Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

27 Aug

Adapted

Posted by ivegonecountry in Uncategorized.

When Mabel first came to live with us…she really managed to twist Billy around her little paw…..

Seems to still be that way…..

He is telling her that it is time for bed….she acts like she didn’t hear a word he said…..

We decided from the start that she would be an outside dog.  A dog that would stay in the fence and be the goats best friend.

Since I zip tied her little spot….things have been much better.   Ellie and Mabel have been running and playing, chasing each other until tongues hang out.  They really seem to be enjoying each others company.

In the evenings they come in and spend some time with us as we all settle down before bed.

Mabel lays on her back and stretches out when she is really relaxed.  She used to sit in Billy’s lap…but she has grown too big for all that now.

However, each night he picks her up and takes her to her bed.  She LOVES it!  No matter how tired Billy is….or how sore he is from working….he picks that big baby up.

And she goes to her apartment for the night…

I know it doesn’t look that comfy…I had padding in it…but she prefers it this way….and it is her apartment after all….

First thing in the morning….Billy takes Ellie and Mabel to retrieve the paper….then they get a dog bone…for a job well done.  After Billy does his routine of things then they go into the fence together.

Mabel has decided that being in the fence isn’t so bad.  And Ellie….likes having someone to hang out with.  They check out the goats…run and play….then they settle down for a little snooze.

Yes, she seems to have adapted just fine.

25 Aug

Fruits and Vegetables

Posted by ivegonecountry in Uncategorized. Tagged: , .

We have had so many people share vegetables with us this season.

Billy came home from work one day with a five gallon bucket full of these beautiful tomatoes.  After we enjoyed a few….it was time to put some up.  They will be great when the cold months roll around.

Then, our neighbors shared some okra, fresh picked from their garden, with us.

And some peppers….

So I ventured out and made some Pickled Okra.

Billy loves pickled okra.

But this was my first attempt on making them.  I wasn’t real sure about how they turned out.  I took a jar to my neighbor and consulted with her..she is a whiz at all this.  She assured me they were fine, and gave me some pointers for the next time.  I needed to pack my jars a little tighter.  Hopefully they will taste just fine.  All I could think about was Aunt Bee’s kerosene  pickles on the Andy Griffith show.  I guess time will tell.

Another friend gave us some green beans from her garden…..YUM….my favorite.

The long bean on the top is before I blanched them….the lower pic is after blanching.  Look at that beautiful color.

I had fun snapping them.  It has been years since I have done that.  It only took a little while and I ended up with 3 quart bags.  YEA!!!!!

Earlier in the season I made Blackberry Jam and Jelly from the blackberries we grew.  I think I made 3 batches.

I passed a fruit stand the other day…and well….I had to get some peaches.

These were some of the biggest and most beautiful peaches I have ever seen.

I made Peach Jam last weekend.  I ended up having enough peaches to make two batches.  That gave me 19 half pints!!!! Woo Hoo

This week my brother in law gave me a bag of apples that he picked.

So I washed them and had them drying on the counter when Billy came in.   He said….what are you going to make?

I could see his eyes twinkle.  I said….Apple Jelly!  The twinkle kinda went out of his eyes.  OH….more Jelly huh?!?

I hadn’t really thought about it…but yeah…more jelly.  I suppose I should have made him an apple pie or apple turnovers or something like that,  I just had Jelly on the brain.  After I thought about it…. I suppose I could have made him a peach cobbler with some of those peaches, but ….well….Poor Billy.

Today….I made the apple jelly.

I didn’t look at how much the recipe would make until I was well into the process.  It only made four half pint jars.  I’m not too sure that I will go to all that trouble to make four jars again.

Maybe I should have made a pie after all.  Although, I do appreciate the free apples.

I bet when a few months go by, Billy and I both will be glad that we have jelly….

lots and lots…… of jelly!

22 Aug

Habits

Posted by ivegonecountry in Uncategorized. Tagged: , , .

When we were first married, I noticed little things Billy and I did differently.

 

Like this…he opens a cabinet…and doesn’t close the door…not all the time…but a lot of the time.

Nothing major…I just thought that was unusual…I don’t recall any of us doing that in my house growing up.

 

same with drawers….almost closed

 

but not quite…..

Through the years…he also saw things I did, that he didn’t do….

