TAG YOU ARE IT

BEFORE I ANSWER MY TAG, LET ME REMIND EVERYONE TO WATCH FOR MY GRANDSONS IN THE PASEDENA ROSE PARADE TOMORROW. THEY ARE WITH THE BROKEN ARROW OKLAHOMA PRIDE BAND. MY GRANDSON RYAN WILL BE EASY TO SPOT BECAUSE HE IS ON THE LAST ROW WITH THE BIGGEST DRUM. DILLON IS FOUR ROWS UP ON A BARITONE BUT WILL BE DIFFICULT TO PICK OUT. WE ARE VERY, VERY EXCITED!!!!!!

I was tagged by Riot Kitty who says F_ _ _ _ a lot, and I’ve always admired a woman wo can say F _ _ _ _ with confidence. (Just don't confuse me with being a radical liberal like RK. I am a moderate who agrees to disagree.) Oops, is that a random thing?

so now here you all are:

1. Link to the person who tagged you.
2. Post the rules on your blog.
3. Write six random things about yourself.
4. Tag six people at the end of your post and link to them.
5. Let each person know they’ve been tagged and leave a comment on their blog.
6. Let the tagger know when your entry is up.

My six:
1.) I was a bootlegger when I was 19 years old.

2.) Over a 26 year period I attended NINE colleges to receive an associate degree, a bachelor’s equivelant and one semester of graduate school. This leaves too many teams to root for during football and basketball season.

3.) I have been a Methodist since the day I was born.

4.) I am firmly convinced that my children (That includes godchildren and step-daughter and son-in-law) are the smartest and most talented group of people in the world with eight grandchildren following closely in their footsteps.)

5.) I could be guilty of loving my spouse way too much.

6.) I cannot explain God but I am positive She exists.

I’m not sure about tagging others because many do not participate in these memes. Let me simply say “Go for it” and tell me if you participated so I can read your responses. Basically, if you are reading this, consider yourself TAGGED:)

IMAGINE AND HOLIDAY MUSH

Click to enlarge sunrise photo take from my kitchen window. Have I got a view or what?

Kenju says, "memes are good for when your brain is mush, right?" So I took this from her here, which she got here, because it was linked to from here! Those in bold are things I have done.

1. Started my own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band.
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than I can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sung a solo.
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched lightning at sea
14. Taught myself an art from scratch.
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty.
18. Grown my own vegetables.
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France.
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitchhiked
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill.
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset (see recent above)
31. Hit a home run.
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of my ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught myself a new language. (Pig Latin)
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke.
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had my portrait painted (does charcoal count?)
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud.
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies.
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check (accidentally)
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy.
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial.
71. Eaten caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square.
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job .
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle.
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book.
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had my picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House.
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating.
88. Had chickenpox.
89. Saved someone’s life (Someone saved mine)
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake.
97. Been involved in a law suit (corporate not personal)
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee.
100. Ridden an elephant

How many have you done? Feel free to steal this and do your own.

NEW YEAR GREETINGS FROM NOL-NOC ESTATES

2009 approaches and all is well on NOL-NOC Estates. The lovely graphic above is from a raggedy quilt my sil Elaine made me for my 60th birthday. NOL-NOC stands for "No One's Looking -- No One Cares", cause on this farm we don't put on airs.

Yesterday we traveled to my daughters for another Christmas celebration. The meal and fellowship with family was wonderful and, as an added bonus we got to bring our 14 year old grandson Michael home with us. Perhaps his parents had an ulterior motive in sending him. They also sent his new electric guitar that Santa brought him. Hum???

I'll try to keep up my reading but have a feeling Michael will occupy my computer until next year so I probably won't post until 2009.


Michael is ready to bring in New Year with his homemade spud shooter that ignites with hairspray and sounds like a sonic boom.

Daughter's lovely family minus dogs Anna and Heidi and cats Pinky and Simon. Oh, and new robot dog named Biscuit.

Proud grandparents with the fam. Son-in-law taking photo.

Daughter waves farewell to Christmas 2008.

THE LIGHT OF CHRISTMAS

"The Christ child created kinship among Jew and Greek, slave and free, male and female, heaven and earth*. Christmas calls everyone to the family table to feast alongside our brother Jesus and all our siblings in the family of God. Christmas is a family like no other." Wm. Loyd Allen, Upper Room Discipline, December, 2008

And I would add home and cyberspace:)


MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!

EARLY YEAR IN REVIEW

Terri, our oldest in San Diego, sent her oldest off to college this year. Oh my gosh, we have a grandson in college!!!

Tandy, our son in Tulsa, sends his boys off next week to the Rose Bowl Parade in Pasedena. Their entire year has been devoted to this effort. (Hopefully his daughter will get some attention next year:)

Chelle, our Missouri daughter, will be moving her family to Oklahoma. Her husband got the job he applied for and it will be wonderful for them to be Okies! We hope he will get to see his family more with his new job!

Jessi, my goddaughter in LA managed to surface from her auto accident unscathed and got word that she also survived the COST, as the Lexus driver settled for what her insurance would pay. The money was a big deal to her but the fact that she was not injured was the big deal to the rest of us. We were glad she had Joe there to help her through all the trails and tribulations and need for transportation!

