Friday Letters

 

It is time once again for my weekly letters. This week I am only writing one.

Bear with me, please!

 

 



Dear Richard:

I miss you. It has been one year, 3 months, 8 days. I thought I was doing very well with this thing called grief. I have good days. And I think of you everyday. How can I not think about you right here in this very house where we spent so many years together. I sit in your chair every single day and watch TV. I hold your remote control in my hand.( ha! ha!) And sometimes, just for fun, I put the little picture in the corner and just read the guide. It makes me feel close to you. And while I am admitting to things that I do to make me feel close to you...I still take the lid off your bottle of aftershave and sniff it. Not everyday now. But pretty often. And sometimes the smell is all I can stand to bring back so much pain. It's not the pain of loving you. That was good pain. It is that painful, empty feeling in knowing that I will never, ever again hear your voice. That I will never, ever again touch your hand or feel your face. I am doing well. And then, out of no where, comes this over-whelming wave of grief and I wonder if I will be able to stop crying this time. I cannot believe there are still tears left in this old body. Tears must get re-made pretty easy, because I still have gallons of them.

I have so much to tell you. I miss you so much. Darian is days away from enlisting in the Marines. I know that would bring a tear to your eye. You were so fiercely patriotic. They burned your flag last week at the high school and spoke a few words about you. Were you watching? Darian said it made him proud to be your grandson. Harley is such a social butterfly. She is an elected officer at FCCLA, goes to all the Buhler football games,(I think to look at the boys, not watch the game) still has to be at church when the doors are open. She misses you too! She still sprays her pillow once in awhile with your aftershave. Says it helps her sleep. And tonight I got a text from Paige telling me she lettered in GOLF!!! Now, I know that would make you bust your buttons. Who guessed it would be Paige who would share your love for the game? Paige made her daddy a quilt for his 40th birthday. Can you believe our baby is 40 now? I haven't heard from Danny since your memorial service. I hope you are watching over him. I keep him in my prayers. It is so sad. But we did all that we could. Don't you think?

Life will never be the same for me. But I will be able to go on.  You taught me well. Well, as well as I would let you teach me. I can just hear you saying, "you are so stubborn at times." Yes, I was! Yes, I am. I am stubbornly continuing to love you. No matter what.

Paula

Thursday's Questions

                                

 

 

 

 

Today's question comes from something I read today on Facebook from Paula Deen....

 

 

How do you say

 

 

1)Pecans= "pe-kans"

 

or

 

2)Pecans+ "Pih-khans"

Wednesday Hodgepodge

Hello to all who visit me today! Another Wednesday. But this one is very special. Do you know why? Because it is the final Wednesday of October 2015. Let's see what Joyce From This Side of the Pond has in store for us today.....




 1. Are you comfortable with silence? If you're home alone, do you like silence or do you need regular background noise? Do you seek out times and places to be silent? What's your favorite place to find silence/be silent?


I enjoy silence! But only in snippets. A lot of silence makes my brain ache. I need sound. I love sound. My TV is always on. Background noise is essential to my being. There is a certain kind of silence, that isn't really silence, in sitting outside on the patio. No human sounds, (unless someone is mowing or using a chain saw) but the rustling of the leaves being tickled by the breeze. Or the chirping of the birds. Or the hammering of the woodpecker driving his suet treat into the tree. Those are the kinds of silence I like!!


 2. October 28th is National Chocolate Day. Can't let that go by without a mention now, can we? Will you celebrate? How? Let's say you can have one of the following right this very minute... a cup of hot chocolate, a strawberry dipped in chocolate, a bowl of plain chocolate ice cream, or a slice of chocolate pie...what's your pleasure?

I like chocolate. But I don't really crave it. I am NOT a fan of chocolate ice cream, though. Or chocolate pie for that matter. But a nice, HOT, cup of hot chocolate with marshmallows will satisfy me. What is your chocolate pleasure??


