Memories

Lately, I've been thinking about Christmas' past. One Christmas sticks out in my mind because it was a Christmas of confessions. Of course my children chose to confess their sins AFTER they were grown so they couldn't get into trouble.

Our family opens gifts on Christmas Eve night right before midnight so that everyone (except me) can sleep in on Christmas Day. We started doing this when Farmer Boo shared that he didn't think there was a Santa.

A few years ago we were opening gifts and EG's Daddy looked up and said remember the first year Mom let us stay home alone during Christmas break and we talked Baby Chef into opening all the gifts and rewrapping them? Farmer Boo and Baby Chef started laughing! I had never known all these years that they had done that! I remember the year very well and they acted so surprised!
What good actors I raised!

I'm sure they've done a lot more things than I care to know about. There's one thing I've decided....There are just some things moms don't EVER need to know.

12 Days of CHRISTmas

When my children were growing up, we were always singing. Thank goodness love is deaf  : )  The Twelve Days of Christmas was one of our favorite songs this time of year, and my children would race through it to see who could get them all out first without any mistakes. By the end of the song, we were usually laughing so hard that getting through it was a difficult task. This is such a fun song, however, there is evidence that shows that The Twelve Days of Christmas represents the basic teaching of a Christians' faith.

On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me - a partridge in a pear tree - The partridge in a pear tree is Jesus the Christ, the Son of God, whose birthday we celebrate on December 25, the first day of Christmas. In the song, Christ is symbolically presented as a mother partridge that feigns injury to decoy predators from her helpless nestlings, just as Christ takes care of us - as His children.

2nd day of Christmas - 2 turtle doves - The Old and New Testaments, which together bear witness to God's self-revelation in history and the creation of a people to tell the Story of God to the world.

3rd day - 3 french hens - The Three Theological Virtues:  1) Faith, 2) Hope, and 3) Love (1 Corinthians 13:13)

4th day - calling birds - The Four Gospels: 1) Matthew, 2) Mark, 3) Luke, and 4) John, which proclaim the Good News of God's reconciliation of the world to Himself in Jesus Christ.

5th day - five golden rings - The first Five Books of the Old Testament, known as the Torah or the Pentateuch:  1) Genesis, 2) Exodus, 3) Leviticus, 4) Numbers, and 5) Deuteronomy, which gives the history of humanity's sinful failure and God's response of grace in the creation of a people to be a light to the world.

6th day - six geese a laying - The six days of creation that confesses God as Creator and Sustainer of the world (Genesis 1).

7th day - swans a swimming - The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: 1) prophecy, 2) ministry, 3) teaching, 4) exhortation, 5) giving, 6) leading, and 7) compassion (Romans 12:6-8; cf. 1 Corinthians 12:8-11)

8th day - eight maids a milking - The eight Beatitudes: 1) Blessed are the poor in spirit, 2) those who mourn, 3) the meek, 4) those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, 5) the merciful, 6) the pure in heart, 7) the peacemakers, 8) those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake. (Matthew 5:3-10)

9th day - nine ladies dancing - The nine Fruit of the Holy Spirit: 1) love, 2) joy, 3) peace, 4) patience, 5) kindness, 6) generosity, 7) faithfulness, 8) gentleness, and 9) self-control.  (Galatians 5:22)

10th day - ten lords a leaping - The ten commandments: 1) You shall have no other gods before me; 2) Do not make an idol; 3) Do not take God's name in vain; 4) Remember the Sabbath Day; 5) Honor your father and mother; 6) Do not murder; 7) Do not commit adultery; 8) Do not steal; 9) Do not bear false witness; 10) Do not covet. (Exodus 20:1-17)

11th day - pipers piping - The eleven Faithful Apostles: 1) Simon Peter, 2) Andrew, 3) James, 4) John, 5) Philip, 6) Bartholomew, 7) Matthew, 8) Thomas, 9) James bar Alphaeus, 10) Simon the Zealot, 11) Judas bar James.  (Luke 6:14-16).  The list does not include the twelfth disciple, Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus to the religious leaders and the Romans.

12th day -  drummers drumming  - The twelve points of doctrine in the Apostles' Creed: 1) I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. 2) I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. 3) He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. 4) He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell [the grave]. 5) On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. 6) He will come again to judge the living and the dead. 7) I believe in the Holy Spirit, 8) the holy catholic Church, 9) the communion of saints, 10) the forgiveness of sins, 11) the resurrection of the body, 12) and life everlasting.

I hope you enjoyed this rather long post!

December-How did you get here so fast??

It's hard to believe December is already here and it's been a month since my last post. I'm counting the days til December 18th when Baby Chef comes home. It will be the first time I've seen her since September 13th and much too long for me!

My life has finally settled into somewhat of a routine-work, visit the nursing home, then back home for the usual...dinner, laundry, etc. except for the fact that I'm addicted to pinterest and have tried more recipes and craft projects than I care to talk about for fear that anyone who reads his will think I've gone insane.

I've decided that making cupcake towers are my favorite project thus far. I'm a bit disappointed that I discovered how to make them after Baby Chef's wedding. Here are a few of my creations.

