SUGAR MOON

Treasures Of The Heart...

2016-01-14T22:00:00.000-06:00

Today as I carefully packed this fifty-year-old Christmas card away with all the other decorations, I smiled, and was reminded of how our personalities are shaped in so many ways and by so many things as we grow. On the inside, it says, "Merry Christmas to Mother and Daddy Love, Kathy."

I don't remember making it, but what I do remember is having a coloring book at my grandmother's house when I was about six. I remember asking my uncle if he wanted to color a picture in my book. I watched him as he outlined and colored each item on the page. I clearly remember thinking how beautiful his picture was and how I needed to outline if I wanted mine to be beautiful. To this day I outline every picture I color. I think that simple experience may have shaped me, may have caused me to be more careful, more meticulous, wanting my efforts to be just right, or maybe it had nothing to do with anything at all.

I found the card while cleaning out my parents home after both of them had passed away. It reminded me of how, we as mother's save so many little things our kids make for us. We save ornaments that we hang on the tree year after year, construction paper paintings, letters they've written to us... We save these things never knowing what will become of them when we're gone.

A lot of things have to be thrown out. You can't keep it all, but every now and then something comes along in the form of a treasure. You know it's a treasure because it speaks to your heart. This is one of those treasures. The heart kind. The kind that reminds us to remember.

It reminds me of that little seven-year-old girl who must have been outlining and trying to make her picture as beautiful as she could. It reminds me of time spent at my grandmother's house and of the mother who lovingly put it away, only to have it resurface 50 years later. I'm glad she did. I framed it and hung it behind the Christmas tree.

Today I carefully packed this fifty-year-old Christmas card away with all the other decorations. I wrapped it in cotton batting, the kind that sparkles with glitter, and when it resurfaces again next year I'll smile, and I'll be reminded, and I'll remember.

I hope your January has started out to be the beginning of a great new year.

Distant Hours...

2016-01-13T23:19:00.002-06:00

“Happiness in life is not a given, it must be seized.”

Distant Hours

A long lost letter arrives in the post and Edie Burchill finds herself on a journey to Milderhurst Castle, a great but moldering old house, where the Blythe spinsters live and where her mother was billeted 50 years before as a 13 year old child during WWII. The elder Blythe sisters are twins and have spent most of their lives looking after the third and youngest sister, Juniper, who hasn’t been the same since her fiance jilted her in 1941.
Inside the decaying castle, Edie begins to unravel her mother’s past. But there are other secrets hidden in the stones of Milderhurst, and Edie is about to learn more than she expected. The truth of what happened in ‘the distant hours’ of the past has been waiting a long time for someone to find it. ~Goodreads.

Author: Kate Morton

Published: 2010

Purchased: Amazon.com

REVIEW

I have read more than one of Kate Morton's books and enjoyed them all, some more than others. Kate Morton is a very accomplished writer. The way she tells her stories in flashbacks always makes me excited to get from now to then. Distant hours with it's castle, moat, and mysterious characters make it a hauntingly, gothic-like novel. The Blythe sisters each had their own story to tell and it kept me guessing and trying to solve the mystery. I did feel that it was a little too wordy and therefore could have been shorter and could have moved a bit faster in places, but it was definitely worth the read. I give it four stars. I can't wait to read her newest novel, The Lake House. I highly recommend any of Kate Morton's books.

Happy Reading!!!

It All Has To Go...

2015-12-28T23:38:00.001-06:00

The time has come once again to pack it all away.

The Santa,

and the favorite book.

The pictures

and the lighted houses.

The bells and ornaments,

and things from the past.

Christmas cards and Santa mugs,

Angels, carolers, and advent calendars that decorate the mantel.

snowmen and snow globes,

it all has to go.

Normally, I feel like it's over before it begins, but this year I started decorating in November and next year I may start in October. I love Christmas and everything that goes with it.

Hope everyone has a wonderful new year filled with the best that life has to offer.

Have a great week!

Mother's Baked Beans...

