Thursday, May 31, 2012

Good Morning Friends....




How many of us know what our talents are?  Seriously....God has given each of us our own talents, but sometimes we do not take the time to recognize what we have been gifted with!


The truth is....sometimes we know our talents, but choose to turn away from them!  Why?  because we 
would rather have a talent that someone else has been blessed with....We are not happy with, or interested in our own talents.


What about encouraging others with their talents?
I have not always been super great at doing this. I am working hard  to acknowledge the talents of others and want to help energize their confidence in the works that they do.....


I wish to freely give praise to my friends and acquaintances, and I want to be a part of celebrating their fruitfulness.....Confidence and a willing heart are two major powerful forces that are needed to give us victory in the things we do...


We must always remember that the words we speak, can give hope and encouragement to those that are striving to use their God given abilities.....


I want to be a part of this!!


Hugs Y'all....
shug  



Wednesday, May 30, 2012

A Roll Cloud

My thanks to each of you for your prayers....Sam's headache is gone and he is feeling much better.  He had lab work done today, and will see the doctor next Wednesday.



Check this out.....

This morning, I waited in the car with Mylee, while Sam was having his lab work done..

I noticed that the clouds were beginning to take on a very unusual look....the above picture is the cloud that I saw...

It is called a "Roll Cloud."

A roll cloud is a tube shaped cloud and it is relatively rare.....Honestly, it looked like a horizontal tornado....

It stretched across the sky, for miles.  I must say, it was a very odd looking cloud and a bit scary.

Immediately after the cloud passed by, the wind started blowing, the temps dropped, and the rain started pouring down....

Thank you Lord for the rain!

Shug...



Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Not Your Usual Memorial Day Weekend..

I suppose it's about time I do some new posting.....


It is true...I have been away from the blogging world for a few days.  It's not because my life has suddenly become boring...and it's not because I am bored with blogging.


While most people were planning backyard BBQ's and picnics, I was taking care of a sick husband and attending a dance recital for Miss Mylee Jo....


Sam came home from work Thursday evening, with a sick headache...(He is prone to having migraine headaches) but this headache was different from his usual MH.


When he woke up on Friday, the headache was still there...Sat. morning came, and he was feeling a bit better.  This is when he decided to go ahead and clean out the garage.


Before the job was completed, he had to come in and take some more meds for his head...
Garage Cleaning came to a halt!!


Around 3:00, we got dressed to go to Mylee's recital...Needless to say, Sam slept through most of the program...By Sunday night, I had to take him in to the ER....


Blood Pressure was HIGH....   


Here we go...the doctor said she just didn't know if the headache was caused by the high blood pressure, or if the high blood pressure was due to the headache....


One thing was for sure.....I DIDN'T KNOW EITHER!!


After having a CT scan and lots of lab work, the doctor gave him some pretty strong meds....... which knocked him out....


On Monday, he still had a headache and felt bad most of the day...


Thankfully, he does have an appointment with our family doctor this week, so hopefully we can get some answers......


I missed getting to write a Memorial Day Post, but I do want to say that I am truly grateful to the dedicated men and women, who serve our Country.


Believe it or not....I stayed home from Tucker's game tonight, so I can get caught up with my posting and reading...


Blessings, Sweet Friends..
shug



Sunday, May 27, 2012

Oh Yes.....it certainly was a productive Saturday!  I know that it has not been that long ago since we cleaned out the garage...


Remember....I posted a picture of Sam sweeping out the garage!!


I have NO CLUE as to why this small
25 X 25 area gets soooo cluttered with so much STUFF!  GeezzzzA.


Seems as if I am always the one getting blamed for the junk that makes its way into this space...


WELL...This past Saturday, when Sam was not looking, I pulled out the ol'camera...Camera's do not lie!!!   


Look for yourself: 


















I have at least 10 more photos, but I won't bore you with all this man stuff.....


Most of you are probably thinking that I did not show any pictures of my stuff....


Here it is:




Whatcha think?  His garage or Mine?


Till Next Time
shug

Friday, May 25, 2012

Not the Gophers This Time

I had no idea that being able to pick a fresh tomato from my very own tomato plant, would bring me such joy.....


