Tearing down history...

Covington Manor

Hello Everyone,

We are all good here.

This picture is an old building in my hometown. It was a nursing home when I was young. The youth at our church sang there one Christmas and afterward we took gifts around to the residents. I believe they were baskets, but I don't remember what was in them.

Before it was a nursing home it was a hotel. Mom will have to comment with info on that or if it had a life other than that. They had a haunted house in it at Halloween, not this past year, but I went the two years before that, Mom even went the first time. The last time I went, as we were standing in line, I made up stories of 'real' ghosts that were in there. Told them not to open certain doors, etc.

As you can see, they are tearing it down. Putting up some kind of Destin, FL style shops. I can't imagine that in such a small town, but I hope it goes well. Hate to see it go though.

Ok, on to other things...

I forgot to mention the exercise bike in my last entry. We got it put together Sunday evening. I fixed a place to put it in the bedroom. So I got exercise helping put it together and then the next day moving it into the bedroom...So right now I'm following Shirl's method of exercising...ha. Hubby hasn't used it yet either. But we will, just got to work up to it.

I'll go now,

take care,

Sheila

Survived the weekend...

Hello Everyone,

Hope you all are doing well.

We're all good, oldest daughter has a little allergy or cold thing going on. But she is doing fine and went to school. We had company over the weekend. My stepson 'D' and his family came on Friday evening. Hubby played golf Saturday morning, while 'D' and family went to the Exploreum and saw the Grand Canyon imax movie. They also went by the Museum and saw the Pirates exhibit. Hubby went and had some steaks cut when he got home from golf and we grilled them for supper. (Sorry Jack, I hope I didn't make you drool). I baked potatoes, actually baked them, didn't use microwave...and of course, there was salad and french bread. I also made mushrooms cooked in red wine, garlic and butter. It's been awhile since we've grilled one and they were good.

They left to go home about 11:00 am Sunday. They live in a town near Randy. Where they have the Peanut Festival.

Well it was warm here today. It got into the low 70's, but it is supposed to be only 60 tomorrow, (sorry Lucy) and get back down in the 30's at night for a few days.

We're waiting for some lasagna from Pizza hut so I guess I'll go,
Take care,
Sheila

Stay warm...

Hello Folks,

Just so you know, the exercise bike is still in the box in the garage. Probably will be until this weekend. Jack I may be like Shirl and get my exercise by moving it around...ha. It does at least have a couple of wheels on the front so I won't actually have to 'drag' it.

Did anybody see Mobile's Azalea trail maids in the inaugural parade? I finally saw them, but on the station I was watching, they didn't tell who they were. They wore pastel colored hoop skirted gowns and hats. From the top they made me think of Easter colored Hershey's kisses. They are 50 high-achieving young ladies and they looked very pretty.

Everyone stay warm tonight,
Take care,
Sheila

Happy Tuesday...

Hello Everyone,

It is supposed to be around 24 degrees tonight here, but it is supposed to warm up to the 60's on Friday. There is also supposed to be sprinkles on Friday and Saturday. Now if we could just coordinate the cold with the sprinkles I might get some snow...ha.

Nothing much going on, Hubby called last night on his way home from work and asked me to meet him at Sears. He wanted to get something to exercise with. He had to quit smoking when he had a heart attack in July of 2007. So, of course, like most people he put on some weight and I can definitely stand to lose some pounds too. Well we ended up getting a Nordic trac bicycle. We wanted something that didn't take up too much room.

Mom, I ordered three more 'Cracker's Mule' from the author, for 'S's kids 'M' and 'N' and 'C's daughter 'M'. He sent me a card with the books that has a picture of him, his brother and his Grandpa. I'll bring it next time we come and see if you recognize his Grandpa.

Well that's about all I know today,
Take care,
Sheila

Sunday night....

Hello Everyone,

I hope everyone has had a great weekend. Hubby went to play poker Friday night with some guys he works with. That was the first time they were able to talk him into it. Daughter C is friends with the daughter of the guy who hosted it. I guess he figured it would be too cold Saturday morning to play golf so he could stay up a little longer...ha. He normally goes to bed around 8 pm. Well, he might stay up a little later on Friday and Saturday, but not much.

J has been wanting beef stew so I fixed that today. I seen an ad on TV for games at lifetimetv.com, I went to see what they had and they had a free download (full version not trial) of a game called 'Diamond Detective'. Just thought I'd let you know if you like those kind of games.

We got a little rain this morning but snow evaded us again. Jun, if you had joined me and Randy doing the snow dance that rain would have been snow...ha.

Ok it's time to go,
take care,
Sheila

Bbbrrrrr....

Mt. Ranier from our home in Washington

Hi Everyone,

Sorry I haven't posted in a while. I've been spending all my time doing my snow dance, getting ready for the hard freeze that's coming tonight...ha.

Really though I guess I have just had writer's block. Nothing much to write about. All the Christmas decorations are down. Had to get a new toaster oven today, old one decided not to work anymore.

Thanks for all the prayers for our friend.

This will be a short one, I wish everyone a great day.

Take care,

Sheila

Family and old friends...

Like Father...
Like son...

Hello Everyone,

This is a picture of my brother and his son (from the previous entry). My nephew is a little younger in this picture, but I wanted one of him smiling so you could see his dimples.
My brother's picture is a little pinkish, but he had brown hair too. They are both tanned most of the time.

Nothing much happening here. It finally stopped raining long enough for us to get the Christmas decorations taken down outside. It is much cooler also, it was around 48 at 1:00pm. My hands were freezing by the time we got through outside.

