Date Night...

Since I was a teenager, I've always thought of Friday night as date night.  And with hubby's work schedule in recent years, they've been far and few between.  But that's all changed, and now we can go out again on Friday night.

Here we are last night, doesn't he look thrilled?  Do you think he even wants to date me??  I'm thinking by the looks of this picture, maybe not, he doesn't look very happy.   I,  however, was absolutely estatic to be  going out on Friday night!  We were supposed to double date with Rich and V, but they were grounded and couldn't go.

And how was my evening?  Well, we went to Deerhead, where I had a catfish sandwich that I "thought" I wanted, but I was drooling at everybody else scarfing down ooey gooey pizza.  So I decided right then and there that I want pizza for my birthday dinner next week.  Got that family, pizza, preferably John's homemade, which is the best pizza in the world, seriously, it is!

Then we went to the movies, saw Wall Street, Money Never Sleeps, which I thought hubby would enjoy, and he did.  However, yours truly thought it was the most gawdawful movie I've ever seen in my life.  All that Wall Street lingo, I was lost from the beginning.  But he's sat through enough chick flicks with me, that it didn't hurt me to watch this.  Compromise, remember.

And it was fun to get out, and he did tell me I looked nice and opened my car door for me, so all in all, it was an "okay" date.  I think I'll go out with him again, if he asks...

Retirement...

Hubby is retired now, yesterday was his last day working.  It sounds strange even saying it, and we're both still trying to absorb it all.  He says he doesn't feel retired, and I've been preparing for this for months now, but now that it's actually here, it's ummmm, interesting?

I've had a lot of advice from girlfriends.  My friend Mary said it best when she said "when they first retire, it's a dance, with you both trying to figure out the steps."  

Another friend suggested that we each have our own room and that the other doesn't enter without permission.  I mentioned this to LC, so he has been standing at the sunroom door, waving at me.  Somehow I don't think that's going to work.  But I've always been a pretty good dancer, I think I'll give that a try first.

I think our biggest challenge will be the difference in schedules and energy levels.  He gets up before dawn, goes like a bat outta hell until noon, eats lunch, then collapses in his recliner watching the Western Channel and napping.

I prefer to get up between seven and eight, be quiet for the next half hour or so, have my coffee and begin my day.  This morning he was cleaning out the dishwasher at 7am with the television blaring.  And although it was great that he did that, I would have rather him done it a bit later.  And so it begins. 

Retirement means compromising for both of us, kind of like when we were first married.  Well, not exactly, but you get my drift.  It will be interesting for awhile, then we will settle into a routine, I'm sure and get on with it.  The kids are thrilled that we can visit on weekends now, we're so happy that he doesn't have to work holidays, which means I don't have to cook that darned turkey anymore, we will go to their houses.

I was an only child, I made every holiday dinner all these years, so I'm more than ready to let the younger generation take over.  We're going to John and Deanna's next week.  They are happily planning it all out,  and I'm happily letting them.  I will just play with Abby and let them go for it.  And hubby, will he be relaxing? Of course not, he will be up before dawn, doing a major reorganization in John's garage.  He's absolutely thrilled to have a project.  And me, I'll be sleeping, hopfully until eight...

Yep, I'm looking forward to this rainy night, FINALLY, rain!!!!

Check out the threads…

Can you guess who bought her this outfit??? Of course you can, yep it was me, Grammie!

A girl is never to young to wear a bit of leopard you know.

Look at how long her hair is getting.  Is there going to be another redhead in our family, or is it the lighting.  I’m thinking red curls may be in our future…

Looking forward to Thanksgiving…

Especially this year, since hubby is retiring next week and won’t have to work thru the holidays. 

Like most of you, we stick to our family traditions, but we’ve decided to shake it up just a little bit this year and abandon Dear Abby’s Pecan Pie, which we have been making for the past thirty something years in favor of trying Pioneer Woman’s Pecan Pie.  That Pioneer Woman is totally awesome, so her pie must be good.

And we’re going to make the recipe I got from the LA Food Times for Banana Coconut Cream Pie with Coconut Crust, which is nectar of the gods, and has more calories than you want to think about.  It’s the crust that takes it to the next level, butter and coconut, why wouldn’t it be good.  But damn those calories, it’s Thanksgiving, I’m gonna eat it alllllll, girlfriends…

If you’re interested, here are the links -

Lawry’s Coconut Banana Cream Pie>>>

Pioneer Woman’s Pecan Pie, the pie that’ll make you cry>>>

Gobble, gobble Waddle, waddle… ~ jan

Wouldn't you kill for this closet!!!

Source:  Julie Mihaly

If I were brave…

This is so awesome, women living life to the fullest.  My friend, Martha Bowman is one of those women.  See her at 3:00 into the video.

Marie Osmond talking about her son’s death on Oprah…

If you missed seeing Marie Osmond on Oprah yesterday, you  missed the most moving, tragic, heartfelt television show I’ve ever seen.  She was talking about the death of her son, she was so honest and open and she’s  still so brokenhearted, it was really difficult to watch her talk about this and experience her pain, but it was so touching that she would open up and talk so honestly about this.  I hope that it was a healing experience for her.

I’ve been a fan of hers, always.  In the early 90’s, we were at the annual Toy Show in New York, it’s a big deal, all of big guns are there.  We had a booth just a few aisles away from the booth that was selling Marie’s dolls.  And one afternoon she came and worked in her booth, meeting people, talking about her dolls.  I stood in front of her booth and watched her all afternoon, so close to her that I could almost reach out and touch her.

She looked beautiful that day, I’ll never forget what she was wearing.  A  brown velvet blazer, a long brown paisley skirt and tall brown suede boots.  She was gracious and kind to all of the people, and her trademark laugh just rang through the building.