2015-12-18T21:22:00.003-06:00

For every family get together that we have my kids want me to make baked beans. In September, for Labor Day, I decided to surprise them by making a Crock Pot full of Great Northern beans. I love white beans. My grandmother used to make them and call me to come eat with her and take home the left-overs. She would always say nothing tasted good if she tried to make it for one person, so she would make a whole pot. Well, after Labor Day, to my surprise, the kids informed me that they wanted me to stick to the baked beans. Even my newest son-in-law requests the baked beans.
My husband's family is having their Christmas party tomorrow night, so in the morning I will get up and make baked beans. Sunday we are having Christmas at our oldest daughter's house, so Sunday morning I will get up and make another pot of baked beans.
When I first got married in 1975 my mother-in-law shared her recipes with me and this was one of her recipes. I call it Mother's Baked Beans. I get so many compliments on these beans that I thought I would share.

MOTHER'S BAKED BEANS

1 can of Van Camp Pork & Beans
2 ribs of celery, diced
1 small onion, diced
1/2 bell pepper, diced
2 T of prepared mustard
1/4 cup of brown sugar
2 slices of bacon, cut into small pieces

Mix all ingredients together and pour into baking dish. Cook 3 hours at 250 degrees. The last two years I have used the Crock Pot to cook them. I put the pot on low and let it cook for about 6 hours. It works fine.

This is the original recipe. I have never made it using only one can. I use 6 cans and it fills my Crock Pot. If the beans have a lot of liquid in them I will partially drain because the Crock Pot seems to create it's own liquid. If you are using a baking dish you may not need to drain them. I don't care for too much celery, so I just guess at the celery, a couple of ribs may be all I use in the whole pot. When it comes to the onions I cut up two or three medium to large onions. I cut the bacon into 1 inch square pieces. It will seem like a lot of bacon, but when it cooks up it isn't too much. I follow the recipe x 6 for the rest of the ingredients.

My mother-in-law with my kids in 1987. She was a good cook and we enjoyed many wonderful meals prepared in her kitchen.

Enjoy!!!

Have a nice weekend!

Meet Inka And Piper...

2015-12-18T00:22:00.001-06:00

I have had them for about eight years. They are now eight and ten. The oldest one, Piper, is starting to have problems. I took her to the vet thinking it might be diabetes. The testing was inconclusive.

She wasn't really overweight, but the vet thought it might help if I cut back on her food, so I did and she immediately lost weight. I can now clearly see the shape of her spine and ribs and even though I have begun to feed her more than ever, she can't seem to gain. She seems healthy as far as her personality goes, but seems to be wasting away.

L to R, Inka and Piper

Inka normally weighs about 2 lbs. and Piper can be anywhere from 7 to 10 lbs. Since this might well be the beginning of the end, I have taken to spoiling her a bit lately. Monday night while Christmas shopping I bought her a huge, nasty looking, hog femur. She loves it. It is the worst smelling thing I think I have ever smelled, but poor Piper, she has been such a good dog, so for now, I will sit in my chair, and watch T. V. and pretend a pork roast is cooking in the oven and that I am enjoying the aroma of her tasty snack.

Hope you have a great weekend!!!!

A Bed For Baby Jesus...

2015-11-28T23:17:00.000-06:00

In April, while in Santiago, Spain, I bought this baby Jesus as a souvenir. The young man that ran the store was very nice. I was thinking about buying the large one for double the price. He told me he thought the medium size would work for me and he was exactly right. Then he opened at least five boxes trying to find the perfect one. One with no flaws. He was an example of every Spanish person we came in contact with.

Some wood, some glue, a piece of cotton and

Baby Jesus has his bed. He's going under the Christmas tree.

Have a nice week.

Happy Birthday Party...

2015-11-10T23:36:00.001-06:00

Happy Birthday, Little Lawly!!!

This past week was our little Lawton's 3rd birthday. I think the last time I blogged about him he was a newborn.

His mom threw a great party. We had all the taco salad and tacos we could eat. Afterward, we had cookies and cake with little Lawly being the center of attention.

He loves Mickey Mouse, so of course, that was the theme of the party.

Blogger won't let me upload anymore pictures, so

Have a great rest of the week!!!

