Life according to Anna

Last Christmas

2007-12-06T19:09:00.000-08:00

This is what looking for the perfect Christmas tree was like last year, we all picked our favorite tree but dad's tree won out. After all he was doing all the work so he got to pick.

And cut! And to answer your question yes the tree did fall on him before the boys decided to help. Oviously I had to hold the camera, you know document the occasion.
Saturday we will load the four of us and the dog in the jeep and head out to find the perfect tree for this year. We will bring it home and decorate it while enjoying a cup of hot cocoa with a dollop of Reddi Wip floating in it. Snow is in the forcast so of course we will have the fresh snowflakes to add to the five or six inches we already have. Snow on the ground while searching for a christmas tree, what a concept, as you can see in the picture very little snow last year. The last to or three years its been brown and dirty for our family tree hunting day, so I am really looking forward saturday....

City at night

2007-12-06T18:02:00.000-08:00

I know, I know not another sunset picture, what can I say, I love sunsets!

Sin posse!

2007-12-03T16:11:00.000-08:00

Above: The Landover Baptist Sin Posse (1938) "Local Demon Busters Division A."

Front row from left: Henny Binn Davidson Jr., Dan Carver, Deacon Bill Maxum, Officer Eddie (The Breeze) Bruckner

Back row: Chief Manny Tack (Father of the late Georgia Sue Gaines), Rev. Sam Kidwell, Dr. Orson Pickering (seen through the rear window securing firearms in the trunk)

*About: The Landover Baptist Sin Posse had 12 divisions, the most successful of which was "Demon Busters Division A," seen above. The sin posse worked much like a volunteer fire department. The only difference was that instead of putting out earthly fires, they put out fires that originated in Hell. Local residents would call the Demon Busters whenever suspicious activity was afoot. Division A would respond and be on the scene within 15 minutes. Sinners would flee in horror when they heard the sound of the posse's limousine coming around the corner. If the posse arrived and people were still sinning, they would try to disperse the crowd by using physical force. All members carried wooden baseball bats. They would club sinners over the head until they heard either a confession of Christ or a promise to attend church. Firearms were used in some cases.

The Landover Baptist Sin Posse stopped smokers, gamblers, drunkards, loiterers, Catholics, uppity colored folks, harlots, young girls in lewd attire, boys engaged in questionable horseplay, male flower shop owners, musicians, artists, know-it-all lawyers, lispers, and sissies, for nearly 50 years. When the Landover Baptist Church got its own state funded born again Baptist police force in 1947, there was no longer a need to have a sin posse.

Found this article the other day while helping our youngest do an assignment for his catechism class. The assignment was to check out other forms of religion and find out how there views differ from ours on matters like baptism and sin. This is something from the Baptist church that we came across and got a good laugh. Not sure if this is true or just something to get a good laugh over but we thought it seemed like a good idea. Don't you think we could all use a good beating over the head every now and again, I know I could. And I know a few people I would love to see get beat over the head. I'm not a violent person I just know the effects of sin, so I quess if gettin walloped a good one tell you cry out to the Lord is what it takes then I'm all for it. Wallop away I say. To bad the group got dispersed....

Anna gives thanks

2007-11-20T18:30:00.000-08:00

Thank you for my savior who died for me.
Thank you for my family and friends who love me.
Thank you for the miracles you've shown me.
Thank you for the beauty that surrounds me.
Thank you for the home you've provided for me.
Thank you for the life you've given me.
Lord I thank Thee!

All a glow

2007-11-16T17:57:00.000-08:00

I took this picture last week just before the sun dipped down below the horizon. I was out by the road near our house snappin pictures as cars were driving by at a high rate of speed. I got a few strange looks. They were probably wondering why this crazy lady was taken pictures next to a busy road in her jammy bottoms....So worth it though, such a beautiful sunset I just couldn't pass it up......

Can I come in?

2007-11-09T07:05:00.000-08:00

The neighbor cat James Bond yes thats his name we just call him James, wanting to come in or perhaps wanting my two to come out. I get this look everyday from him he realy knews how to pull at the heart strings, if he didn't belong to someone already I would have a 4th cat in my house for sure...

Where did all the years go?

2007-11-08T20:13:00.000-08:00

I spent several hours today touring our community college with our son T.J. who's a senior in high school. I've celebrated 18 birthdays with him and for the first time I seen him as a man and not a child. It seems like just yesterday we were playing at the park, going on adventures and reading bedtime stories. Now were getting info on graduation gowns and invitations and checking out college opportunities. I remember the day we brought him home from the hospital a little 5 lbs. 8 oz. bundle of joy, I had just turned 19 two days before and thought I had a lifetime to love and care for him and plan his future. Now the future that seemed so far away is here and I'm not ready for it. Touring the college today really put things in perspective, he's not my little boy anymore, he's grown up and ready to spread his wings and make his way in the world and its my job as a parent to guide him in that direction ~the open door to the big world~ but I'm not ready to let go. I was told when the kids were younger to "cherish the time you have with them cause they grow up so fast", truer words could not have been spoken, the past 18 years have flown by in an instant. One minute your holding this little baby your very heart itself in your arms and the next minute your helping him plan for the future he'll have away from you. I wish I had a rewind button I could keep rewinding back to when they were little and never really have to let go. Is it selfish to want just a little more time with your kids? I know the Lord kept Eric and I close to our hometown all these years for many reasons but one being that we have many options for colleges and trade schools within driving distance of our home, so T.J. can live at home and go to college. So he can have his independence and still have that security of being able to save money and not have to worry about bills. Is it wrong to want to give your child the tools to make it on their own and not just push them out the door. Is it wrong as a parent to want that extra time with them to say the goodnites and give hugs and guide them just that little extra bit so that when they do walk out your door their really ready. I know it will be hectic for him with college and work but at least he's home. I'm so glad he chose a school close to home. Not sure what me, his brother or the animals would have done if he would have chose to go off to school, brute force I quess.....

