Category Archives: My Thoughts

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Word of the Year. . . . .

18 Wednesday Jan 2012

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About a week or so ago I was on one of my favorite blogs, Miss Mustard Seed, and her blog was about a having a word of the year.  I was inspired by this and proceeded to talk with Hubby about it.  He agreed and also thought it was a good idea . . . . .  to assign yourself a word of the year to live by.  During our conversation, I immediately came up with Hubby’s word but struggled with mine.  So channeling Dr. Seuss. . . . . .

I thunk and I thunk

and I thunk some more.

I thunk until my thunker was sore.

The word was not coming

It was straining my brain.

When all of a sudden

The word, here it came.

It opened my heart

And opened my ears

It opened my brain

My word of the year.

I’ll use it to love

I’ll use it to hear

I’ll use it to think

This word of the year. 

In case you don’t know, my word in OPEN.  I am starting this year with an OPEN mind to all possibilities.  There are so many things I would like to do in my life that I have not done or have not followed through on.  So I am OPEN to getting more healthy and fit, to renewing my artistic side, to being a better person, friend, mother, wife, sister, etc. and learning to do new things.   

Some are minor and take very little time.  Others may take longer but I’m OPEN to giving them a try. 

When I accomplish any one of these, I will post and let you in on them.

What’s your word of the year?

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I’m Baaaaaack…..

11 Sunday Sep 2011

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Okay, before I begin posting again I need to make a lot of excuses why I haven’t posted in the last 3-1/2 months.  Hope these excuses work for you.

1.  I broke all my fingers….. (NOT)?

2.  My two cats ate my homework….. (HUH?)?

3.  The summer heat melted my computer and hubby wouldn’t share….. (NOT)?

4.  I went to sleep and just woke up…… (I WISH but NOT)?

5.  I just got lazy…… (PROBABLY).

6.  The last three months are a total blur…… (YES)?

7.  There was a graduation, a wedding, a beach trip and life that got in the way….. (TOTALLY TRUE)!

Did any of these work for you?  I’m trying for some understanding here!!

I’m sure there are many more I could come up with but the real truth is related back to my very first post…PROCRASTINATION…..!  If you haven’t read it, you should and you will understand…I think. 

Sometimes I get so overwhelmed with everything in my head,  I just can’t seem to focus and get anything done… so….. I don’t do anything.  UGH…the truth hurts. 

I was talking with my new neighbor yesterday, who has more energy than the  “Energizer Bunny”, and she was telling me about all the projects she has in mind.  I told her I wish I had half of her energy and then she mentioned that she was 34.  EXACTLY!!!  I used to have all that too.   Now I do good if I have the energy to even think of a project!!! 

So this morning I decided I would at least give it one more and try to begin posting again. 

I do have a few projects that are getting underway that I will let you in on as they happen.  Some updating to our home like new flooring,  some furniture painting with Annie Sloan Chalk paint.  The painting of my foyer floor.  A new wall unit to house books, TV, pictures, ironstone, etc.  Maybe a few slip covers. 

I hope those of you who followed me in the past have not given up on me.  I appreciate all your comments and look forward to others.  You can even reprimand me,  I deserve it, but don’t be too hard….I’m sensitive.

‘Til tomorrow, or the next day…..yaaawn….or the…..yaaaaaawn…..pardon me, I need a nap.

Shut my mouth……

10 Tuesday May 2011

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As I walked through the doors to the Maury Quilters’ Guild meeting last Wednesday,  my jaw dropped open and I don’t think it closed until time to eat lunch.

We had a guest speaker, Jean Shaw, a well-known quilter and lecturer in the Tennessee area and probably outside of Tennessee.  She is a fourth generation quilter, raised on a farm and taught by her mother and grandmother.  She reminisced about using what ever fabrics were available during that time.  Her favorite thing to do was go with her father to the feed and grain store so she could pick out the sacks they came in.  She knew these would be turned into clothes and eventually into quilts.

