A Good Morning to you !

What can I say another bright and sunny day.  We must treasure these days as we seem to be having more and more rain and windy days.  What's up with that ?

Well the land beside us, which had been left to grow weeds and numerous assortments of little furry things, has now been plowed many times and just yesterday they have put in an orchard of peach trees (we think).  Let me tell you we are thrilled as we live back off the road and when the trees get to growing you will not see us.  Plus I'm sure it will be cooler.  It should only take a couple of years.  At least now the land is being used for something, much better for it and us.  Now we will be surrounded by orchards, pretty cool uh?

The Gym is doing great.  I swear I love it more and more each day I go.  I love to work out and now I look forward to swimming.  The teacher is wonderful.  She is so attentive and caring,  I swear it's so cool just being in the class.  There are men and women, although so far that I have seen there are only a couple of men.  The women are great.  Some just want to chat, and that's is Ok, but I also want to get my work out done.  The water makes me feel alive.  Of course when I'm in the water I'm normal.  I can walk, jog, use weight (water weights, that is), swim, float and and use all there toys.  It's great.  The hardest part is getting to and from the pool.  I have this fear of slipping and falling.  I just have to be careful and watch where my feet go and stay on the mats.  They have put them in the locker room throughout so that is a relief.  I still haven't lost any weight yet but I can say everything is firming up just not the tummy.  WHY?  Don't worry I'm not getting discouraged and I certainly won't quit besides I'm having too much fun.  Tootles

It's Monday, YEA !!!!!

Hello.   Some people do not like Mondays.  Well, I am not one of them, I love Mondays.  It means I get to go back to the gym and I have added something new.  I am now in Swim class.  That's right !  Isn't that great.  I swear it is so exciting and fun.  I have met some interesting, fun, and remarkable women not to mention the instructor.  She, Kelly is great. Talk about making you feel welcome and so glad you came.  I have been shown all the equipment we can use and she has instructed me how to use it.  I swear I am like a kid again.  I am having so much fun and getting in shape and healthy to boot.  Now, who could ask for more.  You know, I was never a great swimmer, mostly I stayed in the 4' and played around with my friends.  What's really funny is, I did take swimming lessons and yes if I should be in a position of starting to drown I could swim out of it (in a pool, not the ocean) but once I passed the class I never went in the deep again.  All my friends did but not me.  We had a large tower in the middle of the deep where you could go up and dive off the high dives.  I have never been up there.  Once when we were all playing tag or something some of them were going up to the high dive.  Well, I was following along and started to go up the ladder.  Let me tell you I took one step up that ladder and froze.  I knew with out a shadow of a doubt I would never go up that ladder.  I stepped down and got on the landing and realized I was very afraid of heights.  I never really knew until that moment (I was 11 or 12).  As far as swimming in the deep, it just wasn't my cup of tea.  I didn't want to dive so why bother going there.  Hey I stayed in the 4' and had a ball.  Now with this swim class, I have the best of both worlds.  There is this one belt you buckle around your waist and it keeps you floating.  Your shoulders never go under water so she has you bike with your legs all around the pool, even in the deep.  Plus  we have these barbells that are made out of styrofoam and if you put them under your arms you can also float around.  There is also a board made from styrofoam you sit on, it helps keep your balance.  I can't tell you enough how much I love it.  I sure hope if any of you out there are thinking about joining you have done so.  It's your insurance policy for the rest of your life.  You'll meet new people and just plain feel great.  Tootles

The Garage Sale. The Treasures?

Hey, how about those garage sales ?  It's so funny to me as I have only had a few myself but I have to say sometimes they are great and most of the time they are awful.

Let's say you need a certain amount of money.  Maybe you need it for a bill or a night out together or for the weekend.  You just need some extra cash and God forbid, your not desperate for the money.  Ok, you pick out the treasures you have in your house and garage (after all it is a garage sale) and you decide if you really want to part with it.  You ask yourself....Do I ever use it anymore?   Is it just not in my life style now?   Etc.  So you make your decision and you proudly place your valuable treasures in a prominent position so everyone will see what they have an opportunity of owning.  They will be able to put it in there home or garage and have it as there own treasure.  The day of the sale begins your up bright and early.  You have your cup of coffee in your hand and your looking over your set up with some lingering doubts about parting with some of your treasures.  After all they are yours and you could fit them in your life again.......   Well the first few people stop by and just leisurely waltz through your garage and glance at your top of the line treasures.  That's it.  They don't give a second glance, nor touch it or anything.  They don't even ask about it.  In fact they see an old tennis ball over in the corner, that is really your dogs toy, and they offer to give you a quarter for it.  You calmly state......  It's not for sale.  More people stop by,  waltz through, glance at nothing in particular and glide on out and in there cars they go.  Believe it or not a few more people also ask about the stupid tennis ball and by now you are so mad at your dog because he has done nothing here to help.  He didn't sweep out the garage, wash it down, arrange all these treasures in just the right places to show off how beautiful they are.  All the dog, (you don't even want to call him by name because now you see him as a traitor) has done is flop himself down on the cool cement and watch you do all the work and he is the only one who actually has something that people would pay money for.  The afternoon is drawing to a close and you have had it.  Nothing has gone out, no sales, no questions, no bartering over the price, Nothing.  You are so mad, you close the garage door down, look at all your so called treasures with loathing in your soul.  You grab the stupid tennis ball, head to the back yard and call the one true treasure you have in your life that could never have a price tag,  "Scruffy".  You vow to yourself you will never have a garage sale again as long as Scruffy never tells of your humiliation over " The Treasures ".   Tootles

Barbecue ? Really ?

