Another end, and another beginning.

Thursday, December 31, 2009

I am home from work, had a great day today. Not busy, not rushed, very pleasant for a change. What a great way to end the year. Dad is home from the hospital (had his appendix out yesterday morning) and doing well. Tomorrow I will work again, hope it is as great as today was.

As I reflect on my year, I must say I have been blessed. I have a job, a good job that is pleasant most of the time. I have a family that I love and loves me back. The grands are just that, grand. We have had few illness this year, and those were minor. I have a God that watches over me and keeps me on the right track. What more is there in life.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

MAKULEWAHINE 12/31/2009 8:26PM

Amen! I agree. Spent my day with grandkids. I too am blessed with a job that I love, family that loves me, and a roof over my head. We need to acknowledge the good that is ours and be thankful. Happy New Year. Report Inappropriate Comment

Notes from my dad.

Saturday, December 26, 2009

My dad is known for passing along, shall we say "interesting" e-mails. I got this one today and thought I would share.

WHY MEN ARE NEVER DEPRESSED:

Men Are Just Happier People .
Your last name stays put.
The garage is all yours.
Wedding plans take care of themselves.
Chocolate is just another snack.
You can never be pregnant.
Car mechanics tell you the truth.
The world is your urinal.
You never have to drive to another gas station restroom because this one is just too icky.
You don't have to stop and think of which way to turn a nut on a bolt.
Same work, more pay.
Wrinkles add character.
People never stare at your chest when you're talking to them.
New shoes don't cut, blister, or mangle your feet.
One mood all the time.
Phone conversations are over in 30 seconds flat.
You know stuff about tanks and engines.
A ten-day vacation requires only one suitcase.
You can open all your own jars.
You get extra credit for the slightest act of thoughtfulness.
Your underwear is $8.95 for a three-pack.
Three pairs of shoes are more than enough.
You never have strap problems in public.
You are unable to see wrinkles in your clothes.
Everything on your face stays its original color.
The same hairstyle lasts for years, maybe decades.
You only have to shave your face and neck.
You can play with toys all your life.
One wallet and one pair of shoes -- one color for all seasons.
You can wear shorts no matter how your legs look.
You can 'do' your nails with a pocket knife.
You have freedom of choice concerning growing a mustache.
You can do Christmas shopping for 25 relatives on December 24 in 25 minutes.
Doctors don't take nearly as long "examining" you.
No wonder men are happier.

Send this to the women who can handle it
and to the men who will enjoy reading it.

Ok ladies, we need some come backs now.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

TERRIEJO53 12/27/2009 1:53PM

Bev ... I enjoyed this so much I copied it from your blog and pasted it into an e-mail to pass on to my "Cute Forwards" address group. I know the men on that list will be happy to see one that's uplifting for men instead of bashing them. Report Inappropriate Comment

LOULOUBELLE2 12/27/2009 1:16PM

Love the one about opening jars...this is what happens to me: I can't open the jar, even though I try, I give it to DH and he opens it without any effort, saying "You almost had it"!!!! I could just smack him, but I don't as I'm thankful I have my "jar opener" around. I've seen this before and it always makes me giggle...thanks for sharing. Report Inappropriate Comment

POUNDSTOGO3 12/27/2009 12:45PM

I didn't know you knew my DH. He wouldn't have clothes if I didn't buy them and he has just the bare amount. How realistic! Report Inappropriate Comment

MAKULEWAHINE 12/27/2009 10:02AM

Thanks for the morning chuckle. Oh so true. Maybe we need an attitude adjustment and not take things so seriously. Me, i"m half way there. LOL Report Inappropriate Comment

WANNABESEXYMOM 12/27/2009 9:45AM

That sounds like a man especially the urinal. wish I could go any where. It sounds just like my boyfriend. Report Inappropriate Comment

MAGNIFICENTMAGG 12/27/2009 12:31AM

The shoes. I don't think I would just want 3 pairs of shoes. I wish women's shoes were both fashionable and comfortable. I wish that you could go hiking or running in 3 inch heels like in the movies. Report Inappropriate Comment

More adventures in life.

