Raquel Welsh Today

She’s 73 years old and looks fantastic!  Wig and all.  You go girl!!!!!!!!

Usually it’s the guys who look better as they age.  Here’s Mick Jagger at 70.  Just sayin'….

Who does this remind you of...

Lindsay sent a picture of my cute little grandson brushing his hair.  He reminds me of a younger version of Maculey Culkin in Home Alone

Now if we could just get this kid a movie contract, mama would be driving him around in a Mercedes Benzzzzzzzzz...

♪♫♪♫
 

 Lord, won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz
My friends all drive Porsches, I must make amends.
Worked hard all my lifetime, no help from my friends,
So Lord, won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz 

♪♫♪♫

Janis Joplin
Recorded: 1970

JUST LOOK AT THAT SWEET LITTLE FACE...

 

 

 

It’s hard to believe that Lexi is already a month old….

Houdini Horse

 

This guy is pretty special, a must see….

Grammie just loves her grandkids...

 

 

And now I have three to love.  It seems like yesterday that Ben and Abby were babies, but oh, just look at them now.   And now we have another baby, cuddly little Lexi.  Oh they are all just precious beyond words and I count my blessings every single day….

P.S.  That isn’t Daddy’s motorcycle, it belongs to a friend.  Grammie would have one of Abby’s come aparts if Daddy rode a Harley...

THAT CWAZY WABBIT IS EATING MY HERBS!!!!

Butterbean, our lop eared bunny loves to hang out on the patio.  Yeah, umhmmmm, what he really  loves to do is eat my herbs!  We let him out of his hutch, the patio is enclosed, so he can romp and play, and we stay out there with him, but sometimes we get busy and go in the house and that little scamp is into everything when left by himself.

But he’s just the cutest little guy, I’ll take pictures of him soon and post them, he follows us around the patio like a puppy.  If you’re planting flowers, he’s peering into the hole, when you sit in a chair, he stretches out besides you, then he spins and runs back and forth as fast as he can, sniffing everything in his path, no doubt scoping out his next snack!

So yesterday LC and I were in the house, Butterbean was on the patio having himself a full fledged meal.  He ate the tops out of my basil, no doubt his herb of choice.  And he not only ate the tops out of then, he was sitting in the next pot doing it, totally mashing my chives.  Well, I guess he did have to be comfy.

Oh that little stinker, but he’s such a funny wabbit...

Now that I'm an old(er) woman, will I wear purple???

The year was 1984, the popularity of the book When I’m an Old Woman I Shall Wear Purple exploded on the scene.  I rushed right out and bought it for mother, thinking she would enjoy it, but she was not amused.

And now that I’m old(er) I’m thinking perhaps I should read it.  I have a better sense of humor than ma did, so I’m going to drag it out and give it a read.  It’s going on my bucket list, yep, it is...

WARNING
When I am an old woman I shall wear purple
With a red hat which doesn't go and doesn't suit me.
And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves
And satin sandals, and say we've no money for butter.
I shall sit down on the pavement when I'm tired
And gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells
And run my stick along the public railings
And make up for the sobriety of my youth.
I shall go out in my slippers in the rain
And pick the flowers in other people's gardens . . .

The ending of the poem , that’s the best part...

But maybe I ought to practice a little now?
So people who know me are not too shocked and surprised
When suddenly I am old, and start to wear purple.

Grandchildren just melt your heart...

Remembering the good old days...

Hubby and I were just talking the other day about how life used to be when you went to the “service” station.

The attendant came out in a uniform and a hat, greeted you by name, would always wash the headlights and the windshield, check the oil and oftentimes he would check the tire pressure.  All of this for a five gallon of gas purchase!

I want those days back again!  I absolutely hate pumping gas!!!

IPHONE REMIX - TOTALLY AWESOME!!!

If you’re an iPhone person, you will love this.   Some day, when I have nothing to do, in another lifetime, I’m so going to cut a snippet of this for my ringtone.

I’m just blown away….

A SNEAK PEAK...

The glider I talked about a couple of days ago is coming along nicely.  The boards are cut, LC is painting the rails, and yes it’s hanging in the tree.  He’s painted in tree’s forever, he can get to each and every nook and cranny when it’s suspended.  I know, you’re going, ewwwwwwww, it’s pink.  Well actually it’s more of a coral, Krylon Watermelon to be exact, but it’s not finished yet.  Is it going to be a hit or a miss?  We’ll know soon.

