Mamma's Back {that's me....Mamma}

  

People! 

I am here!

I've just been a little pre-occupied!

I know I gotta be puttin' some stuff on this here blog

or you guys'll done forget about me!

hahaha!

Sorry for the poor English and grammar!

I'm just funnin' around!

I am planning on writing a post tonight....

right now I've got to run to the fruit market and pick up:

1) red peppers

2) seedless cucumber

3) can of chick peas

4) tahini

5) pitas

Tonight I am making a totally awesome dinner:

roasted red pepper and veggie stuffed pitas with a slathering of freshly made hummus

!!!!!

Does that not sound amaaaaaaazing?!

I've been cooking up a storm here and I have recipes to share with you all.

So, that's kinda the reason for my absence here on my blog....

I'm cooking....

I'm slicing and dicing....

I'm watching youtube recipe videos....

I'm getting inspired....

I'm creating!

Ok, until tonight!

I will leave you with a picture of our chicken, Crystal Gale, crossing our bridge.

Our chickens cross this bridge allllllllll the time! 

It is so cute!

And, sometimes they RUN across the bridge when they see me on the other side with food!

....and a picture of my son crossing our bridge... 

and a picture of my feet crossing our bridge....

all this just after a beautiful rain storm.

You've seen photos of our creek before....it's nothing!

But, when it rains, man it quickly rises!! 

Bye!

Happy rain storms to ya!

the list is long, but not complete

When I think back to all of the jobs I've had in my life....wow...goodness the list is long!  Really, though, I wouldn't trade the experiences for anything. 

16 different companies,  23 different  positions! 

Lord, that must really sound so bad!!

It actually makes me laugh though...because I know who I am..and it's not that way.

Take a look.

1) weight loss counselor/sales of weight loss programs

2) ice cream stand/ make various ice cream treats and hot foods

3) manager at same ice cream stand

4) pizza shop/ pizza maker

5) manager at same pizza shop

6) front desk hotel

7) lifeguard at same hotel

8) housekeeper at same hotel

9) Disney store/ greeter and helped customers spend their money

10) major department store/ cashier

11) service desk at same dept. store

12) pizza/pub restaurant at the airport/ cashier, hot foods, tend bar on occasion

P.S. I totally sucked at bar tending!!! I could barely mix a drink, didn't know the recipes for the drinks, but I totally mastered pouring a beer from tap into a glass....that was actually fun!!!! 

13) manager at a sub sandwich shop

14) receptionist/data entry at a collection agency

15) supervisor at the same collection agency

16) receptionist at a factory bakery that made biscotti

17) part time customer help at a craft store while working full time at bakery

18) the cook at an assisted living home for elderly people/ cooked lunch and dinner for 120 people

19) activities director at same assisted living home

20) short order cook at golf course

P.S. I totally sucked at being a short order cook! Like really bad. I could handle about 2, maybe 3 orders at at time...no problem, but when those tickets started lining up in front of my nose and I had stuff in the fryer, stuff on the grill and stuff on the flat top cooking.....OHHHH NO! Mamma could NOT handle it! Nope!! It's hilarious now that I look back at it! Do you know how many hot dogs I have burnt to a crisp! How many eggs I broke the yolk! How many fries I burnt, grilled cheese I burnt...flames higher than my freakin' head on the flat top!! customers at the bar seeing through the kitchen door, looking at the sudden burst of grease fire flames shooting up higher than my head and collectively saying "WOOOOOOHHHHHH!" Oh for real people, that was me...short order cook.....EPIC FAIL!! 

21) JoAnn Fabrics/ cashier, fabric counter

22) receptionist for an interior decorating company

23) Pier 1 Imports/ cashier

The long list makes me look flighty and un loyal. 

I know!! It totally looks that way! 

