What a week!!!

It really wasn't exactly what I had planned, but we deal with what we've got. 

 

I got a rest.  I really wasn't in the market for the kind of rest I got but that's fine.  I guess.  I don't like that part of Papa's PTO days were used up on it.  That makes me upset.  I wasn't real thrilled that I didn't get to see much of my family.  But, okay.  I guess.  I didn't like the pain I was in.  But meds helped.  I'm dealing. 

 

I had another flare up with my foot.  That right foot incident last month seems to have repeated itself with a friend.  They decided that I don't have blood clots.  They decided that the cellulitis is back.  And they decided I probably have gout ta boot!  yay  sigh 

 

I had a room all by myself at the very quiet end of the hallway at the hospital.  Spent two days there.  The day staff was awesome.  The night staff left a lot to be desired.  Food was good.  It wasn't the same hospital I was in last year but they have the same menu and recipes.  The pot roast is awesome!  mmmm 

 

I was a little excitement and entertainment the second night I was there.  The night staff was a little less than attentive and I slipped and fell.  Caused a real commotion!  lol  Didn't hurt me a bit.  But they had to do a little CYA and called in the troops.  First they came and did a little yelling.  Then they "helped" me do what I'd started to do.  Then they sent in an ER doc.  Then they put a burglar alarm on me so I wouldn't get out of bed.  hahahahaha  Ya.  When day staff came in, I told her what happened.  She tisked a little and brushed it off.  She said when they told her about it at their little briefing she told them she found it very hard to believe.  Her helper came in and told me the same thing.  Oh man I just cannot seem to go to the hospital and not have an adventure! 

 

~~~~~

 

It all put me a little behind in getting ready for this weekend, but I'm handling it.  I'm hobbling and wobbling and getting around with a cane and a walker, but I'm accomplishing things.  Shoot.  Today and this evening, I've wrapped the gifts, made the favors, gotten all the game materials readies, wrapped the prizes for games, made the tuna macaroni salad, packed Papa's lunch, cleaned up the kitchen, done the checkbooks, tossed dirty laundry where it belongs, cleaned out Emmi's dresser and stored away too small or too warm, done my shopping list for tomorrow, and Darlene came and I loaded her up with supplies I had she needed for a project she's doing for the shower.  I've also been the go between for all the family while Papa was at the ER with one of our sons. 

 

Yes, more adventure.  Severe abdominal pains, shooting to back, shooting to his chest.  Nothing showed on any labs or CT.  He was seen by more than one doctor.  It's all a mystery.  We think it may have been a kidney stone passed without being diagnosed.  After he used the bathroom, a lot of the pain subsided.

 

~~~~~

 

The guys are building a front porch / deck for us.  I'm so happy!!  It's something I've wanted since we moved here.  I can't wait for it to be done.  Hopefully the weather will hold and they can get it done tomorrow and Saturday.  All the guys will be here during the shower so it's prime time.  I'd love it done for our Easter BBQ.

 

 

~~~~~

 

Spread the diaper in the position of the diamond with you at bat. 

Then fold second base down to home and set the baby on the pitcher's mound. 

Put first base and third together,

bring up home plate and pin the three together. 

Of course, in case of rain,

you gotta call the game and start all over again. 

~~Jimmy Piersal

 

~~~~~

 

Well it didn't work this time.  Unless she ordered the wrong thing.  We tried.  Angel is really very ready to have little CJ.  We decided we'd take her to Rita's on Friday.  She should have gone into labor and had the baby.  But our little plan didn't work.  She's still very pregnant and it looks like CJ won't be a guest at the baby shower. 

 

 

 

~~~~~

 

Have a wonderful Easter weekend.  Thanks for coming to visit.

~~Mama Sage

 

Let the resurrection joy

lift us from loneliness and weakness and despair

to strength and beauty and happiness. 

~~Floyd W. Tomkins

Wow, now THAT is COOL!!!!

But first, let me start my day. 

 

 

 

Fever has hit me....

 

Last night I got a bug up my butt.  I decided that it was high time we destroy the broken down awning and railing out front and create the porch of my dreams.  Well sort of.  The porch of my dreams is actually much, much bigger than the porch we will be creating.  It would wrap around my house.  At least three sides of my house would have an awesome porch to sit out on and enjoy.  For now, we're only going to be putting a porch on the front.  Later, when funds allow, I still want to put a slider or French door out the dining room and make a side deck that wraps to the back.  The rest of that dream has a brick patio to tie the front and side porches/decks.  THEN I'll have my three side wrap deck.  :-)

 

Anyhow, I got the bug up my behind and the right people happened to be here to help me work the dream.  Brian and Corry have helped us plan it and as of this afternoon, supplies have been ordered.  They'll be starting tomorrow.  YAY! 

 

We're working towards the 40 year anniversary.  Next year in May.  By then, that porch will have matching rocking chairs.  And Papa and Mama Sage will sit outside rocking and rocking and every now and then, we'll look at each other and just giggle.  No talking needed.  We know each other well enough we sometimes don't even need to talk to have a conversation.

 

~~~~~

 

We took Missy to the doctor today.  I thought it would give us a little huggin' time with Melanie.  Not quite the way it worked.  Sweet thing fell asleep and napped the whole time.  We did get to spend a little bit of time with her but I never have enough.  I just love her to pieces.

 

~~~~~

 

While we were out today, we picked up some things I found on Craigslist.  If you don't check it regularly, you should.  Today's find was awesome.  I got almost 90 jars/containers of baby food, three boxes of baby cereal, one of baby mum treats, nearly 100 articles of 12 mo. girls' clothing, a baby bouncer seat, a boppy pillow with cover, a play mat, a grocery cart/high chair seat cover, and a swing plus five pairs of little girls shoes.  Guess how much.  Awe just take a stab at it.  A hundred bucks.  Can you believe it??  Some will be for our little ones and some will help one of the kids' friends.  One heckuva deal I'd say.

 