Stay tuned, hubby is staining the boards tomorrow, the patio is getting fresh mulch, we’re getting closer sports fans, much closer.

I’ll be back with an update...

SPRINGTIME ALWAYS MAKES ME HOMESICK...

Oh, what I wouldn’t give to hear Mother’s screen door slam again.  To sit in our creaky porch swing, sipping sweet tea, smelling the freshly mown grass, the sunlight filtering through the trees, a gentle breeze blowing, a kitten or two scampering at my feet and the red winged blackbirds singing their songs, oh what I wouldn’t give.

There is nothing like thoughts of your childhood on a beautiful spring day.  And even though I’m lucky enough to live in the quasi country, with a pretty yard, looking out at the horses in the pasture, there is absolutely . positively . nothing . like . your . childhood . home.

Even if it only lives on in your memory….

ONE MAN'S TRASH...

 

So last week hubby and I are tooling down the road, off to run some daily errand, and I’m talking to my buddy V on the phone.  Yes, I know, I’m always talking on my phone.  We’re having yet another discussion about my patio and how I don’t want to spend thousands on outdoor furniture when summer in Heavensville  strikes with an early vengeance and we can’t sit outside anyway.  We usually have a nanosecond in May when outdoor living is a possibility.

I have Adirondack chairs, they’re ancient, but still look pretty good and I like quirky in the garden.  Whimsy is much  more entertaining to me than elegant. V is telling me that maybe I should think about buying an Adirondack glider to go with the chairs, and I’m thinking that’s a great idea, I do love a glider.

And then hubby piped in saying, “there’s one, right there in the trash!”  Now had I been younger, I would have been horrified at the thought of getting something out of the trash, but I’ve had many a rodeo with this man and I know his capabilities.

So we come to a screeching halt, he trudges off to the back yard in search of the owner, an 80 something year old man who has had the glider for years.  My estimate would be circa 1960’s.

He was glad to be rid of the thing and, I was already thinking of the possibilities, so LC threw it in the back of the Jeep and we were off to the races.

Now, looking at this picture, I admit, it looks pretty bad.  Okay, it looks like a piece of junk, and it leans sideways, you can’t even sit in it for fear of it crashing to the ground.  But it does glide, and I’ve learned to never underestimate hubby.  The weather has been just gawdawful in Heavensville, we’ve had rain for the past seven days and more coming today, so his project has been on hold.

In the meantime, he’s purchased new wood, new paint, and the total refurb for this is $30.  Wow, what I deal, or is it?  Will it look awesome, or will it still look like a piece of junk.

Time will tell. Check back and  I’ll update you when the project is completed...

~ Jan ~

IT WAS TIME FOR A CHANGE...

Despite my love of all things vintage, and especially all things country, I just couldn’t work it into a new blog template.  I’ve been waffling back and forth between templates for months now, just trying to find a fit as I’m sure a lot of you realize, when you link to this page you never know what it’s going to look like.

Once I gave up the idea of a retro theme, it was much easier.  This is my latest attempt, with some much needed coding assistance from the awesome guys at css-tricks.  It’s awfully uncluttered for yours truly, , but I can always work some vintage elements into it later to busy it up a bit.   It’s time to give it a rest, get on with my life and take my nose out of the Mac. I need to just kick back a bit, play in the garden, ride on the golf cart with Maggie, and stop obsessing over these templates..

And I am, and I will, just as soon as I do just a few more tweaks...

~ Jan ~

SPRING RAINS...

 Enough, already!  I have my hydrangeas planted, new hostas in the ground, my pots are planted, everything is now flooding.  Geezy Pete, if this rain doesn’t stop it’s all gonna rot!  Lower leaves are turning yellow by the hour!!

Bitch, bitch, first I’m sick of winter, now I’m sick of rain.  Stop and smell the fleurs and count your blessings Jan.  

Note to self:  SHUT UP ABOUT IT!!!!!

Arm & Hammer Advance White Toothpaste Review

 

We all do it, check out the toothpaste aisles, trying all kinds of toothpastes that promise your pearly whites will glow in the dark, and they don’t really work.

Well, it turns out, mother really did know best.  When she was a child there was no toothpaste, she brushed her teeth with salt mixed with baking soda.  Of course she had dentures in her 40’s, but there wasn’t fluoride either.

But I thought of mom the last time I was checking out the toothpaste aisle at Wally World, and this just grabbed my attention.  I’m just finishing up my first tube, and guess what, my teeth are noticeably whiter.  Now this isn’t the best tasting toothpaste in the world, it’s a little salty and doesn’t have a fresh minty taste, but if it bothers you, you can always use this first, then finish up with your regular brand.

