Friday Fun Stuff (for me)

 This little army of dogs is ready to roll!

I mentioned in a previous blog that my Bible study group would be making washcloth dogs to pack in our Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes. It's always fun packing the shoeboxes, but what a cute idea Marie had to add the washcloth puppies as a practical item for the children. To any crafters, this little project would be just that. Little. For me, not a crafter, it was really tricky to make them just right. It also seemed it might have been easier for someone with smaller hands to tie those ribbons and cut out those felt ears and teeny, tiny hearts. But I'm proud to say I stuck with it and they are DONE!!

It seemed fitting to pack them in a shoebox for delivery to Marie!

 A surprise overnight stay from Kate and Jack before they left for vacation.

Jack loves chocolate milk and Sweetie!

This crew is having fun without us!!!

Earlier this week, I said I was having trouble with my vision and also my hair. 

It's hard getting used to the new glasses because for the past 15 years, my eyes have worked together with the mono vision method (if you want to call it that)! Left eye for close-up and right eye for distance. 

Lasik surgery made that happen!

Now, however, I'm not sure the prescription for these glasses are going to be that helpful. I don't quite trust myself driving with these on, so another trip to the eye doctor may be in order.

And my hair!
I said I was going to get it whacked and that's what I did!

I think everything is going to be all right!

A Light and Airy Hodgepodge

It's that time of the week again. Thank you, Joyce for the fun questions every week. 

Feel free to join in, answer the questions and link up with Joyce right here.

The topic this week reminded me of lyrics to this song popular in the 60's:

"Hot town, summer in the city

Back of my neck getting dirty and gritty

Been down, isn't it a pity

Doesn't seem to be a shadow in the city

All around, people looking half dead

Walking on the sidewalk, hotter than a match head."

1. Is your home air conditioned?

Oh, yes! Gotta have AC in Texas. If it's not air conditioned, is that by choice?

Did you grow up with air conditioning? No.

If not, how did you cope with the heat? 

My Dad worked outside all day and my mother stayed home, cleaning house, ironing, doing laundry, taking care of kids, cooking over a hot stove, hanging clothes on the line, and on and on. How did they stand it? And they never complained. As kids, we played hard outside, but came in in the afternoon and coped with the heat by standing in front of the "swamp cooler." We also liked to play with the water hose which cooled us off.

I remember as a teen standing in front of the mirror in the bathroom with sweat rolling down my face as I worked on teasing my bouffant hairdo. Hot. Hot. Hot. If you could get away with it, a way to cope would be to open the refrigerator door and just enjoy! At night, the attic fan would run bringing some relief from the cooler night air.

My first new car didn't have air conditioning and it was pretty miserable in the summer with vinyl seats and a black dashboard! I coped by setting a bag of ice on the center console to lean on. That worked until I had an air conditioner installed in the car. Unfortunately, that caused my problems to multiply because then the car overheated as a result of my trying to stay cool!! 

This was a HOT car! Literally!!

Share about a time or place you remember as being too hot-the temperature kind of hot, lest anyone be confused.

I have shared before about a very HOT day when my cousin and I were about 8 years old. We came in from playing and she stripped down, took the dipper from the water bucket and poured water over her head! 

But another particularly HOT day I remember was when all our family had been celebrating the 4th of July with aunts, uncles, and cousins in Arkansas. We played in the river all day, got terrible sunburns, then spent the night with my aunt who lived in the back of their grocery store. No AC there! My sister and I slept on a twin bed together with a fan turned on us and I really don't think either of us slept much that night because it was so miserably hot!

2. What's something in your life right now that falls under the heading 'up in the air'?

Making a trip to my hometown.

3. Your favorite light and airy dessert? English trifle! Delish!

4. When did you last feel like you were 'floating on air'? I've got nothing.

5. Airport, airmail, airtight, airhead...which have you most recently encountered? Explain.

Airports. Recent trips in the past months to Washington, D.C., Louisiana and Memphis airports.

6. Have you ever been to the Alps? Yes.
If so where did you go?
We toured Switzerland, Germany and Austria. Here is an old photo of us at the Matterhorn.

