My Love/Hate Relationship With Mosquitoes

It's very simple.

They LOVE me. I HATE them.

This is an actual photograph of my hand
from last summer.
(Just keeding! Only felt like this!)

Worst part? I wasn't outside.
I was inside the sanctity of my own home!



Yes, the vultures would attack me at night when I
was sleeping and bite my hands and face!
They would wake me up buzzing in my ear
and then elude me when I tried to annihilate them.
I tried to sleep in gloves and cover up my face.
When I sat in my recliner in the glass room they
would bite my feet and ankles.
Pitiful is what I was. Just pitiful.


Anyone who entered my home last summer had
to come around through the garage.
Those horrible creatures swarmed my front
porch and my back door.
One day late in the summer a fireman 
rang my doorbell.
I hesitated but decided I best not ask him
to go around to the garage!
(They had been sent to the wrong address.)


I was going to assemble all the things I bought
to try to survive the summer of the mosquito,
but I have thrown too many of them away for
a photo to have the proper impact!
If anyone told me anything that might help,
I bought two. Nothing worked.
Except this.

I set it right by my bed last year and had the 

true joy of zapping a few of those nasty beasts!

But...a few will no longer do it.

"Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition!"

You mosquitoes have pushed me beyond my limit.

I contracted with ABC Pest Control 

to insure that I can live at peace in my own home

and yard this year. They guarantee it!

They've already sprayed and put out two spitoon

shaped pots (one in front and one in back), 

the contents of which they promise spell doom

 for the hideous pests.

They will be back every month, or more often

if any of them dares to appear in my field of vision.

So far I am impressed.

I can go on my front porch without fighting my way

through a cloud of mosquitoes.

There are none sitting on the back windows.

I haven't been bitten a single time.

I'm just left wishing I could have heard this sermon.

Amen.

I Am Now A Curves Girl!

Do you know about Curves?

It's an exercise program to strenghten women 

who don't want to get their hair messed up.

(Actually that is true of me--not everyone!)

It involves a series of 11 machines which work out

many muscles--arms, legs, back, etc.

One of the best things about Curves is that the

entire workout can be done in 30 minutes.

I've been going since January, but today was my

first progress weigh and measure.

Now before you even think about telling me that

I look better--don't, because I don't.

I had gained two pounds and two inches.

I think the workouts make me hungry. 

Bummer.

But...I feel like I am more flexible, which is

what I am really after!

(Liar, liar, pants on fire. I wanna be skinny!) 

I love the owner, Patti, and her assistant, Betty.

I have made many new friends there.

Betty took some pictures today for me to show you.

Disclaimer:

My descriptions of the machines are extremely

brief and basic.

Patti and Betty describe their benefits in much

greater and more thorough detail.

This machine twists from side to side while on your

knees to slim your waist! 

My grandmother of the bride dress will probably

have a belted tiny waist!

This one is to reduce "jiggle arm!"

This one is leg strengthening. You push back a 

pedal with one leg.

I feel this is very good for both my knees--

the new and the old!

Again, knee strengthening.

Pleased that I can do this without pain.

This one will kick your buttricks! (My grandmother's

word!) My face is an epic fail at a strained look!

My girls got their acting skills from me.

Believe it or not, at my age it is an accomplishment

to be able to reach this high over one's head!

Proud!

Now would you believe me if I said I just can't wait

to go exercise 3-4 times a week?

Well, you shouldn't. I'm more like this:

But when I get up and get there, I'm like this:

Thanks, Karen Ellen Anderson, my young friend, 

for recommending Curves.

I really feel like it is ideal for me.

Feel free to ask me questions about my experience.

I've been going almost two months now.

I'm an expert!

I Love a Dreary Day

Actually that title should be modified.

"I love a dreary day" when I can be at home!

This is one of those days, so I took a few pictures

to demonstrate why I feel this way.

This first one I've been meaning to show you for

quite some time.

I arranged it when I put Christmas away, so it's

taken me quite a while to get "aroundtoit."

(I have a lot of "aroundtoits.")

It is my coffee station on a travel theme.

Travel mugs are my #1 souvenir of choice.

I can drink my coffee and reminisce about the

wonderful places I have been blessed to be

able to go.

I rotate the mugs, as I have bulging cabinets full.

The napkins are from my 80th birthday party

and say "Linda's Exclamation Point Life!!!"

Another sunny memory on a dreary day.

Actually, this is another "aroundtoit."

I put this coffee table arangement together last

spring and was so proud of it.

I was going to put it on Pinterest, but I forgot how!

So Happy last Spring! On a dreary day.

Don't you like the mirrored old world map tray?

And the cherry blossoms?
And the knick knacks?
Me, too!

And...drum roll please...I even made the bed with

all its pillows.

(Not that I don't every day...)

Here in the glass room where I live,

it even smells good, too.

And look what's all festive and lighted to add

cheer to the gloominess!

My doll house from childhood.

 

***For better pictures and the story of my dollhouse
I would love for you to click HERE***


I don't know what it says about my personality
that I love dreary or even rainy days.
Maybe I don't want to know.
At least those of you who love sunny days are
blessed with more of those here in Texas!
Maybe I'll move to Seattle.
Or maybe not.

Aqua Nostalgia

I had already spotted it in a window display.
Then this from a catalog I received.

The "new color" - Sea Salt.
Many years ago it was aqua, and it was my color.


In those days brides chose a china pattern and a
pottery or casual pattern.
Believe it or not, and as little as I think it looks like 
me now, this is what I chose.