Colors of Fall

2007-10-31T14:54:00.000-07:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!

2007-10-28T18:54:00.000-07:00

It's your birthday, Mom.
So I will raise a cheer.
For without you, wonderous woman,
I would not be here.

Yes, I owe it all to you, Mom.
From the time that I was small,
You encouraged me in everything,
And tried not to let me fall.

Throughout my life your caring,
Brightened each and every minute.
You loved me and enriched my life,
And I'm so glad to have you in it!

poem by: Karl Fuchs

APPLE MANIA!

2007-10-23T18:20:00.000-07:00

I got a load of apples given to me and not wanting them to go to waste I went on a jelly/jam making rampage, I made 7 batches and still have a ton, can only eat so many a day, quess my next project will be breads, pies, and crunches made with apples. I love apples but after this I am really questioning Why I said "sure I'll take whatever apples you don't want". I have apples coming out of my butt, SERIOULY, loaded with all that fiber apples are just as affective as prunes and X-lax........

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HUN!

2007-10-22T16:02:00.000-07:00

Love you so much, your an awesome husband, father and friend. Had to post this pic cause it shows your fun lovin side, and of course your where'n your Tony Stewart hat in it and we all know how much you love that hat........

Country Drive

2007-10-19T08:12:00.000-07:00

WAY TO GO T DOG

2007-10-18T20:42:00.000-07:00

Bet you can't wait to say "welcome to McDonalds may I take your order"? You look dashing in your uniform. Your dad and I are so proud he! he! Who would have thought you would be workin at your favorite fast food fix!

You get what you pay for!

2007-10-16T08:00:00.000-07:00

I've always heard that saying and usually just ignored it cause this girl loves a bargain. Well I finally get it, I really do. Last night was my youngest son's last flag football game of the season. It was rainy and cold all day, but they still decided to play and not call the game. We drive the 35 minutes to the game to find it is going to be 20 minutes late cause the previous game went over do to play calls and not starting on time. By this time I'm a little upset thinking of the homework Jake has, and the late dinner which will probably be fast food again (so sick of fast food), and the fact it is rainy, cold and a little windy. I grab my little black umbrella which I purchased a while ago at the Dollar Tree (were everything is a $1.00) and start to watch the game. I nod and smile to all the other parents with their big umbrella's triple the size of mine (like beach umbrellas), open my little one while thinking to myself ~I bit you guys paid triple as much too ha! ha! I no sooner get this thought out of my head when a small gust of wind comes along and flips my little umbrella inside out so it looks like I'm holding a canvas bowl or a satellite dish above my head. I try to fix it without drawing to much attention to myself, but I can't and I notice a few people see it and snicker at me. So with my little bit of pride left I leave it the way it is and use it anyway cause a broken umbrella is better than no umbrella, right. I braved it out for at least 10 minutes but I was getting wet anyway and sick of having to tip it to empty the water that was filling up in it so I went back to my vehicle to watch the game from there. Warm, dry and able to sing along with the radio but feeling like a stupid ass. I must have really looked ridiculous, more so than I usually do around these people. My poor son had to live with the knowledge of not only losing the game but the fact his mom's an idiot. I find myself learning two things from this experience:
1. never buy a umbrella for a $1.00.
2. never think to myself about other people or their stuff again.

Twilight

2007-10-15T10:09:00.000-07:00

Just a song at twilight,
When the lights are low
And the flickering shadows
Come and softly go.
When the heart is weary,
Sad the day, and long,
Still to us at twilight
Comes loves sweet song.

-G. Cliffton Bingham-

APPLETREES, PUMPKIN PATCHES, ANNABELL, AND THE BOSS

2007-10-15T09:54:00.000-07:00

This weekend the hub and I decided to take the kids to the apple orchards and to our favorite pumpkin patch, a tradition we do every year. We took a hay ride through one of the orchards, it was really pretty with all the apples on the trees and the beautiful fall colors in the background. I would have had some cool photos if the kids could have refrained from picking their noses, making faces, complaining, and just all around goofing up mom picture taking(kids there such a joy). Anyway, after the hayride we went back to their shed to see the petting zoo and met a little baby calf the boys decided to call "Annabell", no not after their loving mother, but after the cow on the cartoon "Annabell's Wish", she was so cute, I got a great picture of her checkin out the camera. In all we went to 3 apple orchards and a pumpkin patch. We sampled apple wine, cheese curds, apple jams, apple cider, and frankly anything my three men could possible try for free. I bought apples, squash, apple butter, cheese curds, dip mixes, potatoes, apple cider, and a great apple raspberry wine(low alcohol). Spent too much money and left with full belles. At the pumpkin patch we took some pictures of us as scarecrows with straw hats and met a little kitty snoozing amoung what was left of the mums they were selling ( the kids said "he must be The Boss"). We had a great time and on the way home the hub decided to take us to the boys' favorite restaurant (what else a buffet) I ate so much food between the samples at the orchards and the buffet I had to be rolled home.....

Entrance to the corn maze, which the kids did not do this year. Our youngest is 13 now ya know, quess he thought he was to grown up for such activities....

And this is "Annabell" blowin baby cow kisses to the camera....

More photos

2007-10-10T09:34:00.000-07:00

My youngest took this of the hub and I ( hence: uncentered, zoomed)

My two best accomplishments poising for another photo, they grumbled most of the weekend because mom takes to many pictures(for this one I told them no photo no dinner this was the end product)

Just thought this would be a cool shot.

I guess this little guy thinks he's "the boss" my kids thought so too.....