I’m including a link to parts of this show from Oprah’s site in case you missed it.  I had no idea that the quality of her voice was so good that she could sing opera flawlessly, but you will see what I mean when you hear her sing “Pie Jesu.”  And if you scroll down there are several video clips from the show that you can watch.

It was truly a once in a lifetime experience, by far the best hour I’ve ever spent watching Oprah.

Here’s the link>>>

I wish they had included more of the interview, so I went to YouTube and sure enough, there is lots more on their site than on the Oprah link.

Here’s the YouTube link>>>

If you watch this, ladies, get out your kleenex, this will tug at every mother’s heartstrings.

Call your children today, hug them if you can and tell them how much you love them.  Keep them close to your heart and be so grateful that you have them, I know I am.

~ jan

A giggle for you tonight….

My friend Marti sent this to me, it’s too good not so share.  Those of you who share my wicked sense of humor will love this… ~ jan

The Cat

Last Saturday night we were  dressed and ready to  go out to a Party . We turned on a night light, turned the answering machine on, covered our pet parakeet and put the cat in the backyard.

Because we knew we would be having a few drinks we phoned  a cab  company and requested a taxi. The taxi arrived and we opened the front door to leave the house.

As we walked out the door, the cat we had put out in the yard, scoots back into the house. We didn't want the cat shut in the house because she always tries to eat the bird.

My wife  goes on out to the taxi, while I went back inside to get the cat. The cat runs upstairs, with me in hot pursuit. Waiting in the cab, my wife doesn't want the driver to know that the house will be empty for the night. So, she explains to the taxi driver that I will be out soon, 'He's just going upstairs to say Goodbye to my mother.'

A few minutes later, I get into the cab. 'Sorry I took so long,' I said, as we drove away. 'That stupid bitch was hiding under the bed. I had to poke her ass with a coat hanger to get her to come out! She tried to take off, so I grabbed her by the neck. Then, I had to wrap her in a blanket to keep her from scratching me. But it worked! I hauled her fat ass downstairs and threw her out into the back yard! She better not shit in the vegetable garden again!'

The silence in the cab was deafening.

Wow, this was a long time coming…

Nisha and I have been friends forever it seems, since we were our twenties.  We both waited a long time for grandchildren, but now she has her Gabby, who is almost three months old and I have my Abby who is thirteen months today.  And no, we can’t keep their names straight, we both call them by the wrong names.

We met them for lunch, Lindsay and Abby came, too.  It’s so special when your friends are grammies too. It was such a good time…

Does anybody remember McDonald’s Cheddar Melt?

I saw a commercial today that McDonald’s is bringing back that icky McRib, yet again. That is the nastiest sandwich known to man, why they resurrect the tired old thing every few years is beyond me.

Back in the 90’s, they did have an awesome sandwich, the Cheddar Melt.  Remember that one?  It was a quarter beef patty with melted cheese and grilled onions on a rye bun, and it was awesome.  But do they ever bring it back? Nooooooooo.  And would I eat it if they did??? Yesssssssss.

I never eat fast food anymore, but you betcha I would hotfoot it over to Mickey D’s faster than a New York minute if it ever reappeared on their menu. 

Just in time for the holidays, a Cherpumple pie cake….

Yes, dear hearts, it’s a Cherpumple, it’s the dessert version of a turdurken (chicken stuffed into a duck, stuffed into a turkey) which we tried, at Ryan’s insisence, a few Thanksgivings ago.  I was not a fan.

The Cherpumple consists of a cherry, pumpkin and apple pie, all stacked on top of each other, baked into a three layer cake batter and frosted.  Sounds just horrid, doesn’t it, but it’s for real.  Here’s the video…

Can she really be this big?

Cuppycake walked all the way thru Costco yesterday holding onto Daddy’s hand.  Doesn’t seem possible that she’s old enough to do this…

I have a new camera, and I LOVE it!!!!

If any of you are in the market for a new camera this fall, this one is wonderful.  It’s the Canon SX30 IS – not a little camera, this one has substance, but still not so big that you can’t put it in a larger purse.  It has a brownie finder, as well as a LED screen, which is a must for me.  Hey I’m a product of the 50’s, I love view finders, and a grab bar on the side – the pictures I’m taking are so good, it’s the best camera I’ve ever owned.  It takes HD movies, too.

It’s 14.1 megapixels with a 35X zoom.  That’s not a typo, the zoom is 35X.  Amazing for a point and shoot.

Hooterville has been helping me set it up, I’m actually taking pictures, programming the settings, instead of putting it on automatic thanks to her help.  I’m not a photographer, but this camera makes it easy for anyone to take good pictures.  Click on the camera, it will link you to Amazon and you can read all about it. 

My friend, Trish, bought it first, and now my buddy Carlene has purchased it.  What a great camera this is…

Here’s the link to an online photo album of pictures I took at Ryan’s.  If you like horses, you might enjoy this.

~ jan

Williams-Sonoma Fall Forest Piecrust Cutters, Set of 4

 

Don’t you just love this set of piecrust cutters for Thanksgiving.  My mother always used a leaf from the yard and cut her own leaves for the top of pumpkin pies.  It’s such a nice memory.  These are just a bit more refined…

If you’re interested – here’s the link>>>

Donna Reed Show Theme Song

How about a blast from the past this morning...

Donna Reed Show Theme Song

So, I think I’ll fix a bit of breakfast…

I have a blueberry muffin in the freezer, I’ll just defrost it, oops, no microwave.

Okay, I’ll quickly poach an egg, nope, can’t do that either, no microwave.

But I did manage to brew more coffee without the pot overflowing.  But why didn’t all of the beans grind?  Some are still whole???

Okay, I’ll live with it…

Note to self:  Never again attempt to defrost a blueberry muffin in a paper cupcake liner in the toaster oven.  Without going into details, because dear hubby reads this blog, let’s just say that it wasn’t pretty, ladies….