She has an accounting and math background and talked about how that affects her planning and construction of quilts.  Her precision and color choices are breathtaking as well as jaw dropping.   Take a look!!!

Another amazing creation…..

For those of you who don’t quilt, paper piecing uses a paper template for each element in one block of a quilt.  In this case for example, each one of the points that makes up the starburst is on a template of paper and a piece of fabric is sewn onto to it and then the next adjoining fabric and so on to create one block.  This helps create the perfect points and really works well to create curves as in the circle of fabrics surrounding the starburst.  Paper piecing is probably my favorite method of piecing a quilt top.

Here’s another…..

The next few quilts are all made from 30’s reproduction fabrics.  These along with batiks and brights are my very favorite fabrics.  The 30’s bring back memories of  my grandmother’s quilts.

These next few are called “scrappy quilts”.  Now when you think of the word scrappy you probably think this can’t be good.  Scrappy means left over and throw away.  Not for quilters.  This is a chance to use those left over fabrics in your stash from other projects and create something like this…..

Aren’t all of these just excellent?  I obviously didn’t show the entire quilt of some because you couldn’t see the patterns and fabric unless I did a close up.  There are so many more that she brought to share but I would be on this post for days if I showed them all.

Someone asked her how many quilts she actually had and she couldn’t give us a number.  She said she decided one day to count them and quit after one closet because had 114 in that closet alone.   Most of them she has made over the years but some (which she doesn’t travel with) were from her mother and grandmother. 

If you ever get a chance to attend a quilt show or go to the National Quilt Museum in Paducah, KY, take time to GO!!  You won’t be disappointed I promise.  Each and every quilt is a work of art in color and craftmanship.

For those of you who sew or even those who would like to learn,  if you haven’t attempted a quilt, you should.  It doesn’t have to be a large quilt.  It can be a miniature, crib or lap size.  Think you can’t do it, take a lesson. 

Now that I’ve shared all of this with you I will SHUT MY MOUTH….

Slip Slidin’ Away…..

05 Thursday May 2011

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Slip sliding away, slip sliding away
You know the nearer your destination, the more you slip sliding away
 
I know a woman, (who) became a wife
These are the very words she uses to describe her life
She said a good day ain’t got no rain
She said a bad day is when…. the icing on your cake 
Keeps sliding away 
 
I kept thinking of this song by Paul Simon on Tuesday evening while I was icing a Strawberry Cake I had baked.
 
I had baked this cake before and decided I wanted to bake it for our Maury Quilters’ Guild meeting on Wednesday.  We were having a guest speaker and a potluck lunch.  Everyone was to bring something and I had signed up for a dessert.
 
My first wrong move was to bake a round layer cake instead of a sheet cake.  Sheet cake….boring.  Round layer ….pretty.  Did I say pretty?  It was more like…. interesting and labor intensive!  I’ll explain.
 
I put the white cake mix, eggs, strawberries, oil and water in a bowl and beat it up….I mean beat it.  Poured the batter into two eight inch greased and flour pans.   Set them in my 350 degree oven and baked them for 35 minutes.
 
 
 
 
Good Dorine, you follow directions well.  Pat yourself on the back.
 
I let the layers cool, like a good little cook should.  Perfect.  The Guild is going to love this cake and think it is so beautiful when it’s finished, not to mention delicious.
 
Next comes the icing…..  Buttercream with added Strawberries.  YUM.  Remember I have done this before.
 
One box of Confectioner’s sugar, margarine, frozen strawberries and vanilla flavoring.   Then beat it to death or until it submits to looking like it should.  You will be perfect… you will be perfect!!!  Oh sorry, it just has to be perfect.
 
 
Next….I got my icing spatula and started spreading it on the first layer.  Umm, looks delicious.  Then I put on the second layer.  Still looking good.  Icing the top layer now.  Still looking good.  Now the sides.  Done.  Wait…..what’s happening.  No, no, no…..it’s slip slidin away.  The top and sides are sliding down into a puddle around the bottom.
 
