We are Turning Blue

I'm taking a little break. And we are taking a little drive! (About 1000 miles) Darian's Turning Blue Ceremony and Graduation are right around the corner. I'll be back with pictures and all the details.

Take Care friends!!

A Listless Life List

LOOKING OUT MY WINDOW....

Our weather is continuing in the roller coaster mode. Temps are high enough on some days to require turning on the A/C and then back to the furnace the next day. That is highly unusual for us here in Kansas. By this time of the year we are usually over needing the furnace. We have had more than our share of rain. See pictures below!

AS I PONDER....

I'm not sure why I haven't been attending to my blog lately. I had the 'candy post' ready for a while now so I decided since I haven't been very active here it was a good time to post it. I feel blue. Don't really know why. I miss the boy! We will soon get to see him and maybe that will help. We aren't hearing from him at all and that might also have something to do with feeling blue. Who knows. I just hope it passes soon. 



WHAT I AM LEARNING...

What I am learning about the Army....nothing happens very fast. No news is supposed to be good news. They keep these kids really, really busy. Which is a good thing. But communication with the home is another really, really good thing. And communication is sketchy. Darian is either falling down on the job with letter writing or he's out in the field and not writing letters. Either way it is trying this granny's patience. And the patience of a lot of mommies and wives of other soilders.  

WHAT I'M READING....

I haven't been reading much either. Now, that is crazy, for me. I am still reading Imagine Me Gone. Will be happy to start another book soon. 


WHAT I'M WATCHING...

We have going to finish up with Dancing With The Stars and Survivor this week. Wonder what my next shows will be. 


WHAT'S ON MY CAMERA...

Backyard

front yard

shopping with a diva

Happy 17th

Eating out for Paige's birthday

WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE KITCHEN...

Monday...Salisbury steaks

Tuesday...Chili dogs

Wednesday..Harley eats at church

Thursday...Popcorn Chicken & Fries

Friday...Pizza

Saturday...Baked Chicken

Sunday...Omelets & hash browns


A QUOTE I WANT TO SHARE...

A peek into my week...

I have no idea what this week brings. Harley's job is at best wishy-washy. They don't like to make schedules. They like to call at the last moment and say they need her. Or at the last moment and tell her to stay home today. So I guess this week we are playing it by ear. And hopefully, once we return from Georgia, she can find a new job. She will be starting to help again with swim lessons like she did last summer. Yikes!

Remembering Candies and Goodies from my Childhood

One of the fondest memories of my childhood years (1950's-1960's)are memories of the sweet treats. We used to spend an entire day picking up pop bottles in ditches around our town. We then made our way to the corner grocery store, Jordan's, to turn them in for money. Not a lot of money. We are talking about pennies. But those pennies were then turned into CANDY! Mr. Jordon had a large counter filled with penny candy. I walked in with a huge bag filled with glass pop bottles and walked out with a small bag packed with candy.

One of my favorites was a Sugar Daddy!! Probably why I have horrible teeth today. But I would suck on that thing until it was beyond soft and then chew it right off the paper stick. Yum!!

A second love was Fire Stix! I think they are called Jolly Ranchers now. But this was a flat shaped piece of fire hot cinnamon candy. And it was super hot. And I loved them.

We also loved cinnamon toothpicks. Did you ever buy any? They came in a little wax envelope. Or the little bottle of cinnamon to make your own? We had a local place that sold 'cinnamon cokes' and it was a real treat to get one of those.

Jawbreakers! Yeah man! Loved me a big fat jawbreaker. I never chomped on them. I sucked on them. They would make my cheeks puff out like a squirrel until they shrank in size. Pure sugar, I'm sure.

My favorite candy bar, still to this day, is a Bit-O-Honey. I don't eat it anymore because of my teeth. But I loved those things. And probably ate more than my share!! Did you have a favorite candy bar when you were a kid?

Speaking of favorite candy bars, my mom loved the Cherry Mash. Me, not so much. But whenever I see a Cherry Mash I think of my mom.

Another favorite was Necco Wafers. I especially loved the black ones. Scoring these candies meant you could stretch out the joy for much longer because you got an entire roll of them for pennies. 

Whenever we would go to the ballpark we would beg and beg until mom would give us each a nickel and I would race to the concession stand to buy a Chick-O-Stick. Crunchy peanut butter and toasted coconut! Loved these! Or if they didn't have those on hand I would get a Big Hunk. Nougat filled with nuts. Can you think of anything better?

