Because it is what I want to do....

I AM a room without a roof today.

Clap along.

Simply sunny.

A little post about the sunny day we have had. It does the head and heart much good to have one sunny day stuck amongst the rainy ones. Spirits noticeably lift. Faces readily smile. Our connectedness feels obvious. All good things.
That is all I have to say today.
Be sweet.

7 day challenge?!!

Okay. I am already behind on the seven day blogging challenge. This will be the second of six days blogged - because I missed Monday. Here is where the challenge originated - Conversion Diary blog  http://www.conversiondiary.com/2014/02/7-posts-7-days.html
Anyway, better late than never. So here goes.
Wow. The Big Purse Dump was fun. It has connected me to a universe of bloggers that I never knew before. I haven't seen/read all the dump sites, but what has surprised me is that there really hasn't been any surprises. As funny or weird as some of the items in your purses seem, they all make sense to me. Diapers, socks, business cards, aspirins, rosaries, twisted pipe cleaners, spare clothes....I think it means that we are all good girl scouts. We are prepared. Bring on the blizzard = we can handle that! If our car gets stuck in the snow drift, we will not freeze or starve. Because we have dry diapers and nursing covers in our purses! We have stale crackers and squeezy fruit things! We are survivors! Good for us.
Having said all that, it is unlikely that I will get caught in any snow drifts since I am in the Deep South. But you girls up North are gonna rock that frozen traffic jam. Way to go.
I am enjoying this conversation.
I wish I could scrap what I am doing today and have you all over for a cup of hot tea/glass of wine. Have a Big Purse Dump party.
Come and visit again soon.
Be sweet.

I love a challenge.

Not sure how to link this but will try my best. Daughter has thrown down the gauntlet to jump on a band wagon and reveal what is in my purse. It is the big Purse Dump of 2014 from Catholic All Year blog. 

And so here goes...

Side pocket # 1. 

5 cough drops

1 chapstick

1 bandaid

5 gift cards each worth $5 and the last one well over a year old (Tuesday Morning, Tuitti Fruitti, Krispy Kream, Beans & Cream)

Sidepocket #2. 

Mary Kay Sweet nectar lipstick

Used tissue

Zebra compact

Main body.

5 pens - number fluctuates

3 small note pads

check book

22 cents in loose change

2 Office Depot coupons

1 old folded up silver gum wrapper

1 used tissue

Sequined driver's license/credit card holder

plastic photo holder for my store cards (Kroger, Books a Million...)

spare car key

Bank envelope with my birthday money from my Mom (birthday is in December)

My First Communion rosary - broken

pocket angel coin

receipt from Purple Elephant gift store

today's shopping list 

today's Walmart receipt

Favorite thing in the purse: The old coin purse. It was given to my when I was growing up by my Uncle Dick. He traveled a great deal and bought it in a foreign country - only I don't remember what country. 

Thing that shouldn't be in there: The Office Depot coupons. They were too specific about their usage - like, "you have to purchase $437 dollars worth to use these coupons and it has to be between the ungodly time of 6:55-7:05 a.m. on a Monday morning, while standing on one leg, juggling flaming batons, and whistling Dixie!" Pox on those kinds of coupons! 

Wow! I have a lot of: Cough drops, but I just put them in there this morning 'cause I have an ongoing nasal drip right now. Usually there are more used tissues than anything else. I guess I have tried to get rid of them lately. And was successful. 

What does all this say about me? Obviously I am the older Mom because I have no cute boogie wipes, or games for kids, though several of my grandkids have enjoyed the small writing pads I keep in there. Does this say that I am dull? Probably. And it says that I like to clean my purse out frequently. But. By posting this it says, 'I am not afraid of you taking a look at my inner stuff. I AM that kind of girl. So bring it on! Whatever "it" is.'

Just another Monday.

