What a difference a day makes...

Well, that was a short break that wasn't even a break since I did technically post yesterday. But it was what my brain needed. I spent time yesterday catching up on some work projects, designing a new marketing program for my image consultant clients, cleaning up some old files, reorganizing my desk, scheduling appointments with clients, sending email blasts to my prospect list, getting closure on a personal situation that was trying to steal my joy and organizing Sunday's coupons.

Had a wonderful evening with hubby. He fixed us cheeseburger sliders on the grill and we had them with french fries. Lemon pudding pound cake was the dessert. Delicious. Spent some time setting out on the swing as the sun went down and the temperature dropped. It was very "fallish". The Canadian Geese are arriving in flocks. A sure sign fall is just around the bend. We came back in the house and watched Hawaii 5-0 on demand (I'm usually asleep when it comes on the normal time so we just watch it On Demand when we are ready). Then we spend about an hour on Topix going through some advertisements from our hometown from the 1950's and 60's. It stirred many moments of "Oh, remember when...."

All in all a productive day and a wonderful evening. I slept until 7:00 this morning. Unheard of for me. So I'm refreshed, rejuvenated and ready to tackle the world today.

Thinking about things....

This is one of those morning when I'm lost in thought. Sometimes I think that I over think things. I have a busy week this week with lots going on. I am worn out just thinking about everything. I had many thoughts for my blog this morning, but nothing seems fresh and exciting. Could be I'm on a temporary blog burnout.

I am thinking about taking a few days to regroup and rejuvenate my thinking process. I feel like one of those wind-up toys that just goes around in circles and doesn't accomplish anything.

I'm not going to say "I'm taking x amount of days off from blogging." Because I may have an inspiration later today and decide I need to blog about it.

But for now, I will say that unless something comes about, I am not going to blog the rest of the week so I can catch up on some of the projects I'm behind on but will be back on Saturday.

I try to always stay upbeat and positive and I still am in that mindset, but I'm just swamped with a lot of different things going on in my life.

In the meantime, remember me in your prayers. I have a lot on my mind right now and just need to clear some of the cobwebs. So I may be back tomorrow or it may not be until Saturday. But I appreciate your prayers

Urgent Prayer Request

I have a very dear friend and a relative of my son-in-law who is in dire need of our prayers this morning. She was diagnosed with B cell Lymphoma a little over a week ago. The doctors were very upbeat with an aggressive plan of attack. But over the last few days, she is deteriorating rapidly. She desperately needs the combined prayers of God's people. She is a fine Christian lady and one of the sweetest people you could ever meet. Please lift her up in your prayers today. I really appreciate it.

Hmmm, is it Monday AGAIN?

Where did the weekend go?

We've had a guest fisherman all week. He must be new to the neighborhood as I've not seen him before. The road beside our yard is an old boat ramp so we occasionally see people down there fishing. I don't know if he caught anything but he spent most of his day there just enjoying the river.

I got up early Saturday to get ready for my Thirty-One party and decided to make some brownies. I used a Pillsbury mix this time instead of Duncan Hines. I also made a cake earlier this week using Pillsbury instead of my traditional Duncan Hines. End result? They were both okay, but I won't make that mistake again. Don't ever let anybody ever tell you that all box mixes are the same. They definitely are not. My Duncan Hines products always turn out super moist and taste home made. Both the Pillsbury mixes were a little on the dryer/denser side and tasted exactly like a store bought mix.



 But we did have a great party. We had lots of laughter and great food. We played some games and got some good bargains.

 Our consultant, Beth, is so wonderful to work with. She really knows her products.

 Check out another of my flower pots that I did NOT plant anything in this year. Not sure how I can kill house plants, but I can grow flowers without even planting anything. Go figure.

 Yesterday afternoon was so freaky. I was in the back yard. When I turned toward the sky in front of the house, I saw this.....

 But if I turned toward the sky in the back of the house, I saw this.... 

About 20 minutes later, the skies opened up and we got a downpour including hail and it quit within 10 minutes and we were back to blue skies all around.

I saw this cute little joke this morning that somebody posted on my Facebook and it is just too cute not to share. So, I'll leave you with a laugh...