~~~~~

 

When we got home, I sifted through all that loot and sorted what went to who.  Papa went to pick up little Miss Em and we had her a couple hours until mommy got home.  What a trip!  She is just learning so much so fast!  Today I told her to "go get Mimi a diaper."  The li'l darlin' did.  Ten of them!  So, I had her help reload the diaper bag.  When mom got here, we were talking and she decided to help some more.  Emptied the blankets, the diapers, the wipes, and anything else she could grab.  She is so curious about everything.  It's fun to watch her and imagine what her thoughts might be as she does things.

 

After they left, I picked up and sorted the toys, put the changing table things back where they belonged and moved some things.  I moved the changing table to the dining room.  That was my biggest "do."  And now I'm whipped. 

 

~~~~~

 

I'm watching my soaps right now with sadness.  I know things do sometimes have to come to an end, but Pine Valley and Landview have been part of my life since I was a teenager.  Man.  I'm really going to miss my friends.

 

~~~~~

 

Off to do some planning for Easter weekend.  We're doing a baby shower on Saturday and a BBQ for Easter.  Lots of planning.  Hoping to have lots of people.  All are always welcome.

 

~~~~~

 

In the spring, at the end of the day,

you should smell like dirt. 

~~Margaret Atwood

 

~~~~~

 

Until next time...

Hugs and love,

 

~~Mama Sage

 

Better late than never...right?

Before I get into my blog here, let me just say I won't be apologizing.  I won't be making excuses.  I have got to quit getting down on myself for not doing the daily blog I used to do.  I guess it's because after four years of it, it got to be a part of me and I feel like I'm cheating me and all my former followers out of it.  Plus I miss it.  And I miss my readers.  Some are on facebook now and we "keep up with each other" there.  But it's not the same.  The reading and writing blogs was a part of who I am.  I guess it still is.  That's why when I'm not able to blog, I feel a part of me is missing.  So, I'm back today and here we go. 

~~~~~

We found out we had friends in need.  What to do.  What to do.  You know even when you are having a tough time yourself, if you have it, share it.  Things tend to multiply to fill the empty space left when you give.  Give your time.  Give your cash.  Give your goods.  Whatever it is, just give it.  How can you not?  How could you stand by and watch a friend needing and not help?

And if you feel funny about going to them?  Just do it anyhow.  I was told it's easier to apologize after than get permission before.  Just...do it.

~~~~~

Our girls are growing up so fast!  Oh my, time passes before you know it.  And then it's gone.  The days of cooing and gooing make way for real words.  Rolling over turns to crawling which quickly becomes walking, then running.  Soon, they won't be that cuddly little blanketed bundle.  Soon they'll be having sleepovers and playing Barbie.  Wow.  Where does time go?

Little Miss Emmi is walking all over now.  And she has her little words for so many things.  It's such a fun, fun age.  Her new favorite game is playing hide and seek behind the chair.  So cute.  And she makes her dietary likes and dislikes very evident.  Oh yes.  I tried hiding meat under her favorite veggies on the spoon.  She was having none of it.  She ate the carrots off the blob of meat then stuck her tongue out with it on it as if saying, "See, Mimi?  I will eat what I WANT to and nothing more."  I fooled her though by giving her a veggie only bite really quick and she accidentally swallowed the meat too.  Then a few days later, I didn't let her know we had veggies on the menu.  Just that meat was in her view.  She looked at me funny on the first bite but she ate it.  After a few bites she decided it wasn't so bad after all.  And then I made it all better with some veggies and fruits.  I'm not totally mean.  :-)

~~~~~

 

The only place where success comes before work

is in a dictionary.
~~Vidal Sassoon

~~~~~

Oh our Nelly wears me out lately!  She's been getting a little nervy and curious.  She got out the door when Rusty left one day.  And no, she didn't come when called.  And no, she did not stay in the yard.  And yes, she is now on a leash, attached to mommy all day long until she does learn!

But when she looks like this,

how can I resist forgiving her and loving her to pieces?

~~~~~

Success is a ladder that cannot be climbed

with you hands in your pockets.

~~unknown

~~~~~

You know I'm thinking laundry is a virus.  It just keeps spreading.  You just get it done and somehow that basket has begun to already fill.  I got the laundry done.  But ... it wasn't.  Of course not.  Maybe it's not a virus.  Maybe the laundry basket has a gigantic magnet in the bottom.  One that snaps up every stitch of fabric that comes within a mile of it.  It is something for sure!

~~~~~

It's beginning to be the season of doing together again finally.  Boy how I miss those months where our family times are farther apart.  We've done several meals together, we've done a movie night, the kids have been getting together to play Murder.  Oh yes, we've been invited to play too, but by the time it's decided on, we're worn out and needing some relaxation and sleep!

And this weekend we can start the clean up / open up process out at camp.  This year should be good.  The babies are big enough to enjoy the fresh air and can easily be occupied with toys and fun.  The bitty babe will be so brand new, he won't fuss about having to spend time "doing nothing" and we will all want to hug and squeeze him so much it'll be fun having him out there.  The grandgirls will be here for summer time.  All's good.  Can't wait.

~~~~~

We all take different paths in life,

but no matter where we go,

we take a little of each other everywhere
~~Tim McGraw

~~~~~

Well, I made it through the weekend of the 4th and 5th of March but not without a little bit of excitement Mama Style.  Yes, I hurt myself.  I don't know how.  Dropped the darn fan on my foot and was just sure I'd broken it.  Hurt like heck!  I was okay but not good Friday night and Saturday.  Babysat Emmi a while Saturday night and by the time the kids picked her up, I could hardly move.  Got so bad through the night I was sure I'd broken the joint on my foot at the top of the toe next to the big toe.  Do we have "pointer" toes?  lol  I had to walk heel only.  Getting upstairs to bed was a real trick.  I managed but not without making the mistake of trying to use the bad foot first.  Ohhhh no.  Good foot...drag bad foot.  I learned. 

I got upstairs and hobbled around to the bathroom and into bed.  Ohh boy.  When it hurts to have the sheet touch, it's bad.  I had to pull up the blanket and have my feet hangin' off the end of the bed.  And still every little breeze that hit it drove me insane. 

When Papa got home from work, I told him I thought after we slept a while I was going to have to go to the emergency room.  We had some other things needing to be done first and he had to get back for his before work nap.  Bound to be a tricky schedule.

I went to the hospital closest to home because it was an orthopedic hospital.  If it had been broken and I'd needed to be cast, they'd have sent me there anyhow.  It was a long, long wait, but they seemed to have got me diagnosed now. 

It isn't broken.  I have cellulitis.  Now when I looked it up, I thought, H O W ??  I had no open sores to be seen.  The ER doc and today my primary care doc both said because I have dry skin it would be easy to get.  The fan dropping on my foot tramatized it and it had a teensy little crack most likely.  That little crack picked up a nasty ol' germ and caused me all this trouble.

They sent me home in an air cast with a walker plus two antibiotics to fight the infection (of the skin and possibly involving the tissue beneath) and pain meds.  Appears we're good now.  Or will be.  I have to check in with primary daily until they determine it isn't spreading.

[I did get it healed up pretty good.  Still a little uneasy about it though.  Was oh so very painful.  Just suffering the nightly HOT feet and numbness.  And yes, I'm seeing the doctor in another week to see what's up.]