(I'm not crazy about this pic because DH has the camera or something in his pocket that makes his chest kind of stick out!) It was a gorgeous day there, but very cold. We were wearing lots of layers.

If not, is this a destination on your must-see list? If you were headed that direction this summer, which of the following would be your preferred activity...a gentle walk, a serious walk, a bike ride, a boat ride around one of the lakes, or summer snow skiing?

Our trip in Switzerland was partly via glacier train and I would choose that again, even though it isn't on your list. A boat ride around one of those beautiful lakes also sounds very nice.

7. What is one saying or phrase that was considered 'cool' when you were growing up?

In grade school, Cool, daddy-O. In junior high, everything was "stud," and my mom told me if anybody wrote that in my yearbook, she would tear the page out. Lol! They did and she didn't, though.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Cool is a word I still use and probably too often.

Here is a pic of our son with a couple of his team. The guy in the center is a rookie and this was taken after his first fire yesterday. Our son, the captain, said the rookie did great! Jason had to go in for a rescue.

Jason is on the right.

I think he's a pretty cool dude in his bunker gear. 

Reminds me of the first time I ever saw my husband after a big fire. 

Heroes.

This past week!

What a good and productive week this has been. On Monday, we traveled back from Austin early so we would be able to let Trudy outside before her little bladder popped. We had tried something different this weekend since the regular pet sitters weren't able to keep her. A very nice lady from church came to our house to stay with Trudy and, although I had a few qualms about it, all was well! Since she had to go to work early Monday moring, we needed to get home ASAP!! I thought the trip would wear me out, but I felt energized after a cup of coffee and did a few household chores, bought groceries, and then fixed dinner.

On Tuesday, I made a grape salad from a recipe I found on Pinterest. I was looking for something really simple and this was it! Our Ladies of Grace was having a salad lunch at my friend Victoria's beautiful new home. I took home an empty bowl and later that day, Victoria told me her husband had judged the grape salad to be the best of all the others! Super! I have the link here for the recipe for this easy Grape salad.

Thank you, Victoria for hosting this very nice luncheon for us.

After lunch, Marie, aka the Chicken Lady taught us how to make washcloth animals.

(Marie is known as the Chicken Lady because she loves chickens, 

collects them, and wears various chicken outfits 

to minister to children and at nursing homes.) 

Each year we pack shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child for Samaritan's Purse. You are probably familiar with Operation Christmas Child. Marie thought it might be fun if we made these practical little gifts to put in each box. You can slip in a bar of soap and the child can then untie the ribbons and have a bar of soap and a washcloth!

On Wednesday, I went shopping for a birthday gift for a friend and, of course, I found a lovely gift for me! I never wanted to spend the money for a Vera Bradley bag, but Dillard's was having a 50% off sale, so I thought maybe! just maybe ... and I did!

On Thursday, I met my friends Nancy and Sherri for Sherri's birthday. As always, it was so nice to be with them. We go back a looooong ways and only see each other now four times a year - for each of our birthdays, and at Christmas.

Thursday evening Jason and Amy came over with the kids and we had dinner at the new Cheddar's Restaurant. They were all sunburned from spending the day at Hawaiian Falls water park, and very tired, but excited about the good time they had that day.

On Friday, I met my friend Connie for lunch to catch up with each other, and later that evening, attended Amy's Jamberry party to check out the fun method of doing nails yourself in a most easy way without the fuss of waiting for nails to dry or paying for a manicure only to have it chip away the next day (very long sentence, I know). We each did a sample and today, I even felt inspired to polish my nails as I wait for my new set of nails to arrive next week.

Fun Amy

Conservative me

Except for the usual Saturday type happenings, chores around the house, etc., oh well, I also spent this morning searching online for a quick little trip for DH and me next week. I had pondered making a trip to Tulsa and Arkansas to visit relatives, but somehow it just seems too hot to be driving and getting in and out of the car. It was my plan to make stops at different memorable places in Arkansas and to take photos of aunts and uncles while I can. Then I thought about a trip down to Wimberley, Texas which is supposed to be really nice, but decided that is a trip that should be made in the spring or fall. Just as I was ready to give up my search, I stumbled upon a fabulous spa/resort about an hour and a half away which looks wonderful and after reading over the website and finding it all booked up for the dates I wanted, decided to make it a birthday/anniversary celebration for us in a couple of months. Great idea! It is a diamond collection rated spa/resort and one of the top ten culinary inns in the world. Who knew?