Anna's super-moist chocolate chip banana bread

2007-10-05T18:14:00.000-07:00

3/4 cup sugar
1 stick butter
2 eggs
2 cups flour
1 teas. baking soda
1/2 teas. salt
4 large ripe bananas (mashed)
1 teas. vanilla
1 cup chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
1. Preheat 350 , grease large bread pan
2. Cream together butter and sugar, add eggs beat well
3. Mix together in separate bowl flour, baking soda, salt then add to cream mixture.
4. Mix in bananas, vanilla, chips, walnuts.
5. pour mixture into pan, bake for 55 min. or till toothpick tester comes out clean, let cool, enjoy....
Makes 1 loaf of yummy supermoist bread

Anna's thought for the day!

2007-10-03T07:04:00.000-07:00

Never let yesterday use up to much of today.....Will Rogers

Cheek to Cheek

2007-10-02T16:29:00.000-07:00

who's rug is it anyway?

2007-09-24T10:20:00.000-07:00

Got this cute little braided chair rug at a country store, got home, unpacked it, sat it on the table and went to put some other things away and this is what I found when I returned....Mister Friendly kitty sound asleep on top of it. Guess he thought it was for him.....

present for mom

2007-09-23T07:28:00.000-07:00

On a recent fishing excursion that my three men went on they decided to bring mom back a little present, since I was left home to clean. No not pretty flowers or some nice fish to cook for diner, a baby snapping turtle. "Isnt she cute", "we call her snappy", "can we keep her" , "we found her swimming by the boat" were the words being hurtled at me while the youngest looked for a bowl to put her in and the oldest looked for bugs to feed her. This was the habitat that was created for snappy, rocks to sit on, grass with the roots still on to hide behind and peices of dead bugs for her to eat, all put in moms big glass mixing bowl. Great present guys and yes she is cute, for now, but I think it has escaped your attention that someday soon she will be big, ugly, mean, and full of attitude and soul purpose in life to snap on to something and never let go. So for the sake of fingers, toes, and paws, she was able to spend the night being fawned over, told how cute she was, and told by the youngest that if she every sees us again be nice were friends, then taken back to where she belonged to live out her days doing what snapping turtles do, crossing roads (just kidding but that seems to be the only place we have realy ever seen them)

beautiful sunset

2007-09-23T06:45:00.000-07:00

Lazy Weekend

2007-09-18T16:50:00.000-07:00

This is the cabin my mom rented for a week, she invited us up for the weekend, we had an awesome time. We fished, went out on the boat, played games with the kids, shopped (I came back with a realy nice wood rockin chair), watched the fog roll in across the lake, but most of all we spent some well needed down time visiting, telling stories, and reconnecting with nature and eachother. I would definately recommend staying at a cabin for all of you who are stressed, no phones or tv, just family and nature in all its glory. In every dirrection is Gods handywork, its hard to be stressed surrounded by the sun shinning like jewels across the water, feeding hungery gulls from a dock, nestling in among old pines that seem to touch the clouds, standing on a dock out on the water with a cup of coffee watching fog roll in early in the morning while the rest of the world sleeps. But most of all kickin the feet up and sittin back in the evening visiting with the ones you love.....What a blessing....Thanks MOM for time well spent, I will cherish the memories.....

Out on a limb

2007-09-09T10:04:00.000-07:00

Finally after six months were back on line,
cant believe we were down so long, missed
my blogger friends....
A photo of the two boys fishin on one of our
summer camping trips...

Three kings!

2007-02-19T15:32:00.000-08:00

Anna's thought for the day!

2007-02-19T14:55:00.000-08:00

Caution: read no further if you lack a since of humor~

Friends are like buttcheeks.
Shit might separate them,
But they always come back together...

Not a BowFlex body

2007-02-11T18:11:00.000-08:00

Yoga is how he gets those kickin abs...

2007-02-06T17:06:00.000-08:00

"If you believe you can love without feeling pain, then you must believe that you can run through the snow without leaving footprints" ~Author Unknown~

2007-02-05T07:39:00.000-08:00

This is cold, damn cold, woke up to find schools in this area were closed. The radio said -19 degrees with -35 degrees windchill, but look at what my temp gage shows, its usually accurate. So glad I have nowhere to go today, the poor hub has to work though. Our youngest when finding out he had no school says "It's a movies and hot cocoa day momma". Great that usaully means the two boys lounging around in their boxers all day eating everything in sight, after all ones a teen and the others a preteen. Oh boy is this going to be a long day......

2007-02-03T11:41:00.000-08:00

Bundled up to go fill the bird feeders and check the mail, at 0 degrees outside today, I have one word for ya BRRRRRRRR!
Our Pomeranian "Ted" in his new snowsuit, lovin the cold weather, wishin the boys would come out to play....

Pampered suspect!

2007-02-03T09:39:00.000-08:00

Friday my teen had a day off from school, so I decided after dropping my twelve year old off at his school I would take my teen out for breakfast, kind of a mom son day. The teen suggested Burgerking, why am I not surprized. So while he enjoyed his enormos meal and I enjoyed my crossoinwich and orange juice, I happened to spot a newspaper nearby, the headline read Police Search For Man Who Gets Spa Services, Skips Paying. The article talked of how this man has visited 20 differant spas, got services and skipped out before paying. I'm instanly intrigued and must read on. Pedicures, manicures, facials, sea salt boby polishes are just a few of the services he has received, several thousand dollars worth of services and then leaves before paying. He tells the spas he wants to take better care of himself and plans on getting a full days worth of services, last of which being a massage, but before he gets the massage he says he has to go to his car and get his cell phone or papers from his breifcase and leaves. Apparantly this man has been doing this for about a year. The teen and I get a good laugh over this article, I read on to find out he is 6 feet tall and weighs about 300 pounds. Okay alittle creepy if you ask me. This is not only disturbing because I'm a woman and have yet to visit a spa, but that he's a big man and a serial spa-er. Really what is this world coming to, it seems the freaks have really been coming out of the woodwork. The police say they are on the look out for a theif who looks, smells and feels marvelous and goes by the name of Scott Kendry. Emagine when he does get caught and goes to jail, what his cellmates will think. He'll end up being someones girlfriend for sure, with a rapsheet like that, HELLO, criminal hall of shame for sure....

