Saturday, October 31, 2015

Happy Halloween....


 Happy Halloween Folks.....

Watch out for all those precious little goblins that will be out on the streets this evening.

Have fun and Be safe!

Shug

Thursday, October 29, 2015

Fence of Bras

Hello everyone.....this is a good Thursday morning and the sun is shining here in East Texas!  


I know that I have shown this picture before.....but I think it's worthy of being shown again.   After all.....October is "Breast Cancer" awareness month.    

This owner of this fence lives about 40 miles from me and each year during the month of October, she displays Bra's on her fence.





Bras of all kinds and sizes can be found hanging on this fence....


Definitely an Eye catcher......and it sure brings awareness to Breast Cancer Awareness month.....

joining Good Fences today....

 



Shug.....




Monday, October 26, 2015

Fall colors....


 Well....it is finally beginning to look a little like Fall around here.  
  




Wreath for the front door......



I always enjoy mixing colors .....makes the book shelfs "Pop"



Placed a "Cheap" little round mirror behind this lattice pumpkin........


Isn't this little girl owl just adorable?  She's perfect for the mantel.   





I always enjoy changing up the mantel.....layers are great for adding character to your decor.



Simple....but colorful.

Enjoying the Fall season around here!!

Joining Marty @ astrollthrulife.net

Shug ~

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Letting Go

When our hearts have been hurt and there is great pain living inside of us....the last words that we want to hear are.."Let it Go."

I think it is fair to say that bad things happen in life....With this being said, don't assume that you are the Only One that bad things happen to.   If we are not careful.....no matter how kind and good of a person we believe ourselves to be, we can also be the offender and not even realize it...


You know.....it is NOT easy to forgive someone who doesn't deserve to be forgiven!   Let's think about this....

Through all our sins.....does God forgive us?????


There are times when we are So hurt
and we can't help but to play the old scenario, {over and over again}.....You know, then one that has caused our pain!   When we do so.....we usually end up being full of anger.    

Did you know that Anger is toxic???  Yes...it really is!

"How.....could he/she have done this to me?"
"How.....could they have hurt me so bad?"
"Their apology just isn't enough for the pain that I feel?"
"I don't deserve this!"

Is it true that when we forgive - we are accepting - the actions of the person who has hurt us????

The feeling of being disrespected can create a ton of emotional responses and heaviness upon us.   These emotions take control and one way or another.....we are on the hunt for some kind of release.

Most people Want to Forgive and we want to do what is right.....yet, there is a certain degree of anger that over-floods our defense mechanism, and we try to protect ourselves from having to go back to the place that has caused the enormous pain in the first place.   


The question that we must ask ourselves is:


What would God want me to do????

Let's read Mathew 18:21-35

Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?"
Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times."
"Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.  As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him.  Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.
"At this the servant fell on his knees before him, 'be patient with me,' he begged, 'and I will pay back everything.'
The servant's master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.
"But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins.  He grabbed him and began to choke him.  'Pay back what you ow me!' he demanded.
"His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.'
"But he refused.  Instead, he went off and bad the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt.  When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened.
"Then the master called the servant in. 'You wicked servant,' he said, 'I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to.  
Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?'
In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.
"This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart."

Forgive and let it go!!

It might not be easy.....but it is necessary!

Shug ~






Sunday, October 18, 2015

All in a Saturday!!

Hello everyone!!!


Guessing this caught you by surprise!

Just goofing around.......

Hey...do any of you know what life is like when you have a 7 year old for the day and "Entertain" is the name of the game?


This "Little Red Riding Hood" kept me pretty busy....all day long on Saturday!


Our homemade Tent!  


Books that we read!!


More Books.....Yes, Reindeer books!!!


A New Halloween Barbie Doll....and, the "American Girl" magazine came in!!!   This was a big highlight of our weekend.
Mylee, can sit for what seems like hours....looking at every detail on the dolls, and all of the cute furniture and play things that go with the Doll...

Of course.....every girl needs to do a little shopping!!  After purchasing the Halloween Barbie Doll....we took pictures of things to go on  her "Christmas Wish List."


Barbie with twins.....


Barbie with her horse.....


Barbie and her Bike...


Lego....Friends.


Pretty neat stuff here and our little 7 year old had herself quite a day, picking out the stuff that she hopes to get for Christmas.

She told me not to worry about the Barbie Doll house....that she was asking Santa for that!!!

