The Make Over Reveal

 A friend came by and received a make up do over courtesy of Miss Jennifer.

 and this is me....can you believe it?

 I am stylin and sassy. I need a facelift!!!

 But having fun is contagious...

 like my top? Jen gave it to me. Daughters are so nice to have around.

 The new fashionable decluttered dining room.

 Changes everywhere.

 A cozy seating vignette.

 and some snow....

 Mississippi style no shoveling required. Don't hate me I didn't do it.

 Sun predicted tomorrow so it will all be gone.

 but today the grand kids will play.

 this much snow in the south and the schools cancel.

 Yes it is true we are light weights with winter weather.

 We only know how to sweat out here.

 Back inside. You know it wouldn't be me without a small digression.

 El grande poo-pony sizing up the food situation. Not the human the plate.

 Living room touches.

 This guy is cute.

 A close up of the mantel.

She's been busy don't you think?
I'll hire her out for a good price!!

My Daughter's Ideas.

 My daughter has a knack for fixing up everything. I really like it but it also makes me feel a bit over the hill. I remember when it was me who had all the creative energy and ideas. Now I sit back and watch the improvements. She just rearranges a bit of this and that achieving a much better result.

I KNOW I look better. Even the southern ladies at church who are masters of the serious poker face cannot help but drop their chins when they see me. In a good way!  I am my daughters best marketer. She needs a business card for makeovers. I am a walking advertisement. People are actually dumbfounded that I can look this good. Which I realize does not say much for what I accomplished or didn't on my own. 

I was thinking about doing a post about makeup. She is so good at it that when she is working on my eyes one can look bigger and brighter than the other. She does that with concealer and highlights. The cool thing is we use some pretty cheap stuff. We aren't on a Lancome budget here.

Now that the house, my wardrobe, my make up and both of us have new hair do's has been accomplished; the next project is our weight.  I said it, I really did without even hacking a line through that dreaded word. No sugar.  WHAT? No sugar. Not any, like not in starch either.

To seal the deal on the sale my little sales girl tells me I can have "sugar free candy" OK. Have you ever eaten sugar free candy? It's delicious really it is. I was eating it wondering why lots of people didn't eat this stuff. My daughter walks by and says, "MOM HOW MUCH OF THAT HAVE YOU EATEN?"
Smack slurp smack, mouth full answers,"dunno maybe sith peeessssis." Daughter smiles, laughs and says "OH NO!!!!" I quit smacking,"whas tho funnnnnie?"

I would soon find out what is NOT tho funny. Sugar free candy and maltitol give most people gas. Not just a little bit of gas. The kind of ripping that country red neck truck drivers like to make jokes about! The hot yellow sulphur cloud of fumes burning your eyes bohiney out kind. My husband went through the living room waving his arms, "OH MY WORD," and glares at the dog. Sometimes our dog being our best friend goes above and beyond the call of duty you know your in trouble when the dog leaves the room.


I purchased a large box of Gas X to go with my daughters "way of eating." Since she does most of the cooking around here and I always want what she makes. I also really like the sugar free candy but NOT 6 pieces ever again not even Gas X can handle that. Being just a little competitive I want to loose some weight for spring too.  But I only want to loose weight, not all my friends and family, and I just got my dog.

How did you spend your weekend? Try anything new?

Hankering for Spring.

In the summer this is what we enjoy.

In the winter it turns into this. 

Brown MESS.

 One thing that I like about living here is experiencing all four seasons. I am not referring to turkey season, deer season, fishing season, etc...I am talking about spring, summer, fall, and winter. It has been a very cold and dreary winter this year. We have had so many dark cloudy, rainy days, not to mention severe thunder storms and tornados. Weather affects my mood and after awhile I just plain get tired of all this dead stuff. When I start fussing about being HAWT and sweaty you can remind me that I am asking for it.

This bare patch will come to life soon. The green is WEEDS. How do these things survive any type of conditions?  I can almost inhale this. I can feel the moist warm air and taste some fresh lemonade.

 I am very ready for some beauty.

 This desolate looking area will also come back to life.

Hard to believe isn't it? This is my proof of the promise that is coming. Warm days, warm hearts, and the joy of spring. The romance of warm fires and soup is over. My fingers are shriveled up from being chilled. My body is truly on the mend and I can play a little bit at a time. After a winter of recovering from trauma my body and soul are extra ready.