 3. How do you feel about blue jeans? Favorite thing in the world to wear or nope, don't own a single pair? How often do you wear blue jeans in a typical week? Do you own a blue jean jacket?

I used to be a blue jeans kind of girl. But not anymore. To me, now that I am much heavier, blue jeans are not comfortable. They don't bend with me. They are too tight on my flabby waist. So I love yoga pants and sweatpants. Elastic waists.  I can't even remember the last time I wore blue jeans. And I don't own a jean jacket.


 4. Are you superstitious? If so, in what way?

Nope, not at all superstitious.


 5. If you had to come up with a costume using only things you have on hand right now, what could you come up with? 

I could be a bag lady. Or a hobo. I could be a businessman (Richard's old suits) or I could be a soldier (I wonder if Darian's camo pants would fit me). But I am not into dressing up...either in a costume or in dresses and high heels. So I'll just go as me!! We are going to a party, aren't we?


 6. What scares you a little? What do you do when you feel scared?

Oh gosh, there is so much that scares me. I am scared of something happening to my kids or grandkids. I pray a lot for them. That is what I do when I am scared. My biggest fear in life is of mice though. Yes, those little tiny grey or brown creatures that dart so quickly you only catch a glimpse. I am terrified of them. My house is stuffed with steel wool in all the cracks in hopes none try to find their way inside.


 7. Perhaps today will be the day I will actually start to clean this house! I am such a procrastinator and I can always find a reason to put off these things!! Do you procrastinate??


 8.  Insert your own random thought here.

How about those Kansas City Royals!!!!! Winning a 14-inning first game in the World Series. I am not much of a baseball fan but this team is near and dear!! Go Royals!! Go all the way!!

Now I have a couple of pictures to share. Yesterday we went on a photography session for Darian's Senior Pictures. I captured these on my phone. Harley is photographing those sunflowers.

Check out that new letterjacket

A budding photographer

My Simple Woman's Daybook-October 26th Edition

For Today... 

 

Today is Monday, October 26, 2015!! Yes, it is.

Outside my window...

 

Outside my window the skies are grey. The sun is hiding. It is a comfortable 67* with 39% humidity. There is no wind blowing so the leaves are not falling wildly from the trees like they were last week. While I was out yesterday I was enchanted with the beauty of the colors changing. The reds, yellows, and oranges are so gorgeous this time of year. We have had cool temperatures at night (down into the 30's) and was supposed to get a light frost last night. I don't think we did. I have a ficus tree to move inside. I need to get in gear! First, I will wash it down with soapy water and add some fresh potting soil, water it thoroughly, let it drain, and then bring it in. It may spend a few days in the garage. I have had this tree for more than 25 years!!

I am thinking...

 

I am thinking of all the things I need to do to get ready for winter. You know like: turning off the outside water and covering the spigot with a winter cap, cleaning out the gutter, (I only have one, so that will be easy) picking up and putting away the decorative items that were out for summer and fall. I just changed the furnace filter so I won't do that again until spring. And I believe this weekend we will fall back an hour!! 

I am thankful...

 

I am thankful for all that I have. And all those I love. And for all of you who read my blog and are my friends!!

I am listening to...

 

 

I am listening to The Chew on TV. They are cooking spooky food for Halloween. Did you know a chicken can be spooky? Me neither!!

I am creating...

 

 

I am creating this blog post and my weekly menu. And I am going to create some time to read this afternoon. Monday is the day I recover from the busy weekend. Darian and I got ourselves haircuts on Friday night and grabbed dinner from Freddie's Frozen Custard while Harley was at the football game. Justin and Paige came over in the evening. He left for his Saturday football games early on Saturday morning. Harley attended a Sweet 16 party for one of her friends in the evening and Paige and Darian went to see The Last Witch Hunter at the theater. Granny was the taxi driver so there were several trips made to drop off and pick up kiddos. On Sunday we took Justin to Olive Garden for a sumptuous Happy 40th Birthday lunch before he and Paige left in the afternoon. Darian went to hang out with the girlfriend while Harley and I hit the grocery store. So now you know why I like alone, relaxing time on Monday!! 

