Princess Abby is having a blast!!!!
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, we had an ice storm last night and a power outage for a few hours. Ben is being an absolute joy, though, he’s such a good little boy, we’re having a really good time taking care of him.
Grammie is tired of hearing herself complain about the weather, though, as is everybody else. But darn, this is absolutely awful! Even my friend, Jean, who loves snow and loves cold weather is over it. C’mon spring!!!!!!
I’ve been humming this all morning as we face yet another significant snowfall. It’s an oldie but goodie. Always one of my favorite songs...
Here’s the lyrics, if you want to sing along...
All the leaves are brown
(All the leaves are brown)
And the sky is gray
(And the sky is gray)
I've been for a walk
(I've been for a walk)
On a winter's day
(On a winter's day)
I'd be safe and warm
(I'd be safe and warm)
If I was in L.A
(If I was in L.A.)
California dreamin'
(California dreamin') on such a winter's day
Stopped in to a church I passed along the way
Well I got down on my knees
(got down on my knees)
And I pretend to pray
(I pretend to pray)
You know the preacher likes the cold
(preacher likes the cold)
He knows I'm gonna stay
(knows I'm gonna stay)
California dreamin'
(California dreamin') on such a winter's day
{Bridge}
All the leaves are brown
(All the leaves are brown)
And the sky is gray
(And the sky is gray)
I've been for a walk
(I've been for a walk)
On a winter's day
(On a winter's day)
If I didn't tell her
(If I didn't tell her)
I could leave today
(I could leave today)
California dreamin' (California dreamin') on such a winter's day
California dreamin' on such a winter's day
California dreamin' on such a winter's day
My friend, Barb, sent me this, it’s so funny, just had to share...
Yesterday I was at Sam's Club, buying a large bag of Purina dog chow for my loyal pet, Owen , the Wonder Dog and was in the check-out line when a woman behind me asked if I had a dog. What did she think I had an elephant?
So because I'm retired and have little to do, on impulse, I told her that no, I didn't have a dog, I was starting the Purina Diet again. I added that I probably shouldn't, because I ended up in the hospital last time, but that I'd lost 50 pounds before I awakened in an intensive care ward with tubes coming out of most of my orifices and IVs in both arms.
I told her that it was essentially a Perfect Diet and that the way that it works is, to load your pants pockets with Purina Nuggets and simply eat one or two every time you feel hungry. The food is nutritionally complete, (certified), so it works well and I was going to try it again. (I have to mention here that practically everyone in line was now enthralled with my story.)
Horrified, she asked if I ended up in intensive care, because the dog food poisoned me. I told her no, I had stopped to pee on a fire hydrant and a car hit me.
I thought the guy behind her was going to have a heart attack he was laughing so hard. Sam's Club won't let me shop there anymore.
Better watch what you ask retired people. They have all the time in the world to think of crazy things to say.
Oh, I really enjoy shopping in this store, it really is special. Lindsay and Ryan have been shopping at The Fresh Market for years, and while I always enjoyed the ambiance, I was appalled at the prices.
Then The Fresh Market came to Heavensville, and still I didn’t shop there until a few months ago. Sometimes it takes me awhile, I should have just listened to the kids in the first place. They kept telling me about their weekly specials, so I signed up for the newsletter and finally got onboard. I’ve found the meat to be so much better than other grocery stores, and I really do stock up when things are on their Tuesday and weekend sales. We were shopping Tuesday, hubby was at the meat counter, some lady was buying 30 lbs. of ground chuck in 1 lb. individual packages. Obviously there must be no limit. My favorite food of choice is the Applewood Smoked Bacon. It’s so good and so expensive, $10 a pound, but every couple of months they have a buy one get one free. So I buy in quantity, not 30 lbs.:o) but I do buy several packages and freeze it. I’ve found this to be an acquired taste, this really smoky bacon, Ryan fixed it for me in the past and I didn’t care for it, but now it’s one of my favorite foods. I’m such a baconaholic, and living the low carb lifestyle allows me to eat it almost daily. Yep, I eat it almost every day, I love it that much. I doubt if I ever quit eating low carb, seriously, just because I wouldn’t be able to have my daily bacon infusement. Carbs + bacon = major weight gain, unfortunately.