Elm Creek Manor

I Am. So. Excited! 

Amy and I are attending an event at Covenant Church for an Evening with Kari Jobe and Christine Caine. I'm looking forward to this, and dinner with Amy. We haven't had much time together since Kate started school.

And finally, this past six weeks, I have been dealing with the proverbial hair dilemma. Blech! Bad haircut and bad highlights, along with humidity have given me fits!!! My friend Elizabeth at Beauty Without Within has been discussing hair this past week, so I thought I would share my trials and tribulations with hair.

This is what I like my hair to do:

This is what it wants to do:

This week it's going to be whacked off!

I am hoping for the best! Just very thankful I have hair and that

Shereadstruth.org

And finally, last, but not least! As a matter of fact, much should be devoted to the fact that five of our finest from the Marines lost their lives this past week in another horrible and senseless killing. I am so sad for the families of these brave souls who lost their lives not on foreign lands, but right here in our country on a military base. Tragic. We live in a sick world.

photo source

A Dog's Tale

Hello you! 

My name is Trudy.

I have lived a dog's life ever since I was adopted by my family

when I was about three years old,

way back in 2001.

I had run of the house for years

This is where I now spend all of my time

I used to travel with them sometimes.

I've never had to board in a kennel.
When my family goes on vacation,
so do I.
I get to stay with the pet sitters, Linda and Andy.
They are my other family.

When we are home, my pals keep one of my other beds warm.

On certain occasions, I have been permitted at my family's table.

(for photo ops only)

My manners at table were sometimes questionable.

So I have my own personal table

My family carved (knocked the bricks out!)
a special door out of the wall of their house.

 and even had the drapes above shortened for my ease in getting through that door!

You see how much they love me?

Uh. What's this?

What did I do to deserve this?
I just don't get it.
Haven't I always been good?
Haven't I always taken care of my business outside?
Didn't I keep a watch out for critters in the yard
and notify them every time I saw someone walking
down our sidewalk?
Didn't I always behave when company came,
snuggling up to them and making them feel at home?

P.S. from Trudy's family
Trudy never got it that this new house was to protect her.
She used to run (fly) through her doggie door with the greatest of ease!
But no more.
We have to open the back door to let her in or out.
Unfortunately, when we are gone, there was nobody to do that for her.
So, she would go out the doggie door.
But then.
Oh no.
She couldn't remember how to get back in.
We were hoping Trudy would figure out this little house
could be a shelter for her from the heat or cold when she couldn't get back in.
We tried getting her used to the dog house INSIDE our house.
We put treats inside it which she would stick her head in and grab.
No go.
Now she can no longer go through the doggie door.
Maybe it's become too difficult, painful,
or she just doesn't remember that she ever did.

Trudy is getting so feeble that she sleeps most all of the time
or she wanders about the house
and I find her in the strangest places.
Sometimes she gets lost
or stuck behind a door
or runs into furniture.
It's making me so sad.
Then, all of a sudden, she perks up
and scampers like a puppy behind me all around the house.
Very strange behavior for my Trudy.
But one thing for sure about this faithful little dog.
She still remembers to go to the back door when she needs to go outside.
And she also remembers there is a treat in store for her upon coming inside!
Sweet doggie!

"Tell me again why there's a limit on treats ...
'cause I don't agree!"

Hot Fun in the Summertime Hodgepodge

It's Hodgepodge Wednesday and yay! the questions aren't too weighty this week. Whew!

Join in the fun with Joyce right here.

1. July 15th is National Give Something Away Day. What can you give away? Will you?

I have been trying to give away our bike trailer like this for the past couple of years. Maybe I will actually do so tomorrow.

Interesting update on the bike trailer. As my DH left the breakfast table just now, he said he was taking the bike trailer to the local donations place. Great minds think alike! He had no idea my answer to this question, nor did he know today is give away day! How fantastic is that?

