What's in Your Cup?

Only from the mouths of babes! This makes me want to go out and buy some little Army men for my grandson to play with, then have him for a sleep over!  I'm sure though, that he would come up with something entirely different - yet just as funny.  Smile and have a happy Monday! 

Jim or John

This made me laugh so I had to share it!
Jim vs. Gym...it's all in the spelling!  

My dear friends, have a great weekend.

Wild Hammock Hanger...

 

TGIF!  I'm Wild Hammock Hanger.  What's your tropical drink name?

The Best is Yet to Come

Sometimes, while in in the midst of weathering a storm, it's hard to remember these words but they're true.  Life is a challenge all its own.  Keep your head up, keep plowing the field and moving forward - you will certainly be blessed. 

Man Cave Mania

 For all things "Man Cave" check out The Tool Ticket (linked below) for your ticket to the perfect man cave!

www.thetoolticket.com

At The Tool Ticket, you'll find everything from bar and home theater products, gaming, and collectables for your favorite beer or coke logos, sports teams, or military branches.

Note:  My husband and I own and operate this site.  We would love to hear any feedback you might have on our site!  Thank you.

Fresh Cucumber Salad (In a Jar)

I can't wait to make this!

Fresh Cucumber Salad

7-cups unpeeled pickling cucumbers sliced thin (about 7 large dills)
1-cup sliced onions
1-cup sliced red or green peppers
1-tbsp salt
1-cup white vinegar
2-cups sugar
1-tsp celery seed
1-tsp mustard seed

Mix cucumbers, onions, peppers and salt; set a side
Put vinegar, sugar, celery seed and mustard seed in a pot and bring to a boil
Remove from heat and let cool for one hour
Pour mixture over cucumbers
Put in jars and store in refrigerator
This salad will keep up to 2 months!

Ice Cold by Tess Gerritsen

Ice Cold is the eighth installment of the Rizzoli and Isles series by Tess Gerritsen. I had to wrap up in a blanket to read this novel!

It begins with Boston medical examiner Maura Isles taking a trip to Wyoming for a medical conference.  With her current love life in turmoil, she decides to join a colleague, his young teenage daughter, and another couple for a quick ski trip before catching her flight home.  When heavy snow fall threatens the safety of their uphill mountain drive, an attempt to turn the SUV around finds them sliding into a deep ditch instead, leaving them stranded with no help in sight.

Taking only what they can carry, they discover the tiny remote village of Kingdom Come tucked into the valley below the buried vehicle.  Arriving in the village they find twelve identical houses seemingly abandoned.  As night falls, they pick one in which to take refuge and immediately realize that something terrible has happened in this little community.  The homes are all dark, the windows open, dinners sit untouched on tables, and cars are still parked in the garages.  Though the residents seem to have vanished into thin air, footprints in the snow reveal that someone is out there, carefully, steadily watching them.

Soon, Boston homicide detective Jane Rizzoli learns that Maura is missing and travels to Montana with her husband Gabriel and Daniel Brophy, a Catholic priest with ties to Maura.  Once there, they find they are not exactly welcome within the ranks of state law enforcement but Jane continues to push for answers about her missing friend.  When the grim news comes that Maura’s charred body has been found in a mountain ravine, Jane is determined to learn the truth behind what has happened.

The investigation plunges Jane and Gabriel into the twisted history of Kingdom Come, where a gruesome discovery lies buried beneath the snow. As horrifying revelations come to light, Jane closes in on an enemy both powerful and merciless—and the chilling truth about Maura’s fate.

I was not joking when I said I huddled beneath a blanket while reading this book.  It takes place in Montana during a blizzard and all that reading about the snow gave me a chill - or perhaps it was the story itself that gave me the chills.  Tess Gerritsen can weave a tale, taking us deep into the mountains and into the dangerous arms of evil.  This was yet another thrilling novel giving us more insight into the Rizzoli and Isles characters.  There are only two novels left in this series and I can't wait to dive into them both.

In Light of Basketball...

For anyone rooting on their favorite college teams in the NCAA tournament, this is for you.  I watched the three Kansas teams play yesterday.  There were no armadillos, just some great basketball.  Congratulations to the Jayhawks and the Shockers!  The Wildcats lost and so did Duke - that was a crazy upset!  I'll be rooting from my couch on Sunday for sure!  Come on Sweet Sixteen! 

