Deborah's Gift ~

I have a dear friend, Deborah, and she knows how much I love food. Especially bread pudding. We decided to get together for a meal over at her house recently and she surprised me with this delicacy. Oh.my. It is almost, if not as good, as Elli Bistro's daily bread pudding. I say daily, for they change their recipe on a daily basis. I've never gone there that I didn't swoon at the first bite. You might get a fudge laden bread pudding or a fruit filled bread pudding or a white chocolate bread pudding. I never thought I'd like fruit IN mine until I had theirs. NOW, if it's a day when the waiter (we like Nemo) tells us that there will be raisins in it, I go home without dessert. Do NOT destroy my BP with raisins.

 

I mentioned this on my blog, "Losing Forty" and had several comments on Facebook for the recipe. Deborah made it that one time and gave me the recipe. I think she got it from a Kraft site and I think she made hers with French bread cubes instead of white bread. (She's like that. French toast at her house is made with real French toast and another friend and I always fight over who gets the last piece! It's that good. Having thick toast just soaks up that custard mixture so much better than my typical slap a piece of white bread back and front in a milk/egg mixture and fry til browned. No, no, no.  Deborah bakes hers. I think. I don't remember hers ever having an eggy edge like mine.)

 

Head over to my other blog (that I am NOT being faithful with and losing weight!) and get this recipe! It's even good cold.

If you're ever in Gulf Shores, go to Pelican Place on Hwy 59. Elli Bistro's on the corner facing the theatres. You won't be sorry. Lunch menus are SO much cheaper than dinner, but you'll find that a common thing in the majority of the eateries here. Ginny Lane at The Wharf? You can choose between 8 meals for $8, includes drink, OR choose from their 5 meals for $5.95, you buy your drink. Or drink free water! Since this is a sister company to EB's you can get the bread pudding! Ginny Lane's only has the white chocolate every day and it's $6, with a size that would easily feed four. There's also seating outside on pretty days. The ambiance is casually different than Elli's but they treat you the same at Elli's and you go away happy.

My favorite dish at both places?! The blackened tilapia with rice, string beans and a light white sauce of some sort over it. I never grow tired of it. Never. John chooses something different each time and he's never complained. Which says something about EB and GL. When you go, tell me what you like best!

Being retired and living here, it's great to have an awesome lunch at less than fast food prices and be full enough that you only want a bowl of cereal for dinner. I'm learning things from the snowbirds! There are a few that don't. Unless they've changed recently, The Original Oyster House doesn't have a lunch menu nor does Tacky Jack's or Lulu's. There's always hope they'll get one or have one already!

 

PS ~ For those of you that love Tacky Jack's? Head down Ft. Morgan Road until you get almost to the end. You'll see a small marina and what my daughters would call 'a dive'. It's one of the original Tacky Jack's and you'll see sights like this. Why? Because it sits on the bay. Not a canal. Of course, it's quieter, laid back, no loud music, but the food is the same. Might not have as many choices, but it's our personal favorite. Just sayin'

I Love Fall ~

I love Fall. And Winter. Always have. Always will.

You can have your Summer!

Back to the subject {grin font}

Look how easy-peasy this idea is!

Three items from the grocery store!

One hurricane!

A bit of twine & a candle (on sale, of course)

Yeah, I'm doing this next week. 

This grabbed my heartstrings. Hard.

I want to do this SO badly.

Just not sure I can recreate it.

I'm not that good with floral items.

I try. And I fool some of the people.

But not all of them.

I have the urn already.

Walmart and Target have the fake pumpkins.

I have the gold paint. And stencil!

Need a bit more silk stuff.

Okay, so I'll try this AND

let you know how it goes.

{crossmyfingers font} 

I'm writing while watching the Tide and Mizzou.

That's hard. I love the Crimson Tide. Okay,

I love everything about this.

So much so, that at 2 am I was up

 painting a primer on a lamp that was too gold.

I have all the elements EXCEPT a husk wreath.

Maybe Old Time Pottery will?

I can pick up an old frame

at the many flea markets here.

The ribbon is easy to find now.

As is the iron piece.

So, IF I can find a wreath of husk,

I'll do this project as well.

Stay tuned!

{Photos from Pinterest}

Bits & Pieces of Today

We got this today and I smiled.

Sweet Alaina dressed for Farm Day.

I remember the day she was born.

Our first granddaughter.

That feeling still has my heart. 

The I clicked over to Jen's page and saw this.

My heart won't accept it! They're grown up!

We were there for their births, &

for a time Noah had the most beautiful curls.

He still does, but they are shorter and he's taller!

I know our children grow up & that grabs the heart.

When grandchildren begin growing up, hold on.

Your heartstrings aren't going to want to let go.
 