Why me?

Life can be going along just fine, everything is smooth, no worries and then kaboom, it all goes to hell in a hand basket.  Here’s a recap of my last twenty-four hours -

• The microwave died, just totally blacked out.  Since it’s over the range, it’s pricey – $250 to fix a seven year old microwave or $400 to buy a new one.  Grrrrrr
  
• The fireplace quit working.  Hubby got it going, now it quit again this morning.
  
• The washer isn’t spinning clothes out, I pulled out a load this morning and they were soggy.
  
• Maggie upchucked in the floor, she’s fine now, who knows what that was about.
  

My can opener decided to quit opening cans, it’s in the trash.

My coffeepot overflowed for no apparent reason.

And that’s what’s going on in Heavensville this morning.  If bad things happen in three’s, then I’ve had more than my share.  Hope your Friday is better than mine!

Grammie’s thoughts about my one year old granddaughter….

I’m writing this blog for myself, more than others, because Abby is changing so quickly now and I want to always remember what she was doing when she was almost thirteen months old, and when I put the entries here, I will always have a record. So if you’re tired of baby posts, I totally understand, just skip over this.  It’s just me, being a sentimental grammie today...

She’s talking now, not just babbling or repeating words, she actually understands what she is saying.  I always say it’s like a light bulb has switched on and she comprehends now.

She presses her little hands to her chest and says, “baby.”  And sometimes when you say “Abby” she presses her hands to her chest.  She tries really hard to say “Abigail” and she’s getting better at it.

She points to the M&M’s and squeals “Puppy.”  She claps her little hands in time with music and she dances to the songs on the Disney Channel.

She’s toddling around, still likes to hold Mommy and Daddy’s hand as she walks around the room, but she does take a lot of steps on her own.  Sometimes you can see intense concentration, and other times she forgets she’s not holding on and just walks.

She shoves toys under the couch, and then lays down with her little bottom in the air and peers underneath the couch to see what’s there.

She pretends to talk on her little cellphone – she talks to it and then listens, hoping it will say something.

She prefers her books to her toys this month, turning pages endlessly and putting them in your lap for you to read to her.

When you put her in the crib and walk away, she waves and says, “bye, bye” “bye, bye”. 

She says “hi” to you whenever she sees you and get this huge grin on her face.  When I talk to her on the phone she yells “hi” to me over and over again.  Then she babbles a long string of words, which, unfortunately, I can’t understand.

She loves to roll her red ball, and gets so excited she wiggles all over and squeals at the top of her lungs.  Lindsay plays ball with her the best, she can really get her wound up.

She laid her little head on Uncle John’s shoulder and hugged him when he kissed her goodbye last weekend, and yes, I cried when I saw it.

Auntie Dee-Dee dresses her up in the most girly outfits she can find and then we both ooh and aah about how adorable she looks.

She’s Daddy’s girl, goes to find him when he’s in another room and loves visiting him in his office.  As soon as she hears his voice, she stops what she’s doing and goes to him.  He’s such a good father, he spends so much time with her, and is always focusing in on her and what she is doing.

And she thinks Grandpa is wonderful, tool.  She reaches for him and loves riding around his arms.  They go outside and look at the cows, he buckles her in her car seat and pushes her stroller, he’s totally besotted with her.

She sits in her high chair and when you offer her food that she doesn’t want, or when she gets full she shakes that little head back and forth and goes, “no, no, no, no, no.”

She’s really an independent little girl, she definitely wants to do things “her way.”

She loves it when her Mama sings to her and dances with her.  Her little eyes just shine when Lindsay comes into the room.  Lindsay sings and dances “Boom, Shakalka Boom Boom” with her in her arms, and Abby shimmies her little shoulders and laughs. Linds has repeated this little nursery rhyme to her since she was tiny and she loves it, jumping up and down on her lap when she says it -

Five little monkeys jumping on the bed,
One fell off and bumped his doodle head.
Mama called the Doctor and the Doctor said,
"No more monkeys jumping on the bed!"

And how does she react to me?  Oh, she reaches for me to take her, and of course I just melt.  She loves playing with me, and always gives me huge smiles.  We play peek-a-boo and patty-cake and itsy bitsy spider and sing silly little songs.  She bends her little head down for me to kiss her and snuggles on my lap with her blanket.  We’re quite a pair, Abby and I…

My pal Violet, a must have!

Abby has this toy and she adores it.  It comes with software so you program Violet with your computer, and you can program in your child's name, favorite color, favorite animal, and favorite food. You can also select five songs for it to play and five different lullabies (for a total of ten personalized songs).  You push on the paws to choose what you want Violet to say.

Lindsay keeps this in the car, and Abby sits in her car seat, clutching Violet and listening to the songs and verses.  Last weekend I heard her softly saying “woof, woof” and then oh-oh – just like Violet was saying.  It says her name, “Abigail” and it also spells it.  It won’t be long until she starts repeating that, too, she’s picking up words really fast now.  She’ll be looking out the window, or smiling at us, but all the time she’s doing that, her little fingers are pressing on Violet’s paws. It’s just the cutest toy I’ve seen in a long time.

If you have a baby or toddler in your life, trust me on this one, this is inexpensive and it’s a fantastic gift.  Just read the reviews, people love this.

If you have a little boy, there is Scout, you can see him on the link I’m sending you.

Barb, are you reading this – put this one on your list, girlfriend, Gia would love it!

Here’s the link, Violet is only $14.99 on Amazon – what a deal!

Felt Playhouse

If Abby were older, this would be an adorable gift for her.  It’s a felt playhouse that fits over a card table.

I first heard about these last year, I “think” Carlene was the one who sent me a picture.  I found this on Facebook this morning, with details about how to buy one, or design and make your own.