A husband reads a book titled "You are the man of your house!" After finishing it, he swaggers up to his wife and announces, "From now on you need to know I'm the man of the house. My word is LAW. You WILL cook and clean for me.You WILL go upstairs and give me the kind of sex I want. Afterward, you WILL draw me a bath, wash my back and massage my feet. Oh, and guess who's going to dress me and comb my hair in the morning?" The wife replies, "A freaking funeral director would be my first guess!"

Have a great Monday!

Sentimental Sunday

 I am so sentimental. Little things can trigger the fondest memories. Here are some of the little things that mean a lot to me because of the memories they evoke.



Handkerchiefs - My Grandma Garretson always had one tucked up under her watch. She was never without a hankie.

African Violets - My Mamaw Eden always grew African Violets. They were gorgeous. She had a multitude of colors and a green thumb.

100 pennies - Grandma Garretson would come to visit and she would have 100 pennies rolled up in a handkerchief and we would all gather at the kitchen table while she counted out 25 to each of us kids. Then we would all walk up town and get 25 cents worth of penny candy.

Peppermint Sticks - The old fashioned ones - Grandma Garretson would always bring a box of those to us every time she came to visit.

Ice Tea - You never, ever went to Mamaw Eden's house that there wasn't a pitcher of ice tea in the fridge.

Playing Cards - Mamaw Eden always loved to play Rummy and Rook with us; but Grandma Garretson didn't believe in any card games so we had to hide the cards when she came to town. I remember Mamaw didn't like to play Rook with my baby brother Andy when he was first learning because he would always grin and say "I got the birdie" if he got the Rook card. Of course, this is the same small child that sat in the living room when Grandma was visiting and just as bold as could be asked, "Mommy, did we hide the rummy cards?" I thought Mom was going to die.

Spanish Peanuts - My daddy loved Spanish peanuts. He would go to town and get some at the peanut store fresh and hot. I remember one Christmas a few years before he passed away, he sent my brother and I each a can for Christmas. I put mine up, but my brother came to visit and said he had eaten his could he open my can. I said yes and noticed him digging through the peanuts. Daddy had hidden $10 in Jack's can and he was going to see if there was $10 in mine and have a little fun with me.

I could go on and on. I just love when little things can bring us such fond memories.

I've been lost in Etsy Ecstasy again....

I love the Etsy shops. I could spend hours and hours just looking at things on there. I was browsing around this week and here were some things I thought were so adorable. Check out the link under each picture to see some of the neat things in their shops.

2Kute

Tiny Token Designs

Macho Machismo

Cardinal Hill

Cinsational Baubles

Dirdy Birdy

What's for dessert?

Now isn't this just a pickle. I, the baking queen of Mamaw's Place, am stumped on what to fix for dessert for my 31 Party on Saturday. I could use some ideas. Here is the menu....

Homemade Barbecue Chicken Sliders

Homemade Cole Slaw

Homemade Baked Beans

Potato Chips & Dip

Lemonade and Ice Tea

I was going to cheat and get a Lemon Pudding Pound Cake from Kroger's, but that just doesn't sound like me. I have cookbooks from Betty Crocker, Pillsbury,  churches, fire department, Home Interior, Pampered Chef, Hershey's, Crisco, Eagle Brand and tons of miscellaneous one accumulated over the years. I have a recipe book full of dessert recipes passed down from generation to generation. I have five new aprons to choose from when I begin to bake .... and I'm drawing a blank. I think I'm just overwhelmed. I am the one who thinks a really good dessert is one you make yourself....even if it is semi-homemade with part of it being boxed. But I normally would never consider serving guests a store bought cake...unless it's a birthday.

I'm just at a loss of what dessert would go good with our menu. I might add the party is at 11:00 so it will be a luncheon menu. My lovely ladies, I would appreciate your opinions on what would go good with this.

On another note......

On Tuesday, I held a little giveaway of homemade apple butter. The plan was to draw 3 winners and each would receive a jar of apple butter. We only had 5 ask to enter so the lucky winners were....

ALL 5 OF YOU! I decided there was no way I could giveaway 3 jars and let 2 people "go home" empty handed. I will email you or if you see this, I need your shipping address so I can send you your jar! Congratulations to:

Lucky Wife/Bookaholic

Norma

Debbie

Jen Greyson

Rachel

Thank you all for being faithful followers!