But if you want something that works on old(er) tea and coffee stained teeth, pick up a tube of this, and see if you too don’t see brighter, whiter teeth.  It’s not a miracle worker, nothing is at this age, but it does make a difference.

 

Happy Mother's Day...

When I was a small girl I made my mother’s a mother’s day card at school.  I’ll always remember it, I have it stored away or I would post a picture.  It was made of construction paper, I had colored an iris on the front, and written the following inscription:

In all the world
There is no other
That can take the place
Of you, dear mother

There were never truer words spoken than these...

It's all about the grandkids this week...

Abby told me last week that her friend Addie was having a birthday party and she was invited.  Oh, she was so thrilled to go, and it looks like she had a great time.  Abby always has a good time when she can be a Princess, but she will be the first to tell you that she’s the Queen!





And Ben, he’s blowing lots of kisses these days.  Lots of kisses.  Just look at that adorable little guy, he’s the sweetest little boy.

Grammie is missing them a lot, but they’re visiting in a few weeks.  What a joy it is to have these sweet little children in my life.  Now, if I could just freeze time….

Hydrangeas

They’re one of my favorite plants, hubby planted several for me last year, and has already planted more this spring.

Midwest Living has an article about new varieties for the Midwest.

You can read about them here...

Grammie is home...

 

One more Lexi picture for you and I will settle down and get on with my nonsense.  We came home today, it was so hard to leave that precious little thing.  I’m so going to miss sitting in a chair, holding that sweet little lavender lotion smelling baby.  She’s so soft and cuddly, and this time passes so quickly.

The whole family is doing wonderfully.  It’s hard to believe that this time last week she wasn’t even here.   Every day is dress up, she’s like a living doll.  Daddy picks out the outfits and Mama puts them on her and we all stand back and ooh and aah.  Oh what a fun time in their life this is.

And as for yours truly, the garden is beckoning me.  Poor hubby will be doing a lot of manual labor in the next few days, it’s spring, and what a wonderful spring this is for our family...

 

Precious little granddaughter...

 

Katherine Alexis, 8 lbs., 11" ~ 19.5 inches was born Wednesday, April 30th in Nashville.

Lexi is home with Mom and Dad and doing just great!

She looks a lot like her Daddy with a head full of red hair. She's just a doll baby, such a soft, warm cuddly little poppet with chubby cheeks and fat little fat drumstick legs. Grammie and P-Pa are so blessed to welcome this little granddaughter into our lives...

 

Posted with Blogsy

Today's the day!!!!!

Were on our way to Nashville to the hospital now
It will be several hours, I'll give updates via Twitter.
You can link via my Twitter feed in the sidebar, I temporarily out it on top so yu can see it easily.

Grammie is so excited!!!!

Twitter.com/jansdailydish

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Waiting...

 

 

My bags are packed, we’re ready to go…  Soon now, very soon...

Update:  Leaving bags packed, but it may be a few  more days.  Grammie is all gassed up and ready to go but the train isn’t leaving the station quite yet...

Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience.

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Just waiting on that bebe....

 

Lots of work on the patio going on at our house.  It’s a distraction for us as we are in the final days of this new grandchild being born.

Poor hubby has had one heck of a project going on, more about that when it’s finished. If I showed you a picture right now, it wouldn’t be pretty ladies.  Let’s just say we have a mess.  But there is light at the end of the tunnel, and it’s going to be so pretty.

I bought hydrangeas like the ones in the picture today, after a call to my buddy V.  She’s my fleur lady, I swear I can’t buy anything that blooms without her holding my hand. 

And that’s how it’s going, the page is still jacked up, but Scarlett isn’t going to worry about it until tomorrow, or the next day, or maybe even next week.

I'm working on it...

 

 

Yes, I know the template  is all jacked up, I just couldn’t handle that other layout, so I’m trying this one, and I have a “few” issues...

I’ll get it figured out...

~ Jan

What I've been up to...

No, I’m not raising chickens, but I think I actually would if I truly lived in the country.  They really appeal to me in my old(er) age, but egads they are nasty little varmints!

Now that spring has arrived in Heavensville, hubby has been undertaking yet another “honey do” project.  I decided the waterfall, even though it was very pretty, was just too large for the patio, so he reduced the size of it, and we got a great rock that we are going to use as a bubbler at the end of the stream.