I tried to scoop it up and put it back on the cake but alas the same thing again.  What did I do to this icing?  I was sure I followed the directions but maybe,  just maybe I did something wrong.  Blame it on the humidity??
 
 
So I decided to scrape it all off and make another batch of icing,  making sure I follow the directions to a tee.  Be very careful and pay close attention, Dorine.   One more time.  Iced the cake.  Looks good and seems to be “hanging in there”.   I put the cover over the cake and went about enjoying the rest of the evening watching Dancing with the Stars, etc.  Thought I might check the cake during a commercial…. okay you can go ahead and start singing……
 
Slip sliding away, slip sliding away
You know the nearer your destination, the more you slip sliding away
 
Yep, here we go again.  It was now about 9 pm and what is a girl to do?  Although, it didn’t look quite as bad as the first time, I couldn’t take this to the meeting!  The ladies, as well as the speaker, would gasp and say“Who made this and what exactly is it?” 
 
Hubby, hoping I would not to take it, suggested that I stop by Kroger and pick something up in the morning.  That’s not me, I can’t do that and feel good about what I take.  I had a Red Velvet cake mix in my pantry (not exactly homemade but close) so I decided to bake it and ice it in the morning.  Okay, I had a plan so I could get some sleep.
 
Wednesday morning when I got up,  I checked the Strawberry Cake and the icing really hadn’t moved anymore.  So I pushed the icing back up the sides and hoped for the best.  Yay!  Woo Hoo!  It stayed put.
 
It made it to the meeting and was a hit.  It was delicious.  I had some left over and was able to share it with Hubby and Awesome Son.  It was enjoyed by all but I’m exhausted.
 
Check tomorrow’s post for the recipe, if you dare,  along with pics of the awesome quilts the speaker shared with us.
 
Til tomorrow….  
 
 

A Birthday Remembered…..

02 Monday May 2011

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Today, May 2nd would have been my Mother’s 86th birthday.  She was the youngest of 6 children and shared her birthday with one of her brothers who was 2 years older.   

Although she liked for us to remember her birthday each year,  she did not like getting older.  Not so unlike the rest of us I suppose. 

I can remember when she found out she was going to be a grandmother for the first time.  She announced to my sister and I, that she was not ready to be a grandmother.  That was for old people and she definitely had no intention of being called “Granny”.

Granny was someone on the Beverly Hillbillies.  A little dried up lady who hobbled around, stooped over and she was definitely not that.

She fought this tooth and nail.  So the first two grandchildren, my sister’s children, did not call her a grandmotherly name, which suited her fine.  She was simply Violet.

However, I started using the word “Granny” when my son was born. This was a little bit of my mischievous side.  However, he could have called her whatever he wanted but “Granny” stuck.  Of course, by this time she had the experience of being a grandmother and loved it!!

She was a terrific mother and grandmother.  She adored her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and they could do no wrong in her eyes.  She loved for them to visit with her and Daddy and spoiled them to no end.  It would take at least a week to get them back in shape after spending a couple of weeks with her in the summer.

She had a soft, sweet southern voice and thought the best way to discipline children was to simply talk to them (this was with grandchildren only).  Of course it worked on the grandchildren because like I said they could do no wrong?!  I can hear her now, “Eddie, you mustn’t do thaaaat!”

I miss hearing her voice and seeing her in her cute little blue jeans and blazer, eating her desserts, watching her savour a cup of coffee and the way she said my name….Doooereeen. 

Happy Birthday Mother!

Yummy Memories……

15 Friday Apr 2011

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Growing up in a very small town in the 50’s and 60’s leaves you with so many fond memories of your childhood.  This town was very much like Mayberry on The Andy Griffith Show.  Everybody knew everybody and their kids. 