For those who just don't care about it - have a great weekend doing whatever you love to do!

A Family Hand Painting

 

This is such a simple project:

Moving from the largest to the smallest family member, pick your paint colors, make the hand print, let it dry, then make the next, etc.  Hand write the words above and below the hand prints, frame and hang. 

I would have loved to have had this hanging on my wall.  I hope you'll try it!

FINALLY...

It doesn't look quite like this picture in Florida.  In fact, I think there are way too many people visiting right now during Spring break!  However, the orange blossom's are blooming and it smells delicious.  I hope that all of you up north have thawing temperatures that stick around.  Spring - my second favorite season - is finally here.  Yay!  Enjoy!

Tugs at the Heartstrings...

 

These two would be welcome under my desk anytime (as long as they were babies)!!  

Enjoy your day!

An Old Irish Wish

Years ago, a friend gave me this old Irish wish on a wooden plaque.  I've carried it with me through many changes - years, homes, even global relocation.  I cherish the time we had to share life together.  Though the friendship did not last, I know the words were sincere and I still wish her all the words above wherever she might be now.

What Happens When You're Not Home

When the parents are away, the pets will play!

Check out this video:

http://blog.petflow.com/this-dog-is-not-allowed-on-the-bed-this-is-what-he-does-when-his-owners-are-away-hilarious/?utm_source=ilmd&utm_medium=Facebook&utm_campaign=ilmddogbed

Hope you had good chuckle to start off your Monday.  

(I'm not going to be able to get that tune out of my head!)

I'm Bee-zzie...

This little girl is adorable and reminds me so much of my step-granddaughter (though we leave the "step" off as we have elevated her to granddaughter status).  She was not yet two when we first met her and it took a little while to warm up to us.  In fact, our first babysitting experience was nearly as horrible for us as it was for her as she cried then entire time and stood at the door hollering for her mommy.

She went through a phase wherein when you tried to get her attention, she would look at you and say, "I'm busy."  It came out sounding more like bee-zzie."  She was usually bent over a piece of paper, Crayons in hand.  I wish that she lived closer, they are Kansas residents.  (However, my grandson lives two hours away and we don't see him nearly as often as we'd like either.)  Thank goodness for Facebook.  Both of my son's families are very good at posting pictures and stories so we are able to keep up with their bee-zzie lives.  It makes the time to that do have together ever more precious.

Be sure to hug your children and grandchildren today, or as soon as possible.  They don't stay this small and innocent for long. 

Settting Goals

This is mine:

All of that colorful sweetness swimming around in a bowl of milk can be nothing short of good!  I am proud to set my sights this high.  (Some might say I'm already there.)  Happy Friday! 

The Magical Year of Thinking by Joan Didion

The Magical Year of Thinking is the March Book Club Pick. 

Summary:

During the Christmas holidays in 2003, novelist Joan Didion began a month of hell. Just a few days before Christmas, Didion and her husband of 40 years, John Gregory Dunne, watched helplessly as their newly married daughter, Quintana, came down with what seemed to be the flu, then contracted pneumonia, which led, within days, to complete septic shock and system breakdown. A week later, as Quintana hovered close to death, Dunne collapsed and died. Didion plunged into a mad state of "magical thinking." Her response was unfathomable: "We might expect that we will be prostrate, inconsolable, crazy with loss. We do not expect to be literally crazy, cool customers who believe that their husband is about to return and might need his shoes." A mourning no one could ever imagine.

Grab a copy and join us for discussion here on this blog on Wednesday, April 9th!

The Paris Wife by Paula McLain

A Book Club Discussion -

Are you a fan of Ernest Hemingway?  If so, this book is a must read.  It's the story of Hemingway's courtship and marriage to Elizabeth "Hadley" Richardson, his first wife.  Though it's fictional, long and careful deliberation when into the research behind this novel so that it sticks closely to the actual events and turmoils the couple went through in the five years they were together.

Ernest Hemingway was in his early twenties when he met slightly older Hadley Richardson in Chicago.  She had traveled from St. Louis to visit friends.  Their meeting sparked a letter writing period between the two, eventually leading to a proposal and marriage.  The dream launching his writing career quickly moved them abroad to Paris. 