But really, it's not as bad as it looks!!
~~~~~~

Jobs 1 through 5, I was just a kid. Also, sometimes I had to quit a job because of particular circumstances....college courses, lack of hours on the schedule, needing higher paying job, moving out of state, moving again, having a baby, working part time after my first child turned 1, having another baby and back to being  home full time, then holding a part time job after my 2nd child was born so I could get out and earn some money and my husband could actually spend time with the kids while I worked...otherwise he would have been out working a 3rd job to provide (not always....just sometimes in the beginning, when things were tight) then,  moving out of state again, being a stay at home mom again, then deciding to go back to work.... then realizing I wanted to be a stay at home mom again, and was able to because the hubster was making big bucks... sooooo... stuff like that.   

Oh, by the way, I only got fired once! hahaha! No, it wasn't the short order cook job, it was the supervisor position at the collection agency. Trust me, it was a slap in the face! Like totally dumfounded! I have always been the "goodie- two shoes" at work, the one that followed all the rules, the one that got promoted....and ya, this was a whammy! I am telling you the truth though.... the owner of this company fired about 6 people during the 1 year that I worked for him...he was just one of those people...you'd show up to work, he'd call you in his office, and fired you. I always watched the people walk out with smiles on their face, but tears in their eyes, trying to act like it didn't bother them, but it did....and there I sat, at my desk, thinking I was one of the safe ones...well, I guess I wasn't! 

So, why did I want to share this with you guys? I don't know. I'm sorry, that is not an answer. So let me dig deep. It's not like I'm proud that I've had 950 thousand jobs in a course of 20 years...but in a way, I think it's kind of neat. I have learned to do soooo many different things in a variety of businesses that I would have never learned or experienced otherwise. The friendships with people I have worked with, from all walks of life, from different countries, varying personalities and backgrounds.... have been priceless. I have learned a lot and gained a lot from working with them.  

All of my work experience makes me who I am. 

True, I don't have a degree in anything....that does stink...cause I know I could have done much better had I a degree in something. I struggle with that so bad sometimes! Like really bad! So many times I have felt like nothing. So many times I have felt embarrassed that I didn't have a college degree. It has made me feel less than others at times. But now, really, I am over that. Like, really, really over that. I did go to college a couple of times and I actually did very well...but I didn't finish. :p  (making raspberries sounds with my lips)

But what can I say?

I am who I am.

I am me.

Bonnie.

I got married, I had kids, and I'm a mom.

That's who I am. 

I don't have an education, 

I don't have a fancy, good paying job, 

but....I do have an important job...

raising 2 boys that may become someone important one day.

Maybe they will invent something great or help a lot of people in some way. 

And I will be the mom that nurtured them.

And...if they don't invent anything or helping lots of people....

they will always be awesome and important to me.

So, 

I'm a mom, 

that's raising 2 boys, 

keeping house and home for my hubby and the kids too, 

and maybe some day 

I'll do something too. 

In fact, I really think I will. 

It's in there...

it's in me...

I know it is. 

I really do. 

I'm far from done.

Honestly, I've only just scratched the surface.

no smoke and mirrors here

Hello readers and friends! It is Saturday and it is so beautiful outside. Today I am planning on quilting, baking  pies and making tomato sauce. I have so much fresh fruit and tomatoes on my kitchen table right now...the fruit flies are having a lot of fun, I tell ya! This morning I changed my bio on my blog. An anonymous commenter noted that my pepperoni rolls are in complete contradiction with my profile description of myself.   My simple recipe  for pepperoni rolls is made with frozen bread dough, jarred pizza sauce, and shredded cheese from Wal Mart.....but....my bio stated that I believe in making everything from scratch. It's funny, because, for a very long time, my bio stated that I make meals from scratch, "but not everything", and I said "I'm not perfect ya know". Well, when I was updating my blog not long ago, I decided to re-word my bio a little bit and I dropped that part.  Well, I don't want to give anyone the false sense that I make my own cheese, or that I make my pasta from scratch or that I grind wheat berries to make my own flour. Although, I would totally love to do all of that because I find that stuff completely awesome!! So, I would like to say that
I DO NOT make everything from scratch....BUT...
there are many things I make from scratch.
I do have store bought pasta sauce in my pantry...BUT...
I do make homemade tomato sauce as well...cause it's awesome and oh so yummy!
Also, I love, love to bake most of my cakes from scratch....
pretty much about 99% of my cakes are from scratch.
I do on occasion bake a cake from a box mix....yes, it's true...I know...what can I say.
