:00

Destiny is no matter of chance. It is a matter of choice. It is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved.

~ William Jennings Bryan

One day a teacher asked her students to list the names of the other students in the room on two sheets of paper, leaving a space between each name.

Then she told them to think of the nicest thing they could say about each of their classmates and write it down.

It took the remainder of the class period to finish their assignment, and as the students left the room, each one handed in the papers.

That Saturday, the teacher wrote down the name of each student on a separate sheet of paper, and listed what everyone else had said about that individual.

On Monday she gave each student his or her list. Before long, the entire class was smiling. 'Really?' she heard whispered. 'I never knew that I meant anything to anyone!' and, 'I didn't know others liked me so much,' were most of the comments.

No one ever mentioned those papers in class again. She never knew if they discussed them after class or with their parents, but it didn't matter. The exercise had accomplished its purpose. The students were happy with themselves and one another. That group of students moved on.

Several years later, one of the students was killed in VietNam and his teacher attended the funeral of that special student. She had never seen a serviceman in a military coffin before.. He looked so handsome, so mature.

The church was packed with his friends. One by one those who loved him took a last walk by the coffin. The teacher was the last one to bless the coffin.

As she stood there, one of the soldiers who acted as pallbearer came up to her. 'Were you Mark's math teacher?' he asked. She nodded: 'yes.' Then he said: 'Mark talked about you a lot.'

After the funeral, most of Mark's former classmates went together to a luncheon. Mark! 's mother and father were there, obviously waiting to speak with his teacher.

'We want to show you something,' his father said, taking a wallet out of his pocket 'They found this on Mark when he was killed. We thought you might recognize it.'

Opening the billfold, he carefully removed two worn pieces of notebook paper that had obviously been taped, folded and refolded many times. The teacher knew without looking that the papers were the ones on which she had listed all the good things each of Mark's classmates had said about him.

'Thank you so much for doing that,' Mark's mother said. 'As you can see, Mark treasured it.'

All of Mark's former classmates started to gather around. Charlie smiled rather sheepishly and said, 'I still have my list. It's in the top drawer of my desk at home..'

Chuck's wife said, 'Chuck asked me to put his in our wedding album!

'I have mine too,' Marilyn said. 'It's in my diary'

Then Vicki, another classmate, reached into her pocketbook, took out her wallet and showed her worn and frazzled list to the group. 'I carry this with me at all times,' Vicki said and without batting an eyelash, she continued: 'I think we all saved our lists'

That's when the teacher finally sat down and cried. She cried for Mark and for all his friends who would never see him again.

The density of people in society is so thick that we forget that life will end one day. And we don't know when that one day will be. So please, tell the people you love and care for, that they are special and important. Tell them, before it is too late.

♥♥ ♥♥

THE WHEELS ARE STILL GOOD

2012-01-02T00:48:00.006-05:00

COLD WEATHER FOOD

2012-01-01T23:07:00.001-05:00

Menu Plan Monday hosted by Laura at I'm an Organizing Junkie

	DATE	BREAKFAST	LUNCH	DINNER
Monday	1/2	CEREAL	SANDWICHES	TEX MEX MEATBALL SOUP
Tuesday	1/3	TOAST	LEFTOVERS	SWEET CORN SOUP
Wednesday	1/4	YOGURT	SOUP	TUNA MELTS & TOMATO BISQUE
Thursday	1/5	FRUIT	CHEESE & FRUIT	FRIED EGG SANDWICHES
Friday	1/6	OATMEAL	SANDWICHES	TUNA CAKES with FRENCH REMOULADE SAUCE
Saturday	1/7	BACON & EGGS	LEFTOVERS	CHILI & CORNBREAD
Sunday	1/8	PANCAKES & BACON	C.OR.N.	CRAB CAKES with FRENCH REMOULADE SAUCE

LONG TIME ABANDONED

2012-01-01T15:06:00.000-05:00

TAILGATING TIME 2.0

2012-01-01T12:06:00.000-05:00

IT'S OFFICIAL - FOOTBALL SEASON IS HERE!

We have decided to make a change this year in the way Tailgating Time will work. Instead of a new linky for each week we will be using the same linky to keep all the great recipes in one place. This will provide easy access to the recipes and create one big awesome recipe index collection. There is no limit to how many you add - of course we hope you will add a new recipe each and every week! Tailgating Time will generally be posted each week on Sundays at noon.

It doesn't matter if you are a football fan or not, great party food is always a good thing. Bring over your grilled goods, chips and dips, appetizers, chili and chowders, cocktails, or any recipes that would be great for the football party buffet!

If any of you would like to host along with us you can click --> get the InLinkz code to add the linky to your blog too. You can post it once in awhile or every week during football season, that's up to you. The only thing we ask is that you leave a comment here to let us know you are co-hosting, and that you visit and comment on as many of the participants as you can.