 

like a spot that becomes the “catch all” for you know….those things you need to see to remember to do, or read later…..but later never comes.  So the stack grows a little bigger and bigger…..

And this one…where I sweep a little pile here…and a little pile there….and sometimes I miss a pile when I make the rounds with the dust pan……

Since I am writing this….I choose not to go on and on about my flaws……HA HA

One day last Spring my sister was visiting for a day or so.  We were getting ready to go somewhere and she was sweeping the floor while I was getting dressed.  When I finished she set her broom aside and headed to the door… she looked at her little pile and said, with a wave of her hand….Oh,…I’ll get that later…let’s go.  I just busted out laughing….I was sure Billy had told her to do that since I am always leaving a pile.  She looked so funny when I said did Billy tell you to do that?  She said ….what?   Then I could tell by the look on her face that it wasn’t a joke.  So I explained it to her and we had a good laugh.  We probably do things alike more than we realize….however I’m not sure where we got that habit from.  I don’t remember Mom doing it in our growing up years.

So, through the years I have kinda smiled when I saw the doors and drawers left open or partially opened…and closed them behind him.  Still thinking that is kind of an odd habit, about as strange as my piles.

The other day, I was working around in the kitchen, when I noticed that several cabinet doors were open…..and I was the only one home.  I laughed out loud….I couldn’t blame this one on him.

Funny how we pick up on one another’s habits, good and bad, and don’t even realize it.

I find myself having to stop, like I did that day in the kitchen, and look at a bad habit face to face.

Some habits can really effect us Spiritually.  They may seem small and insignificant…but in light of  how we should be living….it isn’t small…it isn’t insignificant.

I like this verse.  Yet it is a convicting verse.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17

I, as a Christian, need to always be striving to put away those things that are not pleasing to God.

Through the years Billy has helped me start some new….good habits.  Like reading scripture first thing in the morning.  By watching him do so year after year, and hearing others teach on how this is the best time of day for them to study God’s Word, I too find that it works for me.  When I have tried to read the scriptures at night….I can’t concentrate as well.  I often nod off in the middle of reading.  Not much gets absorbed into the old brain that way.  To change and start reading in the morning was something I had to make myself do at first.  But now I awaken ready and look forward to that time.  I love that first part of the day.  The day is fresh…things are quiet…which makes it easier for me to concentrate…I am rested and ready to learn.  And often I sit beside my husband while he reads his Bible too.

I like having this habit…..now others……well, I’m working on those…one at a time.

I do think I am going to have to watch Billy real close and see if he has started leaving piles around when he sweeps the garage…..

20 Aug

Back To School

Posted by ivegonecountry in Uncategorized.

I can’t believe it is already time for school to start.

Riley is going into the second grade and Andy is going to start Kindergarten.  Layla has one more year and then it will be her turn.  One of the weird things about getting old is remembering when you went to kindergarten yourself, then you’ve raised a family,put your own kids in school, and now it’s the grandchildren’s turn…..yet  you remember being there yourself like it was yesterday.   WEIRD….

Billy and I went by my elementary school this past weekend….maybe it is because I just turned fifty….or because the grandchildren are about to go to school for a new year, I don’t know but I had major flashbacks.

First off…that school is soooo small.   When I was going there it was much… much…. bigger.  I saw some of the original playground equipment from when I was there.  The monkey bars sure weren’t as intimidating as they used to be.  Bet I could make it across now.

There was a special place under an awning that a bunch of us girls would sit and eat packaged, sweetened,  dry koolaid….. with our fingers.  All of us, with wet slobbery fingers sitting indian style, passing it around in a circle…dipping wet finger after wet finger  into one Koolaid package.  We would all end up with a purple or orange finger, and some strange  colored lips..  No wonder stomach bugs go around when school starts……

I saw the place where you were “dropped off”  for school if you rode in a car.  Patrol kids would open the car door for you.  I remember my little sister was a patrol girl.  I was  proud of her with her little strap vest thingy on.  She looked very official.  If I am not mistaken there was a hard hat, white gloves and a badge that with with that attire. Oh…and sometimes she got to carry an orange flag.   She was really something else….

I also saw the crosswalk where my lunchbox opened and it all fell out while I was in the middle of crossing.  Oh!!! how embarrassing!  I was trying to hurry and pick it all up…I mean gracious there were cars….they were stopped…but still I was in the middle of the street.  When you are a kid…that stuff is major.

