Isaac Swinging

Isaac loves to swing. He can get in and out of  this little swing by himself. Go Isaac! Go Isaac!

Isaac's favorite riding position.

What's for Dinner?

Here's what's for dinner tonight, thanks to   crockpotguys.com

Slow Cooker Pork Chops

4 Whole Bone in Pork chops
1 envelope Onion soup mix
1 envelope dry pork gravy mix (1 oz)
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 1/2 cup chicken broth  (I used the left over broth from Jack's chicken) Yes, he still gets fresh cooked                              chicken, and bacon!

Salt and pepper chops and place in crock pot. Mix other ingredients in bowl and pour over chops. Cover and cook for 6-8 hours. It smells great, and makes plenty of gravy. Gotta whip up some mashed potatoes to go with this.

I have a pot of vegetable soup (no meat) cooking for me. Looks like I'll be eating soup for a week.

It's Leap Year .....another day!

Happy Leap Year!
Wow, a whole extra day this year.
I think I'll spend mine road running.
Hope everyone has a good day!

Jacob to Doctor

"Big Mac" (Jacob)  had to go to the doctor today. He has RSV now. Kathy keeps telling Christy, "Welcome to my world". Christy has decided she is tired of living in Kat's world, and is ready for some quiet time, away from hospitals and doctors offices. Catherine goes back to the doctor tomorrow, and Big Mac goes the day after that. Catherine is still on oxygen. they are bringing her a new concentrator this afternoon.

Oh the joys of motherhood. I remember those days well. To bad Kurt is gone 4 to 6 days a week.
Hang in there Christy. We are thinking about you, and keeping you and the kids in our prayers.

Catherine is going home tonight!

Christy just called. Catherine is going home tonight. She will still be on oxygen, but they are hoping they will be able to control it at home. Now Big Mac is getting sick. Poor Christy.

Party Girl!

My little Barbie

Her favorite friend

Presents from Grandma

Izzytime!

I went early for the party, and left early. I did watch Lauren open her present. Abby made her cake. She needs to post a picture of it, it was cute! Izzy was ready to party.
Happy Happy Birthday Lauren.

Happy Birthday Lauren Elizabeth

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Happy Birthday to YOU
Happy Birthday to YOU
Happy Birthday dear Lauren
Happy Birthday to YOU.

"Hope you have a "Princess Day".

More drama at the McEwan's

Catherine is still in the hospital. Kurt and his mom were sitting with her, and Christy went home to rest.
She was able I think to rest a little before Kenny had a wreck with his scooter. So, now Christy is on the way to the dentist office with Kenny. His two front PERMANENT teeth broke off. Christy had to call the dentist at home. Kurt remains at the hospital with Catherine, and Debbie (Kurt's mom) is at home with Luke and Big Mac.  I'm sure Kurt will be ready to go back to work after all of this.

Hang in there Catherine and Kenny. We love you!

Catherine is in the Hospital

Poor little Catherine is in the hospital. She has RSV. She went to the doctor yesterday. They sent her home with oxygen, but it just didn't bring her stats up, so my the evening she was in the hospital. Poor little baby!
Get well wishes to you baby girl!
We all love you.

Another story from Grandma Cat

I was talking to mom the other day, and she mentioned that Vicki, her helper, was working at the house and mentioned that she was cold. Mom replied,"There's no wonder she was cold, all she was wearing were those thongs!" I know my dad kind of enjoys having Vicki around, could this be the reason...... a thong?
Then I realized back in the "olden days" flip flops were referred to as thongs.
So Vickie, keep on wearing those thongs, either kind!

Meghan Cooking

Meghan takes her cooking very seriously. She was surprised that she could do everything by herself.
What you can't see is she is holding the pan with a pot holder. It was one of those potholders you can put your hand in, and she figured out how to do it. I did show her how to keep it away from the burner though. In case you are wondering, she is making spaghetti for Seth. And yes, she is a leftie!

Shopping for a birthday present

Someone in the family has a birthday coming up this weekend. I decided to be brave and go out shopping for a present. No massive stores, just somewhere I could run in and out real fast. I don't want to be around a lot of people or crowds and germs like at Walmart or Target. So, I head to Belks, go in the back door, and I am right where I need to be. Yuck! You should have seen some of the junk. Some of it looked like it could have been sold at Family Dollar! Then I head to a little shop Ana Banana's. Just looking for a simple  necklace or bracelet. Nope, nothing there either. Well, next door was a jewelry store. What! nothing there either.
If I take the time and trouble to take a shower, shave my legs, wash my hair, roll my hair, get dressed, and go to town, they should at LEAST have what I am looking for.

