A new start with a new day.

Tomorrow is 1/1/2011. A new day. Should we shrug off the old and put on the new? The old makes us wiser and more apt to handle the new. Wishing all of you out there a joyous and happy new year.

What follows after Christmas, oh yea a new number.

Why does the new year always seem to sneak up on me. It is nothing new but I still forget. In a few days I will need to write a new number. These numbers come so very soon. 2011. Can you believe it. I my hope is that I will grow and become an all round better person. This time next year I will have a new grandbaby. Having a piece of your life continue is a wonderful gift. I pray for health and prosperity for all my family and friends. Let us have joy in this new year of 2011.

Peace

Peace is given to us by the grace of God. We may have a hard time recognizing it but still it is there. The world will always be in turmoil but God gives us his love through the gift of his son. One day the lamb and lion will lie side by side. To change our little world we must have peace with others in our heart. Learn how to abandon our wants and our own way then peace will surround our life, not a perfect life but all in all the best we can do while just passing through. 

Merry Christmas

God's gift, the greatest gift of all.  John 3:16

Susan Boyle "The Gift" and Hermits

Another day off from work. Planning on getting a bit accomplished but for now listening to Susan Boyle's new CD "The Gift" and drinking coffee. Really a great voice. I usually purchase a new CD around Christmastime. Last year was Andrea Bocelli "My Christmas". Lovely man. Costco has really great prices.

Today I will make the cookie of my youth, Hermits. My grandmother made these every Christmas. She would fill the jar and continue filling it as we ate these wonderful cookies made of spice, raisins and nuts. I make these for myself as well as my Mom. I am always hoping she will get a bit of Christmas nostalgia of her mother. Unfortunately they never turn out as she remembers them. Do you think it is not the cookie as much as the memory?  Maybe this year they will taste more like that Christmas when we were at my Grandmothers. I really wish my Grandmother was alive to critique them. I am sure she put something of herself in them that I do not have or at least have not found yet.

Happy week of Christmas.

more blogging and less facebooking

I have neglected this blog. Facebook is great but really can you be yourself, I say nope. You have friends, family, coworkers, etc. on FB and you really cannot afford to be too revealing. But blogging is different. No one knows my blog and hopefully they will not even know how to find it unless I croak and they get into my computer and figure it out. Oh well, I would not be that mean to write really bad things just my feelings here and there.

Today is a wonderful Saturday -- a little rainy, Christmas music, good coffee, wonderful ideas from many bloggers, making a list and eating my new found friend flavored oatmeal.

Have a wonderful day.

Grand girls doing what they do best.

Thankfulness

So thankful for freedom. There are many different kinds of freedom that we experience every day. I pray that we never have that taken away from us.

Everyone have a beautiful Thanksgiving Day.

Memory lane is fun.

Getting really excited to see my old friend Becky. It has been a long time, probably 25 yrs or more. We are meeting Friday the 5th in Las Vegas. Went through pics last Sat and had a great time with myself--laughing and remembering high school. Unfortunately I had no pics of Becky back in the day. Found all sorts of memorabilia from high school. I even have my panty hose from graduation, go figure. I think that was an accident that I kept them.  I listed all the gifts I received from graduation. A little money, slips, panties, luggage, shorts outfit, really odd things compared to today's standards except for the money. I am so glad I hung on to those things including the panty hose.

A little older today, well a total of 58 yrs.

Mom put this pic on Facebook, I really love this happy baby.

Had a great day, my 58th birthday today. Have been MIA on my blog page. Need to do some catching up.

Health is good. Diabetes getting under control. Children, grandchildren and Mom doing well. Job is good. Went to a 4 day 10 hr work week. Off on Monday, making it a 3 day weekend, who could ask for more. Planning a trip in a week and a half to Las Vegas to meet up with a girlfriend from high school who I have not seen in a long long time.  She lives in Seattle so we are meeting in LV for a long weekend. Then I must go on to San Francisco for the rest of the week because I can and you know I love to make every minute count.  Hope the weather is good. Looking forward to the trip.

Helped my Mom put a new waterbed mattress together yesterday. She has slept on a waterbed for probably 35 yrs or so. I had one for a long time as well. A lot of memories came back as we were draining and filling her mattress. Thankfully we did not have to mess with the frame. That was always a pain.

artist - Andrew Wyeth "Master Bedroom"  One of my favorite pictures.

Started a new blog a few days ago. This one is dedicated to my diabetes and diet. I am keeping a daily journal of my progress.