November Has My Heart

For those of you that don't know me very well, I love November. Where I live it doesn't usually get cooler until November, so I definitely can't wait for that. Most of all, I love November because Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday.

I suppose I'm like any other mother, I've spoiled my children terribly. One Thanksgiving when my children were still in elementary school, I discovered just how rotten they were. I worked extremely late the day before Thanksgiving. Unfortunately, because of our work load, I hadn't been to the store to get anything I needed to prepare Thanksgiving dinner. At the time, we lived about 30 minutes away which meant by the time I got off work and made the dreaded trip to Wal-Mart, it was about 9 p.m. before I arrived home. Normally, I make everything home-made. No frozen pies or store bought cakes for my crew...only mom's home-made stuff was good enough for them. Warning for new moms - DON'T ever get in this habit. It WILL bite you on the booty!! Needless to say, this particular Thanksgiving, it bit my tail good. Because of time constraints, I decided to buy some good old Mrs. Smith pies. I took the pies out of the boxes, put the boxes in the bottom of the trash, and took the trash out, so that the kids wouldn't see them. Yeah for me! No one would ever know that they weren't home-made by mom...I mean really?? Who can tell a frozen pie from the real deal? I'll tell you who...EG's Daddy, Farmer Boo, and Baby Chef.

Thanksgiving dinner was great as it always is....until dessert time. Each of my children got a slice of their favorite. EG's Daddy's is pumpkin, Farmer Boo's is sweet potato, and Baby Chef's is pecan. I could see the glimmer of "If I eat another bite, I'm gonna hurl, but there's no way I'm missing dessert" looks they all had as they put the first bite of pie in their mouths. They chewed, looked at each other, back at me. No one said a word. I think to myself "One point for mom. They don't even know the difference. Why have I been busting my tail all these years???" No sooner than I thought those things. Farmer Boo looked at me and said "Did you really think we wouldn't know?"Know what? I ask. "Seriously Mom, we know the difference between frozen and home-made, and if you're gonna feed us frozen, we don't want Thanksgiving." I nearly fell out of the chair, I laughed so hard. I should have known I could never fool my kids. That's been quite a few years ago and I've never made another frozen pie.

My original plan for the month of November, was to try to post a recipe or two every few days that I use at Thanksgiving, so that if someone wanted to try it, they would have plenty of time. Here are a few to get you started. Hope you enjoy!

Pumpkin Bread
3 1/2 cups self rising flour
2 1/2 cups sugar
1 heaping tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. allspice
1 tsp. nutmed
2 cups pumpkin
1 cup oil
2/3 cup water
4 eggs

Combine all dry ingredients. Combine pumpkin, oil, and water. Beat eggs and add to oil mixture. Make a well in flour mixture, add oil mixture and stir until well mixed. Pour into 2 greased and floured 9" x 5" loaf pans. Bake at 350 for about 1 hour. Test with a toothpick. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan. Cool on rack.




Sweet Potato Casserole

3 cups cooked, mashed sweet potatoes
1/2 cup milk
2 eggs
1 cup sugar
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 stick melted butter
1 tsp. vanilla

Mix all ingredients well. Pour in 2 quart casserole dish and top with the following:

1/2 cup brown sugar
2 1/2 tsp butter
1/3 cup coconut (optional)
1/4 cup flour
1/2 cup chopped pecans

Mix and spoon on top of sweet potato mixture. Bake for 35 minutes at 350.



Quick Rolls

2 1/4 cups Bisquick, divided
8 ounces sour cream
1/2 cup butter, melted

Combine 2 cups Bisquick, sour cream, and butter, Stir well. Sprinkle remaining 1/4 cupr Bisquick on flat surface. Drop dough by level tablespoons onto Bisquick and roll into balls. Place 3 balls into each of the 12 greased muffin cups. Bake at 350 for 15 to 20 minutes or until gold brown. Makes 1 dozen rolls.



Coconut Cake

1 yellow cake mix
1 can Eagle brand milk
2 pkg. frozen coconut
Cool Whip

Bake cake according to directions on box. Heat Eagle brand milk and 1 package of coconut until hot. Poke holes in cake with wooden spoon and pour mixture over cake. When cool and ready to serve, top with cool whip and sprinkle with coconut. Store in refrigerator.

Happy Halloween!

I hope everyone is having a great Monday and a Happy Halloween! A few months ago when the stores began putting out Halloween decorations and costumes, I was shopping with Baby Chef when she turned to me and said "Mom, I resent the fact that you never let us go trick or treating." I laughed and said "I think you and your brothers grew up just fine without trick or treating."

I guess maybe I'm terrible in the fact that my children never went trick or treating. I didn't like Halloween as a child. It was always scary and I don't like scary! When my children were small, I didn't feel like it was important to follow the "norm" with trick or treating. We always dressed them up and went to our church's fall festival and they seemed to enjoy themselves.Now that they're grown, I'm discovering all kinds of things about my children. I'm anxious to find out Baby Chef's opinion about our Thanksgiving celebration, which is my absolute FAVORITE holiday!