Maybe some of you have a little one in your life and might be interested, if so, here’s the link>>>

And here are Google Images of lots of these, tons of ideas of different designs.  Soooo cute!

Inspired Ideas

My friend, Amy, over at Inspireco has put together an amazing online Christmas magazine.  It's 170 pages, chocked full of things you can make for your holiday season.

Here's the link to the magazine.  Click on her magazine, and when it loads, flip through the pages, and look for the little dots at the bottom of the page, it will take you to all of her additional pages.

You will enjoy this, pinkie swear.

~ jan

Another one of those simple things…

I’ve been looking for a small basket for my tea and Splenda, so I can sit in on the counter instead of digging through the cabinet every time I want to brew a cup.  I found the perfect one last weekend and was just thrilled.

It doesn’t take a lot to make me happy at this age, a little thing like this is such a kick in the pants.

~ jan

Men Schmen!

---

40 years of marriage..

A married couple in their early 60s was celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary in a quiet, romantic little restaurant.

Suddenly, a tiny yet beautiful fairy appeared on their table. She said, 'For being such an exemplary married couple and for being loving to each other for all this time, I will grant you each a wish.'

The wife answered, 'Oh, I want to travel around the world with my darling husband The fairy waved her magic wand and - poof! - two tickets for the Queen Mary II appeared in her hands.

The husband thought for a moment: 'Well, this is all very romantic,
but an opportunity like this will never come again. I'm sorry my love, but my wish is to have a wife 30 years younger than me.

The wife, and the fairy, were deeply disappointed, but a wish is a
wish.

So the fairy waved her magic wand and poof!...the husband became 92 years old.

The moral of this story:

Men who are ungrateful bastards should remember fairies are female.....

Twick or Tweet…

A vintage Andy and Barney commercial….

Senior citizens should NOT ride around in a Corvette…

When I was in my late 30’s and early 40’s I drove a Corvette and loved tooling around in it.  But that was then and this is now, and now I just feel silly.  Nothing worse than old people driving around in a Vette, they don’t look cool, they look like they are trying to recapture their youth and can’t face growing older.  Fast, low slung cars are for the young, not for old geezers who can barely get in and out of them, which was exactly what we are!  Everybody stares at you, some guy was checking me out, he saw that blonde hair from the back, and then when he saw my face, you could just see his eyes bulge.  He was probably thinking, “what is that old woman doing in a car like this?”  Poor feller.

We had car problems when we visited John and Deanna, so they kept our car to take to the shop and John sent us home in his Corvette.  Not only is it bright Tweety Bird yellow, which just screams, “look at me, look at me” but it’s also a convertible and the most gawdawful, uncomfortable car imaginable when you have a three hour drive with two dogs sitting on your lap.  Even John is tired of it, he seldom drives it and is getting ready to sell it and buy a “sedan.”

Maggie was terrified.  All of the wind noise, coupled with her dislike of interstates anyway, just drove her over the edge.  She kept clawing me, trying to climb to the back seat, but of course there was no back seat. She was cowering on LC’s lap, just trembling, and we finally stopped and got her carrier out of the trunk and put it in on the console between us  in an effort for her to find a hidey hole so that she would feel safe,  and then poor hubby was trying to move it enough to shift the gears, and Mollie was totally befuddled by all that was going on, it was just the trip from hell!

And now we are headed to Lexington, so we have to drive the damn thing again.  How did I ever think these cars were so wonderful?  Well, okay, it was nice this afternoon before the clouds rolled in.  Hubby took the top down and we went for a ride in the country, but that was a half hour ride, with no dogs.   Oh, I do love convertibles, just one more age appropriate. 

It’s a wonderful fall day…

Don’t you just love fall?  It’s clouds and sunshine today, windy, and cool.  I have the windows open and can hear the wind blowing and the falling leaves skimming across the walk.  The birds are on the feeder, the house is quiet, it’s just perfect.  One of those days that you just want to last forever…

Yoplait Delights Parfait, SERIOUSLY delicious…

Okay ladies, I never steer you wrong, do I?  Nope, I never do.   Law-dee, let me tell you, these things are pure heaven, nectar of the gods, bone tingling delicious. The kind of thing you take a bite, roll your eyes and go, OMG, OMG, this is delicious!  For real they are.

I picked up a pack of Caramel Creme.  One taste and and you won’t miss dessert, pinkie swear.  The taste is unbelievably good.  Reminiscent of a tart, tangy creme brulee. 

Next I’m trying the Lemon Torte,  then the Chocolate Raspberry.  The Triple Berry Creme doesn’t do it for me as much, but I’ll eventually get around to those as well.

Check them out here, all are 100 calories of pure decadence.  Trust me on this one, they are to-die-for.

~ jan

Look who our lunch date was today….

I had to go back to Louisville today to the dentist, so LC and I met Lindsay and Abby at Cracker Barrel.  She has on tennies!  And she walks in them really well…..  Oh, she’s growing up so fast..

 

The happy couple….

Look who the birthday girl is, today...

It's my buddy, V, also known as Auntie Caca to bebe granddaughter, Abby....

Oh dear, I’m afraid I’m turning into one of those gushy Grammies….

Ryan and Lindsay took Abby to Red Robin for lunch and Linds sent me this picture of her drinking out of a straw. I was soooo excited when I saw it!

Oh, grandchildren do this to you, don’t they, you get thrilled over the simplest little thing they do.  Every day now she learns something new, and it just makes my day to hear about  it.  Her parents are really good about sharing each milestone with me, I’m so lucky that they are so thoughtful.

Apparently this latest trick  was a huge hit. Sweet bebe loved the idea, and wanted to do it over and over again.

