Picasa

I did this in Picasa. I have to play around with it but it was easy.

This and That

I have to vent.

Have you ever done something nice to help someone out maybe a relative and it comes back to bite you in the butt. Don't it just p!$$ you off. Back in the early spring I offered to help my cousin out by letting her stay with me while she tried to get back on her feet. I am single and live alone and Brenda is single and I thought we could actually help each other out. Things started going south in July/August and in September I asked her to move out. Then her sister passed away - if you remember I mentioned this in a blog. So me being the nice person I am have allowed her plenty of time to grieve and come get the stuff out of my house. She hasn't stayed at my house since the funeral sometime in Sept. Still as of today she still has not bothered to come up and get anything from my house. Clothes - brand new stuff with tags still on - and shoes - never worn and tons of other stuff including some furniture pieces. Her phone was disconnected for non payment so she can't be reached - don't know where she is staying and she hasn't seen her mother since the funeral. This girl has no morals either.

I have packed her stuff in big brown bags and am taking it to the front porch along with some furniture. I changed the locks too. I am putting out several bags a day till the porch is running over. Next week I am gonna call Goodwill to pick it up. Brenda has taken advantage of me and the situation. Why did I get myself into this situation. I hate confrontations. I don't do well in confrontations. All I wanted to do was to help her out of a bad situation.

Thank you for letting me vent. I just had to get this off my chest - then off my porch.

We are having some awesome weather here in the south. This is why I like living in Mobile Alabama. Temps in the 70's and lows in the 50's. Sunshine all day with pretty blue skies. I hope to get into the gardens this weekend between visiting.

My sister is here visiting from Salem Oregon. She is the baby girl - I have 2 sisters and 2 brothers with me being the oldest. There are festivals this time of year - maybe we'll check out the Greek Fest of maybe go the movies. Whatever it will be nice for me and the sisters to get together. Maybe little brother will want to tag along - we'll let him.

Mom and Pop are doing good for now. She is so happy - there were 2 eggs yesterday. Yeah the chickens may lay some eggs afterall. She has collected probably 25 egg cartons waiting for the big day to arrive when they all lay.

I had the pleasure of meeting a blog friend over the weekend. It was so nice to put a face with the blog. Kim just has the sweetest family.

Well I'm done now. Ya'll have a good day.

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween.

A Blog Friend Loses a Loved One

Some of you may have noticed on my sidebar a photo "Praying for Amy" - Amy passed away on Friday Oct 23. I have been following this blog for only a short while and I was checking daily for updates. I am so sad. I do not know this family other than the blog world. We become close to the people that we blog with. Amy seemed like such a vibrant and happy individual before becoming bed ridden with cancer. It is so sad to lose a young person to cancer. Cancer is no respector of persons. Continue to remember this family in prayer. You can visit Debbie's blog at http://debbie-jeremiah3017.blogspot.com/. Other family members blogs at http://countrywingsinphoenix.blogspot.com or http://purplegoatlady.blogspot.com or http://myarizonaangels.blogspot.com or http://penniwigs.blogspot.com All of these have left tributes to Amy.

A Good Vacation

Buddy is waiting to go on vacation.



Buddy got a haircut first. Then we are on our way.

After arriving at my daughters - we were off to Kohl's. This would be my first Kohl's visit. I was so impressed with the clearance racks. I can't wait to get some money to go back to Kohl's. Luci is ready for shopping.

We visited the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science in Jackson MS.

Ben at the helm.

Luci is showing off her boots. She said that she was doing a runway show for me modeling her boots. Cute as a button.

OK Buddy on to our last leg of the vacation.

Come on now - play with me. Buddy had loads of fun playing. He has Suzy at April's and Copper at Jimmy's.

Ethan loves to perform for the camera.

Ethan had to show off his costume and Buzz Lightyear.

The Natchez is in the background in New Orleans French Quarter.

I didn't load these pictures right and forgot some. Oh well.

Holidays are upon us.

Lovely arrangement to greet you at the door of the restaurant.

Jimmy and his wife Becky. Yeh we have the same name.

Wouldn't take nothing for the time with my family. It was a wonderful vacation. I sure thought I had a lot more photos. Does that ever happen to you?

Vacation

I am off to take some vacation time beginning tomorrow. First time I have taken actual vacation time in 5 years so I am really looking forward to this time off. I want be posting for the next week. Going to visit daughter - April in Byram MS and son Jimmy in Marrero LA. Get this they each live exactly 185 miles from me in different directions. Can't wait to see the grandbabies (they aren't babies but they are to me)and share some new photos.

Blooming Gold

Blooming gold Zinnia.


Blooming gold Dahlia.

These were planted in the spring and died back during the hot summer and now are bloomin again. Love those flowers that bloom more than once.

Have a great day.

Grieving

We are grieving the loss of Pop's youngest child and only girl. She was 47. She was found yesterday morning in bed. We do not know the cause of death. An autopsy is being performed. What a blow this was to both Mom and Pop. Angie lived across the road from them and visited almost daily. She will be sadly missed by her children and family.




Angie was a sweet person who would do anything for anybody. Her 2 boys ages 22 and 26 were still living at home with her and she had re-married less than 6 weeks ago.

Friday Fill-Ins

#145

And...here we go!

1. Sweet dreams I wish to my grandkids.

2. You did that especially for me.

3. Silliness makes me feel good and YOUNGER. (I need this)

4. I am looking for some trick-or-treaters this halloween.

5. Outstanding or not I did my best.

6. A good breakfast is what I want right now!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to a relaxing evening & some TV, tomorrow my plans include taking Buddy to the groomers and shopping maybe clean out a flower bed and Sunday, I want to visit Mom and Pop and enjoy a good Sunday meal!