Thank goodness......LOL.

I enjoyed getting to spend the day with this precious grandchild...

Pretty awesome!!!!

Shug ~









Wednesday, October 14, 2015

Dad Update

......... This is a (Dad) update!  As most of you know, my dad is in a {lock-down} Alzheimer's facility and has been for almost a year now.  Locked down, to protect him!



                                   Tori, Tucker, Dad and Trista

He has been doing amazingly well these past few weeks and has really seemed more like himself, with a few exceptions....like trying to convince me that he won a car, or like not knowing what that black box that talks and has people in it...is!!  (His TV)

Last week, I took him outside to sit on the porch for a little while.  There were several birds flying around and as one flew past us, he said to me....."That wasn't a quail"  "Quail don't fly like that.  They make a fast fluttering sound when they fly!"  Oh yes, I have heard many a Quail stories!!  



Well...how about that!!  When my dad was younger, he loved to go quail hunting.  It was his "Big" sport!  Amazing,  how he remembers simple things he loved as a young man.  He remembers hunting trips, fishing trips, riding his horse to town and back, and surprisingly.....he can name all 14 of his brothers and sisters!  Yep...BIG FAMILY!

We sat there a little longer and then he patted me on the arm and said:  "You see that fence?  I could climb over that thing and catch me a ride to Chandler!"   REALLY, was my reply!

The fence is about 10 feet tall and for someone that shuffles their feet when they walk, I would think that this would be quite a challenge!!!  lol.  Not for him, in his slowly deteriorating mind.

A few weeks ago, I decorated his room for the Fall season and I bought an orange bedspread to go on his bed.    He has been so excited about it and he loves to tell everyone that he has a new blanket on his bed.   Only thing is.......he tells everyone that some man came in his room and just gave it to him!!  lol at this too!!

I'm thankful for the joy that I have each day,  as I sit in his room and listen to the things that his mind comes up with.   

Yes....we have had numerous NEW cars and trucks....We have traveled to California and back at least a dozen times....we have built so many barns that I can't even count them.....we've even been to heaven to visit with my mom!!!    All of these things have been real in his mind and I've enjoyed being able to tag along each day.  

It's a joyous ride and I look forward to many more adventures with my dad!!

Hugs!
Shug ~

Monday, October 12, 2015

Cooking 101

                I once was a GOOD Cook, or so I thought!!  I wouldn't exactly say that I was a top chef and the food network never came  knocking at my door......but, I did do a fairly good job, (on my own) AND when I followed a recipe.  

Something has happened over the past two or three years!  I'm pretty sure that Sam would say that it's the LACK of cooking that I've been (not) doing that has caused the decline of me being able to present a TASTY meal.

I have to disagree with him!!!   Surely I don't need cooking 101?

borrowed photo from images


On Sunday......I embraced the possibility that I could get back in the kitchen (with a recipe taken from Pinterest) and make a super delicious dessert.

Photo....Pinterest

Two (big) thumbs up to Pinterest......I'm a big fan of the sight!!

To my surprise....the art of cooking did not happen the way I had planned.   

How many of you,  get ALL of your ingredients out and get them organized before you start working on a recipe?  

You know.....like getting out the bowls, the measuring cups and spoons, the mixer, the ingredients and so forth and so forth.

I use to do that too!!

I just didn't do that on this particular day of cooking.

The recipe had three different parts to it.   Like the crust, the middle, and the top.  Each had to be mixed separately and it had to be baked for a length of time before adding another layer.   

So see.....I had plenty of time between each layer to get everything else lined out.  Between layers....I would take a deep breath and start to prepare for the next.

How could I possibly fail at making this wonderful dessert?

"Think positive Shug.....this is going to taste great"
YEP.....that's what I kept telling myself.

Well...it did turn out great....just like it was suppose to

But.....this recipe was a little too sweet for me and
I wasn't a fan of the cream cheese in the middle.  A little disappointing.... :(   especially after being so excited about cooking again!

I don't know about you, but it is extremely difficult for me to serve something to others....that I don't like myself.

I took the dessert to our Church Home Groups and it was a hit......just not a big hit with me.  Sam thought it was Yummy!

Back to the cooking 101 issue.   It's not that I have lost ability to cook.....it's that I now have a NEW stove and I'm having problems learning how to cook on the thing.  