~~~~~

Did chicken one night that came out really good.  I made chicken coated in mayo and seasoned crumbs, noodles made in saved turkey broth, veggies and it's a meal.  The mayo and crumb chicken was copying the way my mother-in-law used to do hers in the convection oven.  Always a favorite of mine.

~~~~~

Most of you know I write from my notes.  I'd worked on this to post and never got it done.  I'm not sure of the dates on this but....

The other day, my daughter brought me a project.  It seems the great granny of one of her little friends had made a "scarf" and it was not able to be worn.  It was at least a good foot wide and way, way too short to go around the neck of even a little two year old.  I took it apart and made it into two beautiful scarves that can be worn by both of the little ones in that family.  It's much softer now too.  If you use big enough needles and a good stitch pattern, even those nasty old fashioned skeins of yarn can be soft enough not to act like sandpaper. 

I think the basement is now dry enough that I can spend some time down there doing my laundry.  Man it has really built into a small mountain!  Half is probably the towels that Papa kept trying to stop the river with.  We really, really had a mess down there. 

I made broccoli salad tonight for our lunch tomorrow.  I had gotten a bowl of the sauce that contained white raisins and bacon.  It was way cheaper than it would have been to buy all the ingredients to make it.  I did add extra raisins and sliced almonds.  It had the onion in it already too.

~~~~~

I can't believe Emmi is already a year old.  This year has gone by SO fast!  The kids had her party on Saturday the 19th, the day before her actual birthday.  Miss Em was born on the first day of spring.  It was fun watching her dive into her smash cake.  Oh she was so cute!

 

The kids chose a menu that was Emerson approved.  All her favorites.  She had home made chicken fingers, home made macaroni and cheese, tortilla chips (and a dip she can't have...hot stuff her momma makes), we got a pizza and of course her cake.  Such a pretty one.  They had chosen her cups and plates and napkins and went to a special baker, West Side Bakery.  They did an awesome job of decorating her cake and her smash cake to match the paper goods. 

 

She had a good time opening gifts.  I love this picture of her in her birthday dress.

The next day she had a good time too.  Mommy took this one of her with all her balloons.  I got the caption wrong.  It was the day after her party which was the day OF her birthday.

~~~~~

I'm thinking this spring break is gonna be a good one!  I have a grandgirl wanting to earn big bucks to bank for her trip to France with her French teacher and French club members so she's doing some big time cleaning for me.  It's awesome having a teenager around who isn't afraid of work and who genuinely appreciates it when we decide it's a day to pay her.  She doesn't expect the pay.  That's nice.  There are a few kids I know who do.  I'm much more inclined to pay people who don't ask for it than those who want to know what they can do to earn a bunch of bucks.  And a school trip to another country trumps the fun, games and nonsense some want money for. 

~~~~~

Ding dang darn dog!

She took off again.  I'm aching so much I couldn't even bend down and grab or step out a step on her leash!  So she took off walking, just a-happily down the road.  Then over the hill.  The up into everyone's yards.  Then back over the hill.  Then around the corner.  I'm huffin' and puffin' and hurtin' so bad chasing after her.  One of the kids took off in their car to try to catch up with her.  Thankfully a nice guy walking his own dog grabbed her leash and held on to her for us. 

It scares me so bad that she'll just get off onto the main road.  Our road isn't bad, but we're only a block back from busy.  I was especially concerned when the snow was on the ground.  She's kind of a color mix that looks a lot like the piles of dirty snow along the roads.

As I finally write to post, the snow is gone.  But she still sort of seems to blend in.  I don't want anything to happen to my li'l pal!

~~~~~

We finally have our new internet and phone set up.  And truthfully, I don't see a big difference in the internet.  We had Time Warner so RoadRunner.  We now have AT&T dsl.  No biggie at all.  Biggest thing was the stupid router.  They gave me no option but to get one when I did the order online.  Well the stupid thing wouldn't work.  Papa spent forever on the phone trying to iron out the problems.  In the end, it's going back and we're using our own. 

If you're family, please contact me if your want our new phone number.  I'm not giving out the house number to anyone else.  Should save a jillion calls a day once they quit trying to reach the previous owner and one the do not call registration kicks in.

~~~~~

Just some random shots ...

Kennedy and Emmi chillin'

Modeling one of the scarves Made by Mama

Trying to watch Daddy and Grampa fix Mommy's car 

~~~~~

We signed Kennedy up for a day her spring break week at the zoo to sort of shadow.  It's a career day for high school kids.  She's also signing up to volunteer this summer.  She has to do quite a bit to get qualified and she will have to commit to two days a week as a volunteer.  I think it's great and so does she.  I really hope she gets selected.  She's steering toward something to do with animals for a career.  This should really be a good couple of experiences. 

~~~~~

I just read a friend's book, Death -- living to talk about it.  By Brian M. Hayden.  It's his story of many, many, MANY years of fighting through heart disease and dying time and time again yet being miraculously brought back to live once more.  Look it up and give it a read.

~~~~~

I totally missed telling you about another birthday outting.  We went out to dinner to celebrate Missy and Rusty's birthdays.  They share a day though they're four years apart.  Didn't get good pics I can post of the birthday kids.  Can't post Missy's baby and she's in the picture.  But I did get a couple others to share. 

First, have you ever tried fried pickles?  I love the things.  I could eat a basket full all by myself!  Most times they seem to be spears but this place does pickle chips.

And I wanted to also share a picture of some of the grandgirls I took that day.

 Natalie, Kennedy and Morgan

~~~~~

Night all.  I'll be back one day.  Yes, when you least expect it.