Looks like I will be making another trip soon. Why didn't I go to amazon.com last week?

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY MOM AND DAD!!

sorry...no time for videos or pics!!  too busy with school and work. 

love you (even though i drive you both crazy!!)

Happy Birthday Joe Roller!

Happy Birthday Joe! Sorry I didn't get you out a card, I knew you would enjoy this even more.

AT&T VS ME!

Another 95 minutes on the phone today with AT&T. After all that time they realized Safari (Mac's Internet)
doesn't work with their website! I had to go to their website to register, apply for rebates, etc. Glad we got that straightened out.

Added to those problems, someone hacked my yahoo email, which somehow is also attached to AT&T
and sent out emails to the contacts in that address book. I got a call from Uncle Doug this morning. Not only did My email send him something, Mandy's did too.
Too much drama for this old woman. Guess I'm going to have to recruit me a good computer geek.

And did I mention I lost two years of Sherrill's Business data in Quicken? It took about a day, but I finally found it!  This time I printed it out.

Tomorrow will be a better day!

It's President's Day!

Happy President's Day.                
 Sorry kids, no cards or money for this holiday.

I guess most of you are out of school. I have decided I am going to have to go back to school soon. My brain still isn't quite right.

We were watching Little House on the Prairie the other night. The Ingells' were going to their high school reunion. They graduated in 1856, and it was their 25th reunion. I was trying to figure out what year it would have been. There were gas of kerosene operated street lights. So, I'm thinking 56 plus 10, 1866, plus 10, 1876 but then my brain flips over to, oh they must have graduated when they were 16-18. Then I am trying to add that. I tell Sherrill my dilemma, an he fires back, that's simple, it's 1893. I try to tell him, that 1893 isn't even an option. So, he gets up, finds the calculator, and in the meantime I am telling him it must be 1881. He adds it on the calculator, and sure enough, 1881. Now, how could that have been so hard?

OK you 4th graders, you are going to have to start sending me some worksheets or homework sheets. Gotta get this brain going!

Cool rainy day.....where's the snow?

It's raining. It's cold. Seth wants to go play basketball. We keep  telling him no, but he keeps complaining. He doesn't understand WHY he can't go out in the rain. He just might see some snow on his way back home tonight. Maybe it will be snowing in Raleigh when they pass through there.
As for me, it's a pajama day. No one went to church. We have been sitting around watching tv, playing video games, and eating. Meghan was the chief chef for today. I'll post pictures later.
All is quiet right now, except for some laughter from the kids playing twister.
Life is good!

Look at my Baby Sto

Looky, Looky what I got today. This is one of the proofs from Christopher's picture. Understand now it has been blown up, cut, pasted, scanned, cropped, and totally not centered, but you get the picture.
I'm still hoping my little baby graduates this year. Come on folks, we need some words of encouragement.

My words....... I think he can, I think he can, I think he can.
And then there's the old ball cheer
"Come on baby, you can do it
Put a little power to it".

Valentine idea for next year

 jonquilsladybugs.blogspot.com/

Isn't this the neatest idea ever?
Valentine cards with a picture of your kid on it?
I think I'll send the grandkids one of these next year with a picture of Jack licking the tootsie roll pop!
I wonder if they would eat it then?

Stories from Grandma Cat

I was talking to my mom last night when she mentioned the first, and only time she had ever been in a bar.
The story is very simple, and goes something like this.

Mom and Aunt Louise wanted some chicken wings to eat, so they load up in the car and go to a particular establishment. Mom didn't know where she was. Aunt Louise gets out of the car to go inside, and tells mom to stay there until she got back. Well, anyone that knows my mom, realizes that she does not take orders very well. So, she follows Aunt Louise into the establishment. The first thing she sees is small little jars sitting on shelving with a large mirror behind. She immediately asks Aunt Louise, "Why are there so many bottles of perfume back there." Aunt Louise tells her to be quiet, and goes on to order her chicken wings. When they leave, Aunt Louise explains to mom that there was liquor in those little bottles, that they sold in the restaurant to make mixed drinks. Mom said the bottles looked like little bottles of perfume like Grandma Naomi use to have.