I do bake my pies from scratch...always, always, always, always, always!!!!!!!!
Every single pie crust I make is from scratch.
I rarely buy pre packaged food...it scares me all the crap they put in freezer food.
I have definitely bought many freezer pizzas....
but I have also made pizza from scratch many times....and it is soooo much tastier!
I buy Oreos and those mini powdered sugar donuts and put peanut butter on top of 'em....
cause it's a sickness I have....
peanut butter and powdered sugar...
I like it way too much! LOL!
I do sometimes make prepackaged flavored rice....although, I do feel guilty about it when I do...
because I know I can make it with the ingredients I have in my pantry.

On a last note, I know that my faithful readers and commenters already know this about me. I want to thank all of you guys out there. You have been so awesome with your support and faithful reading. You guys keep me going. I often go back and forth on whether or not to continue this blog. I do enjoy it, but it does keep me on the computer a little more than I would like. For some reason, I am not a quick blogger. It takes me a lot of time to make a post....sometimes. The best thing that I have gotten from this blog is the friendships that I have made with some of you. It is so awesome to be able to share interests with others that enjoy the same thing as me. I've gotten to know about your families and I care about what happens to you guys. I always think of blogging as modern day pen pals...I think it is pretty cool.

P.S. I don't want you guys to think that one comment has really disturbed me to the point of making a big post and all this stuff. I'm not mad or hurt or anything like that. I kinda have a dream of one day publishing a book....recipes, family life, Pennsylvania....stuff like that....and if I am going to ever do that, I better make sure that I am coming across real and I don't want to be misleading at all.

Love you guys!!
Have a totally fantastic weekend!
I know I will!
Lots of baking planned!
And.....by the way, I am in the home stretch with my sailboat quilt! Last night I starting attaching the binding/the edging that goes around the edge of the quilt!! I am so happy! It WILL be done today! Yay!!

from my viewpoint

Have you ever wondered what it looks like where someone else lives? 

I have often wondered this about my long distance friends and relatives.

I thought maybe you might like to see what it looks like here.

And maybe...you might find it neat

 to see what I see everyday.

Am I the only one that thinks of such things???

I really hope this is not like, the most boring-est post I've ever done!

This kind of stuff interests me...but who knows if it interests anyone out there?

haha!

So, do you ever wonder about things like this???

Bye for now!

Have a blessed day!

TODAY'S HEADLINES: Stay-at-Home-Mom wastes too much time and doesn't even enjoy the summer sun!

My goodness, I don't have any photos of yummy food to show you....nor do I have any photos of cutesy craft projects.  I've been in a semi funk all summer! Like, not a bad funk, just a little funk. I don't know what my deal is. Of course, I have absolutely no good reason to be in a (semi) funk...I am blessed beyond measure and God takes care of our family constantly. He is so good to us every single solitary day. So why the funk? Hmm? I don't know. I sound spoiled and ungrateful! But I promise you,  I am very, very grateful!
One thing I thought about the other day....it totally just made sense! I haven't been outside very much this summer during the heat of the day in the direct sunshine. I was thinking I might be lacking vitamin D from the sun. I totally get this way in the winter....and I get blah. This has been the most I have stayed inside during the day, during any summer I can ever remember. I have to make myself catch some rays today.

On to other things...I am going to attempt some time management for myself. It's not that I don't have enough time to get things done....it's the opposite. I have too much time! And......I need to be utilizing that time to my advantage!! I have so much time and I am letting it slip away to nothingness!

Oh look, it's a picture of me! 

LOL!

People.....this is me this summer!! All June and July...but hopefully not August. 

Must. Reform. Myself. 

!!!

At this time in my life, I am blessed to have the time to get chores done, be a mom and wife, annnnndddd, also have plenty of time to do my hobbies. There are some quilts I started that I would love to finish....and I would like to get back into scrapbooking. I've got the time....I'm just not using it right! Days go by and I think, sheez, what do I have to show for it! I made a list of things that "kill" my time and I am evaluating whether I really need them in my life....is it something that adds quality to my life? If not, cut it out. Some things I'm going to try to eliminate and some things I'm going to just cut way back on.

My first order of business (after housework and children)  is to get working on those unfinished quilts....and I will show you guys when I complete them. If I actually finished these quilts, I cannot tell you how proud I would be of myself!! But, I have to be careful to balance the time and not let the quilting time get out of control or then my housework will slip! hahaha!

Okay guys, that's all for today! I'm going to get moving! I have already promised myself time in the sun today...then I'll do some touch up housework....then I will pull out the first quilt top to be finished!!! Please send some energizing, motivating brain waves my way!