Here's a great recipe to try tonight. It's not hot like it's name...but it's a wonderful "comfort food" casserole

Firecracker Enchilada Casserole
2 lbs ground chuck
1 tbsp chili powder
2 - 3 tbsp cumin
1 1/2 c. shredded Monterey Jack cheese
1 can rotel
1/2 can milk
1/2 onion, chopped
1 tsp salt
1 can ranch style beans
1 c. shredded sharp cheese
1 can cream of mushroom or cream of celery soup
6 flour tortillas

Brown meat and onion. Add chili powder and cumin. Mix well. Put meat in 9 x 13 casserole dish. Layer the beans then tortillas. Mix rotel, soup, and milk and pour on top of layer of tortillas. Sprinkle cheeses  on top and bake uncovered for 45 minutes to 1 hour at 350 degrees. Serve with chips, picante sauce, lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream, and olives. Serves 6 to 8

Oh October Where Have You Gone??

It's hard to believe that almost 3 weeks have passed since my last blog. I honestly don't know where the time goes or why it has to go so fast! We celebrated Gma's 82nd birthday on October 9th. It was a great day for her and for us because there have been times this year when we didn't think she would make it til her next birthday.

In addition to Gma's birthday, October has been a crafty month for me. I blame Pinterest for this and I hate to say I'm addicted to it. So far this month, I've made 2 bulletin boards and curtains for my office, a cupcake tower, and several wreaths.

I'm getting excited about November because it brings Thanksgiving, which is my favorite holiday!

Quick and Easy Dinner Recipes

I've had a request for some "dinner recipes." Hope you enjoy these!

Easy Chicken Pot Pie
Rotisserie chicken - torn into pieces
2 cans of Veg-All, drained
1 can cream of chicken soup
3 dashes sage
salt & pepper to taste
pkg of Pillsbury pie crusts in refrigertor section

Preheat oven to 350. Place 1 pie crust in pan and brown slightly. Mix ingredients and spoon onto slightly browned pie crust. Place remaining crust on top and make several slits in the top. Bake for about 30 to 40 minutes until slightly brown and bubbly.





Easy Breezy Vegetable Beef Soup
1 pkg of stew meat, cut into bite size pieces
1 onion, diced
1 can of Veg-All Homestyle Veggies, drained
1 large can of Veg-All Original, drained
1 large can of V-8 or store brand vegetable juice
Garlic salt & pepper to taste

Place stew meat and onion in pot and cover with water. Season to taste and cook until meat is done. Pour drained veggies and V-8 juice into pot with meat and onions and taste (you'll probably need to add more garlic salt and pepper). Simmer for at least an hour (this will make the meat tender). Serve with cornbread or crackers.

Brand New October

Hey everyone! I hope ya'll are having a great week! Thankfully, October hasn't started out as busy as September, so maybe I'll get a few more posts in.

I love this time of year when it starts getting cooler. It makes me want to try out new recipes, which is what I did this past weekend. I tried out Baby Chef's pumpkin muffin recipe which turned out great. I made a batch of them and shared with the people at the nursing home. They were all gone in about 5 minutes! I also tried this recipe which is now Gma's new favorite.

Easy Apple Pie Muffins

2 eggs
Can of apple pie filing
8 oz. of sour cream
1 box of spice cake mix

Mix and bake in muffin cups or loaf pan at 350 for about 25 minutes for a loaf pan or 15 minutes for muffins.

I'm continuing my daily visits to the nursing home. Gma is much better except for her vocabulary which is ranked up there with a sailor's. At my visit last night, someone on her hall died, and I was sequestered in Gma's room, which wouldn't have been so bad had her roommate not been ill and decided to have an eruption from both ends, and Gma screaming "She's s******* all over the place, WE GOTTA GET OUTTA HERE NOW!" You would have thought we needed to save ourselves from a bomb...literally. Needless to say, when I left, I went straight home and went to bed. It was only 8:30.


This is it, I've found it, I'm in hell. Ouiser

Busy September!

Hello everyone! I'm sorry I'm so far behind in posting. September has been a very busy month. I started the month in NC with Baby Chef. We had a Breakfast at Tiffany's themed birthday celebration for her birthday and I met some of her friends, which eased my mind about her being so far away. Here are a few pictures from the party.




The Beautiful Birthday Girl!

Baby Chef flew back home with me and I got to spend 9 more days with her! We had a great time but she was very busy with school work.

The first week of September, I was in charge of a steak dinner our booster club hosts every year before our first home football game. We served 307 people which is one of the best turn outs we've had in a long time. We also won our game which made the night even more special.