I am going...

 

I am going to do a few loads of laundry this afternoon. That won't interfere much with my reading time.

I am wondering...

 

I am wondering what happened to my yearly goals. I will have to look back and see where I am with that! It has been awhile. Usually I follow up with this once monthly but it has been awhile since I even looked at them. Sometimes that is just the way it goes with goals, isn't it? Do you make goals or resolutions for yourself?

I am reading...

 

I am still reading A Man Called Ove. I haven't done much reading lately. I need to get back into it. I love reading. It is one of my most relaxing hobbies. An escape.

 

I am hoping...

 

I am hoping life continues to go along as smoothly as it has been. I like it this way. No surprises. No bumps in the road. Just nice and easy, everyday living!

I am learning...

My group for memorizing Bible scriptures has taken a break for the end of the year holidays. I am memorizing on my own in Scripture Typer. I am working on John 15:1-17

I enjoy memorizing and I love Scripture Typer. It helps me memorize as well as keeping my typing skills polished. If you haven't tried it, you should!!

 

 

In my kitchen...
This week we are going simple and using what we have in the cupboards and the freezer. You have to do that now and then, right!
 

 

Monday...3 cheese hamburger skillet
 

Tuesday...Fajitas in the crockpot
 

Wednesday...The kids will eat at church
 

Thursday...Breakfast for dinner
 

Friday...Chili with crackers
 

Saturday...Cheesy potato soup in crockpot
 

Sunday...Homemade Pizza

 

 

A favorite quote for today...
 

A peek into my week...

Today Darian has debate practice and Harley and I are anxiously awaiting another episode of Dancing with the Stars. Do you watch? Who are you rooting for? Tuesday is going to be Darian's first session of Senior Picture taking. We are all looking forward to this! Harley has an all-day,, out of town, conference for FCCLA and they will go to their youth group at church in the evening on Wednesday. Thursday Darian has his PT with the Marines. Friday night is another home football game so Harley will be at the school selling programs for FCCLA. Saturday is Halloween...Darian is going to a party! Harley has no plans yet. I don't know if Justin and Paige will be here. On Sunday Justin is taking Darian to a Father-Son Shooting event! Darian is excited. They will be shooting clay pigeons. And roasting hot dogs at a bonfire.

One of my favorite things...

This is one of my new favorite things. I have found the world of adult coloring. So relaxing!! Well, it is since I purchased my own colored pencils. I was using Harley's and the lead broke so often that I didn't find it very relaxing. I think she has dropped hers a time or two. So off to Office Max for new pencils for both of us and wala....This is what I am working on. I colored 3 bookmarks over the weekend and immediately lost them to 3 grands!

 

 

Post Script...

I would encourage all of you to like/follow Tasty on Facebook. There are some terrific, easy recipes for your family.




Okay, friends that's it for another week. I'm heading over to Peggy's The Simple Woman's Blog to join the link and check out some of my favorite bloggers. Want to join us??

 

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Friday Letters

As we near the end of October (eek, I know!!) it is time to write some letters.


Dear Social Security Office:

Thank you for the positive experience you provided to Darian and Harley today as you helped them apply for their replacement cards. Past experiences with this office have not always been most pleasant. Today you changed that view!! This is how you create positive experiences.


Dear WalMart Beauty Box:

Fall Beauty Box

Today I received my second box. For only $5.00 So far I have found this to be worth the money. Last month when I received a full-size product it proved to be worth the $5.00. This time I got very generous samples of Aveeno Daily Moisturizer, Amlactin Body lotion, Dove Body Wash, Aussie Hairspray, ACT mouthwash, and a Nutrogena mascara. All of this plus the single samples and coupons makes this a well-spent $5.00 Thank you Walmart!