~~Mama Sage

Checking in

Hi, guys.  I know.  I keep saying I'm going to start regularly blogging again.  Well....I'm not.  lol  I'm just going to let all of you know that now and forever, I'll be blogging when I can.  Yes I do miss it terribly.  I love writing.  But my life and my body are telling me no right now. 

We have a lot of excitement happening and have had since the beginning of the year.  In January, one granddaughter turned 18.  Party time!!  In February, another turned 16 but we couldn't party.  She's in Florida.  March, Emmi turned a year old.  This month we're having a baby shower for our soon to be little grandson.  Plus we will be starting to open up camp and do the yearly set up and clean up.  May little CJ is due and June, little Melanie will turn a year old.  And we'll be having Brandi's graduation party here the end of June. 

So between babysitting, getting ready for parties, etc., things are going nuts around here.

Until next time...
Hugs and love from
~~Mama Sage

Another day in the life

I was up with the crack of the wind outside on Saturday.  Wowza!  Sounded like a tree or two might have fallen across the street.  I was really surprised to see none had.  A few branches, but nothing real serious that I could see.  Trying to beat the dog down the stairs was fun.  She was in a huuuuurrrrr-ry!  I just prayed she'd wait till she was outside to do her thing.  And she did.  Good dog.

While she was outside, I got the dishwasher emptied, straightened a few things in the kitchen and started my daily do's. 

 

One thing on my list every day is a toy sort.  Why do I sort?  Simple.  Something very overlooked by a huge percentage of parents out there.  I learned when my oldest were little that kids play with things that are all there.  If they don't get sorted, all there isn't happening.  And kids get lost in sorting.  It takes a while to teach that fine art.  And you don't teach with your mouth.  You don't teach with a trash bag.  You don't teach by taking things away or threatening.  You teach by doing.  Get down ON the floor and teach them that everything has a place.  Make it a game if they're there.  And they should be once they're old enough.  Shoot.  I've even got Emmi putting her blocks all in one bin when we pick up together.  It's very possible.  And it takes stress off you allowing for more snuggles and huggles times.

 

Besides.  Disrespecting toys is wrong.  Toys cost money.  You may not have purchased them, but someone did.  It really gets my knickers in a twist when I see things we have often sacrificed to get someone tossed about, broken, trashed or put out in a garage sale in a state of disrepair. 

 

Toys are tools for kids too.  Toys should teach.  I would no sooner toss out a set of lincoln logs than I would Tales of Two Cities.  Teach.  In all you do, teach.

 

~~~~~

 

A teacher affects eternity;

he can never tell where his influence stops. 

~~Henry Brooks Adams

 

~~~~~

I am thinking I will make an attempt to go back to MySpace for BFF blogs but planning to keep real blog right here.  And I will copy/paste the BFF blogs to redgage.  If you are on there, I'm sagekidsmom on there.  Friend me. 

 

My plans are to also starting a family blog here. That will be if anyone cares.  So far, no one has gotten back to me except my brother. Okay.  Maybe I don't need to.  If the want to isn't there now it would be a total waste of time.  I don't have that much time free that I can waste it on doing something no one really cares about.  We'll see.  If March 1st comes and no one has sent me anything, I'm done.  It was good when we used to do the newsletter on aol hometown.  But aol cut that out and it went by the way side.  I've tried a few avenues already but it didn't work.  Oh well.  It was something very important to me, but evidently not to others.  If family connections are lost, it can't be said I didn't try.  But I'm not beatin' a dead horse anymore.

 

~~~~~

 

And so ... no.  Crockpot tapioca is NOT a good idea.  At least not for me.  It looked like it would be fine but it is weepy and it burned a little around the edge which sent the flavor throughout the pot.  But I'll eat it.  What can I say.  Tapioca is one of my favorite things and I can't see wasting all those ingredients.  sigh  I'd made my big pot.  My little one is out at camp.

 

~~~~~

 

An idea not coupled with action

will never get any bigger

than the brain cell it occupied. 

~~Arnold H. Glasgow

 

~~~~~

 

Today's lunch was a nice tossed salad.  I'm finding it pretty easy to stay on this not-a-diet diet.  I'm just paying attention to what I'm eating now.  And it's helping me be sane with choices.  And if I blow it?  Oh well.  Tomorrow is another day.  Actually it only happened once and it was a day filled with having to eat out.  But today, a salad at home...

 

romaine lettuce mix

carrots, chopped

celery, chopped

cucumber, skinned and chopped

green pepper, sliced and cut small

green onion, sliced

tomato wedges

herb roasted turkey, cut into squares

cojack cheese cubes

 

And for supper, I made a pasta salad.

 

tri-color rotini

green onion, sliced thin

green pepper, chopped into little squares

tomatoes, quartered and sliced

celery, chopped small

carrots, sliced small

cucumber, skinned, quartered and sliced

ham slices, cut up

salami slices, cut up

provolone cheese squares

cojack cheese squares

Italian dressing to make it taste awesome

 

~~~~~

 

What fine examples of great love our children have.  Our parents and our grandparents were wonderful examples of what love really is.  I don't know how long our grandparents were married.  Cliff and I both lost grandparents when they were young.  But the spouse that lived was true to the love and memory of their husband or wife.  Two did remarry, but even still the love of their first wife remained.  It didn't lessen the love they had for their second wife.  It was expected respect for that first, great love.

 

Our own parents were both married sixty years or more before our fathers passed away.  And Papa and I have been married since 1972.  Love.  Great, lasting love.

 

PICTURES OF GRANDPARENTS

PICTURES OF PARENTS

PICTURE OF US

 

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY, EVERYONE. 

MAY YOUR LIFE BE FILLED WITH LOVE.