My Camino (pt. 7) Conclusion...

2015-11-09T23:30:00.000-06:00

At the Cathedral in Santiago at noon each day there is a mass held honoring pilgrims. This cathedral has the largest Botafumeiro in the world. The Botafumeiro is the most famous and popular symbol of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. It is a large incense burner that hangs from the ceiling of the Cathedral and swings back and forth during mass. It takes eight men to swing it using ropes four on one side and four on the other. The men pull on the ropes. You can see the fire burning inside of the Botafumeiro.

I decided the night before reaching Santiago that I would need to leave by 4:30am if I was going to reach Santiago in time for the pilgrim's mass. The lady I had been walking with didn't think she wanted to get up that early, so a man that I had met several times in the past week said he would like to go with me if I would wait until 5:30. He thought we could make it by noon. It was 12 miles to Santiago and raining. I said okay.

I woke him at 5:00am and we prepared to leave. He was from Budapest, Hungary and had blisters all over his feet. He had to stop walking for three days and that's when I caught up with him. We left the alburgue at 5:30 as planned. It was dark outside and raining. We arrived at the Cathedral in Santiago at 11:00am. I went immediately inside the church and sat down on the third row, directly in front. I sat there one hour waiting on the mass to start. I sat there and rested and thought about the walk and how I had actually completed it. My journey was over. I took my shoes off and rested my poor feet. When the mass started and we had to stand up I had to put my shoes back on. I couldn't stand on my feet without my shoes on. They hurt so bad.

After the mass I hooked back up with my friend from Australia. For the next week we shopped and enjoyed Santiago. We rode the bus to Finnesterre and saw the ocean. I returned home on May 5, 2015. It took me 44 days to complete my walk. I started on March 14th and reached Santiago on April 26th. It was an experience of a life-time.

You can see the steeple of the Cathedral. This is the first glimpse I got of the Cathedral. I had been walking for 44 days and the site of this steeple was something I can't explain. I had to stop and take this picture. The steeple got larger and larger it was awesome.

These two pilgrims had been walking ahead of me for at least 5 miles.

The back of the Cathedral.

I sat down on the third row right in front

Cafe' con Leche-coffee with milk

Many pilgrims drank this all a long their walk. I didn't drink it until I reached Santiago.

Cafe' con Leche was good, but nothing like Café Americana.

Café Americana was black coffee.

Everytime my friend and I would order a coke or coffee they would bring a snack with it. This was our table after we had sat for a while. Some of the snacks we had already eaten. It was comical. There is no way we could eat all of the snacks they brought us.

We rode the bus to Finnesterre and saw the ocean.

This is the café across from my room where I ate for the week I stayed in Santiago. Most of the cafes, also called bars, were long and narrow like this one.

Another tuna salad. They were so good.

The street my room was on.

My room in Santiago where I spent the week.

Looking out the window of my room to the street below.

I hope you enjoyed my walk to Santiago.

It is also called the Way of St. James.

It's an adventure of a life-time.

It's a tremendous challenge, but anyone can do it.

I can tell you, determination is more than half the battle.

Have a great life and remember it's never too late to plan an adventure.

My Camino (pt. 6)

2015-11-08T20:30:00.000-06:00

When we left Sarria we had roughly 62 miles to go. The goal for some is Finnesterre and Muxia, these are towns three to five days from Santiago. They are on the ocean, but for me it had always been the cathedral in Santiago. I thought I might ride the bus to the ocean, but I had no desire to walk farther than Santiago.

When I got to Sarria I crossed paths with a lady from Australia that I had met somewhere earlier on the trail. I think it was maybe the night after I left Sarria that she and I actually started walking together. We didn't walk together on the path necessarily, but we kept track of each other the last week by staying in the same alburgues at night. We walked at our own pace, so we would catch up with each other when we stopped for a break, and agree to stay in the same alburgue. She was faster than me. I enjoyed her company. You meet a lot of interesting people along the way, but once your journey is over you don't expect to ever cross paths again. This journey, these people, and experiences become distant memories, and that's okay. That's the way it was meant to be.