This was mom's first and last trip to a bar.

The Buzzards are coming.....Turkey Buzzards that is!

This is what Jack has been afraid of.

Sherrill calls them turkey buzzards, google calls them turkey vultures. Whatever they are, when they fly

over your car, it looks like the sky is falling. I just went to town, and there were about 5 of them on side

of the road eating a dead cat. These things are humongous. There's no wonder Jack doesn't want to stay outside with these things around.  They could scoop him up in no time flat! OK Jack, I understand now!

Chris and lacrosse team

                                                                 *
                                           Chris is right here!           Look at my little baby. Skinny legs and all.

Stolen photos

Sleepytime!

                                                                 Playtime

         
                                                         Sick time (Headaches)

Jack and Cold Weather

I have been reminded recently that Jack does NOT like cold weather. Now that Sherrill has been leaving for work at 5:30AM, Jack has to go out early for his morning walk. Sherrill gets him up around 5:00, cooks his bacon, then takes him out for his morning walk. Then I go in between 9:00 and 10:00 (while Dr Phil is on), wake him up again, and take him out. Yesterday morning I go and get him out of bed, walk him to the back door, open the door, and he turns around, and walks straight back to his room, and climbs back in bed. That cool breeze blowing in on him was just enough to send him away. About 10:00 I tried again to get him out, he went out the door, but wanted to turn around and come back inside. I hooked that leash to him, at which time he turned around and "snapped" at me. At that point and time I had to tell him,"You stupid dog, I'll kill you"! I came on inside and left him out on the leash. After a few minutes, he was alot more cooperative when I took the leash off, just dying to come inside. This dog has got to learn some manners.

This morning was somewhat the same. He got to the door, and was hesitant in going out. I coaxed him out, then he wanted to go sniff where the squirrel had been. Yesterday I had put some walnuts in the patio area, and watched one of the squirrels come and pick them up, carry them to the top of the fence post, and would eat the pieces. Then he would jump down, drink some water out of Jack's bowl, then get some more walnut pieces. It proved to be an entertaining day!

Christa's school bus goes through our neighborhood, so all this week she is getting off the bus here in the afternoon. She takes Jack out for his evening walk before it gets dark, and Sherrill gets home. She's been quite the little lifesaver. I'm not ready to go out walking, especially in this cold weather.

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day everyone.
Hope you got your "little" cards. I wasn't able to go to the store, so Mandy got them for me. I mailed out 30 something of them. Whew, just so many kids! Wish there could have been a big cuddly bear to go along with each of them.
Have a good day, hug your spouse, hug your kids, and sit down and prop your feet up. You deserve a rest!

Where are the grandkids? ? ?

Hey kids,
What's going on?
How's school?
How are sports, activities, etc.
Just in general, what have all of you been up to?
I have talked to Eli and Chris and know what is going on with them, but where are the rest of you?
Please make a quick post, report in, just to let me know that you are OK.

Just a Little Chilly!

I can't believe winter weather has finally made its way here. It's a little cold outside.
I keep the vents in my room closed, and this afternoon it was 60 degrees in there. It's great for cuddling weather, but the shock hits you when you get out of the shower!
Sherrill heads to the beach tomorrow. Guess it will be a little cool there too. It will warm up by the middle of the week though.
Sto had 2 dates this weekend. Gotta watch that boy!

All is well here. The house should be quiet this coming up week......sleeping in late, and going to bed even later!

Have a good week everyone!

Next Project

I think for my next project I am going to make one of these. I like the pillow on the bottom the best. I just LOVE little houses. I have some Christmas fabric that I think would be just perfect. When Sherrill leaves Monday morning, I'll be headed out to my room in the garage. I still need to come up with a name for my space out there. Junk room seems most appropriate, studio sounds too sophisticated. One day it will have a name.

What causes kids to faint?

Christy call last night and said Luke had fainted in Walmart. A week or so ago he fainted at school. This must be some type of hereditary condition. Christy would faint quite a bit, and James too. First comes the pale face, then they are out like a light.
Any suggestions as to what might be causing this? We have already considered low blood sugar.

Friday again?

