It was a Merry Christmas even though it was different this year!

Christmas 2015 has come and gone, it was a nice one,had my Children and Grandchildren here Christmas Eve. The weather was warm and foggy, so we did have a "foggy Christmas Eve"! Christmas day I visited my twin brothers. It was different this year as one of them unexpectedly lost his fiance in September after visiting with each of them, we visited the cemetery.

Christmas Eve is only a week away !

It is so hard to believe that it is only 1 week until Christmas Eve! I do have my tree up and decorated inside and out although I kept it simple this year. I have all my gifts bought and wrapped.
I have also started baking. Sunday is my twin brothers Birthday so I will be cooking some special dishes for them and celebrate with them on that day. I am enjoying Christmas music, the decorations and the smells of Christmas cookies baking as I sip my eggnog flavored coffee!

Enjoying the season !

Even though it is 78 degrees outside, I am enjoying my fireplace along with a bowl of homemade vegetable beef soup. Hope to get my Christmas tree up this weekend as well as some outside lights. I just cannot believe it is only 13 days until Christmas. I am enjoying every minute of the preparations!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas !

How can it already be the 9th of December ! Time is going so fast it seems, maybe this is what happens as we get older. I remember when the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas seemed long. I do have my Christmas shopping all done. I have learned to start it in October and try to be finished by Thanksgiving, avoiding the heavy crowds and long lines. I have my inside Christmas decor out and  poinsettias and a lighted Santa by the front door. All I have yet to do is decorate the tree, make cookies,wrap gifts, plan Christmas dinner, mail cards!

The day after!

It was a wonderful Thanksgiving! Both my daughters, their children, 1 of my bothers and dear neighbors, who are like family were all here. I was so busy enjoying the day that I forgot to take pictures, I do have one of my youngest daughter,her daughter and myself that was taken before everyone else arrived. It is always so good to have my loved ones under the same roof at the same time! I was very tired by the time the day was over, I do all the cooking and try to have everyones favorite dish made. They always offer to help but it is something I enjoy doing for my family. Today I am relaxing and reflecting on how great the day was and how blessed I am!

Happy Thanksgiving !

Wishing all my blogger friends a wonderful day with family, friends, food and love !

Weekend in the Smoky Mountains !

We just returned from a long weekend in the Mountains, it was a wonderful relaxing time. We stayed in the 1937 Inn. It was like going back in time! We had coffee in one of the sitting rooms each morning,a nice breakfast in the dinning room. After a day of sight seeing and shopping we returned to the Inn to have warm apple cider on the porch , in a rocker in front of the outdoor fireplace. On the way home we stopped and atexat The "Dillard House" it was all you could eat served family style. There was no way we could eat all that food they put on the table to begin with, we sure did not need seconds on anything! A wonderful weekend!

Halloween is coming !

I am busy today getting ready for Halloween and the many trick-or - treater's we have each year. Last year a neighbor counted 700. Our subdivision closes the streets to traffic , no one has a fence in the front(home owner association rules)

so we are very popular on Halloween. Most of the residents do a lot of decorating and its a fun time for all!

"Enchanting Rose"Tea cup and mug exchange

I participated in Stephanie's  (Enchanting Rose)"Teacup and mug exchange" I enjoyed picking the items that I thought Joy would like and getting it packaged and in the mail. I was delighted to receive this lovely teacup and goodies from Gabi !

Sad, sad week !

It is with a sad and heavy heart that I write this post. A week ago today my brother's girlfriend passed away unexpectedly. They were getting married this month. They have been together over a year and she already was like part of our family. I miss her so much already. My heart aches for my brother. They did not have long enough together. She was diagnosed with leukemia several months ago, finished her chemotherapy and was cancer free. She went back in the hospital Thursday to get blood platelets,just routine since her chemo, she was feeling fine, looking forward to the future. She got up and went to the bathroom and fell hittng her head and died. Rip "Toni" we love you !

Fall is coming y'all !

 This weekend I found 2 new "fall" breads, pumpkin spice and caramel apple! I am enjoying a slice of each with a cup of coffee! I love fall !

A boating weekend !

This past weekend we were at Fort McCoy, a small community between Gainesville and Ocala Fl. On a lake with our classic boating club. It was a wonderful time with good friends, good food and our old boats!

Happy Labor Day and A Happy Birthday !

Today is Labor Day and my husband's 77th Birthday! We have been celebrating all day. This morning I made ham, eggs, grits, red eye gravy and toast for him, also baked his favorite pineapple upside down cake for later. He has received calls, visits and emails all day. Tonight we go to dinner with the family! It is a great day!

It has arrived !

It is September and I am so glad ! I do not think I have ever looked so forward to fall! Even though it is not yet fall, the 1st of September means it is near and I can begin to pull out my fall decor. I am so ready ! This past weekend I picked up some fall candles and new candle holders at Cracker Barrel, another one of my favorite places to shop as well as eat! We also have 2 birthdays in the family this month,hubby and Granddaughter so a lot to celebrate !

A new Simple Pleasure !

We have a new restaurant "Red Robin" so after my Dr. Appointment yesterday I told Him That I wanted to try it and of course he agreed !  We liked it a lot but I am not used to paying 14.00 for a cheeseburger, usually 3.29 at " steak n shake" , our favorite date place! So I ordered the wedge salad and ate a small portion of his cheeseburger with my fresh coffee they brewed for me. It was all very good and we were both stuffed for $21.00 so we will be back, loved the atmosphere too! So glad we are still able to find new places and things we enjoy! Love life's simple pleasures!