The last time that I had a garden (which was a couple of years ago) the gophers ate up, nearly everything that I had planted...THIS REALLY HURT!!  (my feelings)


I worked so hard on that garden!  My water bills for that summer, proved how much effort I put into making sure my plants grew....


Needless to say.....The gophers ended my desire to garden!




UNTIL.....THIS YEAR!   Sam and I found a cute, old double wash tub...the perfect thing to grow my tomatoes, peppers, and herbs in...


NO GOPHERS to mess up everything.
Water bill should not be bad at all.....


I just knew that I was going to be successful in my gardening this time.  What I didn't count on, was curious little fingers, picking my crop.


I have harvested about 7 or 8 delicious tomatoes this year, and I was so excited when I saw that there were more blooms...


Day in and day out, I check these plants!  I was thrilled when I saw three more tiny little tomatoes growing...


Just so happens that the top of the old tub is the exact height of Mylee Jo's big, blue eyes.
That's right....she came in Thursday afternoon and handed me two tiny green tomatoes...They were about the size of a #2 pencil eraser!!


She was so proud of herself for helping me in the garden!!  I just SMILED!!


I may not have gophers....but, I must be on the look out for those 10 tiny little fingers and those big blue curious eyes!!


Blessings...
Shug

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Memorial Day Plans



Sending you a little Sunshine for your day!!


Hope you enjoy it!!




Well.....I played around on my computer last night and was able to enlarge my header picture....Could I do it again?  Not sure!


                          For now....I am pleased...


How many of you have big plans for this upcoming 
Memorial Day Weekend?  No specific plans around here...If it were up to me, we would be on the road...Thrift Shopping and Antiquing.


However....we really need to stay at home and clean out a messy garage!!  Doesn't sound fun does it?  Our yard needs a little extra attention as well.....


Hanging out around the pool sounds great....but, we don't have a pool.  Guess I could always buy one of those big blow up kind!  We had one of those a few years ago, for the kids to play around in.  


It was a big, lime green, rectangle pool...do you remember my post about that thing?  Needless to say, Sam is not (at all) very fond of "Big Blow up 
Swimming Pools!!"


I suppose we could go out to the lake in the boat....but the last time we took the boat out, the motor QUIT...and we were stuck out in the middle of the lake....


Hmmmm, perhaps we had better stick to the cleaning job....




Hope you have a Mello Yellow kind of day!


hugs..
shug





Wednesday, May 23, 2012



First Subject:  Blogging Templates


Second Subject:  Headers


                                      ******


If you want to learn how to do something, then you have to ask questions...


I am currently using the "Simple" template by blogger....however, I think I am looking for something else...Thought some of you could give me some new insight...


I want a template that allows me to have a large header picture...I have tried several different kinds, but I just can not get the full page header...


Check out my header picture....see how it doesn't cover my entire page?!?!?!?


When I un-click the shrink to fit button, then the  picture is way too big for my page...


So...My question to you today is.....what kind of template do you use and are you pleased....  Is there something that I am doing wrong, to cause my header pictures to be so small....


Appreciate your help!!


Shug




Tuesday, May 22, 2012

I love Squirrels...


I would love to find a T-shirt, just like the little ornament above....

I would give it to my 
Father-in-law!!

Get this......he has caught 62 squirrels this year, in his yard!!
They are eating up the pecan crop...

He has been catching them in a squirrel trap and has been taking them across town to a wooded area, to let them loose...

His thoughts are..."how can there possibly be 62 or more squirrels to find their way to this particular yard"...He is almost positive that the little boogers are making their way back across town, across a major highway...right into his backyard.

My mother-in-law came up with this great idea.....If he sprayed a portion of their tails with some spray paint, they would be able to tell if the squirrels were coming back....

Is this funny or what???

Well guess what....one came back and it had a RED TAIL!!


These squirrels are not dumb...they know exactly where their jack pot of pecans is located...

I just wonder how many times he has caught the same squirrels over and over again!!!!

I'm not sure what his next plans are going to be....these squirrels
just might be willing to travel for miles and miles to make it back to these good ol' pecans...

Happy Day...
Shug




Monday, May 21, 2012

Much Deeper Thoughts


Good Monday Morning Y'all.....

Can you believe that "JUNE" is almost here?
This is the last Monday of the school year...
Crazy thing is...it won't be the last Tuesday.