Here we are one bridge and 57 steps to Portomarin.

If you look closely you can see the stairs at the end of the bridge.

If my memory serves me correctly I counted 57 steps.

You were always exhausted when you reached your destination, so when I saw this staircase, I doubted for a moment that I could do it. Counting seemed to help me when I was going uphill, so I just started counting and before long I was at the top.

They say, "rain, snow, sleet, or hail cannot stop the U. S. Mail". I thought of that quote several times while walking.

After leaving Sarria we encountered more and more pilgrims each day. As long as you walk the last 100 km from Sarria you can still get your compostella, so some people will start their walk in Sarria.

These giant ants were interesting.

I didn't see cattle through most of Northern Spain. Finally they started showing up.

This is a stork nest from what I was told. Some of the cities had huge poles erected especially for these nests.

Another stand along the side of the road. It was always refreshing to come upon one of these.

NEXT STOP SANTIAGO.

TO BE CONTINUED...

My Camino (pt. 5)

2015-11-07T23:54:00.001-06:00

In these pictures we are getting so close you can almost taste it. Finishing is becoming a reality. Here are some pictures along the way.

This is one of the rooms I stayed in.

This is looking from above at the town of Sarria. I said when I got to Sarria I would know I was going to make it. Sarria is the last 100 km from Santiago. That's approximately 62 miles. Sarria is what everyone looks forward to. You feel recharged and determined once you reach Sarria.

It's on to Santiago!!!

To Be Continued...

My Camino (pt. 4)

2015-11-06T23:36:00.001-06:00

On the road to Santiago we walked past many vineyards and olive groves.

The olives were different from the ones we get here. They were so good I couldn't stop eating them. The wine was really inexpensive. I don't drink, but it was interesting to see how readily available it was. Beer was sold in vending machines. Sometimes as cheap as 50 cents a can.

This is a statue that told us how far we had come and how far we had to go. You couldn't depend on them being correct, but they did give you a rough idea.

Buen Camino is a common greeting used between pilgrims. It means good walk. You are saying to your fellow pilgrims that you hope they have a good journey.

In the center of every town is a church. As we walked through the towns we would many times go into the church. They were old and beautiful. Some were large and some were small, but every one of them was amazing.

Another mile marker.

A picturesque scene on the side of the road.

There is a mountain called O'Cebreiro. It's one of the last really high mountains. I saw this sign while I was walking.

I rented a horse.

His name was blackberry in English. I can't remember what his Spanish name was.

It rained on us and was very foggy at times. The path was extremely rocky and muddy. We passed many pilgrims that I had met along the way and they would shout and wave.

It took 2 hours and was the best 34 euros I ever spent.

To be continued...

My Camino (pt. 3)...

2015-11-05T23:09:00.001-06:00

I celebrated my 59th birthday on the Camino. Friends we met the first night cooked spaghetti and we

had a "party".

They gave me a shell for my present with their names on it. It was a really nice gesture. One of them met me as I was coming into town and carried my backpack the rest of the way. Believe it or not carrying my backpack was the best present I could have received.

I ate mostly frozen pizzas, oranges, and yogurt. When I eat tuna I have to doctor it with lots of Miracle Whip and apples, so the first time I was given tuna salad I thought I would pick the tuna out and just eat the salad. I was shocked. The tuna was delicious! I ate it every chance I got after that. When I got home my husband looked it up and turns out they eat a different kind of tuna than we do in the United States. We tried to find it, but decided they don't sell it here.

This stand was on a hill in the middle of nowhere. It was a pleasant surprise to say the least. You took what you wanted and left a donation.

The "Iron Cross" one of the highlights of the walk. You are supposed to bring a small rock from home and leave it at the foot of the cross. Supposedly you are leaving your troubles behind.

More examples of the pathways.

Miles and miles of roads to walk.

Coming into town. The wisteria was beautiful.

This flower was really gorgeous, but I never found out what it was called.

To be continued...

My Camino (pt. 2)...

