Sitting Alone Digging Up Bones

Myra and Dad
Early 1990's
Bostic, Rutherford County, NC

I was thinking [and that's dangerous for me] last night, that seven years ago, I got the cellular call from Dad that my step-mom of 36 years, Myra, had died. Hubby and I were up in Atlanta, GA, at one of the annual International Motorcycle Shows. I remember it as clear as if it was just yesterday. Poor thing had been in a nursing home for several months prior to this. We were expecting it but not this soon. Dad had had to put her in the home because of the Alzheimer's, which is such a horrible, devastating disease, and while there she contracted pneumonia. Dad's health was failing too and he couldn't take care of her properly anymore. That must have been a very difficult decision, not one that I would relish making. I'm so glad that she didn't have to spend years in that depressing home. Jesus was extra merciful and took her home with Him quickly that she may be in Glory.

Among Myra's many talents of sewing, crafting, painting, and housekeeping, she was first and foremost a superior cook! Her meals where always to be desired. And it's funny too because that was her maiden name. She was related to the famous Cook's who came over on the Mayflower. I still have many of her recipes and use them frequently.

Here's one of my favorites. This is really good! One can also substitute ground beef for the turkey. It actually tastes like pizza with no crust. It yummy and no heavy carbo's. [drool]:

Myra's Pie Pan Turkey

2 cups chopped turkey
1 1/2 cups diced sweet onions
1 cup shredded mexican cheese ~ or swiss or provolone, any you prefer
4 1/2 ounces mushrooms
1/2 teaspoon salt

Topping:
1 1/2 cups skim milk or any milk preferred
3/4 cups Bisquick
2 eggs

Combine topping ingredients. Let sit.
Combine turkey or meat, onions, cheese, mushrooms and seasonings in large baking dish. Mix. Pour topping over turkey, etc.
Bake at 375 degrees for 35 to 40 minutes or until golden brown.


If you're a member of Findagrave [it's free], won't you please take a moment to leave a virtual flower on her grave? The obituary I wrote for her is there also. I know she'd say Thanks and I do too.

Have a blessed day y'all.

We're Finally Done!

After much anticipation, we are FINALLY finished with the home office remodeling.


As you can see, Maxie 'helped' lay the flooring.
Riiiight! :)


Once we got away from the walls,
and all it's strange protrusions and angles, the floor went very quickly.


And, here 'tis! In all it's glory.
This is facing east.
How do you like my new Z-Line desk?
Smart looking, huh?!


I decided to put the two cabinets together
for a better effect. Looks like one long one now.


Now I have an excellent view of the
bird feeder & woods just outside these south facing windows.


There was also room for our fold out sofa.
The room can double as a 3rd bedroom when needed.

Well, I hope y'all enjoyed the tour. Even with all the new aches & pains and one trip to my Pain Doctor, it was worth all the effort. Our next project is rip out all the carpeting in the house and replace it with Pergo flooring.

But that's another post. :)

Hope you're staying warm and safe my friends! Thanks for stopping by.

The Shortest Distance Between Two Points Is Under Construction

We started on my home office remodeling project! By my request, Hubby very kindly gave me a new modern desk for Christmas. No, I'm not going to tell you what kind it is. You'll just have to wait for the photos. :) I got to thinking ...the desk will look so nice, why put this on that old ratty carpeting. Why not redo the floor first?

"Hmmmm. Good idea, sounds simple enough" I mumbled as I mulled the possibilities over. The mauve carpeting is outdated and looking every bit of it's age of 18 years. Now with three dogs it has aged even faster.

As most of y'all know, we live way out in the country. Trips into town must be planned or you'll spend all your time on the road and at over $3 a gallon, that's not a happy thought. Well, we made the trip to our local home improvement store and purchased the necessary replacement flooring. By the way, we'll be installing Pergo wood strips in a color that matches the existing wood blinds.

Got home. Since some of what's in my office must go into the attic, got to looking at what's there already.

"Hmmmm," said I, "You know ... this attic needs cleaning and straightening". Hubby agreed. [Whew!] So, first we had to spend two days in the semi-dark, cold Netherlands of our home vacuuming, sneezing, sweeping, sneezing, rearranging, getting rid of old junk, sneezing, throw out more old junk, on and on. By the end of this endeavor, my allergies where in a total uproar but it was looking so good up there, I thought, why not buy large plastic containers and repackage everything?