Arnold's Twin!!

2007-01-28T08:45:00.000-08:00

Last night we were watching an old Arnold Schwarzenegger movie "Commando" and this part comes on were Arnie gets out of his boat in his speedo and starts to get all dressed in army gear lookin all big and tough and Arnie like. The hub turns to me and says all serious like, "I looked like that when I was in the army, remember". After I changed my shorts from laughin so hard I soiled them, I did what any wife would do. I said, "you sure did hun, except you were about 100 lbs. lighter and a foot shorter, but yah you could have been Arnold's twin".....It's funny how we see ourselves, just so you have a visual image of the hub when he was in the army, he was 5'8" 165 lbs. soaking wet and with boots on, infact our 12 year old son wears dad's old uniform to play army guys in, with his big brother, and its tight on him... Are ya seein the visual? Big guy trapped in a little guys body...This is why I love him, after all these years he still makes me laugh tell I cry, and he's good lookin too, who could ask for more......

My winter wonderland

2007-01-27T10:36:00.000-08:00

Not much winter to actually speak of except the cold that goes along with it, but this morning promised the winter we have so longed for, a snowy one. So me the eternal picture taking fool, ran out in my jammies and my son's size 14 shoe to capture the falling snow. The kids and I hoping for a day spent watching movies and drinking cocoa and playing games while the snow piled up out side, so that tomorrow would bring a day filled with snowball fights, building that perfect snow fort and just all around playing in the freshly fallin snow would not be just a wish. But as nature would have it, that is exactly what it shall stay, a wish, just 20 minutes after this picture was taken it quite snowing....

The Chef

2007-01-27T10:05:00.000-08:00

Cookin is a breeze when you have the right help...

2007-01-19T17:39:00.000-08:00

The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort,
but where he stands at times of challenge....Martin Luther King Jr.

Took this picture at Arches National Park in Utah, spring of 2005, we visited Garden of the Gods-Pikes Peak and Rocky Mountain National park in Colorado and then went on to Cayonlands and Arches National parks in Utah. Theres just something about mountains that really call to ya. This pictures was taken to get the full effect of the desert like surroundings and the snow covered mountains in the distance, it was beautiful, there were little purple flowers scattered here and there on the ground that appeared to be growing right out of the rock we got off one of the trails to check out a cluster of flowers, rounded the rock formation to the left of this picture and this was what awaited us, almost like a little corridor, heading to some majestic place far away.

2007-01-19T17:24:00.000-08:00

One of the arches, I think this was the biggest and most famous arch.

2007-01-19T17:18:00.000-08:00

My little men stopping for a photo.

2007-01-10T07:03:00.000-08:00

The Lord's mercies are new
every morning...Lam 3:23

Deep in prayer!

2007-01-09T16:21:00.000-08:00

Now I lay me......

Ringing in the New Year!

2007-01-03T08:29:00.000-08:00

What the! who took this breast shot of me?( funny funny) I will find out ya know...
Mom and Lucy trying to be exotic dancers, shakin some tail feather (um girls that was non alcoholic champaign -aka- sparkling fruit juice, we loved the show anyway)
Luc after a few shots of the good stuff, so uninhibited ( we didn't have the heart to tell her it was fruit juice she was downin) Luc you big fat wino have another helping! he he!
The mental patients, we hosted over the weekend, had a hell of a time with this group photo..
Two gangsters "Young Cheesy" (sportin the broken wrist, love the pink cast bro) and "Scoop Frog"(with his new grill bought off ebay, looks to me like an aluminum wrigleys gum wrapper) fresh off their "Broke And Dirty Tour" thanks for stopping by guys we luv ya...

Even though the "lou" backed up into our basement and we had to get an emergancy septic pumping costing 175.00 and the refrigerator died leaving us functioning out of two colemon coolers, all on the same day( new years eve) you can see we brought in the new year with a bang....after the year we had, trust me we needed a good bang, at least I did anyway! he he! just kidding...

2006-12-31T13:55:00.000-08:00

This is the new poster child for "Locks Of Love"...Not only could he donate his head to the better good he could donate all 12 inches of that bushy uni-brow !! Posted by Lucy Kruze from Down the Dirt Road...

2006-12-07T20:14:00.000-08:00

A harvest moon.. you can see the silos and the shed in the background...took about ten pics and only one turned out fairly well.....Hun only 17 shopping days tell Christmas..hint hint....

2006-12-07T20:08:00.000-08:00

Yes, our cat thinks he's a dog, he loves milkbones, dogfood, and I'm almost certain I have heard him bark...

With our Savior!

2006-12-03T08:03:00.000-08:00

9/11/1931 to 11/25/2006

Over Thanksgiving weekend my Grandma (our little "shorty", our little "G-ma") passed away. She had been in the hospital since December 27 2005. It has been very hard for all of us, but it is a comfort to know she is in heaven with Grandpa who has been waiting for her for 11 years. What a reunion that must have been. I will miss her dearly, her smiles and her hugs and her corny songs and her goofiness will stay with me forever. She touched so many lives, but none as deeply as this family, she was such a big part of our lives saying goodbye is not easy. I know we will see her again someday, but just knowing I will never hear her voice, or hold her hand, or be able to hug her, that all these things will be just apart of all the memories I have of her is realy hard to accept. She gave all of herself to everyone she knew and saw the good in everything even in those who couldn't find the good in themselves. She was a blessing to all who knew her....
(Shorty) we love you and miss you and will look to the day we see you again, you will not be forgotten...
I Love you (G-ma)
Anna

2006-11-23T12:47:00.000-08:00

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
Just 4 of many things I am thankful for this holiday season-
my faith, my family, my friends, and my freedom...