Always when we visited the local five and dime I would make sure I got some wax lips. I remember wearing them for a bit of time. And pretending I had on the most beautiful colored lipstick. But eventually they got chewed into a huge ball of wax. Ha! Ha! What a sales gimmick.

I don't know if they make these any longer (probably not) but the most sophisticated candy of the time was a box of candy cigarettes. And we all pretended to smoke. Yep, no one talked about cancer back in those days. And EVERYONE smoked!! I liked to get the Lucky Strike ones. Don't know why!! Did you pretend with candy cigarettes? (edited to say, yes, you can still buy these).

What about you guys....any favorite candies from your childhood? Please share with us!!

#FridayFive-May 12th Edition

"Practicing gratitude is supposed to lead to happiness and a more positive attitude, so here’s my #FridayFive which are the five things that I am grateful for this week. Join in! What are you grateful for?"

1) I am grateful  God gave me a brain and the ability to think for myself. In this past week of so much political b.s. on TV I am so thankful that I can think through this and not believe all that I hear. I can make up my own mind.

2) I am grateful  for the rain we have received this week that has made my grass green and my flowers bloom. Such pretty daisies and irises. 

3) I am grateful school is almost over. We are more than ready for a summer break here at my house.

4) I am grateful for the sun that is shining today. I know that might contradict #2 but there is a time for everything to end. Right?

5) As we are getting ready to celebrate the mother's of the nation, I am more than grateful for my mom. She gave us the best she had to give. And I love her and miss her every single day!! 
Happy Mother's Day to all my family and friends. 

Gift From The Sea-A Book Review

I don't often read a book more than once. This is an exception. The first time I read Gift From the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh was right after my youngest son left home. That would be about 20 plus years ago. I was entering into the 'empty-nest' life with my husband. I was searching for a new way to define my life. This book came highly recommended by a friend. The book did NOT speak to me at that time. Even though I WAS looking to find a way for that perfect balance in life and relationships. I no longer fit into the 'mother' season of life. I was now a 'empty-nester' and almost a new grandmother.

A few years after I finished reading this book, before I found my new place in the world, I was once again thrust into the world of being a mother. Back to taking kids to grade school. Of attending parent-teacher conferences, band concerts, buying the needed clothes and cooking for hungry kids. I would not ever again try to search for the relationship I should have with my husband without kids in the house. We became parents again. And he died before we had to struggle with the quietness of the empty-nest.

I found, once again,  I was wearing the mask of social life that Anne refers to when she is talking about the Channelled Whelk. That I was leaving behind the freedom and peace I was just beginning to discover. But, as a favorite person once reminded me, "it is what it is". And I survived!

In her book, Gift From The Sea, Anne Marrow Lindbergh shares her meditations on youth and age, love and marriage, solitude, peace, and contentment. She does this while she is on a vacation, alone, to a beach island. She likens different seasons of our lives to seashells: the Channelled Whelk, the Moon Shell,the Double Sunrise Shell, the Oyster Bed, and the Argonauta.  I have these seashells in my coffee table (a drawer that is topped with glass) so I can continue my search for balance. As I begin to once again enter the last stages of my life (women live an average of 83.9 years)I will continue to search!! Anne calls this stage 'the abandoned shell'.

Have you read this book? You should!

I give this book *****. Maybe because I love the beach so much! And maybe because I am reflecting on my life and where the next years will take me. This book was part of May's Book Club reading. I can't wait to discuss it! 

Walmart's Summer Beauty Box

I've told you before that I receive The Walmart Beauty Book every season. It is only $5 and is packed full of generous samples of products geared for that particular season. Yesterday I got the summer box in the mail. And I wanted to share. If you are not yet getting this box (you need to get it NOW!) you can sign up here. This month is full of great items. 

1. 2 oz. Jergen's Natural Glow Wet Skin Moisturizer. This is designed to use on Wet skin and glides on to lock in moisture. It also has a subtle color that will build up over days use. The color I got is fair to medium.

1. John Frieda Frizz Ease Moisturizing Conditioner. 1.5 oz. This is
   
   to control frizz and condition hair. Harley can't wait to try this one!
2. 2 oz. sample of Soapbox Body Wash. My sample is Sea Minerals. It smells fresh. The idea behind this company if for every bottle of product they sell, they donate a bar of soap to underdeveloped countries. So far they have donated more than 170
   
   million bars of soap. What a great idea!
3. 1.5 oz Ban roll-on deodorant in Powder Fresh. We keep these sample sizes in our luggage. And Harley likes one in her book bag for school.
   