Travis, my godson, took Christiane on a hike this year and managed to propose on a mountain top without any help from us. (He's the one who couldn't order his own hamburgers at McDonalds.) He had her engagement ring custom made and he kept the whole thing secret until the deed was done. We all love her so and are excited for them. They will be married July 4, 2009 in Germany.

If the weather permits, we might have another Christmas celebration tomorrow. We have been invited for lunch at Chelle's tomorrow in Missouri and I can't wait.

I hope everyone read ILYB yesterday with this post by Cliff. Remember to check it every day for something new.

Oh yes, Ron won enough at the Casino yesterday to recoup all our costs of the day!

Blessings and love to all tomorrow who gather at a table to feast on Christmas memories and establish new traditions that will blend with the old.

OVER FORTY YEARS

We have been together ten years and today marks our 9th anniversary of marriage. Entry from 2005 tells the story on post titled THIS DAY.

We're taking the day off and heading for the Casino. Since we had such luck with the marriage and the pearl, who knows what might happen next.

People ask us often how long we've been married and when we ask them to guess, they usually guess over 40 years.

IT'S HIS TURN

My sister gave us this lovely little ice skating scene. It was fun to open and fun to set up (at least for Ron who watched Sis and I put it together). The skaters are placed above magnets, the scene is plugged in, music plays, lights go on and the skaters begin to move around the frozen pond. It is delightful.

Sis brought one for Bro too. We set mine up so he and sil could see what it was and not have to open theirs until they got home.

This morning Bro called Sis. He told her that he now knows what it's like to get coal in his stocking. The box was empty! It seems Sis had purchased the last two skating scenes in the store and one was the display. She purchased and wrapped an empty box for our brother.

Now they are even. Why?

Several years ago my brother and sil ordered family photos for their Christmas cards. When they received their order they found a family card included of complete strangers. The card was accidentally placed in their order. They sent it to my sis and bil with a note about remembering all the good times and telling them they would see them in the New Year. Sis and bil had no idea who these people were and they frantically tried to remember, asking everyone if they knew the strange family. Finally bro confessed.

Now you know why they are even.

As always I am the innocent bystander:)
Just don't ask anyone about April Fools Day!

CHRISTMAS EARLY CHRISTMAS GREAT!

Left to right, Bro, Sil, Me, Sis, Bil, Cuz, Son, Grandkids on front row.

Nephew visits NOL-NOC Estates for the first time! Joy To The World!

Cuz from Georgia shares wonderful Christmas with family.

Ma with no kerchief and Pa with no cap but finally the old folks might get a nap!

Christmas comes when invited. As my children were growing up and they shared Christmas between my home and their dad's, I learned that December 25th is not the only day to feel the spirit of Yuletide.

Yesterday we not only celebrated with family, we heard from all the rest via mail, email and telephone.

Hope your celebrations are as grand as ours was yesterday.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!

MAYBE I CAN DO THIS

Click on my graphic on the sidebar titled "I Love Your Blog" to see what I think is especially unusual, interesting, clever or funny. You will find a post that captured my attention. I will try to change it every day. While I don't have time to post right now, I do try to take a few minutes to keep my reading up. Today it might be your blog post or maybe yours will be tomorrow.

ORGANIZATION

Slim and I both are having a difficult time getting organized for Christmas. I've got seven days to prepare to host a small family gathering, so I'll be absent for a while. For some reason Ron has kicked into high gear and is getting a lot done. I must attempt to keep pace. Don't forget me -- I'll see you later my friends:)

INTRUDER ELIMINATION

We were ready for bed when Slim sounded the alarm. I let her out and heard the squawking ruckus in the hen house. Ron grabbed his gun and I grabbed the flashlight. I held the flash light on our prey while Ron blasted it to kingdom come. No chickens were harmed in the making of this blog post. We are a well oiled team of three -- Annie Oakley, Doc Holiday and Rin Tin Tin.

IF YOU'VE GOT EM SMOKE EM

Anyone voting for Barack Obama for President (which I did not as you well know but who I support as elected President ) knew that he was a smoker. It did not seem to be a big deal. Now he says he won’t smoke in the White House. Who cares? He will be President of The United States and smoking is legal and it is the privacy of his own home.

I do not smoke but I used to. Four days on morphine in the hospital after my heart attack cured me. I mean it really totally completely cured me. I walked out of the hospital not desiring to smoke and the desire has not returned. It was a Mackerel!

However, prior to this major and miraculous event I had tried to stop smoking on my own and failed each time. While I was trying to stop I turned into the meanest and most confused soul on earth. Personally I do not want the President struggling to solve major world issues and concentrating on the need for his nicotine at the same time. Can he put Russia or China or Korea or Iran on hold on the red telephone as he heads outside for a puff or two?

Now the media will stalk him trying to catch him with a smoke. It will be front page on the tabloids. We will probably treat him worse over that tobacco than we did Clinton and his cigar!

JAMIE, JAMIE, JAMIE

The December "Color Me Who" contest picture was of Kenju (Judy) of the Blog Imagine from a picture posted October 21, 2008. Be sure and read her blog if you haven't and thank her for being a good sport by allowing me to use my drawing of her.

The December "Color Me Who" contest winner is: Jamie Dawn of Jamie Dawn's Mindless Blather. JD, you have won an Eaghl Markering of a picture of your choice. I know millions will want to congregate on your blog to congratulate you.