Cape Cod or bust!

Hello  friends! I am writing this post to you a few days before we depart for our family vacation to Cape Cod, Massachusetts. We are all, soooo very excited!! Most everything is packed and ready to be strategically tucked and squished, into our van. We're camping for 7 nights on the Cape, so we've got a lot to tote along with us on our 12 hour drive north. 4 bicycles, an 8 man tent, 2 tarps, 2 queen sized air mattresses, 1 big cooler, picnic basket, dry goods food, clothes, beach towels, bath towels, fishing rods, tackle box, medicine cabinet, camp stove, utensils for cooking on the camp stove and utensils for cooking over the fire, cast iron Dutch oven, cast iron fry pan, griddle....and that's basically it in a nut shell as well as a bunch of other misc. things that go along with camping. I've been planning meals for the Dutch Oven...looking for one pot meals such as chili mac and chicken stew covered with biscuits. I can't wait to make eggs, bacon, sausage and coffee on those chilly mornings. Yes, it will be chilly in the morning and at night as it is only early June. However, I have checked the 10 day forecast and the first four days we are there, it is supposed to be 73 degrees and sunny! We won't do any real swimming in the ocean, but we will do plenty of exploring of tide pools and digging for clams in the bay when the tide goes out. We are packing bathing suits....we just might be brave enough if we get a really warm day. The water temp is 63 degrees right now. Honestly, we are not deterred by the weather. There is so much to see and explore on Cape Cod and I prefer it to be not too hot. We are planning on going for a cruise on a sail boat...that will be a beautiful little day trip! We are also planning on taking a ferry over to Martha's Vineyard for the day....we plan to visit a few lighthouses there. Well, I must get back to laundry and packing...I just wanted to check in and let you all know about our little vacation. Of course I will post pictures when we get back!

Out of sync

As many of you know, I took a little vacation to visit my sister in Long Island, NY. It was definitely exciting and adventurous. I am so glad I went...I want to return and see more of what the city has to offer! There is plenty left to discover! We spent a lot of time in the city...  A LOT of walking and A LOT of subway riding...not to mention many steps, up and down in the subway areas.  We left the house each morning around 10am and returned each night around 10pm. We were exhausted, but somehow found the strength to get back up and do it all over again the next day!! Spending the better part of our time in the city, I am happy to say, that I feel a  true appreciation for it.

I learned that, for myself, it took a few hours, on the first day in the city, before I started feeling comfortable.
 

It was quite the assault to my senses and I was surprised that I felt that way. I am accustomed to rural areas, green and lush, and very quiet.  So, as you can imagine, the constant honking, the sound of car engines, revving and stopping, revving and stopping, the echoing of the "beep, beep, beep" back-up alarm sound on large trucks, jack hammers for construction, ambulance sirens, music, all echoing off of the buildings...also the amount of people...dodging them to your right and left...I always felt like I was in someones way... and the smell of heavenly food drifting from open air restaurants...but then, mixing with the dank, foul smell of the sewers, at the corners of each street...

...that is quite confusing to sensory system in the brain...

It's like, I like it, oh, wait, that's not good, oh man, that smells horrible, wait, something smells fantastic, oh wow, I want to eat that....oh no, wait, oh that's bad, oh that's vomitous....oh hold on, something good is cooking, I must find it...oh no, stop, no.

The bombardment I felt, was overwhelming. I hate to admit it because I don't think of myself as a wimp! And then I start thinking to myself, "and you actually were contemplating going on a mission trip to Cuba???? ya, that makes total sense, you can't even handle a day in New York City, you big baby! ya, great idea, you'd last about 2 minutes!"

LOL!

My honest feeling of the city, at first, was not good. I was really thinking to myself, I don't like this...and, I don't "get it". That is my most vivid memory of coming up out of the subway smack dab in the middle of Manhattan....very busy, very crammed, and very loud...very assaulting to the senses.

HOWEVER, it wasn't long before I started enjoying myself, finding my rhythm, popping in and out of coffee houses, bakeries, bagel shops, Asian restaurants,

and......EVERYTHING was delicious! I was very surprised!! I did not experience one disappointment from any shop, cafe, or person.  Soon, I started to fall in love...and I "got it". Especially when we started exploring the more residential parts of the city with the brown stones and local neighborhood eateries.

Ok....so I have summed up my trip, in a nutshell...there's lots of details, but I won't bore you...you now know, that I thoroughly enjoyed my trip to the big city...you understand that I want to go back for more...now, I want to tell you about my "out of sync-ness" that followed my trip to New York...and my disappointment that I cannot get out of this funk!