I saw the door that came out of one of my old classrooms.  The teacher would let kids take turns during the week beat the chalk board erasers.  If you were the lucky one…you got to go outside and pound the erasers on a metal grate attached to the brick wall.  It was a lot of fun.  Chalk dust would fly everywhere.  Your hands would be chalk white.  It was sooooo cool.

I didn’t go in the school the other day, matter of fact I haven’t been in that school since my own son went there.  But, I remember how that bell sounded in the mornings….and the way my heart would beat faster if I was late to class.  I remember saying the pledge of allegiance and having a school prayer to start the day.  I can still recall how it smelled when you entered the building early in the mornings.  The excitement of getting to sharpen your pencil….and the smell of the shavings.  The  nervousness and excitement all rolled into one when chosen to take something to the main office for the teacher.  I loved smelling the fresh rolls cooking for lunch, and eating the peanut butter balls, they were awesome.  However, I never liked the milk.  It was never cold enough or something…I still am not a milk drinker.  Of course I blame it on that.   We took our lunch most of the time, but we bought that old nasty milk.   My Poor Mama…she made a lot of  peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, she would cut oranges up to make triangle slices and we would always have some sort of cookie.  Now, that may sound boring…but I really liked it.  I would cringe when she would put a tuna fish sandwich in my lunch….or a banana….do you know how gross that smells by lunch time.

As Billy and I drove away on those old familiar roads, I couldn’t help but smile.  We had a lot of fun in the walls of that school.  Lots of childhood fun, running, playing, laughing all in the midst of  learning.   Many teachers still come to mind that helped and guided me along the way.

The other day Lindsay was talking about Andy going to kindergarten.  She kinda hates to see this day coming.  Her baby…going to school.  It can be so hard to send them off those first few days.  They just look too little to be going to school.

I thought about how I felt the day I had to do that.  It puts a lump in your throat for sure.  Ok…..so it makes a Mama cry…

The hard part is….not crying in front of them, you know…when you have to be a “big girl”, and tell how much fun they are going to have….while your heart is breaking.

I have great respect and admiration for teachers.  It is not an easy job, if  they are taking their job seriously.

Each year I would pray for whomever my son would be getting as a teacher that year.  I know they can make a huge impact on a child’s life.   We were blessed to have a lot of wonderful teachers through the years.

About  Twenty Two years ago…. as my son finished kindergarten… I reflected back on the year, and I  wrote a poem about it.   I am not a real poem writer by any means.  Matter of fact I haven’t gotten any better at it even after all these years.   HA HA

For some reason I can’t seem to write anything unless it rhymes or gets close…..  So I suppose it is just ….thoughts of mine….put to rhyme.

I am really going out on a limb here… so…….don’t laugh….this is meant to ease other Moms that have knots in their stomachs as they take their babies to school.  If nothing else it will make them stop crying and start laughing.

Kindergarten

Nervous as we went down the hall

It was a new experience for us all

Garrett and I were holding hands so tight

As we turned the corner to meet Miss Wright

She was ever so patient, as I delayed my leaving

For she could see my heart was grieving

Independence is what we all want for our child

But wanting a teacher gentle and mild

Already leaving “silky”, the blanket, in the car

I knew we had already come so far

But did she know all she needed to know?

Why, who would kiss his little stumped toe?

He broke both arms only last summer

What if he needed his mama and no other?

Did she know he sucked his thumb when tired?

And sometimes cough medicine would make him wired?

Yet everyday my mind was put to ease

As I saw her gentle pat and loving squeeze

Firm in discipline yet gentle and kind

It soon wasn’t hard to leave him behind

Cutting, Coloring, Shapes and Sizes

Three good notes could win you prizes

Couldn’t wait to go to school the very next day

After learning to skip and tie a bow the right way!

So very organized everyday

She made her work seem like play

Making holidays fun for each season

I could see him understanding their reason

Straight across and down from heaven

Now even Mom could make a seven

Reading, Writing and Arithmetic

I like that teacher behind that hickory stick

I believe God sent you from above

To teach our children with your love

Let me polish your halo and straighten your wings

As you prepare next years kindergarten things

I thank God that in our Public School System

We still have teachers who love and listen

Thank you is all I know to say

For teaching Garrett in a wonderful way.