But back to The Fresh Market, I find things there I can’t find elsewhere, and this week it finally dawned on me why I like it so much. When John lived in Dayton he was just a couple of blocks away from Dorothy Lane Market, which is the most fascinating grocery store I’ve ever been in. It’s an old store, with brick walls and scarred wood floors, and like Fresh Market they have wonderful treasures not found in conventional markets. That was always one of the highlights of visiting Dayton, going to Dorothy Lane Market.
Well, The Fresh Market is very similar. It’s new, but made to look quaint, and the very best part is the soft upbeat classical music they play while you shop, just like they do at Dorothy Lane.
See what I mean, Fresh Market is very similar to this photo of Dorothy Lane, it’s the quintessential foodie market.
And being the investigative junkie that I am, liking nothing better than scouting out things on the internet. I came home this week from shopping at TFM and searched the net until I found The Fresh Market CD. I’m thinking that this was not something that was available to the general public, but a CD that they sent to stores because I searched thoroughly and only found one copy of this anywhere online. It has their logo on it, says established in 1982 and has a listing of classical music. And yep, it’s winging it’s way to Heavensville as we speak. I’m absolutely estatic. I know, I’m a goober, but I’m so thrilled. Let’s hope it’s a goodie. The price was a goodie, too, I got it for $8!
Whoohoooooo!!!!!!
Oh my, another one that tugs at the heart strings. Has to be women who write these commercials, has to be…
The answer may surprise you. I watched this on World News last night, good information now that we are in the height of cold and flu season. I know I just cringe every time I’m out and somebody in my proximity sneezes. If you think your best defense is sneezing into your elbow, think again….
She’s 65 and looks it, and its kind of refreshing, isn’t it? We’re so used to seeing celebrities with trout lips and stretched skin, it’s nice to see somebody famous that looks their age. Makes us realize that we’re not alone on this road we all travel to old(er) age. I think she looks great...
Every morning I get up, come to the sunroom with my morning coffee, turn on NPR, sit and look outside, watching the birds, the horses in the pasture, enjoying the serenity of country life, while catching up on emails. I love NPR, I’ve been a fan forever, not buying into all of the left leaning that it supposedly has, I just like the news, the familiar voices, I’m a creature of habit. I don’t want to talk, I don’t want to leave the house, I just want to be quiet and slowly wake up to the day.
So here I sit, listening to the wind chimes, as it’s a blustery winter day yet again, enjoying the familiar voices on NPR, smiling at Maggie as she does her morning stretches at my feet, it’s just the best, my morning routine...
Our precocious little four year old, now that she has taught herself to read, has apparently figured out the remote. Below is Lindsay’s Facebook post from yesterday. Ryan told me about her doing this as well, sometimes she just amazes us...
I always thought Ry being in control of the remote was a test of patience. I have discovered it to be nothing in comparison to the power hungry ADD that is Miss A with the remote. She took it upon herself yesterday to teach herself how to use it. Telling me what the buttons say, then pushing them so she could understand their functions. By midday, she was recording her shows and canceling Ry's shows that were in her way. Then going through the DVR and scrolling till she found what she was looking for.
It would have been cute and impressive had she not pointed out to me, several times, that she had to learn how to do it because I don't pay attention like I should and she doesn't want to watch non-Abby shows.
Yep, more snow in Heavensville last night, just a skiff as mom used to say. I saw this picture on Facebook this morning, its ’s funny, just had to share….
My friend, Trish, took the picture of this little Titmouse sitting on a tree branch by her front window today. Doesn’t it just make you smile, looking at that sweet little face. And yes, she’s feeding him...
I talk about this site so often, but it’s such a nostalgia rush, going there takes me back to a simpler time.
I was browsing their online catalog yesterday, talk about a blast from the past, I didn’t even know you could buy this stuff anymore.
Here’s their link if you want to see more.
Humor me, let me pretend it’s a warm spring day, driving through the country, the top down, with a bag of Cheetos, an icy soda and Maggie in my lap. Could it really get any better????
And a little John Denver to help get me there….