 

~~~~~

 

It's struck me several times already this winter, the connections I had with my gramma.  And I tend to get even more sentimental about her and miss her more in the winter time.  She passed away during what I now know was her favorite time of year.  She wasn't one to keep a regular journal, but when my mom passed away and I was going through her things, I came upon a little notebook that she kept.  In it, she never wrote about any other time of year but she did keep a diary of the first snowfall of each year.  It was important to her.  And to her, it was magical.

 

It must be where I get my love for that white stuff some see as burdensome and ugly.  I will say about this time of year, it does get that way.  Our driveway is a hill and slip sliddin' up and down it is a real challenge.  But who can forget the beauty?

 

PICTURE OF THE SNOW

 

~~~~~

 

I'm signing off.  I'm tired.  I've been working on getting things going on redgage.com (I'm sagekidsmom if you're part of it. If not...why not?  You get paid for what you post.  Slow and steady I'm over a quarter already.)  I'm also working on a family website on blogspot.  Family...if you didn't get an author invitation, please let me know.  You must be invited to author and I'm setting it up for now that only authors can read it.  If we have other family and friends to add as readers later, I'll change it to invited persons instead.  Anyhow.  This is all keeping me pretty busy and wearing me out.  Ready to hit the hay...

 

Hugs, all...

~~Mama Sage

 

Pictures will be added once this crazy thing lets me.  It's saying the page to add pictures can't be found.  Oh sure.  Whatever!  lol 

Oh BLAST! I've done it again!

Here I am, one more time, doing my catch-up thing.  If you've been around the last 4 1/2 years, you are used to me doing this.  If not, let me apologize, and feel free to click the x up in the corner for this one.  I'll completely understand if you choose not to continue here.  ~~sigh~~ 

And perSNICKLES!   I didn't date these entries I'm working from so I'll not be putting a lot of dates on here.  Oh well.  The dates aren't important to anyone but me I suppose. 

Well here goes it.  I'm off....

~~~~~

Every step counts

I will never be able to be the housewife and mom I used to be.  It's just not in the cards.  Where I used to be an extremely anal housekeeper, now I'm lucky the dust bunnies don't organize and attack.  I used to have every single item in its proper place.  Now...well no.  Nothing is quite that way.  Nothing even has hopes of being that way.

The kids are all grown and gone.  Having kids under foot is not an excuse for me.  I don't work a demanding full time job.  Can't use that one either.  I just don't move as fast and moving is often pretty much out of the question.  Fibromyalgia smacks me down now and then and I just have to deal the best I can.  And I've got bad, bad, bad knees and back.  So, living in a spit spot clean home is a dream of yesteryear, not my hope for the future.

These days, any little thing towards an end counts.  And if I don't do at least one little thing, I can no longer allow myself to get frustrated and punish myself.  I just have to keep plugging.

I honestly think this myfitnesspal thing will be good.  I'm getting the food tracking down.  Once the ice is gone, I'm hoping to start walking by at least walking around my yard and driveway. Now I am beginning to realize that I'm supposed to also track things l do just as a routine.  I'm finding I do move more than I thought, but finding I've also adjusted and know that I can combine and condense.  My second goal will be to walk to my son's house, about three blocks down the way.  But it will have to wait.  For now, I'm happy trying to take one extra step each day. 

I remember a lady I knew back at Brooks AFB and the advice she gave me.  She was bigger than I am now.  She needed to lose a lot.  She couldn't go to a gym or anything so she started walking.  She couldn't afford proper clothes, so she wore her house dress and flip flops.  And she worked one step at a time, Each day another step.  As the body became more able, the weight started slipping off.  It wasn't fast.  It wasn't easy.  And I'm thinking it's exactly how it will be for me.  At least my fingers are crossed and when I close my eyes, that's how I see it happening.  And it will.  I'm sure of it.

~~~~~

Every noble work is at first impossible.

~~Thomas Carlyle

~~~~~

I guess I should be telling you what I'm eating or something.  That's how I started my original blog.  And it worked for me.  But I've decided against that.  I'll just let you know that I started tracking things on Monday the 31st of January and I've only had one day this week that was over in calories from what the program tells me my goal is.  Most days I've had 500 or so calories left.  I decided that I will eat how I normally do for the first month and just track and see what's what.  So far, I know my daily diet is a roller coaster.  Most days I've taken in too much sodium and some days too much fat.  For the most part, I'm surprised and kind of happy with what I'm finding.

Emmi stole my bun!  And I don't have a clue why the pictures don't stay turned when I upload them here.  lol

Today, we went to Five Guys.  I was just in the mood.  I opted to not get a cheeseburger and do a hamburger instead.  I decided bacon was out and you never taste that cheese.  I wanted to eat the fries (we split a regular size and shared with Emerson too) so my thought was to not eat the bun since I wanted those fries.  Where I would have LOVED a huge drink, I got a small one.  I had an open bottle of water in the van anyhow.  No condiments.  I did add mushrooms and onions though.  And I didn't feel deprived.  And I got full.   

Supper was my hot turkey casserole.  It has rice and turkey, onion, celery, water chestnuts all chopped and about half and half mayo and cream of chicken soup.  I did put the croutons on top but only about half the number I usually do.

The only snack I had was my g'night orange juice.  And in the end today, I still have almost 600 calories.

~~~~~

So how 'bout them Packers?

Yes.  I do live next door to Steeler country.  Yes.  And lots of people in these parts are die hard Steeler fans.  Sorry.  I'm not.  Never have been.  Probably never will.  But I understand those of you who are.  I don't follow a team because it wins.  I follow who I like. 

When we were in the service (hubby was a career Air Force man) we rooted for who we could get on TV.  Lots of places that was Atlanta but I never really liked them much.  And for years and years, it was Dallas.  When we moved back home to Ohio, we melded right back in as true to the heart Browns fans.  Yep, win or lose they are our team.  You know someone is a true fan when they still love a losing team.  Guess those who still love the Steelers are true fans too. They do have a lot to be proud of.  I'll give them that.  But I still don't care for the Steelers.