Dear Wildlife that Occupies my Backyard:

For the second time this month one of you have scared me to death. Big Mama deer: While I was  standing quietly in the dark looking down the street you ran behind me. Between me and the house. I nearly peed my pants. And Mr. Opossum ,last night when I stepped onto the patio and you scurried away right in front of me, I once again had a near heart attack. I guess I should turn on a light and make a noise before I venture outside after dark!!

Dear Darian and Amy:

Time once again for Winter Formal!! This was the proposal! Hope you have fun!

Happened during Debate Class

 

 

Wishing everyone a great weekend!

*For those interested in the Walmart Beauty Box you can sign up here.

Thursday's Question

 

We are getting very close to the end of the month. And that brings us to the holiday known as Halloween. How do you say it?

1)Is it Hollow, pronounced HAH-loh (like the o in hot)=The owl sits in the hollow tree?


2)Or do you say Hallow, pronounced Ha-loh (like the a in hat)=All Hallow's Eve?

Wednesday Hodgepodge-October 21st Edition

October has been such a beautiful month here in Kansas! How about where you are? This week I am joining with Joyce at From This Side of the Pond for Wednesday Hodgepodge. She supplies the prompts, we supply our answers and then share!

Let's get started!!



 1. October 21, 2015 is Back to the Future Day. Did you see the movie? The sequels? In the second film, Doc takes Marty into the future to prevent Marty's future son from making a mistake. They leave 1985 and land on a 'skyway' on October 21st, 2015. So tell us, what were you doing in the fall of 1985?


Most people who know me know that I don't go to the movies very much. But this is one of the movies I saw with my boys, when they were 14 and 10. I think I slept through parts of it! (I told you I don't go to movies)! In the fall of 1985 I was working at the hospital. I had been out of nursing school 2 years, so I was a fairly new nurse. I was raising kids and working full time. We had not yet moved into this house. Life was good!


 2.  If time travel were possible, would you want to go to the future? The past?


I do not want to visit the future!! But I might want to visit the past. I would like to talk with my husband once more.


 3. We're not flying cars, but some of the technology imagined in the 80's film has indeed come to pass in real life 2015-flat screen TVs on the wall, tablets, fingerprint recognition, video conferencing, online banking, 3-D movies, motion controlled video games, drone cameras, and smart glasses (Google glass).  Do you worry technology is growing at a rate so fast we'll soon be unable to keep up with it's demands? Do you think the Internet does more harm than good?


This is a hard one. Without the internet we would not be having this conversation. I think much of the internet is a good thing. To be able to be in instant touch with people. To make new friends without ever leaving your home. I love having information at my fingertips. I love buying things and paying bills without ever leaving home. But......I think since the invention of the internet (and after that cell phones) people don't talk much to each other anymore. Cyber-bullying for kids can be much more devastating. Information that is not intended for kids is readily available to them. So to me it is a toss up!!

4. Your favorite dish prepared in a slow-cooker? Your favorite fast food?


I love roast cooked in the slow cooker. It is so tender it just falls apart and melts in your mouth. My favorite fast food is TACO BELL!! I like their taco salad and the Nacho Grande!


 5. No time like the present, down time, face time, pressed for time, in the nick of time, make time, mark time, or just in time...which timely saying most relates to your life right now?

I will say down time most relates to me right now. I have plenty of down time. And I like it this way.






 6. Tell us about a place you went as a child or younger person that's no longer there or is now something else. How does that make you feel?

As a teenager I went to a drive-in movie theater that used to be on the corner of Plum and 30th Street here in Hutchinson. It is now a strip mall and surrounded by lots of commercial places. It was all open fields and housing areas back when I was a teen. It really isn't something I think about much to tell the truth!




 7. Describe your comfort zone.

My comfort zone is my home. I like being here. I don't like going out! I am not one to need a lot of contact with others. So I am out of my comfort zone anytime I am away from home.


