Follow my Blog - Please?

I just found this great little gadget and wasted no time at all ensconcing it in my blog. I would LOVE to have you show your support of my blog by following my garden. And I would really like it if you would leave me a comment telling me what you would like to see me write about. Please?

Farewell my friend

Today we have to say our formal farewell to a dear friend. I am going to miss having him around. Who was he? He was a real card, a funny man, a joker and a prankster. He was a husband and a father, he was a handyman, he was a cop and he was a friend. That only begins to scratch the surface of the man...I can, in no way, do him justice. He loved to play, to mess with people, to make a difference in their lives...sometimes they didn't even realize what he had done until much later...now THAT takes talent. As I sit here thinking back, I cannot remember too many times that I saw him serious. I heard a lot of stories about him being serious, but I don't know of them first hand. He always had a smile and a really sweet comment for me when ever we met up. (and if you know me, you will realize just how difficult that could be sometimes lol) We would chat from our respective vehicles as he waited patiently for his shift to end (when nothing was going on, of course) Please don't ask me what we talked about, cuz I couldn't tell you...just the light bantering chatter of two people comfortable with each other, nothing earth shattering, just talking. I miss that - I started missing it when he left WPD and finally retired.

Man when you look back on things, you really never know what you will see...sometimes it's more, sometimes it's less and sometimes you just wish you had looked back sooner.

I am quite blessed in the fact that I feel no regrets about my visits with Jay, they were always fun and sweet, never bitter or fraught with anger.

So - now that I have rambled on forever, I only have one more thing to say...

Farewell Jay, you will be missed (already are) and remembered. Remembered as the wonderful friend you are to us and remembered for your kindnesses and for your laughter. Farewell.

Go read Trav's Blog - Between the Beads

I would recommend that you go check out Trav's blog, it's about a project he participated on at work and it's kewl.

Leave him a comment if you want, he would really like to know that you were there.

thanks

Mud Pies and Mary Janes

Here is another coffee machine giveaway...that I WANT TO WIN!!! I get an extra entry for blogging so I am...lol

Love - an interesting word

you may have noticed that there is finally a new banner at the top of my blog...I've been a little lazy and just haven't had the 'umph' to bring it up to date, until last week, when I was reminded that Everyone needs to remember Love.

Love, an emotion that we all wish could be a little bit easier all the way around. I love some people differently than I love others...and I bet you do to...my friends, my family, my critters, all have their own kind of love. But one thing will never change, I DO love them all, and losing one is devastating, no matter what kind of love it is. And I am afraid that I must mention that a friend of ours died yesterday...a friend that may never have known just how much we loved him. We are hoping that our actions led him to that conclusion, but he was not the type of man that you could just hug and tell that you loved him.

Trav wrote a post about him, and I would love for you to go read it...

http://travstales.com/2009/02/08/im-the-ugliest/

please do me that favor?

and if you could do me one other favor, I will be indebted to you...please pray for his family - they have a huge hole in their lives right now and need all the comfort you can give them. Pray for us too if you like, we have a hole, no where near as painful as the family, but it hurts just the same. Thank you, it matters that you care.

Bedroom Bliss Giveaway

Once again The Secret is in the Sauce is hosting a great giveaway, go here to enter.

99 things - have you done them all?

Saw this here and thought it would be fun to play along.

Here are the rules: Bold the things you’ve done and post on your blog!

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland - does Disney World count?
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea.
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill - I call them mental health days.
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangeo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book - cowritten with Trav
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Kissed a stranger at midnight on New Year’s Eve
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating – fish. Just fish.
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury and they DIDN'T like it either lol - we ended up being dismissed, judge said we were too honest and neither side thought they could win, so they settled.
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

Okay - who else wants to play?

Baby it's COLD outside!