Okay.  There's another reason.  Not just because the Browns and Steelers were rivals for years.  Those Browns up and moved to Baltimore.  They are no longer our Browns.  So rivalry isn't one of my reasons.  Color is.  Yes, color.  I don't LIKE yellow and black.  I like brown and orange. Just as much as I like blue and grey.  I also think green and gold are pretty nifty.  I pick teams by color.  THIS is prettier so THIS should be on top.  Someone asked me how I choose a race horse.  Youdonwannaknow was my answer.  But the secret of my success at horse is the name.  If I like it, it'll win.  Or the owner.  If we know them, I'd bet on them.  Statistics??  Ppp-sshaw!!  LOL

We didn't have a superbowl party at our house.  I played babysitter for the evening.  I missed having a table full of fun leftovers to keep us in lunch for the week.  But Rusty did bring us some sausages and wings after his gathering.  Mmmm.  Good food I didn't even have to cook!  Awesome.

~~~~~

I made a stir fry earlier in the superbowl day.  It's never exactly the same.  I used broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, celery, zucchini, green beans and onion.  Poured in a bit of teriyaki sauce, sprinkled with a little sugar (sauce was very tangy), and stirred in some chopped garlic.  Mmmmm GOOD!

~~~~~

On our way to do running, we got a call from the kids.  One of the little ones needed some tylenol.  Stop.  Change direction.  Pick up a bottle and head to the house.  Hope you feel better, Zach.

Next stop, off to pick up Cliff's prescription for his diabetes medicine.  In case you don't know, Giant Eagle has free antibiotics, free diabetes meds and really cheap things on another list.  Worth checking on.  We dropped off the script at Giant Eagle and went off to do some other errands before picking them up.

Next stop, the Village Discount Thrift store.  GREAT things found there today. It was Monday so one color, yellow, was on sale for fifty cents.  All items in the entire store with a yellow tag.  Orange and yellow were half price too.  So if an item was marked fifty cents, it was a quarter instead.  I spent $33 and came home with

    an activity center walker for $1 
    a little tikes play car .30
    a popping top toy .60
    14 shirts, mostly onsies
    9 pants
    5 one piece suits without feet
    1 sleeper
    1 pretty little warm red coat
    and a scarf I planned to repurpose.  loved the yarn

I wasn't trying to be real picky with brands but ended up with some really great brands.  Children's Place, Carter, Baby Gap, Disney, Okie Dokie, Oshgosh, just to name a few.

~~~~~

SHOUT OUT!!

REMINDER: WE THE PEOPLE NIGHT Sat. 2/19; 8:00 at Hudson Players, "Have a Nice Day", Kathy Hill Steiner, Tim Steiner, Megan Craven Snyder and Jenny Walmsley Matas are cast members in the musical. Go on-line at hudsonplayers.com or call 330-655-8522 to reserve your tickets ($14). If you can't make it on the 19th, the show runs all weekends in February. Hope to see you there!

Jim Brown posted that on his facebook.  Cliff and I have our tickets. Hoping to see as many friends as we can.  See you there!

~~~~~

We celebrated our daughter-in-law Darlene's birthday Wednesday along with Missy and the babies.  Lunch was at Lake Varsity Diner.  Super place!  I was very impressed. 

LAKE VARSITY DINER 

Unique things on the menu.  Check it out!!

This was mine.  Grilled chicken breast, two strips of potabella mushroom, alfredo sauce and parmesan cheese.  And neverending fries.  Oh.  And we got hot chocolate!  When the temp is below freezing, the hot chocolate price is the number of degrees.  We paid 17 cents. 

When we got done eating, we went back to the R store.  We'd been there Saturday with Missy and Angel.  That day we met Missy's sister-in-law Kristen and her kids Aiden and Megan for lunch at Carlos Tratoria.  Another great place to eat.  I love discovering new eatin' joints. 

~~~~~

I did reclaim that yarn in that scarf. 

And with it, I made a scarf

I also finished one out of some pretty, sparkly Christmas yarn and am working on a wider one of blues, white and beige.

~~~~~

Vegetable Beef Soup


"Boiling beef" crocked overnight in water, 3 pkgs.

In the morning, I took out the pieces and skimmed the broth of all the fat and slop.  When the beef was cooled enough to handle, I de-boned it and skimmed the broth really, really good.

When I was satisfied all the fat and junk was out, I added

    4 tomato bouillon cubes

    couple slugs of sodium free beef bouillon powder

    fresh green beans cut in 1" pieces

    about a cup or so of chopped carrots

    about a cup of peas

    a chopped onion

    3 potatoes, cubed

    chopped broccoli

    chopped cauliflower

~~~~~

Last night, I made patties out of the bulk bratwurst I got at the R store, 6.99 for 5#.  I made O'Brien potatoes (potatoes, onions and green peppers), but I added green beans to change it up for a more interesting side dish.  I did the bratwurst in the oven on my old, old, old Tupperware raised grill pan.  All the fat dripping were in the pan and not surrounding the meat.

~~~~~

Just saying...

I will be staying here, NOT returning to myspace.  HATE  IT  THERE.  I don't even go there very often to read blogs.  Slow as molasses and frustrating. 

~~~~~

Children grow up way too fast.  Our little Miss Em is stepping and jumping and spinning on one foot.  Too soon.  Don't want to lose these sweet cuddle bugs.

~~~~~

An email I got the other day...

"kindly view my attachment mAssage???" 

lol  I do believe that was S P A M.

And I never subscribed to Sharrod Brown's email newsletter so WHY am I now getting it??

~~~~~

I've checked a few things off my list of dreaded chores. 

Filing -- check
Shredding  -- check

And of course I also did the regular boring chores of the day...

Sweeping -- check

General pick up -- check

Dishes -- check

Planned next two meals -- check check

~~~~~

Cornish Hen Soup

My six quart crockpot get quite a workout when I do these soups.  I put three hen halves in it, covered them with water and crocked it all night. 

