10/3/14 - Plethora

I don't know about y'all but I've been busy.  I've been tending a sweet boy twice a week (my pleasure, trust me), I've been tending Mom at least twice a week (most times my pleasure lol) and have been doing as much reading as possible.

I love this weather.  Crisp mornings, warm daytime weather and cool nights.  I love that the electric bill isn't as high.  It's a good time to bake and cook dinner for my hubs.  David is driving a school bus, bless his heart. We hope to have a getaway next month for a long weekend.  I'm hoping I'll get to see some mountains.

My doctor prescribed a pain patch yesterday.  I slept all night!  It's amazing that I actually have some energy this morning without 3 cups of coffee.  She has been wonderful to me.  She doesn't want me to go back to pain management because I was over drugged.  While I was over drugged I pushed away most of my family and I'm still working to gain their trust and love again.  It was the worse thing I believe that has happened in a very long time.  Thank God my head is clear and my pain is at bay.

Folks, better days are coming...thank God!

9/22/14 - The best boy

I'm on my second week of watching the best boy in the world.

Right now he is sleeping and smiling. Kristin thinks he's dreaming about Mommy but I know he's happy that GiGi is here.

Better days are coming, I watch him again on Friday.

9/11/14 - God in all His glory

The other day I was sitting outside (yes, smoking a cigarette) and I watched a spider take down her web.  I'll refer to the spider as she/her as I don't know what kind of spider nor the sex.  She would go down one of the anchor strings and clip it somehow and climb back up it taking it with her as she went.  She continued this until the web was dismantled.  I tried looking for her but she must have hid from me.  I saw this two days in a row and was fascinated.  I haven't researched it in any way but it got me thinking how awesome God is to make this spider in finite detail to do what she did.  Now I know my girlfriends would say "Ewwwww" about the spider but I'm sure would find it pretty cool.  Now if God loved this critter enough to have it do what it does how much more does He love us?  I find it funny (not ha ha) that there are people that have spent their lives studying things like this and yet still don't realize that there was a Creator.

Ok, I gotta go, I have a ton of reviews to write and I take mother to get her hairs did today.

Better days are coming!

9/1/14 - MS stinks

MS reared it's ugly head yesterday and quite possibly today.  The heat and humidity literally sucked all the energy out of me yesterday.  I could barely put one foot in front of the other.  Every nerve ending was stinging and vibrating.  I hate this crap!  I also think I'm getting a cold or having some allergy thing going on.  I had wanted to go out to Camp last night for the hymn sing but couldn't.  I took some Nyquil last night and my regular night-time meds and slept fairly well until 0530, which is my normal wake up time.  Now this morning, I'm drinking my second cup of coffee and still little to no energy.  I wanted to clean my kitchen today and tomorrow.  Not sure I can start it today.  When I feel like this I think I'm letting others down, especially myself.  I can't be relied on most times.  I push myself to do things that I don't feel like doing.  That pushing hurts me in the future, it wears me out days ahead.  I find out that my pain med is now a controlled substance and even though I have one refill left I have to get a new script.  I doubt that will happen and my GP won't perscribe it so...back to pain management I guess.  That means I'll be out of meds for a while.  I'm blue!

I wish...Better days are coming.

8/29/14 - Got cheese?

I saw this cool vehicle tag the other day, "OMTG".  Oh mighty God.  Loved it! We in Delaware have our thing for vehicle tags.  Of course personal tags are popular everywhere.  We want the lowest digit tags as possible.  I was once offered $2000 for my 5 digit tag...shoulda took it!

On to the whine...

Yesterday, about 10 minutes before we were to leave, Mom calls me and says "I need help".  Thank goodness she called because I was taking a nap.  Anyway, she had gotten a cut key stuck in her ignition.  I don't know why she had a cut key for the car but I had kept her keys as she has a propensity to back it out of the garage, she doesn't have a license.  I don't know what year it started but keys have this chip in them that lets you take them out.  Well this cut key didn't, so...it stayed stuck.  We went to get gas and she stayed in the car while I was at the pump then we went on to get her hair done.  I locked the door with the key still in the ignition.  On the way home we stopped where she gets her car worked on...$800 later she has a new ignition.  In the last couple of weeks she has spent close to $2000 on a 20 year old car.  I call it her "Precious" cause I think she likes it more than she does me.  So with the additional stress and tension that the day had brought me I was hurting bad.  I haven't slept much due to the pain.  The down side of this, I bet at a little after 8am Mom will call me to take her somewhere.  The only time I'm getting my butt off this recliner is to use the restroom.

I've been doing some heavy-duty reading lately; after all I am a "professional reader".   You can see my reviews here.

Well, I have about 20 books to read so I better get at it.  Better days are coming (I hope).

8/19/14 ~ One room done and a pile of books to read

I cleaned my den yesterday and rearranged some furniture.  I've paid for it all night.

I'm not sure what it is about late summer and my stupid, stinking head.  For the past three summers the left side of my head hurts...feels funny...kinda numb...weird to touch and the left side of my face is numb.  I'm guessing the culprit is MS.  I better stop whining because I don't have any cheese to go with it.