Yeah, I know what you're saying up there - "Cold? You don't have a clue woman!" but ya know what? I actually do, I lived in North Dakota for four years and leaned just what cold really means. The next statement is "THAT is why I live in FLORIDA people!" When it gets below 80 here it is cold and for it to be in the 20's? I don't want to leave my house! But I must come in to work - so out I go. BBRRRR


lol

We have family in upstate New York and they are teasing us because I am a wimp...I don't like cold, I never have and I never will. Fortunately there are only a handful of really cold days, so I'm in a pretty good place. Not everyone can say that. (I like hurricanes too lol)

there is no real point to this post ya know, I just wanted to post something. lol

Once again, you could win this

but I hope you don't - cuz I want to win! lol

Win This

I get extra entries for blogging about it, so I want extra entries! If you want to try and win, go there and try, but please don't win. lol No I'm just kidding, I wish you luck, I really do.

You could win this

But to be honest I hope you don't, cuz that would mean that I didn't - and I WANT IT!!! I have been looking at these for a while now and almost bought myself one for Christmas, but I held myself in check. Why? Because at this point I could not justify spending this kind of money on just me, and not something that Trav could use too. So if I could win it...that would be too kewl! There is one in the downstairs breakroom where I work and I love how easy and consistant it is to use, and it makes an excellent cup of coffee! Anyway, I get 5 extra entries by blogging about it, so I am. Thanks all

giveaway

Christmas Mini Album

This is a really neat post, you need to go check it out...you most probably will enjoy working along with her on this one, I know I am going to... Christmas Mini Album

I am absolutely positively NOT ready for this holiday! No matter what I do I cannot seem to get time to go into the craft room and get some real work done! I'm STRESSING HERE!!! sigh, thanks, I needed to vent. ;o)

Long weekend

ain't it great? I love long weekends..I love December...loads of days off and good food everywhere you look...hmm that doesn't really go good for the diet (that I've been off of for months), but still...long weekends. Enjoy yours!

Happy Thanksgiving

Well? did you have a great Thanksgiving? Did you eat till your feet fell off? Were you too stuffed to go shopping yesterday? I HOPE SO!!! I know we had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We have everything we could ever hope for and then some. We are SO blessed that we cannot even begin to express our Gratitude to the Lord in his generosity. And we still want MORE!! I guess that is the nature of the beast, no matter what we have, there is always going to be something else to strive for (nice way to express greed, isn't it?)
We had dinner with Trav's family, at his sisters house, and you should have seen that table! It was incredibly beautiful, she did a Splendid job on the decorations and place settings. And she MADE THEM!! Her talent is awesome. It didn't stop there, the turkey could have been featured in Martha's magazine...it was beautiful, perfectly browned and sitting there like a beauty queen just waiting to be crowned. The really good part about that is how good it tasted! Then there was the bread that the soon to be family member made, sour dough from brand new starter, so not too sour yet, with some flavorings mixed to give it added Umph! Then there were two types of squash made by her fiance, not bad for a food I hate! Next came the home made creamed corn and brushsetta and mashed potatoes that we brought, pretty good, if I do say so myself. The sweet potatoes that his mom made were definitely up to her usual standards, even if she did make them in the slow cooker for the first time ever, yum! And of course we mustn't forget the pies! His other sister made 3 kinds, pumpkin, mincemeat and a pink confection that I can't for the life of me name right now, but they were all delicious. Then his niece's chocolate, pecan, cheesecake conglomerate, that was rather unusual, but beautiful and tasty. Over all, there wasn't anything we could have added to that meal to make it any better then it already was. And we all ate til we were as stuffed as that turkey had been. Thank you to each of you for your hard work in making that a success! And also a big Thank you to A & J for sharing your home with us as well as feeding us, we enjoyed ourselves. The family time aside from the meal was enjoyed as well, great day all around. As I said earlier, WE ARE BLESSED. Thank you God for all your gifts, but most especially for your gift of family, whether born to, or adopted to, or married to, there is nothing more wonderful then this.