Awwwwww, say it ain’t so, they’ve been married for thirty-nine years. Guess love didn’t keep them together after all...
I was going through pictures, found this one of Maggie from last fall when we were in Gatlinburg. She . is . just . so . darned . cute!
If you’re a regular reader, you know that there is nothing that hubby loves more than a tag sale or an auction, both of which I’m not a fan, but the man does bring me home good stuff.
Last night, despite the fact that it was colder than a well digger’s butt in Heavensille, he went to the auction and came home with this vintage orange-red topped dispenser. It must have been made for sugar, because when you flip the top, it has a little round hole you pour out of. It was new, still had the yellowed product information sheet inside, and I would guess it’s circa 1950’s.
It’s now sitting on my bar next to my rooster napkin holder that he bought for 50 cents. I whitewashed it, sanded it, and voila, it’s a goodie. And the cost of last night’s find - $2.00. I was a happy camper when he came carrying this inside.
The salt and pepper shakers are from Decor Steals, not a deal, but still inexpensive, I think I paid $20, but it was one of those things I had to have because there is nothing better than any kind of mason jar in my opinion. Oh, I do love kitchen gadgets, and this was a really good one. It’s all gassed up and ready to go after I washed it and filled it with Swerve Sweetner. It’s a good thing...
Lindsay bundled Abby up and Ry took her out to play in the snow this afternoon. Daddy was so cold, but Abby insisted she wasn’t cold at all. Oh, I remember those days, giggling, happy little boys coming inside smelling like fresh air, all smiles with little red cheeks ready for an afternoon snack. Sure takes me back...
I’m trying really hard to make lemonade out of a lemon day here. Really hard...
It was bath day yesterday at our house and Mags was looking pretty scruffy. She’s a little trooper though, so patient when I comb the snarls out. She’s all clean, getting ready to dry her in this picture, and she’s looking a little rough at this point.
She’s dry now, that topknot is pretty wild.
And just look at her now, sweet little dog. Yeah, I know, she’s gorgeous. Isn’t it awesome what a good hair day does for a little girl dog...
Okay, so by last night I had worked myself into a tizzy. LC was happily enconsed in the den watching hour after hour of the Barrett Jackon car auction, only surfacing long enough to tell me some ridiculously crazy price that was being paid for some stupid car that I had no interest in.
Meanwhile, I was bored to distraction, I was tired of the computer, it was grey, gloomy and damp outside, I finally settled down to watch Orange is the New Black on Netflix, was just getting interested when it stopped and I got an error message on my television that it wasn’t available at the moment. Probably because so many other people were bored that they overloaded Netflix looking for something to do as well.
So then I went on Facebook, p*ssing and moaning about how much I hate winter, and warning the Snowbirds to shut their mouths about being in a warmer climate, got lots of sympathetic responses, too. I think everybody has had it with this gawdawful winter. I look outside and the snow is pelting down, I can’t face cooking one more lowcarb meal, so I go into the den, sit down and pout!
HUBBY TO THE RESCUE. He said, “I’ll just record the auction, let’s just go out to dinner, and forget low carb tonight.” Well I was onboard with that and we were out of the house in a New Yawk minute headed to Deerhead, our favorite haunt. Apparently everybody else in Heavensville was escaping their houses, too because the place was packed and we managed to snag the last table.
After consuming an entire sausage pizza, it was a small one, but still… I was in a carb enduced coma, and felt so much better. We were having such a good time that we decided to go to the movie. Not much was on that interested us, I wasn’t into action, adventure or black comedies, but Last Vegas was playing at the second run theater, it was old guys, so we decided to give it a go.
Oh my, I don’t know if it’s because I’ve been stuck in this house so much, or if the movie was really that good, but we, along with the rest of the audience were absolutely howling with laughter. Robert Deniro, pretty boy Michael Douglas (who his friends called Hazelnut due to his fake tan and dyed hair) Kevin Kline and Morgan Freeman, who still has it, his scene on the dance floor in his red suit was so good! And the love interest, Mary Steenburgen, who looked amazing, and who i’m convinced had hair extensions, oh, she was so good in this movie, too, it was perfectly cast!
