Crazy Hair Turns Seven...

Where does the time go? My sweet little "Crazy Hair" is seven today. That means I'm--never mind. "Crazy Hair" is a combination of his older sister and brother. He's calm, sweet and a little O.C.D. He loves his crazy hair and so do I.
His mother took him to a friend of hers to get a haircut last week and the friend cut his curls off. He didn't realize it until he looked in the mirror and then his mother said he had a "melt-down". He didn't want to go to school the next day and when she made him go anyway he came out wearing a hoodie. When she picked him up he was happy and said he had a good day. Typical "Crazy Hair."

Happy Birthday Sweetie Pie!!!

Easy Recipe for Wine Making...

I got up early this morning and decided before I left the house I was going to make a gallon of wine. A friend gave me a gallon and a half of fresh grape juice some time ago and I stored it in the freezer for this purpose. I couldn't find my favorite recipe, so used another recipe. I hope it turns out, but whether it does or it doesn't I now have a gallon of red, sweet, fermenting mixture in my pantry. It will be ready on February 27th.

1 glass gallon jar with small mouth. 4 cups sugar. 

Add 4 cups boiling water and stir with a long handled spoon.

Mix 1 1/2 teaspoons of dry yeast with 1 Tablespoon of warm water to make a smooth paste.

Add 3 quarts of grape juice and the yeast to the sugar mixture. Stir well.

Put a large ballon over the mouth of the jar. Secure tightly with string or rubber band.

The balloon will inflate. The wine will be ready when the balloon deflates. This should take about 24 days. Strain the wine several times before bottling.

Enjoy!!!

Reclaiming The Master Bath...

We've been working on our master bedroom and bath for some time now. This fall we reclaimed our bedroom and today I made progress towards reclaiming the bath. One scrubbed shower ready to be grouted and one sparkling tub ready to be used. We are still working on the ceiling in the bath and sink areas thus the drop cloth in the pictures.

Before cleaning I pulled, pinched, clipped and reworked the houseplants,

including the dying Peace plant.

I like it when I make progress even in small amounts.

Have a peaceful week!!!

The Rain Was Wonderful...

 but once again we have a lake in our back pasture

 and lots and lots of ducks.

It amazes me that so many ducks come to a place that is normally dry. I wasn't able to get a good shot of the ducks. Too far away.

Have a nice weekend!!!

Fuzzy Friday...

Since I'm no longer babysitting my little Fuzzy boy I am having a bit of trouble keeping up with my Fuzzy Friday pictures, so this Friday I'm going to post another warm and fuzzy.

I received this snapshot in a text. Crazy Hair has decided to wear his tie to school. He has worn it a couple of times this week. He loves to dress up.

Counting Blessings

#4 Rain

#5 Walking into the den and finding a fire in the fireplace.

#6 Friends that text to remind you of appointments.

Hope you've had a warm and fuzzy Friday!!!

Ouch...

The week before Christmas I was taking a crock pot out of my pick-up and broke the lid. At the time I thought the broken pieces fell into the pot, but today as I brushed my hand across the seat I discovered I was wrong.
It wasn't much worse than a large paper cut, but before I could see what happened I had blood on the seat, on my pants, and running down my hand. I went inside, washed it, checked for glass and reached for a band-aid. Being the grandmother of five grandkids all I had was-Winnie The Pooh. Ha!



Here's hoping everyone has a wonderful week!!!

Natural Born Artist...

Today I was sitting in my husband's office talking to him while he was on his computer. I looked over at some pictures we had leaned up against the wall and saw this one. My youngest daughter drew this when she was five years old. I thought it was so good and cute that I took it and had it laminated. I have kept up with it for 20 years. For all it's 5 year-old imperfections it has so many perfections.

Look at the table legs and how the cat and fish bowl must be sitting on the side of the table and the sun peeking in front of the curtain. It makes me chuckle out loud, but then look at the cat's face, and the fish bowl. There are actually little objects inside the bowl and how about the bookcase with what I guess to be a plant sitting on top of it. I remember thinking what a wonderful picture for a five-year old to have done. So, naturally, I had to laminate it for posterity. I think I am going to frame it for my sewing room. You know the catch-all room that needs to be deep cleaned before I can sew in it. Yea that one.

She can thank me for her crooked bangs.

Well she didn't turn out to be an artist, but she does have a very good job, has started to graduate school, bought herself a new car this week and this mama is very proud of her. I just wish I had her and the five-year-old too, but time flies on.

Have a great week end!!!

Fuzzy Friday...

Hope everyone is having a warm and "Fuzzy" Friday!!!

Counting My Blessings...

In November I reviewed the book One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voscamp. I liked her idea of keeping a gratitude journal and have decided to join Ann in her 2012 challenge-Multitudes on Mondays-A Thousand Gifts. It's a way to count and list your blessings up to a thousand and beyond. If you are interested in the book and haven't read it yet you can purchase it through Amazon.com.

Counting Blessings--I am thankful for:

#1 Love Letters

#2 Happy Grandkids

#3 Mountains that look like ships

If you would like to link with Ann and chronicle your blessings click here to learn more.

Have a great week!!!

Six Little Sock Monkey's...

I started out to make 10 sock monkeys and the number quickly grew to sixteen, so here is the first batch.

