ROMAN BATHS IN BATH ENGLAND

We used the bus system in Bath today. We visited the town of Bath, ate at a McD's and saw the Roman Baths. Here are the pictures from the RB and Bath....

 We saw this unique looking design on some building, found some low enough to get a picture.

 Boston Tea Party Cafe

This one is for my granddaughters, Rachel and Ashley.   Wallis means Welshman.

Still Raining and Cold.

It is still rainy and cold. We got the rental car. The one originally assigned to us was a small hatch back. We would have looked like Clark and family from European Vacation for sure. Last night, while Lara rested, Christopher and I had taken Katelyn for a walk and decided the food stands were tempting us. At the first one I was looking around when I spotted a "check luggage" sign. I pointed it out to Christopher, since we had Sullair stuff with us. He went and checked it out. Guess what we did... oh did that make life easier for the time being. Any way I have digressed.... We upgraded to an SUV. Katelyn slept with me last night because she was being a little fussy. It has to be different for her since we all are on different type schedules. I know it is hard on me.... going to bed at 4 pm our time, not England time. When we got in the car, it was raining again, so Christopher just headed to Bath. London on this time. Rain, rain go away... come again another day.... or month!
When we arrived in Bath it was raining there also. Not like London. Just a little drizzle. Christopher decided we would try at the end of the week.
We could seem to find Ann and Bob's house so we made a quick call. She was so excited they came to meet us. They are such wonderful people. They prepared us a delightful feast for dinner. Chicken, salad, beets (from their garden), slaw, ginger beer ~ like our ginger ale ~ and great potatoes.
Loved their home, it was so warm and friendly.
The drive there was pretty uneventful~ Christopher only got stuck on a couple of round abouts. Of course we all thought that was funny.
It is an odd feeling when cars are on the "wrong" side of the road. Christopher thinks he may get the hand of this soon.
Katelyn is  being her charming self. Glad she is such a happy baby.

 Christopher, "They told me everything was going to be the same on these cars....not!"

 Bob with Katelyn.

Ann with Katelyn.

Lunch at the Beehive.....

Lunch at the Beehive..... Our first meal in Gatwick was at the Beehive inside the terminal, which has a train station, airport and bus station all in one. I had he Beef Ultimate... It was good except the cheese. No cheese next time.

Katelyn

Katelyn is beginning to learn how to crawl. She gets up on her needs and rocks, only to be disappointed by falling. She is learning that if she wants to go forward reach, don't push. Maybe she will start crawling in Germany.... wooohooo.... Rachel learned to walk in Hawaii so Katelyn can learn to walk in Germany or France or where ever we are at the moment.

getting farther and farther behind

I have been so busy that I am getting farther and farther behind in posting. I have just finished reading Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith. It was a good read. Some spots were confusing, however as you read on you got the jest of it. I enjoyed it and it made flying time so much easier.

London... Cold and Wet

We are up after taking a nap.... Cold and pouring down rain. Bummer! We are not going out in this. Back to the airport and the hotel. We look around the shops and find a great place to eat. I had what we would call a hamburger. I liked everything about it except the type of cheese. I will add a picture later of our food choices. It surprised me that when I took the toothpick out of my hamburger the mustard and ketchup started coming out of the hole left behind. This was basically our lunch and dinner. We were still very tired from the trip over. Katelyn has been very good with all of this traveling. Of course she is still going about business as if she was in the USA. So nice to be able to live in such a state as a baby.... time means little to you ~ when you are tired you sleep, when you are hungry you eat and when you want to play you play.  Wait that sounds like the life of a retired person. Oh no, I need to get a job. Don't want to live that way for a longggggg time.

The beginning of the trip

 The limo arrived at 9:15 to get our luggage. We didn't get a picture, however the trunk was bungy corded shut, luggage filled the passenger side of the driver, the back seat was filled. I bet the people in Chicago were laughing as they saw our ride coming.

Christopher and Katelyn waiting to get in the limo.

Lara and Katelyn waiting to get in the ride. Check out the trunk!

 Lara and Christopher.

Christopher and me.

 Katelyn thinking she is special sitting on daddy's lap.

 Katelyn loved the view from the window.

Lara and Katelyn inside the limo.

 I'm pretty sure Katelyn thought she was going to be needing some wine on this trip.

She was waiting on her wiggles on the Ipad to come on.

 Loving her wiggles.

 The plane waiting on us to board.

The long flight sure does tucker a person out.
So our first day started out with a limo ride to the airport in Chicago, then to North Carolina to get on another plane. Eating in the airport in Chicago and North Carolina. A very long flight across the great pond. Sleep... well I didn't.... I was too excited about getting to see my family in England and Wales. We got to Gatwick and went to sleep.

You will probably....

You will probably notice that I am not writing any of my vacation in any certain order. Well that is because I am writing what ever comes into my brain at the moment. Sorry. I will start posting some great pictures of the trip soon.

I don't like

I don't like the changes they have made to blogger. Too confusing. Too much work to write what I want.

