LOOKING OUT MY WINDOW....It's Sunday night. It is dark. And still 80 degrees. Very calm.
AS I PONDER....
Oh last week was a week to ponder. Lessons to be learned. Hard knocks to be taken. Disappointments to be overcome. But we are all well and learning here at my house!
WHAT I AM LEARNING...
I am learning that raising teenagers a second time is much unlike the first time. School is different! Kids are different. Mine had no cell phones. Now they do. Which means you can keep a better eye on them (or so you think) and yet they keep their eye ONLY on that dang thing for much of the day. My boys drove by this age. Neither Darian or Harley do. I was a working mom. Now I am a retired and tired granny. I am learning. And so are they!!
I am putting together a little pile of red, white, and blue, so I can start to decorate the mantle for the end of June and beginning of July. I like my patriotic finds so far. Here are a couple of the canvases painted last weekend by Paige and Harley.
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| Paige free-handed this deer and then painted it She is very talented! |
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| Harley did this with painter's tape, painted the canvas and removed the tape |
WHAT I'M READING....
I just started Keeper of the Spirit by Ruby Storm. It's a long book. I'll let you know how things turn out!
WHAT I'M WATCHING...
Right now Elementary is on in the background. I don't watch it but Darian likes it. I am going to catch up on Sister Wives after he goes to bed. Does anyone else watch Sister Wives?
WHAT I'M HEARING...
I have been listening to some Celine Dion music on my phone. I love her music. One of my favorites is this song!
WHAT'S ON MY CAMERA...
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| Tropical Pasta Salad |
Tropical Pasta Salad
Ingredients
1/2 cup shredded carrots
1/2 cup grapes
1/3 cup green onions
1 can Mandarin oranges, drained
1 can pineapple tidbits, drained
1/3 cup Raisins
8 oz. Poppyseed dressing
1 lb. cooked Bowtie pasta
Mix it all together and enjoy!!
WHAT I'M DRINKING....
Today I am drinking ice cold water from a bottle. But I really wish I had a Pepsi.
WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE KITCHEN...
Monday...Chili Dogs & Fries
Tuesday...Ham and Cheese Sandwiches & Chips
Wednesday...Kids eating in the park
Thursday...Chicken Chopped Salad
Friday...Oven Quesadillas & Refried Beans
Saturday...Spaghetti & Garlic Bread
Sunday...Shepherd's Pie
A QUOTE I WANT TO SHARE...
LOOKING FORWARD....
One step at a time!
Happenings in my backyard...
I am sending Darian up the ladder this week. We are cleaning out the gutters. Harley and I trimmed some low hanging tree branches. We mowed and trimmed the grass. I need to make a trip to the store and replenish the bird seed and suet!
A peek into my week...
Harley still is having basketball and weight lifting but we are cutting down to just two days a week from 6:30-9:00 a.m. They have a party in the park on Wednesday evening with their church group. On Thursday Darian will work out with the Poolees. On Friday Harley is traveling to Kansas City with her fellow FCCLA officers and their teacher/sponsor for a fun time driving go-carts and shopping. On Saturday Darian will be attending an all-day Poolee event in Wichita. And on Sunday Harley has nursery duty at church. Which she loves!! Another busy, busy week at our house!
A final thought...
How sad I was to hear of the death of Muhammad Ali this past weekend. He had Parkinson's disease, just like Richard. A horrible, debilitating disease. I will always remember Muhammad Ali when he first started boxing as Cassius Clay. My mom loved this guy. She loved to watch him box. And she loved to listen to him trash talk. He changed his name to indicate that he was 'free'. He always said that Cassius Clay was his 'slave name' although this man was never a slave to anyone. His poetry was funny for the most part. But some was very serious. Ali refused to be inducted into the Army after he was drafted and was stripped of his heavy-weight title. He never served a single day in prison because of who he was and the amount of money he was able to pay in fines. That never seemed right to me. But it is what it is. One of my favorite quotes of Muhammad Ali is:
"The man who views the world at 50 the same as he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life."
Hi Paula - your quote is a good one .. I suspect many people do that: sad but true. Love the thought of the salad ... glad the kids are helping you ... and that's clever creative art ... have a good week - cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteThank you Hilary for all your kind words. I hope your week is good as well!