I am now listed on The Kindle Book Review as a reviewer.  I've got a pile of books to review, well actually my pile is on my Kindle right now.  I have received a couple print books to review.  I love getting free books to review!!  I've done a few reviews already, you can check it out here.

Minutiae alert!!  I'm taking Mom's car to be serviced today.  It's a gray, cloudy day here in Slower, lower.  A great day for reading!

Better days are coming...be a sheep, not a goat (Matthew 25:32-46)

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8/16/14 - Canning tomatoes day!!

This is it, first time for everything.  I've never canned before but I've watched Mom do it when I was A LOT younger.  Glad I had her experience to watch, some don't.  I'm also glad I watched my Mom cook, if not I don't think I would have done as well as I did.  Since I've ventured out in cooking more than she did I can say that I'm not a better cook, just more diverse.

I'm a little anxious to do this.  I'm going to make sauce out of the tomatoes and then finish them off in a hot water bath for safe measure.  I've got a lot to do before the cooking begins.  I haven't washed my jars yet.

I'll post my results.  I wish I had posted this from my phone so I could use that funny emoji of the scared grin.

Better days are coming...with some fresh tomatoes for winter.

8/14/14 - Why am I up this early?? Caramel Apple Cinnamon Bars by Averie Cooks

I woke up at 0415, what the heck?  I had a busy day yesterday so I thought that I'd sleep better and longer. Nope!  Yesterday I got some grandkids lovin'.  Baby Nash is still so tiny but he's filling out.  He feels like a feather compared to Cali when I was rocking them both.  Cali loves her little brother and I'm sure he'll love her.  She's a great big sister.

I've got another busy day today because I'm taking Mom clothes shopping and then to get her hair done. I'm glad I rested Tuesday.  Do you call this minutiae?  Well I've got a lot of minutiae.

I am a professional reader.  I've been selected to a few sites that offer books for reviews.  I told Mom about my new job and she said "What's it pay?".  I said "Books!!", what better pay is that?  

Anyway...guess what I found?  You don't have to go to the State Fair for these babies.

Averie Sunshine has written two cookbooks that look so yummy you could eat the covers.  She's just a little thing (I don't think she eats what she bakes lol).  I'm wondering how these cooks keep so slim.  Well if you know me you can tell I like to eat and I'd like to eat these bars.  I'm not much of a summer baker so I'm getting excited for fall and winter.  When you see David and I in the spring we'll be waddling.  Give Averie a look and bake up some love.

Hey Averie, if you need a blog review of your next cookbook let me know ;)

Better days are coming...in the fall when I bake some of these.

8/12/14 - Caramel Apple Dump Cake from Cents Less Deals

Carey's Camp is over and hopefully life returns as normal.  I said "hopefully"!!  I'm taking today off, or that is my plan, even though I only got a couple hours sleep last night (this morning).  I'm reading a book for review and have a couple more being shipped.  I told David that was my new job even though it only pays in free books.

My bff's Donna and Debbie and I were talking during Camp about "dump" cakes and how they were so easy to make.  I haven't made one in ages.  I came across this delicious looking one on Cents Less Deals and wanted to share with you all.  JB is a frugal blogger, a Mommy of 4, Christian and funny.  You'll find recipes and helpful hints on her site. Give her a look.

Now look at this beauty.  Four ingredients...I can handle that!

Oh my!!

After you make this let me know...I'll be over.

Better days are coming people, especially after you make this dump cake.
#dumpcake

8/9/14 - Did you think I forgot you?

Well I haven't forgotten, just been busy with Carey's Camp.  Vacation Bible School is over and I got to sleep in this morning.  I haven't slept until 8am in ages.  It felt good.  My usual getting up time is 6am.  I can't just lay there and try and go back to sleep.

I've put some of my ripe tomatoes in the oven to roast this morning.  Not sure what I'll do with them but they will taste so good...olive oil, salt, pepper and oregano on top.  I'll pick some basil from the garden, maybe some fresh oregano and thyme and concoct something amazing.

I have had a blast this past week with Cali.  She's been so good and attended VBS every day.  Last night at the closing program, when her class came on the stage, she knew every word of her song along with the motions.  I'm so proud of her.

I'm blogging my book reviews at a new address:  Book Reviews Blogging Style.

Only two more nights of Camp.  I'll miss the fellowship with great friends and of course all the good services we've had.  What I won't miss is the dust, oh, and screaming kids!!!  I am thankful though that there are kids out there because they are our future Camp.  After 126 years we must keep looking towards the future of Camp and hopefully it's survival.

Well friends, better days are coming!

#CareysCamp
#tomatoes
#bookreview
#bloggerbookreviews
#VBS
#VacationBibleSchool

8/2/14 - Nash Anthony!! - ETA Cali!!

I am a GiGi again.  Nash Anthony was born last night at 10:03, he weighed 5lbs, 11.8oz and is 19 inches long.  He looks like his Daddy!  Kristin and Richard are both doing great.  I'm sure my princess Cali will be doing a lot of kissing and hugging of her baby brother today.  They are a wonderful young family and I pray God's rich blessings on them.

