Two new LO's

My Great Aunt Gladys had gobs and gobs of costume jewelry and at one of our get-togethers at Momma's, my older nieces (Rachael, Jessica, Ashley and Leah) decided they would play dress up. "Just Bead It!"














On September 13, 2001 (Momma's birthday), the younger kids (Kaitlyn, Lauryn, Sarah, and Will) had fun with some funny mouthpieces. Since I remembered that I had previously taken pictures of the older nieces playing with the costume jewelry, I knew the younger kids needed their time in the spotlight as well. Notice, Shannon was in neither of the LO's because she was too young for the first pic's and too old for the last one's. I think that was a sad thing for her.

Sunday Morning

The birds are chirping and the sunshine is bright this morning. However, there is a little bit of a nippy breeze in the air.

Eddie and I had a country breakfast of grits, sausage, and biscuits. No eggs because we keep them to sell. LOL

My plans for the day include cleaning up the kitchen from last night's feast. We watched Paula Dean yesterday and printed out her recipes for the day (Comfort Foods) and cooked them. We had old fashioned beef stew and potato casserole. They were very tasty. The other recipe she showed was for chocolate bread pudding and neither Eddie nor I thought that sounded very good. So we just didn't have a dessert. We have prepared several of Mr. Food and Emeril's recipes as well.

I'm gonna shoot for washing a couple of loads of laundry also, but that will be in between reading, scrapbooking, and watching movies.

We watched Red Eye last night and it was pretty good. Shannon recommended it and I found it to be quite suspenseful. At least I think so, since I was yelling at the television trying to tell Lisa (the lead actress) what to do.

I got "Saw II" and "Doom" for Eddie and "The Weatherman" and "Proof" for me.

Jeannie and Brandon came to visit yesterday afternoon and stayed for a good while. I was so happy they came to visit. Eddie and Brandon had a good time adding coins to Brandon's coin books. He just started collecting state quarters and pennies. We talked about Jeannie's house plans and found her a fireplace online that will save her some money when compared to the bid she got from the brickmason for doing it. I wish they would have stayed for dinner, but Chad was not with them and Brandon wanted Burger King. Brandon has baseball tryouts this afternoon, I hope he makes the team. I'm sure he will.

I have several clusters of pictures that I have been considering layouts for. So as I said earlier, I hope to get some scrapbooking in today. Eddie is down at the shop (who would have guessed) and since I am a shop "widow," I will go play in the hobby room for a while this afternoon.

Hope your day of rest is a peaceful one...

I'm off to see the Neurosurgeon!

My treating physician's office called to report they received my MRI results. The MRI of my ribcage showed nothing abnormal, but the MRI of the lumbar spine revealed degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, a bulging disc and bony spur.

Dr. Crepault referred me to a neurosurgeon. My appointment is for Thursday, March 2, at 9:30 a.m.

I have had problems with my lower back for years, but that is not what is bothering me at the moment. Maybe the spinal stenosis is causing the pain in my thoracic spine as well. At least the neurosurgeon will help me get rid of the muscle spasms. I'm not having any right now, but that is because I am still taking the Skelaxin.

I hope he does not recommend surgery, because I am not going to have surgery unless it is absolutely necessary.

Keep me in your thoughts and prayers.

Even more wedding pictures!

More pictures of the wedding!

Some of Rachael and Blake's wedding pictures 2-18-06

SMILE! Another New LO!

It didn't take me long to figure out what the title should be for this picture. It simply screams "Smile!" Shannon was a ham for any photog at this age. She absolutely loved to have her picture taken. So I had lots and lots of them done, so I have loads of pictures to choose from for more LO's. Lucky you! Ha!

What makes me love my husband (Second Tag, by Renee)

1) He has the most handsome brown eyes I have ever seen and they actually twinkle when he smiles with cute little crinkles at the outer edges around the eyes.

2) He gives the most romantic kisses in the world and just makes me melt.

3) He holds me so tenderly and makes me feel that there is no one else on earth but him and me.

4) He makes me feel totally protected and that he would fight the world for me if he had to.