We had our local barber,  pharmacy, dry goods store, five and dime, cafes, shoe shop, etc.  It was a thriving community and spending Saturday afternoon in town was an every week ritual for our family.  We only lived about a mile outside of town but the whole family, grandparents, aunts, cousins, everybody went into town on Saturday night.

Hubby and I grew up in the same small town, so we have some of the same memories of what it was like.  Our elementary, middle school and high school were all connected at that time.  Part of the school was two-story and had huge  windows that would be open on warmer days.  This is where the yummy comes in…….

There was a small pie factory,  Armstrong’s Home Style Turnovers , on land adjoining the school property.  If you were lucky enough to have a classroom on the front of the school building… and it was a warm day….. and the windows were open….and your teacher was in a good mood,  you could smell those pies cooking.   OOOOOooooo…. sniff, sniff…… yummy. 

Our teacher, and maybe this was for themselves as much as the students, would take orders, collect the money and send a couple of students over to buy pies.  The day old pies were a nickel and the hot ones, just out of the oven, were a dime.  That was back when a dime was worth a dime and a nickel was a nickel. 

The flavors were, apple, peach, cherry, coconut, chocolate, pineapple, lemon and  raisin.  We could walk right in the back door, a screen door that slammed shut (love that sound),  and give one of the cooks our order and the money.  What a great afternoon treat that was!  We didn’t get to do this every day but it was so special and such a great memory of my childhood.

Whenever we would come back for a visit, we lived elsewhere for 30 years,  if we found a place that sold these wonderful pies we would have to have one.  We even ran into a friend one time, who was also visiting, and she bought every one  the store had and was going to other outlets to see if they had any.  She has since started ordering them and having them shipped to her and her family.     

The factory was bought and the operation was moved to another town.  They weren’t quite the same but they still had the same wrapper.  That person soon sold it and the next person made a good go at it.  They began to be more like we had remembered and then he sold it.  Finally it sold to someone who got it right.

The wrappers are opaque versus the parchment looking paper it once was, but hey, it’s what’s inside that counts anyway.

Now when we go to our cabin or sometimes when we need to bring a dessert for a get together with friends, we buy  a  bunch of these and savor and devour them.  Mostly we buy them for ourselves and get a little selfish!!!

You are always a hit with a group when you bring these little devils.  We actually used them at our last class reunion as part of the party favors.  What a treasure! 

So here’s to the Armstrong’s Home Style Turnovers…..keep up the good work!!

Go Ahead, Pinch Me!?…..

16 Wednesday Mar 2011

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I am not Irish and as far as I know do not have any Irish blood in me, but I still like to acknowledge the holiday.  The closest I get to being Irish is I’m short like a Leprechaun,  and I like to party.  I like to dance, or attempt to, but not the Irish jig or river dance or such.

I also like pots of gold and rainbows.  Once hubby, friends and I saw a rainbow that began in our back yard and ended across the street in front of our house.  This is a true story.   I ran out to see if there was a pot of gold, but alas, not to be.  I think the leprechaun saw me coming and ran away with it.  I’m still looking for it though.                         

As you know I love the color green as I blogged in It’s Good to Be Green.  Which brings me to green beer.  I  personally do not like beer and green beer just doesn’t look appealing but I suppose, if you’re Irish, green is good no matter what it is.

  

I also like to look for and collect four-leaf clovers.  One weekend, while we were at Camp Liberty,  I found a total of fifteen (15)  four-leaf clovers in our yard.  Talk about the “luck of the French”,  I mean Irish, but I’m not Irish!?  I’ll post pictures of them later.  Hoping to find more now that the grass and clover is growing again.

St. Patrick’s day is observed on the day the patron saint of Ireland died.  It is also a day to celebrate Ireland and who doesn’t like a party, Irish or not so…….

He makes my day…….