4. 1.7 oz Gliss Hair Repair Shampoo AND 1.7 oz. Gliss Hair Repair conditioner. These have liquid Keratin. And my samples were for dry stressed hair. They smell wonderful.  I have a teen girl who fries her hair daily with blow drying and straightening or hot curling her hair.
5. .75 oz of Colgate Radiant Optic White
   
   Beauty toothpaste. This whitens teeth using hydrogen peroxide. Another sample that will find it way to Harley's book bag!
6. A full size Sinful Colors Matte Nail Polish...I can't find the color name on the bottle
   
   but it is a rich, dark pinkish-red. (is that a color?)
7. Neutrogena HydroBoost Lip Shine A very generous sample. This is supposed to keep you lips hydrated for 24 hours. The color we got is Raspberry and is very
   
   pretty!
8. Purifying Black Charcoal Mask  A one-use sample size. 
9. A sample size of Stay Matte by Rimmel Foundation which comes in 16 shades and was accompanied with a $1 off coupon. 
   
10. Aveeno Active Natural overnight hydrating facial. 
11. Aveeno Positively Radiant 60 second in-shower facial
12. A $1 coupon for Canada Dry

Now, don't you agree, this was a Beauty Box well worth $5. Let me know if you are getting the Walmart Beauty Box.

(P.S. I didn't include pictures of everything so this wouldn't be too picture heavy)

My Life List-May 8th Edition

LOOKING OUT MY WINDOW....

We are having the most glorious day ever. The sun is shining and there are just a few tiny white clouds in the sky. Barely a breeze blowing. The temp is 76* We are expecting a high, today, of 83* and a low, tonight, of 58*.Perfect weather!


AS I PONDER....

Yesterday I cleaned out the flower bed behind the dining room windows. But, I didn't pick up all the leaves. I am pondering whether I will get this done today. If I wait the wind will blow it all back into the flower bed. So it will behoove me to get my butt in gear and get it picked up. Then I need to purchase some mulch. And clean off the back patio!! 


WHAT I AM LEARNING...

I have joined, once again,  Do Not Depart. We are currently memorizing Colossians 3:1-17. This week's verse is:

"For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory."

I love using Scripture Typer for memorizing. Have you tried it yet?

WHAT I 'M CREATING...

I have completed the first prom picture spread in my Memory Planner. Now on to the second prom and then catch up May. I am almost there! Yay, for me!!!


WHAT I'M READING....

I am reading a few books right now!

1. Imagine Me Gone...by Adam Haslett
2. Gift From The Sea...by Anne Morrow Lindbergh
3. Living The Christian Year...(this will take me all year to read. We are using it like a daily devotional


WHAT I'M WATCHING...

Last night I got caught up on Return to Amish! Do you watch??


WHAT I'M HEARING...

I'm listening to The Chew!


WHAT'S ON MY CAMERA...

silly with Uncle Rich's daisies

mastered the false eyelashes

baby kitten at Uncle Rich's

first Oriole through the window

WHAT I'M DRINKING....

Getting ready for my second cup of French Vanilla Coffee. That will be enough for the day. Do you limit your coffee intake? I don't purposely do it. But two cups are enough!


WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE KITCHEN...

Monday...Leftovers for Granny (Harley works)

Tuesday...Crispy Chicken Quarters

Wednesday..Salad for granny (Harley at church)

Thursday...Little Steaks with Mac & Cheese

Friday...Chicken Tacos

Saturday...Roast

Sunday...Mother's Day


A QUOTE I WANT TO SHARE...

A peek into my week...

This is the last full week of school. I cannot believe that! Next week she only goes Monday and half a day on Tuesday! Then out for the summer. She is going to be working at the pool again with swim lessons. And hopefully one day a week at McDonald's. That should keep her in enough spending money for the fun things she has planned this summer. (One is a mission trip to Miami!) I'm working outside a bit and finishing an indoor project this week too. And then of course there is laundry!


A final thought...

Harley and I stayed in on Saturday night and had a movie night!! Yep, I watched 3 movies in one evening. That is a record for this "non movie watching granny". We watched Sully with Tom Hanks. I thought it was fantastic. He played the part well. Second was Why Him?Harley's pick. It was okay. Funny at times. Lots of cussing. Then we watched Patriots Day with Mark Wahlberg. This movie was about the Boston bombing during the marathon. It was a good movie. Not a great movie! But I made it through to the end. Harley went to bed during this movie. And she loves the Wahlbergs. 

Happy Mother's Day to all!!

