Whirlwind!

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

WHEEW! What a whirlwind, and I am not even sure where it started, but I think that it started when I was complaining that my computer was "doing funny things" and my DH took it to the repair guy.
Maybe it started when my #2 son flew in from Utah in the middle of the night and borrowed my car to go to Va and back.
Next my parents arrived .
Then my #3 son graduated from high school. (Being home schooled this arrangement fell to the HS teacher )
After that was the last minute preparations for DD's wedding.
#3 sons arrival to help.
#3 brother and sister arrival for wedding (another trip for someone to Columbus).
Smoking meat and preparations for rehearsal dinner.
Decorating Church.
Lots of other out of town relatives arrival, each one contributing something to the whirl!
Decorating Reception area, rehearsal, rehearsal dinner for 50 (Maybe only 40 stayed),
last minute alterations :(, wedding and then clean up. All in the same day.

Needless to say by that night I was a wash. Just stuck everything in the basement of the church. I was so grateful that an angel impressed on a friend to spend a couple of hours the next day helping to right the church because son #3 and wife had to return to Columbus for their journey home.

Sunday is always a very busy day for us and then on Monday, I went with Parents and brother & wife went to Amish country.

Unfortunately I have put Spark People on the back burner and not been able to even log on when I sat down. My mind could not even think. I am hoping that today is the beginning of getting every day life back in order.

I haven't weighed in, but am praying that all the effort that I extended will counter the calories that I might have eaten. How do you count all that activity? I must have honestly climbed the stair way close to 100 times in 48 hours. Unfortunately meal preparation was not high priority, so snacking was too often the way to get by.

Bottom line, my only daughter was a beautiful bride; I was grateful to have so many family present from great distances; and there were not major catastrophes left behind from the whirlwind.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

JACKIEBLUE222 6/16/2010 11:50AM

Glad you're back online. I've missed you but figured you were busy with the wedding. Sounds like what we went through with my niece's wedding just the week before. Except I only had 2 days of it, so although those two days were grueling, they were over fast. Plus, I didn't have any of the mental/emotional stress that goes along with the whole thing. I could see it in my sister-in-law. My brother-in-law (the bride's father) died almost two years ago. My DH had the honor of giving Lesa away. While it was an honor, there was of course, an element of sadness in it, and so part of my sister-in-law's stress came from that as well. But Lesa was a beautiful bride and walked down the aisle with a happy smile on her face and all was well in the end. I'm glad your wedding was great. I'm sure you don't begrudge a minute of the hard work. It was all worth it to see your beautiful daughter walk down the aisle. Where did they go on their honeymoon? Now that the work is finished, you should give yourself a break & take a day to relax. You deserve it. Report Inappropriate Comment

LIBBYSUTTON 6/16/2010 7:53AM

WOW!!!!! Wish I could have helped. To GOD be the Glory for helping you thru all this. Report Inappropriate Comment

WESLEYV 6/16/2010 7:42AM

Sounds like you are ready for some time off. Thanks for the good summary and updates. Report Inappropriate Comment

Thank you to those that have served us.

Monday, May 31, 2010

When I saw the Memorial Day tribute on another friends page, I was immediately reminded of one of the most emotional places that I have ever been. In 2008 we were privileged to go to visit our son in Europe. One of the places that he took us was to St. Avold, in France. This is the largest American cemetery on non American soil.

I was struck with all the sons, fathers, and husbands that never returned home in a way that I had never thought of before. I also realized the sheer numbers of families that will never have the opportunity to personally view the place where their loved ones lay. Even to this day I am brought to tears over the immense sadness of this event that occurred before my life began, but still effects many families today.

I am also so very grateful that my son has always returned home alive and well. The emotions of his tours will effect his entire life, as it will all those that are fighting to give us a freedom that so many take for granted.

I fear that too late we as a people will really cherish what our predecessors have tried to maintain. We are willing to give our freedom away, not in battle, but in the very ways that we complacently live our lives.

To honor those that have given so much, we in turn must give of ourselves to serve our communities, to support the freedoms of those around us, and to lift up the reasons that people need the freedom to choose to worship and celebrate. In many countries of the world these chooses are dictated to the people. We have the choices, yet many choose to not participate in them.

Show your appreciation. Make a positive choice and show your support!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

JACKIEBLUE222 6/4/2010 12:22AM

Great blog - so true! We take too much for granted in this country. When I was a kid, we used to sing a song in school titled "Freedom Isn't Free". People forget this - and you're right - so many seem ready to give it away. This country needs to wake up before it's too late. Report Inappropriate Comment

LARRYDU 6/1/2010 9:37AM

Penny I'm a 25-year veteran of the Army and I want to thank you for your wonderful post. It means a lot, especially to us 'older' vets. Sometimes even we forget a little and it;s nice that people like you are out there for us. Thanx again. Report Inappropriate Comment

WESLEYV 5/31/2010 3:37PM

Super blog! May we always take time to remember those who have served our country and to pray for those who are now serving. Comment edited on: 5/31/2010 3:37:45 PM Report Inappropriate Comment

LIBBYSUTTON 5/31/2010 1:56PM

What a good blog. We don't seem to remember the older ones who died for our freedom and we also forget who died for our sins. We need to remember both. Thank you for your wonderful blog. Report Inappropriate Comment

KARLY47 5/31/2010 11:16AM

Thank You For Your Blog Memorial Day is for the war heros that we have God Bless them and My Late husband was a vet...WWII Report Inappropriate Comment

In search of the perfect dog

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

...hot dog that is!

With summer coming up I have been hungry for a really good hot dog. I had stopped with a friend at Hill Billy Hot Dogs and maybe that is what triggered this hunger. The amount of calories and fat is shocking for just 1 hot dog, and who wants to stop at one.