2. Do you have a mantra? Please share with the class if you feel comfortable doing so.

Not in the purest sense of the word. But I find myself constantly reassuring myself with, "I will trust and not be afraid."

3. Who does the grocery shopping in your house? How many times a week do you shop? Do you make a list or pray for inspiration in the produce aisle?

I do the grocery shopping, although DH offers to go with me. He will drive me there, drop me off at the front door, pick me up and help with loading and unloading. It's really not good for him to help shop as we do not need everything he thinks we do. I do keep a running list, and still probably make three to four trips a week to the grocery store, depending on what is going on or what is needed. Example, if grand kids are coming over, I need to be sure I have fresh fruit on hand, buttermilk for pancakes, snacks and bacon. I try to stock up and replace items as they are used. Then we eat out most of the time! :-)

4. Is there a TV show you're embarrassed to say you watch? You're going to tell us what it is, right?

I suppose I am a little embarrassed that I don't mind watching reruns of Dick van Dyke or Little House on the Prairie or the Walton's when I'm a little bored. Feels like I'm wasting time, though.

5. A recent article listed fifteen words we should eliminate from our (written) vocabulary in order to sound smarter-

that, went, honestly, absolutely, very, really, amazing, always, never, literally, just, maybe, stuff, things, and irregardless

Of the fifteen, which word is your most overused?

Amazing. And seriously, I find it amazing that seriously wasn't on the list.

6. So apparently dying your hair gray (in your youth!) is a thing right now. It's called 'The Granny Hair' trend. Your thoughts?

I remember when I was in junior high (1962) the fad was to buy spray cans of color to streak your hair with gray or silver. Those of us who were without funds (or permission from parents) to do that would pat talcum powder on our hair. Seriously.

I don't understand many of the trends regarding hair right now with the different, bright and brassy colors. They really don't seem to enhance the beauty of the people who do that. Enough said.

7. A while back Buzz Feed asked members to share the most beautiful sentence they've read in a piece of literature. A hard thing to narrow down, at least for me, but let's try. What's one of the most beautiful sentences you've ever read in a piece of literature?

This is truly a hard thing to narrow down to one sentence and I cannot.

"Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm. For love is as strong as death, its jealousy as enduring as the grave. Love flashes like fire, the brightest kind of flame.

Many waters cannot quench love, nor can rivers drown it. If a man tried to buy love with all his wealth, his offer would be utterly scorned." 

Song of Solomon 8:6-7 NLT

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Lately I am experiencing problems with my vision so a trip to the eye doctor was in order this afternoon. Scar tissue growing over an implant in one eye and new cataract on the other eye. Yikes. Thankfully, the problems can be resolved and for now, eyeglasses will be my go-to when driving (my driving is getting a little scary). It has been many, many years since I have worn glasses. Boo-hoo, but whatever it takes! 

I remember my very first pair of glasses in fourth grade. They were blue and were a bit of a novelty at first. I soon tired of wearing them and only wore them when I absolutely had to! One day I put them in my brown paper lunch bag, forgot about them, and accidentally threw the sack in the trash. My poor Mom and Great-Grandma actually went to the city dump to try to find them. How sad for my Mom to have to do that. As a 9 year old, I didn't realize how dear the price of new glasses were for my hard-working parents.

Noah's Boat Party

If your name is Noah, and your birthday falls in the middle of a hot Texas summer,

it only makes sense to cool off with a boat party every year. 

It's tradition now and everybody has a great time.

Lake Travis was higher than it has been in years!

Noah gets the honor of riding with Dad alongside the big boat

as it makes its way to the island where we will swim and play!

Dad is in charge of rides on the jet ski and pulling the big tube.

Mom organizes and supervises all the fun, food

and other goings' on onboard.

These kids were rarin' to go.

Hold on!

Some of the crew were just happy to float around.

Nonnie, watch me jump!

Woo-hoo!

Blowing out the candle on a donut!

Grandpa stayed cool in the shade.

Noah's other Grandpa found the deck a good place for a snooze!

And Noah did some snoozing himself on the ride home!

Great birthday celebration!

Later that evening, the Royal Tokyo Steakhouse.

Hot job!

The kids love this place because the cook throws food at you.

Noah caught the bite thrown at him!

Good job, Noah.