For those of you out there in your 50s and up, over weight and have high blood sugar, I encourage you to take a stand. You are the only one in control. I think I have been in denial for several months and it bit me on the butt. Everything is out of control on blood work. So I had to make a plan and a change.

So here is to health and happiness. Cheers. 

I am getting to the point where I do not like looking in the mirror. I am always surprised to see the jaw line dropping, the downward curve of the laugh lines, the little wrinkles above the lip, etc. I am sure you all know what I am talking about. I am 57 and wonder what I will look like at 77. I guess what really bothers me is the fact I still feel so young at heart. Maybe I should look in the mirror more often so there will not be any surprises, I will just get used to it gradually.  I probably would not feel so bad if the young girls at work would not say "do you feel OK", "smile" or my most unfavorite "you look tired". They usually say those things when I think I look pretty good!  What does it take to have them understand my face is a changing and the only thing I can do is visit the surgeon, plastic that is.

I don't think so, NO WAY.

Any suggestions?

Just do the best with what you know and have?

Just go with the flow and don't think about it.

Can you believe it is August 1st. Is it just me or is time moving very fast. It is not just the days but whole years that are passing in just a blink. Sometimes I worry about not keeping in touch with every second but is that really possible. I think I should just relax and have no worries. Try to spend each day not making enemies but making people happy.  Some days I am a little testy and cause others to get defensive. It is really not them but me, my reaction and my interaction with others is what is important. We all have a choice and that is how we respond to a situation.

Fountain statue in a little town off I-16 called Metter, GA.

Big house with wrap around porch and a live oaks for shade in historic Fernandina Beach, FL.

Had a wonderful 3 day weekend (17th-19th of July). Took a trip to Amelia Island, Florida. Just above Jacksonville and right below Brunswick, GA.  On this island there is Fernandina Beach and the historic town of Fernandina. Cute shops, ice-cream and a quaint harbor.  Also there is a wonderful state park, Ft. Clinch.  They had a pristine beach as all state parks do that have beaches. In the SP there were nature hikes, a great fort, lots of nature including bobcats. Just driving along to the beach I came upon a bobcat with his dinner.

Went to the park rangers and they verified it was a bobcat with a young racoon. It was really a great photo op.

Several sites of sea turtle nesting.

Of course I pack as much into a road trip as possible. On the way home stopped in the town of Brunswick, went over to St. Simons' Island and tried to find veggies in the little town of Metter, GA (no luck). Where are the farmers selling their wares?

Will post other pics when I have more time.

Summertime and the living is easy.

Went for a quick road trip with Mom. We left Sunday morning, the 4th and drove to Braselton where Chateau Elan winery is. We were going to the spend the night there but decided to save $100 and stay at the Hampton Inn in Commerce which was about 15 miles away. Fireworks were planned at the winery and overflow parking at Publix across the street. When we got back people were parked everywhere, even off the interstate. We drove down a bit from Publix which was still packed with cars. Found a place up on a hill in a small office park. Parked and waited. Unfortunately half of the firework display was behind trees but still could see plenty. Taking pictures is always fun.  Looking back I wish we had coughed up the extra 100 and stayed in the inn at the winery, oh well.  Mom and I were on the lookout for a fresh vegetable stand on the way home Monday but no luck. I think most people are selling their veggies at local Saturday markets in small town squares. On the way to Braselton stopped by Suwanee which is an adorable town. Great parks. All new shops, etc.  Decided to go the back roads home and came through Athens, GA (home of UGA, bulldogs). I could not get over how hilly the town was. I thought I was somewhere else, not Georgia.  Finally got to my daughter's and picked up grand girls. Today we are taking it easy and having fun at Grammy's house.

Freedom

I am so thankful to live in this country. My appreciation goes to every person who has protected my freedom and is still continuing to do. Our country may not be perfect but we have the freedom to work and strive towards perfection. I salute this country and all those men and women who have given their all to make it great.

Father's Day, a day to be thankful for your Father.

I wanted to think of things I remember about my Daddy.


-He loved the beach, Gulf of Mexico. He loved the sun. He was always tan. He loved

to fish. Before he passed he was working on a fiberglass sailboat. He wanted to

leave and just sail. I have some of those traits but mine would be on land just

traveling the world.

-He drank his coffee with Coffemate. I do the same and I add Splenda because I like

mine sweet and creamy. I still have his beat up stainless steel thermos.

-He had beautiful handwriting. He was a Civil Engineer and draftsman. They have

a special penmanship.