Sunday, November 08, 2009

Yesterday began the 2nd annual Pinhoti 100 run. www.pinhoti100.com/ DH and I work aid station 17 at the 89.6 mile mark which is on a dirt woods road near a small church. We have a wonderful time and all (most) of the runners and their crew are really great. We set up and have warm soup, roasted potatoes, PBJ sandwiches, sliced fruit, cookies, first aid, and encouragement to the runners as they pass through. The runners were supposed to begin in Heflin at 6am, but got a late start due to transportation problems that morning. We were to have our station set up at 7:15 and plan to stay till 9 Sunday morning. Since we were going to be there all night, I had everything planned. There were 3 others who were going to help out till about midnight, and a ham radio operator from a local club. To keep us going I fixed 2 pounds of tuna salad and fruit for dinner. I precooked biscuits, bacon, and sausage for breakfast. I made banana nut muffins, oatmeal cookies and hot chocolate to supplement the food provided for the runners. I had everything packed into the RV so I would have the generator, tables, chairs, utensils, bed for runners who needed a break, hot water, lights and music ... . Weather was great, no rain expected, a bit cool, but we had a heater in the RV.

DH who hates to get anywhere early waits till 6:30 to leave the house. It is a 15 minute drive in the car, 25 going slow in the RV. We hop in, crank it up, and........no headlights. Fuses are ok, can all blow at the same time? Nothing worked, so grab the truck, start repacking things...what do we have to have? Runners food, tables, get the little generator, pop up awning, oh yes, gotta heat their food, so crock pot (will the generator handle it?) no refrigeration, so tuna has to stay home, plates, cups, spoons, knives, hot chocolate, paper towels, water, chairs, thermos bottles (where the heck are they?) ..... Hope we grabbed it all. Jump in, take off.

We get there right at 7:15, radio operator is waiting on us and she and her son graciously help set up. They had updates for us. There were 69 registered, 3 no shows, and 20 had already withdrawn. Thank goodness I had pre-cooked some potatoes so they were ready to go. DH had gotten his old camp stove and it worked (for a little while) to heat the soup and water for the hot chocolate. Our friends remembered to pack some fire wood and DH gathered some dead fall in the woods to keep it going. The first runner came through at 9:30. He had run 89 miles over mountains on trails and woods roads in 15 hours. Next runner was at 10:30, then our friends left about 11, so it was all ours after that. More and more runners withdrew and a few made it through before sunrise, but most of them made it to us after sunrise.

Seems we managed to pack enough to make it, ended up having to heat the soup in the pot on the fire, but that worked. The sweepers came through about 8:40 and let us know the trail was clear and we could pack up and go home. We packed up, too supplies back to the organizer, and got home about 10. I couldn't stand it, so I tried the lights on the RV and they worked perfectly. We put away the our tables, chairs, etc, fixed lunch for MIL, then went to bed for a few hours.

We are already making plans to do it again next year. Life is an adventure, or it is nothing at all.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

MAKULEWAHINE 11/8/2009 10:53PM

What a great experience. Even with all the odd things going wrong you kept an upbeat attitude and enjoyed the time you were there. It's great when you have something like that to look forward to each year. Report Inappropriate Comment

R-U-JELLEN 11/8/2009 10:48PM

Wow! What a fantastic day! You really did have an adventure. I can't believe the run is so long (I am assuming it is 100 miles). What a great thing for you to have the aid station for them with so much food, etc. Sounds like you really had a work out, too. That was odd about the lights--makes you wonder, doesn't it? Report Inappropriate Comment

Family Reunion 2009

Saturday, October 24, 2009

Today was DH's annual family reunion at our house. This year the yard is flooded in places and it was quite chilly. But we were up at 5 to put the turkeys in the smoker and get things started. We had a total of 31 who made it this year, some had to work, others were ill. This is our group picture (some had to leave for work and naps before we took the picture).



The lake was over full, but the kids had fun anyway.



And the swing set is always popular.



And let's not forget the food. We had smoked turkey, BBQ, fried chicken, burgers, broccoli salad, baked beans, cole slaw, potato salad, hash brown casserole, fresh corn, butter beans, deviled eggs, fruit salad, chips and home made salsa, boiled peanuts, pound cake with strawberries, banana bread, and chocolate pudding.