 Today the sun is shining and it makes even this look better than it really is.

I had an idea about bringing some spring to my window ahead of schedule.

 How do you like my green thumb in the dead of winter? Aren't you impressed with me?
I'm pulling some real old lady shenanigans. Don't you love the Dollar Store?

The cat helped me fix these pots up. He let me know what looked the best. He let me know when it was done by posing for his picture.  I do believe Puffins is becoming a show cat.

We are having 4 days of sun with very cold temperatures thirties and forties, but I'll take the frozen fingers and ears to be out and enjoy it. The only thing to do now is work on the hard scape. Prune trees, spray them with dormant oil, and move bulbs around. I'm late but it doesn't matter. I'm to the phase in this place of having huge quantities of things. I remember when we first came here and there was nothing. It was a big deal to plant a dozen bulbs. Ten years later they have multiplied to a nice large amount and there are always little areas asking for a bit of perking up.

A lot of you are probably deep in this. We didn't get any this year. Your probably pishawing at my freezing cold temperatures. A Southern girl can only handle so much! I was hoping for a little snow for the grand children to enjoy. Now we can just pass and move right on into the flowers.

What about you are you ready to warm up?

 These guys are.

Roman says, "whatcha lookin at?" Seriously I am looking at how TALL this big black dog is.  Part pooda-pony  I think. The size of those cow pies outside measure up too.

That's all the cold air we can manage today, back inside and spend some time with you.

Sunny Saturday Salutations

Don't you hate excuses? I do but I'm going to make one.  I have been having a hard time finding the time to blog. You would think I had all the time in the world wouldn't you? It takes me a long time to get to do anything. I have to think and plan, considering how it will impact my right arm. If you think your tired of hearing about it, I can tell you loudly that I am tired of living with it. HOWEVER having a good attitude instead of a bitchy inpatient one is paramont to overcoming a tough situation.  That's what we preach anyway.  Actually I am making progress. I'm at the dangerous time where I feel good enough to get hurt. Self restraint is not my best attribute.  To get the most of feeling good I use my left hand and it is getting really smart. Don't tell me old dogs can't learn new tricks, can too.

  Not all days are good. Some days I just get up and don't bother to brush my hair. I need to stop doing that because Jennifer is always on the prowl to get a ridiculous picture of her mom. She takes this new "hobby" to a whole new dimension.  My aim is to please. The picture behind me is our new great grand baby!

I TRY and get goofy pictures of Jennifer to retaliate but for Pete's sake she is so pretty, it is really hard to do! Disgusting.

My puppy is a big boy now and he loves to lean on me. I love it. Roman is getting his act together. It made a huge difference to get him neutered. I have no idea how people actually make a male dog into a good pet with their "goods" intact. He was becoming a PEST!

Look at these! Cooking again has made me so happy.  The evening I baked these my Hunny's buddy dropped in to watch football together.  Their team won. We could tell because of all the hooting, stomping and chunks of sheet rock falling from the ceiling that it was a great game. The guys made a serious dent in these pies and they had a blast. So satisfying to bring some joy into my home again. *SMILES*

My beastie is up to 60 pounds. Remember when he was just a wee little baby boy? He is 9 months old now so he may grow a bit more and that's fine with me.

We are trying to get the "hard scape" of our garden in order and are pruning, and rearranging some plants, bulbs and bushes. I boss and everybody else  does the work. So there is a little silver lining in the rain cloud. Of course I would NEVA take advantage of that!!! Wicked little giggle.


Have a great weekend! We are going to have 3 sunny days and I am taking advantage before more rain comes to town.

A New's Update.

Our Christmas was FABULOUS!!! For one I felt GOOD! First miracle, my hunny bought me an AMAZING Christmas gift, 2nd miracle, and our church adopted Jen's children and they had an amazing abundance of gifts, 3rd miracle. Truly Jesus makes a much better Santa we were mind blown.

I have NEVER seen so many presents. They were piled all the way around the tree stacked up and spilling over. There were just tons of them, not literally but it felt like it. That is the first christmas morning that actually took some TIME to get everything opened. Yep another miracle.

Somebody really wanted a bike and he got one!

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care and stuffed!!!

  Bay blades the new rage for boys. Some ole hillbilly made his millions with the basic top. Papa knew all about playing with these and even won a couple of rounds. Boys will be boys no matter what age and this was Pa's favorite. He liked it much better than new slippers. I need to work on that next year.