I wonder if anyone can relate to this???

~  * ~  * ~  *

I have been home now for 2 weeks and I am still not really back into my groove. How is that possible? How can a 6 day vacation in the city disrupt my life so much? The first few days back, I kinda did the old "walk in circles" thing....should I do this? should I do that? What bills need paid? Is there any food in the freezer? Should I do some laundry? Should I start dinner now? Should I take a nap? It's so weird how that happens.

Ok, so here's the personal price of going on vacation...let me set the scene.  Before I left for New York, I had been in a blissful state of euphoria. It was good! The earth was blossoming with green-ness!!  Wild flowers were plentiful and speckled the field behind our house. The hens were laying abundantly, the quail were beginning to plump up and grow feathers. We were experiencing a plethora of birds every morning, singing and flitting about, more than we had ever been privy to!

I was feeling very excited and homey and lovey dovey about my recent purchase of canning supplies and learning how to can and preserve locally grown fruits and vegetables this summer. I guess you could say I was feeling a great connection to the earth and what it gives us and how it nourishes and nurtures us.

Also, I was reading the Bible every night before bed, and every morning...specifically setting aside time {I have a new study Bible} I was absorbing  it and learning a lot. It was definitely bringing a lot of peace and clarity into my life, and I was appreciative. I felt very content. I was beginning to feel more humble and less judging. I was understanding where it is that God wants me right now, asking Him for His will, every day, and really, truly meaning it.

I am telling you.... I was in sync!!!

IN SYNC!

It's all gone now.

I am trying to get it back, but I can't quite catch that swinging rope...it's just out of reach, it keeps swinging back towards me, I reach for it, but I can't grasp it... and I feel yick! I think I feel "yick",  but I'm not sure...cause I can't describe it.

I know I will get it back, I know it.

The peace is in me, I just have to tap into it again.

I want it back.

I want that feeling back again.

In sync.

Sympatico with God and nature.

My goodness, it was a wonderful high.

I've experienced it before, and I will experience it again...I just got bumped off the familiar path a little.

Funny thing is, I had a feeling this would happen.

I just had a feeling... a feeling that by leaving this place, home, my children and husband... it would disrupt the natural flow of my life....... and the peace I was feeling would to drift away, like a silk scarf slipping from my neck, slowly at first, but then lifted on a summer breeze, to be quickly carried away..... out of reach and out of sight.

Yes, poetic, I know...but that is how I tend to see everything.

Even though I was so excited to go to Long Island and New York City, I must admit, there was a part of me that didn't want to go anymore....because I knew the price.

Dang.

Truly, I must keep this in perspective here....it's not as if my world would end...I am not THAT dramatic.

So, guess what?

Just about the time I get back to sympatico with God and nature....

{and I will...}

in  2 weeks....

my hubby and I are packing up the kids and heading out on a  family vacation to Cape Cod for a week.

Can you say disruption, folks?

hahaha!

Oh man, too funny!

I remain positive about it though...I know that God uses all for His purpose... for His plan for my life. I wonder what this recession in my psyche means??

What does He want me to learn from this?

I never doubt there is a lesson in everything.

Let me say this about our upcoming vacation to Cape Cod!!! I am SOOO looking forward to it! So are my hubby and our children!  This is going to be a very relaxed, very beautiful vacation. We're camping and riding our bikes to the beach....oh ya, and eating plenty of lobster rolls, clam chowder and fried clams. We have a day trip to Martha's Vineyard planned as well as an afternoon cruise on a beautiful sailboat.  If anything, sitting on the beautiful beaches of Cape Cod, and breathing in all that fresh ocean air, listening to the rhythmic lull ocean and the cry of sea gulls...that will definitely bring about a peaceful mind and attitude!
In the meantime, I will get back to my Bible study...cause I have gotten away from it!!! I know, I know!

Happy summer!

I've been out of town!

Momma has been busy! Momma left the nest for 5 days... Momma went to NYC by herself! Momma stayed with her sister Elaine, on Long Island! Momma ate some food....Momma took some photos. Momma rode the subway... Momma walked her butt off! Momma is tired,  but Momma is happy! Momma will be back to tell you more!  :)

My Sunday

Slept in 'til 10 am.
While I was sleeping,  hubby took pictures of a Blue Heron frolicking in creek behind our house.
Rushed through breakfast and rushed to get ready for church!
New skirt and shirt for church...will talk about the skirt thing in a later post..if I forget..remind me.
Church service 10:45 til 12 noon...good sermon!
Took my new, awesome Bible to church today...so excited to use it...I just love it!
Washed dishes like a good girl...cause I always let them set until I have a mountain!!
Hubby and youngest child left to go to a scavenger hunt for Cub Scouts at a local park.