-He had beautiful feet. He took very good care of them. I get a pedicure every 2

weeks. He would have loved getting a pedicure.

-He could open the frig and make a meal out of nothing. Fried potatoes, cornbread

fritters, fried apples. I love fried potatoes, cornbread and fried apples.

-He hung his wash on the clothesline outside. One of the last times I saw him he had

all his whites hanging on a line.

-He loved his Mother. I loved his Mother as well. She could be an inspiration. She

read the Bible every day. He gave her an orchid corsage every Mother's Day.

-He always told me he loved me. We had a odd relationship after he separated from

my Mom but he always said he loved me.



I miss you Daddy, you will always be a part of me.

Just finished Yann Martel's "Beatrice and Virgil", he is the author of "Life of Pi".  He is such a fine writer. Takes you to a place you did not know existed. If you have not read these 2 books, please do.

Next reading a new one by Sue Miller, "The Lake Shore Limited".  She wrote "While I was Gone", an excellent book. 

Continuation of my Utah trip

This was sort of a basin that could hold rain water between 2 steep dunes.

Rock at dunes. Interesting pattern on it. Great rocks all over of different colors and formations.

At the Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park, Tina and I explored a bit by walking out on the dunes. Would have been great to have a dune buggy. There are 2,000 acres of dunes. Wow. Unbelievable. Tiny pieces of quartz make up the sand (not coral, coral is the color).

After exploring the dunes we took off for Bryce Canyon. Found a site at the campground in Bryce. Stayed for 2 nights. Had a great time exploring. Took some great hikes. Tina is in better condition than myself so she did more strenuous ones. I think if it had been cooler I could have gone down into the canyon and back up with no problem. Some people have a toss up between Bryce and the Grand Canyon, I personally do not think you can compare the two, they both are glorious. Gaelyn, I wanted to stop by the north rim but we ran out of time.  So close. I was disappointed.

Bryce Canyon NP

Simply beautiful. Love those hoodoos

My Utah Trip

Pink Coral Sand Dunes (west of Kanab)

Behind on my blog page. Been a little busy. Week before Memorial Day went to Las Vegas. This is really not my scene but had to have a starting place for southeast Utah road trip. My friend from work, Tina and I planned a camping trip to the beautiful National Parks of Utah. Flew in to LV. Picked up our car. We got upgraded to a brand new Mustang convertible with only 4.5 miles on it. We broke it in very well by putting 1500 on it. Took off the next morning to Zion spent 2 nights at a campground just outside the park. Lovely. Then off to Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park.

Las Vegas Strip

Zion NP

To be continued........

Happy Mother's Day

A bit of memorabilia from 40 years ago.

The reunion went very well.  There could have been more reminiscing. Everyone really looked good. Of course some have changed but some really looked so much the same.  We were all 57, 58. Hopefully we will have another one before we are too old.  I am sure you all have some sort of story about a reunion. I connected with a few old friends and that was great.  I was not disappointed. Pictures were a bit difficult to take with everyone milling about. 

Tonight is my 40th high school reunion. I certainly have mixed emotions. I truly could not decide if I wanted to go or not. Finally I thought this is crazy, how many times do you have a 40th, once. No one cares if you look like your high school picture or not because no one does. Sure we have some similarities but we are not 17 anymore. We were babies then with baby skin. I will certainly let you know how it goes. I will have no disappointments, no matter what.

Had a leader meeting at work last night. Boss lady kept asking us "any problems". I said that there was just too much talking to the patients using words like "sweetie, honey, hon, baby", you get the jest. I really had no idea it would be a big deal. I thought she would ask the 2 leaders to maybe say something to the MAs but instead after the meeting was over she said to me that next time I should just mention it to her. Whatever. I really think it should have been addressed. I know we are in the south but it is too much in a doctor's office. We can be warm and friendly but not sound condescending. Any opinions? 

Fresh day this morning. We had a terrific "wash the pollen away" day yesterday.  Everything is so nice and clean. Georgia has quite a bit of yellow pollen that falls for a couple of weeks from pine trees, so the rain is so very needed. Thankful for the new day.

Glorious Easter

Happy Easter my fellow bloggers. 

It was early on Sunday morning when Jesus came back to life, and the first person who saw him was Mary Magdalene--the woman from whom he had cast out seven demons.  Mark 16:9

John 3:16  "For God so loved the world that He gave his only Son so that anyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." 