 8. Insert your own random thought here.


Tomorrow is my youngest son's 40th Birthday!! Happy Birthday to you Justin. I love you!!

My Simple Woman's Daybook-October 20th Edition

For Today... 

Today is Monday, October 19, 2015. I don't know that I will complete this post today so you might see it on Tuesday. But it really doesn't matter, does it? You can go on over to Peggy's at The Simple Woman's Blog and find all of us who post our daybooks for others to enjoy. She is now only putting the link-up on her blog once a month. Many of us date our entries so we aren't that hard to find. (It is actually Tuesday now!)

Outside my window...

Outside my window is a beautiful fall day. The wind is blowing and dancing with the beautiful fall leaves. I watch as they twirl to the ground in their beautiful golden skirts! Do you like fall? I love the colors and the cool temperatures after such a hot summer. I don't like the promise that winter is on it's way. But with all four seasons comes one that I am not particularly fond of. So, three out of four isn't bad! Right? Right now it is only 69*

I am thinking...

I am thinking about our weekend with a baby in the house. He belonged to Harley. His name is Noah Taylor. Watch the video to get a little taste of Noah at his best. I'll put up some pictures too. It was fun for me to watch. And a good experience for her. She now says she doesn't want babies. "They demand too much" and "I need my sleep at night". This might be a good form of birth control for teenage girls. LOL!!

You will be able to tell by watching that this was the last day having Noah!



First day. She just brought him home
 

Two person job. One holds bottle
The other changes the diaper.
Crying babies is annoying her!

Baby awake every two hours during the night. Mommy is tired!!



 

 

I am thankful...

I am thankful for the experiences the kids got over the weekend. Darian's Debate class hosted a tournament. They didn't participate. Only hosted. Darian's job was to manage the hospitality room for the judges. Keep the coffee going. Pass out cold water bottles and help them with their noon meal. (Provided by the parents...hot dogs, chili, and chips). His teacher said that it was a great tournament. She was proud of her team and thankful to the parents.

I am wearing...

Today I am wearing black slacks and a purple top. I have to pick Harley up soon for her sports physical so I had to dress a bit better than shorts and a tee shirt today

I am creating...

I am creating absolutely nothing more than this blog post and my weekly menu. I am feeling so tired and worn out this morning. Not really sure why! But I am.

I am going...

I am going to pick up Darian's letter jacket from the place that sewed on his name and letter and then take Harley to the doctor. Plenty of activity for me for one day.

I am wondering...

I am wondering if we should clean out the leftovers from the refrigerator today or grab something while we're out this evening. If we do that I can make a run at Target too. Hmmmm!! Pondering, pondering.

I am reading...

I am reading A Man Called Ove by Fredrick Backman. It was recommended by my friend Kwizgiver at What if this is as good as it Gets? She writes many book reviews and I almost always enjoy the same books. So far this one I am finding captivating!!

I am hoping...

I am hoping for a good ending to this book. Books with sad endings are bringing me down. And with a Nook it is harder to read the final page to see how it will end. (That is something I almost always did with an actual book).

I am learning...

This week we(my Do Not Depart group) are wrapping up our memorization of Isaiah 12.

Isaiah 12:6

"Shout, and sing for joy, O inhabitant of Zion., for great in your midst is the Holly One of Israel."

This is the Last verse for 2015. For the next few weeks I'll be on my own with memorizing. I am off to find some good verses to work on. Any suggestions?

 

 

In my kitchen...


Monday...We had takeout from Taco Bell

Tuesday...Potatoes, green beans, Sausage

Wednesday...Kids will eat at church

Thursday...Harley's Hamburger Helper

Friday...Grilled Cheese & Tomato Soup

Saturday...Haven't decided yet. We need to celebrate Justin's birthday if they come over. We might go to Olive Garden!!

Sunday...Baked chicken and stuffing

 

 

A favorite quote for today...

 

 

 

 

Happy Tuesday friends! I feel like I am a day behind!!

 

 

 

 

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