18 Aug

SURPRISE!!!!!!!

Posted by ivegonecountry in Uncategorized.

Surprise, Surprise, Surprise…..

I hit the big “50”.  WOW…that is a BIG ONE.

Billy told me we were going out for dinner on my birthday.  After work we went home to change clothes and head to the restaurant.  I was getting a little anxious..he had already driven so slow all the way home and I was behind him.  He also pulled into the farm and wanted me to show him real quick where I wanted  to put a building we had been discussing.  I needed to change and time was ticking.  I couldn’t believe he was doing this right at this particular time.

Once we got home…..he asked me to run up to the cabin with him he wanted to check on something.  All week he had been putting in a lot of long hours, working hard on some projects that he was longing to complete.  I didn’t think a lot about the request…except that he is usually the one saying hurry…we are going to be late.  This time I was the one saying…we are going to be late…we don’t have time to go to the cabin.  He tells me…well, I told you 6:00 so we wouldn’t be late—— we really do not have to be at the restaurant until 6:30.

OH…..I see…..(What was he trying to say?  I mean really…. I’m not usually THAT late…well….he does usually beat me to the car…..most every time we go somewhere…but that is beside the point)

Off to the cabin we go in the golf cart.  I was showing him where the dogs were in the fence and talking about feeding the goats earlier in the day…BLAH….BLAH…BLAH….while we traveled up the dirt roads.

As we round the corner to the cabin I see cars…..I turn and look at Billy…He smiled that   “Gotcha”    kind of smile!

As we pulled up I couldn’t help but cry.  In my family…at least with us girls…we cry.   We cry when we are happy, we cry when we are sad…we cry if something is sentimental, we cry if something is just sweet….we just cry.  I was overwhelmed.  That entitled me to a cry…..

Most all of our immediate family was there….another reason to cry.

Billy had planned the party and had it catered…..sooooo sweet…another cry….

Everything looked so pretty!

We sat at little round tables with table cloths, fresh cut  flowers and elegant, yet simple, decorations while in the midst of the woods.

It was Perfect….just perfect.  It was supposed to storm…but it didn’t even sprinkle…. It was just right!

This picture is not so great…but the people in the picture are.  They are my family.  They love me…they support me….they really, really know me.   I LOVE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM!!!!!!

Since this was my party….I ended up on this side of the camera.  I prefer to be the one taking the pictures.

I treasure having these memories on film…um…. I mean ….on… memory card. Things really have changed in 50 years!!!!

Billy said a few words before we cut the cake….and I cried…..again….

They all sang “HAPPY BIRTHDAY” to me….it was sooooo sweet.

Then I blew out a “citronella” candle…..Loved it…    Things are a little different when you have a party in the woods!

I only had to blow out one candle….of course the joke was made that they didn’t have enough of them in stock for me to have   “50”!!!!!

The pictures are few….however I did get a picture with my brother and sisters.

This is from left to right….Debbie, Me, Charlotte and Tommy.

I had a wonderful time visiting with everyone.  I just wish I had more pictures of everyone else.

I appreciate so much all the time and love that was put into making this day so special for me.

I’m still overwhelmed and humbled by all the love that was and is always given to me through so many special people.

Thank you Billy….I love you.

I think I’m going to cry…..

15 Aug

Palms

Posted by ivegonecountry in Uncategorized. Tagged: , .

I take lots of pictures and sometimes I forget to show them.   I took these when we were at the beach in June.

It is always interesting to me to see differences in the plants when you travel to another area.

I think this plant is striking, but the bloom in the middle really sets it off.

Here is another one and it has a different bloom…both unique and beautiful.

It is my understanding that one is a female plant and one is a male.

I just love this ….

These surroundings make you want to just relax and enjoy the scenery.

Green seems to be everywhere…then…pop…out comes some of the most beautiful colors.

I always have to pick up shells each and every time I go to the beach.  Often Billy and I start off  just taking a walk on the beach in the evenings…but I can’t resist picking up at least a few.

I sorted through some that I had accumulated throughout the trip and I was amazed that mingled in the sand….were these …..teeeeee…..tinnnnnny…shells.   I mean…I had never seen this before.  Actually they were so small I knew I couldn’t get a picture.