I hope I don’t bore all of you with this, it’s just such a kick in the pants for me every time I get a picture!!!

~ jan

Cuddling with an elephant seal….

I have a little magic for you this morning.  This is guaranteed to give you warm fuzzies and bring a tear to your eye.  What a lover this seal is.  Who would have thought they would do something like this.  A once in a lifetime experience, this is simply amazing.

Thanks for sending this, Carlene – you’re the best!

~ jan

Even when I try really hard, I somehow manage to screw it up…..

Last week I decided that, for once, I was going to get everything ready ahead of time, because we had to leave early (6:30am) last Saturday for Abby's birthday party.  Oh, I was organized, I pressed our clothes, had everything laid out the night before, the clothes, the jewelry, the socks, the shoes,  it was all waiting for me to just slip into and leave. 

I opened a  new pack of trouser socks, picked out the brown ones, tucked them into my shoes, ladies, I was so organized.

I’m up early, everything went like clockwork, and I was so proud of myself for having everything run so smoothly.

We pull into Ryan’s driveway, he and John were outside smoking the hams, John opens my car door for me, I get out, and he says, “Homer (he always calls me Homer, not mom, long story) why do you have on purple socks?”

I look down at my feet, and sure enough, I have screaming bright purple socks on.  Well, it was dark in my bedroom, they looked brown, pinkie swear they did.  You know how trouser socks always look different when you put them on and they stretch out, well they sure looked different, they looked hideous!

So had to borrow socks for Lindsay and change.  No way was I going to sit around at bebe Granddaughter’s first birthday party with those socks on.  And dear Dilly didn’t miss a beat as she went to her drawer to find me a pair.  She’s so used to me by now, she rolls with it pretty good.

Which brings me to my original point, I, once again screwed it up.  As I’ve said before, there i s no hope, there is NO hope….

Marie Osmond’s Birthday Cake

This was on her Twitter feed.  Just thought you would all enjoy a peek at how the rich and famous celebrate their birthday…

Maxine, she’s my hero…

Birthday Girl…

Abby is one year old today….

Happy Birthday To You,
Happy Birthday To you,
Happy Birthday  precious Grandbebe,
Happy Birthday To You.....

You're my Honeybunch, Sugarplum
Pumpy-umpy-umpkin, You're my Sweetie Pie
You're my Cuppycake, Gumdrop,
Snoogums-Boogums, You're the Apple of my Eye

XOXOXO ~ Grammie

Linda Evans Mountain Retreat

Ladies, this is a must see.  Oh, what a magical place she lives in…. Her home is wonderful, it’s just absolutely amazing, what she has created…..

Here’s the link>>>

I’ve been a busy bee this week, Abby’s party is Saturday

• Abby’s gifts bought and wrapped – check
• Clothes pressed and ready to go – check
• Fresh batteries in the camera – check
• The M&M’s bathed with haircuts - check
• Aunt Em’s cupcakes baked – unchecked
• Lose ten pounds – unchecked

Hey, four out of six is pretty good….

Giggle of the day…

UCLA STUDY

    A study conducted by UCLA's Department of Psychiatry has
revealed that the kind of face a woman finds attractive on a man can
differ depending on where she is in her menstrual cycle.

    For example: If she is ovulating, she is attracted to a man with
rugged and masculine features. However, if she is menstruating or
menopausal, she tends to be more attracted to a man with duct tape over
his mouth and a spear lodged in his chest while he is on fire.    

    No further studies are expected.

Why Seniors Break their Hips

Carlene sent me this, you can’t help but laugh, but oh my, some of these people must have really hurt themselves.  This proves that you can’t really be a kid again…

Betty White’s biggest fan…

Hooterville sent me this clip.  How about that, all these years and I thought I was Betty’s biggest fan.  This is so darned cute, thanks for sending it Jean…

Harry Loves Lisa, is anybody else going to watch this???

 

Any of you remember Tuckerville with Tanya Tucker?  Oh, I loved every cheesy, redneck moment of it.  Then along came It's Complicated, Denise Richard's totally awful reality show.  Loved that one, too.  And my favorite of all was the short lived chasing Farrah, but c'mon, who wouldn't be fascinated by a glimpse into Farrah Fawcett's personal life. It was worth watching just to see her house and her clothes.

Now along comes Harry Loves Lisa, looks like another really bad one that I can't wait to see!

I don't even like reality shows, but I do enjoy glimpses into star's trashy lives.  I know, I know, I have no taste, none, nada.  But I do have a few friends, who shall remain nameless, that enjoys these shows as much as I do.  Bad girls, bad girls.........

Abby’s one year pictures…

Lindsay’s friend Lauren came to their house and took Abby’s one year pictures today.  Lindsay sent me a “tease.”  Just had to share. 

Is this little girl precious or what???  The boots, the vest, this is everything her Grammie loves in life!  This bebe has got it all goin’ on!!!!!

The pumpkin bread pudding is a WINNER!!!!

This was an absolutely killer dessert.  You would never know this was low calorie.  It’s a must try this fall, definitely a keeper recipe to make again and again. Veronica Jeanne, this has your name written all over it…

Less than two Weight Watcher points per ramekin, for you non-Weight Watcher people, this recipe is the same amount of points as a large apple or a banana!

Amazing, huh?  Details and tweaks on Jan CAN Cook.

What tea is in your pantry?

Here’s what I have:

• Lipton Green Tea with Citrus (thanks V for the heads up)
• Lipton Cranberry Pomegranite (excellent tea, this is in Deanna’s pantry as well)
• Celestial Seasonings Vanilla Chamomille
• Celestial Seasonings Raspberry Zinger
• Celestial Seasonings Wild Berry Zinger

And others, too numerous to mention. *blush* But these are the ones I’m enjoying the most this fall…

I found an interesting pumpkin bread pudding dessert for tonight...