The participants in this contest for December were: Jamie Dawn, Mary, Linda, Brian, Marla and Nancy (kind of). Nancy guessed who the picture was of but failed to name the blog name and the date. Her answer was a typical Nancy answer, she simply emailed me " Judy, Judy, Judy". Visit these participants and get to know them.

Start sharpening your pencils for the January contest and thanks again for playing along.

SPEAKING OF LIPSTICK

My sister, Elenore, has always been obsessed with grooming. A woman of style, she rarely allows herself to be seen without make-up, nice outfit, great hair. If she is reading this she's shaking her head and saying "Not true" but believe me, it's true.

Elenore was constantly getting after our mother to put on lipstick. Mother would do so reluctantly but we all loved the result because adding a little color to mother's face seemed to make her natural beauty pop.

Yesterday my sister and bil were returning home from a weekend at their cabin. We had talked on the phone and Elenore had bragged about sitting around in her pajamas the entire time. I was glad she could relax because their home is grand central station where even strangers show up unannounced and are welcomed in.

We had a brief visit while their dog Tikka ran and played with dog-cousin Slim. It is nice to be on Sis's path of travel when they have been to their cabin. We always have a fresh pot of coffee ready if we know they are coming.

This morning I noticed Elenore's coffee cup from the day before still on my kitchen counter. On the rim was a little lipstick imprint. I laughed because I could just see her right before they entered our house, adjusting their rear view mirror and slapping on some color!


Okay my friends, remember you still have until 5:00 PM CST today to enter the December "Color Me Who?" contest.

HAPPY WEEKEND HUNTING

Yesterday I posted the final clue for the December "Color Me Who?" Contest.

You now have the weekend to search and post your answers before 5:00 PM CST on Monday Dec. 8, 2008. Click on the December contest graphic on the sidebar to be reminded of the contest rules. When you find this blogger and the photo in question, take a minute to read her blog. You are gonna love her.

ALL CLUES:

FIRST CLUE: This blogger has had over 108,000 visitors to her blog and she has 134 bloggers on her friends list.
SECOND CLUE: You can find this blogger in North Carolina surrounded by flowers.
THIRD CLUE: The picture this was drawn from is in one of the blogger’s October posts.
FINAL CLUE: You will find the contest blog between my 25th and 27th name on Blogger Buddies list. Can you Imagine?

Remember to tell me in the comment section that you are going to send your guess in an email so I can be watching for your answer in case it accidentally goes into my spam.

For a delightful and touching story, go to my cousin's blog and read about The Butterfly And Mother.

For some great information about Affiliate Marketing Scams go to General Information blog and read THIS POST.

DON'T MAKE ME GO BACK!

My physical therapy for my shoulder has been great. It has not taken long for PT to give me relief from the accident that took place on July 7, 2008. My pain could have been alleviated much sooner if only my skills had been good enough to get past the doctor's bully nurse. Next I had to get x-rays, MRI and referrals ot specialists from insurance.

What has been the biggest problem with two days a week of PT? Not the exercises. They have been great and helped so much. The problem has been having to be somewhere at a certain time on such a regular basis. That has been too much like going to work.

My days in the workplace of Corporate USA ended in June, 2000. At first I actually missed being gainfully employed. How do you miss getting dressed up five days a week and trudging off to your 9-5? It was a habit. I was a robot of routine. Now my routine is whatever. The animals (spouse included) are fairly demanding about their meals but even they will wait for me to get moving.

We believe we are secure for the future, but if worse would come to worse, would my memory serve me well enough to return to banking? And do you think they would let me wear jeans and loose flannel shirts to work and keep a box of baby chicks under my desk?


Okay my friends, today is the final clue for the December "Color Me Who?" Contest.

You will find the contest blog between my 25th and 27th name on Blogger Buddies list. Can you Imagine?

You now have the weekend to search and post your answers before 5:00 PM CST on Monday Dec. 8, 2008. Click on the contest graphic on the sidebar to be reminded of the contest rules and to see all of the clues. When you find this blogger and the photo in question, take a minute to read her blog. You are gonna love her.

IS FIFTY THE SEASON FINALE?

We have enjoyed the totally insane TV show BOSTON LEGAL and this is the final season. It seems they are dropping the bar as they bring this to a close. However on Sunday evening they hit a home run as they used 85 year old Betty White’s character to raise an interesting fact about television programming.

The largest group of television viewers are over 50 but the majority of the programs are geared for younger people. According to the BOSTON LEGAL storyline that is because younger folks need reality TV that doesn’t require a lot of concentration and they can play on their cell phones, game boys, and ipods, etc., while a program is on.

Assuming this information from a TV show is true, why wouldn't the producers of television shows try to appeal to their largest audience? Why aren't advertisers of products for the 50+ raising questions? I knew there wasn’t much on Network TV that appealed to me but I didn’t think of it as age discrimination.

Tell me if you are in age group 20-30 or 30-40, 40-50, 50 plus and let's hear what your favorite programs are on NBC, CBS, PBS Fox and ABC.

(I'm 50+ and the only show I truly hate to miss is Two And A Half Men, Monday at 8:00 CST. With five grandsons and two being raised by their dad, I've just got to love Jake!)



December “Color Me Who” contest clue for today is: The picture this was drawn from is in one of the blogger’s October posts.

