When a monster storm suddenly becomes personal

I was working at the computer yesterday when early information about the Oklahoma tornado started coming to my inbox.  My friend, Holly, the same Holly who sends me the wonderful handmade cards, lives in an Oklahoma City suburb and I quickly sent her an email, naively saying that I hoped she was okay.

Then additional reports started quickly coming in, I went to the den to watch the coverage with hubby, and realized that the tornado had struck Moore, Oklahoma.  I got this sick feeling, quickly pulled up Holly's address, and sure enough, my fears were realized, she lives in Moore, Oklahoma.  I didn't have her cell phone number, so I started emailing her again, and Larry pulled up her address on Google Maps.  It looked like she was right in the path of destruction.

I surmised that both she and her husband were at work, as this happened mid-afternoon, but the scene that unfolded was just, as you all know, horrifying.  Finally, last night at 8:30pm, I got an email from her.  She was in Hilton Head on vacation, had finally gotten thru to one of her neighbors and found out that the tornado came within three blocks of her house and thankfully, her only damage was dirt and slime.

This is a perfect example of how quickly our lives can change.  There is no power over Mother Nature, we only rent space from her, and it can be taken away in a heartbeat. 

I'm very relieved for my friend this morning as I watch coverage of this horrible tragedy, but so, so many others were not so lucky...

Flowers make me smile...

 

I plucked an iris and peony from my neighbor's yard and put them in old milk jugs in a wire carrier on my kitchen counter  Such a little thing, but it gives me so much joy.

It's the simple things, ladies.  Works for me every time ;o)

Ben at 9 months

 

Thought I would brighten your morning with a smile,  a picture of my sweet little Grandson…  Happy Monday!!!

John and Deanna's Roman Holiday...

John and Deanna are in Rome on vacation, and heading to Tuscany later this weekend.  

We shopped the mall last weekend on our girl's day out when we were in Lexington,  She loved this great maxi skirt that Lindsay found for her,  paired it with a belt I gave her a year or so ago, added a hat and jewelry and looks adorable.    She also got this great red bandana print skirt and a white eyelet peasant blouse, can't wait to see how that turned out.  Linds should seriously be a personal shopper, she finds the best stuff!!!

Isn't it wonderful when you shop and  it "clicks."  We were all giddy because she found things she liked.  There is nothing like girl's day out, we need to do it more often, it was so much fun!
 

 

And of course she had to throw a coin in the Trevi Fountain….

And I can't leave out John, he found a Timberland store and came out with a "must have."  My son has always been a world class shopper.  I think he comes by it naturally ;o)
 

Tammy Did it Again, Another Great Video...

I like to think that Tammy and I are kindred spirits.  Oh quit rolling your eyes, I know she is drop dead gorgeous and I'm but a mere mortal, but she just calls to me.  I naturally follow her down the yellow brick road because the woman has so much knowledge,  but we do seem to gravitate to the same colors of makeup, and she messaged me and told me to buy MAC Bamboo shadow, and when I was in Lexington last weekend, I picked it up, and on a whim, I also bought Handwritten shadow.  

I've used MAC Saddle Shadow for a few years now, Lindsay (daughter-in-law) is a big fan as well.  So when I came home and watched Tammy's latest video, she used not only Bamboo, but Saddle and my newest purchase, Handwritten.  It's Karma, ladies, Karma!  

She also used a killer Laura Mercier Baked Bronze Blush that is calling to me, it will be my newest summer purchase, well that chubby Mayan Peach lipstick looks good, too and the MAC Peaches Blush ;o)  And I need more brushes!  Hubby is going to be so thrilled when he see's the bill for all of this. :o(

And now,  on with the show.  When you watch this video to the end, she has it all together with the hair, the makeup, the great jewelry, and you will be see the most beautiful fifty something lady ever.   Tammy is such a Wonder Woman when it comes to applying makeup, there is none better!   And I've said it before, and I'll say it again, there aren't very many women who would do these videos au naturel like she does.  Don't you just love real women!!!

 

 

Take a minute, subscribe to her YouTube channel, there are so many videos you can choose from, so much you can learn.  Whether you are twenty, forty or sixty +, Tammy can enlighten you with amazing makeup techniques, regardless of your age.

