My View

tj wanted to see the view from my bathroom window. She just didn't realize that mine was nothing much to look at.
I usually keep the curtains closed so no one peers in even though it's highly unlikely that would happen. I open the curtains occasionally in the spring and summer.

Wordless Wednesday-Winter Wonderland

For more Wordless Wednesday participants look here:

Fun Monday-The Bucket List

Today's Fun Monday hostess is Tiggerlane.  She wants us to make a bucket list.  Like in the movie "The Bucket List."  We need to list at least five things we would like to do before we die. I have not had a long time to think about this but I am going to give it a try.

My Bucket List

1.  I would like to play with my grandchildren someday after they are born.

2. First, I would like to see all my children have good jobs and happy lives.

3. I would like to learn French and German.

4. I would like to visit Italy and Australia.

5.  Also Russia and revisit Germany.

6. I would like to live in another country for an extended time (perferably France or Germany).

7. I would like to learn how to ski.

8. I would like to lose 20 lbs. and have a flat stomach. (going to work on this one this year)

9. I would like to travel to Canada by train.

10. I want to take another cruise.

11. I want to go to Chicago.

12. I would like to take dance lessons.  (ballroom and salsa)

13. I would like to go back to college and get a degree.

14. I would like to invent something useful.

15. I would like to take singing lessons.

16. I would like to run the New York marathon.

17. I would like to swim in an ocean. (a warm one)

18. I would like to visit Hawaii.

19. I would like to take art lessons and paint something beautiful.

20. I would like to write a song to be sung in church.

Now for some more serious things:

21. I would like to live a life that would show by my actions that I am a follower of Christ and love others as He did.

22. I would like to lead someone (more than one) to Jesus before I die.

23. I would like to support several children through World Vision.  I have one now from Chile and am going to support a child from Africa starting this week.  I hope for many more in the future.  

**Edit post already**

24. I really want to go to a Rose Bowl Parade.

25. And this will be doable immediately:  Watch the movie "The Bucket List."

I'll end my list for now.  I'll start to work on these things...

Please visit others who are making their list at Tiggerlane's.  

Weekly Winners Sunday Meme

Boot-ilicious!  Snow demo...


"The changing of sunlight to moonlight

Reflections of my life"~~Marmalade~~


Small fellow


"Everyone knows I'm in

Over my head, over my head." ~The Fray


There goes the sun, little darling.  And it's all right.  

Head on over to Lotus at Sarcastic Mom to see other Weekly Winner's.

Rich Mullins - The Color Green

And the moon is a sliver of silver.....

And the Moon is a Sliver of Silver

The Color Green by Rich Mullins

And the moon is a sliver of silver

Like a shaving that fell on the floor of a Carpenter's shop

And every house must have its builder

And I awoke in the house of God

Where the windows are mornings and evenings

Stretched from the sun

Across the sky north to south

And on my way to early meeting

I heard the rocks crying out

I heard the rocks crying out

Be praised for all Your tenderness by these works of Your hands

Suns that rise and rains that fall to bless and bring to life Your land

Look down upon this winter wheat and be glad that You have made

Blue for the sky and the color green that fills these fields with praise

And the wrens have returned and they're nesting

In the hollow of that oak where his heart once had been

And he lifts up his arms in a blessing for being born again

And the streams are all swollen with winter

Winter unfrozen and free to run away now

And I'm amazed when I remember

Who it was that built this house

And with the rocks I cry out

Be praised for all Your tenderness by these works of Your hands

Suns that rise and rains that fall to bless and bring to life Your land

Look down upon this winter wheat and be glad that You have made

Blue for the sky and the color green

Be praised for all Your tenderness by these works of Your hands

Suns that rise and rains that fall to bless and bring to life Your land

Look down upon this winter wheat and be glad that You have made

Blue for the sky and the color green that fills these fields with praise

Ovaltine

This is for Kila.  Usually found near the hot cocoa mix.  

Do It Anyway!

Mother Teresa

Do It Anyway!

People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered.  Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.  Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some geniune enemies.  Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you.  Be honest and sincere anyway.

What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight.  Create anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous.  Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, will often be forgotten.  Do good anyway.

Give the best you have, and it will never be enough.  Give your best anyway.

In the final analysis, it is between you and God.  It was never between you and them anyway.

MercyMe - God With Us (Music Video)

We are doing this song at our church. My husband plays the guitar part.

President Bush

"I have examined all the Democratic

candidates and have decided on these

two guys." -George W. Bush (not!)

"I don't particularly like it when people

put words in my mouth, either, by the way,

unless I say it."  -George W. Bush

I Love Lucy

I must admit I do love Lucy.  I always have and always

will.  I grew up watching her shows and re-runs.  She's

a zany gal and I love her.  So I will show you my Lucy

doll.  I have had her for years.  She's never been out

out the box.  


The Vitameatavegamin commercial girl:

So tasty too!  Just like candy!



I have been tagged for a meme by Kitten and someone

not too long ago tagged me for this same meme.  I don't

do well getting my meme's done.  This one is the six or

maybe it was seven random things about me meme.  I 

believe I have done this one before.

1.  I love Lucy.

2.  I like chocolate Ovaltine.  I bought some yesterday

for the first time in years.