I've been extremely busy at work too! We have 3 major trials coming up - 1 starting tomorrow, 1 in October and 1 in November. The past few afternoons I've spent in the basement of our courthouse doing research. The basement is a place I'd rather not visit. It's dark and creepy and I'd rather not go there alone except for Friday when I was struggling with these huge books that looked like something from a Harry Potter movie - complete with dust and bugs! I had to take twelve years worth of books from shelves, find the documents I needed, take the book apart (which was the hard part because some were so old, I had to either take a hammer to mash the prongs down to get the covers off, or put the book in the floor and stand on the prongs), and finally make copies. I worked on this for most of Friday afternoon and started back again yesterday afternoon when I ran into a serious propblem - I couldn't get the last 4 years books apart, which meant I would have to walk up the stairs with my "Harry Potter" size book (they were almost as big as I am) and try to get them on the copier to make copies. I'm sweating, saying bad words in my head, and I'm on a mission to find some pliers or any other type of tool I can get my hands on, because there's no way I can carry another book up the stairs. As luck would have it I finally find some pliers and I'm turning with all I have trying to get the book apart, when one of the ladies from the clerk's office offers her help. I explain to her that I can't get the prongs off and there's no way I can carry another book. I must have looked and sounded like some crazed lunatic. She pats my arm and tells me "You poor thing....you'll never get those open like that. Didn't someone tell you there's a key?" She pulled the "key" which also looked like something from a Harry Potter movie from her pocket, sticks it in the end of the book binding and the top came right off! Needless to say I felt like an idiot. I hugged her big and I'll be bringing her homemade brownies tomorrow : )

Baby Chef's "Birthday" Story

I'm sorry that I didn't get to post this on Baby Chef's birthday. I was a little busy flying to NC to see her for the first time since she moved. This is her story:


On Monday, August 31, 1992 at 11:08 p.m., I was blessed with a dark haired beautiful baby girl! She weighed 8 pounds and was 20" long.

It was EG's Daddy's first day of preschool. I woke up bright and early with the feeling that something just wasn't right. Farmer Boo was a little grumpy because EG's Daddy was leaving him behind. To make up for EG's Daddy leaving, Farmer Boo and I went to Wal-Mart to do a little shopping.

I called Gma that morning and told her that I wasn't feeling bad but something just wasn't right, and if I didn't feel better when the boys woke up from their nap, I might need to go to the doctor. She got a little irritated with me and asked could I not wait until Wednesday, which was my next scheduled appointment. I told her that I'd figure it out when the boys woke up.

About 3 p.m. the boys got up and I still didn't feel quite right. I called Gma and told her I was going to the doctor. I called our sitter and the doctor's office. The nurse told me to go on to the hospital. Gma and I get there and the doctor in labor and delivery checks me and tells me I'm dilated 2 cm and to go walk around the hospital complex for a couple of hours.

Gma and I began our walk. What I really mean is Gma walked...I waddled. It seemed the longer we walked the hotter it got! When we made it back to Labor and Delivery, we were both wet from head to toe and I mean that literally. The doctor came in and gave me the good news that he was going to admit me and was there anything I wanted before I was banished to bed. All I could say was I wanted a shower and he was smart enough to allow it. I think I may have looked a little evil and he had probably been a doctor long enough to realize not to deny a very large pregnant woman of anything she asked for!

Baby Chef's birth was very different from Farmer Boo's. It was much more calm and relaxed - other than the fact that I had no pain medicine.  I didn't start having contractions until about 9:30 p.m., which unfortunately for me, was about the time they came in to do my epidural. That was a lost cause. Thankfully, Baby Chef was born at 11:08 p.m. with only me, Baby Chef's Daddy, my wonderful nurse, and Dr. Carol.

As soon as Dr. Carol gave Baby Chef to her daddy, I noticed him digging around in his pocket for something. I fussed at him and warned him that if he dropped her, he wouldn't live to tell about it. After what seemed like forever, Baby Chef's Daddy brought her over to me. That's when I saw my precious daughter for the first time. She was the most beautiful little girl I had ever seen, with a head full of dark hair, which is when I realized what her daddy had been digging around in his pocket for...a hairbow!

I'm fairly certain that Baby Chef wore a hairbow every day until she was in 2nd or 3rd grade. She also wore a dress nearly every day too!

It doesn't seem like Baby Chef should be 19! I am so blessed to have her for my daughter and my best friend!

Baby Chef making pizza in kindergarten

Baby Chef loved rabbits at an early age!

Baby Chef making a sundae

I Don't Want Any D*** Donuts!

I hope everyone's having a great week! I have another funny story about Gma to share.

After being in the hospital for a month, my gma was finally moved back to the nursing home to finish up physical therapy after suffering a broken hip and ribs. I make two trips (and sometimes more) a day checking on her.

For those of you that didn't know my gma when she was at her best, she is a tiny but sassy little thing. She's 4'8" tall and as of yesterday she weighs all of 96.7 pounds with all her clothes on. She's always acted like a lady and preached it to me daily when I lived at home, which is why I get so tickled when she talks the way she does sometimes. I don't think I ever heard her curse or raise her voice when I was growing up. My sister says she would spank her sometimes but I never knew that side of her.

A day in the life of Gma.....