5) He is totally trustworthy (I can trust him with my heart and that he will never hurt me).

6) His sense of humor is hilarious and he knows just what to say and do to make me smile.

7) He is totally self-sufficient. He is a "country boy that can survive."

8) We are so totally compatible that we say the same things at the same time. I know a lot of couples who have been married for a lot of years do this, but we have only been married two years and we have been doing this since we first met.

9) He is a great cook, almost what you would call a gourmet cook.

10) He fulfills my every need and want.

There are so many more things I could say, but I think you get the general gist of the reasons why by the 10 items I listed. I love my husband more than life itself and it really doesn't matter what he does to make me love him, I JUST DO!!!

Tagged by Renee (Here is the first tag, the second tag will take longer)

1. What time did you get up this morning? 4:22 a.m., but only because my back started hurting
2. Diamonds or pearls? Diamonds. I am like a bird, I like sparkly.
3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? LOTR (Fellowship)
4. What is your favorite TV show? Surface, but it has already ended for the season
5. What do you usually have for breakfast? A coke icee and a cheese danish
6. Favorite cuisine? Mexican
7. What is your middle name? Jo
8. What food do you dislike? Food from India, do not like curry
9. What is your favorite CD at the moment? Amarantine by Enya (I know, wierd)
10. What kind of car do you drive? A Toy Taco (Toyota Tacoma truck)
11. Favorite sandwich? A Subway Melt with shredded cheese on Italian bread
12. What characteristic do you despise? i don't know if this is a characteristic or not, but I cannot stand someone who is "two-faced."
13. Favorite item of clothing? Blue Jeans
14. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where
would you go? Austria or Australia
15.What color is your bathroom? Yellow and Navy
16. Favorite brand of clothing? what ever fits (Liz and Me?)
17. Where would you retire to? Wyoming
18. What was your most recent memorable birthday? My last (49) Celebrated with family at Jim-N-Nick's
19. Favorite sport to watch? Figure skating
20. Favorite saying? I know a thing or two about a thing or two
21. When is your birthday? January 22
22. Are you a morning person or a night person? more of a night person I guess
23. What is your shoe size? 8
24. Pets? two yorkies, a maltese, and 24 chickens
25. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share with us? My daughter recently got engaged.

What do you consider a "romantic" Valentine's Day?

I have found that what I used to consider a "romantic" Valentine's Day is just not as romantic as I once thought. Being married to a "country boy" has changed my way of thinking.

A "city guy" will buy you a Valentine's card from the Hallmark store, but a "country boy" will carve your initials in a heart on the old oak tree in the back yard.

A "city guy" will buy you a dozen expensive cut red roses, but a "country boy" will plant you a row of daffodils outside your window so you can gaze at their beautiful yellow glow every year in the early spring.

A "city guy" will buy you a box of expensive chocolates, but a "country boy" will make you a batch of brownies with fudge icing because he knows how much you love them.

A "city guy" will take you to an expensive restaurant and wine and dine you, but a "country boy" will take you for a ride in his 4WD truck down by the lake to have a picnic under the stars.

A "city guy" will take you to the latest movie out in the theater, but a "country boy" will sit with you for hours gazing at a full moon whispering how much he loves you.

I don't particularly mean to diminish in any way what a "city guy" can come up with for a "romantic" Valentine's Day scenario, but now that I am a "country boy's" wife, I guess my tastes have changed. I love my country boy so much, he is the love of my life and now that I have found him, I can't bear the thought of living a day without him. He makes my life worth living.

Now that I have told you what a "romantic" Valentine's Day entails for me and my "country boy," please reply to my blog and let me know what you consider to be a "romantic" Valentine's Day for you.

Look Who's Talking! A New LO

This is one of my favorite pictures of Shannon. It was a foreshadowing of things to come. My memory images of her teenage years are very reminiscent of this picture. She walked around the house with the phone in her ear. Actually she still talks on the phone a lot (cell phone that is). So, "Look Who's Talking!"

Odds and Ends

My niece's wedding Tea was yesterday and everything went smoothly and everything was nice. She got a lot of great gifts and a good many ladies attended. So I was glad to see Rachael happy.