This recipe was on the Splenda website.  It calls for french bread, but I'm going to substitute my favorite Nature's Own Whole Wheat and see how it turns out.

I'll let you know if it's a hit or a miss.

Pumpkin Bread Pudding>>>

A little Sunday nostalgia….

My Sundays are quiet now, and I don’t like it one bit!  I miss years gone by!!!  Sunday was always the day I spent in the kitchen, cooking for my family.  Big meals, soups, stews, homemade bread, great desserts, a lot of visits from mother, too, on Sunday.  And now it’s just me and the girls, hubby works the weekends, but that’s going to change soon, only five more weeks until he retires.

The boys laugh at me because there was a period of time when they were little that I made homemade pizzas on Sunday night.  Both of them argue with me now, saying that I just didn’t make all those pizzas, but trust me I did.  I made a lot of cookies, too.  One of their favorites was a molasses cookie, sprinkled with sugar.  It was a Silver Palate recipe, my cookbook of choice in the 80’s.  I need to dig out that recipe and post it on Jan CAN Cook.

I think that’s one of the hardest things about growing older, if you’re not lucky enough to have your family live close by, not being able to have them visit on Sunday. 

I still cook for LC, it’s just not the same though.  Healthy food is not nearly exciting as comfort food like fried chicken or pot roast.  Yummy pies and cakes aren’t around anymore, and I often wonder, is it really worth it?  Look at how much we sacrifice not being able to eat the things we used to.  Right now I would kill for a pumpkin cake or a batch of those molasses cookies.  Oh, those were the days.

Maybe I’ll make a pot of chili this afternoon, that’s pretty healthy, and it’s so cool here, only 50 degrees this morning.  And I’ll figure out some kind of pumpkin dessert that’s good for us.  I know, bor-ing.  No butter, no cream cheese, it will be a challenge…  I can always do the spice cake Weight Watcher recipe.  Do any of you make this?  It’s just a cake mix with a can of pumpkin stirred in and baked.  That’s all, don’t add anything to that cake mix, no oil or eggs or water, just stir in the pumpkin, put it in a Pam sprayed baking dish, I like an 8x12 instead of 9x13, makes a thicker cake, and bake it at 350 for about 35-45 minutes, don’t overbake.  It’s actually really good, you can do this with any cake mix, even chocolate, or a brownie mix - but spice is good for fall.  And no, you don’t taste the pumpkin in the other flavors.  It’s a challenge to stir, as the batter is really stiff, and it sounds strange to make, but it really works and makes a moist, yummy cake.

~ jan here, wallowing in her memories on a sunny fall Sunday morning…

Note:  Whoohoo, thanks to the internet, I Googled those molasses cookies, they popped up instantly.  Maybe you would like to make a batch for your family this Sunday afternoon.  Sometimes I didn’t have molasses, but I always had sorghum, so I would substitute, either way, they are just wonderful.  Of course they’re wonderful, they have 12 tablespoons of butter in them!!!

I just posted the recipe on Jan CAN Cook so we’ll always have it.  It’s a keeper, ladies, pinkie swear…

Enchanted April, it was just a superb movie….

Like a lot of you, and I love Netflix.  For $8.99 a month we have instant access to thousands of movies, we use that feature more than ordering the DVD’s.  When you consider that movie tickets in Heavensville are $9 on the weekend, no senior citizen discount, grrrrr,  by the time you go to the movie, buy drinks and a popcorn to share, you’ve spent $30.  That’s just crazy!  $30 to see a movie!!!  Unless it’s a must-see, I would rather just wait til’ it comes out on DVD and get it from Netflix.  Hooterville taught me a good trick, as soon as a movie you think you might like is in preproduction, go ahead and add it to the top of your Netflix Queue, that way when it’s released to DVD, you will be one of the first to get it and not have to be on a waiting list. 

We had problems last year when we first started watching instant Netflix movies, they were choppy, the movies would start and stop, but then we discovered Roku.  If you’re unfamiliar with Roku, it’s a box that you attach to your television like a DVD player, it’s easy to set up, you don’t have to hook your computer to your television anymore, and you have totally seamless, smooth running movies.  And the good news is that the prices are down.  You can now buy a HD Roku box for $59.99.  At the bottom of Roku’s website there is a link for a $20 off coupon for new Netflix customers. Wow, that’s really cheap, $39, we paid $100 for ours.  But it’s money well spent, a one time hit, and you can watch all your movies without annoying choppy, uneven streaming.  You can also get a free month’s subscription to Netflix from their website.  A great deal if you haven’t tried Netflix before. 

You might not even need a Roku box, maybe your ISP streams smoother than ours, or if you have a WI or Playstation you can also stream your movies through them.

Yesterday was a cool, cloudy day.  I was restless, decided to settle in with the dogs and watch a movie.  I was in the mood for something “different” and oh wow, did I hit pay dirt.  I watched Enchanted April, an English film, about women vacationing at a castle in Italy.  The acting was superb, the scenery was absolutely breathtaking, the gardens were gorgeous,  it was totally wonderful. 

I thought of Deanna when I watched it, she and John were in Italy this summer and she loved the gardens, she said the geraniums were huge, so large they didn’t look real.  They were the same in this movie, lush, gorgeous geraniums, beautiful vegetation, it was a treat just to see the countryside.

Those ladies did what we all should do on vacation, talk, eat, laugh, lie in the sun and rest.  This is a good one, ladies, not your usual samo-samo, so be open to going outside your box, you might enjoy it, too.

Here’s a link to the trailer and what IMBD has to say about it -

“This slow-paced gem is about the civilizing influence of Italy on beleaguered Londoners both male and female and has it's own civilizing influence on the viewer. It's almost like taking a little mini-trip to Italy, a gorgeously filmed enchantment.”