Some simple pleasures of Fall , 64 degrees this morning !

 It's beginnings  to feel like fall and I am so ready ! I enjoy the beach more when it is not so hot! The sun rises and sunsets are beautiful and of course a trip to the mountains!

"Old Country Roses"

I love cookie jars and have one for most seasons as well as my grandmothers old Dutch cookie jar but this weekend I found my new favorite "old country roses" it will be perfect with my old country rose tea set but for now it proudly sits on my dinning room table!

Summer's end ! ! !

The 2 oldest Grands with their mother (my daughter)

 The 2 younger ones with me!

Tomorrow school starts back here. I will be driving to my oldest Grandchildrens home early each morning making breakfast for them and driving my granddaughter to school. Grandson will be a senior this year and driving, but I will be there to see him off. It seems like only yesterday that I was taking him to preschool. These years have gone by so quickly. They have been the best years of my life! There is absolutely nothing as wonderful as being a Grandmother! I have 4 of them and each one is special in their own way. I feel so blessed that I have had them be such a big part of my life !

33rd Wedding Anniversary !

Today we celebrated our 33rd wedding anniversary! It has been a wonderful journey. Lots of good times and some sad times but through it all I am so glad to have had my husband by my side!

Look what followed us home !

I am now the proud owner of a 1960 Glasspar Tacoma. I have been wanting more of a cruising type boat instead of the fast boat we have. Since my husband put a 100 hp motor on it it goes too fast for my liking (55 mph) so he found this one with a 40 hp Johnson motor and it is red ( my favorite color for a boat) I am excited to be taking this to our next classic boat club meet in September, it is definitely more my speed!

Very frightening !

What a day yesterday was ! I woke up feeling well about 8:00 , had coffee checked out Facebook, emails started feeling a little shaky so checked glucose it was good, so thought I needed to eat something, so had a slice of wholewheat toast took my meds, had a shower and was blow drying my hair and started having severe chest pain. I called my Dr. They said call 911 so I did. When the paramedics arrived pain was better but they thought I needed it checked out at hospital. I wanted to go in car but they said I was having 4 out of 5 symptoms for a heart attack so I went in the ambulance. It turned out to be esophageal spasm . I am fine now and very thankful it was not more serious!

Summer iis almost gone !

The month of July sure did fly by! It is now August my birthday and anniversary month! In a little over 2 weeks school will start here and summer will be over. It has been a good summer with lots of fun with family and friends! The past weekend was spent with my granddaughter shopping for new school clothes and having lunch in the mall! I do enjoy the time we spend together. I am also looking forward to fall and all of the fun activities, color and cool weather, It is my favorite season!

Simple pleasures and Birthday cake!

Saturday I attended a fun birthday party for a special 4 year old neighbor. My daughter and 3 of my grandchildren were there also. It was a fun day and I even had a small slice of birthday cake. I am so glad that I found out that I do not have to completely give up everything I enjoy!

Life is good !

I had a wonderful visit with a Endocrinologist last week. I am so glad that I made that appointment. They gave me so much more information on  diabetes and my diet than my primary Dr. I now know that I do not have to give up all the foods I like, just have to have them in moderation. I even had a little cheese grits last night with my oysters and fish ! We have been in the high 90's and some triple digits so I am spending most days inside with the air-conditioning, rereading  "Gladys Tabers" stillmeadows sampler, watching movies and shopping on-line for the Grandchildren some new school clothes. I am enjoying the summer and looking forward to fall ! Life is good !

Everything will be alright !

It has been almost 4 months since I was diagnosed with diabetes. It has been the most difficult time of my life. I had never really been sick before and I was so sick! The combination of the meds, strict diet, fear and depression really hit me hard but the past few days I have turned the corner. I have my energy back, I am eating more, for so long I was afraid to eat and lost too much weight too fast, for the first time I cooked a big meal for my family, even made a banana pudding! I also went out to a new restaurant and was able to eat like everyone else and enjoy it! Also I felt well enough to go for a new hair cut and pedicure this weekend. I now know that everything will be alright! Thanks to everyone for the prayers, encouragement, emails,messages and cards!

Happy 4th of July ! ! !

My holiday weekend is beginning today! I am looking forward to a very relaxing one! This afternoon The Hallmark "Christmas in July" movies begin. I love Christmas in July! Tomorrow my daughter will be here from Baton Rouge, it will be so good to have her home! We will be enjoying good food, family and friends all day then beautiful fireworks from my front porch! Our neighborhood does a wonderful fireworks show, so I do not even have to leave the comforts of home to enjoy it all!

On the Suwanee River

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It was a wonderful weekend on the Suwannee River. We arrived at the campground just after dark Thursday evening. We were sharing a cabin with good friends, they were already there when we arrived. We unloaded the boat and car and settled in for the night. We were up early the next morning and enjoyed the day on the beautiful river, it was hot but there was a nice breeze. That evening we drove into the little town of Suwannee and had a wonderful seafood dinner on the water with our boating club of about 30. The next day was boating again and a catered meal of barbecue at the campground and afterwards a pool and hot tub to relax in. The next morning we packed up and headed home. It was a very nice weekend !

It is hot !

It is hard to believe that June is half gone! This summer is flying by. It has been very hot this week. The temps reached 99 here yesterday and suppose to be higher today. I am spending most of my time inside with the air conditioning! This weekend we will be boating with our classic boat club. Hope there will be a nice breeze on the water!