 Here's her click...

Happy Mothers Day...

 

We were with our family for Mother's Day, the guys put together Abby's play set, she refers to it as her "park." The girls had a day out yesterday, we shopped and saw Gatsby. And today, as we were celebrating Mother's Day, nature gave me a gentle reminder that all of God's creatures are mothers. We saw a mother cat, with two tiny kittens scampering across the yard. In the field behind the house were mother cows with their calves, and yesterday we saw a mother horse and her colt racing across the field.

Happy Mothers Day to all mothers, and to nature for once again reminding me how wonderful the cycle of life is for ALL mothers...

 

Posted with Blogsy

This is true! I'm living proof!!!!!

Regrets, i've had a few...

 

We all have regrets in our life, and never owning a horse is a big one of mine.  I have loved horses all my life, always wanted one, but never pursued it and made it happen.  Note to younger women, if you have a dream, make it happen, you will never regret it.

Of course the dream is long gone now,  I rode one for the last time about five years ago, and realized my ship had sailed.  I'm grateful that my front yard faces a horse pasture and I can look out and see them and walk to the fence and give them an apple.

Just saw this picture on Facebook, and it still tugs at the heartstrings, I must admit...

Tomorrow I get to see Dem Grandbabies….

 

I've always loved Smiley Faces

 

 

Who doesn't love a smiley face?  It's a guaranteed feel good moment when you look at that bright yellow grin.  Works for me every time.

We were visiting John and Deanna a couple of weeks ago, went to the Nashville Flea Market, and I spotted this 70's mug.  It's a great color, golden yellow, not the pale yellow that you see so often, and hubby bought it for me.

I noticed that Deanna had this cute little owl mug sitting on her K-Cup Coffee Maker, John had made it for her and it was so bright and cheerful.  So I came home and now my Smiley Face mug resides on my K-Cup Coffee Maker.  Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, you know.  

Thanks, sweet daughter-in-law, for the great idea.  

 

The Big Wedding Review

 

 

I wanted to like this movie, i really, really  did.  I watched the trailers a few months ago, and it just looked so good.  Diane Keaton, Susan Sarandon, Amanda Seigfreid, Katharine Heigl, and oh ya, Robert Deniro.

And since hubby is always up for a chick flick, we trekked to the movie last night.  It was all downhill from there.

First of all, you know that I go for the hair, the makeup, the clothes, the sets, not so much the storyline.  But there wasn't enough  of these things for even me to like in this stinker of a movie.

Diane Keaton, who is 66 now, and has always been thin, just looks frail to me now.   In one scene where DeNiro hugged her, her back looked like the beginning of osteoporosis.    She wears the same look in every single movie, and it used to work for her.  But I'm weary of the Barbara Bush pearls and the wide belts that ride too high below her flat chest.  I'm a huge fan of neutrals, so of course I enjoyed her beige/black/white clothes, especially a caramel colored long cardigan with patch sleeves, but I really would like to see her get into character just once in her life instead of always playing Diane Keaton.

On the other hand Susan Sarandon, who is 64, looked earthy, healthy, golden and voluptuous.  Older women just look better when they have a body, and she had that boho look about her that I love.  Just my two cents worth.

Katharine Heigel, oh my, she had the worst haircut, the worst look imaginable.  I'm hoping that she had a wig on, she looked positively dowdy.  And Amanda Seigfreid, who I normally like, was just blah.  And DeNiro?  He's just an old man, 'nuff said.

I talked to Ryan this morning, he nailed it when he said that when they put too many stars in one movie it just doesn't work.  I think he's right, nobody has enough screen time to develop their character.  But this movie didn't really have a plot that was even realistic.  It was so weak, even for me, who normally doesn't care about the plot ;o)

The house wasn't even great on the inside either, the outside was lovely as you can see in the picture above, it was on a lake with a dock, and it was stunning, but inside it was just blah.

And the cost for this fiasco:

$19.50 for tickets 
  $8.00 for popcorn
  $6.00 for a Coke

Totally obscene, isn't it.  What if we would have not shared popcorn and our Coke, we would have then paid $28 for just popcorn and a drink!!!!  Totally CRAZY!!!