That's right....our kids are out of school this coming Friday and the following Monday for the Memorial Day Holiday, but they will return on Tuesday, May 29th and their last day of school will be Thursday, May 31st.

I am so ready for them to be out!!

*******

Last evening, I attended a meeting and the topic of this meeting was about 

COMPASSION.....

This is a big word.......and it's a big challenge  for each of us...
How far are we willing to go when it comes to showing compassion?

Are we way too eager to delay our actions?
Do we keep blindfolds secured in our pockets, knowing that we can quickly pull them out when we witness a need?

Or....do we only reach out to others, when we can be assured that their need does not come in conflict with something that we WANT to do......

I can truly say that I have always had a compassionate heart, BUT...am I allowing this compassion to be used, or am I just playing a game?  Making moves only when it is comfortable for me!!

This is definitely a topic that I will be exploring with some much deeper thoughts!!

Blessings Friends....

Shug

Sunday, May 20, 2012

Gruene...



Whatcha think?  Isn't this a beautiful old house.....


It's the "Gruene Mansion Inn" located in Gruene, Texas.


This is a great place for a weekend get-away!  I love this place!!


Who wouldn't, with shops like:


Fickle Pickles Antique and Pickles
Tipsy Gypsy
Cactus Jacks
Black Swan Antiques
Gruene Antique Company
and.....Pookie Jane's


Did I mention that the "Guadalupe"
river runs through this part of the area?  It is gorgeous and FUN, FUN, FUN to go tubing down....


Next weekend, I can promise that this quaint little place will be jammed with river rats...(as in people who love the river)


I'm ready to GO!  


Walk in some sunshine today!!


shug

Saturday, May 19, 2012

Wash Tub and Baseball




It's Saturday, and I would love to be doing this.......Today's temps are suppose to reach into the low 90's.      ALREADY???


Instead of enjoying the coolness of the pool or the lake, I will be doing this........ 



Watching some baseball, and sizzling in the hot sun!

We have (3) games today!  One at 11:00, one at 12:00, and one at 2:00....
Right smack dab in the middle of the day!!

I love watching the kids play ball, but today.....I would rather be 
THRIFTING!!

What do you all have planned for such a beautiful day??

xoxo

shug !


                                                                 
                                                                
                                  

Friday, May 18, 2012

Lift Up Your Children



Hey, did you know that children are Blessings from the Lord?


Every child needs to experience a ride on an old tire swing...these things are way beyond what I call fun!  Our tree swing is attached to an old pecan tree that is located on the kitchen side of our home..


I love to watch the kids play on the big ol' worn out tire...


There are times in our life, when it is easy to lose faith in our family and friends....We still love them, even though we feel a sense of being "let down."


If we are not careful, the disappointment that we feel can  weigh heavy on our hearts, 
and it becomes somewhat easy to let anger rear it's ugly head...


I am an observer of people!!  I do like to sit back and watch the behaviors of people....
I find it very interesting to watch the reactions of people when they are totally unaware that others have their eyes on them.


But, let me tell you....it is when we think that no one else is looking, that our REAL style as a person, our real personality and our somewhat ugly demeanor, can rise to  the surface.....  Our social graces become hidden and seem to disappear under pressure....


What kind of pressure???  When our kids do not perform in a fashion of perfectionism.....
When we do not give our kids or other people around us, the same compassion and understanding that we give to ourselves, and EXPECT from others....


It's a good thing that I'm not....(or perhaps I should be,) involved with the CPS office.  I just do not understand certain behaviors of parents towards their children....
Words can wound a child's heart and these wounds are not easy to repair.  I am appalled at the emotional abuse that parents dish out to children......


Maybe they do not consider it abuse....Maybe this is how they were treated as a child....I do  not know....


What I do know is that God lends our children to us...He trust us to raise them in homes that are filled with love...
Love that follows us where ever we go!!


Could I ever say enough about this topic?
No....I could go on and on!  However, it's not about what we (as bystanders) say...it's about what we do!


Lift up your children today!!


Whew....I feel better!


Cheerful hugs!
Shug



Thursday, May 17, 2012

Beautiful Light



This beautiful tree is growing, right here in my front yard...

I have posted about this tree before, but I wanted to show you a picture of the tree as it is, this year....