#FridayFive-My first one

While visiting my friend Susan today at Color Me Writing I found that she has joined the Practice Gratitude #FridayFive on this blog. I'm new to this but I think it is a great idea because:

"Practicing gratitude is supposed to lead to happiness and a more positive attitude, so here’s my #FridayFive which are the five things that I am grateful for this week. Join in! What are you grateful for?"

1. I'm grateful for finding this way to share my reasons to be grateful. I have much to be grateful for but it is easy to forget unless we make a habit of telling others and developing that positive attitude.

2. I am grateful to be able to read and have such a wonderful access to some great books. I started reading A Gift From The Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh I have read this tiny book before but for some reason it resonates more with me today!

3. I'm so happy to have the Clicklist available to me for grocery shopping. I have raved about this before. I will be leaving soon to pick up my groceries which I shopped for, on-line, last night after midnight! Hallelujah. 

4. And I will be driving my Mitsubishi Endeavor bought by my son, for me, at Christmas. I am still so grateful for that. And for him! Always for him!!

5. It was good to be able to talk with Darian on the phone for over an hour last Sunday. What a way to start our week. Only four weeks until we get to see him. 

Go ahead and tell me what you are grateful for on this beautiful Friday. Or join the #FridayFive.

Before The Fall-A book review

This story was supposed to be a thriller. I don't really think it fits into that genre. But it is a decent story. The book is about a private airplane, owned by very rich people, which takes off on a foggy night from Martha's Vineyard with 12 passengers on board. Some of these passengers are extremely rich. One is a down-on-his- luck painter who was invited by the mega-millionaire's wife to fly to New York with them.Two are kids. And the remaining are members of the crew. Only two people survive the crash into the ocean. The painter and a four year old boy.

The author weaves the back stories of the entire cast into the remainder of the book. It isn't until the very end that you find out why the plane crashed. And, in my opinion, it could have had a better ending.

What the story really is about is the media, how they will get their story no matter what and a study in the psychology of people's minds who come from different backgrounds. And I guess you could also say it deals with fate. Because it was really only fate that the two who lived were who they were. 

A good story. Not a whodunit at all! In fact the ending fell a bit flat. But I do think this could be a great movie!!

I will give it 3 stars. ***

A May Hodgepodge

It has been awhile since I joined the Hodgepodge. Today is a good day! And I love the theme. If you want to join go here. 

1. Can you tell I'm embracing a Cinco de Mayo theme here this week? Do you like Mexican food? What's your favorite dish? How about on the side-black beans, pinto beans, refried beans, rice? What about heat-mild, medium, hot? Will you celebrate with Mexican food and drink on May 5th aka Cinco de Mayo?

I do not know if we will celebrate Cinco de Mayo! Maybe Harley and I will go out to a local Mexican place for dinner! That sounds much better to me than pizza (which is on the menu). We love Mexican food. My favorite is tacos. With the crunchy shells. And I love all the beans. Rice, not so much. I go for the milder sauces. But my Harley likes it hot!!


2. Ever been to Mexico? For work or holiday? Love it or no? If you haven't been is this a place you'd like to visit? Can you speak Spanish?

I have been to Mexico. A few times. We have stayed at resorts mostly. But I don't know about wanting to go again! Mexico is not the safest place in the world. Especially for Americans. Especially right now!! I loved my trip to Acapulco years ago with my favorite traveling companion, Richard! I recently read that Acapulco is Mexico's most dangerous city. How sad!

3. What's one thing you may accomplish this month?

I'm always afraid to say what is something I may accomplish. Because I may not. And I don't want to disappoint! So we'll just keep it a surprise!


4. If you were mayor of your village, city, or town, what's one thing you'd like to see changed, done away with, revamped, or accomplished? Is serving in public office something you've ever seriously considered?

If I were mayor of Hutchinson I would work on the streets. We have so many potholes it is ridiculous. But, no, I would never consider public office. People are so brutal. Especially in this day and age of the 'key board warriors'. 

5. What's something that may be popular, but that you just don't get?

I just don't get selfies!!!




6. Can't let this week slip by without mentioning Thursday May 4th is Star Wars Day. As in 'May the 4th be with you' ahem. Are you a fan of the Star Wars series? Exactly how much of a fan are you? On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being 'I've seen every film, own the action figures, might have dressed as Darth Vader for Halloween one year', and 1 being, 'what's a Vader?' -where do you land?

I'm not a big fan of Star Wars. My sons were. And so is my grandson. We watched all the movies (back to back) before we went to Disney World in 2011. That was the highlight of the trip for Darian. I'm probably a 3 on that scale.