Yesterday afternoon while I was having lunch in the hospital cafeteria Richard brought Cali to me. We shared my lunch and upon leaving she wanted to buy herself and Nash a teddy bear.  After she touched everything in the hospital store we left to see how Mommy was.  Across from one set of elevators is a Chapel.  Cali went in the chapel and wanted to know all about it.  There is a place to kneel and pray.  I explained to her that people come in here and pray to Jesus.  She then asked if Jesus responded and I told her yes.  She wanted me to pray that Mommy and Nash would be ok.  I kneeled to pray and asked her to join but she wanted to just sit.  I prayed to Jesus that Mommy and Nash would be ok.  Then we went to leave and she asked me where I was going and I said to see Mommy and Daddy and she said, "We can't leave, we have to wait for Jesus to talk back."  Out of the mouths of babes!

#cutestbabies #GiGi

7/30/14 - Back to food - Picky Palate

Oy!  It's chilly out there this morning.  According to Weatherbug it's 60 degrees...brrrrrrr.  The high today is only supposed to reach 81 degrees...Ahhhhhh.  Sure doesn't feel like the end of July.

Our annual camp meeting begins tonight.  This is the 126th year of service for Carey's Camp.  If you are in area, or would like to travel to make one of our services, I would like to extend an invitation to all.  There are no tickets to be bought, however we do take up a collection during the service.  I have gotten all the singing groups for this year and some of them are full-time so their fees are a bit high. If you come to any of the services stop by tent #11 and say hi.  I was unable to attend any services last year due to MS, I'm going this year if I have to be carried.

Today I want to highlight Picky Palate.  Jenny is the creator of Picky Palate when she realized that creating recipes for her family was a fun thing to do.  She became a food blogger and has out her first cookbook.  I found one of her recent posts:  10 Easy Back To School Dinner Recipes to look very yummy.  I don't have anyone going back to school anymore but these recipes would be well suited for couples, like David and I, that don't make a big fuss about dinner.  Check this one out...

Cheesy Sausage Skillet Lasagna

My mouth is watering just looking at that.  Now I think David and I could polish a lot of that off.

I hope you enjoy your day.  I pray that God blesses you from top to bottom, from right to left, from front to back and all points in between. 

I better scoot, doing Mom's laundry today and going grocery shopping with her.  Please pray that things will go well with us.

Better days are coming!  Camp tonight...Woohoo!!

+Jenny Flake
  

7/29/14 - I stand with Israel - edited

One of my favorite Psalms is Psalm 121.

121 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.

2 My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.

3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.

4 Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand.

6 The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.

7 The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.

8 The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.

Last night a friend posted in fb this link about which side to pick between Hamas and Israel.

Ministry Matters

The article more or less states that we as "Christians" shouldn't pick a side and what would Jesus do.  

I disagreed with my friend as I disagreed with the article.  If we turn our back on Israel, as I believe this regime is doing, then we turn our back on the apple of God's eye.

The liberal media is so slanted towards Hamas that we are not presented with the truth of what is actually happening in that region.  

My profile picture is one example of something you won't see on headline news.  The Arabic letter "N" seen here is being put on houses of Christians.

From this article:

  

It’s being reported that for the first time in history, the Iraqi city of Mosul is now empty of Christians after a warning was blasted from mosque speakers, and flyers passed out. The ultimatum issued was to either flee the city, pay the ‘al-Jiziya’ tax for Jews and Christians living under Muslim dominance prescribed in the Koran, or “face the sword.” After seeing their bloodthirsty viciousness in dealing with the remnants of the Iraqi army, the Christians chose to leave.

From Al-Arabiya:

Christians were fleeing Iraq’s jihadist-held city of Mosul en masse Friday after mosques relayed an ultimatum giving them a few hours to leave, the country’s Chaldean patriarch and witnesses said.

“Christian families are on their way to Dohuk and Arbil,” in the neighboring autonomous region of Kurdistan, Patriarch Louis Sako told AFP. “For the first time in the history of Iraq, Mosul is now empty of Christians.”

Witnesses said messages telling Christians to leave the city by Saturday were blared through loudspeakers from the city’s mosques Friday.

A statement dated from last week and purportedly issued by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) jihadist group that took over the city and large swathes of Iraq during a sweeping offensive last month warned Mosul’s Christians they should convert, pay a special tax, leave or face death.

“We were shocked by the distribution of a statement by the Islamic State calling on Christians to convert to Islam, or to pay unspecified tribute, or to leave their city and their homes taking only their clothes and no luggage, and that their homes would then belong to the Islamic State,” Sako said.

In a perverse reversal of the Old Testament story, homes of Christians have been marked with an “N” for “Nassareh,” the term the Koran uses to refer to Christians.

Arm yourself with the truth.  To get the truth you must dig for it because the liberal media will NOT present it to you.  Question what you see and hear.

Better days are coming.  Pray for Israel.

ETA:  The pacifism of our churches and church leaders is one of the reasons I no longer believe in organized churches or no longer attend church.  I may not know everything that is being taught from the pulpit but the above ministry matters article is an example of the "tolerance" that is being spewed to the congregations.

7/27/14 - Linda and (drum roll) ICE CREAM!!

My friend and neighbor Linda fell over a cat and hurt her legs yesterday.  Will y'all keep her in your prayers.  I checked in on her a few times yesterday, that's my story, actually I not only wanted to check on her but I got to see her dog Brody.  He's adorable!!  He's a Yorkie and fills my puppy lust.