Oldest son worked on adding something to his computer....I don't know what it is.
For lunch, I ate 2 slices of heavenly leftover pizza...spinach, garlic and chicken.
Watched some of {hockey} Pittsburgh Penguins VS. Philadelphia Flyers...umm, we lost..not phased!
Little bit of computer time for me...Facebook, blogging, Pinterest...whatever.
Wondering if we will get any of the 4 inches of snow predicted for tomorrow.
For dinner I quartered and roasted red potatoes and also some sugar snap peas..seasoned with olive oil, salt and pepper...the red potatoes were also seasoned with sage from my garden...the peas were also seasoned with thyme from my garden.
Made fruit salad with mangoes, kiwi and apples...so delicious and fresh.
2 pieces leftover talapia fish.
After dinner, evening church service at 6:35 pm...just me, rest of family stayed home...good service!
Oh! I forgot! after church I made peanut butter chocolate swirl bars...TOTALLY DELICIOUS!
10:00 pm nightly news...weather report...snow won't start til 5 am...2 to 4 inches tomorrow...we'll see!
Midnight blogging right now...working on this post...time for beddy-bye...need to get some sleep.
My usual late night snack of peanut butter on whole wheat bread with butter and a sprinkling of powdered sugar..and a cup of milk...comfort food!
So thankful for today.
Thank you God, you are always so good to me!
Blessed beyond measure!
Good night!
Can't wait for tomorrow!
No special reason....but who knows what tomorrow will bring!

Just a little of this and that

Yesterday I was busy putting away STUFF. There's just STUFF everywhere. Jackets, pencils, mail, coupons, quilting thread, tweezers, scrapbooks, notebooks, cookbooks, candles, baby toys, tennis shoes, snow boots, clothes, earrings, atlas maps, Boy Scout stuff, old homework papers, old report cards, video games.....STUFF.

I kinda feel like I want to clean like I'm moving to another house. When you prepare to move, you pack away all of the extra, unnecessary stuff . . . . and you're left with clutter-free furniture, counter tops and living space! I love it! I wonder if I'm getting that Spring cleaning feeling.

When I looked at my bookcase yesterday, the sun was shining through the window and highlighting the magazines and printed recipes tucked here and there . . . and I was perturbed. It looked so dusty and disheveled. Then, I put away all of the snow boots and extra shoes gathered by the front door and found a few dried leaves and lots of crumbly little pieces of dried mud and dirt that had been stuck in the thick treads . . . and I was like it. . . . errrrrrr!

Yep! I think I'm getting that itch for Spring cleaning. It will be nice to get that first warm day of the season when I can open a couple of windows and let some fresh air in!

Amidst cleaning, I did find time to take a little walk and enjoy that sunshine. I noticed white feathers peppered the landscape everywhere I walked. Chicken feathers. Not sure if they're from the Leghorn named Crystal Gale, or the Americauna named Sleepy. They were so pretty and fluffy, dancing softly in the breeze . . . glad I took a few photos because it is really raining out there this morning! No fluffy, puffy, pretty white feathers floating on a breeze today...everything is washing downstream today! Our creek is up sooooo high it will probably crest by afternoon. Our basement will undoubtedly flood {minimally} and that is quite normal for us...especially in Spring!

Boo!

This is Sleepy. 

She wants to know why I'm poking around in her business!

I realize she looks a little scary up close...but really, I love her the most! She is the only chicken that willingly lets us pick her up.

Today I will continue with a little cleaning. I've planned to use Mr. Clean Magic Eraser on the finger prints left at the edges of walls, openings and door frames. I'd also like to take a little time to do some quilting, drink some coffee and watch the rain from my living room window.

We are having dinner guests this evening . . .family . . .I'm making spaghetti with homemade meatballs and sauce, garlic bread and salad. Dessert is chocolate pudding pie with whipped cream! Yum! Well, I've got my day planned so I am off!

Aw, come on Sleepy! 

Don't go away mad.

Let's talk about this.

I need material for my blog!

Until next time! 

A dusting of snow

Well, we finally got a teeny, tiny bit of snow.

Just enough for my youngest son to make a teeny, tiny little snowman.

:)

excuses, excuses

Well, I have underestimated the time that I thought I would have this past weekend and so far this week. It's really not that crazy at all, it's just that adding in a few extra things on top of the usual schedule is just enough to leave me with little time or energy to finish my painting. It WILL be done before Christmas, I can assure you that! I was planning on working on it all day today, but my mother in law called last night to say that she wants to take me out for a little shopping and lunch. Now, why would I turn that down? Ha ha ha ha!

Anyhow, I'm getting there!

Yesterday, I watched my 11 month old nephew for 8 hours, then I baked cookies for Scouts, made dinner, brought in a boat load of firewood with my son, enjoyed the fire, got sleepy because of the fire, started to watch the Steelers get their butt whipped by the 49rs, continued to watch the sad football game and busted up quarterback while laying in bed snuggling up with my youngest son.....and painting just went right out the window!! Oh yes it did!