In Bath England

I have been in Bath England visiting with family. It was so great. Ann, Bob and I stayed up really late, their time, just talking. It was very interesting comparing GB politics and American. Seems they are discovering about as many "scoundrels" in their "leaders" as we are. The government wants to make retirement age 77. What? That is crazy... In other words you will work all of your meaningful life. Their social security retirement age minimum is 65 compared to ours of 62 right now.

Are we there yet?

Are we there yet? Very long train ride.... all night. Boy was I glad when we finally arrived at our destination. Germany. Yes that's right... Germany... East Germany, on the side of the infamous Nazi party. I have noticed they speak very little English... they have an active population of Nazi group, leaving notice on walls that the Nazi rule. I only know that I am eating pizza and went with Hawaiian because I recognized the name. Translator lead me to believe that I was eating what I thought... and I was indeed. Christopher said he wasn't sure about one word in the one he wanted. I told him sounds like mushroom.... translated.... indeed mushroom. Wasn't bad. The resort has done their best to set up their menus with English translations.... So far we have eaten many things we could eat in America.... Thank God for whoopers, big mac, pizza and KFC..... I can at least know what I am eating.
Oh yeah.... Christopher requested ice cream so much last year while he was here that they now have an ice cream menu.... too much influence for one person.... LOL. Well off for now.... catch ya later.

Okay, so May will have...

Okay, so May will have more post than days since I have only posted 14 posts for April. It really doesn't feel like May already.

Scary....

Scary... Yes it is scary thinking about going to a different country. I don't know anything about life style or food. I have wanted to go to Wales all my life. I now have a chance to go and visit. It is scary. What will it be like? Will I go into my "shy" mode and have a hard time?
This is a big step for me. I am very comfortable in my home land. I don't fear most things. I don't know. When we were in Jamaica I saw armed men, in a jeep, driving quickly up a hill in front of the resort.
Will I have the same kind of experience in Europe.
It is scary because my husband won't be there. I depend on him for security. Funny. At one time I did not fear travel. Took the kids to many places without their father as he had to work.
I will be okay. But a month is a long time to be away from my husband and I worry about mom.

Need to make up a lot of posts.

I see I have gotten very far behind on my posting. Oooopps. I have been so busy getting ready for my trip that I haven't taken the time to post anything. I will try and do better. Since the blog is a form of a journal, need to do better at keeping it up.

Why?

Wow... I don't like this.   Why are you changing things when we don't want it? It is like Facebook. I hate the fact they think it is okay to change things any time they want to. Ask. I want to control how I post.

Hummmm .... how much

Hummmm I wonder how much it would cost to get a computer Internet connection for my laptop? I am going shopping today to find out. If it doesn't cost too much I will get  it for my mother for the time I am gone so she can talk to me using skype. Of to the races today. Bye all. Be safe....

craziness

Craziness! That is all you can say about this weather. It was warmer in March than it has been in April.... Crazy. Tonight I pray for all the folks in Kansas and other parts of America that are being hit by this weather.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!

<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>

This makes me sick!

Check this story out.... A republican state lets this creep out on a reduced bail. He almost killed his wife... He is an abuser. I pray that she is hiding in a place he will never find her....

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/13/lisa-holden-josh-hid-in-woods-daughters-abuse_n_1424972.html?1334362782&icid=maing-grid7%7Cmain5%7Cdl3%7Csec3_lnk1%26pLid%3D152062

men

Copied from a fb friend.

Men are like....
1. Men are like Laxatives. They irritate the crap out of you.
2 Men are like Bananas. The older they get, the less firm they are.
3. Men are like Weather. Nothing can be done to change them.
4. Men are like Blenders. You need one, but you're not quite sure why.
5. Men are like Chocolate Bars. Sweet, smooth, & they usually head right for your hips.
6. Men are like Commercials. You can't believe a word they say.
7. Men are like Department Stores. Their clothes are always 1/2 off!
8. Men are like Government Bonds. They take soooooooo long to mature.
9. Men are like Mascara. They usually run at the first sign of emotion.
10. Men are like Popcorn. They satisfy you, but only for a little while.
11. Men are like Snowstorms. You never know when they're coming, how many inches you'll get or how long it will last.
12! . Men are like Lava Lamps. Fun to look at, but not very bright.
13. Men are like Parking Spots All the good ones are taken, the rest are handicapped.
Now share this with all the remarkable women you know, as well as with any understanding good-natured, fun kinda guys you might be lucky enough to know!

Why?

My 4th grade granddaughter asked me last night, "Why did Chris kill himself? He had a little girl. I feel so sorry for her."
I know Chris. I know his parents. I know his brother. I know his ex-wife.
Many people are hurt over his loss. In fact his father went into heart failure when called to come identify his son. He is okay physically now, but emotionally ....
This man, the father, has helped his son emotionally as well as financially. His son married a younger girl on her word of how terrible her parents were. She moved in with them. Got pregnant and then when she graduated, divorced him. Made his life a living hell for many years. His father and mother fought for his rights to visit his daughter without supervised visits. He finally got them.
I can not answer my granddaughter's question of why. I have heard many rumors... mainly of a girlfriend break-up. One of this young man's best friends commit suicide just a few months ago... same way... over a break-up with his girlfriend.
So how do you explain such a tragedy? How do you comfort the family? I have "written" a letter to his family in my head numerous times in the past 24 hours... just nothing seems to fit.