Saturday I spent most all day with Gma and she was in good spirits. I wheeled her around the nursing home and she even sat outside on the patio for a while. When we got back to her room, her aid was waiting with a smile to help her back to bed. Gma gets up from the wheelchair to show off that she could take a few steps. With every step she takes, she expels gas. I know that's a terrible thing to say but oh my was it funny!! We wouldn't have even realized what she was doing but she says "Every time I take a step I fart!" She goes on to say "Oh no! I didn't mean that. What I meant was every time I take a step I poot. Men fart and ladies poot. I'm a lady so I'm pooting!"  The aid and I almost make her fall because we are doubled over laughing. How Gma said all that with a straight face is beyond anything I can comprehend. After I got my composure back, I remind her that ladies don't talk about things like that. She politely tells me that she's a lady. I tell her that evidently she's forgotten her manners. She replies in her most lady like voice "I haven't forgotten them. I just don't want to use them." There's not much you can say to that so, I went home shaking my head and thinking to myself - Bless your heart!

Thankfully Sunday was quiet in the world of Gma.

Yesterday after work, I took her a peanut butter cupcake I had made. She gobbled it up fairly quickly. She didn't leave a crumb. When I got ready to leave, I asked her if she wanted me to bring her another cupcake in the morning. She said "I don't want any d*** donuts! I said Ok, but do you want another cupcake? No, I told you I don't want any d*** donuts! The nurse came in to give Gma her night medication and Gma wants to know what pill she's giving her. The nurse tells her that it's her cholesterol pill. She takes it and tells me that she's not taking THAT dementia medicine any more because it makes her crazy! I try to hold back my laughter but I couldn't! She goes on to tell me that the dementia medicine she took that morning has made her crazy all day, and that there's nothing wrong with her mind, and she doesn't need medicine like that. At this point, I've gotten my laughter and snorting almost under control, when she tells me for the third time "I don't want any d*** donuts but you can bring me another cupcake." I tell her that I'll bring her another but my evil side really wants to bring her a donut just to see what she'll do with it.  

Before I left, I told her that I hoped she would behave herself to which she said "My daddy taught me how to behave. I just don't want to and I'm grown so I don't have to." And to that, I had no words!

I hope everyone has a great rest of the week! I know I will...I'm leaving tomorrow to visit Baby Chef for the first time at her new home! I can't wait to share my visit with everyone : )

Busy Weekend and Week Ahead

I hope everyone has had a great week! For me, it's been a long one! The air at my office has been on the blink and today the repairman came to put in a new unit. Unfortunately, it was 85 degrees in the office UGH!! By  the end of the day, I was very thankful I do not have to work outside!

I'm looking forward to the weekend. I get to spend Sunday with EG's Daddy, EG's Mommie, and of course, EG. I can't wait! According to EG's Daddy, Grana is my grandma name. I don't care what EG calls me, and I suppose that's a good thing because last week she started calling me Ga. It's the absolute most precious sound I've ever heard other than when my kids said mamma for the first time.

The other thing I'm looking forward to is Wednesday I fly to see Baby Chef. It's also her birthday. I  pray the hurricane doesn't get in my way because I might become evil! I haven't seen Baby Chef in two months and I don't think I can stand being away from her much longer! She has made lots of plans for us and hopefully we'll get to do everything she wants. She's planned a birthday party "Breakfast at Tiffany's" style so I can meet her new friends. I'll post pictures and details after the party next Saturday.

I wanted to share a recipe I got from Baby Chef for Hash Brown Casserole. It's easy and it tastes wonderful!

Hash Brown Casserole

1 cup of diced onion

1 stick of butter, thinly sliced

8 ounces of sour cream

8 ounces (or more)shredded sharp cheddar cheese

1 can Cream of Chicken soup

2 lbs. frozen hash browns, thawed

1/2 to 1 cup crushed Corn Flakes

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Stir together well, onion, butter, sour cream, cheese, and soup. Add the hash browns and mix well. Top with crushed corn flakes and bake until golden brown and bubbly.

Farmer Boo - The Life Saver

I hope everyone had a great weekend! I started mine out by celebrating Farmer Boo's 21st birthday. Farmer Boo wanted to go to the casino - not to gamble but to flash his new "I'm 21 ID." We took him and a few of his friends to eat dinner at Paula Deen's and I admit I'm not a fan. The food wasn't great and for the price it should have been. You get lots of choices and I'll give it an "A" but I give it a "D" for flavor. The best part of the birthday dinner was visiting with Papaw, Granny Debs, Shirley Q, Uncle D, Aunt T, Lou Lou, and of course, Farmer Boo, B, and Spranger. It would have been perfect if Baby Chef, Army Guy, EG's Daddy, EG's Mommie, and EG could have been there.

I mentioned in my last post a few things about Farmer Boo and thought I would elaborate on what happened to us on a Saturday night in September 1997.

Farmer Boo just turned 7. He was a precious and very precocious little boy with huge blue eyes and long eyelashes. It was really hard to get upset with him - even when he needed to be disciplined, because he would look up at you with those eyes and your heart would melt. You have it right  - I have a little charmer on my hands. He was also scary....you never knew what was going to come out of his mouth. His commentary on whatever subject came to mind could range from hilarious to crawl-in-a-hole embarrassing.

