Happy Birthday to my Baby Boy!

 HAPPY BIRTHDAY to you,

Happy Birthday to you,

Happy Birthday Dear Nikolai,

Happy Birthday to you!!  I love you so!!!!

 

Nikolai turned 10 today.  Now he is in the double digits.  I can't believe he is growing up so fast.  I wish I could freeze this time with him.  He wanted a Pepperidge Farm Coconut cake for his birthday.  I was more than happy to oblige him.   I made cupcakes for him to take to school today.  He announce to me after school that "everyone liked them!"  (I wonder if he thought they might not like them!)  He went on to say that he told everyone that his mom made them just for him.  I had wondered why he wanted me to make cupcakes since he is not a cupcake sort of boy.  He really doesn't like them very much.  I realized this afternoon it was so he could tell everyone that his mom made them.  He comes across as a hard shell sort of fella, but inside he is just a big marshmallow.  I love him so much!!  He is just like his daddy!!

I need a rest!

 I feel like Sam!  I just want to lay down and stretch out for a nice long nap!! 

On the other hand, maybe I will just sit and wait like Greta!

Furniture Shopping and the Dentist

I only worked a half day today.  Deniska had a dentist appointment at 1:00 and  I got him out of school at noon.  This ended up being a half hour too early so we stopped at a new furniture place in town.  He and I checked out all the sofas and chairs.  We found many that we loved liked but none that we bought.  Furniture is so pricey these days.  I am just tired of my furniture.  It is not comfortable and we rarely sit in our living room.  I would like to change the whole room around.  Wish I had a money tree!!

Before I picked him up today I stopped at Dollar General and found this sweet little metal bird.  The sign in his beak says "Follow Your Heart."  I just fell in love with him and had to bring him home with me.  I am not sure where he will finally nest but for right now he is in front of the lamp.  (The lamp belonged to my Mama.  I can remember her having it all my life.  No telling how old it is but I just LOVE it!)  

Deniska is now cavity free and I hope to keep him that way!  I love taking him to this particular dentist for she has the BEST lighting to cross stitch!  I wonder if she would just let me hang out in her waiting room and stitch....

Meatless Friday - Microwaved Potatoes

In my family, we try not to eat meat on Friday's.  During Lent, we are really strict about this but we try to observe this all year round.  (Dennis is much better about this than me and the boys!)  Tonight we wanted baked potatoes but I really didn't have the time desire to bake them in the oven.  So, I "baked" them in the microwave.  I washed the potatoes and dried them with a kitchen towel; pricked them 4 times with a fork and wrapped them in plastic wrap.  Wrapping them in plastic wrap will keep the moisture in and they will not dry out.  If you do this, do not expect a crispy skin.  It is more like a steamed potato.  I put two potatoes at a time in the microwave for five minutes, turned them over and cooked them for another five minutes.  When they were done, I wrapped them in the towel and used my hand to break them up on the inside.  I have rolled them on the counter top, but my hands worked fine.

This is one after I squeezed it with my hands and unwrapped it.

And. I cut everyone's in half and cut it up for them!  (I'm nice like that!)

 Baked potatoes are Deniska's favorite meal.  He had a baby tooth pulled today so I thought this would be a good meal for the sweet baby.  He had laughing gas at the dentist's office and is still a bit wound up from that!  He really enjoyed his meal.  (Notice how he gets as much cheese on the table as in his bowl!)  And, I might add that his dentist call us at home tonight to see how he was doing.  How nice was that?!

Dennis, of course, loaded his potato down with sour cream, butter, shredded pepper jack cheese, salt, pepper, and salsa!  Looks like he is eating a piece of fish as well.

Nikolai, being a child of few words, was just too busy eating to fool with pictures!

And, this was my plate.  I put shredded pepper jack cheese, a pat of butter, salt and pepper on mine.  It was DELICIOUS!  Personally, I can't tell the difference between cooking them in the microwave and  in the stove.  I am sure there are folks who can, but I didn't have any complaints tonight!

 

Just drop by sometime and I will bake you a potato for you to decide yourself!

A Quaker Win!

 

Linda, at  Life As I Know It, had a giveaway a few days ago.  I was lucky enough for my name to be chosen!  Woohoo!  I received this wonderful chart in the mail yesterday.  It was like Christmas all over again!!  Go check out Linda's site.  She is a gifted stitcher and really fast!  Thank you Linda again for this chart!

Snowboys!

 

No school for the whole week!  We hopefully will return to "normal" on Tuesday, Jan 18th.  Monday is a holiday and we were scheduled to be off anyway.  I can't tell that much has melted in our yard.  It's all ice over the snow.