Do we really have to get out the grill ?  I mean, come on.  It is not easier.  It's a lot of trouble and what do you end up with ?.......A dried up hamb. or hot dog.  Oh my Goodness,  if I never see another piece of charcoal I should be so happy.  Isn't charcoal lighter the secret ingredient ?  My family raves about barbecuing.  I certainly don't know why.  Most of the time they are in such a hurry to get the barbecuing done, the rest of the meal is barely started.  That is what would happen every time.  I would be making a veg. salad, a fruit salad and maybe some salsa with chips.  I'd just be getting started and the call for...Food is ready !  What  ?!  So I started forgetting about the barbecue part and told who every is doing it they had to do all the clean up and I would do the clean up for the food in the kitchen.  Surprise !  No more barbecuing.  To be honest I just don't care for barbecued meat.  Never any beef.  So for this year it's going to be a salsa recipe I got from Giada that has pineapple and avocado, yummy.  Then how about some salads with what ever veggie you like, have a few dressings to choose from and maybe frozen yogurt for dessert ?  Sounds like an easy care free day to me.  So sit back put your feet up enjoy a glass of ice tea with lemon and were set. 

Pineapple Avocado Salsa

1 14oz can sliced pineapple (reserve juice)

1 T. lime juice

1 T. honey

1 T. olive oil

1 small jalapeno (remove seeds, chop small)

1/4 red onion  chopped

1 med. avocado cubed

2 T. cilantro chopped

Mix pineapple juice, lime, honey,oil, jalapeno and salt & pepper.

Add pineapple & onion.

Then gentle fold in avocado and cilantro 

Enjoy !

Tootles

Dear Mama

"Happy Mother's Day",  Thank you for being you.  Thank you for being my Mama.  I stopped calling you Mama when a friend of mine made fun of me.  She said, "You should call her Mom".  I was in 5th grade. I shouldn't have listened.  Mom sounded so cold and I didn't feel as close to you anymore.  I let other people influence me when I should have been listening to you.  You were the wise one, you knew what was best for me.  I am so sorry Mama if I disappointed you.  How easy we are influenced.  I want you to know, I know, you were the greatest.  How I miss you.  How lucky I was to have you.  You know one of your sayings comes to mind........... Too Soon Old and Too Late Smart.  Much Love to you on this "Mother's Day",  I Honor you.  Love, Tootles

" Ada Belle " Happy Mother's Day !

What's in a name, you say ?  It makes a beautiful statement.  The moment you hear it you imagine in your mind what you are about to see.  Oh, what you see is something quite extraordinary.  The beautiful smile, the contentment and calm with a sparkle of excitement in those eyes.  The soft curl of shiny, silk tresses showing the slim and beautiful neck.  Oh how revealing is her joy of life, love and pursuit of happiness.  She caresses you with the love from her eyes and the soft expression as she gazes at you.  Her vision for the future is loyalty, love and commitment.  She is a woman who knows what she wants and has a strong determination and will to access it.  She will fight for her own with a mother lions strength and wrap you in her loving arms to show her gentle side.  Oh, how I miss this Lady.  How I miss her company.  Her soft touch, her excitement at showing me something she has just discovered.  Her joy of seeing me come through her door and wrapping me in those loving arms.  I can close my eyes and feel her around me.  Somehow telling me in her own way...It's ok.  How I wish........So many things.  Why do we become so wise in our older years?  She was so many things...A beautiful lady with a warm heart, a wife, Mother and so much more.  On this " Mother's Day ", I honor her.

Good Morning to you on this May 4th, 2010

Yes, the sun is shinning bright and I do love it..........But the wind is blowing that breeze and let me tell you it is freezing.  I really don't mean to complain and I have been outside sitting in the sun reading but I'm sorry that breeze is just too cold.  I'm sure it will warm up as the day moves along.

I have been reading another FREE book.  "Scents", by Clint L. Kelly.  It's pretty good.  There are some parts where your a little confused how fast he goes from one situation to another but overall it's a good read.  I only have a few pages left then I think I am going to start reading, "Breach of Trust," by DiAnn Mills.  Will let you know how that goes.  I just downloaded a number of free ones, I mean are we lucky or what.  I swear I don't think I will ever get use to this anyway I hope I never do.  There is nothing like getting books and to have them free and coming regularly it's just to wonderful for words.  I never want to lose the thrill and excitement.  I've been looking up pagan celebrations.  I did find some and am going to get into them later today.  It's very interesting how they coincide with some religious holidays. Ummm?  Well, anyway want to check them out.

Hey, just a quick question...Do you save all your receipts ?  Well I do.  I might miss a gas one if by chance they are out of paper but for the most part I do.  I just put them in a little envelope and mark the month and year on the front.  It's really kind of interesting to see where you have been during the month and now with the receipts letting you know just what you bought you could tell a story about someone or maybe just see where your money goes at a certain time of the month.  I think Jim thinks I'm weird doing it but I have to tell you we have taken back certain items which did not work any longer and receiver our money back.  Now who is weird ?  Tootles