It was irregularly shaped and very heavy.

I just counted, and this weighty collection 

made a total of 13 moves with us. 

I know exactly where it is now--in boxes in the garage.

One year when our church was still having a 

festival of decorated tables, Terri borrowed it and

did a "fabulous fifties" table. Fabulous fun!

One other remarkable story about my Starburst.

One Sunday morning after church I was standing

in a hall waiting to go into my small group class.

My eyes fell upon a Starburst platter being

carried by someone I didn't know.

Of course, that didn't keep me from swooping 

down upon her and babbling on that I had a complete

set of that pattern, thinking that she probably

did too.

Her name was Leslie Graves, and she had brought

food for her class on the now empty platter.

She said it was just an odd piece she had, and

she gave it to me!!!

So it is safely wrapped and with my set in the garage.

And would you believe, as I remember my

platter had a chip out of it!

Incidentally, Le Creuset cookware, even in the

perfect color, would most certainly not have been 

on my bridal registry. 

My whole set of Club Aluminum even today

would not cost as much as one piece of

Le Creuset!

But it cooked lots of good meals for a very

blessed and grateful family.  

Into Which Camp Do You Fall?

Do you still enjoy your Christmas decorations after

Christmas day?

Or

Do you take them down just as soon as possible after

the last gift is opened?

I fall into camp #1. Today is one week and one day

past Christmas, and my lights are brightly shining.

It's cold and rainy outside, but warm and aglow

 in my home.

These are views from my recliner:

My Jack felt the same way as I do about this matter.

For many years we took advantage of the fact

that we were not anxious to take down our

decorations by hosting a New Year's Eve party

in our still festive home.

So we have never ever taken our decorations

down before January 1st.

For many years I put all these decorations up myself,

with the exception of the stairway garland.

I'm not sure I ever did that.

But the rest would take me forever.

Now I have 2 experts who do all of it for me!

(Plus my Sam of all trades who helps with 

the heavy lifting!) 

Having to take out a bank loan in order to 

achieve this winter wonderland probably contributes

to my reluctance to take it down very soon! 

Besides...the house looks like I've moved out

when they all come down.

Besides #2...I have 11 months without the brilliance.

Give me as long as possible with it!

Before Christmas I am always busily preparing

in one way or another.

If I'm not shopping or wrapping or prepping for 

or cleaning up after a party,

  I'm often obsessively tweaking decorations!

After Christmas I am relaxed and able to

completely enjoy!

These guys are still enjoying the ambiance too!

The grand ole dame of Christmas around here is

really glad my Christmas celebration continues.

Cause she was a little late to the party.

But, bless her heart. She's giving it her best effort.

MERRY WEEK AFTER CHRISTMAS

WITH LOVE

FROM TWO GRAND OLD DAMES!

My Take on Hallmark Christmas Movies

I can't believe I have sort of gotten hooked on these.

I've laughed a lot at them--and myself!

And--I have made some observations that I haven't 

noticed anyone mentioning yet.

#1: There must be a trip to a Christmas tree lot to

select and cut a fresh tree in every one.

Methinks the lot looks suspiciously identical, too,

in every one.

I guess fake trees would make the movies seem...

fake. HaHaHa!

We wouldn't want that!

#2: The snowball fight has become a staple.

(Maybe it always has been. I'm a newbie at this!)

And I'm not sure all would be as jovial in real life

being hit by some of those fast (snow) balls!

#3: Perhaps a little more subtle, but it is...

the near miss kiss!

In the first three I watched, when our 

hero and heroine finally got to looking into each 

other's eyes and moving closer...closer...oops!

One or the other either chickened out or

someone comes up, interrupting the big moment!

Think it's happening here?

Well it's not! Our hero backs out this time!

#4: Again in those first three I watched I couldn't

miss that they must have only one hairdresser

who did only one style. The twirly curl.

I love long curly curls, but I drew the line when 

Leanne Rimes and her mother in the show 

had matching hair!
Sorry I didn't get a picture of that.

I have a couple of general observations too.

First, I love it that old favorite Christmas carols

are sung in almost every movie.
Carols that tell the story of the birth of Jesus.

I also wish our problems and misunderstandings

in life were worked out as smoothly and

quickly and perfectly as they are in these stories.

That families could be quickly and gloriously mended.

And that true love would always prevail! 

Two Perspectives on Christmas Eve

Since our family was scattered for Thanksgiving,

we missed our turkey and dressing.

We are, therefore, having a full Christmas dinner

tomorrow evening.

I'm telling you this to set up Perspective #1.

I'm making my famous dressing but had no interest

in cooking a turkey. I let Spring Creek do that.

So I went to pick it up a little after noon today.

Since I have become devoutly lazy, I decided 

to buy Chick Fil A's tea also.

The CFA in Mansfield is adjacent to a Wal Mart.

The parking lot of said Wal Mart was packed.

I wondered how many (or how few) 

of that mob of last minute

  shoppers had any thought of what this celebration

is really about.

I'll have to admit. I was pessimistic--and sad.

And then I went to the Christmas Eve service

at my beloved Fielder Church.

There I received a whole new Perspective #2. 

And there I was surrounded by a mob of believers

in the "Infinite Infant" Jesus!

We sang, we inhaled the gospel, and we 

worshiped together.

We also celebrated the coming of the Light to this

world by lighting candles, beginning with

one flicker of flame.

I wish I could show you a picture.

It was beautiful as we held our candles high and 

sang "Silent Night."

Better yet, I wish you had been there.

The perspective I left with is life changing.