Oh Me oh my...

It looks like it is about time to go to dinner. I am going to my mother's for sandwiches tonight.
My younger sister had Easter dinner for the family today. I didn't make it because I was so wrapped up in cleaning I forgot... Well my mom said only she, my sister, her husband and their daughter were there. My sister's son and his family all have chicken pox. I had told mom when I found out my brother-in-law had shingles that he shouldn't be around his grandchildren... well they all thought I was nuts.... well guess who was right. I explained to them, back when I first found out, that the only reason I knew he shouldn't be around them is because the night janitor had them and they checked with everyone of child bearing years and others as to whether or not we had had them so he could safely come to work.

While I am away...

While I am away I will not be posting I don't think. I will be journalizing in the old fashion way. When I return I will post all of my journal posts. Remember thou you will not know when I am gone because I do forget to post for weeks at a time. My goal this year is to have at least 365 posts.... Oh that sounds like a lot of posts.

On his spring ride....

Yes my husband is on his spring ride. He wanted to get it in before I head to Europe for well I have an open date ticket. I may stay longer or I may come home sooner, but if I go for as long as planned at least 5 weeks. The days are counting down quickly.
He is letting our grandson ride his bike today.... Visions of the first time we let his dad ride .... we waited and waited and waited and worried ... 45 minutes later, back he comes....

So how goes my spring cleaning?

So how goes my spring cleaning? Well I am about half ways finished with the house. I have cleaned all but a few drawers. I have started the hall closet upstairs.... I have gotten all sheets washed again from company. I have all laundry done once again and put away. I have waxed one more floor... I am still working... this is a real work in progress. My plan is to finish all the drawers and then do all the closets in the upstairs bedrooms and then wash and wax the floors. I love hardwood floors except when I need to wash and wax them..... Uggggg hard work.

I have been good....

Yes I have been good.... I have not purchase any of my favorite Easter candy.... Staying away from stores today and maybe tomorrow because you know those Peeps will be on sale.... I love Peeps. I could eat the whole box in one setting.  So I will be good and keep passing them up... Oh how I wish I had a Peep to eat.

Today is Easter

Today is Easter. It is also my daughter Cassandra's birthday. Unfortunately because her husband's family has such a DIFFICULT time planning activities together we are not able to spend her birthday with her. So sad that some people are so selfish!

Getting behind again

Here I am days behind on my journaling. Well I have been busy.
My great and wonderful husband wants me to purchase some new clothes... Well I really am not a shopper. I did go one day... I found a few shirts that I liked, but no shoes and no pants.... Ummmm I really don't like shopping.

April 1st

Merry Christmas!   April Fools

Happy New Year! April Fools

Happy Easter... April Fools

Today is April 1st - cold and rainy maybe some severe storms. We are now officially 4 months into the year. Wow time sure does fly. Since I like to purchase 12 gifts per person for Christmas I had better get busy.  You know the old song - 12 Days of Christmas.... I have Kristina's finished. I am almost done with Lara, Casi and James' is started. The granddaughters I have started as well as the grandsons. Son-in-laws are started, my hubby well not yet. It seems some folks is harder to shop for than others. Kristina was easy.... Clothes. She loves clothes.  Lara well she loves clothes too, and she loves crafts and sewing and cooking and .... well Lara just loves just about everything. Casi is harder to buy for... she does need some new clothes... but she is finally putting on some weight so I am not sure what size and she loves to read... Books and clothes and well I don't know what else... maybe some Cologne that her boys love that I wear. James well what do you get for someone that goes out and buys exactly what they want when they want it. Maybe some new pants that he needs, maybe some shaving gear, maybe some gas gift cards... wow... think, think and think some more. The granddaughters go to a private school that wears uniforms... so no school clothes.... they both love makeup.... they love music... itune cards maybe.... I know the clothes they want so maybe a few after school clothes. They both love sports also. The grandsons are into video games... one loves pirates... when I find pirates stuff I buy it. They also love itunes.  They are not into sports like the girls, so no sports stuff.  My newest grandbaby. She will be easy.... well maybe not.... it seems that the toy market has forgotten about very young children. I did find a snowsuit for her, however I am going to give that to her for her birthday. Hummmm, what will Katelyn want? At the rate she is picking things up she will be wanting an Ipad by Christmas.... No grandma and grandpa are not purchasing you an Ipad unless we win the lottery....  Son-in-law #1 purchases things he wants just like our son. So he is hard to buy for.... He loves Red Lobster, could probably use gas cards and he really likes scratch-offs. Son-in-law #2 loves to cook, watch sports and play on his Ipad. Hummm I think he may get the canner he wants and then a bunch of canning jars.... 11 of them... LOL... Maybe a cookbook, I don't think he needs any more ties or shirts... Maybe a new wallet.... See the challenge... This is why I shop year round.... I see something someone may like or would like to have... it is at a great price.... it looks of good quality.... Woohoo!
My husband is usually pretty easy... he can always use new underwear.... and he likes to listen to CDs in his truck and his mp3 player when he is riding his motorcycle.... This year I think he will get the GoPro camera. He has been looking at it, so maybe that will be his main gift. He would probably like a gift card from Barnes and Nobles for his color Nook.
While I am on my vacation I will shop for a few gifts. I hope I get finished before the Christmas rush. I will not be going out shopping on black Friday. Just not my thing. I guess since I worked in retail to pay my way through college, I know the deals are not that "sweet." I know most of the merchandise is special deals the business gets and usually is not of good quality or was left-overs. I can remember going through boxes of old merchandise they would bring up from storage and we would mark it with new tags and priced it low. So I know most of those deals are not that great. Also if you will notice the law states that the only requirement for an advertised sale good is that you have at least one of the item. You don't have to offer rain checks either.
My husband and I did go black Friday shopping once. We went for the computer deal at Best Buy. We stood in line for hours.... freezing cold outside....only to be told they didn't have the printer to go with the computer so they couldn't sell it to us for the stated price. We could pay more... but not for that price.... rip off.
So here it is April 1st... I am thinking of Christmas.... I know that time seems to go by quickly.
I am sitting here thinking... In August, when school starts, I would always tell my students, "Hope you have your Christmas shopping done." They would laugh and tell me that it was months away... Soon it would be Thanksgiving. They would say, "I should have listened to you. I don't have anytime to do my Christmas shopping. Are you done?" "Yeeep!" I would always reply.
So here's to you..... Get your Christmas shopping done. It's not that far away. And another note... remember where you hide things or make a secret list... if you don't you may find things years later... I did... when we were packing to move to our new home. And I said to myself... the kids are too old for these now.... And that Christmas I kept saying I know there something missing. LOL