You would think that living in Paris would be full or romance and culture but sadly, this story was not.  It was full of many delicious characters, those full of life and conflict.  You meet many artists in this story including Ezra Pound, F. Scott Fitzgerald and Gertrude Stein.  Fairly quickly, you discover that Hemingway was a selfish and egotistical man who needed to be surrounded by fans more so than friends.  He was a manic-depressive, hard core drinker, and philanderer.  In fact, all the characters were hard core drinkers - every night out on the town, the alcohol flowing freely so as to deaden all pain and scruples for the moment.

While the couple remained on tight a income, living in shabby apartments, they were able to travel throughout Europe for months a time, arranging constant care for their young son Bumby along the way.  They used interesting nicknames for one another throughout the pages, but they weren't enough to save the relationship.  Ernest needed Hadley.  Hadley need Ernest.  However, their relationship seemed doomed from the beginning.

I highly recommend reading this book.  It's full of historical and personal insights into this famous couple.  Though it starts off slowly, it picks up speed and you'll be turning the pages fairly quickly.  I felt as though I grew both personally and professionally by diving into the meat between the covers.  Pick up a copy today and see for yourself. 

Why I'm Getting a Divorce

Jarrid Wilson is a husband, pastor, author, and blogger. Recently, he wrote a shocking public confession on his blog.  After I read it, I have to admit that it makes a lot of sense. He writes:

''Why I'm Getting a Divorce in 2014.

Before you start assuming I will be leaving my wife, let me just tell you that's just simply not the case. I'm looking to leave someone else. Someone you may not know about. Someone who takes up most of my time, distracts me from spending time with my wife, and even spends time with me during the late hours of the night.

Her name is iPhone 5. She's extremely smart, funny, reliable, and keeps me up to date with all the latest trends. And although she's always by my side, I can't help but notice that she is keeping me from spending time with the people who matter most in my life: God, my wife, my family, and my dreams.

She's really good at keeping my attention. So much so that I've been known to completely ignore people when they are trying to have a conversation with me. She tempts me to use her apps while at church, weddings and funerals, instead of enjoying the moment un-distracted. She even keeps me from working on personal projects that have strict dead-lines.

She's extremely insensitive when it comes to my safety, and is always tempting me to be with her while I drive. I can't help but notice she is slowly infecting my social life, my marriage, and the lives of those around me. Many people act like it's no big deal, but I imagine the longer one ignores this issue, the worse one's personal relationships will be affected in the long run.

We need to bring our phones back to being an accessory, not a priority.

2014 Challenge: Divorce your phone, your apps, your social-feeds, and engage in relationships with people that actually matter. Vow to spend a significant amount of time off your mobile-devices, unplugged, and instead get back to making personal relationships that will stand the test of time.

Other than God, my wife deserves to be the #1 priority in my life and I don't want anything to get in the way of that. The reality is, we're all married to our phones in one way or another.

Mind you. Not everyone struggles with this. But I hope you will take this into consideration regardless.

1. Learn to balance the time you spend on your phone.
2. Make your phone an accessory rather than a priority.
3. Give yourself limitations as to when and where your phone can be used.
4. Control how you use your phone, and stop allowing your phone to control you.
5. Try spending parts of your weekends unplugged, offline, and away from your mobile device.

In 2014, I vow to divorce my phone. Will you join me? Share this with friends and family and let's get the ''Divorce Your Phone'' movement going. - Jarrid Wilson''

A Powerful Clip from HBO's The Newsroom

This clip is Jeff Daniels' character on the new HBO series, The Newsroom, telling us why America is NOT the greatest country in the world anymore.  (Note:  Pick one of the top six choices.  The YouTube version cuts off the beginning.)

https://search.yahoo.com/search;_ylt=AmTJlP8gkyoOHrcylkHESfibvZx4?fr=yfp-t-214-s&toggle=1&cop=mss&ei=UTF-8&p=jeff%20daniels%20america%20is%20not%20the%20greatest

All I can say is "Wow, the truth hurts, doesn't it?"  I hope everyone in America view's this clip.