Friday again?
Time just flies when you just sit at home. Not doing much rockin' today. Still trying to get my laptop connected. Mac is doing fine, laptop won't cooperate. I spent 48 minutes on the phone with ATT. She blames my laptop, but I had to remind her it worked with Road runner. I'm taking a break, and will try to set it up later.
Sherrill is getting things together to go out of town Monday. He will be working at the beach in Shallotte for the next couple of weeks. I think he will be coming back some nights, and staying some nights. It will be just me and Jack (Oh what fun)!  The house will be quiet once again, Yeahhh.
I've got to figure out what project is next.
Have a good day.

Finally!

Whew!
I got my phone service around noon. The tech told me that UPS would be bringing my wireless gateway sometime.
What? I ordered this service over 10 days ago. To be sure they could have sent one out by now.
Sure enough, about 7:30 the UPS man is ringing the door bell. Great! Now I can finally get connected.
I go through the steps for set up, a very simple process. First light turns green, then the next, and so on until 4 lights are lit up. Oops. Five lights are supposed to light up. It plainly states, DO NOT turn on your computer until all 5 lights are on! So, here goes my second call for today to AT&T. I explain to her my problem, and the first thing she says, "Is your computer on?" "No", I proudly tell her, (I can follow directions). Then she tells me to turn on my computer. So I do, and the 5th light lights up. Now who feels like a dummy?
I will have to use the installation CD to connect my laptop and any other computer. But hey, I AM CONNECTED! That was a long 8 hours going without internet. I didn't realize how much I use it!
Now I can check my email, and do some browsing. I want to check out the speed on this baby.

Let the Wars Begin.......

Time Warner vs AT&T that is!

Two years ago I signed up with Time Warner's digital tv. It came bundled with their internet service, I already had, and digital phone service. Well, the first year I stayed on the phone complaining. Anyone that has talked to us on the phone are aware of the static, and all the noise. I HATED the digital phone, but had to deal with it, because a signed a two year contract.
Well, about a month ago I got my letter in the mail saying my contract was up, and they were AUTOMATICALLY singing me up for another two years, and INCREASING the cost.  I don't think so!
I called AT&T to see what they had to offer, and decided to go with their phone and internet (no, it's not dial up). The man come this afternoon to install the phone, but my son told me that I would be able to set up the internet.
So, it you don't see me on here for a few days or weeks, you will know that I am still setting up the internet. It's supposed to come with a wireless gateway, and no modem. So that means I will have to disconnect the modem and linksys I have set up now, and start all over again. This should prove to be an exciting day!
Next comes the fun part of calling Time Warner to re-negotiate the cost of tv. I don't want their digital tv, no DVR, just the basics please. I don need 700 TV stations. It takes too long to go through all of them anyway.
I finally realized it's not worth almost $170.00 a month to watch, read, talk and listen............especially since within a few hours or days, I have forgotten it all anyway!

Squat toilet Hong Kong, China

My mom use to have a young girl in high school help her around the house, just like my Christa. Anyway, the girl, Amber, graduated from high school, and is now in her second year at BYU. Last November I got a letter from her, telling me she would be going to China in 2012 to teach English to the students. Last week she called me from mom's house to get my email address. She left on Thursday, destination Hong Kong, China. I got my first email from her, and she said the hardest thing so far to get use to is the "squat toilets". The top picture shows the "hole in the floor" where you use the bathroom.
Now this was definitely something designed by a man! I think I had rather go buy me a bucket.
   The bottom picture is of Hong Kong. Sure is a lot bigger than I expected.
   It's amazing the opportunities that young people have today. So for all of you grandkids, study hard, go to college, so you too can travel to exotic places. I'll keep you posted on her adventures.

Burning at both ends?

Do you ever feel like you are so busy that you are like a candle burning at both ends? I do sometimes, but not recently. I've finally gotten most of my paperwork done, so I can have a laid back kind of day.
I saw this candle picture, and got a good laugh. It kind of reminds me of Kat. Every time I talk to her she is in the car running an errand somewhere. I forget sometimes how busy young mothers stay.
So, to all of you moms out there, slow down, blow out one of those candles, and appreciate one day at a time. They will be gone before you know it!

Stolen photos

Blake

Jacob

Blake

Sweet little boys!

Isaac and Larry

I know all of you have probably seen this, but I had to post it so my sister could see.