Picking....

Picking up the girls on Sunday. Lara and Chris are taking them to Casi and Shane's to meet up with us. Will celebrate Casi's birthday with her and the boys, the girls, Lara and Chris and Shane..... OH BOY!
I think Kings Island is getting ready to open since it has been so crazy warm..... WOooooo HOoooo

Fake.....

What is up with a grandparent who think they have to be Santa and the Easter Bunny? If you want to have an egg hunt.... plan it at sometime other than Easter Day.... You are not either of these in your grandchildren's lives YOU ARE THE GRANDPARENT! Let their parents be the important part of this growing up stage.... STAY OUT OF IT, you are ruining it for their families.

Why?

Why do some men think it is okay to not support their children? Too bad they didn't love their children as much as they love themselves....

If....

If I won the megamillions..... what would I do? I have thought of this.... I would set up accounts for my grandchildren. Purchase a few acres of land. Build a new home, even though I love this one however I would like a different floor plan and a big yard and garden.
I would make sure each of my children got new homes and..... well dreams are great, reality is .... I love my home and I have as much luck to win as anyone else.....

Spring cleaning up date....

I accomplished more than I thought I would. Floor all cleaned and fresh wax. Curtains done. Windows washed.... down stairs complete. Bad thing.... smells of fresh waxed floors.... I can live with that though.
I am going to do the bathrooms tomorrow and my office. I have washed the sheets on the beds in the girls room and they are made again. I wonder if I will get more done tomorrow than I expect.

Price of gas....

UHHH why is gas $4.09? I guess I will just stay here in the house and garden and not travel any place. Bus well maybe I will use the bus! Who wants to waste money on gas?

where or where?

Where oh where did I get soooo much food coloring. I guess when I know I am baking a cake or cup cakes or making some kind of candy that you color, I purchase more food coloring. Any one need some, I have more than I think I can use.... lol

what to eat?

I am not sure what we are having for dinner tonight. I have a meatloaf I can warm up, with a salad .... hummm I think that is what I will do .

Kitchen... complete

Spring cleaning of the kitchen is complete.... Next room.... well it won''t take long. I think I will do the living room and the game room. The living room is a good dusting, wash the curtains, wash windows and wood work, and wipe down the walls and chandeliers, sweep, mop and wax the hardwood floors and vacuum cloth furniture and saddle soup on the leather furniture. Game room all the same except the floor. Vacuum the carpet.

chicken casserole recipe.... I forgot

I forgot to include the recipe in my post so here it is....
preheat oven to 350 degrees

1 stick butter
1 can cream of mushroom or celery soup
1 can cream of chicken soup
1/2 can water
2 cups minute rice
4 - 6 chicken half breasts (I skin and cut into smaller pieces.)
1 envelope dry onion soup

Melt the sitck of butter in a 9 x 13 pan.
Mix the soup and water in a medium mixing bowl. Stirring well.
When butter is melted mix in soup mixture and stirring well.
Cover this mixture with rice evenly sprinkled.
Lay chicken on top. Sprinkle with the dry onion soup mix.
Cover with foil - bake for 2 1/2 hours.

Family history okay just what can I find in Chicago.....

I need to contact the office in Chicago that may have a bit of information that I would like to have... I am going to Wales and England... So if I had this information I may be more successful there.

spring cleaning time

I have been spring cleaning. First room.... kitchen. I need to put new lining in the cabinets so off the computer and to the store to purchase some new. What color do I want? Well that might be limited to my choices at the store. I am thinking when I get back from Europe of painting the kitchen... What color... well maybe I will go with something that will match the lining for the cabinets... sounds good to me...

chicken casserole...