To catch up, all the clues and the contest rules are listed on the sidebar under the contest markering.

SAILORS AND UMBRELLAS

My grandfather put me on a bus when I was twelve to send me home. He was very nervous about his granddaughter traveling alone but the bus was only stopping in small towns and I promised to remain in my seat on the bus. I also promised not to speak to strangers. From my window seat I was waving at Grandfather feeling a bit sad to leave my grandparent’s home after a week of being spoiled. As I was waving a look of terror come across my grandfather’s face. I turned to see a handsome sailor taking the seat next to me. Needless to say, I smiled but Grandfather started moving toward the bus door as the bus started moving out of the station leaving my dear helpless grandfather staring at our dust.

That nice sailor talked to me telling many interesting stories, was very polite and I fell in love that day.

High school yielded many trips with various organizations and my mother always chaperoned. There was an annual FHA (Future Homemakers of America) trip that kept us overnight and we got to stay in a big city hotel. There was a Navy training station nearby and it seems the hotel was always teeming with handsome sailors. My mother would sit outside our hotel door in the hallway with her umbrella. She planned to use that to fight off the sailors. If we had been allowed a choice we would have been sneaking out or sneaking those guys in our room like crazy.

I was fifty-two years old when I met Ron. I knew he was retired from the Navy but you would have thought he was still on active duty. He had many tales of the sea and captured my heart with his stories. Ron joined the Navy in 1957 and could have been my sailor on the bus from my childhood. My parents met him and both liked him but my mother was leery. Her first threatening words to my new fellow were, ”I still have an umbrella and know how to use it.”


By the way, have you met Khia? You should go HERE to get acquainted with this magnificent fellow.


Today’s contest clue: You can find this blogger in North Carolina surrounded by flowers.

DENTIST BIL

My tooth blew up on Sunday night. What is a person to do? This person is fortunate to have a BIL (Brother-In-Law) who is a Dentist. And, not just any Dentist -- he is the world's greatest dentist!

Monday morning I was in his office (one hour away) before he opened his doors. My sister was helping in the office yesterday which is not always a good thing. When she assists chair side she tends to place the suction thingy in my ear or nose. I certainly hope she doesn't do that to other patients!

It turned out to be quite a morning and my sister joined me in my travels from BIL's office to his Endodontist friend to learn of pending root canal and back to BIL's office for filling in decayed tooth.. If there are two people who should not be left unattended my sister and I would be those two. We were off to reek havoc over three states, Oklahoma, Kansas and Missouri, and people felt safe in their homes never knowing what was unleashed near them.

I can't think of a better way to close out the holidays than having your dental health cared for by the best and then getting to run amok with your craziest friend sister. Thanks you guys!!!

Okay, here is the first clue on the December "Color Me Who?" Contest. This blogger has had over 108,000 visitors to her blog and she has 134 bloggers on her friends list.

DECEMBER "COLOR ME WHO?" CONTEST

DECEMBER “COLOR ME WHO?” CONTEST

I drew this "Markering" coloring page from a blog listed on my Blogger Buddies. Your challenge is to search the blogs to find this picture and tell me:

1.) The name of the blog it came from
2.) The name of the person in the picture
3.) The date picture was posted on the blog

Your name will be entered in the drawing five times if you guess correctly without any clues, four times if you guess correctly after first clue, then three after second, two after third and one after final.

Tell me in the comment section that you are going to enter a guess then email your guess rather than post it in the comments.

The winner of the contest will receive an Eaghl Markering coloring page of a photo of their choice. The chance to guess ends December 8, 2008.

Good luck!

I have permission of the blogger to use this image from their blog.

All Clues:

FIRST CLUE: This blogger has had over 108,000 visitors to her blog and she has 134 bloggers on her friends list.

SECOND CLUE: You can find this blogger in North Carolina surrounded by flowers.

THIRD CLUE: The picture this was drawn from is in one of the blogger’s October posts.

FINAL CLUE: You will find the contest blog between my 25th and 27th name on Blogger Buddies list. Can you Imagine?

GRANDSON'S CLEVER PHOTO COLLAGE

HAPPIEST OF THANKSGIVING GREETINGS!

I wish I could show you this cake unwrapped but it must not be uncovered until tomorrow. It is an Orange Slice fruit cake and it is full of orange slice candy, dates, coconut and nuts. My mother only made this a couple of times when I was a kid, but I loved it and always begged for it.

What is your menu for Thanksgiving? Here is ours:

Appetizers = Chilled jumbo shrimp in Ron's famous seafood sauce.

Dinner = Ribs and Sauerkraut, potatoes, onions, carrots, smoked turkey, baked sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, dinner rolls.

Dessert = Orange cake, Apple/Pineapple sheet cake, Banana pudding, Pecan Pie

We will give thanks for those who plant their feet at our table and all those we love who are celebrating throughout the USA. Also we will give thanks for those who left us our traditions as part of their legacy -- like my mother who would have been 93 years old today.

R.I.P. CHRIS 1991 - 2008

My son called with the sad news that Chris died yesterday. He found her curled up peacefully with their dog in the utility room. This seventeen year old gal was my son and his children's best friend and she always knew who was sad and needed comforting. Ryan, almost 16, especially adored Chris. It was amazing to read Renie Burghardt's World story about her cat on her blog today. If you can take the tears, you must go read it.