I wanted a 2 oven stove and that is what I got.....only problem... I didn't do much research and what I've ended up with, is a stove that only has top elements in the ovens.   NOT GOOD!

It's a whole new way of cooking and one that I'm not fond of!!  lol.

Best advice:  Do a lot of research before making a big purchase like this!  Every family needs a good cook and the stove is a MAJOR component when it comes to cooking good.

Well....this was my cooking experience for the weekend!

Might be a while before I get in the mood to cook again!!

Blessings,

Shug

Sunday, October 11, 2015

Why Don't you enjoy it with me?


I realize that today......there is something Magnificent out there....It's Crystalizing, Making it's appearance, Materializing, 

Just For Me!

What is it?  What could it be?

Is it just my "Living in the Moment" and realizing that I can be determined, No matter what the world is saying, to make this a Great Day?

Perhaps it's the presence of Wonder, and the miracles that are here on this earth, that I see.

Whatever it is, I am certainly enjoying the enthusiasm that this day holds....

Why don't you enjoy it with me?  

Life is Beautiful!!

Shug ~



Saturday, October 10, 2015

Old Dirt roads at night.......

Last evening.....I rode along with Sam, on a Beaver hunt!  Those pesky little boogers can really do a lot of damage to any dam on a lake or pond!  I've learned a lot about these "cute" little animals.

Not only do they make a terrible mess when they chop down trees and drag them into the water to make their den, but they also dig out burrows in the side of the dam, which can cause major problems.   (like breaking the dam)


                  
                                                                              (borrowed photo)


We didn't actually see any beavers on this trip....however, just being down at the farm, late at night...was totally...awesome....cool....fun!




These two photos are not very clear.....I was just trying to see what kind of pictures my iPhone would take at night......

The top picture was taken with me looking toward the pond, and that is an old irrigation pump.....and it still works!!

The second picture is just a dirt road, down at the farm!!  LOL.

I count it a privilege to be able to do simple things like this!      

The night time air felt absolutely wonderful......just me and my hubby in the truck......radio sounding great.....old dirt roads.....sounds of crickets and bullfrogs.....and of course, a gorgeous moon shining bright!!  What could one NOT love about this??  

I won't lie......there was a black panther spotted down there, just this past week......I was a wee bit nervous each time Sam got out of the truck.     I can promise you that I would not have stepped one foot outside of the truck....for NO reason!!  lol.

Ah.....the joys of country life!!  I love it!!!

Wishing all my Canadian friends a Happy Thanksgiving weekend!!

Blessings, 
Shug ~

Friday, October 9, 2015

Visitors in Town....

October is such a colorful month!  In my opinion, this makes it a happy month!  Bright warm colors that deliver many vibes for the heart to be joyful about. 

Our little town is all decorated up.....Lots of color can be found in front of the businesses, as well as many homes.  

Let me introduce you to a few scarecrows around town!!  I don't really know their names, but I do think they are adorable. 

These two fellas are hanging out at the gas station....



I found this farmer at one of the banks in town.



Can you guess?   Farmers Insurance.....ready to pick you up in case of a collision!




Boo to the Flu........   Must be the pharmacist at Chandler Drug?!



And this cutie belongs to ME......Her name is Isabel.


  What could have made this photo better??  My shadow not being in the picture!!  LOL.

Isabel is doing a great job at keeping the flowers watered!!  Don't you think?

Watch for more to come!!

Shug ~

Thursday, October 8, 2015

A fence and a Story!

..........For every mile of road there are two miles of ditches!



and in some cases.....you will find two miles of fences!

So....what does it really mean when one says: "For every mile of road, there are two miles of ditches" ????

It means that there are two sides to every story!

How true this is!  Does this mean that one story is the truth and one story is a lie?   Not always.....it just simply means that two people see things in a different light.

"He who answers a matter before he hears it; it is folly and shame to him."
                                        Proverbs 18:13

Before we place judgement upon others....we should definitely hear both sides of the story!

It is when someone hurts our feelings, that we have the opportunity to truly see just how important our relationship with Jesus really is!!!

Happy Fence Day!!

Joining Tex......




Shug.....

Wednesday, October 7, 2015

Schedule a Day......

Have you ever scheduled a day to have nothing on your schedule?   If you haven't, it is definitely a MUST DO!

I did it yesterday......I cleared EVERYTHING from my calendar, except a trip with Sam.   A simple overnight trip that required me doing Nothing!