 *  * * * * * * * * *
And for something totally different. The debate.

Last night between the VP's.
First, Biden acted rude and disrespectful, then

I was appalled, shocked, and felt that the mediator

appeared to break every rule she was to abide by.
 

Then I read this, posted by a student I still love,

Mandie Granger Barrett. And I love her for it.

 

"When a wise man argues with a foolish man,

the fool only gets angry or laughs,

and there is no peace and quiet."

Proverbs 29:9 NLV

Things I'm Learning As I Age

There are more lines. Everywhere, not just on the face. My arms and legs have wrinkles! The ones around the eyes don't bother me. My fairy child said they're smile lines.

 

You don't have to shave your legs as often. And the hair is softer. However, the hair on your head is thinner. And if you're born with thin hair as I, it just gets thinner and you learn that vanity is not important anymore. You smile.

 

The area under your upper arms? It likes to swing. All by itself. I try to keep my arms close to my body. I do weights but they just still swing. There again. Vanity just smiles and says, 'Hey! We're closer to perfection!' See, in Heaven, we'll be perfect. Young and energetic. Like we once were when we were running around trying  to do too much in too little time, wearing ourselves out. 

You realize that your children have families of their own and you aren't in the middle of that life. You were part of your life when your babies  were younger. That's where memories bring smiles to the face and warmth to the heart. When you pull out photos and remember 'the day'. And that's okay.

 

I miss having thicker hair. I do. I don't like having three chins even though my weight hasn't changed but a few pounds since the last year I taught ~ 2006. I only had one chin. Not sure where these other two are from. Jabba the Hut, maybe? Which makes me understand why women get face lifts. I don't want bigger boobs or Botox, or even white teeth that would shine in the dark. I'd like a chin lift {big smile font}.

 

And then I think, I'm made by Him! In His image. By His design. He didn't put the extra pounds on me. They could come off if I would eat better and be diligent about an exercise program. My friends didn't exercise. My mom didn't. So I never made the time. Running around with a career and a family was exercise. As I grew older, I didn't make it a priority. And I should have. I still can. I'm just a bit lazy. Yeah, I'm honest, too.

 

You're never too old to make dreams come true. Any dream! If you want it bad enough, you're never too old. Just watch us. We have dreams for the next few years that will take us across the Nation, to places we've spoken of for years now. We look forward to getting up, packing a bag, grabbing the Atlas and just driving off. Deciding where we want to go as we go.

 

Aging? I've always thought Katie Holmes as pretty. Prettier now than when she was Katie Cruise. Look how someone has digitally aged her. 

Thinner hair and look at her chins. I don't feel so bad now. Those high cheeks? They don't stay high. Things begin to droop. They're tired, I guess. Other things droop too.

 

One day. One day, we'll be as new. No tears, no pain, no fears, no sickness. We're only a breath away from His Heaven. Each day I live I want to fulfill His plan for me; to share Him; and to breathe deeply knowing that what's ahead is what I've been waiting for all my life. To go back to the bosom,

to the hands that shaped and formed me. That loved me before I was conceived in the womb.

 

I've learned that aging happens. Time stops for no one. The mistakes, the pain, the hurts, have shaped the person I am. The people that hurt me? They made me stronger. I am liking this person, this older Nancy. She still laughs. She still loves and is loved. And she gets to spend her time with Christian friends of her choosing and a life with the love of her heart. She has beautiful sons in love. Six precious grandbabies to love, and to be loved by. And the same man has loved her for longer than anyone else. There's a closeness, a bond, a deeper love.

 

What I'm learning? That you may as well make up your mind it's going to happen. Set up an exercise program now. Begin eating healthy now. Don't overprocess your hair nor tan and burn your skin. Walk slower. Breathe deeper. Laugh as much as possible. Praise your children. Love your man. Take photographs. Keep a journal. And love yourself. Like yourself. He does.

And have a week filled with blessings ~

Have Pine Cones?

I'll admit these came from Pinterest. If one of these is your photograph, please don't be upset. Leave me a comment and I'll edit, giving you the credit! Pinterest makes it easy to pin a photo without clicking to to see if there's actually a recipe with that yummy brownie recipe. So, let's proceed!

Our yard has pine trees. Which means there are cones. Bugs like pine trees, so I purchase bags of pine cones at Hobby Lobby, already cleaned and bug free. However, you can wash and dry them.

 

Not long ago I was invited to join Pinterest. Oh.my.pine.cones. There are oodles of ways to decorate with these aggravating-to-those-who-have-to-pick-them-up thingies! Spring and Summer seem to be cone-less ~ BUT I bet someone will come up with an idea! And I'll pin it!

 

Enjoy the photographs and here's hoping you gather some ideas to use for your Fall decor!

and lastly, a topiary~(LOVE those bitty ones!)