2015-11-04T16:55:00.000-06:00

The reasons people choose to walk the Camino de Santiago are as varied as the nearly two hundred and fifty thousand souls that walk it each year. Some walk it for spiritual reasons, some walk it for adventure, to prove to themselves they can do it, etc. I think my reasons were a combination these. Most people's reasons are personal and different from the rest. Everyone has to walk their own Camino and the other pilgrims along the way understand this. Some people ask why. I never asked anyone why. Their reasons were their reasons. I felt it was an intrusion to ask.
I am not and never have been athletic. I'm out of shape to say the least, but once I committed I knew I would complete it. I would recommend the walk to anyone who would ask if it was worth it. My advice would be to walk as much as possible before attempting it. The stress on my body was severe. I didn't realize how severe until I returned home. I'm actually still recovering, but feel that I'm almost back to myself. Here are a few more pictures.

This is the street the walk begins on. The sign on the left is a store that sells Camino gear. I bought my Altus rain poncho here. Across the street is the Official Office where you sign up to walk, get your Pilgrim's Passport (the one the stamps go in), and a shell (the symbol of the Camino) to tie on your backpack. It was raining the day we arrived and continued to rain as we started our walk.

This is an example of the many water fountains along the way where you could fill your water bottles. If the water wasn't potable there would be a sign telling you that. The water was excellent.

This is a Monastery we spent the night at. It was beautiful inside. There was a bridge over running water that we walked over to get to it.

This is one of the symbols to watch for as you walk. This sea shell along with yellow arrows mark the way and let you know you have not strayed from the path. If you haven't seen one of these symbols in awhile then it's time to stop, get your map out, and assess the situation.

An example of the concrete markers that point the way.

Example of another source of water. Wine came out of one spigot and water came out the other.

The roads were long and winding and sometimes took us through tunnels, over bridges, up and down hills and mountains, but always to our destinations.

Notice the yellow arrows.

At home I had 70 second graders following my path and rooting me on.

Knowing that these sweet kids were following me kept me going.

The terrain could be very rough.

A place for pilgrim's to take a short break.

More pictures to come.

To Be Continued...

My Camino...

2015-11-03T00:48:00.001-06:00

On March 12th, 2015 my brother and I boarded a plane in Dallas, Texas bound for Paris. We had decided on April 8th, 2014 that we were going to walk the Camino de Santiago, a 500 mile pilgrimage across Northern Spain. I started preparing for my journey that same evening. I began walking almost daily around town or on the treadmill. I bought the best hiking boots I could find, acquired the perfect backpack, and filled it with what I thought to be essential items. Keeping in mind that everything I packed I would be carrying on my back. I researched, researched, and researched. When the day came to leave I was as prepared as I was going to be. I knew it would be the hardest thing I had ever done in my life. I was not fooling myself. Realistically, I knew that determination was the only thing I truly had going for me.

We got off the plane in Paris and took a taxi to the train station. We rode the train to Bayonne, France and then a bus to St. Jean Pied de Port, France, where our journey would begin. We arrived in St. Jean on March 13th and started our walk the morning of the 14th. We walked 7 miles the first day.

We started in the very corner of France and quickly made our way into Spain. At first 7-8 miles was a huge undertaking. Muscles and joints you never knew you had became the only thing you could think about. After the first few days we were walking 9-10 miles per day. As days turned into weeks we found ourselves walking 10 and 12 miles per day and by the end it was 12, 14, 15, and even 16 miles per day. My muscles eventually stopped hurting, but were replaced with blisters. On the 16th day I developed a blister on the ball of my right foot and then on my left foot. I had to bandaged it and keep going. I'm going to show a picture of one of the blisters. I know it's not something you care to see, but I don't think, when I say blister, that you can really grasp the magnitude of it. I had one on both feet.

This picture is after I got back home and it was nearly well.

I don't really know how to describe it. Spain is beautiful, the people were exceptional, the walk was everything I thought it would be. We encountered rain, snow, sleet, and sunshine. The paths that we walked on were always different. They went from rough to smooth to jagged to paved to everything in between. I fell more than once, but only hurt myself twice. I wound up with two scars on my right elbow, a black eye, three damaged toenails, and some gray hair. I didn't start out with gray hair, but the stress on my body was so great that I literally have noticeably gray hair now. I allowed myself to become dehydrated a few times. The last time was severe and after that I was very careful.