Next time you are at the beach…look and see if you can see those ity, bity, shells…..I mean…you will have to look really, really close or you will think it is all just sand.

Anyway, I am still scratching my head as I think about shells growing from that small.   I just never thought about ” BABY” shells.

One day while I was combing the sand and the edge of the water for shells….I found these.

I have only found a few sand dollars in my whole life.  But this day my sister in law and I found these.

They are little baby sand dollars.  I think that is so neat.

I was digging for shells…..but Billy was able to catch a quick shot of a dolphin.  They were hanging around at the same spot we were.

A man that lives and works in that area said that if you bring a nerf  football and throw it out to the dolphins, they will bring it back toward shore.  He said that they will not let the ball go past them.  I can’t wait to give that a try the next time we go.

I suppose another type of plant life that you can see at the beach would be this sea weed or whatever you call it.

Someone got very creative with it.

Oh….it must have been a “Southern girl” who wrote this!

Yep…you gotta just love the scenery!….AND SWEET TEA!!!!!

13 Aug

The Fence Fix

Posted by ivegonecountry in Uncategorized. Tagged: , .

Many entries ago I talked about the fence that we had finished for the goats.  It was also a place for Ellie to be able to run and stretch her legs without running away.

The goats have really enjoyed all the space they have.  Ellie…well she has adapted to being “contained” in the fence.  She doesn’t hate it.  In the morning she enters the gate all excited.  She runs in and takes off through the woods.  It isn’t long however that she is back.  She has a certain spot she nestles into and lays down and sleeps.  If she isn’t sleeping and you happen to walk near her she will roll her eyes your way and look really pitiful.

 

Every time I start to feel sorry for her…I think back on all the times I have had to get in the car and look for her.  Or the many times we have gotten a phone call telling us they found our dog.

I think about how many acres she has inside that fence to run and play….then….I don’t fall for the pitiful look.  Especially since that has gone on for the past 9 1/2 years.

Mabel was supposed to be a dog that protects the goats.

She has not stayed a whole day in the fence since we got her around 4 months ago.

I always said that Ellie was kin to Houdini…well…we have another dog now that is also part of Houdini’s family.

The other day I saw her squeeze through the critter fence.  I had just about had enough of that escaping stuff….

I scolded her and marched her back to the gate…..

I continued to get ready for work…peeking out the window without her seeing me….I was trying to catch her so I would I know exactly where she was getting out.

I turned away for only a minute and…yep….out she went again.

Mabel…I said as I bolted out the door…..No ..No…NO

So…..I used my “I mean it voice” .  Pointed my finger…and she ran back to the gate.  All the while looking at me with those big beautiful eyes of hers.  I let her in….walked to the garage and found something I could solve that problem with.

 

“ZIP TIES” !!!!!  Billy had a really good selection of all sizes….So I went to work.  She sat and watched me.

That stump you see in the picture….is part of the problem.  She can stand on it allowing her to be at just the right height to get through the squares that are a little bit wider.

My Zip tie design is NOT Pretty.  But it seemed to work.  I didn’t have time to continue to play her little game.  I had to finish getting ready and get to work.  Besides this is just until she gains a little more weight…and can’t fit through the fence any more!

 

I went back in the house and once again peered through the window to make sure she was still in the fence.  She tried a couple of time to poke her head around a tie.  She sat down and looked at it with a tilted head.   She walked over to where Ellie likes to look pitiful and told her all about the injustice done to her.  She does this thing where she sounds like she is talking.  That is exactly what she was doing to Ellie.  I had to giggle as I saw her fill Ellie’s ear with her sob story.  Ellie looked up at her like….I don’t want to hear it.

Mabel  saw that she might as well settle down and get used to it….

On my way out the door….I snapped the above picture….she wasn’t amused.

I will have to say ….it sure was nice to come home at the end of the day and see her STILL IN THE FENCE.

No mess to pick up.  Like garden gloves all over the front lawn….paper torn everywhere, potted plants knocked over…or pulled up by the roots.

OHHHHHH…..I just wanted to shout for joy.

We have gone about 4 days now….

Until today.   Billy and I got home about the same time…he approaches me with Mabel.  The look on his face told me he didn’t let her out.

There’s a mess in the yard…and he throws away a ball that is ripped into pieces…..

You didn’t let her out?  I ask.  NOPE, he said.