I actually slept the night through until 0630!  Thank God!  My body needed it.  Still have some things to complete on the tent at Camp but hopefully will be ready for Wednesday night.

I don't know about you but I love homemade ice cream.  I remember my Daddy getting the ice cream churn all ready while Mom fixed the ingredients. I was allowed to churn the first part until it got too hard and then Dad would take over.  When it was done the soft, cold, delicious results were well worth the weight (bahahahahaha, I meant wait but weight is right too).  One of the two things I have on my Birthday/Christmas list is an ice cream maker.  Since it's summer and the best time for ice cream I found on Mom's Test Kitchen 64 Ice Cream recipes.

Thin Mint looks good.

Butter!!

Oh I hope Santa brings me that ice cream maker!!

 

Check my sidebar for the latest updates from Mom's Test Kitchen.  If you make any of these ice cream recipes, invite me over for pity sakes!!

 

Have a great day!  Better days are coming.

7/26/14 - Another food blog - Fifteen Spatulas

No need for a spoiler this morning.  David pointed out that when I get tired I get emotional.  I say when I get tired I get emotional and then I get mean.  He disagrees about the mean part because he loves me and he's a sweetheart.  So, first thing in the morning until around 2ish I'm good.  Now on to better things to talk about than MS...FOOD!!

I love to read.  Sometimes I just don't feel like reading a book or glancing through a magazine.  I find these wonderful blogs that I want to spotlight and share with you.  Today's blog/website is entitled Fifteen Spatulas.  Joanne's interest in food started when she was six with a new flavor of Haagen-Dazs ice cream.  She has grown up into a home chef that has been featured on no less than:  Redbook, The Cooking Channel, the kitchn and Gourmet Live.

The first dish I saw of hers was found on my Google+ feed.  It is

Nancy Silverton’s Butterscotch Budino

Her site offers how to's and why's of cooking.  She also offers junk-food makeovers.  What??!!  I know!!

She has a sizable recipe index and you can save her recipes to your Ziplist recipe box.

I hope you give her a look, your belly will thank you for it.

Better days are coming!!

7/25/14 - spoiler alert Whine du jour

Up at 0430 hrs (still use military time after all these years), before the mockingbird even.  I have way too much stress.  What you say?  My body and brain haven't been in sync.  My body doesn't work right and neither does my brain.  I'm walking like a drunk and I haven't even had a glass of wine.  Nobody likes me, everybody hates me, guess I'll go eat worms.  I HATE MS!!!

So instead of boring you with my whining I shall bid you adieu.  For today anyway.

Better days are coming (soon I hope!)

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7/23/14 - Book review for BookLook Bloggers

Third Thursday Community Potluck Cookbook by Nancy Vienneau

This is one extraordinary southern-recipe cookbook.   This is not only a cookbook but a wonderful idea of getting community together to celebrate the bounty of the season.  Nancy and Gigi have formed a community potluck every third Thursday of the year, with exception of December.   The cookbook flows cohesively into a wonderful story of friends gathering around a table made with love.

My mouth watered the whole time I read!  I have made so many bookmarks for the recipes that I should just try them all.  And the idea!  What a wonderful way to gather folks from the community, no matter who they know, to enjoy a good meal with friends.  This is the first time I “read” a cookbook but it is well worth the read.  Rhonda, one of the potluckers says, “What happens here is not your usual potluck.”  The recipes found in this cookbook are anything but usual.   I have learned many new techniques like boiling potatoes with garlic and bay leaves for a subtle hint of flavor. 

Nancy Vienneau is a “recovered” caterer turned food writer and activist.  I would recommend this book to anyone loving southern recipes and loving a slow walk through the garden with the potluckers.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers <http://booklookbloggers.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

7/22/14 - BookLook blogger - why I like G+ over Facebook and a recipe from The Gourmet Mom

Once upon a time, in the same land but oh so far away I used to be able to sleep at night.  Dawn wakes up before dawn every day!  Sometimes it's even before the birds...now that's early!

Anyway...

Oh guess what?  No really, guess.  Go on.  Well at least try!!

Ok, I'll tell you.  You are reading the newest member of the BookLook bloggers.  Finally!! And for my first book to review is one of my first loves.  A cookbook, yes, you saw that right, I'm reading a cookbook.  It's really good too plus it has loads of recipes I want to try.  When will I try them, who knows because David is becoming a great chef in the house.  He fries chicken, makes chicken and dumplings, makes the creamiest mashed potatoes and looks good doing it too!!  So when will I try my first recipe from this book...probably when he reads this.

Now onto another subject I've been thinking about.  I've been on Facebook for quite a while and won't be deleting myself or stop checking on it a couple times a day.  But...I like Google+ a lot better.  I don't have to see someone changing their profile picture several times a day or have to name one thing about a person or see others whining about MS.  Yes, I whine about MS, just read below but there comes a time when something new pops up every day that you don't have to ask about it.  I'm on a couple MS pages on FB and yes I can leave the groups but there are a few there that are great encouragers.  Ok, encouragers may not be a word but you know what I mean.  On G+ I'm in several communities and follow a lot of people but if I don't feel like going to a community and seeing their posts I don't have to nor do I have to leave the community.  I'm losing my hair, I might post something on FB about it LOL. Well, that's my .02 cents, for what it's worth.