This is not a flattering picture, but my daughter took a picture of me blowing some leaves and I actually put in one small box of irises by myself. I am SO much better!!! I can dress myself and can cook again.
I have not been able to chop an onion for 6 months. No hand work. I am getting there, my arm does not raise up but I am working on it HARD! I WANNA GO BACK TO SOME KIND OF WORK!

This little bee charmer just may end up really spoiled, could you resist this?  I told him when the girls start calling we are going to lock him up! Lawdy he is a doll.

This is my real smile. Remember that? It's been a while since it's been around. I know because my smiling muscles can feel the workout, tee hee.

These need no explanation. This is what kids do. They table train cats to join them for a snack.

 Puffins has got the hang of it too.

 Yep definitely got it.

 Will you look at that little pink tongue, kitty has got his groove on.

 and so does the charmer.

and yeah she was in on the whole thing. We have all lost 19 pounds now. That happens without any Christmas baking. I love Christmas baking. Next year I'll bake my cookies and get fat.

Just a bit more news. Roman is on a hunger strike. He has been demoted to plain dry dog food. When you have a lot of people to feed the dog loses his fancy status. He still will not come. Stubborn!! You may see us on the dog whisperer yet.

I started the New year out by deleting practically the whole computer, nearly having a stroke or heart attack, because ALL my pictures were gone!!! Don't ever say blondes are dumb. My daughter recovered all my files and all my photos, and I was UBER impressed! I was trying to clean up the computer and get ready to do some posts. After that "shock and awe" I had to take a break. My other nerve wrecker is that Kayla called to say,"Don't worry we are in a nice warm tent and sleeping bags." Yeah right, camping in the snow is so good for your health. FREAK!!!

Every day has been so busy. I'm coming back from the almost dead. I'll try and post a bit more often. Just how did I post every day anyway? Now it seems like there is no time, and that is without cooking. I haven't baked any bread yet. My starter is trash I think, but just some simple whole wheat sounds so good. My therapy appointments are often in the middle of the day and it breaks up the day, into a more non productive use of time. Keeping the main thing, the main thing the therapy is the most important "thing" I do right now.
My hand has stopped shaking and jerking too. Typing still makes my wrist sore and my fingers aren't too happy but I think at this point it's actually good for them, so we are back in the saddle again.

I feel so excited and happy. I hope you're all doing well and a very HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OF YOU!!

So Much to Share

I am getting better, it is a very slow process. One of the problems I have been having is that my hands will not stay steady to type. With the pharmaceutical soup I am on, that problem is improving.

This picture was taken on Thanksgiving and I think it's our best side.

My daughter has been doing everything. I cannot tell you enough. She has brought the holidays to life here. It would bleak indeed if she hadn't come. Words are easy to say, we tell each other of our love, but actions really do speak louder than words. Out of everyone in my family the one person who came to help me was the one most criticized.  We are so quick to judge harshly.  I am so grateful for my daughter she has saved my life, literally.

Jenny and the Hunny decorated the outside and it is so FESTIVE! The decorations this year are a blend of our things. Jen has the Frosty and the kids love him. He looks like the door keeper peeking out from under the porch. He has to be hog tied to keep from blowing away in all the icy winds we have been having. Betcha can't tell who baked this pie.

Another view from a different place. It''s pretty.

 Jen has decorated every inch of this house! I love everything she has done. It is amazing to watch your home be transformed into the holiday spirit without doing any work. I have never experienced that before. I have done it for others at times but this is a first to be on the receiving end of so much love.

The kids and I decorated the tree and they did a great job. I actually did not rearrange it. I have rearranged the tree for years. I realized this year that everyone decorating together brings a special joy that I have missed out on by being so controlling with how everything looks. To soon old to late smart.
How about you do you rearrange what the kids do?

These children are so precious. I miss the other two. I hope someday they return and we can photograph everyone together.

Do you see this radiant smile? I wake up to her kissing me good morning and bringing me coffee in bed.
She starts music so I can focus on something other than how I feel. Then she helps me with an outfit and accessories. I have NEVER been so stylish! She needs to be a personal consultant to people to show them how to use their wardrobes well. She pulls out mixtures of things I have never thought of and it looks fabulous!! She used to put my makeup on for me but I have improved enough to do that myself!
Except for lipstick. If I did my lipstick I'd look like Bozo the clown. My hands hop all over.