ADRENALINE SURGE WITHOUT SPORTS

Football was everywhere this weekend. Most people I know got their adrenaline fix as their team won or lost. My fix came with a sure winner.

JACK IS BACK!

Last night my loving spouse turned the TV to Fox and left the den (giving up his history channel for ME!). Slim and I settled in for two hours of 24 REDEMPTION and the return of Jack Bauer.

It was a delicious taste needing only more of one ingredient, more Jack. Now we have to wait until next year, January 11, 2009, to get back in the swing of things. WhooHoo! Huzzah!

Take a minute and go back HERE to see added pictures showing grandsons then and now. But first look at their beautiful sister pictured below.

TREASURE BOX

A blogger asks, "What is the oldest item you own that has been in continuous use since you got it? Tell us what it is and why you have kept it for so long."

This is what I found. This is a picture box my grandmother gave to me in the 60's and it has always been on my dresser or out in my home somewhere. It contains the old photographs that were in it when I got it and I have added special pictures and other little items of my own treasured memories.

P.S. I heard from my dear daughter yesterday and she was a sick little puppy. She hadn't been in touch because she was trying to stay on track with her responsibilities while battling the YUKS at the same time. She finally needed to hear her mommy say, "Bless it's little heart."

AT&T Cried Wolf:

We cannot have wireless internet. The connect card came (to the wrong address -- they sent to Tulsa) and I installed it today and after five technicians told me it would work and tried to get it to work, the end message was "The profile you have requested requires a channel technology that is not currently available." Am I sad? Somewhat but life goes on -- slowly but better than nothing. tears, tears, drippy, droppy tears.

WHERE OH WHERE HAS MY LITTLE GIRL GONE?

I CALL HER MY MYSTICAL MAGICAL PRINCESS!

My daughter is currently invisible. She is Mighty Mom and her activities take her out of the realm of contact. This morning reading a blog post on mall shopping brought my little girl to mind. We bonded on shopping sprees and as broke as she kept me, I miss those moments.

We did see her last week when she brought the kids for the weekend. She spent the night and I loved catching up on all I could before she was up early the next morning and on her way home. When she picked up the kids our other company was here so my daughter just grabbed her kids and ran.

There is nothing but pride in the knowledge that she is taking care of her family. She works in the public school system and she manages and maintains a beautiful home inside and out. She is dedicated to supporting her spouse in all his endeavors but she does not give up her independent spirit. Of course she is a taxi service for her 14 year old son and her 6 year old daughter and those kids are involved in many church and school activities.

Yes, my son is a busy and devoted parent also but he lives close and comes here almost every weekend to work for Ron so we can keep up with him and the children. My daughter simply becomes so overwhelmed that she goes outside the radar and I miss her lots.

SELF INFLICTED ROTISSERIE

Every day I learn something new about our chickens. They must originate from India because they can walk over hot coals. Actually hot burning brush piles. What they won't do for a bite of food! You would think we never feed them. Ron has been clearing brush and burning it and I have watched out the window as the chickens flock to the fire and climb all over it while it is smoldering. I guess they prefer their bugs toasted. They eat like pigs. I think the expressions should have been "they eat like chickens".

Now, my dear friends, here this bit of news. In 4 to 5 days I shall have (hold onto your hats) HIGH SPEED INTERNET!!! Talking to our friends from Kentucky who live in a rural area near the lake, I wondered how they had high speed. Judy said they have a wireless card from AT&T.

Now most of you know that I have followed up on every piece of marketing mail from AT&T and others telling me that I can't have high speed Internet. The only response has been, "sorry, not where you live."

I called AT&T yesterday and told the tale of my friend having it in Kentucky and why couldn't I have it and the response was a simple, no hassle, "You can".

"WHAT??? Why hasn't anyone ever told me this on my many phone calls to AT&T?"

"I don't know." Mary said. Mary is the AT&T salesperson who signed me up and also reduced my home phone service and if this works well we will transfer our cell phones to AT&T. PLUS, we have Mary's direct line and she will help us when we make changes. Mary is my new best friend!

This service is not cheap but it is not as expensive as Satellite and I will drop my current Internet dial up service plus with my lowered phone bill, it's all good. AND we have 30 days to try it then return it for full refund if it doesn't work in this area.

When I told my sister she was as happy as I am and said, "I feel like you're calling to say you just had a baby -- you've waited so long for this!"

FANFARE PLEASE

The Broken Arrow High School Band made it into the Finals at Grand Nationals in Indianapolis!!!

They were thrilled when it was announced that they were in the semi-finals. Then they were hysterical when they learned they made it into the Finals. Out of the twelve bands that placed in the Finals, Broken Arrow won SIXTH Place. Initially I felt a sense of sadness when the adults seemed sorrowful that Broken Arrow didn't get First. Then the kids hit the scene with total bliss that they even made the FINALS among some true quality bands and even placed Sixth to boot. They knew true honor and true sportsmanship. Plus they had a great time. I am even prouder of The Pride:)

Now, let's talk about banana strings. All bananas have strings. Some have more than others. Does anyone know why? Does anyone eat them? Is there anything we can do with them if we save them? Just wait one cotton pickin' minute.....why am I talking about food again?