So, back we go on the 60+ mile round trip to the local home improvement store and bought more than a dozen storage boxes with lids.

Now the attic looks super but the office is still undone.

So, this morning we got down to brass tacks and spent the whole day in the office. First order of business was moving the desktop computer to an out-of-the-way location. It had to be reconnected and running to have Internet service. Of course, the Internet didn't work then, we had to start all over ... SIGH ... and after a phone call for help to the local Idjit Internet Service, we're up and running again. Then hubby broke down my old Island Size L-shaped particle board desk. This had to be one of the 12 Labors of Hercules! Simple!? HUH! Finally, poor guy, that's completed. Out to the trash heap it goes to be burnt.

And this is where we stopped this evening ...

Where the L-shaped desk once resided

This is where my new desk will sit

This wall will pretty much remain the same.

The slide out sofa / bed will sit
where my desk used to be.

Oh, and I just noticed that the baseboards and window sills need repainting before laying the flooring.
siiiiiiiiiiiigh
This simple project is beginning to snow ball! And now we both ache all over because our aged bodies are no longer accustomed to manual labor.

Well, who knows where this will end up?!! Hopefully, I'll have my "new" office soon. Maybe my next post? :)

If at first you don't succeed, redefine success.

Happy New Year!

May the sands of time
Be your stepping stone.
May the sigh of the wind
Guide your Course.
May the New Year
Bring you Peace, Love,
Joy and Prosperity.
Cherish those you love,
Be thankful for those you newly meet.
And keep the path between them
Open to your heart.
Happy New Year Y'all!

How Was Your Christmas?

The tree was decorated with our traditional bright shining baubles and sparkley lights. It was beginning to be bitter cold outside. The next day was incredibly wet and windy. Alas, no snow though. But we remained nestled inside close to a heat source and hot tea.


The house was filled with the mouth watering aromas of cooking turkey and other goodies. It was so tempting that even the dogs were eager with anticipation.


One advantage to being married to a cook, suddenly, like magic, the food appeared! It was good too. :) Even the doggies got a little plate of lean turkey and a vegtable.

So I pray that everyone had as happy and peaceful a Christmas as we had.

Dear Santa

Think he'll bring what I really want this year?

Kawasaki KLR 650
Yeah, big surprise I'm sure ... that I want another motorcycle. :) Let me rephrase that ... I want to ADD another motorcycle to the garage. Hubby (my Santa) said that we may be able to rearrange things so that this could be a reality.

That's a lot of "if's" but I can dream, can't I?

Looks pretty in blue, doesn't it?! My current Suzuki V-Strom is in this very same blue and CC's. The Kawasaki KLR 650 is a street legal dirt bike, usually referred to as a Dual Sport Bike. I've been hankerin' for one for quite awhile now. You can read all about the bike here. It's a relatively cheap bike at about $5,999. And it's light as a feather too, with a curb weight at 432 lbs. I'll bet it would just dance through the hair pin turns I like to take. With that seat it's not a touring bike to be sure but it would be fun on these country back roads around here.

You know my philosphy: one can never have too many bikes or guns.

Well, I hope every one's Christmas is full of joy and good cheer. And if you see Santa, put in a good word for me, would ya? I need all the help I can get. Tell him "I can explain ..." [giggle]

God bless!

Our Thanksgiving Get Together

Don, Cindy, Bob, and Amberlee (insert)
It's been awhile since I've posted, hasn't it? I was tempted to stop blogging but I do enjoy sharing, even if I don't get many comments. And it is all about ME anyway, huh? *giggle*

We traveled to one of my in-law's homes for Thanksgiving. Had a splendid time! Aren't they a lovely family? Ok, I'm prejudice but I think they're the greatest.

Amberlee is growing like a weed. She's so bright and fun to be with.

Her brother, Bob, is quite ill right now. He was sleeping almost round the clock and had no energy, so, his mom took him to the doctor. Turns out he has thyroid cancer, type as yet undetermined. What a shock! Well, we'll deal with it together. He goes for a biopsy next week so that treatment(s) may begin.

Hubby and I are doing well. He has completely recovered from his partial knee replacement therapy. We take a two mile nearly every day. He's doing so good.

Doggies are all healthy. I'm amazed that our 12 year old Maxie still acts like a puppy many times. She's the healthest miniature schnauzer I've ever had.

So, for the most part, we are doing well. What life throws us, we have learned to deal with it. We have much to be thankful for. I pray that all my blogging friends are healthy and happy.