A last minute cry for help from Daughter last week and three extra little bodies were in the house Saturday night. We met half way for the drop off. They were all good. When I got the call I made a mad dash to the Piggly Wiggly for chicken nuggets. They dined on those and fruit. I didn't even worry about veggies for one night. Out-of-Town Son and wife plus Son-in-Town and wife and children joined us for evening festivities, Captain Rodney's dip, and pizza. 

The Pea and the Carrot enjoyed watching Diego on Graddy's (aka Mr. Macho) big phone. Super Carrot was glassy eyed and put up no argument when I carried her to bed shortly after taking this photo. 

Sunday was Millie's baptism day. Here she is all dressed in her finery. She was so good through the entire service. Lots of family were in attendance to celebrate the wonderful event of her baptism. It was a great day. 

***

I have gotten plenty household duties checked off my list today. The rest of the week should fly by since it is chock-full of more stuff. Babysitting, eye doctor appointment, hair appointment, bunko, Bible study, and a Big Band dance on Friday night. Lots of fox trotting will be going on. With a little bit of swing and rhumba thrown in the mix. Should be a kick. Still not sure what shoes I will wear. Yikes. 

*****

Y'all be sweet.

One more thing...

When my doorbell rang I really thought it was my neighbor from across the street....

...but no. It was a total surprise Valentine from Mr. Macho.

Ah. Lovely. 

The dump.

I haven't dumped my phone photos lately and so here goes...

Little Miss Super Carrot going shopping in her pj's and momma's shoes.

She actually likes this crochet bonnet I made!

See? I got the kids up and dressed and fed. Everybody was happy and on their way to school. That was Monday. 

Proof. Of Snow-pocolypse on Tuesday. It happened so fast. 

We were celebrating. Stem cell donation. Check. Driving on freezing roads to pick up the Carrot. Check. 4.5 hours for Daughter and SIL to drive the one hour trip from the airport. Check. 

Fun with friends. 

New project for a wedding present. It is much bigger now. 

Did this in a morning. It is a rug. 

This is how big the snow clumps were that came down on Wednesday.

Yesterday we celebrated sunshine. Universal lightening of attitudes were in evidence. 

Sweet Millie. 

Mr. Macho eating the popcorn. Sweet Pea watching the Diego. 

Everybody happy. 

Until the next time.

Be sweet. 

Sweet things.

We had the perfect snow Wednesday afternoon. After an all day rain, big wet snowflakes began to fall. At first they were mixed with the rain. Eventually it was as if cotton bolls were falling from the sky. Even with the ground so wet, and seemingly not cold enough, the snow began to accumulate. It blanketed rooftops, car tops, bushes, and exposed ground. It lasted for several hours. Enough for children of all ages to get out to play in it and snap innumerable photos. Then. It went away. Just perfect.

Last night our little Lauren went to her first Father-Daughter dance. She looked so lovely. It makes me want to weep. Her growing up.

And you know what today is. St. Valentine's Day! I bribed Mr. Macho, with a gift, to be my Valentine. Tonight, in spite of the impending rain, he will grill a couple of nice steaks I bought at the grocery. We will watch the teevee. It will be a comfortable evening.

Little Millie will be baptized on Sunday. She and her sister, Sweet Pea, came over last night while their parents went on an early Valentine date. It is amazing how quickly Millie is learning right now. She is totally turning into a little person. She reached for my face and held rattles for a long time. He movement is becoming intentional. Peyton enjoyed watching the Diego videos on Granddaddy's "big phone" (Kindle). She also caught glimpses of the Olympics on the teevee. After watching one free style skier she declared, "When I grow up I'm going to do that!" I just bet she will.

Today. Go that extra mile for somebody. Be sweet.

Who wears short shorts?

I have a few things to say about my previous post. Just a few.
1. My feelings are valid.
2. I could have deleted it but chose not to.
3. It was reactionary.
4. It was not my band wagon.
5. I gave positive, peaceful, unsolicited advice to the hurt party.
6. It was not my band wagon.


Moving on. To weightier topics.

