The joy of country living

I just love all of the things that can happen when you live out in the country! One night, last month, when my daughter got home from work she discovered a raccoon in the garage eating out of the cat’s food bowl. A couple of weeks later, she came home late and heard something bumping around in the garage just to discover a possum making his way to the cat food. As you can see, he wasn’t shy at all! Yesterday evening, we were sitting in the living room talking and I noticed a raccoon strolling across the back porch like he didn’t have a care in the world. My daughter said it didn’t look like the one she had seen before because this one wasn’t as fat as the first. A few minutes after we watched the raccoon cross the porch, I went to look in the garage and sure enough, there he was. The raccoon was having a snack and the cat was stretched out taking a nap like this was the most normal thing ever! I used to joke that I spent more on pet food than people food because of all of the stray cats that ate at my house. Little did I know I have been feeding half of the forest too!

Whew!

Wow! What an exhausting day. But I can say that I feel like I accomplished a lot. All of the laundry done, thoroughly cleaned Lane's room. I am disgusted by how dirty the carpet under an area rug can get. Yuck! I would love to rip all of the carpet out of my house. Thoroughly cleaned the living room and rearranged the furniture. Cooked a tasty lunch of chicken & rice, black eyed peas and cornbread. Mowed the grass in the front yard and trimmed the front yard trees (between rain showers). Most all of the above during the first half of the day when I was home alone. I rarely have the house to myself to deep clean. This evening, Lane and I spent time on the front porch enjoying the cooler weather while it was raining. Now, if I can just get in there and clean the kitchen, I'm going to call it a day. I am one tired Gigi!!

Brain overload....and it's just Wednesday!

As I was thinking about what to write today, I realized that my brain just kept jumping from idea to idea. Sudden onset ADHD? Probably not, but that still doesnt help me slow down and pick a thought or topic.
Maybe I will just blog about why my mind is all over the place.
I am planning on taking vacation in 2 weeks. I know that I am going to Chattanooga for at least a couple of days. My daughter and I are taking my grandson to the wonderful aquarium there, then they are heading further north to Pennsylvania to visit her dad. So, what else am I going to do while I am there and on the drive home?
I am taking a couple of classes this fall at MCC and am trying to make sure that I have all of my paperwork in, etc.
I am trying to make plans to go to Jamaica on a mission trip in the spring. Lots of paperwork involved in leaving the country!
Then, in the here and now, I am trying to remember what all I need from Wal-Mart, what my grandbaby and I are going to have for supper tonight, if I remembered to put the last load of laundry in the dryer, and hoping I didn't let the lawn mower run out of oil and mess up the motor. Sigh!
I'm sure the Route 44 diet DP I am drinking hasnt helped any but it makes me feel a little happier.

Beauty amidst the mess



Between all the rain we have had this year and my hectic life, I haven’t spent near enough time caring for my yard. To be more specific, my flower beds are pitiful. I am very thankful that elephant ears don’t require much attention because they are abundant and help distract from the over growth of grass and weeds.

Then, in the midst of the chaos, this burst of color erupts. It reminds me that beauty can always be found and at times strives to make its self known. Like a bright smile in the middle of a storm.

Strawberry Preserve Cupcakes!

I’m not doing a Friday 5 link up today. I am, instead, going to brag on the super yummy cupcakes I made last night.

These are an adaptation of a recipe from “The Cupcake Bible”. They are called Strawberry Preserve Cupcakes, and they are so moist and good.



1 -  box moist strawberry cake mix

1 – 8 oz carton sour cream

2/3 cup water

¼ cup oil

3 eggs

Strawberry preserves

Line muffin tin with paper cupcake liners. Preheat oven to 350.

Mix the first 5 ingredients together until smooth. Will be thick.

Fill cupcake liners ½ way with batter. Carefully place about a teaspoon of

The strawberry preserves in the center of each cup. Cover the preserves with

a little more batter. Cups will be about 2/3 full.