Tiger ears are part of her identity? Just when you think you’ve heard it all…

Dear Margo: A friend of my husband is getting married. I barely know the man, and I’ve met the intended bride twice. A verbal invitation was extended to both of us. Oh, by the way, the bride requested that I not wear my ears to the wedding.

Several years ago, my husband bought me a headband with little tiger ears on it. Ever since he put it on me, I’ve worn my ears everywhere, including to two weddings and a funeral. I’ve made them a part of my identity — my personal trademark, if you will. Going anywhere without my ears makes me feel self-conscious and only partially dressed.

My initial reaction was to wear the ears anyway, but then I realized I am not exactly obligated to attend the wedding. I’m not close to the bride or groom, but my husband considers the groom to be a good friend; the invitation included me out of common courtesy. Perhaps I should keep my sulky, uncooperative self at home, even though my husband would prefer I suck it up and go. I have some months to think about it. What’s your take? — M.R.S.

Dear M.: Maybe you and I are on the same wavelength, or maybe we’re both nuts, but I think your trademark ears are a hoot. And who doesn’t love individuality — besides the bride? Seeing as how you wear them everywhere, I wouldn’t dream of suggesting you leave them at home for the upcoming nuptials. (Do go, by the way.)

Odd of the bride to suggest what you wear and what you leave home, but let’s assume she will be so engrossed in the festivities that she will not notice. And to be realistic: Little tiger ears are much less attention-getting than big, floppy bunny ears. At least with your little tiger ears, no one can say you are celebrating Halloween early or reliving your days as a waitress at a Playboy club. — Margo, individually

**

Dear Margo is written by Margo Howard, Ann Landers’ daughter.

Fall, FINALLY!!!!

The leaves are swirling, the days are shorter and the nights cooler.  My maple tree’s are showing their color and I’m thrilled that my favorite time of year has finally arrived.

I’ve got beans in the pressure cooker, brown rice in the steamer, it’s just that kind of day.  Now if I had cider and donuts for an afternoon snack, life would be perfect.

I just put a recipe for Spiced Cider on Jan CAN Cook.  If you don’t visit me regularly at this site, I’m pretty active, posting recipes frequently, you might want to check me out.  The recipe for Krispy Kreme Bread Pudding I put up yesterday looks killer!

~ jan

Here’s the click>>>

Senior Citizens are really funny!!!

I was all ready to leave and run errands, but decided to watch a video my friend, Mary, had sent me first.

Well, by the time it was over, I had laughed until I cried, my makeup is smeared, I now have to do a touch up before I leave the house.

This is a hoot!  It takes a couple of minutes to get into it, but it’s so darned funny!  Unfortunately, I’m starting to see a lot of myself in this lady…

~ jan

Maybe I’m a little bit smarter….

When we know better, we do better ~ Maya Angelou

Remember last spring when it was time to switch out my closets?  I had such a mess, my bedroom was a disaster for days weeks, I couldn’t get it together, ended up having a meltdown in the middle of my bed, crying and asking hubby to help me because I was completely overwhelmed.  Law-dee, I don’t want a repeat of that fiasco this fall.

But once again, it’s that time, all of my winter clothes are sitting in the garage in their crates, waiting for me to be overwhelmed once again.  I should just take a deep breath and get rid of a lot of stuff.  But, oh no, on the off chance that I might somehow lose enough weight to wear those clothes that will be hopelessly dated if I ever accomplish it, which I won’t, I hang on to everything.

Knowing what was ahead of me, I asked hubby yesterday, “If I make you an apple pie, will you help me switch out my clothes?”  Well, that was the right question, and LC, always the negotiator said, “do I get that pie today?”  But I’ve learned a thing or two myself, and told him, “nope, first we switch the closet, then you get the pie.”

I just may be on to something here. Bribery, blatant bribery.  No more tears for me, nope, no siree, I’ve got help and Pillsbury Pie Crust, that pie will be easy peasy…

I need to get a life….

You know, when it takes you a half an hour to decide what pin number to make your debit card, you have serious issues.

Well, that was me today, and I finally decided, but I don’t really like those numbers so I’m going to change them.

Jeez Louise, this is crazy.  Ummmm, consider the source!

Five things I can’t live without

That’s the key word here, “things.”  It’s not family, or sweet bebe Abby, or girlfriends, or my precious little M&M’s.  Take those away and this is what’s left that I must have!

1.   Computers, they are my window to the world, and I dread thinking what my life would be like without them.  What did I do with my time before the internet?  And with my computer I can download ebooks, probably the greatest spinoff, for me anyway, that has come from this wonderful invention.  What a treat it is to sit in my jammies at 9pm, download a book and read it without ever leaving my living room.  Buy those books?  Never, our public library has thousands of titles just waiting for me to download when I want to read.

2.  My morning coffee with fat free half and half.  I didn’t develop a love for coffee until I was well into my 50’s, now it’s a must have, every single day.

3. Nature.  It’s the balm that soothes my soul, I love the wind on my face, the smells, the colors, the birds and the bees, I find my center and inner peace with nature.

4.  Milly.  I’ve often said that golf carts are old people’s bicycles.  I grab the fur kids, hop on Milly and I’m off on an adventure.  It’s so much fun and gives me so much freedom, I love it!

5.  My smartphone.  Cellphones have evolved so much, it’s amazing the things that you can do with them.  With it, I’m in touch, so you be in touch… ;o)  Ohhhh, how cheesy was that???

And that’s what I can’t live without?  What about you, what are your five things?

Look who’s having a birthday party….

It’s hard to believe that sweet bebe granddaughter is going to be a year old next week.  Her mom and dad are busy planning the big event, and I’m one excited grammie!  Oh, what a good time we’ll have!!!

Add senility to the list, too….