There is nothing so sweet as a sleeping child. Isn't he angelic?

My Christmas cactus is blooming. It is the only living flower here. We have had such severe freezes I think my garden may be missing many plants and bushes this spring. Everything looks dead.

Cuddling upstairs in Jen's little nest, she has made the room the coziest room in the house. They even have a Christmas tree in there.

Jenny told me to pose like ET. No make up but ya'll have seen me that way plenty. My hand is cramping from this little bit of typing. I miss you all so much. I miss blogging! I think of posts but cannot write them. However! I have so much to be grateful for! For one, finding out that I have RSD in the 1st 3 months is very important for recovering from it. It has been 3 months since I fell. I have had the 3 blocks in the first 3 months. I'm not swollen anymore and I am in therapy. I also take a ton of medication that is very necessary to keep the pain and shaking down. I can sleep and the medications do give me relief from pain that was unbearable. My family loves me and is here to help me get better. So much to be grateful for!

As I think about the sweet little baby Jesus in an animal feed trough and the humble beginnings of his life here on Earth, I really have nothing to complain about. Each one of us has our own troubles and trials. There are many people who suffer much more than I do. People whose pain is not relieved, either physical, emotional, or spiritual. But God who is so faithful to help us wherever we are at if we just give Him the opportunity. At times our trials can be so overwhelming we get angry with God. I have been feeling that. Even with my failures God has been good to me. In spite of my depression and lack of hope, God has been faithful to help me.  You see God IS love. He cannot deny himself. He cannot change who he is. He is love. What God does isn't dependent on what I do or how I feel.  Thank God for that! If that was the case I would be buried right now. Instead my heart is full of love for my family, all of them. That includes Heather and Kayla who chose to be away for now. They will always be welcome. My gratitude for those who are here now is not measurable. My gratitude to my Lord is as it should be, He has helped me to get there. Healing is never just the physical body, our spirits and emotions need to be touched too.  I have come far. I have a long way to go. Each day has a bit of progress to be celebrated.  Christmas this year has me full of hope. I'm thankful for all God has done.

I hope that your hearts are full of joy for what God has done in your families. The presents are fun but their happiness is short lived. It is what we treasure in our hearts that lasts. I think of each one of you even though I don't comment on every blog on my list. But as I  read my blogroll I think of each of you. There are some still here that don't blog anymore, but your not forgotten Grandma J. It's hard when we read a blog for a long time and it just gets deleted or that friend stops writing. This Christmas what I do most is pray. Praying is something that doesn't take physical strength. I am praying for you. God bless you this year with abundant joy and the time and peace to enjoy it!  Merry Christmas!!

Blessings Too Great To Contain

Have you ever forgotten something important? I forgot how much I loved to swim. Do you remember that?
Much more important than swimming; I had forgotten how to lift my eyes above my circumstances. I had forgotten how to find encouragement.

God is able to keep. God is able to save. His arm is not too short. He has remembered me and heard my cries in the dark of depression, pain and suffering. He sent me a ministering "angel."

I have to share with you this blessing. My daughter gave up all her possessions to come to my aid, most of her things that were shipped arrived broken. She cried that one day and let it go. Could you do that? Could I? No I don't think so, not me, not yet.

When I wake up in the morning there is a cup of coffee by my bedside. Sweet music is in the air. I am greeted with the sweetest smile and a kiss.  My soul responds to the love and it lifts above the pain. I can focus outside of myself because of her love for me. She points my eyes to look up to the Lord from whence cometh my help.

Then my baby helps to dress me. She picks out pretty outfits that I could never put together because she is very talented with style and design. She is an artist in every way. After that she puts my makeup on for me because I cannot do it and I look pretty. I am physically the same but looking pretty helps a lot. My precious granddaughter paints my nails. I have never looked so good.
My heart is light. My spirits are lifted up. My daughter has risen up and called me blessed. She has given up everything to help me, no greater love is this. Than a woman lay down her life for a friend.

Jenny played this song for me this morning. This man has a set of pipes on him to be sure, but what brought us to tears was what he said about the quiet crucible of suffering.  I hope this ministers to your heart today. Tomorrow I am going to share some more funny goings on but this blessed me so much.
I hope you get "hooked up to heaven" too.