Remembering a Little Dirty Dancing

I, along with millions of others, love this movie.  In fact, this was the movie that made Patrick Swayze a household name.  We all fell in love with him!  What would you have given to be pierced by those gorgeous eyes, the recipient of that sensual smile, or caught mid-air when leaping off a stage?  Patrick was one sexy man.

I can still quote most of the movie lines and not just the famous ones..."Nobody puts Baby in a corner."  I need a rainy day so I can pull this movie off the shelf to watch it.  Can you think of a better afternoon?  Rain...a bowl of popcorn...and Patrick Swayze in your living room?!  Come on over and join me - the popcorn is waiting!

The Way to a Woman's Heart

This is so true...for me anyway.  I had lunch with my best friend yesterday (my Mom) and I needed to pick up a birthday gift for a party we're attending this afternoon so we went to our local Books-a-Million store.  I found the birthday gift and then proceeded to pick up three other books.  Thank goodness one was thirty percent off for members and the other two were marked down as well.  That thirty percent off your entire purchase coupon didn't hurt either.  If I'm not careful, my children's inheritance will be tied up in my book collection!  I am addicted!  Maybe I need rehab?!!  Nah.  When I started writing I was told to read, read, read, and write, write, write.  I'm only following orders!  What is it that you're addicted to? 

Aerbics for the Wine Lover

Now we're talking!  

I laughed when I saw this and had to share.  

I hope you got a little chuckle too.

Have a great day!

Tripping is an Option

To my friends, I might be able to use this excuse.  To family, it will come across as a bold lie.  You see, I inherited my mother's clumsy gene and I can't hide it from them. 

I can remember my 11th birthday - we were visiting my grandparents in Illinois at the time.  We had gone to a little bakery in town to buy a birthday cake.  Since it was my birthday, I was wearing a new pair of sandals - blue jean covered with a big strawberry on top and a little heel below.  Insisting that I carry my own birthday cake, I clomped out of bakery, proudly holding my prize with two hands. Immediately after the door closed, I tripped stepping off the curb and hit the pavement.  My cake, packaged in a tin container with a plastic top, decided not to stop there but shot off at lightning speed across the parking lot.  As I lay there on the ground, knees scraped and bleeding, my mother, brother, and aunt all took off after the cake!

We still laugh about the speed of that cake.  That was just one of many of my clumsy episodes.  As I've aged, I think I've gotten that out-of-control gene reined in a bit.  At least I hope so or I will one day be that woman lying on the floor screaming..."Help!  I've fallen and I can't get up!"   

Garden Rocks - A Project Idea

Aren't these clever?  While most of the nation is buried in snow and below freezing temperatures and only able to dream of spring garden planting, you can still plan!  This would be a fun thing to do with the family.  I can picture my daughter-in-law and grandson painting these for their backyard garden.  So get going - pick up some rocks and start painting.  The ground will thaw and Spring will officially begin before you know it! 

Best Selfie Ever!

Coming to you straight from the Academy Awards!  It was a fun night at the Oscars last night and I thought that Ellen was probably the best host I've ever seen on the show.  Congratulations to all the winners.  There are definitely a couple of movies on my "to do list" that I have not yet seen.  I thought that beyond the nominated songs that were sung, Pink singing Somewhere Over the Rainbow, and Bette Midler singing Wind Beneath My Wings, were both awesome.  Though it went late, it was worth watching.

Thanks Mom, for texting with me throughout the show.  We had a good time and I went to bed with a smile on my face and better yet, a smile in my heart.  It doesn't get any better than that.  Love you!

Facing Fears

Fear...frustration...anger.  These are the words that haunt me today.  I know that everyone arrives at this point at different stages of life; the ground seemingly rushing up to smack you in the head.  Where months of prayer and doing the right thing go unanswered and you feel as though you've slipped through the cracks of heaven and been forgotten.  You suddenly want to scream instead of pray.  We are all human so you know what I'm talking about.  We can't wake up every day on a bed of roses.  Some days all we find are thorns.

I know this too shall pass, we will make it through.  Our prayers will continue as we scramble to make sense of things.  Facing fears is difficult but necessary by life's standards.  One day, we will understand the "why" of it.  Until then, we keep trudging forward, one step at a time.