To you and yours, Happy Fall Y'all!

Hachi, and Loyalty

 "A drama based on the true story

of a college professor's bond

with the abandoned dog he takes into his home."

You can Click Here for information from

Wikipedia, and Click Here for the IMDb info.

 

Deborah, a dear friend of mine, suggested this.

I watched it today and highly recommend it to you.

It's heart warming. It's a memory maker.

One of those that last in your heart.

 

This, below, is from YouTube, a trailer for the movie~

(Oh, I love Richard Gere.) 

 There was very little changed from the original story, except that the owner was not an American Richard Gere. It took place in Japan and below is a piece that Katie Couric ran on her nightly news station. Katie's not in the house, but the piece is right on target and well done. 

Hachi~A Dog's Tale of Love and Loyalty

There are many other tales of dogs that have waited on the masters after death came. Dogs that laid on the graves of their master until death came. Dogs losing their lives saving the lives of others. The one that still brings tears to our eyes and a lump to our heart was a pup Jenny named Maggie. Short for Jenny's Southern Magnolia. She wasn't able to have 'papers' as she was the runt of the litter. One blue eye, one green. Having her spayed, we discovered she had no ovaries. Her tear ducts didn't work. and finally, after loving her, and her spoiling us with her devotion, we found her liver was literally non-existent. We had to make that heart breaking decision to put her to sleep. We went to pick her up and they had cleaned her and wrapped her in her blanket. She looked like she was simply asleep. John said driving home I keened like a mother dog. I don't remember. I do remember grieving for days, for weeks. Even now, there are times I listen for her little feet to come pattering across the tile  to me. I believe that she in the Garden, whole, happy, playing with the children I miscarried. Our pups may not have souls but He made them for our enjoyment and delight. I believe He takes them Home for His and those He has brought home to live in the Garden until that great day when we walk through the gates of Heaven with Him. I watched this movie on Netflix, but however you see it, make sure you see it. We need more movies like this. Less movies like Scream and Halloween. Just sayin'.

 

Acorns. And MORE Acorns!

For the last three weeks, the oak tree that 'shades' {John's favorite term for it} our driveway has driven this OCD lady crazy with the hundreds and hundreds of acorns that are rolling, stuck, and smashed on our driveway! I don't even walk in the yard over there because you risk rolling on them and breaking a bone! Aren't the squirrels supposed to do something with these little 'oaks'. I mean, don't they EAT acorns! Our HOA takes care of our yard each and every Thursday and then on Saturdays, Mondays, and some Wednesdays I'm out there raking, sweeping and basically hosing off the drive. You should hear cars driving around our circle ~ sounds like a monster crunching bones.

While perusing my Fall board on Pinterest tonight, I decided to divide up the Tablescapes from the normal Fall ideas. And that's when it hit me. Well, not literally. One did the other day while I was out with the water hose but that's another story. I found some neat innovative ways to use those darned acorns! Look what I found! {Note: if you want to know where you can find the links, you'll have to click HERE and go to my Pinterest board. All I'm providing here are the photos!}

I love this. You can buy a bag of wine corks

at Target! Yea, girl. You can! 

Look how adorable! Grab a bouquet at

the grocery. It'll last two weeks! 

or get some silkies and scatter around~ 

Other than the one with corks, this is my fav.

I heart candles. Oh my, yes.

Haley Gray! I do need to call you!

As we say in the South,

"Happy Fall, Y'all"

 

 

UPDATE: Aaaaaccchhh, there are weevils in acorns. I just had a friend FB me with that info. I Googled it and sure enough, maggot looking larvae grow into weevils! Someone. Anyone. How do we kill them so we can make these arrangements with them?! The Dark Side of Collecting Acorns.

 

UPDATE 2: Okay, so there's nothing you can do about the worms, which grow from the maggots. I throw up in my mouth a little just typing that word. IF there's a hole in the acorn, the 'm' thing has already crawled OUT and you should be okay. IF there is NO hole, then yore gonna have a mealy maggot in the mornin', gulfriend. Eeewww. So go buy some. In fact, here's a site:

and click HERE for the link! Or order them from Pottery Barn {big smile font!}



No One Sang It Better

Already a Great 2013!

This precious man fell in love with our Leslie.

She fell in love with him.

An answer to prayers ~

Beautiful wedding.

Sentimental. Sweet. Dreams that came true.

 

Then we found out having a baby

was going to be difficult.

There were tears,

but there more prayers.

Months passed.

With prayers.

Meet our newest grandchild!

We are thrilled.

We are thankful. So thankful.

This is our first photo of him/her.

Heath & Leslie? Thrilled beyond words.