Farmer Boo and his John Deere cake

B, Farmer Boo, Lou Lou, Spranger

Now for the story...which is a true account of events that happened. Names have been withheld to protect the innocent...In the late afternoon, the exact date in September I can't remember, my family and I went to some friends' house to celebrate their son's 18th birthday. The kids were playing outside when Farmer Boo began to have an asthma attack. Of course, it's the one time I don't have an inhaler or a breathing machine with me, which is strange, because Farmer Boo has severe asthma, and we didn't go any where without one or both of those items. Farmer Boo and I left the party and head for home. We take the "back way" home which is down a gravel road. It had rained pretty heavily a few days before which made the gravel soft. I was going about 35 (the speed limit), when I noticed another car coming towards us and I moved over to make room for us to pass each other.  The next thing I knew the vehicle I was driving was spinning around facing the direction we just came from. Everything happened so fast...before I realized it, the truck had flipped over on its side (my side) and I was under water.  I reached for my seat belt but couldn't get it unfastened. My heart began to pound and all I could think about was I had to get out so I could get to Farmer Boo. I tried and tried but I couldn't get the seat belt to unfasten. I couldn't breath and I began to see a white haze. I didn't panic but I knew that it was probably the end until I felt a little hand grabbing my arm and tugging at the seat belt. I could hear a voice but I couldn't understand what it was saying. The next thing I knew I was being pulled to the surface and I could finally understand the voice I was hearing. It was Farmer Boo. A little boy of barely 7, had unfastened my seat belt and pulled me out of the water. I was a little confused at first. I didn't think I would ever stop coughing. There he was with those eyes looking at me and asking me if I was ok and telling me we had to get out of here FAST 'cause there's snakes everywhere! Somehow we got out of the truck. I did a quick assessment to make sure Farmer Boo was ok. Much to my surprise, he didn't have a scratch on him and his asthma attack was over. Unfortunately, I had a broken finger and occipital (the bones around your  eye), and about a hundred cuts all over my face and arms because of broken glass. Farmer Boo and I were about a half of a mile from home, which seemed like 10 miles because we were soaking wet and it was almost dark.

We began to walk when a car stopped. It was an older couple and though I would NEVER take a ride from a stranger under normal circumstances...this was not a normal circumstance. They were the sweetest people and they took us right to our house. It was then we realized we had another problem....no keys. Farmer Boo to the rescue again. He somehow was able to get into a window and unlock the door. Farmer Boo's daddy made it home not long after that and took both of us to the hospital.

I remember the night Farmer Boo saved my life as if it happened yesterday. Neither of us talk about it very often. It still amazes me how God protected him and kept him calm. He never shed a tear. I recall thanking  Farmer Boo the next day and telling him how proud I was that he was a quick thinker. He responded with "Mom, I already know I'm smart you don't have to tell me and if I were driving it never would have happened!"

Farmer Boo's "Birthday" Story

On Sunday, August 19, 1990 at 12:05 p.m., I was blessed with my second son, Farmer Boo. It was also the day my oldest, EG's Daddy, turned 28 months old. I confess it was much harder to go from 1 child to 2 than it was from 2 children to 3. People always ask why? I think it was because Farmer Boo had a tough time for the first 3 years of his life and thank God when Baby Chef came along when he was 2 years and 11 days old, she was a very easy baby.

Since my children were old enough to understand, I've told them their "birthday" story. Even though they are grown now, they still ask me to tell them and Farmer Boo's goes something like this:

From the time I was about 6 months pregnant, I starting having a lot of problems. I was in the hospital a week and then home for a week because of kidney failure which would cause me to have contractions. The week before Farmer Boo was born was the week I was in the hospital. I was discharged on Saturday afternoon with the same instructions as always - complete bedrest. Before I left the hospital, I asked the doctor could I please get a hair cut before I went home to which she agreed. I'm a happy camper at this point!

Flash forward to Sunday, August 19th at 4 a.m. - - I wake up because I thought I wet the bed! I guess that's a horrible thing to write in a blog but that's what I thought! I stand up and realize that my water broke. I call for Farmer Boo's dad and he comes running. I'm terrified at this point because Farmer Boo is not due until October 6th. I call my sister to come stay with EG's Daddy and off to the hospital we go. Farmer Boo's dad is hiliarious...he asks can he run in the hospital like they do in movies and scream "MY WIFE'S HAVING A BABY?" All I could do was laugh! We make it to the hospital (thankfully I'm not having contractions), get checked in and rushed to labor and delivery ICU (not a fun place). My doctor doesn't come in until somewhere between 10 and 10:30 and tells us that it will probably be the next day before we have a baby since I had not dilated at all. Unfortunately, about 30 minutes after the doctor left, pure and utter chaos broke loose in labor and deliver ICU. I started having contractions so bad that I felt like the girl in the movie

Poltergeist. It was so bad I ripped the buttons off Farmer Boo's dad's shirt. He runs out to get the nurse (a prissy little thing) who tells me to calm down there's no way you can be in THAT much pain, the doctor just checked you and you were not even dilated. Much to my surprise and to her surprise, Farmer Boo's dad grabs her by the neck and advises her that the baby is coming NOW! She gets a quick look and screams for the doctor, who thankfully was in the next room. The doctor comes in and has some of the same attitude the nurse had until Farmer Boo's dad grabs her and tells her in a scary voice that if she doesn't do something he will take the stone she has on her forehead (she's from India) and shove it up her you-know-what. If I wasn't in so much pain, I probably would have kicked them all out of my room! I was only in labor for a little over an hour and Farmer Boo was born at 12:05 p.m.