This morning, I took out all the pieces then strained the broth.  Straining isn't enough.  I hate greasy soups so I used my Pampered Chef skimmer and skimmed it really, really good.  When the meat was cooled enough to handle, I took it off the bones and put it back in the pot.  To that, I added veggies.  I used frozen this time.  (still on my use-it-up mission)  I added half a bag of mixed veggies (corn, carrots, peas and green beans), some cauliflower I'd frozen, half a bag of green baby limas, and a glob of frozen chopped spinach.  I coarsely chopped an onion and put it in there too.  Then I decided I wanted a deeper taste and put in a few chicken bouillon cubes and a couple veggie bouillon cubes.  Sprinkled in a fairly generous amount of garlic and pepper mix.  And it is a-crockin' away right now and smells heavenly!

~~~~~

So there you have it.  I'm caught up for now.  Hope you made it through!  You're such a loyal friend.  Hugs!!

~~Mama Sage

So how's your day? (includes BFF84)

Birthday celebrations don't always happen the way you want them to.  I always hope to have a party for everyone but it seems the older everyone gets the harder that becomes.  Friday the 28th was actually Cliff's birthday.  The day was just too jam packed and too many people, including him, were working.  So, instead, he and I went to lunch at Rockne's.  I got their gyro salad and boy howdy are their salads HUGE!  His meal there is usually their Mack the Knife burger, but he changed it up and decided on a rueben.  It looked so darn good when he got it.  Kinda wish I'd gotten that. 

 

We made a quick trip to BJ's and then headed over to pick up Missy.  She was going with us up to get Kennedy.  Quick up, quick back and then to dinner.  Cliff had to work so we had to get him home in time to catch a few zzz's.  I took Kennedy and Missy back to Missy's.  And it was a good day.  I got to talk at least a few minutes to all my kids.  That always makes it a good day.  :-)

 

By the time I got back home, my feet were hugely swollen and HOT!  I hate that.  I don't have a clue why they do it.  I'm hoping if I drop a bunch of wait it will stop.

 

I found THE ornament idea for the baby ornaments and decided I would makethemt before bed.  And then I went upstairs and promptly changed my mind.  I looked at what I'd already started and THAT was what they should be.  My tree wasn't coming down until I got them finished and hung for at least a day or two so I stay upstairs in my craft room until they were done.  I took pictures, but they won't upload darn it. Sad.  I'd love to share.

 

And then...I caught up on my soaps.  I watch all the ABC soaps.  Have since I was a kid.  Used to watch them with my Gramma.

 

~~~~~

 

hahahahahaha!!  Gee, was it spam?  Ya THINK?  It said it was "re: presidential compensation fund."  hahahahahahaha

 

~~~~~

 

Love is...BFF 84

 

L O V E

 

love is sharing

love is caring

love is bearing

love is pairing

 

love is not scaring

love is not glaring

love is not tearing

 

love is rare

love is fair

love's in the air

and always there

 

~~~~~

 

On Monday we were finally able to actually celebrate Cliff's birthday with family.  Sadly, significant others couldn't be there and of course our youngest lives out of state, but we did have a super lunch at Applebees with the four that live here and three of the grandgirls. 

 

I started a program I'm finding to work super for me.  It's called MY FITNESS PAL.  I found the app on my phone and then followed it to the online site too.  And best of all it's free.  You set up a profile of where you are now and where you want to be.  You tell it how much you intend to exercise and it calculates how many calories, etc. you can have to achieve your own goal.  No one tells you what you should be.  No one tells you what you have to do.  YOU are in complete control.  It's just between you and the keyboard. 

 

When you eat something, you enter it in and it automatically calculates all the info on it and let's you know where you are after with calories and nutrients.  I'm finding that some things I thought would be horrible aren't nearly as bad as some I thought would surely be good for me.  And I'm also finding out I don't consume nearly as many calories, etc. as I thought.  If I could just get my knee and back let me be more active I could probably drop weight a lot easier.  Wish I had time for the pool.  I could cheaply join the fitness center at Cliff's work.

 

~~~~~

 

Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.

~~Robert Kennedy

 

~~~~~

 

Anyone else watch the Nate show?  I record it and watch it in the evening because it's on the same time as my soaps.  The other day, he had on some super couponing chicks.  These ladies were awesome!  Hundreds in groceries for pennies on the dollar.  Amazing.  They save ALL coupons.  They work them with the store ads.  They gather as many copies of the paper as they are able to find.  One dumpster dives.  One gets them from neighbors and things. 

 

I like the one girl's coupon system.  I have mine in a file.  Okay but not the most convenient.  She uses clear enveloped pages, like the ones the kids save baseball cards in, and she has them in a loose leaf notebook arranged the way her most shopped store is arranged. 

 

They reminded me of several things I already know.  Yes.  You can combine a store coupon and a manufacturers coupon.  An advertised sale price can also be combined with a coupon.  Keeping that in mind, if you have a bogo coupon and the store is running a bogo, according to them, you bog2 free.  Never tried that.  Have you?

 

~~~~~

 

Don't let what you can't do interfere with what you can do.

~~unknown

 

~~~~~

 

Speaking of savings and free, on the news Monday night, they said one local police station offering free super bowl party hosting kits.  In the kit there is a $5 Discount Drug Mart card and two $5 taxi cards.  Now it's F R E E so why aren't people RUNNING to pick one up?  How could they make you prove you are for sure hosting a party and if you are watching and having fun, can't that be considered a party in itself?

 

~~~~~

 

Now that was one good meatloaf!  Never make it the same, and tonight, it was good!

 

• 3 # ground meat
• 1 stalk celery, chopped fine
• 2 carrots, chopped fine
• 1 medium onion, chopped fine
• 2 eggs
• 1 c. rolled oats
• season salt and garlic pepper to taste
• 1/4 # swiss cheese, chunked small
• 1/4# cheddar cheese, chunked small

    Mix it up and plop it in a baking pan.  Bake at 350 forever.  No really about an hour and fifteen minutes.  I served this with parsley new potatoes and steamed green beans.  Yummy!

 

~~~~~ 

 

Oh come now.  A bumpit on a sixty year old with thinning hair?  Looks like a big old hairy wart!

 

~~~~~ 

 

And today.  First the news.  A little 12 year old girl got an unwanted surprise message on a conversation heart.  They said they couldn't say the word on the news but it was slang for a woman's chest.  They showed it and fuzzed the second word.  It said, "nice t_____"  And then came a commercial.  A Kay Jewelers commercial.  And it was a Valentines commercial.  You've seen it.  Where one of them says that those conversation hearts always tell the truth.  What an unfortunate combination of events!

 