I went to the side yard and sure enough….she had found a helium balloon somewhere….and it was in a trillion pieces.

TOMORROW…..I watch and wait for Houdini Jr. to do her famous escape trick again.  There must be another spot…..

I HAVE A LOT MORE ZIP TIES!!!!!!

 

10 Aug

Just Enjoying…

Posted by ivegonecountry in Uncategorized.

Billy had to work late the other night so I decided after checking on the animals and watering all the plants to just sit a spell.  I picked a white wooden rocking chair on the porch by the goldfish pond.  It was just starting to get dark,  I kept thinking…I guess I should go on in the house.  But I just couldn’t.  The  weather was perfect, the bull frogs were croaking, goldfish were swimming, mosquitoes were biting….well..really only one or two, and the view of the green grassy fields backed up against the mountains was too captivating to leave.  I rocked until Billy returned home.  It was so pleasant….and I was glad I chose that over plopping down in front of the television.

After not feeling well for a couple of weeks I suppose I just keep savoring all the little things.  It is a real blessing to be healthy.

Everywhere I turn I notice things that changed over the last month.  The weeping willow has finally recovered from the haircut Billy gave it.  I love to see the  limbs gracefully blowing in the breeze.

I keep telling Billy how much I LOVE the willows LONG hair.  Hint… hint…so he doesn’t cut it anymore.

The Crepe Myrtle Trees are bursting with blooms.

The branches are just loaded…they are absolutely gorgeous.  This one is by the house…but we have several different sizes and colors sprinkled on the land.   Each one is beautiful in its own way.

Even while I was stuck in the house I was able to enjoy the hummingbirds through the window.

They have been very active.  I can’t even count how many times I have replenished their food supply, I even had to buy more red food coloring.

It is really hard to get a good picture of one of those guys.  They are small and QUICK.

One time I saw a  picture of a hummingbirds nest in a magazine.  They put it next to a quarter, that is how small it was.

They are fun to watch, they often fight with one another.    Very seldom do I see more than one drinking at a time….

However, I was able to catch two feeding here.  I suppose they are sharing because they are husband and wife…just kidding

I also saw two deer crossing in front of the house. We have them on the land but it is rare that they came this close to us.  I’m not sure how, but I think they know when it is hunting season and when it isn’t.  Lately you can see them in the nearby fields grazing, usually four or so at a time.  Several days recently I counted a dozen grazing at one time.  They are beautiful in the field at dusk with the sun setting.

and yesterday I saw some wild turkeys at the cabin.

Billy and I stopped to speak to the neighbors across from the pasture.                       I couldn’t help but notice this sitting on his fence …

it was so picturesque.

And his ducks running to his pond….

Day or night it is fun to watch the animals and enjoy the scenery.

When I started this blog it was a way for me to share the things I feel I am learning from God while living in my new surroundings.  I couldn’t help but think while I was sick that…the world goes on without us.  But the world can’t go on without Him.  He not only gave us all we have and enjoy in this world, He is also the sustainer of all life.

I enjoy creation…but I really stand in amazement of the Creator.  I pray I always keep my eye on HIM as I marvel at His creativity.

8 Aug

Just thinking….

Posted by ivegonecountry in Uncategorized. Tagged: .

So I probably think a little differently than the average person.  I recognize that….and I am alright with it.   But sometimes….I just wonder about things.

For instance…my little sister and I have a thing we do.  We disagree with which direction the toilet tissue should be placed in the holder.  So when I am at her house….I change it to my way.

…when she is at my house…she changes it to her way.

I’m sure you can see that I am clearly right.

We have a lot of fun as we disappear into every bathroom, especially before we leave each others home, and quickly change every roll in the house to OUR way.  We have done this for years.  For some unknown reason I still get a kick out of it….and I still get surprised when I go into a guest bathroom… sometimes days after she has left and find my toilet paper all WRONG….I have to laugh.

I read in Dear Abby or Heloise this week an article confronting this very issue.  So can there be a right or wrong?  If so who decides?

Last week we were at the beach with family and I made this picture

Have you ever really looked at your toes?  I mean like really looked closely at each one independent of the others.  From the front they can look one way…but if you carefully look at one at a time…they often have a unique shape.  A shape you do not notice just looking down at them.

I told you….I think out of the box…..

Now for a really long time I have wondered who says so….about certain things…..