I am making a chicken casserole for dinner with potato au gratin and a salad. The chicken casserole calls for using whole chicken breast, however cut it into smaller pieces so it cooks and cuts easier. It is OOOOHHHH SO GOOD and easy.

Spring cleaning....

I have started my spring cleaning.... I have to complete it before I leave for Europe.... Wow I best get busy and stay off of here.

resurrection garden

I think I may try this.

http://wearethatfamily.com/2012/03/diy-mini-resurrection-garden/

Rachel has decided...

Rachel decided tonight that she wanted to roll her hair... Don't ask... just take it as a teenager thing.

Just what was the Colts owner thinking?

Just what was the "cheap" owner of the Colts thinking? Payton is getting stronger, he will come back and grind the Colts in the ground with his throwing arm. So now what will he do with an inexperienced quarterback and team.... Guess my disappointment in the Colts owner leads me to believe I may need to change teams... Ouch... I have been a Colts fan for almost 50 years.... this will be hard.....

Rachel and Me....

We are going to make the snacks for Rachel and Ashley's lunches this week. Slutty Brownies and Rice Krispie Treats.... so much fun. Love having my grandchildren visit.

Disney

My youngest granddaughter went to Disney with her parents. She absolutely loved it. Smiles and laughter the whole day. It was also her first time seeing fireworks.... loved them.

Baby boom in this here family....

I must say that our family is growing and many new babies have been born. ...
Katelyn first   then Reese and now Christian.....

.

I was just thinking...

I said a prayer to God at the beginning of this school year that he would not have a bad winter for us so my sister's last year of having to drive that drive in the country to school each day would be good. Well we have had a great winter. Now she can look forward to her last parent-teacher conferences, last spring break and then the last classroom clean-up for the summer. Woohoo..... I was there last year....!

Rachel

Rachel has been hired by my mother to do the lawn this summer. Have fun Rachel. Don't spend your money unwisely..... You want to go to Harvard Law School... you will need it all and then some.

Slutty brownies

I made slutty brownies a few days ago. They were surprisingly good. I only ate a few and then gave the rest to the grandchildren.
Here is how you make them...
I used the rolled chocolate chip cookie dough.

grease an 8 x 8 pan good. (I used sprayed ) put a layer of chocolate chip cookie dough in the pan. Next take Oreo cookies side by side on top of cookie dough. Make a brownie mix from a box or bag, using their instructions. Use about 1 teaspoon extra of water and oil. Pour over the top of Oreo and chocolate chip cookie dough. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 30 minutes. Allow to cool.
If you like while it is still hot scoop some out, add some ice cream and enjoy.

okay here goes....

I have been so busy with thinking of ideas and how to present my scrapbook of family history that I have neglected my blog. Sorry. The scrapbook is on the back burner today as I need to go to the library to do some research on my aunt Selma. I wanted to see if I could find out something about her death. I didn't stay long as I need to get lunches for my husband and daughter and I needed to go do my mother's hair... so I will try again tomorrow.

I am so far....

I am so far behind on this blog. I need to blog 10 posts I think. ..... Thinking..... thinking..... thinking.... k.... I have one.

Land of the Free... some quotes to think about government officials in the fed and states.......

I think our current republican candidates and members of congress on both the federal and state levels have forgotten why we are nicknamed the land of the free....

From Abe Lincoln: "America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves."

George Washington: "Government is not reason; it is not eloquent; it is force. Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master."

"I am a freeman, an American, a United States Senator, and a Democrat, in that order." Lyndon B. Johnson.

Been so busy.....

I have been very busy putting together my family history scrapbook to take on my trip. I can't wait. Passport in hand... luggage sitting waiting to be packed.... laptop ready to go.... wait I don't leave for a while yet. I am debating if I should take our color nook. I don't think I will need it since I have my laptop.... Maybe  some music for on the plane....

Paris in the spring time.... ahhhhhhhh!

I need to brush up on my Welsh so I can speak at least a little. Aunt Eunice doesn't speak English, so I had better be able to say hello and good bye and fake the rest. I also thought I need to brush up on the Food words for Germany.  Haven't used those German words for a lot of years... lets see about  VN time.  Just want to make sure I am not eating cows tongue or snails or some other disgusting thing.... At least I knew enough Spanish when we were in Mexico to not order the food that was made with cows tongue!

So off of here for a while.... need to get my list done and my research notes prepared......
I am so lucky to  have such a  wonderful husband.... He is working lots of extra hours so I can take my dream vacation! Oh yeah... I have some great children, sons-in-laws and grandchildren.... they are all chipping in on this trip..... Look out Europe... I am a coming.

Started the scrapbook...

These are the first three pages to the scrapbook. I need to get busy. 

Just think 30+ years ago....