The boys go in and out throughout the day.  Wet jeans + wet socks + wet boots + cold hands = happy boys!

Snowmen...snowladies..snowpersons?

 

My mother-in-law gave me these beautiful snow people for Christmas.  Apparently, they released some type of snow storm for we are still covered up in snow.  We have been out of school all week and I don't see us going tomorrow due to poor road conditions.  We are just not prepared for heavy snow and ice in the South.  But, I do LOVE these snowmen.  My mother-in-law always gives really nice gifts that is just what I want!  Aren't they cute? 

I also wanted to show you these framed tatted pieces.  They were made by my uncle's aunts and are well over 100 years old.  Mama had them framed and I brought them to my house this Christmas.  I just love that she had the cross framed with the Christmas trees.  I guess she wanted to make sure we did not forget the real meaning of Christmas!

This is another framed tatted piece made by the same ladies and is also over 100 years old.  These hang in my bedroom all year long.  I am inspired by the workmanship and the lasting art.

Have a good day everyone!

Inside on a snow day

 

When you can't go outside, you turn the living room into one gigantic playing room!  

Happy Birthday Daddy

 

Happy Birthday to my Daddy!  Daddy died December 15, 1991 at age 75.  He would be 94 if he were still alive today.  Of course, he is more alive than we all are since he is in Heaven.  I was the last child born and sometimes I get really angry that my brother (who is 14 years older than I am and who is pictured above) had Daddy 14 years longer than me.  :)  Daddy was an extraordinary man.  I guess maybe all little girls think their daddy hung the moon.  In my case, it was true.  I always knew I was loved no matter what was going on.  He truly gave me a rich heritage as he taught me about our Heavenly Father's love.  My Daddy was loving but fair.  Of course, if you asked my brother, he would tell you that Daddy always favored me and was harder on him and my other brother.  He probably is right! 

This picture was made by a professional photographer who was doing a story about farmers in South Carolina.  It was in a magazine called The Progressive Farmer.  (This is the same magazine that launched Southern Living magazine.)  Anyway, I digress. Just to say that dad was a farmer and also worked in textiles.

One of my fondest memories is when Daddy brought home a tiny little Siamese kitten with a bob tail.  He woked me up (he was working 2nd shift) and asked me to reach into his coat pocket.  Inside was the smallest, furriest little kittens I had ever had.  "Bob", as my dad named him, lived for 16 years and was my fast companion.  

Daddy also taught me the love for the Old Testament.  It remains my favorite book of all times and I find great comfort in reading passages. Daddy's been gone for 20 years but it seems like yesterday.  Sometimes, he visits me in my dreams.  I love those dreams and wish I would not wake up.  He usually has a message to tell me so those dreams are rare.  

Thank you Daddy for being a wonderful. loving father.  You gave me riches beyond compare.  Daddy's favorite scripture was John 14: 1-4.  It was the first scripture that I ever memorized and one that I repeat almost daily to myself.

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me. 

In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be.

Where (I) am going you know the way."   

I love you Daddy and Happy Birthday!

SNOW!!

 

We have SNOW!!  LOTS of SNOW!!  A foot of SNOW!!  

Wasn't I cute?

  

Today when I was cleaning out some old boxes, I found this picture of me.  I must have been in the 3rd or 4th grade.  My mama made my dress for me.  I always had a new dress for picture day.  And, on the collar of my dress, I was wearing my perfect attendance pin from Sunday School.  I feel sure this pin is in my mother's jewelry box.  Anyway, I thought I would share this picture of me with you.  

On the Twelveth Day of Christmas...

 

...my true loves gave to me the very best present of all - their love!   I am so lucky to have my family and wouldn't not trade them for all the money in the world.  They are my true gifts!

On the Eleventh Day of Christmas

 

...my true love gave to me a new charm for my charm bracelet.  Isn't it pretty?  He always gets the year engraved on the back. 

On the Tenth Day of Christmas

my true loves gave to me 2 pair of really funky sock with 10 pink and black toes!! Are these socks not just adorable? Dennis told me that Deniska picked them out and was adamant that they buy them for me. I agree! Deniska knows his mama!!

Deniska is sick tonight with a severe headache. He came in at dinner time complaining of his head hurting. I gave him 2 Tylenol and he took a hot bath. He turned down sweets in favor of going to bed at 6:15 PM! He must really be hurting. Please pray that he will feel better soon.

On the Ninth Day of Christmas

my little love made for me a pan full of sausage balls!


And, on the tree, 9 origami wreaths. I made these last January for this year. Click here for the tutorial.



Happy New Year!