Our maps would show the type of terrain we would be encountering each day and many times it would show it to be flat, but no matter what the map said there was always hills to climb.

At night we stayed in Municipal Alburgues or Hostels. You had to get a stamp at each place you spent the night to prove you were walking. If you weren't walking you weren't allowed to stay in the Alburgues, At the end of the walk you had to show your booklet full of stamps in order to get your Compostella. An Alburgue is a room full of bunk beds that are occupied by men and women. A Compostella is the certificate you receive for completing the walk.

Tomorrow night I will put some more pictures up and explain a little more about the walk. From start to finish I walked 546 miles. Beginning in St. Jean Pied de Port, France and ending at the Cathedral in Santiago, Spain.

TO BE CONTINUED...

Off The Grid For A While...

2015-03-09T01:26:00.002-05:00

I've been under the weather lately, but so have a lot of other people. I went to the doctor and he gave me a shot. I feel much better, but the drainage and coughing seem to keep lingering on and on. Hubby has it worse than I do. His has been going on since September 12th. He started getting it the day we left on a trip, that's how I know the exact date. He is going back to the doctor tomorrow, maybe this time it will help.

I'm getting ready to leave for the Camino de Santiago. I won't be able to post until I return, but will post as soon as I can. I may be able to read and comment. I haven't been able to figure out how to post pictures from the I-phone or the I-pad. Sure wish I could. Hubby isn't going on the Camino he is staying home to take care of critters.

Just wanted to touch base and say that I would be off-the-grid for a while. Hope everyone has a great and blessed week.

Wordless Wednesday...

2015-02-18T21:13:00.008-06:00

Have a great rest of the week!

What's Off The Needles...

2015-02-17T20:19:00.000-06:00

Here's a scarf I knitted for my granddaughter. She is a Harry Potter fan. You can make it any color you choose. It's very simple. I used a 16" circular size 8 needle. Cast on 70. Place marker and join in the round. Work in the stockinette stitch (knit all stitches) 7inches wide and 70 inches long without fringe, or as long as you want it.

I was taking it to her today, but seem to be under the weather a bit, so it will have to wait.

Have a great evening!

What's On The Hooks...

2015-02-16T22:44:00.002-06:00

While keeping the two grandkids a week or so ago, Fuzzy, the four-year-old, asked if I would make him an owl. I got out the crochet hook and some yarn. Within a few minutes I had crocheted a tiny little owl no more than four inches long. He was happy.

This past week when he came he asked me to make him a bear. We looked on line and finally decided on a Paddington Bear. I was actually looking for a pattern that I had made in the mid-eighties, but didn't find it. If anyone happens to have that pattern and doesn't mind sharing please let me know.

This is the best one I could find. It is a free pattern on Ravelry. You can find it under Yellow Pink and Sparkly by Janet McMahon. http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/paddington-bear-2 I have all the pieces completed, but not all are sewn together. It's a very easy pattern.

Here it is in it's almost completed stage.

Paddington has black ears.

Have a great week!

Winner of the GYB giveaway...

2015-02-15T23:56:00.001-06:00

Have been waiting on the two week mark since the GYB post. Thanks to everyone who stopped by and to those who decided to follow. I visited many, many blogs and hope to visit more in the future. I will reveal the winner at the end of the post.

I've been babysitting two of my grandkids a few days a week since Christmas while mom and dad work on the building of a new house. They are four and two. Four is a very fun age. They can say the cutest things while being perfectly serious. One evening I told them, "Let's go to the kitchen it's suppertime." Fuzzy, the four-year-old, threw his arms in the air and shouted, "Yes, it's suckertime. I love suckers." When I told him I didn't say suckertime he said, "Next time say it's foodtime and I'll understand." Luckily, I just happened to have two suckers, from Lord knows when, in the pantry, so it all worked out. I also learned something about myself. According to Fuzzy, I look better with my glasses on. I thanked him for the tip and wondered silently if pulling my glasses on and off in public was a good idea or not. Here is a "selfie" taken on his mother's phone and sent to me as they were driving home.