~~~~~

 

I'm done.  My blog is done.  I did the bills and checkbooks.  The kitchen is done.  The laundry is done.  Man, I'm all fulla victory tonight!!!

 

~~~~~

 

We would accomplish many more things if we did not think of them as impossible.

~~Vince Lombardi

 

~~~~~

 

Hugs, y'all.

~~Mama Sage

Just a-bloggin' along (includes BFF 83 I got to be me)

Oh ya.  Got to be me. 

That's pretty much been me for all my life.  I never figured I COULD measure up to what all the popular kids were up to so I didn't even try.  When I was a kid I was never expected to be anything but me.  Just me.  I had a very successful older brother and sister and I never was held up to them and told I should be like them.  I was always encouraged instead to be the best me I could.  That's how I tried to raise my own kids.  And that's the kind of encouragement and guidance I try to pass on to my grandchildren.  It's hard to walk in another's footsteps.  Even if the size is the same, the gait probably isn't.

~~~~~

My beautiful granddaughter Brandi got her braces off just in time for her 18th birthday!!  Beauty has become even more beautiful.

~~~~~

For my prayer partners out there, please pray for a couple of my friends.  Both have just had some heart surgery.  Both...are young.  One is now suffering another problem that they are trying to find the cause for.  Neither would want their name thrown out to the general public.  So, my faith filled friends, please pray that all encompassing prayer for my friends.  Thanks.

And my li'l girls and their moms have been sick too.  Three out of four are still trying to get fully well.  Nasty virus. 

~~~~~

We have to pray with our eyes on God,

not on the difficulties. 

~~Oswald Chambers

~~~~~

I'm having such a hard time keeping with the program.  I didn't do what I NEEDED to do last year and I have to continue doing this year.  We NEED to get this house in order.  And while I'm at it, I'll handle bags and bags of things that have been cast off and not really sorted.  When you toss, you should really take advantage and get something back for what you had.  I've got bills to pay...T A X E S.  Ohhhh woeeeee is me. 

We've taken several bags down to the rec room and my job is to decide what goes to charity and what we shall try to sell.  Things given to charity then must be inventoried and bagged or boxed then taken.  Things to sell must be photographed and listed.  That's where I'm stuck.  Once I get started I know I'll just bust butt to get through it all.  And once we get through the first mountain, if, IF I keep up with things it can run smoothly and sanely.  I've done it before.  I can and WILL do it again.

I actually got started sort of tonight.  Check out my Etsy page!! 

 http://www.etsy.com/shop/MadebyMamaSage

I've begun listing my scarves.  I'm crossing my fingers I'll get some traffic there and things will sell.  This has got to become my income.

~~~~~

I did a baby clothes drawer sort and came up....empty!  Our little girls are growing up so fast!  Amazing.  When our kids were growing up, it seemed like time passed a lot slower.  I still feel like they are new and just born and Emmi, the oldest of our new babies is going to be a year old in less than two months!  Where oh where does time go?

I made myself go upstairs and drag out some of the older yarn I have.  I got so excited and involved in doing those fancy dancy yarns into scarves that I was kind of neglecting the older stuff.  You know, with big ol' needles, even the older yarn becomes beautifully soft and huggy.

~~~~~

I'm still in the use it up mode around here.  At least I'm trying.  I made scalloped potatoes and carrots with ham chunks for dinner the other night.  Mmmm I love it.  Even when it doesn't turn out right.  lol  There are two ways of doing it.  One takes just a little longer and dirties a pan.  I try to avoid that way.  But.  That is the way I should always do it.  When I do it the speedy way, it works about half the time.  The longer way is where you make the white sauce and pour it over everything then bake.  The other way, you layer, dot with butter, sprinkle salt and pepper and flour the repeat repeat, cover, bake and ta daaaa.  It's something that could be good or could change the menu to Potato Soup.  lol

~~~~~

I decided to make the Mama version of gorp.  That's another way to say trail mix.  I wanted it to be healthy and to have antioxidants.  I did my best.  And I put in the things MAMA likes.  When you make it yourself, what you put in and how much are all up to you.

Mama's gorp

•     almonds
•     cashews
•     dried blueberries
•     raisins
•     dried cranberries
•     chocolate covered raisins (less chocolate than M&M's but gives it that li'l chocolate bite)

~~~~~

A baby changes your dinner party conversation

from politics to poops.
~~Maurice Johnstone

~~~~~

Okay tell me.  What is the reasoning here?  They are changing the names of all the schools that are being rebuilt.  They are no longer jr high, middle school, elementary, etc.  They are Community Learning Centers.  So what's up with that?  Anyone in on what the thinking is?

~~~~~

Oh my goodness!  That was the nastiest, ickiest, goopy uck.  It was a micro-mess.  Y U C K !!  I had a couple of packages in the pantry of this warm it up ... stuff.  The tuna is good.  Tuna steaks of various seasonings.  The chicken...was it???  I couldn't be sure!  The BBQ sauce on it was good.  But the pasta!  OH MY GOSH was it awful!  Even the dog didn't want it!

~~~~~

Always out for a bargain, I spied this and wondered how many of you truly take advantage.

If a store is going to offer it free and their deal is the best deal, you double dern betcha I'm going to take advantage of the freebie they are offering.  Eyes open wide so the deals can't hide.

~~~~~

Did I tell you about when we took the babies to Cracker Barrel?  Oh what a fun time!  And Emmi had her first lemon...at least with us...

Don't ask me.  I don't have a clue.  Two of the pictures I uploaded came up sideways.  The rest are fine.  lol  Wish I could post the Melanie pictures too but I can't.  :-(  Not allowed.

~~~~~

When we went for gas the other day we got quite a chuckle.  I was taking winter pictures...and then I got the best winter picture of the day.

Yes seriously this guy was dressed for winter from his waist up and summer from his waist down.  Didn't seem to shiver.  But I did!!

~~~~~

On that note, Blue Eyes Emerson and Mimi Sage are signing off.  But before we do, we need to say

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

to my wonderful hubby, Cliff. 


Hugs to all.

~~Mama Sage