Rotten Tomatoes didn’t particularly like the film, but looking at the pictures of the 20-30 something reviewers, I don’t take much stock in what they said. I thought it was funny and entertaining, everything a movie should be. And the best part, my mood is much improved. Maybe I just need to eat pizza and watch movies every day until spring. Here’s the trailer, this movie was such a good time...
Men are soooo stupid! My friend Barb sent me this, it’s so funny, you will love it...
I’ve never been one of those people who wants to go away for the winter. I’m a homebody, I just like my little nest, but after this gawdawful winter, I’m rethinking it.
Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to go to Florida for January and February and then I can post about how warm it is when everybody else is freezing their butts off. Ya think?
I’ll let you know more next January...
Crazy Miss Tammy, my favorite YouTube personality interviewed her husband yesterday. It will give you smiles this morning, and we all need that on a cold, snowy January day. Just wish she would show his face, but it isn’t going to happen. *sigh*
Enjoy! ~ Jan
These are some of the most stunning photographs I’ve ever seen, but this is just a sample. Take a few minutes, click on this link and just enjoy the magic this woman creates with her camera.
One of the best links I’ve ever shared...
I think this is adorable, but then I’m an animal lover. If you don’t like cats, you will be going ewwwwww, but this is such a sweet little kitty, just doing what comes naturally to cats, washing somebody that he apparently loves.
These pictures have exploded on the internet this week. All the hubba hubba is over the L’Oreal commercial that ran immediately following Diane Keaton’s live onstage appearance. Twitter was on fire with people talking about how she looks in real life versus the air brushed version of herself in the L’Oreal commercial.
I’ve said many times, there is nothing wrong with aging and looking your age, but I feel so sorry for older women in the public eye who have to constantly struggle to look artificially younger. Sure she looks amazing and more like 40 than her true age of 68 in the commercials, but it isn’t real life.. And shame on these companies for women not being “good enough” as they are to sell their products. Do we really buy products thinking that we will magically turn back the hands of time and look young again? We’re not that stupid, we’re savvy women, we know that we can’t stop the powerful force that is Mother Nature.
Just my two cents worth this morning, Let us grow old as gracefully as we can, don’t continue to exploit us with this unnatural photoshopping nonsense. It certainly doesn’t want me to rush out to buy what companies that photoshop their ads are trying to sell us..
Before
After
Isn’t this amazing? This was on Country Living’s site today, click here to access the slide show of the interior. What an amazing transformation...
The new projection clock I blogged about last week arrived, and it’s a hit!
I was worried that the display would be too bright, as some of the commenters complained about that, but it’s not, it’s perfect. Want to spend $29 for a super gadget? Here’s the link, go for it!
I also made a low carb lasagna that I posted on Jan CAN Cook Low Carb, and it’s one of the best low carb dishes I’ve ever made. Here’s the link, totally yummy!
This quote alone from People’s website makes this book a must read for me. Well said, Cameron!
"I don't want to look like I did when I was 25," the actress, 41, tells PEOPLE. "I like the way that I look now better than when I was 25. I can't help that other people may be uncomfortable with that, but that's not my responsibility to make them feel okay with the fact that I'm getting older. I'm okay with it. I like it."
"There's no such thing as anti-aging," Diaz, 41, tells PEOPLE. "There's no such thing as turning back the hands of time, and it makes me crazy that we live in a society where that's sold to women – that we're supposed to believe that if we're getting older, we've failed somehow, that we have failed by not staying young."
I’m such a fan of The Vermont Country Store, it’s just so nostalgic, looking at their catalog is like a trip down memory lane. I’ve talked about the store and linked to it before, but today I’ve got a video for all of you, this is a Martha Stewart one, and if you watch this and want to see more, just search YouTube for "Vermont Country Store," there are several to choose from, or just get caught up in the moment like me and watch them all...
It’s such so special, my daughter-in-law, Deanna is a fan as well. we both just drool over the vintage items. Enjoy the video, and if you click here, you can request a catalog. Here’s a link to their website, they’re on Facebook, too.