They are acting like this is something new... I know it's not because I know it happened when I was a teenager.... I won't name names, but some thought it was cute.... back then you were just asked to resign... I remember when it happened in a town high school called Westville. My friends and I thought...
OOOOUUUU SICK! We would never had thought of being with a teacher.

http://shine.yahoo.com/parenting/teacher-leaves-wife-kids-high-school-student-225300504.html

March 1, 2011

This is the first day of March. In 26 days my husband and I celebrate another anniversary. Wow ~ 36 years ~ and they said it won't last. LOL
I have been baking cupcakes for the church bake sale tomorrow and working on my scrapbook.
I love doing both things... cooking and scrapbooking. I also enjoy knitting, crocheting, sewing, quilting and my list goes on. Just not enough time to do it all.
My magazine stash is growing smaller. Ha I might defeat it after all.
Hubby has been working over so I can have plenty of spending money when I go on my trip. Such a wonderful man. (Even with his faults... LOL)
We have been concerned about our family in Tennessee because of the storms. A tornado hit the town our son lives in; however it did not hit his home or neighborhood. Our family in the Knoxville area are all safe. Our niece and her husband kept in contact with us, via Internet,  during the storm and then checked on everyone and let us know all were safe.
Tomorrow they are saying they will be getting hit again. Last fall my husband's brother's home was hit by a tornado, only a corner of the house. He lost trees and the neighbors had damage. So we thank our God in Heaven for keeping all safe.
Stay safe .... Talk later.

Davy Jones :(

I read yesterday morning of the passing of Davy Jones of the Monkees. This saddens me greatly. I was fortunate to see him in concert, one of his last, thanks to my daughter and her husband. My younger sister was also treated by them. My husband tagged along... but he did enjoy the concert. It was one of the last that the three Monkees played together. Rest in Peace Davy. I know everyone in Heaven will enjoy singing right along with you. May his music blare from my "music machines" for a long time....

Ok REPUBLICANS>......What are you doing to AMERICA!

Read this report and think..... do we really want to live this way?

http://www.bilerico.com/2011/05/the_difference_between_republicans_and_democrats_i.php

The girls....

Kristina had a tooth pulled yesterday, so the girls are spending time with me. The girls are on the go all the time. They get bored easily and love doing sports, going to dances and roller skating. Tonight they are skating. Grandpa told them he would pick them up at the time it was over.
I so enjoy going to their games and hearing how proud they are of their accomplishments.
My two youngest children where home schooled part of their school life. We made sure they were involved in sports, swimming, acting, clubs and organizations so that they could be well rounded individuals and social.
Sometime home schooled kids are "strange." They don't know how to make friends or they are so "backwards" or have parents that are strange, that homeschooling is the only suitable place for them to be educated. The bad thing about homeschooling is so many people don't actually educate their children. It is another way to control every aspect of their life and to make sure they control the children they associate with.
I have found that parents of the latter type, come from a certain group of people where secrecy is important. This makes them untrustworthy and young girls are frequently defiled by men...
Well anyways, like I was saying, I love the fact my grandchildren love being active. I have talked to them many times to make sure they express themselves if they don't want to do something. However my junior high age granddaughter today informed me she wants to add cheerleading to her activities... okay.... So I guess softball (year round), school volleyball, school basketball, scholastic bowl and student council just isn't enough. She is a straight A student in advanced classes, and loves school.
Let your children do all they want, provided their health doesn't suffer or their grades. Keep yourself sane by understanding it is only a short period in your life.

I just found this article about high gas prices...

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/angry-about-high-gas-prices--blame-shuttered-oil-refineries.html

stop blaming the president... it's time to blame oil companies!

I posted a few posts back about....

I posted a few posts back about the Mormon's baptizing dead people into their church...
Here is a news items I found today about that practice...

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/trending-now/public-outrage-over-alleged-mormon-baptism-anne-frank-173843648.html

swag buck code

http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/crazyteacher
If you want to join my team at swagbucks here is my link. Try it. You may really enjoy this search and win site.

very interesting....

Check out this article. It is strange. I have known to people who turn this type of blue when cold. I wonder if it is possible that they have a form of this genetic disorder. Hummm I guess a little more research is needed.

http://gma.yahoo.com/fugates-kentucky-skin-bluer-lake-louise-200247843--abc-news.html

scrapbooking family history.....

My latest adventure is called Made in America. It will be a collection of family photos to share with our relatives back in our home land. So Made in America is in the planning stages... Looking for the right paper and embellishments, the right kind of design for the front cover.... Ideas just a swirling away... More to come later!

Here you go USA

http://www.proudamericantradingpost.com/

Homeschooling...

Homeschooling vs public education

I home schooled two of my children part of their educational time. If done correctly, making sure they had activities that allowed them some time to socialize with others their own age and getting the proper books to help them learn, it can be quit successful.
I would not suggest it to people who don't want to be involved in the total educational process.
The advantage of homeschooling is the freedom of travel time, if you can financially afford it. Another advantage is if you have children that are so "different" from others that they will be teased or bullied in an "traditional" school setting.
Bullying is hard to spot, to solve, to understand.... A student can tell you they are being mistreated, however you can not punish on "hear-say"; thus causing bullying to grow. It also has backlash sometimes for the child. They get threatened more, people point their fingers at them and laugh, more students join in to bully them, they loose friends if they had any, and with all of this they eventually get labeled "The Trouble" causer. The teachers don't want to have them in class, the principal punishes them and the cycle continues and grows. So for this type of student, sometimes homeschooling is the best fit.
Another type of student that homeschooling best fits is the one of different beliefs. Later.