 

Thank you, Lord, for answered prayers.

For your love, goodness, and power.

We shall bring this child up in the nurture

and love of your Word. We promise this.

 

As parents, it's such a wonderful feeling

to know that all of your children,

their children, and their children

will walk thru the gates of Heaven with us.

What a beautiful blessing. What comfort.

Never.

A Lot Can Happen

We talk about not having enough time

to do this

to do that

We procrastinate

We wait for someone else to do it

We make excuses why it isn't done

We wonder when it will happen

We say it can't be done

 

What it really boils down to

is we all have the same amount of time

in a single day

We are given the choice of what to do

with it and with the day

How you choose

determines what will happen

Each choice has a consequence

Each action has an outcome

 

His choice had a consequence

that affected the world

And He had the same amount of time

as we do today

 

I pray I'm serving others

in my days

as much as He

served us on that day.

It Begins!

Hurricanes, Hugs, & Home

 

Well, let's get Hurricane Isaac out of the way. We are under Hurricane Warning now, with voluntary evacuation. At this time, The Hood and I have every intention of staying home and preparing for several days with no electricity. I would love to think he would allow me to go down to the beach, that isn't barricaded to the public, and take some photos but I know the man well enough that he'd physically hold me down before he'd let me do that. I love storms. I mean I really love storms. And hey! This is our first hurricane since moving here! This photo I took this afternoon from the 2nd floor porch of a local church. I had gone for a Beth Moore study only to find that they were sandbagging and taping up windows. So I wandered around and made some new friends. "To everything there is a season" ~

Prayerfully, our beaches will look just this pristine by next weekend. Maybe we'll have seaweed litter and a few more Man 'O Wars and jellyfish pushed this way, but I can deal with that. Everything in the gulf has teeth. Or a barb. So I only go in for one reason, and just far enough for that. If there's a restroom close by, I don't go in the water at all. 'Jaws' did it for me, although I did watch all 98 sequels of it and loved everyone of them. However, I swim in a pool. Not oceans or gulfs, nor rivers or lakes. If I cannot see what's under my butt bottom, I don't get in. Just don't. Moving on! Please pray that Isaac fizzles out and doesn't even do more than give us all some rain. No lost lives, no severe damage. LA has seen enough, as has Mississippi. I'm praying that God just lets Isaac die.

On the home front, sweet Elle wasn't able to begin school this past week with her brothers due to being sick. She had her dress, shoes, and NEW backpack and lunch box all set out with the gift for her teacher. Then the night before, fever set in and she was one sick little girl for several days. Doctor suggested she stay home this week and begin the following week. She will go into K3 and this Nan is wondering when she grew up. It's bad enough to know our oldest baby is in the 4th grade this year. At what point do I cease calling them babies? I've decided I'll think about it later. Not now. And not only did Elle NOT get to go to school, her brother Noah got to go with a cast on his arm.

He's handling it just fine. Fractured his elbow and hopefully won't have to have the cast much longer. This was the first day of school. Ian's giving baby girl a hug since she can't go. She looks happy to be standing with them though {smile font} I'm looking forward to seeing photos tomorrow of Miss Elle going to school for her first day! She and Noah attend the same school and I like that. Ian is attending a new school this year and is loving it. Even began riding the bus home last week. Jenny said he gets home before she would were she to go through car pick up.

Happy Birthday, sweet Austin! 9 years old. No, no,no, slow down. It would make Nan so much happier. Saturday he and Alaina, below, were involved in soccer games all day long. I think Alaina made four goals during one of her games. She and Austin love their sports! 

Below is my favorite way to read a book {wink font} The book in question was 'Tick Tock' by James Patterson and the ice cream is Neapolitan with Kix cereal thrown in for crunch. Oh yum. Buuut, I had to cease buying the ice cream. You know that thing called a scale? Yeah, I have one. Nasty thing.

One of my favorite vignettes in our home. And it's in my kitchen window. The photo was taken after Jenny and Brandon's wedding, the shells from our beaches, and John bought the air succulent (is that what they're called?) at our favorite shop. I feel happy deep inside each time I'm at the sink. 

The following photos? They made me laugh. Out loud!! So you get to see them, too. Because when I put them on here for you, I get to see them each time I come here and that'll make me laugh once more. Laughter. Good for the soul and all those around you. Have a safe week. A God filled week with much love and laughter! Remember, pray that Isaac fizzles out! Blessings ~

  

 

Did you find one that made you giggle? Or laugh out loud? I love the weather one, but my fav of these four? The one about the beaters!!! I can just picture trying to grab some batter with a spinning beater and getting it all over your face. Slays me every time I read it. Okay, so this is it. Really. The End. I'll update and let you know how tame, or not, Isaac was where we live. Again, blessings!