Plans are already being made for next year. But now I am very tired and going to bed.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

LINDA25427 11/4/2009 10:34PM

Sounds wonderful . Nice family picture . Report Inappropriate Comment

R-U-JELLEN 11/1/2009 10:44PM

Sounds (and looks) like you all had a great time. We used to attend my hubby's family reunion in south Texas every year but haven't been since we started having grandchildren. My FIL comes from a family of 10 and the reunions also included HIS uncle's families. Several times there were over 200 people attending. Needless to say it was not held at anyone's house. LOL Jo Report Inappropriate Comment

EDWARDS1411 10/29/2009 10:32PM

And a beautiful time was had by all!!! A lot of hard work, but worth every minute. Thanks for sharing the pics!!! Report Inappropriate Comment

MAKULEWAHINE 10/25/2009 2:04PM

I love reunions. They give everyone a chance to catch up and enjoy each others company. It is tiring but worth it. Good job and good napping. Report Inappropriate Comment

TERRIEJO53 10/25/2009 12:40PM

Wow, Bev ... dinner for 31 ... no wonder you're tired! It sounds like everyone must have a great time if plans are already underway for next year. Will someone else have the pleasure (and work) of hosting next year's reunion, or is it always at your house? I really enjoyed the pictures. Looks like another inch or two of water would have put the swing set out of commission! Report Inappropriate Comment

PAGONA 10/24/2009 11:33PM

That is so cool, I just returned from my home town of New Orleans, LA for my 25th High School Reunion and at the same time had Sister Reunion 5 sister and we have never been in one place at the same time. It was cool Report Inappropriate Comment

Quilting at Camp Cheerio

Monday, October 12, 2009

Thursday, we all arrived before dinner and carried our supplies upstairs in Sloan Center, set up our areas, handed out our gifts, and showed off some of our finished projects since last year. There was a school group sharing the camp, but we barely saw or heard them except at meals. Dinner was salad bar, lasagna (regular or vegetarian), garlic bread, and peach cobbler. Then we went back to our space and started sewing up a storm. We finished up the tea cups for the camp's wall hanging, and started on our individual projects. We had our sleep aid and most went to the rooms about 10, but Jennifer and I stayed till about 12:30.


Friday I got up early and took a walk around the camp (saw LOTS of deer) before breakfast (fresh fruit, French toast, sausage, cereal, milk, juice and all the coffee or tea you can carry). Short walk around the camp then back to our space to sew, eat, and play games. Linda (toolgranny) taught us to dye fabrics and even provided 3 FQs for each of us to dye. Then we dug into our own stash and started having lots of fun with over dying. I dyed some WOW, then re-used the dye to make a lighter shade of the same color. I'm going to use them to make pinwheels. I gotta use up my stash so I can start making my own hand dyes. We finished up the tea cup hanging, and worked on our own projects till lunch (salad bar and home made pizza). Another walk around camp and back to the room for more dying, sewing and games till dinner (salad bar, homemade chicken pie, steamed vegetables and blueberry tart). Another walk after dinner, more sewing, games 9ncluding LRC for charm squares, sleep aid then off to bed for some, Jennifer and I stayed up till 1 sewing and cutting up. A few counselors popped in looking for various things, but other than that we didn't see anyone else. The school kids had left and some of the weekend campers (Y-guides) were arriving, but it was still nice and quiet. The leaves are noticeably more colorful even in just one day here.


Saturday another walk around camp before breakfast (fresh fruit, eggs, bacon, grits, biscuits, cereal, juice, milk, coffee, tea). Another walk around camp and back to our work room. The rest of the Y-guides arrived (it was father and child camp). Back to the room for another time of sewing for Jennifer and me, but Linda, Fran, Teresa and Linda went on a field trip to Sparta to see the craft and thrift shops. Linda bought some soft leather gloves at the thrift store and made leather thimbles out of the finger tips. What great things you learn at camp. We had some rain while they were gone, and they made it back just in time for lunch (salad bar, penne pasta with read or white sauce, garlic bread and steamed vegetables). All the Y-guide tribes had reserved tables with their names on them, but they forgot a table for us, so the counselors made us one that just said "Quilters", but we decided we need a tribe name. We are open to suggestions (mine was " the Sloan Slugs" but it didn't go over well). Another short walk around camp and back to our fabric. After lunch we had our quilt show which is always popular. Several of the staff came by and picked out their favorite. After the show we sewed till dinner (salad bar, prime rib, roasted fresh vegetables, steamed vegetables, and brownies). We went to dinner early so we could present the tea cup hanging to them before dinner. We asked it be hung so the kitchen staff could enjoy it, and they did. Another walk around camp then back for sewing, games and fellowship. We played LRC for charm squares again while enjoying our sleep aid, the off to bed for some (yup, Jen and I stayed up till 1 again).