I hope you all have a super good weekend.

http://fridayfillins.blogspot.com/2009/10/145.html

An Update on Mom

Many thanks to all of you for your comments, prayers and concern about my Mom. She is still experiencing a blockage when she swallows and there are more tests to be done. Today the doctors are running a light down the throat and esophogus looking for a blockage. There are more tests scheduled for next week though I am not sure what they are since she isn't sure what the doctor said. I am believing that whatever they find that it will be something minor and something that they can fix somehow real easy. I'll keep you informed. Again thank you and please keep the prayers coming.

My Pop saw the doctor Monday for tests to check his prostate cancer. He had treatments earlier this year and now need to know that the cancer is in remission. This is a strong man who kept on gardening through the spring and summer while going through treatments. Most of us would have given up on gardening and whatever else during treatments due to the side effects. Not Pop. Keep him in prayer as well.

Prayer

Keep my Mom in your prayers as we are waiting word on some tests.

The Lemonade Award

The Lemonade Award. I love awards.

Thank you Chicken Boys. Catch Randy and Mike the chicken Boys at http://chickenesque.blogspot.com/. It is always an honor when someone thinks your blog is worth noting with an award.

This award celebrates the ability to "see the blessings where they're not obvious, and making lemonade instead of complaining about sour lemons"!

I have to list a couple of things I am grateful for and then pass it on.

I am grateful that I have a good job - one in which I can excel and enjoy.

I am grateful that my mother is still here and let's me know it regularly. (just kidding - she is a sweet mom). I love my mom and Pop - don't know what I'll do when they are gone. Cry Cry Cry.

I am grateful that my children are both healthy. I am grateful for each grandchild and especially for Ethan. Ethan reminds us how precious life is and about fighting for life. You can read about him in earlier posts.

I am grateful that I still have all of my siblings.

I am just grateful.

I am passing this on to Denise at http://anenglishgirlrambles.blogspot.com/ and Bennie and Patsy at http://bennie-thesmiths.blogspot.com/.

Hope all of you have a great Monday.

Yellow Zinnia

I thought it was a little sunshine in my gardens at first glance. A yellow Zinnia. This is the only one in there right now but I'm sure more are to follow. What a nice arrangement this makes with the pink ones in a vase.

Hope you are having a good day.

Friday Fill-Ins

#143

Graphic courtesy of Tonya at fridayfillins.blogspot.com

And here we go...

1. One week ago I was in the doctors office.

2. I had a lot of energy when I was young.

3. Mama told me to she would always be there for me.

4. I said a prayer for you and me.

5. Take you time completing a test.

6. Hopefully this heat will pass soon.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to a quiet evening at home with my little Buddy, tomorrow my plans include a trip to WalMart and a party (yea), and Sunday, I want to go to church with my Aunt.

Well thats my seven. Hope you all have a great weekend.

Winner - 100th Post Give-Away

Congratulations to Jennifer at: http://goatsinthegarden.blogspot.com. Cruise on over and check out this blog. Jennifer and husband have a farm and have lots of goats.

I am so grateful to have made so many friends in blog world. I never thought of myself as a blogger till I came across some garden blogs by accident and I am hooked now. A place where we can share gardening tips, show off our stuff and share our joys and our disappoints and trials. What a great place to be.

Five Random Words

Five random words is a fun game in which someone sends you five words to you respond to. I saw this on Terra's blog at terragarden.blospot.com. Terra sent me 5 random words and here they are. Hope you want to join in the fun too.

My five random words are:

Autumn - The colors of fall in the trees are so pretty and I just love this time of year.

Laugh - I laugh now but didn't when my then 12 year old son thought he could drive his sisters car and mowed down 5 of our neighbors mail boxes.

Dig - I need to be digging in my flower beds and setting out new stuff.

Blue - I love the cloud formations on a blue sky.

Mystery - I like to ready a good mystery book.

If you want to join in send me your email and I will send you five words. Have a great weekend.

A Book I Won

I won! Look what came in my mailbox. It is so nice to open the box and find something for me instead of sale brochure and bills. I won this at terragarden.blogspot.com. Head on over and check out her blog. I promise you won't be disappointed. She is also a co-author of her very own book - 'A Scrapbook of Christmas Firsts'.


Thank you Terra.

100th Post Give-Away

I can't believe that I have made my 100th post. So I am having a give-away. The give-away will be Zinnia seeds and a cute flower pitcher and something for your little table that I found at Sage Consignment (a resale shop). Leave a comment and I will draw on Thur Sept 24.

I just received a call and my first cousin just passed away a half hour ago. Now I am the oldest of 36 grandkids of my maternal grandmother. This family has known so much sadness and death. Diane (who passed away) lost her daughter less than a year ago from suicide. Diane lost her brother many years ago. Diane's lost her father a year and half ago. Memories of me and Diane growing up flood my mind. I remember we would stay the night together and stay up late putting on makeup and teasing our hair and talking about boys. Keep this family in your prayers.

An Azalea Blooming in September?

This is out of season. I have lived here all my life and I have never seen an azalea bloom this time of year. I remember after Hurricane Fredrick hit Mobile in 1979 many things began to leaf out and bloom out of season due to the trees and plants being burned from the extreme winds. Yes everything appeared as though they were burned.

Anyway just wanted to share this extremely rare azalea. It didn't bloom like this last year.

Hope you all have a great weekend and get out and do something for fun. I am.

Help Me!

How do I get rid of the pink in my header? I have looked at everything 3 and 4 times and don't see where to change the color from "ugly pink".