Anna's thought for the day!

2006-11-20T19:35:00.000-08:00

Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.
-Theodore Roosevelt-

Special Effects!

2006-11-20T19:11:00.000-08:00

Fill in the blanks!

2006-11-13T18:21:00.000-08:00

I can't make sense of anything or anyone right now. I feel like this past year has been one big whirl wind of ups and downs. Sometimes I feel like I'm on a roller coaster ride run by a tatooed, nose ringed, greasy haired, pot smoking, toothless carney who refuses to let me get off. Me and my loved ones can do without the excitement... One family member has been hosptalised for almost 11 months and has not gotten any better and medical bills are mounting, another family member is having mental problems and is now in a mental institution, two marriages have been riped apart, a close relationship has become distant, and the list goes on to what this family has gone through. I'm finding it hard to deal with all of this, it's not happening to me, but its happening to those I love and I feel as though I have walked through it with them and have come out the other side feeling week, empty, and confused. I'm a christian and know that God has a plan for everything, but right now I feel like throwing my hands in the air and screaming "What the _ _ _ _"?, "Where is the grace and the compassion"?, "Do you hear my prayers"? I know its wrong to feel this way, but its how I feel, I have not lost faith, just having trouble understanding the Big Plan and feeling pain for those I love....

2006-11-05T08:31:00.000-08:00

Sleepy Hollow

And in this tranquil rendezvous where peace and beauty blend,
there is a sweet communion In the meeting of a friend;
for in this shining solitude,
false values slip away,
and only truth and beauty
seem planted there to stay.
The weary one finds comfort,
the struggling soul finds peace,
the hungry one finds banquet,
the bitter one release.
I think this sanctuary must be the kind of place,
where very unsuspectingly we meet God face to face.

Helen Steiner Rice

Under the sheets your sure to get a laugh!!!

2006-10-13T12:20:00.000-07:00

Just to let it be known the hub and I do not believe in horoscopes, tarot cards, fortune tellers or any other things that are similar, even Friday the 13th is just another day, we are christians and do not beieve in superstitions. I dont even believe in fortune cookies, however we do have a little thing that we do each time we get chinese food. Its something that the two of us do to get a little laugh and its just between the two of us. Each time we open up our fortune cookies to every saying we add "under the sheets" to the end of it. Well anyway I always get the corny ones that don't even make any sense and the hub always get the ones that always make us chuckle. Like the other day when he took me out to lunch for chinese his cookie said "even a broken clock is right two times a day" just thought this was hilarious since we always turn the saying into a sexual remark, I got quite the laugh. And since mine said "your new journey will be a short one" I got an even bigger laugh...

2006-10-12T17:59:00.000-07:00

Approaching storm...promising snow and rain..

2006-10-11T15:32:00.000-07:00

If we realy want to love, we must learn how to forgive....
~Mother Teresa

Rolling orchards, pumpkin patches,and apple wine!!

2006-10-02T09:00:00.000-07:00

This weekend my teenage sons best friend from his old school came to stay for a few days, they hadn't seen eachother since November of last year. It was quite the weekend, one of the days we took the kids to a bunch of apple orchards in the area. Since this is a family tradition we do every year we thought it would be fun to take T.J.'s friend as he had never been to an orchard bef0re. One of the orchards we visited we bought a carmel apple pie and some ice cream and the five of use had a nice little feast while waiting for the wagon ride to begin( which takes you all around the orchard, it was very beautiful). At another orchard just down the rode the hub and I did some wine tasting( never knew they could make wine out of apples, we sampled about six of them, we made sure to look like true wine testers with the smelling and swirling of the wine glass, theres an art to it you know, very delicious) while we sampled the wine and tested the amny dips and salsas the three boys took several trips through the corn maze, this being the one thing they really wanted to do( yes two 17 year olds and one 12 year old and what they wanted to do most was go through the corn maze, go figure, they didn't even care that it was acctually set up for toddlers) It was a very beautiful day perfect weather, we came home with lots of apples, homemade apple cider, pumpkins, squash, guards and some great dip and salsa mixes. If you have any orchards in your area be sure to go visit they have so many differant things to offer everyone has a good time and what could be better than home grown apples and fressh homemade apple cider..

2006-10-02T08:57:00.000-07:00

The shot the hubby took from the wagon ride, the view was awesome, this picture does not do it justice though, the colors were beautiful, full of rolling hills and rows and rows of pumpkins and apple trees and bees lots of bees. This orchard also raises honey bees, the hives are kept in an attached shed on the back side of the store part of the orchard, theres a window that you can see the bees busy at work. When I was little we used to eat the honey comb not sure where mom got it but it sure was good, now I know how those little bees make it, very cool..

2006-10-02T08:44:00.000-07:00

The three boys exploring the corn maze, which they decided to do twice, and I should probably mention this maze was ment for toddlers, but they had fun anyway.

2006-10-02T08:39:00.000-07:00

Fall colors in all their glory.

2006-10-02T08:36:00.000-07:00

The apple orchird, with all the beautiful fall colors in the background, this is where we sampled several apple wines. (Delicious)

2006-10-02T08:32:00.000-07:00

A view of the pumpkin patch.

Beauty in black and white!

2006-09-30T16:21:00.000-07:00

I've really been into making alot of the photos I take lately into black and white photos, it gives even the most odd shot a unique look. My plan is to frame some of them in square black frames and hang them in our family room.