We can't wait to see what you will bring to the party. Let the games begin. Whoo-hoo!

LOOKING AHEAD TO THE NEW YEAR...

2012-01-01T12:03:00.001-05:00

LOOKING AHEAD TO THE NEW YEAR...
I see good things looking ahead, but based on the year I've had, there is no other choice, but to think positive!
I see happier times.
I see more family times.
I see more productive times.
I see more volunteer times.
I see more creative times.
I see more down time.
I see more day to day, less hectic times...

10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 ~ HAPPY NEW YEAR

2012-01-01T00:00:00.001-05:00

CRAZY BOY'S STILL AT IT

2011-12-31T22:04:00.000-05:00

AND WEARING THIS SEASON'S NEWEST TYE DYE DESIGNS IS

2011-12-31T17:49:00.000-05:00

EPIPHANIES CAN LEAD TO RESOLUTIONS

2011-12-31T15:36:00.001-05:00

I too like the idea of having even one epiphany, especially as the New Year begins. Epiphanies can lead to resolutions and one of my resolutions is the follow through it takes to bring those Epiphanies to life. While I don't make a specific resolution list as I believe that can be a key to failure, I do make lists of the things I need to accomplish as a whole!

Here's an very incomplete, but great beginning to the list of resolutions/epiphanies/ultimate goals I want to address in 2012:

Make most, if not all of next year's Christmas gifts by hand and tailored to each person's likes/dislikes

Get my kitchen in order ~ I used to (before the nightmare of the house came to life) make my menus a month in advance. This was really helpful to our budget also. If a recipe called for half of an onion on Monday, I'd make sure to follow it with a recipe on Tuesday that called for the other half. During that time we tried at least 1 new recipe per week so I could try to empty the shoebox (my husband just reminded me that there 3, not "1" of these) FULL of recipes that I'd cut out from newspapers, magazines and such. That never worked because I always filled it right back up, but now it's overflowing and desperately needs thinning out!!!!!!

Limit my craft & fabric purchases to ONLY the items I need to make things using mostly materials that I already own and finish ALL the quilts that are already started.

Take a walk daily (weather permitting or not) OR AT LEAST use the treadmill, it's already here after all!

Force myself to eat breakfast ~ today was a bowl 1/2 Cheerios & 1/2 Special K with bananas.

Continue my volunteering efforts, even if it's just a home project for something I already support.

Write some freelance newspaper/magazine articles

(Here's the big scary one I've avoided for more years than I care to admit) I will write the novels that have been swirling in my head and doodled on paper for years. I have the plots, characters, synopsis and the settings. I've conversed with the characters like they are old friends and family, I've developed the towns, supporting characters and walked through the houses and buildings like I built them myself. I know everyone's likes, dislikes, personality traits and idiosyncrasies. I know all the dogs in town and who rides their bike to work or walks. I know how deep and blue the lakes are and how clear the night sky is so much so that all the stars sparkle bright and appear as if you can reach up and pull them down. All I need to do now is capture it all on the blank pages between the colorfully bound covers that I can see so vividly

Try to sell my screenplay (inquiry letters are written and the 1st couple dozen rejection letters are making for a great book).

Find a publisher for the cookbooks I've written.

Try a New Recipe each and every day.

So... I scared myself a little (okay ~ a lot) with this list. But remember, the age-old question truly is:

"How do you eat an elephant?" And the answer will always be ~ "One bite at a time!" Some bites will be smaller than others, but that's okay too!

Happy New Year, one and all, and may you too see the light to your epiphany!

SUN SHADOWS

2011-12-31T12:49:00.000-05:00

RISING SUN

2011-12-31T07:59:00.001-05:00

COMING IN FOR A LANDING

2011-12-30T23:11:00.001-05:00

Please visit other Camera Critters!

FRIDAY FILL INS ~ I'M BACK

2011-12-30T21:41:00.002-05:00

Happy New Year to all of you!!! And...here we go!

1. Wait, wait I'm a day behind. LOL I thought today was Thursday - I am SO off this week!!.
2. This year's holiday season is a little different.
3. In addition, I'm making another major move soon.
4. BACKWARDS is the way we do it here!
5. At the end of the year, I like to clean out my closet and drawers so I have a fresh start to the new year..
6. A FRESH START is one of the things I'm looking forward to in 2012.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to movies with hubby, tomorrow my plans include celebrating with friends and Sunday, I want to get that fresh start on the new year!

THIS BIRD HAS LOST HIS WAY!!

2011-12-30T18:05:00.000-05:00

I'M READY FOR MY BATH MOM

2011-12-30T16:06:00.000-05:00

CRAZY BOY ~THE RIVER HASN'T EVEN FINISHED FREEZING!

2011-12-30T08:14:00.000-05:00

NEW CARL'S JR. MOTTO & THE CHICKEN SANDWICHES WERE GOOD TOO

2011-12-30T01:06:00.000-05:00