Wednesday Hodge Podge

I'm linking up with From This Side of the Pond

1. What do you do at the first sign of a cold? Will you get a flu shot this year?

The minute I feel a cold coming on I start guzzling fresh squeezed orange juice and eating oranges. I also start taking just the standard Sudefed little red cold tablets. They are non-drowsy and seem to do the trick for me when I keep the orange juice flowing. No, I have never gotten a flu shot because it always made both of my parents sick from getting the shot and I don't want to take the chance.

2. What advice can you give about how to conquer fear?

Fear is something that is hard to conquer. You can't just turn it off. One of the best ways I think you can conquer fear is to do lots of research on whatever you are afraid of. Sometimes, fear is simply being afraid of the unknown. The very thing you fear may not be nearly as bad as you think. What is that old saying? Forewarned is forearmed or something like that. Just be prepared and step up and tackle the fear and you will more than likely find it wasn't something to be afraid of to begin with.

3. Share two good things about your life right now.

My church and my family are always upfront and foremost the most important things in my life at all times. But as for something that is important to me right now I would have to say two upcoming trips. One to Jonesborough, TN to go antique shopping with my sister and the other one is also with my sister and that is going to Parris Island to watch my nephew graduate from the United States Marine Corp. So very proud of him and looking forward to see him graduate.

4. A hot fall fashion trend in 2011 is a return to sixties style...tunics with pants, shift dresses, pencil skirts, cinched waists, bold prints, high necklines and short lengths to name a few. How does this fashion trend fit with your wardrobe and personal sense of style?

I loved the 60's clothes to an extend. The tunics and pants are something I am very pleased to see coming back in style. Shift dresses and pencil skirts....not so much. Those styles will just accentuate the fact that my belly and bottom are not quiet as in proportion as I would like.

5. Were you involved in scouting as a kid? How about as an adult?

I wasn't in scouts of any kind, though I did attend a Brownie meeting with a friend one time. However, my husband was a Boy Scout and achieved Eagle Scout status and I'm very proud of him for that, even though I didn't know him them. He also worked with the scout troop as he got older and hiked parts of the Appalachian Trail with them.

6. Apple, pear, plum, pumpkin...your favorite fall flavor?

Apples. Apples. And more Apples. I love Gala apples the best, but I like the Romes for applebutter making. There is nothing like going to the apple orchard in September, or having apples with caramel over them at Dollywood in October. I love apples.

7. What characteristics do you think are essential in a good teacher?

I think a good teacher needs to be caring and compassionate about her students. She needs to love what she does. I do not like to see teachers who act like they couldn't care less about their students. They spend many hours formulating the future of these young people placed in their care daily and I think you have got to have compassion and understanding to be successful as a teacher.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Worry is like a rocking chair.....it gives you something to do, but it doesn't get you anywhere.

Today I'm riding on the Tuesday Train.

My top ten this week is a little different than normal. Instead of a specific category, I wanted to just share some things with you. So here are my Top 10 Random Items for this week.

1. I went to a yard sale the other day and picked up this cute little bowl for just 50 cents. I fell in love with it for two reasons....I have always loved blue and white in dishware and I love chickens. So this was right up my alley.

2. At that same yard sale, I picked up two pairs of brand new Christmas socks for just 25 cents a pair. Can't wait until Christmas to wear them.

3. We have a new thrift store in town and she is just getting started, but it looks like she's going to have some great stuff. I picked up this little glass bowl for 50 cents. I love little bowls to sit around.

4. I was craving a hotdog yesterday and was thrilled to find out we had some of hubby's homemade hotdog chili in the freezer. I split my hotdog and fried it on the griddle. It was delicious.

5. My weeping willow trees had a hair cut yesterday. It needed to be done. The limbs were so long they were dragging the ground, but I still hate when they have to be trimmed. The good part is that they will be grown back out in a couple of weeks. They don't stay short for long.

6. I've been stocking up on yarn. I love to craft in the fall and winter. My favorite thing is to do plastic canvas. I get to use so many different colors of yarn for so many different projects. Here is a cute wreath pattern I want to make for fall.

7. I also love this cascade of leaves. Very elegant looking.

8. Walmart is bringing back layaway on toys and electronics for Christmas. I for one like this idea. It gives you a chance to plan better and to put those hard to find items on layaway before the Christmas rush season begins. I'm thinking about about a new computer for hubby. His is so slow because it is about 8 years old and we've upgraded as much as we can. It's almost as cheap to buy a new computer as it is to invest in upgrading one.

9. I know it may be a little early to be thinking about Christmas, but it will be here before we know it. Our WMU at church is sponsoring the Operation Christmas Child for Samaritan's Purse. We have already give out close to 80 shoe boxes to be filled for the project. So excited at how much interest it has generated.

10. Speaking of church, I'm really looking forward to Sunday. It is our 128th Church Homecoming. The choir has been practicing some old time gospel songs to sing that day. It is going to be a wonderful time of worship, great food and fun fellowship. If you are in the Kodak, TN area, I hope you can stop by and join us for homecoming.

A typical grandmother....

 I am such a typical grandmother. Give me a grandchild and I'll get my camera. I kept my son's three children Saturday night and I had a blast. And in true grandmother fashion, I had to snap many photos of the baby. I don't know what it is about grandparents and the "baby" but we go a little crazy with the photos. I guess we always assume this could be the last one. Well, in our case, Colby is the last of the grandchildren. He was our fifth one. And what a precious little guy he is. His eyes just twinkle.

 He has one of those smiles that just causes you to smile right back. Such cute little baby cheeks.