Reflection!

2006-09-24T19:34:00.000-07:00

I didn't notice my reflection when I took this picture of the garden frog my mother-in-law gave me. Thought it was kind of cool how it turned out.

2006-09-21T18:14:00.000-07:00

To see a world in a grain of sand
and Heaven in a wild flower'
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand
and eternity in an hour
..William Blake...

Anna's thought for the day!

2006-09-20T09:21:00.000-07:00

"If you think your fat, you probably are" which is precisely why today starts my quest to own one ass instead of two, wish me luck!

2006-09-20T09:19:00.000-07:00

ok ok enough photos of my pets already, I hear ya!. But is he cute or what! And yes he is that fat and yes his head is that little, this is not trick photography

2006-09-11T19:09:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday to our sweet little G-Ma (Shorty) We love you!!!!

Remembering 9/11

2006-09-11T18:51:00.000-07:00

Two Thousand One, Nine Eleven

Two thousand one, Nine Eleven
Six thousand plus arrive in Heaven
As they pass through the gate,
Thousands more appear in wait

A bearded man with stovepipe hat
Steps forward saying,
"Lets sit, lets chat"

They settle down in seats of clouds
A man named Martin shouts out proud
"I have a dream!" and once he did
The newcomer said, "You died not in vain."

Groups of soldiers in blue and gray
Others in khaki, and green they say
"We're from Bull Run, Yorktown, the Maine"
The Newcomers said, "You died not in vain."

From a man on sticks one could hear
"The only thing we have to fear.
The Newcomer said, "We know the rest,
trust us sir, we've passed that test."

"Courage doesn't hide in caves
You can't bury freedom, in a grave,"
The Newcomers had heard this voice before
A distinct Yankees twang from Hyannisport shores

A silence fell within the mist
Somehow the Newcomer knew that this
Meant time had come for her to say
What was in the hearts
of the five thousand plus that day

"Back on Earth, we wrote reports,
Watched our children play in sports
Worked our gardens, sang our songs
Went to church and clipped coupons

We smiled, we laughed, we cried, we fought
Unlike you, great we're not"

The tall man in the stovepipe hat
Stood and said, "don't talk like that!
Look at your country, look and see
You died for freedom, just like me"

Then, before them all appeared a scene
Of rubbled streets and twisted beams
Death, destruction, smoke and dust
And people working just 'cause they must

Hauling ash, lifting stones,
Knee deep in hell
But not alone

"Look! Black-man, White-man, Brown-man, Yellow-man
Side by side helping their fellow man!"
So said Martin, as he watched the scene
"Even from nightmares, can be born a dream."

Down below three fireman raise
The colors high into ashen haze
The soldiers above had seen it before
On Iwo Jima back in '44

The man on sticks studied everything closely
Then shared his perceptions on what he saw mostly
"I see pain, I see tears,
I see sorrow - but I don't see fear,"

"You left behind husbands and wives
Daughters and sons and so many lives
are suffering now because of this wrong
But look very closely. You're not really gone.

All of those people, even those who've never met you
All of their lives, they'll never forget you
Don't you see what has happened?
Don't you see what you've done?
You've brought them together, together as one.

With that the man in the stovepipe hat said
"Take my hand," and from there he led
Six thousand plus heroes, newcomers to Heaven
On this day, two thousand one, nine one eleven.

Author: Paul Spreadbury

2006-09-10T11:29:00.000-07:00

The other night while doing the dishes, I had my Keith Urban cd playing. I love Keith Urban, unfortunately the rest of the family is not so fond of him. As I was getting the jeers from the family for my choose of music, like "turn that crap off", "do we have to liston to country", and "hey its qweef urban", my cat Maxxi got up on the counter directely under where my under the cabinet radio was blastin the tunes of Mr. Urban from his Be Here cd and feel asleep. I brought the family out to the kitchen to see there was proof of another fan in the house. "See", I said "he loves this music so much it soothed him into a deep sleep" Their reaction " look that craps so boring it put him right to sleep" and "he feel asleep in self defense ".....I personally think he was letting me know he approved, if that isn't the look of a fellow Keith Urban fan I don't know what is....

2006-09-06T06:44:00.000-07:00

Finally, time to reclaim the house. Both kids are off to school and the hubby's at his emergency responder training for work so the house is mine, another day to spend doing some major scrubbing. Summer has sure taken a toll, with a teen and a preteen running around and not much time to clean, I'm ashamed to say in the last 3 month I have only moped the floors 3 times, thats once a month," YUK". With 4 pets, 1 husband, and 2 boys who forget to take their shoes off at the door, the mop bucket from yesterdays scrubbing looked like a mud puddle and smelled just as bad. I wonder what surrprizes are in store for today. Yesterday while vaccuming the hubby's recliner for pet hair I tiped it up to clean the under side and found 2 forks, a spoon with something growing on it, a peice of a poptart, a candy bar wrapper and a cat toy ( alittle money would have been nice but no such luck) And while changing the teens sheets I found a cricket on his bed (dead thankfully) and while vacumming my youngest sons room on the carpet was 3 little guinea pig droppings and a mess of hay right in front of the cage(I'm sure it dropped while he was refreshing her cage, but still for some reason he decided to leave it for mom to pick up). I spent all day cleaning and making the house smell fresh and clean with a good dose of Jungle Jack cleaner my favorite(you can get a big jug at Fleet Farm for about 5 dollars works great on everything from counters to floors and smells awesome) anyway spent all day cleaning, made a great supper, I even baked a dessert (recipe at bottom) my three men got home from school and work within exactly 3.2 minutes the house was strewn with shoes, book bags, papers, the toilet was used and not flushed, the hubs lunchbox thrown on the counter with the first 3 words emitting from his lips where "whats for dinner?" not hey beautiful, sweetie, snookums, princess,babe, love of my life who willingly cleans my shorts, keeps my house clean,makes good food for me and my offsrings bellies. No I get "whats for dinner" after 17 years together he's still a charmer, infact that charmed me at bedtime right into my mens jammi pants and a tshirt instead of the cute little white dress jammi that he so loves. This morning the comment" it was damn cold last night" probably did not have anything to do with the temperature I'm guessing even though it was damn cold.. I'm betting tonite when he gets home I'll get a kiss and a few sweet words probably a wink and an ass grab too, to let me know he'll have none of the cold sholder thing tonight....Anyway heres the recipe ladys its a winner all three of my men loved it even the dog ate a bite and liked it. Just be sure to double it works better and make it in a cake pan or a casserole dish instead of a sheet pan like you would a crisp..