EASY SINFUL CASSEROLE

First candy and now this recipe. You can tell I've got the hungries. Actually my son is here and I always try to fix my children their favorite things. This is one of his and, believe-you-me, it is not on the healthy food list. However I did use reduced calorie soup and light sour cream. (The real butter probably negated those things:-)

Poppy Seed Chicken
(Recipe stolen from my sister -- Thanks Sis!)

5-6 large boneless chicken breasts
2 cans of cream of chicken soup
16 ounces of sour cream
2 t. Poppy seeds
Salt and Pepper
2 sleeves of Ritz crackers, crushed
2 sticks butter, melted

Cut chicken breasts in half. Boil in water with salt and pepper until chicken is done. Shred chicken and place in large bowl. Mix in soup, sour cream and poppy seeds. Pour into greased casserole dish or 9x13x2 inch cake pan.

Mix crushed crackers with melted butter. Sprinkle cracker mixture evenly on top of chicken mixture. Bake in 350 degree oven for about 30-45 minutes or until hot and bubbly.

Enjoy!

WHAT'S IN YOURS?

What is in your candy dish? What do you wish was in your candy dish? Do you have to hide your candy dish? Who in your family had the best candy dish ever?

My candy dish has fruit slice candy. I wish I had some circus peanuts too. Yes, we have to hide our candy from ourselves. My paternal grandparents had the best candy dish ever and the best cookie jar too.

ALWAYS THE PRIDE

These are my first born grandsons. Now they are in high school and both successfully were accepted as members of The Pride Of Broken Arrow band. Right now these boys are with their band in Indianapolis competing in National. For family members that might wonder, yes the boys are standing on THE ROCK:)

My son (their proud father) writes:

As most of you know the boys are in the Pride of Broken Arrow Marching Band. They love being in the band and have become important members of the organization. The band has won by a landslide all of the competitions that they have competed in, most recently the 6A Oklahoma Band Masters State Marching Band Competition. This means that in the 6A category they are the top band in the state. The show this year is simply amazing. Two years ago the band won the national championship in Indianapolis. Everyone I have talked to says that the show this year is even better than the show that won the national title. I am very proud of my two sons and all of their friends who make up this outstanding group.

For those of you who would like to see the band online you can find video of past performances on YouTube.com by entering Pride of Broken Arrow in the search field.

Did I mention that I am in The Pride also? The Pride of Grandparents:) The boys are also family pride receiving family support from aunts and uncles and cousins for their trip to the Rose Bowl Parade in Pasedena!!!! Be ready to watch for them then.

GUESTS

Wayne with Binky

Judy with Bitsy aka Lil' Bit

We have enjoyed six days of guests. The grandchildren arrived first then our friends from Kentucky. Grandchildren left on Sunday and our friends left this morning heading for a two month visit in California. It was totally an exhausting good time.

I was the queen of the kitchen and enjoyed preparing delicious meals for everyone. In return Wayne and Judy took us to the casino last night and bought us a very elegant meal. They played the poker machines and we basically watched, spending only $10 and winning $5 of that back.

Our dogs got along well and Slim was a very good hostess to Bitsy after they both got over the initial jealousy. Binky couldn't play with the dogs because he is in failing health. This is a 19 year old doggy companion of Wayne's and they are planning to have Binky put to sleep when they arrive in California. He will be buried with his siblings. He is the oldest surviving liter mate of nine. I can't think of ever seeing a small dog like this living such a long time. It was very sad to watch them go and know that we would not see Binky on their return trip.

Now Ron and I can once again be creatures of habit and return to Netflix for me and tractoring for him.

It was great to see everyone come -- and great to see everyone go:-)

TODAY WE HONOR THEM

America's Wars Total *

U.S. Military Service During War................41,891,368
Battle Deaths................................................651,030
Other Deaths (In Theater)...............................308,800
Other Deaths in Service (Non-Theater).............230,279
Non-mortal Woundings................................1,431,290
Living War Veterans..................................17,456,000
Living Veterans (War & Peacetime)............23,442,000

*Source: Department of Defense (DoD), except living veterans, which are VA estimates as of Sept. 2008.

More Veteran facts here

(Two of those honorable Veterans are in this house today and have been talking non-stop for five days. They speak a language only other Veterans can translate.)

CONGRATULATIONS!

AND THE WINNER IS.................RACHEL of Sliding Through Life.

In case Rachel hasn't seen this post, you might go over to her blog and tell her that she won.

Bonnie, Scarlet, Jessi, Rachel and Marla were the participants. Thank you all for entering the contest and congratulations Rachel. Let me know for what picture you would like a coloring page.

Our grandchildren Michael and Hope handled the drawing. I didn't tell them that Aunt Jessi was in the hat or they might have tried to rig the election:-)

Oh yes, the important part: Here is the post we were guessing. Special thanks to Jamie Dawn for letting me use her blog picture. Here is the contest rules if you missed it.

SPEAKING OF ART

You have never seen me without my wig. This is as close as you're gonna get. Here is my grandson's artistic rendering of his Granny Annie at her leisure. Never fear, I do not walk around with a bloody cleaver in my hand. A whip, yes, cleaver, no. Isn't he a fantastic artist?!!!

And, speaking of art, today the November "Color Me Who?" contest will end. At 5:00 PM I will put the names in a hat and the grandchildren will draw out the winner. I will announce the winner on Sunday morning. If you have been unable to email the answers as Marla and Nora have, go ahead and put your answer in the comments today. After all if we can't trust bloggers honesty, who can we trust?