The featured food blogger of the day is The Gourmet Mom. The featured recipe is fettuccine carbonara. Lisa Montalva is The Gourmet Mom. In her "About" page she writes: "With a love for cooking and more importantly "eating" Lisa Montalva became "The Gourmet Mom". The Gourmet Mom website is filled with free recipes, tips and information about cooking." I wish that when I was her age we had this great thing called the internet. Of course at her age I didn't look as good as she does...Wow! she's cute!! She offers advertising on her website and you can add your own recipes. The fettuccine carbonara recipe that I wanted to feature looks so good and so easy...my kind of recipe. Take a look! Does that not look tasty??

I've got to head out and water my garden.  I think it's supposed to be hot today here in slower, lower Delaware.

Better days are coming (with more sleep I hope).

7/21/14 - The best kid in the world and Miss Cecil's Squash Pie

Cali and I had a blast yesterday!! We made necklaces, played house (I'm always the Dad), colored with some kind of goopy, glittery stuff AND I got tons of kisses.  All in all a great time.  Now mind you I'm not 25 or 35 but Cali doesn't realize that and so she wants me sitting on the floor and likes to wrestle.  With that being said no matter what she wants to do, I'm in.  I don't want her to have to suffer because I have MS and may hurt a bit more the next day.  She is going to be a big sister soon and that is a big responsibility for a 4 year old.  I asked her if I could sleep in Nash's crib and she said "No! That's for my brother!".  Already a defender of the baby brother, she's gonna rock this!

Miss Cecil is one of my Mom's oldest friends.  She, like my Mother, is close to 90.  Her age never stopped her.  She has been a widow for years and years.  She still has her own garden and often cans from it.  She makes the best pickles!  I can remember her and Mom grinding peppers for sweet relish.  She recently had a bad accident where she burnt herself.  She's in the hospital now and will be undergoing surgery from what I hear from Mom.  This recipe is hers, I just recently copied it from Peggy, the owner of the beauty shop Mom and Cecil go to.  I haven't tried it yet.


Miss Cecil's Squash Pie

Ingredients:
1/2 stick butter
1 cup sugar
2 cups peeled and grated yellow squash
1 teaspoon cornstarch
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon coconut flavoring
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon flour
3 eggs beaten
1/2 cup coconut plus some for topping
1 pie crust (you can make it yourself or use a store bought one)

The recipe goes on to say:
Bake at 400˚F for 15 minutes, turn down to 350˚ for 40-50 minutes until set.

Now I assume that you would melt the butter with sugar and then add the rest of the ingredients except for the coconut topping.  Once all ingredients are mixed pour into unbaked pie shell(s) and then top with the remaining coconut.

I didn't grow yellow squash in my garden this year nor zucchini but I bet it would work with zucchini as well.

7/20/14 - Cali!! and 50 best ways to use Mason Jars

I get to babysit my Baby Gem today!  I can't wait!  She is one special girl.  She loves when GiGi reads her something from my Kindle.  I think her favorite is Little Red Hen.

Oh my aching back!!  I worked for 3 hours on the tent yesterday.  I've vacuumed up all the Styrofoam stuffings from the torn up teddy bear.  My upstairs is back in order and I may have another day of work to get everything put out and wiped up.  Mike Sr., Mike Jr., and David put some kind of siding on the tent and Mike Jr. then spray painted it white.  It really looked good when I left.  We'll be going back out tomorrow to shovel the dirt back in the trenches.  We have about a week and a half before Camp starts so I should have plenty of time to get it just right.  I might put some solar lights next to the tent to light up the pathway between my tent and the Jones'.  It's a well traveled path and not well lit.

I have tons of bookmarks for cool stuff but I wanted to start blogging about them.  First up is 50 best ways to use Mason Jars.  This is from Country Living Magazine.  I subscribe to their updates.  I like that magazine and also Southern Living Magazine.  They have some great ideas and also some great recipes.  I'd also like to start sharing some recipes that I've found or that I have made and want to highlight.  I hope you will share my blog with others and find me some new followers.

Love this one!



Well, I better get myself ready to see a sweetheart.

7/19/14 - Carey's Camp is coming

Today David and I will be going out to Carey's Camp to work on the tent with my brother Mike and my nephew Mike.  Mike Sr. is the carpenter, Mike Jr. knows more than I in carpentry and David can swing a hammer.  I have been hurting so much lately that I may just be encouragement.

If you've never been to Camp or it's been a while I encourage you to come on out.  I got some great singers for this year, some of which I've never heard.  There is a wealth of history at Camp, this is our 126th year.

A great friend of mine, Debbie O'neal met her husband Rick at Carey's Camp.  My children both grew up at Camp.  We would pack up the van and have a trailer pulled behind packed up as well.  We stayed for all the 12 nights and sometimes a couple more.  It looked like we unloaded the house, we had everything we needed.  Bird baths in a tub, piggy back rides for the kids after they got their feet cleaned off at night and giggles and screams from the girls if they saw a spider.  It is a wonderful memory.