Also on my mind is the 10 centerpieces I am making for our apple dumplin' ice cream social that will be held at church one hour before we have our regular Christmas Eve service. They are really quite adorable and very easy to make...but I only have 3 done. Here's a photo of them.

The tables we are using in the youth room for this event are really cute and small. They are cafe tables that are only about 2 feet in diameter...so the centerpieces need to be narrow and tall and these just fit the bill...one tree per table.

Well, I'm outta here for now...my mother in law will be here in about a minute or two!

I'll never be the same again

Hello my friends.

It is I, Bonnie.

I am a changed person.

I am trying to get a grip.

5:00 am this morning I heard a sound.

I checked the hallway...nothing.

I looked downstairs...nothing.

I went back to bed.

Ok, let's rewind a minute here.

My 9 year old son came into our room at about 4:45 am.

He told us he heard noises.

Ok, it's nothing, go to sleep.

He stayed in our bed for a little while.

Fine.

This is not too unusual...

He is usually telling us there might be an alien outside his window.

or

What if Big Foot is real.

oh

and the latest...

Apocalyptic zombies might really exist.

ok

So...this is par for the course around here.

Ok, back to the story.

I heard a crinkle of a plastic grocery bag.

Turned on the light....checked the bag...nothing.

Turned off the light.

Heard a bump on the wall.

Turned on the light...nothing.

Wait...not nothing!!!!

A bat is flying around my room!"

Holy Crap!

I scream "It's a bat!"

My husband hops out of bed.

He says "stay calm, stay calm."

I get down on the floor and cover my head with the blanket.

Sure enough the damn thing LANDS ON THE BLANKET ON THE BACK OF MY HEAD!

I say "I think he landed on me! I think he landed on me!"

My husband comes around the side of the bed...

wait....

He can't see a thing without his glasses!

He goes back around the bed to get his glasses.

I can hear my 9 year old son saying

"Oh! Hi bat! Awesome! Hey bat! That's cool!"

I then see my hubby coming towards me with a T-shirt.

He says "Don't move, don't move, don't move."

He throws the T-shirt over the bat..

the bat screeches in my ear!!!!!!!!!!!

Not a sound I ever planned on hearing in my lifetime!

More of "don't move, don't move."

I can't take it any longer!

I wriggle out from under the blanket...

I try to stand and run, but sorta stumble to the floor.

I proceed to crawl and and basically scratch and claw my way

to the bathroom looking exactly like someone in a horror movie

trying to escape the masked chain saw murderer!

I make my way to the bathroom on all fours and close the door.

I do not move from that spot.

I am in the dark, on the floor, eyes wide as saucers!

Hubby folds bat up inside blanket, takes blanket downstairs and throws it outside.

Bat flies away into the darkness.

Hubby comes back upstairs into bathroom to console me.

I ask him several questions...none of which I can even remember right now.

He says "I'm sorry, but I'm trying so hard not to laugh, but I can't help it!"

He starts to laugh but tries not to.

I am not offended by his laughter.
My hubby loves me so much, but he is not easily shaken.
He knows I am a spazz.

Hubby continues to console me and eventually we go back to bed.

I don't sleep.

I cry a little...

and think...a bat landed on me.

:(

Seriously!
Did I really have to go through that?

I keep asking God..

"God, why did the bat have to land on me?"

"What are you trying to teach me?"

P.S. No animals were harmed in the horrifying-ness of this situation!
My hubby even said he tried to be delicate while folding the blanket over the bat so it's wings did not get damaged.

P.S.S. No one was bit by the bat...no one was hurt...thank goodness!
And my 9 year old son had an awesome story to tell at school!

 :)

just an update

The kids are back to school and the weather has cooled...54 degrees this morning with a steady downpour of rain. However, I'm snug as a bug in a rug on the living room floor...large mug of coffee to my right. I've got one window open just a bit...fresh air flow and the sound of rain drops are SO therapeutic.

On Saturday, the hubs and I..as well as the boys, wandered through IKEA...inspiration for a living space in our master bedroom. I've got some great ideas a'brewin in this little head of mine. Thank goodness for my husband...he is very creative and can carry out any idea we come up with. By the way...have you ever had the $1.00 cinnamon rolls from IKEA?? HoLy CoW, they are crazy good!

Sunday afternoon found our family perusing Barnes & Noble. Man do I love that place. I really, really LOVE a really, really good book store! I only wish there wasn't a toy section to distract my kids from enriching their minds with reading. Don't get me wrong...Barnes& Noble has THE BEST toy selection ever! In fact, I already have my nephew's 1 year birthday gift picked out! It's just hard to get the kids interested in looking at books when in the corner of their eye they spy the coolest doo-dad you've ever seen! Once they've spied the toy section, it's all over.

Sigh.

I've been working on cleaning up and cleaning out. More specifically...my master bedroom. Over a period of 2 days, I hauled out 3 bags of trash and 3 bags to give to the thrift store. I have plenty of room in our master to have a "living area". This will be what you all know as "decorating on a dime"...but I am still excited as my hubby and I have come up with some great ideas.

