Snow! Smoke! Can I exchange a day?

So, this week was a bit exciting for us. Down here in the south we rarely see snow. We got a good one last Sunday. Depending on where you were around here there was anywhere from 1/2" to several inches. Where my daughter takes saxophone lessons there was still snow around the flowers and on the steps on Wednesday and it was at least 3" deep still. It's only a few minutes drive from where we are and I think we only got a good inch or maybe 2 at the most.

Monday schools were closed for snow that had pretty much melted - at least off the roads. However, it was nice to have an excuse not to get out of the house. Terry went to work and had no problems and it only took him 35 minutes instead of 65.

So, the rest of the week was pretty normal except Thursday. I'd like to back up and just not have this past Thursday. My day started when someone contacted me to ask if the rumor they heard was true. I hadn't heard it from anywhere until that point. Ummm... NOT that I'm aware of currently. Maybe it isn't true. Find out sort of the line of the grapevine and decide I'll wait and find out when I see the people this involves later in the week. I go on with my day.

We attended The Irish Music in the Glen. It was fun to listen to Irish music and learn about the instruments. There was a girl dancing some Irish dances and they taught us how to do an Irish Jig. Well worth the $1 each we paid to watch. Then we headed to lunch with friends and had a great time at Pizza Hut. LOL!

Got home and had Sarah start boiling chicken for the casserole we were having for dinner. We needed to boil chicken and noodles and then put it together so it can bake while we are at the dentist. I was in the back of the house when I smelled smoke, the lights flickered and Skylar yelled all about the same instant and I heard the smoke detector going off. Well, the eye of the stove was on 10 and there was a fire under the burner.

Turns out there was some grease that had spilled under the burner that I wasn't aware of since I'd recently cleaned it. We were out of baking soda and the fire extinguisher needs to be charged. I dumped a box of kosher salt (doesn't work NEARLY as well as baking soda) and then dumped a cup of water which did the trick. Having an attic fan and open windows does a world of good for getting the smoke out of the house!

Now, to figure out how to make dinner when we are needing to leave for the dentist. Thought about dropping a child off at grandma's to boil chicken and noodles and be picked up on the way home. Checked the chicken and the water had gotten hot enough for long enough that the little pieces of chicken were actually done. So, told them to boil the noodles using the microwave. It worked.

Sarah and I head to the dentist for our 6month check up and cleaning. On the way, a phone call from another friend regarding the same rumor from earlier in the day. UGH! Different grapevine totally so I think it over and decide I need to find out sooner than later. I need to look up the number for those it actually concerns and get it from them. No time now... it will have to wait until I get back home. And I wonder, why people are contacting me about it since it has nothing to do with me personally. LOL!

Good visit at the dentist, head home to start putting the casserole together and make a phone call. Turns out rumor is true (we find out from an email that showed up about that time). We are losing our AWESOME choir/band director and his wife who plays piano and teaches the elementary choirs after the end of this school year. BOO HOO! We at HMV are all very sad!

So, my sis-in-law took the casserole to her house and baked it for us while we cleaned up the mess in the kitchen. We made tea and had things ready to eat once she got back with the casserole. Had a good discussion over dinner as usual - which included Skylar's guest who had been there through it all.

Skylar and her guest had a great afternoon riding bicycles and playing in the beautiful 70 degree weather. They were worn out so they got their showers and were in bed at a decent time and sound asleep.

What a week and what a day we had!! Can I send last Thursday back and exchange it for another one? LOL!

BRrrrrr! Baby it's COLD outside!

Savannah enjoying the snowfall yesterday.

So, here in Georgia where I live south of Atlanta, I think it's been a good 7 or 8 years since we've seen more than a flurry or two. So yesterday on the way to church I saw a few "flakes" on the windshield mixed in with the rain. I had a child at home not feeling well so I stayed through breakfast, Sunday school and most of the church service. Savannah was speaking about her upcoming trip to China and when she was done the girls and I left in a flurry of HUGE flakes to get home and check on Sandi.

Sandi was feeling better so we headed to meet the in-laws for lunch and Terry was meeting us there after a short deacon meeting after church. Well, the parking lot was already getting slushy and still HUGE flakes of snow coming down. It was beautiful. On the way home I even took a tiny detour so we could get a few snapshots with a camera one of the girls had with them. I know it's not a lot of snow by most people's standards but we are loving it! And here it is 7 hours later (when I was typing thins) and it is still snowing, though the flakes are a lot smaller now.