Clues:

1.) Drawn from a photo of three generations of women. 2.) The photo is in one of the blogger's September posts. 3.) The featured blogger is from Arkansas. 4.) Some people like my art work, some think it is hitonious. If you know who invented the word "hitonious" you are headed for the correct blog. 5.) The blogger is on my Blogger Buddies list between the 30th and the 32nd.)

CHANGE OF PLANS

Today we were to go to Tulsa for Ron's doctor's appointment and then to the Tulsa Gun Show. At the gun show it was going to be our privilege to meet Monica James of blog Changes In The Wind. The Gilcrease Museum in Tulsa is putting on a special 101 Ranch Exhibit and Monica was to be featured there and she will be signing and selling her book at the gun show. She is the author of BUCKSKIN BESSIE HER LOST LETTERS (101 Ranch Wild West Show Cowgirl). My heart is broken that circumstances developed to cause us to cancel both the doctor trip and the chance to meet this long-time shooting competitor, with "International Fast Draw Champion" as one of her claims to fame. Hopefully she will be back and we can meet her and her husband then.

Meanwhile you can see that my granddaughter Hope is keeping me company as I restock my fleaa market booth. Our grandson Mike is helping Ron around the barn and also helping harvest tunips. We're also looking for the arrival any moment of our friends from Kentucky.

And....as a very tiny added footnote, today is Ron's birthday but we're not supposed to make a big deal...Happy Birthday my dear.!!!

Oh yes, the contest winner will be announced on Sunday. So far there will be five names in the hat. My granddaughter Hope will draw out the name of the winner tomorrow and we will announce it on Sunday. This gives more of you a chance to guess the November "Color me who?" contest. The five clues should have let you right to the blogger's front door.

FORGOT TO MENTION

I have not told the story of our pre-Halloween trick-0r-treater. October 30th Slim and I were walking out to the mailbox. The yard was lovely and my precious chickens were dotting the landscape creating a beautiful scene. Suddenly Slim took off like a shot. I watched her go and managed to see the fox spring from it's crouching position, grab one of my girls and take off running. Slim was in hot pursuit. I was hopeful the heavy hen would slow the fox and he might drop her. No such luck. Slim returned home alone.

Hawks have swooped down and grabbed a chicken. Weasels have slunk into the hen house and sucked the blood of my chickens. Snakes have stolen my eggs and some newly hatched chicks. An owl has been caught in the hen house with its prey while the other chickens could only watch the slaughter.

We built our 2008 flock to 53 and it is now at 27. We will rebuild our flock but the predators will continue to come. As sad as I was to witness the fox, it was still an amazing moment in the circle of life.

Now to go back to my November contest click here. Clue #5: The blogger is on my Blogger Buddies list between the 30th and the 32nd. (Marla, that should be a big help for you.) Previous clues were: 1.) Drawn from a photo of three generations of women. 2.) The photo is in one of the blogger's September posts. 3.) The featured blogger is from Arkansas. 4.) Some people like my art work, some think it is hitonious. If you know who invented the word "hitonious" you are headed for the correct blog.

RETURN TO FRIENDSHIP

Hopefully today we will rally behind our new President Elect. It is a historic time for our country.

Now back to my November contest. Click here. Today's clue #4. is "Some people like my art work, some think it is hitonious." If you know who invented the word "hitonious" you are headed for the correct blog. The other clues are: 1.) Drawn from a photo of three generations of women. 2.) The photo is in one of the blogger's September posts. 3.) The featured blogger is from Arkansas.

T.G.I.F.

No, I know it's not Friday. Today T.G.I.F. stands for
Thank God It's FREEDOM.

vote

vote

vote

vote

VOTE!


And while you are awaiting the results, go searching for the answer to my November contest. Click here to see what that's about. Today's clue: This featured blogger is from Arkansas. Previous clues: Picture is showing three generations and you will find the picture in one of their September posts.

MONDAY UPDATES

As a proper grandmother/artist I keep my mannequins covered for the sake of visiting children, grandchildren and many discriminating adults. Do you like their homemade clothing? Our friends from Kentucky will visit us next week on their way to California. She sent me several pictures she took of their yard. By the time they return home all the trees will be bare.

Last but certainly not least, here is an excellent photo of our Owen (grand nephew) without the pacifier blocking his beautiful and healthy smile. The medication for his SVT is working well and he is on the road to making his mark on the world just like his namesake.

Don't forget the November "Color Me Who?" contest. The second clue is: This photo is in one of the blogger's September posts. (The first clue was: It is a picture of three generations.)

AUCTION ENTERTAINMENT

If you have never been to an auction, you simply must go. We attended a huge auction yesterday. We did not spend much and came home with a van full of goodies. This vintage Imperial Pottery cat was in a box full of stuff that we got for $1.00. We bought a box full of hats for $1.00 and one was a Stetson that only needs cleaning and re blocking. We also came home with a lovely Lane Cedar Chest for the foot of our bed. Ron won the bid at $35.00. I was in shock and tried not to shout.

Two bidders approached us to buy something out of our auction boxes. Both paid more for the individual items than we had paid for the entire box.