06 Sunday Mar 2011

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He always makes my day and anyone else’s he may come in contact with during a days time.  He’s always happy, upbeat, never meets a stranger, loves old and young alike, doesn’t like negativity, and loves, loves, loves music.

He’s our son, Eddie!

 

He was involved in an automobile accident January 1993 and suffered a TBI (traumatic brain injury).  He was 16 at the time and it was very touch and go for many weeks.  He had to learn everything over from speaking, eating, brushing his teeth, etc. to putting on a baseball cap.  He has a smile on his face always, and such a positive attitude, it just makes you feel good to be in his presence.  

People are always drawn to him and once you meet him you’ll never forget him.  Should my husband and I be somewhere without him,  the first question out of someone’s mouth is, “Where’s Eddie“? 

He inspires me everyday to be a better person.  To be kind, forgiving, happy, loving and compassionate. 

If you would like to read more about our son,  you can visit his story at www.eddiesisco.com.

   

Of mice and cats…….

05 Saturday Mar 2011

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This is about a weekend almost one year ago, March 18-21, 2010,  that was spent at Camp Liberty.  I had actually written it in a document because it stood out as a something I would like to remember.  Why?  I guess you’ll know the real reason at the end of this blog.

It was Thursday evening after we had returned from having dinner at our favorite catfish restaurant, Fall Hollow.  We had settled down to watch a little TV before retiring for the night.  Of course, going to the camp for the weekend is supposed to be relaxing and for the most part non eventful.

To begin with, lady bugs decided they liked our camp also.  They seem to like a couple of light fixtures, the kitchen windows and our son’s bedroom window.   The little buggers just crawl around and around in circles, fall off, turn over and die.   So when we walked into the camp that was what we found.This night while I was watching TV with hubby, I thought one flew onto the back of my neck.  I swatted it but it wasn’t a lady bug, it was a dang wasp.  OUCH!  Needless to say, I got stung.  I hadn’t been stung by a wasp in a while and this hurt like everything.  But he won’t hurt anyone again.!!

Okay, drama over, lady bugs under control and wasp flying around in another world.  Now I am sitting down ready to watch TV.  Boo is sitting beside me on the arm of the love seat  when she suddenly jumps down and runs into our bedroom.    In a couple of minutes she comes out and proudly shows us her catch.   It’s a mouse!!Thinking it might be fun to play with, she drops it and the mouse makes a run for it.  Hubby was backing Boo up and helped her chase it down.  He grabs it with paper towels and proceeds to take it outside and dispose of it.  Now we can settle down and watch TV.  Wrong!!  A couple of hours later, we repeat the same scenario.  Look mom I brought you a present.  Aren’t you proud of me?Hubby to the rescue again, (my hero) caught this little guy and outside again.   I don’t know what he does with them but I probably don’t want to know.  Back to the TV and no more mice for the night.  Whew!!!

Next day, Friday, was a beautiful day.  The river was beautiful, the sun was out for the first time in weeks and all was well with the world.  Such a nice relaxing day.  The evening remains calm and about 11 pm I decide to go to bed.  Hubby decided to stay up a while longer and watch TV.

Boo props herself on the bed with her eyes glued to the fireplace.  This is her usual position when sleeping at the camp.  About 3 am I am awakened by a noise that sounds like  EEEEK,  EEEEK and then Boo pounces on my bed.   I raise up and turn on the lamp and there she is with her prize ON MY BED!  I jump up and get hubby off the sofa (he can sleep through most anything) to come to my rescue once more.  But the mouse escapes.  They are quick little suckers.  Boo chases it around but hubby goes back to his comfortable place and asleep.

I”M UP!!!  I am not going back to bed until I’m sure this mouse is not in my bedroom, my bed  or in the camp.  Boo is still on the search.  She hones in on hubby’s shoes.  “Hubby the mouse is in your shoe“.  He looks but doesn’t see anything so back to bed for hubby.   Boo is pushing his shoe all over the floor.  I get brave enough to look in the shoe and what do I see…..two little feet.