Can you find our dog, Amber and our bunny, Thumper in the photos here? They weren't too fond of the white stuff. Here is also our front yard and some trees around our place.

Watkins Burn Cream

I must tell you that I am singing it's praises today.

Yesterday I had a "stupid" moment and burned both my index fingers. I ran to the bathroom and ran cold water over them for several minutes to try and relieve the pain. I had my oldest come open the jar of burn cream and I coated the burns with it. Then I took 800 mg. of ibuprofen and lay across the bed. About 90 minutes after the initial burn I could doze off a bit.


I decided later I could stand band-aids and put them on. Not too bad a job for putting them on without index fingers. Typing has been difficult though - MANY mistakes for this touch typist. That has been the toughest. LOL!

So this morning I took the bandages off and while the burns are tender to the touch and I can't do much with them, they aren't hurting too much. I know I'll have scarring, but at the moment no huge water blisters or anything.


If you don't have some of this burn cream, I'd suggest you get a small jar to keep on hand! I don't sell Watkins and had never really purchased anything except their vanilla extract. However, we were at Buckner's several months ago and I picked this little jar up. I just thought it was a good idea to have it on hand. I'm really happy I did!

Now, about the ham... LOL!
Man, it was delicious! Just baked it for 25 minutes per pound in the oven, tightly covered in foil with about a cup of water poured in the pan. YUMMY!

Completed Project

This is the finished product of the Sweetheart Hot Pad that I was working on the a couple of weeks ago. I think it turned out quite cute and my daughters had some fun using it.

Now I'm on to another project - a lapghan that has a foot pocket and some hand pockets to keep you warm while watching tv or reading. I'll try to post some photos of that soon.

I'm also working on finishing a star baby blanket for a friend. I hope to have it completed this weekend and can take some photos of it as well.

So, what projects are YOU working on?

Ready for A New Week

Well, I'll be happy to start a new week. This past one was long and exhausting even though it was mostly spent sitting around waiting. It's good to be home. It was good to sleep in my own bed again.

I'll miss some of that good home cooking we had in South Georgia! Those women can COOK and if you went hungry it was your own fault! Fried chicken, creamed corn, potato salad, fried chicken, creamed corn, potato salad, fried chicken, baked ham, chicken and rice, butter beans, cornbread, cake, cake, cake, cake, and did I mention fried chicken and cake? I know there was more - like boiled cabbage and some other items I'm not recalling at the moment. Just take my word that it was some good eats!

I did pick up a couple of tips and I'm waiting to receive a new cake recipe that was a huge hit with the family.

So, we're home and ready for a new week of school, cleaning, meetings, cake deco classes, CIT training, choir solo and ensemble performances for judges and more.

Crocheted Heart Hotpad

I thought I'd take a minute and update the progress on the crochet along I've been working on. We are about finished and it's looking good.


Here are the photos so far taken at the intervals the way we are working it. When the project is completed it will be a heart shaped hotpad.


I'm debating about making the completed set which includes a dishcloth and potholder. Maybe I will do those soon. I think it will make a nice gift set. It was a really quick project so would make it really simple to make up a few to give.


The original pattern was shown in pink and white but my kitchen is complemented with red so I chose red and white for this project.


I try to always give credit for the projects I work when someone else created the pattern. However, I can not find where I got this pattern or a name for the person who created it. Should it be yours, please let me know!

Poem

My sister-in-law wrote this. She wrote the original version a few years ago when a friend died. She revised it last night for her uncle. I got her permission to post it here.

My feelings
Yesterday at 11:47pm

I cry because you cry
And like you, I want to ask why.
He seemed too young to die.

Your heartache is my heartache
And like you, my heart is ready to break
Why was he the one God had to take?

I grieve because you grieve
And like you, in Christ I must believe.
Our pain only He can relieve.

I grin because you grin.
And like you I miss my friend.
But I know we’ll see him again.

Suzanne Hawkins
February 2009

For Uncle James

Co worker to some
Good friend to others
Great man to all
Hero to me.