Today is the day of my MRI. I am actually considering taking some pictures. I think that would make a funny LO. "Me and my MRI." What do you think? I am just trying to laugh about it, because first, the MRI kinda scares me (but at least it is an open one this time); and secondly, I still don't know what is making my back hurt, so that is somewhat of a mysterious ailment. I hope that the MRI can determine what is causing the pain.

I am in a wierd mood today since all night long I kept dreaming about dogs getting killed and it has just kinda creeped me out, naturally so. My three puppies are doing fine this morning though.

Shannon had a stressful time at work last night, describing what sounded like a panic attack. She may need to go back to the doctor and let her prescribe her something or get some counseling. "They" say this is all part of her mitral valve prolapse and dysautonomia. Who knows, I just know it started after Momma got sick and Ricky had his "manic" episode.

Eddie is doing fine. He is working at Parker Mount's. Isn't that some kinda name for you? He is redoing a bathroom in "Heart" Pine, building a vanity and replacing the linoleum with the "Heart" Pine. I'm sure it will look gorgeous when he is through.

The chickens are doing great. It seems in cold weather their laying production decreases, but then increases with the warmer weather. I am selling the eggs to a lady at work whose church uses them to bake cakes for bake sales and church luncheons.

My back is starting to spasm again from sitting in this chair typing, so I will go for now. I will update you after the MRI.

Oh Boy, another MRI!

The doctor prescribed me some more medication (including a steroid) and scheduled me for an MRI. I go Monday for the scan.

I certainly hope this excursion is a lot better than last time. I took three Valium last time. I requested an open MRI so hopefully it will be better.

Pain is a PAIN!!!!

My back is still hurting. I am still experiencing muscle spasms after a full round of muscle relaxers and anti-inflammatories. I have to go back to the doctor tomorrow morning. I don't know what he is going to do. I have used a heating pad for 15 minutes every two hours. I have taken the prescription drugs he gave me. The muscle spasms went away, but the pain didn't. Since finishing the muscle relaxer, now the muscle spasms are back, not as bad as they were, but I am afraid they will get harder and more painful as the muscle relaxer wears off more.

So be thinking of me as I make another trip to the doctor to see if he can "fiss it," as my daughter used to say.

What is the world coming to?

Who ever heard of rural Baptist churches in Alabama being burned to the ground?

The arsonist can burn every Baptist church in the state of Alabama and it will not cause a ripple in the beliefs of God's people. So what in the world does he think he is doing. It's absolutely crazy.

In the past few years, there have been 11 churches burned in Alabama. I hope they find the culprit soon.

My heart goes out to the congregations in each of the churches that have been burned. I am so thankful that no one has been hurt.

Coyote Ugly

It certainly got ugly at the Greenville Super Wal-Mart this morning.

I drove up and there were two police cars off to one side at one of the front entrance doors and people were milling around the buggy station. As I got out of my truck, a policeman waved me to go around the long way. I was going to walk right through the buggy station just like I always do when I park on the side of the store, but he waved me around.

A lot of people were hunched over looking under the buggies. I naturally thought it was a shoplifter or maybe a homeless person that had tried to hide under the buggies. After those initial thoughts, another thought popped into my head. What if it was a snake? (Shudder!!!)

As I walked past the crowd of people, I overheard them talking about a coyote that was under the buggies and wouldn't come out. It was very windy, a little chilly, and I had shopping to do, so I didn't hang around, but I heard that Animal Control had been called to get the poor creature out. Needless to say, everyone in the store was talking "coyote."

When I was ready to leave, everyone that had been outside had moved on, including the coyote. I hope Animal Control didn't hurt the coyote too much trying to get it out from under the buggies. I wonder where they released it.

Eddie put a deer carcass back at the end of our property and he heard coyotes yipping and howling that same night. The next day the carcass was gone without a trace. I have seen several on the side of the highway and two ran in front of my truck one night as I was coming home. So I guess we are overrun with coyotes this season. I hope they don't come after the chickens.

Just how do you keep the coyotes at bay?