We are like that lost lamb hanging on the side of a mountain. We just need to look up and let God hold us in his arms, safe and secure.

Tuesday very stressful.

Computer problems. Those words most of us do not want to hear especially when at work.  Tuesday was just awful. Our IT guy put in new switch box, and oh my what trouble it caused. Apparently some of the switches were bad or so they say and trouble started to brew. To make matters worse he decided to sit at my computer to start with and sad to say something happened, lost a program. Now this program is my lifeline (did not have anything to do with those D switches). Of course I had to spend the entire day on the phone and try to re-install which I did but the program I now have to use is different. Oh well, hopefully I can adjust. 

Amazing how we have come to depend on this technology. Even now I send out my thoughts using a computer. Good and not so good goes along with this.

All in all it really does make my work life better. 

St. Patrick's Day

The Shamrock


The shamrock, which was also called the "seamroy" by the Celts, was a sacred plant in ancient Ireland because it symbolized the rebirth of spring. By the seventeenth century, the shamrock had become a symbol of emerging Irish nationalism. As the English began to seize Irish land and make laws against the use of the Irish language and the practice of Catholicism, many Irish began to wear the shamrock as a symbol of their pride in their heritage and their displeasure with English rule.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

New Car

My New Car (well sort of)

Bought a new (2008) car yesterday. I had a 1996 Mecury Sable for 12 years. I put in a new transmission, new water pump, a new hose, tires a couple of times, oil changes of course, a couple of sensors (check engine light) and that was about it. I never had the spark plugs changed or a tune up and it ran like a champ. Lately there was almost no shocks and a strange noise was coming from the front when I turned the wheel a sharp turn to the right.  So I thought it is time to buy something new.  I had been looking on Craig's List, Auto Trader and local newspaper but not much I wanted. If the price was right there were too many miles. Went to a dealer and found a car- HHR by Chevrolet. I had driven these before and really liked the way they handle. So it was a done deal and they gave me $1,000 for my car which I felt like was OK, less trouble for me. So now I can feel much better when I head out on the road as well as a long drive like to the beach which I am so ready for.  Do not know what the HHR stands for, so I made something up "Hungry Hippo Ride".  That is the only thing that came to my mind.

HHR

Spring Cleaning

I am in the mood to spring clean just wish my stamina was there. I remember when I was younger I would clean and clean. No big deal. Just put on some music, open the windows and go to town. Now I seem to have too much stuff. I feel like my spring cleaning is more than just wiping, vaccuming, moving things around--I want to do some major downsizing, have a yard sale, move it out to somebody else's house. I know I am not the only one who feels this way but where do I start.

Oh well to work I go and dream about spring cleaning. Maybe I should start with my little office at work. I have a Swiffer in my drawer just waiting to dust.  Have a happy weekend.

Happy just dusting and cleaning.

I love these pics from allposters.com, I can always find something appropriate for my blog.

Taking responsibility for yourself.

One of my favorite children's books is "The Little Red Hen".   If no one will help then they will not get any bread.  I have a strong issue with mankind, that is be responsible for yourself.  Not only are you responsible and accountable for your actions but you should never do anything (at least consciously) to cause injury to another.  Why can't co-workers be responsible and stop passing the buck.  So back to the "The Little Red Hen", I really like her. She was also strong to her word. Pig, cow, etc did not get any bread.

Happy Birthday to my sweet grandgirl Addisun

Addisun is 3 years old today. She is quite a little character. Very strong willed, happy and smart as can be.  She has an 11 yr old sister who loves her but of course Addisun can be a bit rough. Hard to believe but she is tougher than Jorden ever thought about. What a difference in the two.  I love them both so much. What a joy it is to have grandchildren.

I love this picture.

Sunday Afternoon Drive, Hogansville, GA

I really love the paintings on the sides of buildings.

The Grand Hotel is built on the corner.

Took an afternoon ride to Hogansville, a very small town in Georgia.  Here are some really neat pictures taken right on main street. 

The Grand Hotel is really nice looking. http://www.thegrandhotel.net/welcome3.html It is a Bed and Breakfast. The Grand Hotel has a Tea Room which serves a traditional English Tea Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. They also have an old time Sweet Shoppe and Gift Shoppe featuring homemade fudge, chocolates, and candy apples.  Yum.  I will have to go back and check it out.

The town is 40 miles south of the Atlanta airport. In October they have a hummingbird festival. Nice website http://www.hummingbirdfestival.com/

Hope you enjoy my trips to some unique little towns in Georgia.