Like a package of ketchup.  Who decided that amount should be and would be the amount of ketchup served for all these years?  The same with the salt and pepper packages.  I personally never thought the salt packages were big enough…which meant you had to open more ketchup packages that are already to small to make the fries flavorful enough.  Of course if you have McDonald’s fries…you don’t need salt or ketchup….they are perfect when they are HOT!

Then I had a discussion just the other day with my son about rubber bands.  You used to get a rubber band around a newspaper…matter of fact we had so many rubber bands he literally started a rubber band ball when he was younger…which got a pretty good size.  Now I have to buy a package of rubber bands to keep some around the  house.  Who decided to do away with the bands around the newspaper?

I am getting more of these hard  square ties that I don’t really have another use for.    What happened to all those twist ties….I hardly get those anymore….you used to get a lot when you bought a box of trash bags….then it went to draw strings and flaps.  I will have to say that was a good idea…but I miss the extra ties I kept in the drawer.

What about a candy bar….

The regular sized candy bar is usually a good size.   Sometimes I pick out a different kind and it looks like it was shrunk in one of those shrinky dink machines.

I do get amazed at how many sizes and shapes they make now to appeal to every need.  A candy bar used to be a candy bar size…and penny candy was just that….a penny and was penny candy size.  Now for some reason we pay a lot more for the smaller cuter candy….especially if it wrapped in the holiday colors.  And really….does anyone ever eat only one of those?   I think I like seeing one regular candy bar wrapper in front of me, than five or six of the smaller ones….that really makes me feel like a pig.

Last but certainly not least….as I am forever having a list of things like this run through my head at any given time….who decided that we all wanted canned cokes?

Yes, you can still buy coke in a glass bottle….but you will not get it out of a vending machine in front of a gas station.   When you can find them in the grocery store, you will pay a pretty penny for them, especially the small ones…for some reason they always tasted better.

Alright maybe one more…..speaking of gas stations…..who decided to start being gas stations and stop being service stations?

One day I was pumping gas.  The station provided someone to wash your windshield for customer appreciation that day.  My granddaughter Layla was with me and she kept asking me….who is that man?   What is he doing?

Once again the wheels were turning in my head about….who made that decision to stop checking the oil and washing the windshields and providing free water and air for the customer to use?  Wow…and remember the free things they gave away with a tank of gas?  Oddly enough you got service…a smile and a gift and hardly paid anything for a gallon of gas.  Now we have to take out a small loan to fill up the tank and put it in ourselves.   If you need air for a tire….you better hope you have a pocket full of quarters to feed the machine.

I know things change…and money is usually the bottom line of why things change….but sometimes I just wonder who got the final say.

Well… that is all for now…I was just thinking.

2 Aug

Beach Time

Posted by ivegonecountry in Uncategorized.

We try to get together as a family at the beach at least one time a year if possible.  The bigger the family gets the more difficult it is to schedule a time that will work with everyone.  This trip….Garrett and Layla couldn’t be with us.  Garrett couldn’t take time off work and he has to have access to the internet to do his job.  The internet isn’t as reliable here as it is at home, he found that out the hard way about a month ago.   Sure miss them both.   Maybe next time we can ALL be together.

We have had several really bad storms.  Thunder is rumbling and it is raining as I type.  I am trying to get this post completed quickly in case we are disconnected again.  We just had service restored after a storm came through on Monday.

When it isn’t raining it is really nice.    A lot of swimming has been going on.

 

Riley is being more adventurous….she is swimming more without her frog life vest thing a ma jig…..

This is her frog thing…..

Andy has one that has a shark face on it…..

He is enjoying going all over the pool with his on.  Last year he didn’t trust that it would really keep him afloat.

 

After everyone was water logged….Hide and seek was played.  Andy was counting…..

 

Poopa thought he was really hiding good…..but Andy found him pretty quickly.  Andy is almost five…Poopa is going to have to do better than that next time.

We also went Putt Putt golfing

I loved it when we did that on vacation as a child.  I always thought it was so neat to see all the decorations and the pretend animals.   Hmmmm…..I suppose not much has changed through the years!

 

I got tickled at this sign…..BEHAVE!      Love it.

I didn’t realize that the kids were really old enough to play…..

We all had a good time.

I didn’t look at the score card….but I am pretty sure…..I WON…

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