I can still remember it like it was yesterday! When Farmer Boo was delivered and the pain subsided somewhat, I listened for the cry and there was none. I began to panic and look around the room for him and I couldn't find him anywhere. As quickly as he came into the world, they wisked him away to the NICU. Farmer Boo weighed in at 7 pounds 13 ounces and for as big as he was considering he was 6 weeks early, his lungs weren't ready for the world. He spent a month in the hospital so his lungs could catch up with the rest of his body. It was the longest and possibly the hardest month of my life. Words can't describe how helpless you feel as a mother when you leave your child in the hospital and how grateful you are to the doctors and nurses that have the knowledge to take care of him.

When Farmer Boo was released from the hospital, I was ecstatic, even though he came with a machine for this and a machine for that. I don't think he slept all night until he was 3 and he saved my life when he was 7 (I'll tell that story another day). He was easy to raise....except when he begged for a tattoo and nearly drove me insane (that too is a story for another day). I couldn't ask for any of my children to be any better than they have been and I thank God everyday for blessing me with such great kids.

Happy 21st Birthday Farmer Boo!

Hopefully Farmer Boo will never know I posted this picture!

Duck hunting - one of Farmer Boo's favorite hobbies

Yep...he's sleeping....again!

All dressed up for Prom 2008!

Farmer Boo...the proud uncle

Farmer Boo's first day of his senior year

Farmer Boo dancing with E at Baby Chef's wedding

Blogging and Pinterest...Oh My!

Baby Chef has done it again! First, she introduced me to blogging...now it's Pinterest! It's not like I don't have a million other things to do GAH!!!! In case you're not familiar with Pinterest, it's similar to blogging but with pictures. Unfortunately for me, it's become a small obsession and for the past few nights I've sat up looking at "boards" along with reading blogs. Needless to say, I've been fueling myself with caffeine to stay awake at work. Which leads to another problem....caffeine does not to my body good! I act like a kid with an overdose of sugar or worse! I'm all over the place and I literally can't stop talking! I mean it makes me talk more than my average (which is alot). Tonight there will be no more blogging or Pinterest for me! I have to be rested up for tomorrow because Farmer Boo turns 21!!!!

This cake is absolutely wonderful and it's Gma's favorite! I hope you enjoy!

BOHEMIAN COFFEE CAKE

1 c. oil

1 c. brown sugar

1 c. white sugar

1 c. buttermilk

1 c. coconut

1 c. chopped pecans

2 eggs

2½ c. self rising flour

1 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. nutmeg

1 tsp. vanilla

Mix all ingredients. Bake in a 10” tube pan at 350° for 45 – 50 minutes. Ice when cool.

Icing:

8 oz. cream cheese, softened

1 lb. box powdered sugar

1 c. chopped pecans

½ stick butter

2 tsp. vanilla

Mix, cheese, butter and sugar. Add pecans and vanilla and spread on cake when cool.

Nacho Bake

1 pkg. Velveeta Shells and Cheese Dinner
1 lb. ground beef
1 pkg. taco seasoning
3/4 c. water
3/4 c. sour cream
8 oz. shredded cheddar cheese, divided
3/4 c. salsa (I use a little more than what the recipe calls for)
1/2 c. coarsely crushed tortilla chips
Preheat oven to 400. Prepare mac and cheese according to directions. While mac and cheese is cooking, brown grown beef and drain. Add taco seasoning mix and water to the meat; simmer for 5 min. Stir sour cream into prepared mac and cheese. Spoon half of the mac and cheese into 8" square baking dish. Top with layer of meat mixture, then half of shredded cheese, then remaining mac and cheese. Cover with foil and bake for 15 minutes. Remove from oven and top with salsa, remaining cheese, and crushed tortillas. Bake uncovered for 5 minutes. Makes 6 servings.

You'll probably want to double cause it's YUMMY!!

No More School Supplies and All Grown Up!

Watching everyone scurry around buying school supplies this weekend made me realize that for the first time in 19 years, I did not have a child in regular school. I felt like I ran into a brick wall. Where did the time go? How could my children have grown up so fast? Then I thought about how thankful I was that I wasn't running around everywhere trying to find items on the long supply lists. Buying school supplies is something I always dreaded when my children were in school. I mean...what in the world were some of these teachers thinking? Apparently they didn't have to go out and try to find supplies when every other mother in the city was doing the same thing. It was always a nightmare!