My boys are three years apart, not four, as Linds reminded me earlier this afternoon.  So not only am I getting food all over me, senility is sitting in as well.  Oh well, at least I won’t realize that I’m dribbling my dinner all over myself  if  I’m senile…

So, to correct the earlier post about how old I was when they were born, almost twenty-two with John, almost twenty-five with Ry.

Geezy Pete, this old lady stuff is a pain in the patootie…

I’m not turning into my mother after all…

Law-dee, I’m turning into my father!  I am, and he was the sweetest man that ever lived, but it’s not the sweetness, it’s the, oh how do I put this, it’s the inability to eat any type of food without getting it on me, that is making me think I’m so much like him.  The poor man had stains on all of his ties, all of his shirts, he couldn’t eat anything without getting food on him!

I had just a smear of jam this morning on my toast, just a itsy bitsy miniscule smear of cherry jam, and yep, somehow it ended up on my shirt.  This is happening with alarming frequency, I’m getting food all over me.  Dilly, you quit smiling, I know, I always get stuff on me, but lately it’s been every meal.

My boys laugh at me all the time, teasing me about getting old, and then I remind them that I was a young mother, I was twenty-one and twenty-five when they were born, and that they aren’t that far behind me.  I think it’s a shock sometimes, they think about babies in your thirties but not me.  Oh, I was just a couple of months away from being twenty-two when John was born, almost twenty-six when I had Ry but that’s young by today’s standards.

And if I could do it over?  I think I would rather have been older.  I would have been wiser, with more life experience to guide me.  But then I wouldn’t have the energy that I had in my twenties either. 

So now that I’m a friggin’ genius with almost sixty-one years of life experience, let’s see what kind of wisdom I bestow on poor Abby.  Undoubtedly just the ability to eat and make a mess of it, that will probably be my legacy to poor bebe granddaughter…

And so it begins….

Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, Autumn

 

I’m old now, it’s all about comfort….

My friends and I always laughed at older woman who wore “stretchy” pants.  That would never be us, oh no, we would never wear those.  But I’m talking knit ones, or the dreaded polyester blends with the elastic waist band.  Yuck!

Well, let me tell you, these days I live in yoga pants.  If I’m home, I’m in them.  I actually resent the fact that I have to change into something that has no “give” when I go out.

Those old women know what they’re talking about with the pants that stretch.  These things are wonderful.  I’ve worn them for the past few years now, and they are just sooooo soft and comfy. 

And my pants of choice, the Nike ones, black, slim fit with a flared bottom.  They’re the best!  I love putting them on of a morning and just putzing around the house.  I’m actually looking forward to winter so that I can just settle in and not go anywhere.  I’ve always been a homebody, but now more than ever.  My computer, a good e-book, my dogs by my side, it’s pure bliss.

It’s those simple things, once again, ladies…

Oh my, we’re having wea-ther….

It was 99 friggin’ degrees in Heavensville this afternoon.  Sure glad tomorrow is first day of fall, the temperature is going to drop all the way down to 95!  Whoohoo…

Holy Schmoly, is it ever gonna cool off?  I remember this time of year so well because of Ryan’s birthday.  When he was a little boy the temperatures would be cool by now,  we would have on light jackets, and the boys would be wearing little corduroy overalls with long sleeved shirts.

That was normal, 99 degrees on the 21st of September is definitely not normal!!!

Coldstone Creamery Hot Cocoa

You know I always tell you about the good stuff.  I was in Wally World yesterday, checking out the tea selection, and right beside the tea set boxes of Coldstone Creamery Hot Cocoa packets.  There were three flavors, milk chocolate, regular and dark chocolate.  I bought the regular, 70 calories, made hubby and I a cup last night, and it was awesome.  Really intense chocolate flavor, and I made it with 6 ounces of water, not milk.  It was so much better than the Swiss Miss low calorie, you will love this!

It’s a winner, here’s a $1.00 off coupon if you’re interested in trying it.

And speaking of tea, you all know I’m a huge fan of Celestial Seasonings Tea.  Well, last week Deanna and I were talking about chamomile, she loves it, I didn’t remember the taste, so I picked up a container of Celestial Seasonings Honey Vanilla Chamomile.  Oh my, it’s fantastic…

~ jan

You have to check out these cookies, ladies…

I made the best chocolate chip cookies, ever, last weekend.

Details and recipes on Jan CAN Cook…

Guess who walked three steps to Auntie V last weekend…

It was Ryan’s birthday weekend, Lindsay surprised him, arranging for four of his college friends to come visit for a long weekend, then she and Abby escaped from all that testosterone by coming to our house. 

It was a great time as usual, and little Miss Abigail actually took three steps. right into Veronica’s arms.  Can you imagine how thrilled we all were.  There was a whole lot of squealing going on.  Of course, I think it was just so special that she walked to Auntie V, you would have thought it was the first baby that ever took steps, we were all so surprised!

She’s poised for takeoff now, oh her mama is going to be one busy lady, chasing her around the house.

 

 

Cynthia brought Jasmine and Alisha to visit on Saturday.  They were so good with Abby, it’s so special to see these sweet little girls that you knew as babies holding your granddaughter. 

Abby loved them, she was all eyes, sitting on Jasmine’s lap, watching everything Alisha did. 

Linds wished they lived closer, they would be great at entertaining Abby.

 

 

She took a bath in Grammie’s tub.  Is there anything sweeter than a baby taking a bath. 

Oh, I’m so smitten, what a special little granddaughter this is…

This is why I'm cutting my hair... SERIOUSLY!

I've been back and forth, do I cut my hair, or do I continue to leave it long and wear it up and french braid it occasionally.  What a reality check this was, I'm calling Mary Beth tomorrow for a cut.  Geezy Pete Hil, what were you thinking...