Have a nice day!!!

Lunch At Cracker Barrel...

I'm way behind on my blogging, but as I glance through my dashboard I see that others are too. For me it has been hard to get moving after the holiday hoopla, but today I've had my morning cup of Butter Toffee coffee and am ready to put the holiday lag behind me.


As most of you know I'm not keeping Fuzzy and Tall Feathers this year. My daughter is now a stay-at-home mom, but today she had to be in Dallas, so here I am. I got here last night, watched a movie and got Tall Feathers ready for school this morning. Fuzzy is still sleeping off the affects of that late-night movie.

Yesterday, I had to take my dad to the dentist and afterwards we stopped at Cracker Barrel for a late breakfast. I love eating at Cracker Barrel and I love shopping at Cracker Barrel, but what I don't love is checking out and seeing my bill. Ha!

Here's what I bought yesterday.
1.Overalls for Fuzzy's upcoming 2nd birthday. I just couldn't resist.

2. TinTin for Tall Feathers and Snowy for Fuzzy. I just couldn't resist.

3. Chicken, sack keeper for pantry. I just couldn't resist.

There were many things I did resist, however, like the blue ceramic birdhouse, the wind chimes, the blue sparkly blouse...

There's always next time, right.

Have a nice weekend!!!

Fuzzy Friday...

Have a "Fuzzy Friday".

Spring Preview...

Looks like we are going to have a bumper crop of Bluebonnets this year. Our back yard is covered.

Have a great weekend!!!

Fuzzy Friday...

The little climber is so proud of himself.

Hope you are having a warm and "Fuzzy" Friday!!!

Lunch...

 Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries sprinkled with Splenda. 

We Bought A Zoo..

We Bought A Zoo is one of the best movies I went to see in 2011.

It's a comedy-drama based on a memoir by Benjamin Mee. The real zoo is in England, but for the purpose of this movie it is set in California. It stars Matt Damon and Scarlett Johansson. It's about a recently widowed-father who buys a run-down zoo, moves his two kids to the country, begins to rebuild the zoo, and their lives.

My husband and I went to see it New Year's Day and weren't disappointed. The little girl who plays Damon's daughter is adorable and Matt Damon isn't so bad either. I recommend it for a bit of light entertainment and good, clean, family fun.

Hope you enjoy it!!!

Entangled...

"...we pick and choose the memories we need to remember, not necessarily the most important ones, but those useful to our continued well being."

ENTANGLED

A Minneapolis attorney inherits a small California winery, reawakening memories that have lain dormant for twenty years. One summer of her childhood is a mystery she intends to solve. But digging up her past also lays bare the skeletons of others, including her mother’s.

Author: Barbara Ellen Brink

Published: 2011 

Purchase: Amazon

Review:

I enjoyed this book very much. I read it on the Kindle for $2.99. I didn't expect it to be that good considering the price and the fact that the author self-published. I was in for a surprise. The characters were well developed and Mrs. Brink did a good job of throwing me off the trail. I didn't figure it out until close to the end. Her twists and turns were plausible and I never felt cheated. There was one spot that caused me to scratch my head and wonder why she left that scene in and what it had to do with the flow of the story, but even that was o.k.
Entangled was an excellent, fast, believable, who-done-it that I highly recommend. You want find better for the money. I have down-loaded her next book in the series called "Crushed" and can't wait to get started. I give this book 4 stars. 
Happy Reading!!!

Looking Forward To 2012...

Hubby left about 7pm to drive the two hours it takes to get back to the city and back to work. Getting back to "normal" is always an adjustment after so much free time.

 I am dedicating Tuesday through Friday to packing all bits and pieces of Christmas away,

working on the nearly one dozen sock monkeys I promised would be ready by Christmas and weren't,

 and finishing a good book, which if I'm not careful will take precedence over everything else.

I love the idea of starting a new year and am looking forward to 2012. A new year is like a new beginning it causes me to rethink my priorities and focus on things I need to work on. I am a list person. Before I go to sleep at night I get out my pen and paper and make my list for the next day, so I have my list for 2012 and am ready for the challenge ahead.

I hope everyone has a great week and a great 2012. Christmas will be here before we know it.

Happy New Year...

Happy New Year from my house to yours!!!

Deeper Than The Dead...

"His victim would have screamed if she could have."

Deeper Than The Dead

California, 1984. Four children, running in the woods behind their school, stumble upon a partially buried female body, eyes and mouth glued shut. Close behind the children is their teacher, shocked by this discovery and heartbroken as she witnesses the end of their innocence. What she doesn’t yet realize is that this will mark the end of innocence for an entire community, as the ties that bind families and friends are tested by secrets uncovered in the wake of a serial killer’s escalating activity.~~Goodreads

Author: Tami Hoag

Published: 2010

Purchase: Amazon.com

Review:

I loved some of Tami Hoag's earlier books, but I can only say I liked this one. She left loose ends, didn't keep me guessing long enough and the romance wasn't typical Hoag. I didn't feel like I knew the characters or ever became truly invested in the story, but it moved quickly and kept my interest. Gruesome at times and not much of a "happy ending", but I give it 2 stars for being easy and moving fast. It was worth reading and I plan on reading the next two in this series of three.

Happy Reading and Happy New Year!!!