It is gorgeous!!  The leaves are kind of a yellow/green and it just 
illuminates my yard.... 

The light just seems to bounce off of each branch...

Genesis 1:3  And God said, Let there be light, and there was light.

Life can sometimes be full of darkness...illnesses, loss of a loved one, financial problems, moral issues, abuse of all kinds, disappointments, unsaved loved ones, and those deep valleys that we sometimes find ourselves smack dab in the middle of...

It is during these times, that we must remember that God is our glorious light!!  Because of our Heavenly Father, light is our foundation and it is our future...

We just need to release our problems and give them to the Lord...We must Trust Him to transform the dark valleys into paths of marvelous light....

Father God, you are Amazing and I thank you for being my light..


Blessings, sweet friends..

Shug ~




Wednesday, May 16, 2012

The Best Kind of Gift



One of my favorite all time flowers is the gorgeous gardenia...
I love, love, love the fragrance of this sweet and delicate flower...

How many of you know what flowers your friends like best?  Guess what?  .....
I don't either!

I am very blessed to have a special friend who knows me well enough to know how much I adore gardenias.  This past Tuesday, she came by my house and brought me a bouquet of hydrangeas and gardenias...picked from her yard!

My kitchen has smelled so fragrant ever since.  Each time I walk over to the sink, the sweetest smell greets me and gives me a big smile...  

Gifts like this are the BEST!!
so simple, but yet so very thoughtful....

thanks, Marsha Kay!
Big hugs to you.....

Don't delay....do something wonderful for a friend today!

Sweet Hugs to each of you...

shug



Tuesday, May 15, 2012

My Remodeled Kitchen....



I have been working on this kitchen for months.....and I can now say...it is almost complete...

It takes a lot of time when you take on a project like this....It was very difficult at times, having to move stuff in and out, along with having NO KITCHEN for a couple of weeks there...


Believe me...paying for it as you go is the best way to do a remodeling project...


I knew that I wanted granite counter tops, and as you all know, this stuff is not cheap...
SO, I saved and saved until I had enough to get it!   Isn't it amazing how easy it is to save when you want something really bad??


Here is a picture of my back splash behind the stove....I really do like the little glass diamond tiles...



The cabinets!

I love, love, love the black cabinets!
I still have to add the knobs, but I am going to take my time in picking out just the perfect knob....



I am in search of an old wooden shutter...This is going to go above the door....Can't wait to find it!!



My pantry door....Every girl needs a huge pantry!


The perfect place to sit and enjoy a nice hot cup of coffee....

The painter still has to come back for touch ups...especially since I did everything backwards...I should have had the granite put in before the paint, but I did it right the opposite...Now the cabinets have to be re-done in a few places!  Ooops!

Well folks....this is it....My new re-modeled kitchen...

I'm joining Marty at A Stroll Thru Life




Hope you have a Blessed week...

Shug

Monday, May 14, 2012

Water and Rain....




This is what I'm talking about...... when it comes to having fun!!  


These good looking guys had a blast playing on the spillway of the lake, down at the farm. 


Do any of you remember the days?  The days of playing in mud puddles, running through the rain, and just playing out doors.....


I love seeing kids play like this.....


Opinion #1....  I believe kids should play outdoors as much as possible...


Opinion #2....  kids today do not know how to play outside!


                             *****


You are not going to believe this, but I was going in one direction with this post, when suddenly it changed...


In the middle of my posting, I had to leave to go watch Carson play ball...it was my intentions to finish it when I got home...


In the second inning of the game...it started to sprinkle, and then suddenly it started to POUR DOWN RAINING!  We all were scrambling for cover...


Sam took a picture of me with wet, (dripping wet) hair....I had thought that I would show it to you on this post....BUT
it was way too bad!   Pretty Bad!



As it ends up.....This evening, I was able to have a little water fun myself!

AS IN.....DRENCHED!!

But you know what....it was still fun and I know why kids love to play in the water and rain!

We had no idea that it was going to rain today....


I am thankful for all the good times that I had, playing outside as a kid....I also am thankful for the rain..

Hugs.
Shug

Sunday Thinking

  Happy St. Patricks Day!   🍀 Tomorrow, I will be filling my hummingbird feeders.  The little beauties should be arriving any day now.  I a...