Darian 2001

7. Scroll back through your blog posts and in three sentences or less tell us the general theme of your fourth blog post. Does it still ring true today? Is it a topic you re-visit on your blog from time to time?

You can read my fourth blog post here.  I was telling my new readers things about me. I still love to read! And yes, I revisit this theme pretty often. 

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

Life is just too short not to do all the things you love to do! None of us are promised tomorrow! So let's do that one thing today that we have been putting off!

The Beginning of May Life List

LOOKING OUT MY WINDOW....

It's that time of the year when we never know what we will see when we look out the window. We have had more than our share of rain lately. My front yard is saturated and really needs to dry out. But it is 62* today. The sun comes and goes so we will see what happens. I'm at least glad we didn't get the blizzard that western Kansas had this past weekend. Some places got 17 inches of a heavy, wet snow. They are still dealing with the loss of power. And so many with structural damages because that is a lot of heavy snow on roofs. Something to be thankful for today!!


AS I PONDER.... 

I have much to ponder! This past weekend was family weekend at Fort Benning but we were not able to go. Sad face here! On the bright side (Thanks Ma!) we got lots of texts, Snapchats, and phone calls from Darian. We are counting down the days to graduation. We have our room reservations made! Yipee!! Sadly it doesn't look like he gets to come home after Basic Training but directly to his first Duty station. Welcome to the Army, huh!

Darian and friend
(his friend's mother sent me this picture)

WHAT I AM LEARNING...

I have a new steam mop. Just delivered! Got it for a great price. I'll be learning how to use it. I don't have a lot of un-carpeted areas in this house but this mop is supposed to work on rugs and carpet too. We'll see!!

WHAT I 'M CREATING...

I'm a few weeks behind in my Memory Planner. So, hopefully, that is what I will be creating this week!


WHAT I'M READING....

I finished reading Before The Fall by Noah Hawley. I will be posting my review this week. (I hope) I am getting ready  to start Imagine Me Gone by Adam Haslett. I have heard it is really, really good. I think I am going to have to give up on listening to Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher when I am going to sleep at night because I keep falling asleep and having to start over! Ugh!! What are you reading right now?

WHAT I'M WATCHING...

The new season of Married At First Sight has started so I am watching that. Also still watching DWTS. I cannot believe Nancy Karrigan went home before Bonner or David who are neither good dancers, in my opinion. This show is really turning into a popularity contest. 

WHAT I'M HEARING...

Harley has turned me on to Spotify and my little Jumbo Blue tooth speaker finally arrived (I order it in February from Amazon but did not check to see where it was coming from. China. And it just arrived). You've heard the phrase "a slow boat to China"!

WHAT'S ON MY CAMERA...

Friends in the rain

Harley 2017

Before the prom

Harley's date (He's a friend)

Flowers

So pretty

Racing to prom
(to get out of rain)

WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE KITCHEN...

Monday...Leftovers

Tuesday...Chili Dogs, Macaroni Salad

Wednesday..Harley eats at church

Thursday...Swedish Meat Balls

Friday...Pizza

Saturday...Pot Roast

Sunday...Baked Chicken breasts


A QUOTE I WANT TO SHARE...

My 2017 word....

My word is fight! I need to start 'fighting' to get back on track.





A peek into my week...

Thank goodness prom season is over. Going to two proms, one week apart, was stressful for all of us! She had a really good time though. Now we are pushing ahead just to get school finished. She doesn't work at all this week. They have hired a bunch of new kids and have to find space for all of them to work. I told her it might be time to look for a different job. Can't make money for summer fun if you aren't working! So this week I will be focusing on getting the housework caught up and some other projects!

A final thought...

I am so proud of Harley for making prom so special for her friend from church. He was so cute! And so excited to be going out with such a "hot girl" (his words, not mine). They will have many memories from this night. It started out with rain pouring down. Harley had scheduled professional pictures to be taken downtown. They made the best out of the rainy day but her gown and shoes were soaked by the end of the night! When they came home to change clothes for after-prom the young man got his truck stuck in our front yard. I mean really, really buried in mud. He was backing out of the drive and turned before he hit the street. (dark, rainy, and in-experienced). He had to call his dad to pull the truck out. Justin tried to help him but it was really stuck. It was the first (and maybe the last) time his dad had let him drive dad's truck. They partied until almost 3 a.m. (at the school). He won Harley a beautiful plush gray blanket. He was back in our front yard right after church, filling in the holes from being stuck. (Was really too wet yet, but he tried). Such a gentleman. His parents have raised him well. P.S. For those who wonder this is NOT the boyfriend, but the friend from her church who she agreed to go to prom with way back in February!