I came home and read the reviews for this on Rotten Tomatoes, they only gave it an 8% approval rating.  I should have read the reviews before we went...

Butterbean is helping on the patio...

 

He's a nosy little rabbit, climbs on the waterfall, peers over the top, scares the beejusus out of me, thinking he is going to hop to freedom, but he doesn't seem to want to jump.  The patio is enclosed, he has a great time spinning circles and darting back and forth.  He hops over by us when we're working, eats my flowers, but we don't leave him on the patio unattended, I'm afraid he might make the leap even though LC assures me he won't.....

 

I Pledge Allegiance to the Flag

 

Abby is three and a half, and I think she is such a smart little girl.  Love the hand over the heart.  Grammie's brag about their grandkids, ya, we do….

Today's smile

I could post Abby pictures every day...

Yes, Yes, this is what happens to me!!!!

Today I'm making vegetable soup...

 

So what's the big deal, everybody likes soup, well I'll tell you what the big deal is, ya I will!   I should be making things like egg salad, my beloved wilted lettuce in mother's stainless steel bowl, asparagus, lemon something, all things spring.  But since it's rainy, damp and colder than a well digger's butt in Heavensville today, I have soup in my trusty pressure cooker.

Sounds good?  Of course, but not what I want.  It's gonna be another cold night, have to drag those plants in the garage again.  Will somebody please remind me of this next year when I plant too early.  

And the weather forecast is lousy, too!  Just look at this! Only tomorrow looks good, then clouds, clouds and more rain.  Okay, so it could be worse, but it could be better!!!

 

Aren't you glad you clicked on here today.  Sure you aren't!  Grrrrrrrrr

I think I'm stuck in the 80's...

 

Country Living is still my favorite magazine, and I'm absolutely thrilled when the latest issue arrives in the mail.  My friend, Barb, recently introduced me to Decor Steals, a different deal at 9am every morning, most of them country, items I still think are wonderful, but have no use for anymore.

I love looking at all things vintage and reminisce about the good ole' days when my house was stuffed with antiques and collectibles.  But I'm not that (old) girl anymore.  These days I'm just a looker, not a buyer, but I miss some of the things I used to have.  Now I surround myself with things that I love, subscribe to the theory that if you don't love it, it has no place in your home, get rid of it, and replace it with something that makes you smile.  

I'm rambling, aren't i?  I tend to do that, next I'll be wishing shoulder pads would come back in style.  Well, I was a huge fan in the day.

In the meantime, you  might want to sign up for Decor Steals to be delivered to your inbox at 9am every morning.  Warning:  It's addictive, even if you don't buy anything. 

 

This is what they have today.  See what I mean, 80's, right?  

Here's the click if you want to subscribe.

There are such good people in the world...

Yesterday hubby and I were nearing a busy intersection, and we saw a man in the middle of the road, walking toward the median, waving his arms.    Naturally, traffic was stopped in all directions, and my immediate thought was to be irritated because we were having to wait.  Then other people started getting out of their cars, and we were straining to see what was going on.

In just a minute here came a mama duck with her 3 little goslings marching across the road, and all of these people were helping them get safely across.  The goslings were so young that one of them couldn't hop the curb and a man scooped it up and put it in the grass.

It was one of those moments that  gives you faith in humanity.  The world is full of good people, they just don't make the news.  It was a special moment in time, one of those you don't forget...

Don't you just love home delivery….

The UPS man rings the doorbell with a package, and it's like he's giving you a present.  I simply block out the fact that I paid for what he's delivering and dig into it with gusto.

Today this Martha Stewart Jadeite Honey Pot arrived.  Yes, I know it's cute, I've had this very one for several years, but the cleaning lady had an oops and the lid got broken.  Martha Stewart's Online Store has been discontinued for a few years now, and her products are liquid gold, but I loved it and had to have another.  Thank goodness for eBay, what would we do without it!

Pricey little devil, but the UPS Man brought it, so it was free.  Um-hmmmm, sure it was.  Tell that to LC...