However, the beginning of  new school year always made me sad because it meant that my children were one year closer to growing up...going to college...and leaving home. I'll admit that when EG's daddy left for college, I had separation anxiety in the worst way. I was a basket case. I don't know how Farmer Boo and Baby Chef survived. I'm sure they thought I was crazy and probably counted the days until they could leave. When the day came for Farmer Boo to go to college, EG's Daddy enlisted in the Army and was in basic training in Georgia. I was beginning to think my children were deliberately trying to drive me crazy! I had them at home all these years and they were all leaving, what was I supposed to do with myself? Before Baby Chef left home about two months ago, I thought, they will all be gone and now what will I do?

My friends whose children have grown up and moved on say I'll be fine. I'm sure in time I will.  I've heard parents say that they can't wait until their children grow up because they won't have to worry what their kids are doing or what kind of trouble they're getting into. I could have waited forever because it doesn't get easier...you just have a completely new set of worries!

That which does not kill us, makes us stronger. Clairee Belcher

Gma and the Candy Bar in the Yellow Paper

I had to go to a care plan meeting for Gma at the hospital this morning. Who would have thought something like that could be entertaining? First thing, Gma calls and says she wants a candy bar in the yellow paper that tastes like peanut butter. It takes a few minutes, but I finally realize she wants a butterfinger. I stop by Target to pick up a few things for her along with a candy bar in the yellow paper. Make it to the hospital just in time for the meeting to start. The case manager, a very nice lady with a lot of patience, begins to ask me a multitude of questions. I answer as best I can - not that the questions are difficult - it's hard to talk over Gma, who's in the background asking her own questions and who's totally oblivious as to what's going on in the room.

Nice Lady: What are your plans upon discharge?
Gma: Where's my jewelry? Is my jewelry at home?
Me: To finish physical therapy rehab.
Nice Lady: The plan is for Gma to remain here at least 4 to 5 more weeks for wound care and antibiotics
Gma: I need my tweezers, the hairs on my chin are getting long.
At this point I'm about to wet my pants because I'm trying not to laugh. I think Nice Lady is having the same problem but she keeps a straight face better than I do
Me: That sounds great! I'll be out of town from August 31st til September 4th
Nice Lady: That won't be a problem. We won't release her until you get back and she may not be ready then
Gma: You don't need to go out of town! You need to stay here! Do I have too much lipstick on? I don't want to look like a dime store flusey (I don't even know how to spell that one but I definitely know what she's talking about) What does my hair look like? D*** if I don't need to go to the beauty shop. (My gma has taken up the habit of using foul language since she's been sick. It's embarrassing but quite funny too)
Nice Lady: You'll be fine while she's gone. We'll take good care of you
Gma: I want one of those candy bars in the yellow paper. But if I eat this I won't be able to eat my roll at dinner.
I give Gma 2 candy bars in yellow paper and Nice Lady and I finish up our business.

After Nice Lady leaves, I remind Gma that we need to call her sister and give her some telephone numbers she asked for. Gma makes the call and it goes something like this:
The phone rings and rings and goes to voice mail....
PeMa this is your sister! CALL ME IMMEDIATELY! THIS IS AN EMERGENCY!!!
She hangs up and I ask her why in the world would you leave a message like that? It is not an emergency!
Gma says Well, yes it is! If she calls back after you leave, I won't be able to see to give her the numbers she wants.
All I could do is shake my head and smile.
PeMa did call back and when I left, Gma was happily eating her candy bars in the yellow paper. I also decided I might need to see a doctor myself...possibly several...one for insanity and one for high blood pressure.
Grandmothers are wonderful! Mine took care of me all my life and I'm paying her back by taking care of her now. However, I'm having serious doubts that I'm giving her as much as she gave me. She's a precious lady and she keeps me on my toes in one way or another every day.

 "I love ya more than my luggage." Clairee Belcher
 

Great Ending to a Regular Day

My day started just like any other day...get ready for work, go to work...run by the grocery store...blah, blah, blah. Talk to Baby Chef on the way home and have an inspiration!!

I'm going to visit Baby Chef at the end of the month for her birthday. It will be my first visit and I'm so excited! I can't wait to see her new home and meet her new friends. Well, anyway, Baby Chef will be alone for about six weeks and I admit, I'm a little worried about her being by herself. Here's where my inspiration came into play...while we were talking, I made the suggestion that she come back home with me and she agreed! She's only staying about a week but I'll take whatever face time I can get!

I hate to wish the month away but I sure can't wait for August 31st!

"Smile! It increases your face value." --Truvy

Day 10 - Recipe and a picture of something that makes me very happy

CHICKEN AND RICE CASSEROLE

1 can each of cream of mushroom, cream of celery and cream of chicken soups

1 cup rice

4 chicken breasts

few slivers of butter

Mix rice with the soups. Spray bottom of casserole dish with cooking spray and place in dish. Top with the rice/soup mixture and dabble the top with butter. Cover and bake at 350° for 1 hour.

For me Days 9 and 10 go together.  My children and my precious little granddaughter, EG, make me very happy!

EG and me at "the wedding"

Farmer Boo, EG, and EG's Daddy

Baby Chef and EG


"Would it be too much to ask for a little excitement, not too much I wouldn't want you to break a sweat or anything." Shelby Eatenton Latcherie