It’s going well, but oh so challenging.  Ryan helped him so much last weekend, poor LC had a hug pile of mud, where he had enlarged the reservoir for the rock and Ry scooped it up for him.  

So now he has a gigantic mess, but the man is a wonder, and I’m sure it will be great!  Before and after pictures when it’s finished...  

Radio Flyer Red Wagon

 

You have to click thru to “Read More” to see this.  Oh, I bet their kids are so embarrassed, though.  Hubby would love this!!!!

The Grandkids

 

It was such a lovely Easter, sunny skies, flowers in bloom, and these sweet little grandchildren.  I am a lucky woman….  You have to click to the next page for Ben’s picture, I’m not sure I’m liking this new template I’m using.  grrrrr

Still waiting on Peanut...

 

So much for the full moon theory, this grandchild wasn’t ready to make an appearance yet.  And we simply have to quit calling her Peanut, she’ll be here anytime now, and even though her mother is a devoted Snoopy fan, I’m sure she will be ready for us to transition to her real name when she arrives.

Deanna posted this latest pregnancy picture yesterday on her Harris Sisters GirlTalk blog.  

It’s a family weekend for us, Ry and Linds are on the way to our house with those sweet little grandchildren, then they’re off to Nashville tomorrow to spend Easter with John and Deanna, while we’re going to Easter brunch with our friends, Rich and V.

And we’ll be on our way to Nashville very soon now for the arrival of Peanut.

I hope you all have a blessed Easter.  Spring has finally arrived in all it’s glory in Heavensville, I’m so looking forward to Ryan and Lindsay’s arrival, it’s going to be such a fun day here for our family...

 

It's a Full Moon over Nashville tonight

If you follow the signs, it’s a full moon tonight and lots of babies are born during a full moon.

It's certainly a widely held belief. It goes back so far, it's unclear where it first took hold, but one thing is for sure: People around the world have a deep faith in the moon's ability to affect human physiology. Giving birth is just one human behavior said to be affected by the full moon. 

 

It's called the lunar effect, and, as far as births are concerned, the primary explanation for the effect focuses on the moon's gravitational pull. It basically states that much the way the moon's gravity controls the tides, it can control a woman's body. The human body is 80 percent water, after all. And, given that both menstruation and ovulation roughly follow a lunar cycle -- occurring on a monthly basis -- it doesn't seem too far off to think that the moon could have a say in childbirth as well.

 

 If you were to judge by word of mouth alone, it would seem as if the lunar effect was a sure thing. According to believers, one need only conduct a survey in a hospital to prove the connection between full moons and childbirth.

 

A ShulmN study broke the month into consecutive three-day periods and found that the three days of a "full moon window" -- the day before, day of and day after a full moon -- had more births than any other single three-day period

 

A bit early for Peanut, but you never know….

 

It's certainly a widely held belief. It goes back so far, it's unclear where it first took hold, but one thing is for sure: People around the world have a deep faith in the moon's ability to affect human physiology. Giving birth is just one human behavior said to be affected by the full moon.

Nightgowns, a blast from the past...

 

The Vermont Country Store has some new products, and of course I was totally enchanted.  I love their nightgown selection.  It reminds me of the gowns of my childhood.  My buddy V had this to say when I sent her the link. 

"It makes me think of taking a bath and getting into bed with clean nighty on a summer day, and listening to a lawmower off in the distance through the open window"

This is the one that brought back so many memories.  Mother used to make my nightgowns and they were very similar to this.  There was nothing in the world better than a fresh nightgown dried on a clothesline, oh the smell of it.  *sigh*

The only thing that’s changed is the price, this little bit of nostalgia will set you back $74.00

$74.00 YIKES!!!!!!!!!!

Here’s the link to their selection.  You have to be of a certain age to appreciate these, but this is what girls used to wear to bed...

Mother was right again this year...

Mom really was a smart lady.  She lived by the signs, read the Farmer’s Almanac religiously, and always said “early Easter, early spring” “late Easter, late spring."

Well obviously she nailed it again this year.  The temperatures have dropped steadily all day, snow showers forecasted and we're dipping to the freezing mark tomorrow night.  Let’s get this Easter show on the road so that it warms up!

You were right again, ma, winter is just not letting go easily.

Doris Day, doesn't she look amazing

 

Doris Day made her first public appearance in more than two decades.

She says even though she’s ninety,  she still feels young, takes daily long walks with her beloved dogs, eats healthy, indulges occasionally with ice cream and has a daily glass of wine.

Sounds like sound advice to me...