Shopping...

Shopping for a gift for a 1 year birthday was tough. I have noticed that there are fewer toys than ever out there. Not only that ~ puzzles ~ where are the puzzles.
I think the toy industry has forgotten all of the things that children need in order to develop cognitive skills.
I guess video games are more profitable.

Swag bucks......

Go to the bottom of the page and sign up. I am getting ready to put $100 dollars in my account.... Wow, just searching, doing a few surveys, and watching short video clips and I have enough points to cash out. You can choose other things, gifts and gift cards, various amount of points. My daughter goes for the $5 Amazon gift cards. So give it a try. Especially if you want to earn some easy money or gifts.

Plan, plan, plan.....

I have been planning for my many vacations. Since I am retired I find I get pretty bored. So I take little trips and some big ones. I can't wait till spring... Big vacation plans. Hubby is excited it will be riding weather soon. Woohoo. Snow and ice stay away.

those magazines

My stack is growing smaller. I have been scanning like crazy. Since my husband will be home this week, I probably will be slowed downed to a snail pace. Oh well I will keep plugging away, little by little. I will be glad when I get done... Wait I will never be completely done until the day I die.....An I don't plan that for any time soon....

Christmas shopping....

I have begun my Christmas shopping... What? Yes I shop year round. I found some really great bargains. So I have some of my shopping done for next year already. In fact I have gifts already wrapped for next year. ....
So happy Christmas shopping everyone.
Shop now so you don't have to shop with all of the crowds.

Okay here is post 1....

Okay, yesterday we went to my great-great-nieces birthday party. Her great grandmother, my sister, passed away 11 years ago. We were still able to get a 5 generation picture as my sister's husband is like a brother to us, (my other sister and I were 9 and 10 years younger than Judy), Judy and her husband only had boys so no female only picture, So in the picture is my mother (93 years young), my brother-in-law representing my sister, my nephew, my nephew's daughter, and my nephew's granddaughter.... wow....
It was a little strange... Louie remarried a few years ago... His wife decided she didn't want to be married any more and then begged him to take her back, they did not sit together at the meal, in fact she sat with my nephew's ex-wife and her boyfriend. Strange for someone that wanted you to take her back. (She didn't want a divorce until she had been married to him 10 years so she could get his pension along with her other dead husband's and her own. Seems she is in this for the money.) Tom's ex-wife, Julie, brought her boyfriend that she had been cheating on my nephew with for 20+ years and his family. Her parents are divorced and they each came with their newbies. My one nephew wouldn't come because he didn't like his dad taking back this woman and the fact Julie the terror was there. Tom's finance came and her family, her husband had passed away before Tom met her. We really like her. Mom went to this party with the idea that things would be good, however after Chris, Louis wife, gave her the cold shoulder, (Chris had blamed my sister and cousin at a different get together and then Louie got upset and so did mom.), this time mom saw it first-hand. I don't think Chris will ever be in her good graces again. Louie acted so unhappy, that mom's heart was broken. You don't mess with Louie. And so it was a miserable day in some ways and a happy day in others, even though I sat back and out of the loop as much as possible. I didn't want to go because of all the drama.
The happy spot: MY YOUNGEST GRANDDAUGHTER, daughter and her husband were there. We sat with my nephew Don and his son, who hardly ever talks and he talked. He wanted to have his picture with the baby as did his sister. So all is good.

oh me or my....

Oh me oh my it seems I have failed to post any news for a few days. So much and so little time. I will begin again  tomorrow .... well maybe I will post something in a few minutes... I don't know .... Just too much to do.

Travel by train...

I found this... dreaming maybe....
http://www.raileurope.com/us/shopping/pass_finder.htm

I may want to check this out some more.

Free WiFi....

A friend of mine posted on FB that he wants his gravestone to have free WiFi; that way people would visit him more often. ... Sounds like a good idea to me. The only drawback:  would be there would be enough parking for everyone? ..... and who would run the concessions. I want dibs on both.

No Child Left Behind Sports

A friend posted this to facebook. Thought it was cute. It also so the ignorance about education by the people who wrote NCLB Act

No Child Left Behind: The Sports Version

Fill with your favorite sport (original used football)

1. All teams must make the state playoffs, and all will win the championship by the year 2014. If a team does not win the championship, they will be on probation until they are the champions, and coaches will be held accountable.

2. All kids will be expected to have the same skills at the same time and in the same conditions. No exceptions will be made for interest in , a desire to perform athletically, or genetic abilities or disabilities. ALL KIDS WILL PLAY AT A PROFICIENT LEVEL.

3. Talented players will be asked to work out on their own without instruction. This is because the coaches will be using all their instructional time with the athletes who aren’t interested in , have limited athletic ability or whose parents don't like .