Sunday was a late day so we got to sleep in. I took another walk (no deer today) before breakfast (fresh fruit, pancakes, sausage, cereal, milk, juice, COFFEE). They set up a sandwich bar so we could make our own sack lunches and the kitchen staff came out and thanked us for the wall hanging. Then back for packing and sewing. Jennifer started a new quilt, I started making quilt sandwiches and everyone helped me pin. We got 5 done before I ran out of backing and had to quit. But it was time for lunch and packing the car, so that is ok. Teresa, Jennifer and I were the last to leave. We ate our lunch in Sloan then packed up our cars to head home. No walk after lunch, 15 trips up and down the stairs was enough. I had a long drive (8 hours driving, plus time for stops) and made it home about 9pm).


It was a wonderful trip, the colors were really getting bright by the time we left. The rooms and facilities are simple, but well maintained and the staff couldn't be nicer. Whatever we needed they did their best to provide. Even though there were over 200 other people there, we rarely saw or heard them except at meals. Thanks to Jennifer for making all the arrangements, and to Linda for the new hand dyed addiction.

Here is a link to some of my pictures from camp.


s10.photobucket.com/albums/a122/G-MA
MMA/Camp%20Cheerio%20NC%202009/?albumv
iew=grid

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

LOSETONEED 10/17/2009 5:54PM

Thanks for sharing your pictures with us. It looks like you had a very peaceful time while on your walks. Report Inappropriate Comment

POUNDSTOGO3 10/16/2009 5:48PM

What a beautiful place! I've never gone on a retreat but have one niece who goes a couple times a year and always sounds like so much fun. I know how much I enjoy our church groups quilting weekends but we are home every night. We've talked about going away for a weekend but most gals preferred to buy fabric instead. Thanks for sharing !! Report Inappropriate Comment

POUNDSTOGO3 10/16/2009 5:47PM

What a beautiful place! I've never gone on a retreat but have one niece who goes a couple times a year and always sounds like so much fun. I know how much I enjoy our church groups quilting weekends but we are home every night. We've talked about going away for a weekend but most gals preferred to buy fabric instead. Thanks for sharing !! Report Inappropriate Comment

POUNDSTOGO3 10/16/2009 5:45PM

What a beautiful place! I've never gone on a retreat but have one niece who goes a couple times a year and always sounds like so much fun. I know how much I enjoy our church groups quilting weekends but we are home every night. We've talked about going away for a weekend but most gals preferred to buy fabric instead. Thanks for sharing !! Report Inappropriate Comment

POUNDSTOGO3 10/16/2009 5:43PM

What a beautiful place! I've never gone on a retreat but have one neice who goes a couple times a year and always sounds like so much fun. I know how much I enjoy our church groups quilting weekends but we are home every night. We've talked about going away for a weekend but most gals preferred to buy fabric instead. Thanks for sharing !! Report Inappropriate Comment

POUNDSTOGO3 10/16/2009 5:42PM

What a beautiful place! I've never gone on a retreat but have one neice who goes a couple times a year and always sounds like so much fun. I know how much I enjoy our church groups quilting weekends but we are home every night. We've talked about going away for a weekend but most gals preferred to buy fabric instead. Thanks for sharing !! Report Inappropriate Comment

PERFECTFORTHS 10/12/2009 9:19PM

Camp Cheerio is located in a beautiful place. I used to go there as a child. I enjoyed your story and your pics. Thanks much. Bo. Comment edited on: 10/12/2009 9:20:58 PM Report Inappropriate Comment

KATIECATS1 10/12/2009 4:46PM

That sounds like so much fun! I'm jealous! Report Inappropriate Comment

MAKULEWAHINE 10/12/2009 4:44PM

What a wonderful experience. Such joy in making things and enjoying the outdoors. Glad you had a good time. Report Inappropriate Comment