The things Abby says...

We were visiting the grands a couple of weeks ago, and Abby carries this Encylopedia of Animals everywhere.  She’s read the whole thing and not only is she fascinated by it, she also quizzes you on it.  Unfortunately for me, she knows far more about animals than I ever thought about knowing.  It’s hard to bluff a four and a half year old, too!

Abby:  Grammie, did you know armadillos curl into a ball?

Me:  Uh, no Abby, I didn’t know that.

Abby:  Grammie do you know what a baby kangaroo is called?

Me:  Uh, I know that, uh, I do, just let me think a minute

Abbie:  (rolling eyes)  It’s called a Joey, Grammie

Me:  Oh yes, a Joey, I knew that, Abby, really I did!

Abbie:  And did you know that a Joey lives in a pouch in it’s mommy’s tummy, Grammie, and it feeds off her breast!

Me:  Ya, uh-huh, okay, Abby, sure...

Fast forward to yesterday when Lindsay posted on her Facebook page about Abby memorizing commercials.  She knows them verbatim, and apparently she told a lady in Trader Joes that she and her mama were going to The Liquor Barn because it’s the number one source for party supplies in Lexington!

I love posting Abbyisms,  when she’s grown and has children of her own, she will read these entries and be fascinated at what she was doing at this age.

Your morning giggle...

Happy Birthday Doris Day!

 

This amazing woman is ninety years young.  I’ve always been such a fan.

Here’s a rare interview Parade Magazine did with her in 2011

Goodbye GMA, it's been a good run, but.....

 

Okay, I’ve gotta vent.  I’m so over GMA.  First Sam Champion left, now Josh Elliott has bailed.  Ya, they’re bringing in Michael Strahan, he’s okay, but not enough to make me tune in.  

And what was the straw that broke the camel’s back?  This morning I was watching Robin Roberts fawn over  Samuel L. Jackson.  The woman was actually bowing to him.  Ya, he’s a great actor, but bowing?  Oh puh-leez. 

And apparently, if you can believe the tabloids, Amy Robach and Lara Spencer hate each other.  That Lara has worked on my last nerve for years.  She reminds me of that awful Debbie Thomopoulos that used to be on The View.

So I’m gone, outta there, hasta la vista, baby.  But where do I go for my morning news?  I gave up TODAY because I just can’t tolerate Matt Lauer.  Ugh, the man disgusts me.  Word on the street is that Josh Elliott will step into his spot when his contract is up.  I hope so, I’m a fan, and I’ll return to TODAY if that happens.  CBS Morning News is a a huge yawn, I could revisit Fox & Friends, but that would entail me suffering thru Elizabeth Hasselbeck.  So what am I gonna do?  Just ignore morning news?  I do enjoy Kathie Lee and Hoda at 10am, but that’s not news, that’s two old women sitting around gossiping and drinking wine.

Okay, I feel better now, just had to get that all out!  Now I’m going to enjoy this pretty spring morning and forget about the news!  It’s all bad anyway!!!!!!!!

EZ Off Jar Opener, just buy it!!!!

The older I get the more I struggle with opening jars.  A few years ago my son Ryan bought me an automatic jar opener, and while it works great, it’s big and bulky, I have it in the garage and it’s a hassle to access it.

I’ve tried hand-held openers, you’re struggling to hold it with one hand and open the jar with the other.  Most of the time I just rely on poor hubby, but he isn’t always around.

So a few weeks ago, I found this opener on Amazon,  it had 438 positive reviews, so I decided to try it.  It mounts under your kitchen cabinet, it’s invisible since the frame of the cabinet hides it, and it’s just simply amazing.

A quick counter clockwise twist and your jar is opened.  You have both hands free, it’s seriously awesome, ladies.

So get out that credit card, and order it up, $16.95 prime, it’s SO worth the money.

Here’s the quick click to order...

Clean your makeup brushes with Dawn Dishwashing Detergent

 

My brushes were overdue to be cleaned, and instead of using Johnson’s Baby Shampoo like I normally do, I cleaned them with Dawn Dishwashing Liquid.  I just squirted a bit of Dawn directly on each individual brush, rubbed it in, and washed it under the faucet with warm water.

Wow, what a difference.  Every bit of makeup residue and oil is gone and they are soft and pliable.

Try it, it’s a good thing!   ~ Jan

The 2013 Barkley Dog Family Subaru Commercial Compilation

 

My friend, Jean sent this to me.  It’s awesome!  If you love dogs, give this a watch!!!