I managed to sleep until 8:25......which may not sound late to many of you, but for me.... This was LATE.    Once I got up and got dressed, (and after a couple of cups of coffee) I drove myself to downtown Aggieland, where I found one of my favorite stores..... Barnes and Noble book store!!

I spent two hours in this store.... Sitting and reading and sitting and reading!  I guess you could say that I was acknowledging a gift, as simple as having a free day at a book store.



After spending a few hours at the bookstore, I came back to the hotel and I enjoyed a nice lunch with my sweetie.....at that time, I had no idea as to what the afternoon had in store for me.

After packing up and taking all our luggage to the car....I came back in to the hotel and found a comfortable sitting area which was located on the deck outside of the meeting rooms!  

Let me see if I can properly describe the place.   It was a shaded deck that overlooked a garden and a pool.   Just to my right, was a gorgeous water fountain that flowed down a brick wall....and emptied into the pool.  As I sat there on the deck....reading a decorating magazine....I could feel a fabulous breeze that blew my hair slightly off of my face!

It was just me, the breeze and the sound of water flowing.  Extremely peaceful to say the least.   I am so thankful for this unscheduled day of having NOTHING scheduled.   

Just as we plan for a vacation each year......we should also make it a point to schedule days off for nothing but ourselves.   NO Drs. appointments, NO shopping, NO commitments, NO appointments of any kind!!!   

It may be a long time before I'm able to spend another day like this one.....but I will for sure, add a note to my calendar......

TAKE A DAY FOR SELF!!!

Enjoy your Blessing of today...

Shug ~


Monday, October 5, 2015

Focus on the Positive.....

I'm loving this view that I have today......  I'm looking out over a lot of the happenings at College Station, Texas!  You know, the home of the AGGIES!!  Whoop!



Positive things happen here!!   And....speaking of Positive, a few months ago....I came across a sign that read:

          Stay away from negative people......They have a PROBLEM for every situation!!

I loved it!!  The sign!!...

My goodness....How TRUE this is.




It seems that ever since I read the words on that sign....I have encountered SO MANY conversations where I wanted to just start begging folks to somehow find a way to say at least ONE thing positive.   

Negative words are like Velcro....They stick around!!

I live in this world too.....and I know that there are things happening (daily) that don't look good.  I know that it's hard to paint a happy picture when we read about so much heartache...

But.....God gives us a reason to be joyful.   God is my Lord and Savior and I count it all joy to serve Him!

Positive Thinking speaks Life into my soul...

Sunday, October 4, 2015

Happy Sunday sweet friends....

Geez....I have sure missed blogging!  The biggest thing that I have missed is visiting with my friends.  I have truly missed you all and have missed so many of your stories.

Sam and I have another small trip this week, but I plan to sit back, rest (like I need more rest)  and do a lot of blogging.  Sam will be working, but I'm just going along for the ride!  I guess you could say that it's kinda like I'm his support team!!

Hey.....I have something I want to share with you and I do hope you will be in prayer for those involved.   You know......God moves in ways that we will never be able to understand.

The story goes like this:   Last evening, I had a phone call from our oldest daughter (Trista).....she lives about 4 miles West of us.   While she was on her way home last night, she saw three police vehicles headed toward Chandler.   Trista called me to ask if I knew what was going on in our small little town and then she told me about the police cars.   I could sense a bit of stress and concern in her voice.   She was worried for whatever the situation was that would call for 3 different patrol cars to come to the scene.  

We visited for a few seconds and I told her I would let her know if I found out anything.   A few moments later, Sam and I heard an ambulance pass by our house and Sam made the comment to me that I needed to call our youngest daughter (Shanda) to make sure everything was OK...as she lives just North of us and that was the direction that the ambulance was heading.

I called her and she said:  "Oh mom.....we have just had something very strange happen!"  She said:  "I was going into town to pick up some burgers for dinner and I saw two kids and a woman walking down the road and they were carrying several black trash bags."

When she returned from picking up her food.....she noticed that the two kids were sitting in the road and the mother had walked away.
Shanda stopped to ask the kids what they were doing and they told her that they were trying to get to the Salvation Army....which is several miles away from where they were located.   

To make a long story short.....the lady returned....(she had been drinking) and in a matter of moments, she became aggressive in her actions and began using words that were very inappropriate.   Shanda had left her phone at home and had no way to call the police.   Here is the good thing.....I know that without a shadow of doubt, that God placed Shanda in that particular place on purpose.
God knew that she would NOT drive away and leave those children in that kind of situation!  