I grab the shoe and march to hubby on the sofa.  “The mouse is in your shoe!”  Hubby….”Are you sure?”  I take another look and say…..”YES!  I see his little face.”  He takes the shoe and goes outside and returns with the shoe and no mouse.  Poor Boo is confused and once he puts the shoe down she continues to look.  She takes her place on the bed once more and I decide to sleep on the love seat the remainder of the night!!  What a night….it was like a Tom and Jerry cartoon.

Okay, next morning I get up and take our sweet little Corky out.  He is old and not quite as quick as he use to be, so we go with him and watch for anything that might decide he would make a good meal.  I glance over to the river and guess what I see?  A bald Eagle flying down river.  We knew  he was around here and had only seen him one other time  but didn’t get a picture. 

I ran into the camp, got hubby, the binoculars and the camera and we ran back out to the point, hoping he had lit on a tree .  Sure enough about 100 yards down stream he was on a tree and there he sat for a few minutes.  Hubby got this picture and then he flew away.

It was such an awesome moment.  We look for him every time we go down but so far no more sightings.

This made up for the lady bugs, the chasing of the mouse for two nights and getting no sleep.  This is why we love the river and the camp.  Our animals and wildlife keep  us entertained.  Who needs TV??

Sisters, Sisters…..

27 Sunday Feb 2011

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“Nothing quite so lovely as sisters……”

There are all kinds of sisters.  Biological sisters, sisters-in-law, friends who are like sisters, step sisters, adopted sisters, and sisters of faith just to name a few.  Today’s post is about the first three who are in my life.

First is my biological sister…..my big sister.  I have loved and adored her my entire life.  I was forever being the bratty little sister and hanging around her when her friends visited.  I loved her clothes and always wanted to wear them.  She was very, very smart in school (still is), fun, loving, compassionate, stylish and beautiful.

We live miles and miles apart but we talk practically every day.  I can tell her anything and everything and she’s always there listening or helping if I need it.  We get to see each other about three times a year and we always have such a great time.  I never want it to end.  Move closer to me sister!!!! 

She loves antiquing, decorating, traveling, family and friends, needle work, and painting just to name a few of her interests.  She is the mother of two amazing and beautiful children and grandmother of four who are just as amazing and beautiful.  Sister of mine, I love you!!

Next is my sister-in-law (little sister).  She became my sister over twenty years ago.  She is also beautiful, fun, loving, compassionate and all those other adjectives that most of us strive to be.

This sister is one of the busiest people I know and never a dull moment when she is around.  She has two beautiful and amazing daughters and of course she is a great mom. She is always in style, loves to shop, scrapbook, loves to read like me, cook, playing games, having fun and loves, loves,  loves Paula Deen. 

One of her favorite things to do is color.  Yep!!  She loves nothing better than to get a new box of crayons and a coloring book and color.  At Christmas we sit and color  for hours and have coloring contest.  Our husbands think we’re crazy!  They just don’t know what they’re missing.  I love you sister!!

My third sister is my best friend (JAC).  She lives in the same town as me and we talk almost every day and see each other at least once a week.  She was my sister’s best friend throughout school and of course we all went our separate ways after that.  JAC and I reconnected about fifteen years ago when I lived in Atlanta and have been close ever since. 

In this picture, we were imagining what it would be like to have a few things lifted, if you know what I mean.

She is a fabulous interior decorator, compassionate, loving, giving and beautiful inside and out.  When we are out together, we always find something humorous in the life around us and in ourselves.  Like my other two sisters, she is always there to listen and lend a helping hand.  She is the mother of three and grandmother of many and adored by all.  She is my sister in every way and I love her!!!

As you can see,  I have three of the most wonderful women in my life.  They are everything I said and more. 

I hope you have a sister or many sisters in your life.  They are special and nothing can replace that relationship.