Happy Birthday Cindy

Happy Birthday to YOU
Happy Birthday to YOU
Happy Birthday dear Cindy
Happy Birthday to YOU!

And now for your viewing pleasure....

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Slavery

Being the genealogist I am, I couldn't help but to repost this letter I found on the Huffington Post website.
It was written by an ex-slave to his previous master. I know all the opinions on slavery, and every person has their own. Quite a few of our ancestors did own slaves, but in reading a lot of old wills, many were freed at the death of the Master, while others were given to other family members. I have come across very few of our ancestors that sold the slaves and split up their families.

I really liked this letter though. And just a thought, slaves were not allowed to learn to read or write. Wonder who taught this man?


Dayton, Ohio,

August 7, 1865

To My Old Master, Colonel P.H. Anderson, Big Spring, Tennessee

Sir: I got your letter, and was glad to find that you had not forgotten Jourdon, and that you wanted me to come back and live with you again, promising to do better for me than anybody else can. I have often felt uneasy about you. I thought the Yankees would have hung you long before this, for harboring Rebs they found at your house. I suppose they never heard about your going to Colonel Martin's to kill the Union soldier that was left by his company in their stable. Although you shot at me twice before I left you, I did not want to hear of your being hurt, and am glad you are still living. It would do me good to go back to the dear old home again, and see Miss Mary and Miss Martha and Allen, Esther, Green, and Lee. Give my love to them all, and tell them I hope we will meet in the better world, if not in this. I would have gone back to see you all when I was working in the Nashville Hospital, but one of the neighbors told me that Henry intended to shoot me if he ever got a chance.

I want to know particularly what the good chance is you propose to give me. I am doing tolerably well here. I get twenty-five dollars a month, with victuals and clothing; have a comfortable home for Mandy,—the folks call her Mrs. Anderson,—and the children—Milly, Jane, and Grundy—go to school and are learning well. The teacher says Grundy has a head for a preacher. They go to Sunday school, and Mandy and me attend church regularly. We are kindly treated. Sometimes we overhear others saying, "Them colored people were slaves" down in Tennessee. The children feel hurt when they hear such remarks; but I tell them it was no disgrace in Tennessee to belong to Colonel Anderson. Many darkeys would have been proud, as I used to be, to call you master. Now if you will write and say what wages you will give me, I will be better able to decide whether it would be to my advantage to move back again.

As to my freedom, which you say I can have, there is nothing to be gained on that score, as I got my free papers in 1864 from the Provost-Marshal-General of the Department of Nashville. Mandy says she would be afraid to go back without some proof that you were disposed to treat us justly and kindly; and we have concluded to test your sincerity by asking you to send us our wages for the time we served you. This will make us forget and forgive old scores, and rely on your justice and friendship in the future. I served you faithfully for thirty-two years, and Mandy twenty years. At twenty-five dollars a month for me, and two dollars a week for Mandy, our earnings would amount to eleven thousand six hundred and eighty dollars. Add to this the interest for the time our wages have been kept back, and deduct what you paid for our clothing, and three doctor's visits to me, and pulling a tooth for Mandy, and the balance will show what we are in justice entitled to. Please send the money by Adams's Express, in care of V. Winters, Esq., Dayton, Ohio. If you fail to pay us for faithful labors in the past, we can have little faith in your promises in the future. We trust the good Maker has opened your eyes to the wrongs which you and your fathers have done to me and my fathers, in making us toil for you for generations without recompense. Here I draw my wages every Saturday night; but in Tennessee there was never any pay-day for the negroes any more than for the horses and cows. Surely there will be a day of reckoning for those who defraud the laborer of his hire.

In answering this letter, please state if there would be any safety for my Milly and Jane, who are now grown up, and both good-looking girls. You know how it was with poor Matilda and Catherine. I would rather stay here and starve—and die, if it come to that—than have my girls brought to shame by the violence and wickedness of their young masters. You will also please state if there has been any schools opened for the colored children in your neighborhood. The great desire of my life now is to give my children an education, and have them form virtuous habits.

Say howdy to George Carter, and thank him for taking the pistol from you when you were shooting at me.

From your old servant,

Jourdon Anderson.

Hey little Ground Hog

Happy Groundhog Day!
Looks like we are in for 6 more weeks of cold weather.
Glad we have upper 60's today!
Windows and doors open to let out the germs!