Isn't it just like God to have every detail planned out???  Yes, Shanda had left her phone at home.....but God had a better plan.  Coming down the road was my niece and her husband, returning from a trip to First Monday.  They stopped to see if Shanda needed help and wouldn't you know.....God placed them there at the right time, because my niece already had the number that they needed to call for help.

The police vehicles, that Trista saw and was so worried about......were coming to help out her sister in dealing with a terrible situation involving small children and their mom who was not in her right mind.   The mom was arrested and the children were taken to CPS where they would be safe!  The ambulance??  Not sure....maybe it was God's way of having us call to check on Shanda and her family!

These young children were in need and God sent those that HE knew would be able to help.    Being used as one who is an intercessor to those who need prayer (as Trista did),  if it's one who is used to supply the needs (as my niece did with the phone and the number) OR if it's the one who will boldly say: "I'm not leaving these kids here, sitting on this road, while their mother walks the roads in a drunken stuper ......I will see to it that these kids are taken care of!" (as Shanda did)

I believe that the Lord used both of our daughters and my niece to help these children.   I can truly say that God is Awesome and HE leaves nothing unturned.....  God has every detail in plan.

I pray for a healing for this family....I pray for these children!!

Blessings to you all...

Shug ~






Thursday, October 1, 2015

Our Cruise!!

I need an assistant......NO, I need two or three assistants who can help me catch up in life!!

Do you ever feel this way?  Perhaps, my need for someone to help me organize (ME)....stems from too much traveling!!

Well......I have been so excited to share my cruise with all of you...
I can truly say that it was a BLAST~   Sam and I boarded the "Royal Caribbean, Navigator of the Seas" ship, on Sunday, September 20......along with 5 fabulous friends.

Our journey to Cozumel, Grand Cayman and Jamaica was ALL + MORE than I expected it to be!  Starting with the LUGGAGE!!!
LOL....one car was PACKED with luggage and the two guys......the other vehicle was packed with 5 super chatty women!

                          unloading......more luggage in the car!!!


    
Our ship......and the first stop in Cozumel.     The water was GORGEOUS!!  Clear and Beautiful.   Sam, Susie and Joe....chose to ride the segways on this day!  The rest of us stayed at a resort and enjoyed the beach and the pool!!

One of us lost their HAT....only to find that (SHE) was sitting on it the whole time!!   There was a comical story involved with this event .....we laughed for the rest of the week!!!

                   
I wanted so bad to pretend that I was on the show "Survivor" and climb to the top of this coconut tree and gather coconuts!!  LOL...
it didn't happen!!


Check this out......The Promenade on level 5 of the ship!  Shopping, eating and a lot of entertainment happened here!!


The chandelier in the Main Dining Room!!  

We had ourselves a great time....each evening.....while dining here.
I so enjoyed the formal nights which were Monday and Friday nights.

Our two waiters were more than Fabulous! They both did an Outstanding job in serving us.   We dined on steaks, Lobster, Fish, and all kinds of desserts!!   So very delicious!


After dinner......while waiting for "Ella Mae" the comedian.
Sam grabbed a few winks before the show..

Our next Port was in Grand Cayman....
While there....we swam with the stingrays!


Oh my.....I was as nervous as a cat in a room full of dogs!
These stingrays were HUGE!!   They would swim right up to us and one even went between my legs!!!  ME Brave?  NO...not hardly!


Sam and I "kissing" a stingray!   Suppose to bring you 7 years of good luck....if you believe in that kind of stuff!!  
I told the guy that I DID NOT WANT to kiss the thing....however, he was persistent in my doing so.

Our third port was Jamaica!  My favorite of all...
I regret that I don't have a photo (right now) of me climbing a 950 foot waterfall.    BUT.....I did do it, along with 5 others in our group.

   
I'll have photos of this later!!  

Oh my.....it was so much fun!!!..........For someone who can not swim (like me).....this was quite an adventure!  Water splashing....NO, Gushing....all around me as I (we) climbed!!

I can honestly say.....this cruise was so much fun.....thanks to my sweet husband and to 5 of our very Best friends!

I have so much more that I could write about this trip, and when all the photos get edited....I will post more!

Hope you enjoy my photos...

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...