Until next time....I'll be sewing up a storm...I bought fabric for curtains for the master bath.

:)

What I've been up to

haven't been posting very often.

the reason: lots going on!! :)

housework {yuck, uck, boo, hiss, boring}

still life robot sculptures with the kids

embroidery

my birthday

shopping 80% off sales

making "to do" lists

drinking iced tea

writing in my journal

learning about art/sketch journals on YouTube

babysitting my 6 month old nephew 3 times a week

reading

watering the garden

the drive in theater

other misc. stuff

i do have photos to share with you...

in no particular order

i"ll be back soon...

having lots of fun!

Vitamin D and the view from down here

So far this Spring, we have had about 3 days of sun.
Pittsburgh and it's surrounding area is known for it's gray skies and rain...all year round. It's unfortunate, but true. And so..by the end of winter, beginning of Spring..I am feeling the lack of Vitamin D we get from the sun. Last week, we had our first day of sun in a long while. A sunny day that was warm enough to sit outside.

I was feeling rather sluggish and extremely lazy and depressed. I don't think I had any good reason for it...but that was my mood. I picked myself up off the couch, opened the front door, and sat on the front step of our house. Here's exactly what I remember.

The sun was on my face. I closed my eyes and pulled the elastic band from my pony tail and let my hair fall into the warmth of the sun. I took a deep breath and inhaled the smell of everything Spring: fresh cut grass and damp earth. I put my hands on the top of my head and felt the warmth. Hanging my head down, I rubbed my neck with my hands, opened my eyes and looked at my feet in my son's flip flops. I wondered if the concrete walkway was warm from the morning sun. I kicked off the flip flops and was pleasantly surprised to feel the warm, rough texture under my feet.

I lifted my face to the sky, my eyes still closed. Orange light permeated my eye lids. It felt kind of uncomfortable, the feeling you get when your eyes are closed, but you're facing right into the sun...but I didn't budge.

I could take it.

Ahhhh, the heat was dry and warm...almost hot. It felt so good, like heaven on earth.

The stagnant, unwelcome chill of winter slowly left my body. It's been hiding in me, in my bones, stiffening my joints...infiltrating my psyche. Be gone winter chill...leave me alone...I don't want you anymore! Summer sun is my new best friend.

While the front of my body was in the sun, my back was in the shade of the roof over my front step. Looking down at the concrete walkway, it was more than I could resist. I shifted my body and sat on the walkway, turned around, and faced my chilled back to the sun. Ahh, the heat from the sun slowly permeated my sweater right through to my skin. It felt so good!

Ok, didn't need the sweater anymore. Shed the sweater. Felt the soft warm breeze with just a light undertone of cool. The sun was on my shoulders. Hadn't felt that in a long time!



I sat awhile, taking in everything...dandelions and fresh, newly grown grass to my right, flat landscape rocks and a bush to my left. Teeny tiny ants zigging and zagging across the concrete. I was relaxed and warm and it felt good. The kids were at school and the husband at work..it was peaceful. I thought to myself, I wish I could just lay down on this sidewalk here, it would be so comfortable, laying in the sun, right here.



But, if someone saw me laying here on the ground in front of my house, what would they think? Look at that weird woman. Is she hurt? Is she dead? What is she doing?

I said to myself..why can't I just have this simple pleasurable moment right on my own property...who cares what they think and so what if there are teeny tiny ants, what could they possibly do to me anyway.

And so, I layed back on the warm concrete.
It was wonderful!
It felt good!
I was relaxed.
I looked up and I thought, what a pretty picture, I should take a picture.



Do I have to take a picture of everything?

Yes.

The sky was so tremendously blue.
The clouds were so tremendously white.
The sun was so tremendously beautiful and warm.

Beautiful in that way, that you can't really see...because you can't really look at the sun even though you really want to.

And so I did.
As best I could.
For a split second.



About 20 feet from where I was laying, I could hear the water from the creek trickling and flowing over rocks...winding it's way past our house. I love that sound...just about one of the most soothing sounds in nature.

I looked across the yard, just over the creek to the field beyond...a massive spray of dandelions peppered one particular area.



How pretty, I thought. That's pretty.

All was right with the world...
at that spot...
at that moment...
well, even more than just one moment.

moments {as in plural}
many moments

And so these were the photos I took to share with you.
to remember...how good it feels to sit in the sun
on the first warm day of Spring.

I hope you enjoy my photos.
It is what I saw
from where I was
a different perspective
from down there
laying on my back
on the concrete walkway

with people driving by
and my neighbors wondering if I was ok
or just plum crazy.

They probably never even saw me.