4. Games will be played year round, but statistics will only be kept in the 4th., 8th and 11th games.

5. This will create a New Age of sports where every school is expected to have the same level of talent and all teams will reach the same minimal goals. If no child gets ahead, then no child will be left behind.

Couple of....

Couple of great finds while reading my Country Living magazine:
All American made furniture... fabric made and furniture hand built in North Carolina .... to check out go to frenchlaundryhome.com

American grown and produced yarn.... go to fiberfarm.com
They have a membership fee. I have not checked them out yet, but plan to. I am all about AMERICAN MADE!

Still working on...

Still working on my magazine stash. Yip..... Mom gets magazines still, even though her shop has been closed for 10 years, and gives me them when she is finished reading. So then I get piles to add to my piles. Well it is not a hoarding type pile... I put them in a bin and when I have time I go through them, scan what I want to keep and throw all away. It just that sometimes she insists I take them when I really don't have time to go through them. I also get magazines that she doesn't, my sewing, knitting, crocheting, quilting, craft, cooking and a few more.... So the monthly magazine "hoard" happens and it gets to the point of feeling "out of control." It doesn't depress me, as I am a happy-go-lucky type person. Now that I am retired I am slowly getting the "hoard" of magazines under control.
I am actually through with about half, but here we are a new month and you know what that means, more magazines.....I think I better get off of here and start scanning... Later.

feral cats

I just finished reading an article about feral cats. Our neighborhood, and many others in our town, seem to have many cats that are "unowned." My objective was to see if I feed these wild creatures they would stop eating birds in our neighborhood. It seems that is not a solution. According to the article there are over 5 million wild cats. Many times it is because people have cats, who have babies, who are then set out in the wild because they are unwanted and the cycle continues.
One suggestion from the article is capture, neuter or spade and release. I don't think we should do this to all cats or dogs, as they are companions to people, however this wild cat and dog problem is destroying the balance of nature.
I want to put up some bird houses, however if it means that the wild, feral, cats are going to feed on the birds that I do want around then I will not do it.
What a situation. So do I build some bird house and chance the feral cats attacking them, or do I call the animal control office and ask about feral cats. I am not willing to pay for them to take the feral cats, they are not mine. So just what will I do?

Finally did...

All the times I have traveled outside of the US I have never had to have a passport. So today I apply for the first time. Use to be all you needed was a certified copy of your birth certificate, drivers license and if you where married your marriage license.
When I was a child you didn't need anything to go to Canada or Mexico.
So guess I need to get a passport or I won't be able to go visit my family across the great pond. This is so exciting as all we have ever done is communicate by snail mail and emails. We have done video chats and sent voice emails. I can't wait to visit my cousins and visit my grandparents home land.

Tomorrow

Tomorrow is Sunday. Please remember that it is a day of love and blessing. If you need a church to go to I invite you to the best 1st Methodist Church here in town. Great folks, good fun! God bless you and hope to see you at church.

Life is Crazy..... LOL

I need to go to the library. I have done mom's hair today, picked up 25 pounds of fresh ground sausage, and 25 pounds of pork loin and ribs.
I would like for every one to know that the dump cake was really good. Ashley was here with me, home sick from school, and we made homemade cinnamon rolls for her breakfast (she helped and loved the cooking) and then we made a dump cake.
The only thing we did different than the recipe is we added cinnamon sugar to the top of the cake mix and then the butter and then Ashley wanted more cinnamon sugar on top of the butter. The crust was really good then. Melted butter and sugar made a glaze.
Try it.
I have been very busy adding information into my family files. I make sure to scan all of the papers first, just in case. Well I need to go get things done. Mom and I are running to Long Johns for dinner tonight and bringing James home his. We need to add more fish.... I dislike cooking fish... So Long Johns can do it for me.
Later.

Sooo much and Dump Cake

I have been going through my family history research for the past two months. I didn't realize I had so much to enter into my files.
Yesterday I started to go through information and entering it, scanning information and pitching needless and duplicate stuff.
What color should I paint the office? I think I want a relaxing color. Not sure just which one. There are so many colors that I really like. Such a hard decision. Suggestions family?
Tonight I am cooking goulash. Mom wants that for supper. So that is what we will be having.
Tomorrow we are having chicken legs and I am making an apple dump cake.
I also have to do mom's hair Saturday so she will look good for Sunday. She had it done while I was gone at a beauty shop. She didn't like it.

Here is the Dump Cake Recipe

DUMP CAKE  

1 (16-ounce) can crushed pineapple
1 (21-ounce) can cherry pie filling
1 (18.25-ounce) package yellow cake mix
1/2 cup butter, chilled
1/2 cup chopped nuts

Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease well a 13 x 9 x 2-inch pan.

Dump pineapple (including juice) into the prepared pan; spread evenly.
Dump cherry pie filling over pineapple, spreading evenly.
Dump yellow cake mix over the top, spreading evenly.
Cut cold butter into 1/4-inch slices and arrange over the top. Sprinkle with nuts.
Bake in preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean (about 40 - 60 minutes).
About 10 servings.

Low fat choclate marshmallow cupcakes

http://player.swagbucks.com/free_videos/food_network/low_fat_chocolate_marshmallow_cupcakes_recipe/445/155287/