We would stay up late at night playing cards or talking or...chasing skunks.  Oh yeah, a stinky prospect but he finally waddled out of the circle.  I won't be staying out this year as some punk decided to shoot out a window and trash the tent.  That's what we will be working on today.  I'm hoping to have a sleepover with Randy and Donna to get in some much needed giggling.

It's hard to keep good friends when you have to let them down over and over by either hurting or not feeling well.  It's a real pain to be hurting ALL THE TIME!!  I had to let down some new friends last night, Morris and Anne Hendley.  I'm so sorry we couldn't be with them but she graciously gave me a rain check.  I'm hoping my body will comply.

I better scoot now and get my shower.  Gonna meet my brother around 8.

Better days are coming!

7/6/14 - Time flies

Summer is half over, the 4th of July has come and gone and I haven't written in a loooooong time!

David and I have a small garden going, 5 tomato plants, 2 cucumber plants and lots of basil.  The morning glories have tried to take over most of it but I think I have them trained to one section of our dog run fence.  My Dad would have a fit if he knew that I was growing morning glories on purpose.  They were the reason for his corn picker accident.  They are so beautiful though.  I also have some plants that I've rescued from the Lowe's discount rack...lantana, a purple grass and some ground crawlers.  The purple grass still has a way to go but the others are doing well.

Adding some whimsy

This was tasty!  Can't wait for the next

With 5 tomato plants and 2 of them being San Marzano I think I'm going into canning.  I've never done it but I've watched my Mom a lot of times.  I've gotten a few books on my kindle about it and I think I'm ready when they are.

My MS isn't being so nice lately.  I've been listing to the left a lot and this morning my everything is hurting again.  I'm not on any MS meds because I just don't want to inject every other day.  If I can make it through the summer I think I'll be able to make it through.  I'm going to the ophthalmologist Tuesday as my optic neuritis has been acting up.  I know I'm going to need glasses too.  Oy!

Well, hopefully it won't be as long between posts.  I spend most sunny days out in the garage and putzing with my plants.

Better days ARE coming!

5/11/14 - Blessed

I am truly blessed. I had Mother's Day lunch out today with my Mom, my daughter Kristin and my granddaughter Cali. God has smiled down on me.

 

Better days are coming!

4/20 - 5/4/14 - C. Diff...ain't no joke

The rumors of my demise have been exaggerated.  I have been sick, sicker than I've ever been.  I know if I had been home without any help the rumor would not have been false.  David has been my Godsend!

I have had, for at least the past 2 weeks, C. difficile infection.  This is one of those things that I have no idea where I picked it up but you just can't fight through it.  You HAVE to get antibiotics, which I'm still on.  A nurse told David that this bacterium can live on an object that is not thoroughly cleaned for 5 months.

I see my gastroenterologist on the 13th and hopefully will get a clean bill of health.  I've had to cancel all other doctor appointments until after that as this is very CONTAGIOUS.

For those of you that have known this and have been praying, thank you so much.  Please continue to keep me in your prayers as I'm very weak.  For my other praying friends that are just reading this (LaVon), please keep me in your prayers.

Better days are coming!

Related articles

• C.diff: A powerful, persistent superbug
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4/16/14 - 3 hours of MRI's

And they didn't miss a minute of it.  They did change things across my body and gave me one bathroom break I was in there for 3 hours.  They deemed one where they wouldn't be able to use in diagnosis as I moved too much, been telling you all about my tremors.  They finally got some pictures of my orbits and of my spine so we'll see at the end of the month if there are little white dots on them.  I'm praying no dots, I ask for you to join me.

I woke up at 1:30 am and someone on Facebook had posted that it had been snowing.  No more I say, I'm tired of being cold.  I did get this cool pair of booties from the MRI place yesterday though.  I have a doctors appointment (what else is new) this morning and then I'm going to rush home and put them on.  I tried to get the robe they had but the tech wouldn't let me have it even though I told him he looked Icelandic like my friend Kris that often writes comments here, he said nope.  I told him I could sneak it out no one would know.  Still nope.  I think if I have to go back I'll have one if he's working again.  It's Christiana Care, they'll never miss it...shhhhhh.

F*ck it, all I care about is Cali.  I don't care about this blog, just her.

4/12/14 - Going to a ball game

I didn't know that Cali and Braydon played on the same team so Cathy is taking me with her today.  Grandmother's Day!! Can't wait!

We went to the beach yesterday, it was such a beautiful day.  I found a few pieces of beach glass and David found a couple pieces too.
 

The sand was so warm, the breeze was very nice, the water FREEZING!!!!

No, not pulling out my hair

An update for my camping friends...I was going to stop at the south side and take some pictures of the campground and what they have done but they were in there working on it.  There are new roofs on the old bath houses in old camp and it looked like they may have the same in new camp.  New camp was straightened up but I'm not sure anything has been done in there.  It did look pretty flat in there so hoping that they threw some extra dirt in.  When I see more or get to take a picture I'll show you.

Ok, guess that's it for today, always remember...

Better days are coming.

4/9/14 - Update to gender reveal

I got a text last night that it's a boy.