To have a good dog at a reasonable rate I contemplated it a few days and then decided that I can do this. I worked on a recipe for hot dog sauce that has 0 fat. I used TVP with a decent results, considering the fat content. My recipe used no additional salt, although you could. I thought that DH might share (if I can get him to try the TVP thing) and he is salt restricted.

I entered it as Fat Free Hot Dog Sauce on the Spark Recipes. . http://recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-deta
il.asp?recipe=1091614

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

WESLEYV 5/26/2010 8:58AM

Always looking for a good dog, but really need to stay away from the sodium. Hope you find your sauce recipe. By the way, did you write it down on a piece of paper and keep that way. Computers aren't all they are cracked up to be at times. Have a good day and happy eating dogs this summer! Report Inappropriate Comment

SUGARSMOM2 5/25/2010 1:51PM

Here i was thinking you where choicing a dog . a living breathing animal . now i would not even think of biting my best friends leg . so rethinking ... hot dogs yes i have had a gee that would taste good.am not a big fan of hot dog after they told me what my brother in law delivered to the hot dog makers shop . no way ... sorry to each his own . Report Inappropriate Comment

TOPFLIGHTSPARK 5/25/2010 10:02AM

You should come to Tucson and try the Sonoran dogs! Totally delicious! Report Inappropriate Comment

Memorial day ritual

Monday, May 24, 2010

Today my DH and I went down to where his family is from. Where we live there are hill and hollers, but lots of level as well. Where he is from, there is only down or up. We visited 4 different cemeteries. He cleaned one of them off with the weed eater, while I just bagged up the garbage that had collected since last year. Got plenty of cardio, mountain climbing with under 10 lb load. His was over 10 lbs because he had to carry the ww & the blower. I got the clippers, the gas and the trash bags.

These are beautiful, still sites with wonderful views, and lots of family memories. Unfortunately one of the visits was to lay to rest a family member that meet his end too soon in a mining accident. There were lots of well wishers and those wanting to show their respect. I pray that this continues in the coming weeks as his family will certainly need their support.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

WESLEYV 5/25/2010 7:50AM

Just wanted to thank you for going with me and helping with a difficult day. Report Inappropriate Comment

JACKIEBLUE222 5/24/2010 10:36PM

Penney, I'm sorry for the loss of your family member. I'll pray for you and your family for the Lord to give you comfort. It's so sad to have lost another miner. These families have lost so much lately. The WV hills are great for burning calories, aren't they. I've been walking them this past week. Tomorrow I think it'll be a walk by the river. It's all I'll have time for. A walking buddy of mine & I have made it a goal to walk the Ogden 20K in Wheeling next year. My husband runs it every year. Report Inappropriate Comment

VISUALLYRICS 5/24/2010 10:34PM

I have very fond memories of walks in the family cemetery.... Report Inappropriate Comment

KARLY47 5/24/2010 10:09PM

Thank You so much for your blog,I used to take flowers to my families graves ,but I am so happy that someone still does it..Bless you for this Report Inappropriate Comment

Mini-vacation pictures added

Sunday, May 16, 2010

I find that I often write about when things are not what I want them to be, but perhaps neglect to tell about the positive.

Yesterday my DH, a friend and I made a trip to a tiny community that is a distance away to place the ashes of a departed friend in the grave with her deceased husband. Now you may think that this is a totally morbid thing to do, and that is what I expected.

The light began when I had evidently moved her from my spare room closet when a guest was here and couldn't remember what I had done with her. The panic subsided when one of my sons found her on a shelf in the basement.

The weather yesterday was beautiful, even early. I hadn't seen the friend in a few weeks because of schedule complications on both parts, so the visit was pleasant. The ride was enjoyable because we went early and there was very little traffic on the roads. The scenery was magnificent. Green grass, strutting turkeys, braying donkey, curious horses, pastoral roads, meandering stream, sweet peonies, old trees and beautiful view. It was a very nice location for a final resting place for a friend that had known lots of turmoil and unrest in her life.

On the return trip my friend convinced us to stop at the Hillbilly Hot Dogs in Lesage. Now I have driven past this place many times and had no interest in eating there just because of how it looked. You would have to see it to believe it. At her urging, I tried the "WV dog". She got the "junk yard dog". My hot dog was good, but totaled about 500 calories and 20 g fat. Since I don't usually eat hot dogs it tasted very good going down, but didn't settle the best.
Overall, I would say that this was an interesting eating experience. If you have the opportunity, try it. It is definately different.

The rest of the day worked out well and I am so grateful that a day I was not looking forward to, but felt obligated to do, turned out to be nice, low key, and almost like a mini-vacation.
friend & I
at Hillbilly Hotdogs

Check out this "junk yard dog."

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

WESLEYV 5/17/2010 8:13AM

The added pictures are great! Report Inappropriate Comment

WESLEYV 5/16/2010 1:40PM

Glad you enjoyed your day. Next time try that 5 # hamburger or that 1# loaded hot dog. Just kidding. Report Inappropriate Comment

JACKIEBLUE222 5/16/2010 1:31PM

My DH has heard of the Hillbilly Hotdog - apparently it's pretty well known. Neither of us has ever eaten there. I love hotdogs but don't eat them very often - for obvious reasons. I'm glad you found your friends ashes. It would have been weird to know that she was sitting in your house somewhere and you weren't able to locate her. Glad your day went well. Have a good Sunday and a good week as well. What kind of hotdog did your DH have? Comment edited on: 5/16/2010 1:33:54 PM Report Inappropriate Comment

LIBBYSUTTON 5/16/2010 9:25AM

What you did was an unselfish act of love. You were a wonderful friend to JH and she loved you. Thanks for carring out her final wishes. Love, Libby Report Inappropriate Comment