 It's hard to believe he will be a year old come October. They just grow up way to fast. He crawls all over the place and is starting to take those tentative steps. But when he realizes how fast he can get where he's going by crawling, he just drops and takes off.

 This is the first time he has spent the night since he started to crawl and he has discovered the toy box. His little body flew over there and pulled up to investigate.

 He loves cars and trucks so when he saw the little container of Matchbox cars, he made a beeline for them.

 And in true grandchild fashion proceeded to dump the whole container on the floor to check out.

 Poor little guy gets stuck with a pink high chair at Mamaw's house. When the fourth grandchild arrived, we had a hard time fitting around the kitchen table so I went to Kmart and purchased an inexpensive high chair. The only one they had was pink and our fourth was a girl, so no biggy. Since we didn't realize God would bless us with another little boy a couple of years later, Colby got stuck with a pink high chair. But he loves sitting in it and entertains himself very easy while I was helping Papaw get supper ready. I was afraid he might try to pull up at the stove and the oven was on. Of course, I had to stop about every 5 minutes to pick up his blocks and cars.

 Thought I'd try to get some good pictures before church, but I'm always running late when I have to get more than just myself ready. I mentioned to my daughter one-time that any time I keep any of the grandchildren, I wonder how I ever managed with twins. She is always so sweet to point out that I wasn't 54 when I had twins. But I did pretty good yesterday. Got us all fed and ready and out the door 2 minutes ahead of schedule....even got a few good picture. Colby is crazy about his big brother Garret. And you can tell by the smile on Garret's face that the feeling is mutual. 

 Here's Colby with his big sister, Alexis. We had to take this one about 3 times before I could see her face in the photo. Colby has this thing about grabbing a handfill of her hair. Everytime I would go to shoot the pic, he pull her hair across her face. By the time I finally got one, she was having a fit of giggles and had us all laughing.

Then I decided since we were on a roll to see if I could get all three of them in picture with everybody smiling a natural smile and not one of those comical fake ones they are prone to do at time. Got this one on the first try. I couldn't be more thrilled.

I was able to take all five of my grandbabies to church with me yesterday morning. What a blessed way to start out grandparents day yesterday. I wanted to get a picture of all of them together but that is always so hard to do so here are my other two, Caleb and Shelby. I am just crazy about ALL my grandbabies.



In Remembrance

In remembrance of the lives lost that day and those left behind to carry on with lives that will be forever changed by the events of 9-11. May God bring comfort and hope to those who still remember.

Sock-filled Saturday & A Special Birthday

My name is Mamaw Bee and I am a sockaholic. That is right. I'm obsessed with socks. This is just one of my three sock drawers. I have been addicted as long as I can remember. I love socks that are plain, fancy, striped, patterned, themed, you name it. I love socks. Any time we exchange gifts and I have to put down what I want, I put socks as one of my items. The fuzzier and warmer the better. Now this is a strange thing coming from the Flip Flop queen. But truth is, when it is no longer flip flop weather, I break out the socks.

On Labor Day I went shopping at one of my favorite stores....Socks Galore. They had some great bargains and here are some new socks I picked up that day.

These socks are so soft it is unbelievable. They are made of some kind of fiber that makes them really bond good to the shape of your foot. I wore a pair yesterday and could not believe how comfortable they are.

I also purchased a pair of fleece lined sock footies with skid free bottoms. Love them!! They are extremely comfortable and very warm on these cool fall evenings.  

And on a final note to those of you who are wondering...No, my sock drawer is not normally that neat and organized. I had to stage it for your viewing pleasure. I'd prefer you not see how crammed full the sock drawers really are.

On another note, Happy Birthday to my son-in-law Michael today. We are so blessed to have him as part of our family. He is a wonderful husband to my daughter and an awesome father to two of my grandchildren. Happy birthday, Michael.

Kitchen "Autumn-ized"

I have begun the journey of making my kitchen ready for fall. I took the spring table cloth and flowers off and brought my plaid table cloth back out of storage and added sunflowers as the centerpiece. My kitchen is an combination fall harvest theme for this time of year. Here are a few of my favorite items.

This bowl is one of my favorites. I got it several years ago at Pier I for a huge discount.

I love this display. I've had that little pumpkin for years. I found it at Cracker Barrel I think about 6 years ago. The little pumpkin candy dish was a $5.00 special at Pampered Chef last year so it was a must have.

My harvest angel was from a local craft shop and I only paid about $5 or $6 for her. She is a perfect guardian angel over our kitchen. I just adore her.

This pitcher was a Walmart find on clearance several years ago. Since I love fruit themes in kitchen it was a no-brainer to snatch up this bargain at $3.00

This was my first piece of primitive stitchery I did by myself. I was kind of proud of it. Just hung it up long enough to take the picture. I need to take it down and press the wrinkles out. This little towel rod is on the end of a utility shelf by my cabinet. It's my seasonal decor. I change the towel out with each season.

 My cousin made this little towel for me. It's another of my favorite harvest items.

 Some of my harvest tea for one sets.

This isn't in the kitchen, it's in the living room. But I just adore this cloth pumpkin that I picked up at a craft store locally for $3.00. Should have bought a bunch to give as gifts at that price. But I wasn't thinking.

 My cousin Patty is the crafter in our family. She made me this table runner several years ago and I just adore it. I wanted to take a picture of it before I put my stuff out on it.



Here's a close up of the little girl on it. Isn't she adorable?



I love my little leaf candy dishes and can't wait for fall to set them out every year.



Well, I'm officially in fall mode at my house. I still need to get the door wreath out of storage, but for now I'm all set.