Anna's Apple Crunch

6 large apples, sliced and peeled
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 c. sugar
1 c. flour
1/2 c. butter
1 c. brown sugar
Spread sliced apples into a buttered baking dish. Cover with the sugar and cinnamom. Mix flour, brown sugar and butter together until crumbly. Spread over the apples. Bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour. Serve with ice cream or whipped topping or ice cold glass or milk.

2006-08-20T20:48:00.000-07:00

This Moment

There may be no tomorrow. There is no guarantee, and things that happened are history. I cannot predict the future. I cannot change the past. I have just the present moment. I must treat it as my last.

I must use this moment wisely for it soon will pass away, and be lost forever as part of yesterday. I must exersize compassion, help the fallen to their feet. Be a friend unto the friendless, make an empty life complete.

The unkind things I do today may never be undone, and friendships that I fail to win may nevermore be won. I may not have another chance on bended knees to pray, and thank God with a humble heart for giving me this day....

Author Unknown

2006-08-13T06:30:00.000-07:00

Happy 13th Emily, my buck tooth corn fed girl.

My two neices Em and Sar are the reason for my none posting, they have been staying with us for a week, having way too much fun to be on the computer. The giggles and the goofin never ends with two girls around...We had loads of fun with you two, love you both very much..

2006-07-29T14:07:00.000-07:00

Terminator 4 "The Reckoning" (coming to theaters summer 2007)

My teen thought this might be a great shot to put on moms camera!

2006-07-29T14:00:00.000-07:00

To all my faithful readers ( pausing for a good laugh) so sorry I haven't posted, its summer what can I say. I love summer but I can do without the 95 to 100 degree days, our central air has been running for a week and a half straight, can't wait for some cooler days to open the windows and let some fresh air in, 3 cats, a dog, a guinea pig, 4 humans and a musty basement make for uncomfortable conditions...

2006-07-20T07:39:00.000-07:00

Another beautiful sunset!

RV's, fishing, dinner, and a chick flick!

2006-07-17T13:52:00.000-07:00

Reccently while the two little men were off visiting or should I say driving their aunt and uncle crazy for a week, the hub and I were able to spend some quilty time together. The idea was for the hub to plan an allday date for him and I, as we never go out and the last time we were on a date, ok I acctualy can't remember the last time we were on a date but I know it was a long time ago, I think Clinton may have still been in office. There were no requirements for him just plan the day for the two of us, and here is what he came up with....An early morning fishing trip to a damn that is near our house, where we caught a grand total of 4 fish between us and one of those fish the hub somehow managed to rub its bloody fish body on my white tshirt directly accross my boob, (an accident so he said). Next was go home take a shower and go tour some RV dealerships in the area, it was 95 degrees out side and at least 110 inside, after a couple hours of going in and out of RV's I felt like I had stode under a sprinkler for an hour. Next was on to dinner at Hardees were I ordered a mushroom and swiss meal and shared the curly fries and the drink with the hub. And last but not least was off to the movies were the hub so graciously let me pick the movie ( after I begged and pleaded, promised many favors and told him I would post about how nice of a guy he was to sit through "The Lake House" with me) yes my hub the macho man he is sat through a chick flick with me. To his surprise he did not have to hide that handsome face, or wear his dark shades so knowone would know he was there, as it was on a Thursday and there was only one other couple in the theater with us and they were way to old to care. To even more of his surprise and mine as well, he acctually liked the movie. The Lake House a Sandra Bullock, Keanu Reeves love story with no T & A, no violence, nothing blowing up (ok someone does get hit by a bus, but you don't acctually see it) kind of chick flick and he liked it. His acctual words while leaving the theater were "hey that wasn't to bad of a movie, but don't tell the guys I said that". Hun your softer side secret is safe with me, I promise, and I won't even go on about how upset you got when Keanu didn't show up at the resturant where Sandra was waiting....and how you where two fistin the popcorn to keep those emotional outbursts at a minimum, that secrets safe with me too...Hun you can plan the date anytime, next time lets maybe leave out the RV tours on a hot day though okay and I promise to let you pick the movie...

2006-07-11T13:04:00.000-07:00

Lazy summer day! The hubs at work the kids are visiting their aunt and uncle for the week, most of the house works done, I have the day to myself. I can't think of anything I would rather do then lay in the grass in the shade and veg while I let Jacob's little guinea pig play in her playpen outside in the fresh air..What a beautiful day..

2006-07-09T08:27:00.000-07:00

Lost horizon......Taken in the spring of 2005 while visiting Canyonlands National park in Utah...

2006-07-08T18:12:00.000-07:00

Beside still waters my God is near,
With Him as my Sheperd
I need not fear.

Beside still waters I meditate,
My soul at peace
In Him so great!

Beside still waters my sins forgiven,
Blotted from
The book in Heaven.

Beside still waters a stone is cast,
The ripples fade
Like my crimson past.