4/8/14 - Free coffee

After going to bed at around 10:30 pm last night and going to sleep around 11 I woke up with a start at 12:30 am.  The free coffee this morning from McD's hit the spot.  Once I was up at 12:30 I couldn't go back to sleep so I tried to put pen to paper, that didn't work.  I played some games.  I looked up what startled me awake...yikes, not giving the devil a toe hold.  Tried putting pen to paper again, still nothing because my eyes wouldn't cooperate.  Read some of Dan Gaffney's show teases on Facebook for his radio show.  Plugged my ear buds in around 5:30 am. and started listening to Dan on Delaware 105.9 and finally fell asleep, not because he was boring, but because I was exhausted.

I finally got my knee x-rayed yesterday, it's not broken!  I can decide if I want to get an MRI to see if anything else is wrong inside.  I think I'll wait on that since I have 3 hours of MRI's next week on head, orbits and spine.  I'll just need ear plugs and I'm good.  I hope they don't have the kind that you have to wear the headphones, they are not good for sleeping.  If I have earplugs I can fall asleep and the technician will wake me up to give me the shot to light up the show.  I don't mind the MRI's but I'm hoping this will be the end of them for a bit.

So I've never introduced you to my artwork.  I've taken some old things off and put some new things on the site.  It's my Etsy shop, this is what I have for sale.  The name of it is Be One Creations and you will be able to read why it is named that.  Be One Creations

One of these days, hopefully soon, will be headed this way, Avery Island, Louisiana
Our Home | Avery Island | TABASCO.COM

4/4/14 - My MS Connection

• My nephew Chris has been riding his bike all winter getting ready for the Bike to the Beach.
• My brother Mike has given me encouragement.
• My sister-in-law Sherry has given me encouragement.
• My aunt Dolores continues in prayer for me.
• My Mom Ruth continues in prayer for me.
• My best friend Donna continues in prayer for me and we giggle.
• My niece Kim when I feel like b*tching.
• My friend and neighbor Cathy when I just need to cheat.
• My husband David who has cleaned up things no one should, driven me everywhere, waited on me, picked me up from falls, prayed, worried, listened, reasoned, taken me to Dr. appointments, gotten up early, stayed up late, cooked, washed dishes :), kept me in Coke, done the grocery shopping, cleaned and loved me.

4/4/14 - Cali

I mailed Cali a card today so if she doesn't get it or if it gets returned, y'all are my witness.  Plus, I wanted to boost my view count.

She's my Gem, she will always be.  I'll love her to the end as she will me.  I'll always be her GiGi.  That no one can take away.

Two things to remember today...the sun don't shine up one dogs ass forever and,

Better days are coming.

4/3/14 - You will not believe this!!

OMGosh, I just found sandwich heaven.  It's from another blogger, Paula Jones, 101 Favorite Sandwich Recipes.

http://www.callmepmc.com/2014/01/101-favorite-sandwich-recipes/

When I saw the mini muffuletta she had me.  Now I may be the only one eating that one but that's ok with me.

I do believe that 4 am is my new time to get up.  Second day in the row now.  I woke up again before the mockingbird did.  So what do you do at 4 am...doodle.  I've been doing a little bit more now.  If 4 am is going to be my new morning I think I'm going to "try" to get some things done around the house.  I can have a lot done by lunch time.

We went to Bible study at Randy and Donna's church last night.  The study was called "The Story".  It has been a while since I've been in church.  I don't think I'm ready to go back for Sunday services but I've always liked a Bible study. I love being with my besties. 

We went shopping this morning at Walmart and I didn't use my cane.  I did pretty well until the end when I got very tired.  Now I've been tired the rest of the day but it was nice to be without it.  Since Dr. Davis has modified some of my meds I'm not as unstable walking.  I did take a nap this afternoon so I'm unsure if that will change my waking hour.  You will be notified.

I'm going to take my own advice and check out all 101 of these sandwiches.  Hey, remember...better days are coming.

4/2/14 - Here's what I don't understand

I felt like something was wrong and woke up or something was wrong and woke me up at 4 am but either way I was up at 4 am...yeehaw!!  I got up and looked around and couldn't find anything.  So I took a handful of ibuprofen (see below) and started putzing around on the internet.

If you know me you know I question a lot of things.  Here's one:  Say you are looking for my blog and you know that it has "Dawn" and "Awesome" in the title then why in the heck when you search for it doesn't it bring up those words together first?  Huh?

Frustrated Dawn??  Why yes I am, over several things, some of which I shall not mention.

I went to my GP the other day because I had had some things I wanted her to check.  The earthquake leg spasms, dizziness, heart palpitations, and breathing problems all may be from meds.  So she took some away, dropped some down and I'm feeling better already.  When you have several doctors this is bound to happen.  She also checked my leg that I hurt about a month ago from a fall.  She took her tiny fingers and dug into areas that hurt and made them hurt worse, and she dug her tiny fingers into areas that really hurt and made them really, really hurt.  If she wasn't such a good doctor to me I might had to sit on her little butt.  I've lost 9 pounds which is from drinking water that I hate and now am going back on.