We have talked to a couple of old friends today. We have known them since we married. I heard Friday from the wife of one,( by mail, she didn't have our number) that he passed away on Dec 10th. She can use your prayers, not only did she lose her husband but she has been on dialysis for 3 years and she is waiting for a kidney donor. She also had 5 bypass heart surgery a year ago. I had to search online for her number because the one I had was an old one. I called her and talked to her for awhile. I called one who lives near us to tell them of his passing and another who lives in AZ. They were all older than us. The one who passed was about 8 years older than my husband. The one in AZ is close to my Dad and Father-in-laws age, and he sounded the same as always. The last time we were all together was Texas.

Time to go,

take care,

Sheila

Happy Birthday Elvis...

You should never be the first to fall asleep

around your sister and cousins.

He didn't learn...ha.
and his sister looks so innocent, doesn't she.

Hello Everyone,

I tried to center the writing under the pictures but it didn't work.

These two are my niece and nephew. Children of my little brother who lives in San Antonio. He used to do an Elvis impersonation in Kindergarten, my brother that is. We even halfway dressed him up as Elvis one halloween. So 'S' if you are reading this, you should do the impersonation again for your kids in honor of his birthday...

Okay on to other things, not much happening around here. C had an orthodontist appt. yesterday, she is on her largest wire and from what I understood her last. We also had to stop at Target and get her a new backpack and new binders for school.

One last word on moon pies. They had a recipe in the paper for moon pies New Year's Eve, if you can call it that. Take a moon pie, (theirs was chocolate but I'm sure you can use your favorite) put a scoop of ice cream on top (vanilla on theirs) and drizzle with chocolate syrup and caramel.

Yes, I will probably try it, if I can remember to buy moon pies. They will be every where soon as the start of Mardi Gras is just around the corner. No, I have never went down to watch a parade, to hard to get around. I have watched on TV.

I'll go now,

take care,

Sheila

Grandsons and Moon Pie...

Hello Everyone,

Let me introduce you to these little guys. The top one is 5, will be 6 in April and the bottom one was 2 the end of September. They are our grandsons. They were at six flags in Ga. for the 4th of July.

Well I started taking down Christmas decorations today. I hate to see them go. The girls went back to school today.

I didn't tell you but Mobile raised a 'moon pie' for New Year's Eve. I think news report said we 'dropped' it like the ball in times square but no, it was raised with lights glowing and flashing. I didn't go down to see it live, I saw it on TV. Mobile started the original Mardi Gras, and they throw moon pies from the floats, so they thought a moon pie would be a good thing for New Year's Eve. They also had like a 50 pound moon pie you could eat too.

http://www.fox10tv.com/dpp/news/WatchTheMoonPieRiseWithFOX10News

Try this link to see video. She got through the whole thing with a straight face...ha.

Still raining tonight but hopefully will clear up tomorrow and turn a little cooler, mid to high 60's I think.

Have a great day,
take care,
Sheila

The rest of the story...

Hello,

Jun I won't keep you in suspense any longer. These are the boots my daughter wore with her costume at the anime convention. I think they have about 4 inch souls. The character wears boots and she wanted to be taller. Her vest was made by her Granny, who also fixed her jeans like they were supposed to be. Her boots were part of her Christmas. She also has goggles on her head and used a fake cigarette. She was Matt from 'Death Note'.

She went with the fan picked colors from the graphic novel. Red hair and black and white shirt. I think in the cartoon he had brown hair and red and black shirt. Her friend went as 'L'. She also got to wear most of it one day during 'spirit week' at school (for football season). She has also worn it at the mall with friends...ha.

Her sister has had a head cold this week. Not keeping her off the phone or computer though...ha.

We had another wet dreary day. I'll be glad when it dries up and cools down.

I'll go now,
Take care,

Sheila

It's thundering and raining...

Good Afternoon Everyone,

We are all good here. Hubby is snoozing off and on in his chair. It's a rocker recliner but I can't get him to recline and snooze, he prefers sitting up I guess. With his head hanging to the side...ha

Fireworks went well. The girls and C's friend lit sparklers. They also had some of the things you throw down and pop. We try to be careful in the kind we buy now because C was burned by a firework about 4 years ago.

It is dreary here with rain and thunder. It's been foggy too.

C's friend, that went to the Anime convention with her, came up from Ft. Walton, Florida to my parents last Sunday. She came back home with us Wednesday and her Father is picking her up today. Of course, being teenagers they have spent most of their time playing video games on Playstation 3 and computer.

You almost have to force them to eat. C told me on New Years, 'you would cook country when someone is here'...ha. I told her you have to cook this on New Year's. The grocery was out of hog jowl (spelling?) we had to use ham hock. Sometimes I wonder if this child is mine...she doesn't like pizza or Icee's. She does eat turnips though, which is probably rare for a teenager. She ate the vegetables on New Years but not a pork chop, and her friend ate a part of a pork chop and some peas. Then it was back to the games.

Okay that is enough rambling, hope everyone has a great day.

Take care,
Sheila

Happy New Year!!!

Hello Everyone,

I am back home now. We ate our black-eyed peas and turnips for the new year.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas.

As you can see, I've been changing my blog over to winter. I changed the picture of my girls, you've seen the one of 'J', I just cropped it so her friends didn't show. The one of 'C' is from the Anime convention last year that was held right after Christmas. Jun, let me know if your kids know what character she was. She cut her hair for the role and it is temporarily dyed red. Her hair is back long now and she has a wig for the character now.

We bought fireworks last night but we waited until today to light them because 'J' stayed an extra day at her Grandparents. She likes fireworks more than her sister.

I'll go now,

I wish everyone all the best in this new year.

Happy New Year,

Sheila