Selfie

The two-year-old had to have glasses last week. While I was keeping him I noticed his eyes were crossing. After his mother picked him up she called and said she had noticed it too. It was rather severe. She immediately called for an appointment with a pediatric ophthalmologist.

After a few days of wearing them he refused to let his mother take them off when it was time for bed.

WINNER OF THE DRAWING IS:

ALEXIS BOORSBOOM

I will contact via email.

Thanks again to everyone who visited.

Have a great week!

Grow Your Blog...

2015-01-24T23:33:00.000-06:00

Welcome to the 2015 Grow Your Blog Party hosted by Vicki @ Two Bags Full.

My name is Kathy. My husband, Andy, and I have been married for 39 years.

I am mother to four and

Memaw to seven.

We live in a small West Texas town of less than a thousand. We have two Chihuahuas,

numerous donkeys

and cats.

I enjoy reading, quilting, photography, music, gardening, knitting, and crochet.

Things I collect are sock monkeys, stereo view cards, old school bells, green dishes, Indian dolls and nutcrackers.

My blog is about whatever enters my mind. I call myself a recovering packrat, so I am in the process , an on-going process, of deep cleaning with the goal of getting rid of...

I am retired, so I have no excuse. Right?

On April 8, 2014 I decided to walk the Camino de Santiago, a 500 plus mile pilgrimage across Northern Spain, with my oldest brother, so I am in the process of getting ready for that. We are leaving on March 12th and will return on May 11th. My husband has had two back surgeries and has no desire to go, so he is staying home to babysit the critters.

That is a bit about me. Thank you for stopping by. Leave your comment to be entered in a give-away. I will announce the winner on February 15th. Make sure I have your e-mail in your comment. If you don't respond by email within 48 hrs. another winner will be chosen.

I hope you will follow and visit often. My email is auntkye56@yahoo.com.

Have a great week!!!

My Dad 1927-2014...

2014-08-06T22:39:00.000-05:00

My dad passed away on July 7th, 2014.

One day as we were discussing death and funerals he said, "When I die I want to be at home, on my couch, watching T.V, and just go to sleep." That appears to be exactly how he went. He was almost 87, still living by himself, and as sharp as a tack. My nephew who found him said his hands were folded in his lap just like he always kept them.

It's been a hard month. It doesn't seem possible that he's gone. It feels like I can pick up the phone and call him, or drive up and get him for breakfast, but I can't. I realize that death is part of life and it is all part of God's plan. God is good.

The last song played at the funeral was his favorite fiddle tune.

His two sons, four grandsons, and two granddaughters were among the 20 plus musicians that played

"Florida Blues"

Just for him.

He will forever be missed.

Amigurumi Finally Complete...

2014-07-06T22:47:00.005-05:00

Here is a previous post from February 9, 2014.

I discovered these cute little crocheted animals while browsing Pinterest. I ordered the pattern from http://www.etsy.com/shop/TinyAmigurumi.

After starting over numerous times I think I am finally happy with all the parts, and now it's time to sew them together.

Here is a picture from the website of what it should look like.

I said I would post the finished product, so here it is.

Have a great week!!!!

Happy Easter...

2014-04-20T21:26:00.001-05:00

My niece took this of her two kids.

Hope you had a wonderful Easter Sunday!!!!

First Monday In April...

2014-04-07T13:21:00.001-05:00

Here it is April already. Where is the year going? I just celebrated another birthday. They are officially running together. I don't really mind telling my age, but when my elderly cousin puts it on Facebook for the world to see, ouch, it sinks in. Doesn't he know the rule about not telling a women's age? At least it wasn't my weight, right? There's always a positive.

I saw this on Facebook. I love it, but I wonder if this poor man has thought about the clean up. He must need something to do. I wonder if his wife said, "Honey, go hang these eggs in that tree while I go shopping." Hmmmm, I may need to remember this when Hubby retires.

Have a great week!!!

Wordless Wednesday...

2014-02-12T16:09:00.001-06:00