I've been a quitter for 6 months now.  I do cop a puff now and then at my neighbor and friend Cathy's house.  She calls on me when something is wrong with the house and in return I smoke a couple cigarette's.  Ok, ok, It's a couple cigarette's...I have MS for pity sake's, can't I have a couple cigarette's a week?  Well I will if I want to so there, case closed.  I'm a 55 year old woman and...well, I'm not arguing with you anymore about it. ;)

I want to be reinstated to be a book look blogger again.  I am biting my lip to curb my frustrations.  I would kindly ask you if you have a Google+ account and if you are familiar with circles that you could add me to as many circles as possible.  That would be to:  Open this please kind person.  If you have a Google+ account you will see a box or something under my head, that's where you can add me to all the circles you want, the more the merrier.  Thank you so much.  I need 30 to be able to resubmit my application. *sigh*  These are Christian books from a Christian publishing house.  Thank the Lord it's not any harder.

I made a card to go back to the children from Miss T's first grade class at Lighthouse Christian School.  Maybe I shouldn't have put this after the above.  Moving on...

I had most all the colors they had used but I sure couldn't draw a bird like the one young lady.  God love them.  I mailed it off yesterday.  I hope they enjoy it.  I get to see my bestie tonight, hopefully they got their card or I get to meet Miss T.

Please remember, better days are coming.

3/29/14 - Somewhere out there

My daffodils have bloomed!!  That means I've missed my crocus.  I loved them, they would just came up all helter skelter in my back yard.  Which reminds me (helter skelter reminds me of California which reminds me of earthquakes which reminds me of) I had another earthquake leg spasms today and then me knee got stuck until the end of the quake.  This one really hurt.  Yes, I'm calling the Dr. on Monday.

I don't think Saturdays are supposed to be rainy are they?  I think it should rain at night, that way we would have nice sunny day time and we'd get our vitamin D.  I'm pretty much rambling today, I'm missing my baby Gem.  I haven't seen her in a while.

My bestie brought me over a blessing, a salve and some of the most precious things I've seen in a long time.  Miss T's 1st grade class at Lighthouse Christian School prayed for me and then made me cards.  Each of the cards said "Dawn, God loves you" and they were signed by the designer with love and included a scripture.  Now they are a blessing for me and a salve for my heart.  I believe God looks down tenderly on the brokenhearted.  

Look how that bee has gone all over and the other bee has his head all the way in that tulip with his hiney up.

  

This one is amazing for 1st grade, baby birds waiting for worms that mommy bird is bringing and more and more.

A beautiful rainbow and lovely butterflies and flowers.  

These wonderful children have blessed me.  The cards are a warm blessing, the scripture surely is a blessing, the loving regards are a blessing and it was a blessing that they were prayed over.  This is only a few of the cards I can look over and over again.  I am also blessed to have a bestie that works at LCS, thank you Donna.

Better days are coming.

3/28/14 - Blew it out, cause that's what lunatics do

It has been a cleaning laptop day today.  It's shining and sparkly and just winked at me...serious!!  Not really.  When having MS or fibro excess fatigue goes along with it so when you do "something" you really feel like you accomplished something grand.  I feel like Yay, I did something today!

Dawn did something!!

Usually the next day I'm very sore but I don't think I will be with just the laptop.  There are so many things to do!  I usually have several tasks on my lists and I sit here and look at them heehee.

I was going to add a gadget for a poll but it was dumb so maybe you'll comment here. You don't have to have a gmail account, you may comment anonymously.  The comments will be moderated by me so yours may not be shown if you hate me, think I'm a lunatic or immature.

Would you like a day of the week for recipes?
Would you like a day of the week for group support?

I'm only gonna ask a couple today, okie dokie?

Hey, always remember, better days are coming.

3/27/14 - I've got a pea up my nostril - that's what lunatics do

Hey, is there any place in the world that you've seen so many pictures of that you'd really not care to visit.  Say Paris or Lombard St. in San Fran.  Can you imagine living on that street?  Do they close it at night or do they let the drunk drivers on motorcycles ride down it...cool!  But really, how many times have you seen this street?  To go down it..eh.

I love to travel and hopefully once the doctor gets my health under control we hope to be taking small trips.  I'm not sure we'll be doing it the way I wanted but traveling nonetheless.  What does it matter what you sleep in at night, what matters is what you see during the day.

The snow made us miss our Bible study.  (Missed seeing my girlfriend and Randy)  Not us actually but the church canceled because the parking lot was still icy.  Speaking of icy, when I got to vampire alley to get my blood work done nothing had been done to improve their parking lot OR their sidewalk.  I feel sorry for the people that work in those businesses because they have to listen to the harassment from the patrons.  I was really afraid to walk across it because I'll fall in my house just walking across the floor.  I made it though!!
  
Fell asleep today in the recliner with my cell phone on chest.  When I woke up I find I've missed 2 calls.  How?  The phone was right there!!  Nice nap, that's for sure.

I hope you've had a beautiful day, God bless you, God loves you and always remember better days are coming.

ps:  I have been having heart problems all day.  I should be speaking with my neuro tomorrow.  I really put off going to the ER because of the quality of ER's in Sussex County.  It seems to have eased off.  When I stand my blood pressure goes up then I breathe like I'm taking my last breath.  Please keep me in your prayers.  I fun around and joke but I've been scared today.  Thanks.