While in the shower I got to thinking about seasonal leg shaving. Yes really. I find that with age and winter I do less of it. I know some females choose to not shave all winter long. Heaven forbid! That is just gross. And. How far up do you shave? When I was younger I wasn't so good at where to draw the line. Daughter taught me it was okay to shave all the way. I do that maybe once or twice a year. These days I mostly stick with below the knee. In the summer I consider what will be exposed. I wear shorts over my swimsuit. Even in the water. Higher regions don't need to be manicured because there is no northern exposure. Comment if you would like me to know where you draw the line.

Be sweet.

Oh what tangled webs we weave.

It must be hard. When you give varying degrees of information. Keeping up with who you told what to. It must be hard. And. When you slip up it really hurts. Yourself. And others.
I am sure I do some of this myownself. I am more guilty of over sharing. Because. Keeping secrets is not healthy.
Oh. You know who you are.

Quiet little Sunday night.

The week wrapped up nicely. The "senior" brunch on Friday morning was enjoyed by all. Including me. We are a comfortable bunch. No need to put on airs. Many hands pitched in to clean up.

Friday night Mr. Macho and I joined 4 of our friends for dinner and dance. After our meal downtown we went by our friend's little studio and practiced. Mostly fox trot. Some swing. Some night club two step. It was a good time.

Saturday we checked on The Father in Law. He was under the weather last week. Even paid a visit to his doctor. He is walking gingerly after a nasty fall during a power outage last week. When we checked on him today he was still moving rather slowly.

I spent a large portion of the afternoon yesterday trying to set up the new WiFi system and get it to "talk" to my teevee. Went to bed frustrated, afraid I had spent time and money to no avail. After church today I tackled it again. Successfully. And. Got the wireless printer talking to the router, also. Hip. Hip. Hooray.

Old Man Winter isn't through with us, yet. Threat of some frozen precipitation Monday and Tuesday is on the agenda. Enough already. Uncle!

Valentine's Day is fast approaching. What sweet things will you do this week?

Best laid plans...

The month continues to fill up with stuff. Probably won't get down to see Mom like I had hoped/planned. Maybe next month.
The babysitting yesterday was easy-peasy...with the help of Ms Iris. Then lunch with the girlfriends.
Anyway. The week is marching on. I spent a major portion of today working on little decorations for the "senior" brunch on Friday. Little bit of cleaning and clothes washing. Made a yummy salad that included fresh mushrooms, edamame, crowder peas, ham, cheese, lettuce. Yee-us! Mr. Macho ate all, including the mushrooms. Surprise!
The weather is a continuing bag of winter-yuck. Today was gray. And damp. And chilly. The news proclaimed that the groundhog saw his shadow on Sunday. Surely in six weeks we will begin to see some signs of spring. Oh please!? My daffodils are putting out shoots.(?) Blossoms can't be far behind. Yellow trumpets will harold that spring is nearing. Mardi Gras. Lent. Fish fries. Bring it. I am ready.

First week.

The first week of the month is getting to be my bizziest! Soup kitchen on Monday. Tuesday I will babysit at church. Thursday Bible Study. Friday is brunch for the "seniors" at church. None of it is too bad. The sum of it makes me antsy and tired to think about it. I will try not to think about it.

I hope I am able to take a few days and drive down for a visit with Mom this month. It is a developing goal for me this year - to visit Mom on a more regular basis. Quality time. She is Skyping me more frequently these days. Her hearing and processing make the calls quite a challenge. Repeating things 3 or 4 times is not unusual. Even so she misses big chunks of conversation. More than 2 people conversing and she is lost. And still. She is Mom. I never knew her when she had ears that worked. When he was little, Out-of-Town son said, "Nana has screws in her ears." When I was little she had the old box kind of hearing aid - and wore it hung in the middle of her bra. It provided much humor among our clan. Who else whispered their secrets into their mother's chest instead of ears? Who else learned to answer a phone upside down? I wished she lived closer to me.

Got to run. Just thought of one more meeting that might be on my agenda this week...have to go find out.
Be sweet.