I saw this lady yesterday on Kathie Lee and Hoda, she has some great ideas, give it a watch. You’ll like it, Mikey, really you will. ~ Jan
This little boy is simply amazing, I guarantee you’v never seen anything like This. Oh, what a feel good video on this cold winter morning. Enjoy ~ Jan
Ok, I’m not a football fan, the only thing more stupid, in my opinion, than a bunch of men jumping on top of each other in an attempt to retrieve a ball, is the reaction at home of the armchair quarterbacks who just go bat shit crazy. But what’s even crazier is this game tonight in Minnesota.
I saw pictures of fans filing into the stadium, 80,000 people, lots of old people, all bundled up, miserably trudging to their snow covered seats in sub-zero temps. They are gonna sit down and their butts will melt that snow, they are freeze their backsides. Stoopid…...
Am I the strange one, the person who doesn’t get the total obsession with football? Guys that can barely form a coherent sentence are paid millions and millions of dollars to get their bodies pummeled every week and end up even dumber than they were before they started playing. Duh...
Just don’t get it, I know a lot of you do, but I . Just . Don’t . Get . it !
It’s a new year, time to totally redo the Daily Dish from the ground up. I’ve been limping along for months now, just quickly slapping up new headers, my margins aren’t aligned, I have issues, I can do better! It’s time to totally revamp! What better time than this, it’s miserable outside, frigid arctic air moving in, the fireplace is on, smooth jazz is playing in the background and I’m in design mode.
Soon you will click on The Diah and it will look totally different. Will you like it? If you like whimsy you will, if you don’t, meh….
Back to the drawing board, catch ya later…. ~ jan
A Winter Storm is possible this weekend in Heavensville. Accumulating snow will begin late Saturday and continue into Sunday along with Arctic air and polar wind. We're talking about temperatures falling to their lowest levels since 2004 next week!
Okay, I’ve had enough of winter. I’ve alway said I wouldn’t be a snowbird, that I enjoy being home too much, but I’ve changed my mind. This winter is terrible, and we’re just getting started. It’s going to snow this weekend and be at least -6 by Tuesday night.
Putting up pictures of tropical islands as my computer desktop wallpaper just isn’t working for me! Waaaaaaaaa
As the years advance, the need to be healthier is forefront and center for yours truly. I took a gigantic step last May 23rd when I started eating low carb. I’m still excited about it, feel so much better eating with only a few healthy carbs, my weight is steadily going down, it’s really working for both hubby and I. But exercise, meh, I know I need to do it, but I absolutely hate feeling winded, painful, sweaty, I’m not a fan. Okay, let’s face it, I’m lazy when it comes to exercising, I know I am, but I’ve always loved the thought of Yoga. My daughter-in-law Lindsay loves it, but she’s hardcore, and her Yoga is intense.
I’ve been searching for easy, age appropriate yoga and I’ve found it. It’s chair yoga for seniors. You don’t sweat, you don’t feel pain, you just stretch and relax. You can do it sitting at your computer, just try it, nobody will know, and you will feel so relaxed when you finish. Pinkie swear you will. And the best part, it’s free, just watch this YouTube Video for Gentle Yoga, bookmark it and you can do it anytime. There are several chair yoga videos and yoga for seniors on YouTube, and if the one below doesn’t ring your chimes, try another. It’s the perfect time. I like to mix things up, so if I find other videos I prefer, I’ll post them for you.
And now for vitamins….
A couple of months ago my gynecologist sent me home with a list of vitamins that I should be taking. It was the usual supplements, calcium, B12, etc. that I am taking, but he also listed Magnesium, twice daily, 250-350mg per dose.
I actually picked up a bottle last weekend, and this morning Coconut Mama posted the following link on Facebook, and I thought it relevant enough to share with all of you.
What a good time to reevaluate what we are doing to stay healthy, read this article, maybe you need to be taking magnesium as well.
Happy New Year my blogging friends, let’s all make it a healthier one. ~ Jan
My daughter-in-law was talking about Black Eye Peas for New Years, and I told her about this recipe. It’s from my almost 96 year old next door neighbor, the gourmet cook. Oh, this is such a great dish, if you’re thinking of eating Blackeye Peas tomorrow, you might want to check this out. ~ Jan
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