Bake for 25-30 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

These cupcakes are great just as they are or for a little more yumminess, top with

your favorite frosting. I used a simple vanilla frosting.

Last night my house smelled amazing and I had two happy kids!

Happily Single

I have been single for several years now. Yes, I have dated off and on in the past but haven't even done that in quite a while. Occasionally, people will ask me why I am single. At times it can be hard to explain why I am so happy and content being "alone".
Yes, I have been married and obviously it did not work out. I have come to realise that some of us just aren't meant to be married. Staying single is even spoken about in the Bible quite a bit in 1 Corinthians.
Even as a child I was very content being by myself and doing things alone. I am still that way today. I can hop in my car and go out to eat or out of town all alone and have no problem with it. I don't have to worry about what someone else wants to do, don't have to wait on anyone else, and can change plans at the drop of a hat.
I was my dads shadow as a child and adolescent and he taught me to be very independant. No, I dont change my own oil, but I can tackle many basic home repairs. If I don't know how to do something, I can Google it! For the bigger tasks that are beyond me, I have several male friends and a couple of male neighbors that I can call on at any time.
Sure, at times I look at some of my happily married friends and read some of my married sister-bloggers post and wonder 'what if', but at the end of the day I know that being single is my life. And it's a happy life filled with my daughter and grandson, my job, God, lots of hobbies and friends. I wouldn't trade it for anything!

My crazy busy life!

I am so behind on my blog!!
I did try to post Monday about my weekend but the computer wouldn't cooperate. That was the one chance I had over the past week to even try and sit down to write.
Saturday morning I got up and went to Jackson. I had a 2 week follow up/nutition consult at Achieve Medical Weight Loss. Then it was off to one of my very favorite places, Hobby Lobby. I know I was in there for at least 2 hours. I have multiple projects going on at the moment and needed supplies. I am in the process of organizing all of the boxes and stacks of pictures I have around. I decided to start doing a scrap book for each of Lane's birthdays. So glad I thought about this now and not on his 10th birthday. That would be a nightmare! I am also painting a canvas to go over Lane's bed with the quote "Let him sleep for when he wakes he will move mountains".
If these things weren't enough, I recently bought "The Cupcake Bible" and a cake decorating kit. Of course, I had to also purchase something to go along with that. A cupcake corer! Who would have ever thought?
Sunday was Lane and my day. We played and made messes and really just enjoyed ourselves while his momma was at work.
Monday was back to work. Like I said, my computer wouldn't act right while I was trying to write. After work I had to work in the yard. It was really bad! I almost had to eat my words that I was going to mow even if it was in the rain. There was a lot of thunder rumbling while I was mowing and a few sprinkles. Whew!
My flower beds are still in a bit of a mess but I do have some beauty in the midst of the weeds. And I'll close with that. Have a great remainder of the week my friends!

(well, there was supposed to be a picture of my lovely flower here. computer still having upload issues)

Lane's "dayday" party

So hard to believe that my Grandbaby, Lane, turns 2 this week!
We had his birthday party this past Saturday at Planet Playground. The kids had so much fun. Thank goodness for the clouds because it wasnt miserable hot. Sweet boy woke up Saturday morning saying "dayday par" "2". Haha! He knew it was his big day.



Pre-holiday fun

I really do work with some very great people.

Since this is the last day of our work week, we decided to have an office “cookout” in celebration of the holiday. We each brought something pot luck style and sat down for good food and good fellowship over lunch. Now, I will probably be sleepy and miserable for the remainder of the afternoon!

For the luncheon I brought a corn dip and chips. The recipe is so simple!

3 cans fiesta corn

1 small can chopped green chilies

Small bag of grated chedder cheese

8 oz carton sour cream

½ cup mayo

Simply mix together, cover and chill for a couple of hours.  I prefer scoops corn chips with this dip.

I hope everyone has a safe and fun filled 4^th of July holiday!