DeleteEnjoyed your update :)
ReplyDeleteThank you Wendy!
Deletethat salad looks yummy
ReplyDeleteAnd it was Denise!
DeleteA nice tribute to Ali. I still remember vividly the 1960 Olympics. I was glued to the TV every time Ali was on boxing. I think he was one of my first 'crushes'. I have a dear friend with Parkinson's and it is a sad disease to watch in progress.
ReplyDeleteIndeed a sad disease. I struggle with all the accolades being give to Ali. Yes, he was a great boxer! One of the best. But he wasn't a GREAT American! And he wasn't a great husband! And he wasn't a great father! And all of those, to me, are much more important that boxing! But I loved his boxing career for sure!
DeleteI cannot imagine raising teens a 2nd time around. Sounds to me like you are doing a great job of it though. Hope you have a wonderful week !
ReplyDeleteYou would think it would be easier the second time around. Since I already am experienced. But the world is just such a different place. And I am all alone here! I have some great back-up supporters but for most decisions it is on me!
DeleteGreat quote from Ali! And how true it is. The girls' artwork is fun to see. The salad looks delicious and seems perfect for this time of year. Boy do I get the tired granny feeling and the life lessons, too. They will all turn out fine if we keep loving them through their mistakes. Sounds like you're having fun getting ready for your patriotic mantle. Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteThe salad was delicious. We had it along with a grilled hamburger patty. Yum!
DeleteIt is hard with the loving through the mistakes but I agree that it is what we need to keep doing. And maybe some head busting too!! LOL
I agree with you that loving through the mistakes is/has been tough...even more difficult with GN than with Angel, but Angel didn't have the crap GN did. That's why I have the direct, on-duty phone number for one of our community police officers and I've used it!
DeleteHahaha! I have the direct line to an officer too....they call him Uncle Justin!
DeleteI thought about that when I told you about the local police officer. Officer Friendly was a retired detective, but after he passed away, let's just say GN felt less inclined to be good.
DeleteI hear that! There are times these two give me fits!
DeleteI love Harley's canvas(es)!
ReplyDeleteAli was certainly a character. I didn't care for his refusing to serve in our Country's armed forces, but I suspect his developing Parkinsons disease was imprisonment in and of itself.
One is Harley. The other one (deer) belongs to page. Yes, I would think he received his Karma. Stay turned for my post in regards to this!
DeleteI have a HUGE fan of Celine and her music. I will have to check out Sister Wives. Never heard of it.
ReplyDeleteIt is a show about polygamy! Quite interesting. I wouldn't mind having some Sister Wives. LOL
DeleteGREAT Celine Dion song! Listening to it now. Thanks for posting it!
ReplyDeleteI love Harley's LAUGH art piece. Very nice!!
I watch Sister Wives too! I love that show. I can't imagine sharing my man with other women but it sure is an interesting way of life. They seem to have such a groove and are very normal, and portray a very atypical polygamist family. Which sister wife do you like best -- or relate to most?
That tropical pasta salad sounds great. I'm on Atkins now so can't have pasta but I think it would be great without the pasta too. I'm going to try it out!
Great quote by Mohammad Ali! His loss: very sad indeed.
Hope you have a great week Paula...
Michele at Angels Bark
My favorite Sister Wife is Janelle. She is so reserved and sensible. Meri used to be my favorite but this whole "fish" ordeal has made her whiny. She just needs to admit she was 'cheating on Kodi' and move on. Kodi makes me crazy. He is so full of himself. I doubt that I could live this lifestyle but I wouldn't mind having more moms help me raise the kids.
DeleteBusy week. I hope this next one is better.
ReplyDeleteI am sure things will get better. Just little blips on the screen!
DeleteBoth girls are very talented. Great job by them. That salad is definitely being made in this house soon.
ReplyDeleteYou will love the salad! And yes, they are talented. Didn't get it from their granny, I'm afraid!
DeleteI FOUND YOU AGAIN! :) I've been severely lacking in both reading and writing blogs. :) Glad I found you in my saved file! <3
ReplyDeleteHello April!! Good to see you here again!!
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