You also hear great stories at an auction. I was eavesdropping on a couple of gentlemen discussing whether to bid on the cowboy hats or not. They were trying them on and one was encouraging the other to bid on that hat that looked great on him. The fellow responded, "My grandpa told me never to hire anyone wearing a cowboy hat or smoking a pipe. The one with the had works harder to keep the hat on his head than he does working and the pipe smoker is always wasting time trying to keep the pipe lit."

See, you get great stuff and great advice for little money at an auction. Great entertainment!

Now, don't forget my November "Color Me Who?" contest. First clue: "This is a drawing of three generations, mom, daughter, grandmother."

NOVEMBER "COLOR ME WHO?"

Here we go again with another "Color Me Who?" contest. I have the permission of the subjects to use their image in this contest.

DO NOT post your guess in the comments section. You may comment on the "markering" and tell me that you are going to submit a guess (which is probably a good idea), but then go to my profile and click Email, to send (1) the name of the blog this was on, (2) who are these people and (3) what date the photo I drew this from was posted on their blog.
Take a stroll through my Blogger Buddies listed on the sidebar to see if you can find this picture. Remember NOT to put your guess in the comments. This way those who know right away will not take the fun of the search away from others. All with the correct 3 guesses will have their names placed in a hat and one winner will be drawn from the hat. The contest will end Saturday, November 8, 2008. Hopefully this will take our minds off the election for a while. Happy hunting!

The prize? I will draw a coloring page of the winner or of someone they love. (See my sidebar about EAGHL MARKERINGS.)

These are not portraits. They are caricatures that only resemble the subjects. They are for fun and I hope you find them fun.

BEWARE THE CHIROPTERANS*

Halloween Greetings from EAGHL MARKERINGS. Meet Mrs. Skeleton:)Nancy Leitz sent me her daughter's dressed Teddy Bear Hughie so I wouldn't worry about my granddaughter liking devils.

My grandniece Cloelle is ready for trick-or-treating. What would you say she is thinking? I'm guessing it's "Mom is at it again."

My daughter's family artwork. Carving pumpkins only became a tradition in our family when my best friend Pat exclaimed, "What, you don't carve Jack-O-Lanterns???" then she showed up at our door with three small pumpkins and showed us how to go about carving them. I never got very good at it, but my daughter has always gone above and beyond. It looks like her children get in the act also.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN BLOGGERS ONE AND ALL!

*The Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for October 31 is:

chiropteran \kye-RAHP-tuh-run\ noun:

any of an order of night-flying mammals with forelimbs modified to form wings: bat

Example sentence:

The vampire hunters were greeted by swarms of chiropterans as they entered Dracula's castle.

Did you know? "Chiroptera" is the name of the order of the only mammal capable of true flight, the bat. The name is influenced by the hand-like wings of bats, which are formed from four elongated "fingers" covered by a cutaneous membrane. It is based on the Greek words for "hand," "cheir," and "wing," "pteron." "Cheir" also had a hand in the formation of the word "surgery," which is ultimately derived from the ancient word "cheirourgos," meaning "doing by hand." "Pteron" is widely used in technical names of flying insects. It's also the ancestor of a well-known, common word: "helicopter," which joins "pteron" with Greek "heliko," meaning "spiral."

SOME THINGS

Can anyone tell me what these are and what they are for? Ron got them for me at an auction and the bidding was fairly high. He had no idea what they were but someone was trying to outbid him and that just won't do. LOL They do not have seams and the mouths are open. One is six inches tall, the other is seven.

MORE ABOUT FORTUNE COOKIES

We ate at the Chinese Buffet yesterday. Ron's fortune read: "Your charm has inspired a secret admirer."

On the way home he exclaimed, "What will we do when we get home and the yard is swarming?"

"Swarming with what?"

"My secret admirers?"

First of all, it was ONE secret admirer. Is that wishful thinking, an active imagination or plum craziness?

ONE WEEK FROM TODAY OR NOT

Hopefully one week from today the Presidential election for 2008 will be over. However I got out my 2000 journal to recall these excerpts from my regular entries:

11-8-2000 Yesterday was election day but we still await totals due to recount in Florida. Don't know if Bush or Gore won.

11-9-2000 Still no President

11-12-2000 Hope will will know who new President is by the time we return.

11-24-2000 We still do not have a President-elect of the United States. Unbelievable! Chads, dimples and pregnant ballots will become buzz words of the 21st Century.

11-27-2000 George Bush and Dick Cheney have accepted Pres-elect and VP-elect and we would like to think this is the end but Gore and Lieberman still plan to contest the vote count in Florida.

12-9-2000 Presidential upheaval is still happening.

01-03-2001 Here we are again (back in our Kansas cottage) thru ice and snow. We had planned to come back before Christmas but we were stranded in Tulsa. During this time we officially got a President and Vice President, Bush and Cheney and........................

The rest is history. Surely this time we can avoid all those pitfalls and recounts and know the results one week from today.

MEANWHILE TAKE YOUR MIND OFF THE ELECTION WITH A STROLL AROUND MY YARD AND ENVY ME:-)

By the way, Legs is no longer. He disappeared two days ago. We would like to think he was battling for the flock. Instead of Elvis taking Legs' place, Caesar (pictured above) has taken charge. Somehow I knew he would be great someday. He is our youngest rooster. Hannah is the big cat pictured and the kitten you see should be named Serendipity because I didn't know it existed.

P.S. Every parent and grandparent MUST read Karensugarpants I Am A Rich Woman today.