Beside still waters my mind at rest,
For He is with me
And I am blest!
"Verle Elizabeth Davis"

2006-07-07T09:13:00.000-07:00

HAPPY 12th Jaker B; We Love You!

2006-07-06T09:24:00.000-07:00

Sharing an open window! After trying to push eachother off the window sill with no success, they finally desided they could share it.

2006-07-03T20:49:00.000-07:00

A safe and happy 4th to all of you from all of us!

2006-07-02T20:38:00.000-07:00

HAPPY 17th Dafig...We love you!

Our camp shenanigins!

2006-06-28T07:13:00.000-07:00

Below are some photos from our recent 3 day camping trip. We had a great time, we fished, biked the trails, the boys and the dog went swimming, we visited our favorite icecream shop where our dog indalged in a big puppy dish of his favorite vanilla icecream, we did smores arround the campfire. The campfire talk from the boys was about their favorite Spongebob episodes and how momma most have more than one guardian angel and that the angels have to work in shifts cause of how clutsy I am and that they most get tired and take many breaks. As usual I was the blunt of all their jokes, but just ask them who caught the most fish on our little camping trip? Yep you guessed it little old me, while they were catchin branches, logs, snags, and themsevles I was catching fish left and right and they call me clutsy?

2006-06-28T07:09:00.000-07:00

The boys doing what they love best, fishing.

2006-06-28T07:08:00.000-07:00

The hub and I sitting on a rock.

2006-06-28T07:05:00.000-07:00

T.J's biggest catch all three days of camping, caught right off the dock near our campsight.

2006-06-28T07:01:00.000-07:00

The sunset accross the lake, with a cool cloud formation.

2006-06-28T06:59:00.000-07:00

Jacobs crayfish he caught, was waving to the camera.

2006-06-28T06:56:00.000-07:00

The best thing the hub caught all three days.

2006-06-28T06:54:00.000-07:00

Me playing with the water hose, just finishing our bike ride around the campground and getting ready to pack up.

2006-06-25T08:23:00.000-07:00

All the ways that lead to somewhere
Echo with the hurrying feet
Of the struggling and the striving,
But the way I find so sweet
Bids me dream and bids me linger,
Joy and Beauty are its goal,
On the path that leads to nowhere
I have sometimes found my soul!
...Corinne Roosevelt Robinson....

Hummingbird Moth (White lined sphinx moth)

2006-06-24T08:15:00.000-07:00

This litle guy visited our yard the other night at dusk and we were able to get some pics. The hubby and I watched him for about a half hour while he feed on my tall phlox. He was not freightened of us being there, the hub even got just a few inches from him with some flowers he had picked while I took the photo. The only info I could find was that he was a White lined sphinx moth and that they feed towards evening and seem to like lillies, phlox, and petunias. They are more like a moth than a hummingbird but they feed like a hummer by hovering and feeding on the nector as opposed to landing and feeding like a moth. They sound like a bee when they fly arround. This little one was about 2 inches long and had a wing span of about 3 1/2 in not very big but sure to catch your attention. They are not realy partial to a given area, they have been found in many states. If you have tall phlox, lillies, or petunias or other flute like plants in your yard do alittle observing at arround dusk you may have one visiting your yard. And if you move slowly and stand or sit very still you can hold on to a few picked flowers and they will even feed on those, he got so close the hubby said he could feel the wind from his little wings on his hand....What better thing to do on a warm summer night than watching a little of the wild life that visit our yards, most go unnoticed, you would be surprized what you will find if you only look....."In all things of nature, there is something of the marvelous"... Aristotle....

Pictures of Canada!

2006-06-18T07:58:00.000-07:00

We're off to the great out doors for a few days of campin at our favorite campground, so I will leave you with a few pics the hub took when he was in Canada. Notice there are not many pictures of acctual fishing or even fish, perhaps there was alot of sittin arround the campfire shottin the shit and smokin swisher sweets, and I'm sure there was even more nappin in the tent or under a tree, but atleast he was wearin his life jacket in this photo anyway.

2006-06-18T07:52:00.000-07:00

2006-06-17T07:17:00.000-07:00

Recently while my hubby was gone on his week long fishing trip to Canada me and the kids were able to spend a few days at my sisters. We had a great time, packed alot of things in a few days, one of which was take all the kids fishing and swimming for the day. Only one fish was caught the whole day, but we all had fun being together. I managed to get smacked in the leg by a bobber and get a hook stuck in my arm, all of which was done by the dear sweet sis who can't cast to save her life, she somehow managed to cast up along shore where I was at most of the time. I heard alot of oops sorry comin from her direction, til we decided it would be safer for all concerned (me especially) if she moved further down stream. Luc I love ya girl, had the most fun watchin you fish and gettin myself untangled from your line......Got some great shot so I thought, my battery went dead and my camera card was full so these were all the pics that were saved on my camera.........Again I say new camera please hun, think of the shots I could get with a new camera and you wouldn't have to hear "this damn thing" anymore, just think of it...

2006-06-17T07:16:00.000-07:00

Don't let the innocent look fool ya! My sister after she graciously moved further down stream so it would be safe for me to fish too.

2006-06-17T07:12:00.000-07:00

The pic of me my sister took when I was dippin my toes (whats is up with the hair?) My new necklace from Gordmans looks great though.

2006-06-17T07:08:00.000-07:00

All four kids, three goofin around, one fishin.

2006-06-17T07:04:00.000-07:00

The only fish caught that day was a baby yellow bullhead, the only other thing we caught was a bad sunburn.

2006-06-17T07:02:00.000-07:00

The three little ones givin up fishing to go catch crayfish near the dam.

2006-06-17T06:59:00.000-07:00

After a perfect pedicure! My sister and I and the two neices took alittle time before fishing to do our fingers and toes.