3.  I seldom watch tv shows until they become re-runs.

Like "Everybody Loves Raymond", I never watched it

until it was over.  Now, unfortunately, I have seen every

episode.  The same with "King of the Hill."  I am watching

this show now and finding it very funny.  I love Bobby

Hill and Hank.  I can't stand Peggy.

4.  I have watched "America's Next Top Model" a few seasons.

Especially when someone from Oklahoma is a contestant.

5.  I don't know why but I like "The Apprentice."

6.  I watched a few seasons of "Survivor."  Not a big fan of

it though.  I would rather watch "Amazing Race."

7.  I love to watch Martha Stewart.

8.  Here's a bonus:  I love cooking shows, gardening show,

anything about houses, like "Trading Spaces" or construction,

selling, decorating.  

I Love Lucy Vitameatavegamin

The answer to all your problems...

Oklahoma Treasures

These are not pictures I took, I found them on webshots and wikipedia:

When I get time soon I will run over and take the pictures myself and

post my views.  I am looking for pictures from the 1960's or 70's. 

Pawhuska, gateway to the Tallgrass Prairie.


I love this town.  So many good memories.

The picture below used to be the J.C. Penney store.

The picture below used to be the C.R. Anthony store.

You can see the Triangle Building at the end of this block.

It is a very cool old building.  It divides Kihekah, one way

on either side of it.  

Below is where the TG&Y used to be.  Next to it

on the corner was a nice bank building.  It is pictured

above as the white building with apartments or offices above.

The Tulsa skyline at night.  This is not my picture.

This is a view from Talimina Drive.  Ouachita forest.

We drove this road from Wilburton, Oklahoma going

north and east for several miles.  It was beautiful.  We

accidentally took the road thinking it was a shorter way

home.  Not.  But it turned out the most beautiful drive

that went past Robber's Cave too.  This drive is very

close to Arkansas.  

Raspberry Pie

Ok, you asked for the recipe.  You will notice the great

difference of the picture of my pie and what the actual

pie should look like.  Now you can laugh, but the pie

tastes the same even if mine looks sooo different!  It

was my first attempt and I used all the ingredients they

said to.  I used the store-bought pie crust and it shrank

and the sides collapsed in the oven.  You just have to try

to attach the crust better than I did.  I did not grease the

pie dish maybe that would help it stay but even so it tastes

the same.  I just happened to fill the whole dish with the

filling and you could not tell that there was a crust there!

Next time I make it perhaps it will look prettier and I will take

a picture to show.  

Dazzle Berry Pie

1/2 package (15 oz) refrigerated pie crusts (one crust)

1 cup boiling water

1 package (3 oz) raspberry gelatin

1/3 cup seedless raspberry jam

2 sqares (1 oz each) semi-sweet chocolate for baking

1 container (8 oz) sour cream

1 container (8 oz) frozen whipped topping, thawed, divided

1/2 pint fresh raspberries (about 1 cup) divided

powdered sugar

1.  Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.  Let pie crst stand at room temperature 15 minutes.

Gently unfold onto lightly floured surface.  Roll to an 11-1/2 inch circle.

Place crust in deep dish pie plate, pressing dough into bottom and up sides.

Prick bottom and sides using pastry tool.  Bake 10-12 minutes or until golden brown.

Cool completely.

2.  Stir boiling water into gelatin.  Stir at least 2 minutes until completely dissolved.  

Add jam; stir until smooth.  Cool until gelatin begins to thicken.

3.  Place chocolate in microwavable bowl; microwave, uncovered, on HIGH 1-1/2 minutes,

stirring after each 20-second interval or until chocolate is melted and smooth.  

Pour chocolate into small resealable plastic food storage bag; twist top of bag

and secure.  Cut a small tip off of bag to allow chocolate to flow through.  Pipe chocolate

around top edge of pie crust.  Using remaining chocolate, pipe 8 heart-shaped 

decorations onto wax paper;  refrigerate 15 minutes or until set.

4.  Combine sour cream and 2 cups of the whipped topping.  Add gelatin mixture;

whisk until smooth.  Reserve 1/3 cup raspberries; set aside.  Sprinkle remaining

raspberries evenly over bottom of pie crust; pour filling over berries.  

Chill at least 3 hours or until set.

5. Fill Easy Accent Decorator (Pampered Chef) with remaining whipped topping.

Pipe 8 rosettes evenly around edge of pie.  Arrange chocolate heart decorations 

between rosettes.  Place reserved berries in center.  Lightly sprinkle pie with powdered

sugar.  Cut into wedges and serve.  Yield:  8 servings

Weekly Winners Sunday Meme

Here we are again.  Sunday Weekly Winner's.

Go visit Lotus at Sarcastic Mom for more

entries.  

This little pie is Raspberry.  It took some effort to make.

I wanted to test it out before Valentine's Day.  It passed

the test.  It was good!

I took this picture one night when I was outside and

I never noticed that my cat got in on the action.

See her head at the right bottom corner?


The hidden "orb" 

Blast from the Past-Mode-o-Day

Here's a post of something of a past I lived through.  Does anyone remember

Mod-o-Day or Mode-o-Day stores?  I don't know if there are still any around,

maybe in California or Colorado?  When I was young, my mother took us to

another bigger town to shop in that seemed to have every store you could possibly

want, or so I thought.  This was in the 60's and 70's mind you!  This little town

now no longer has a one of these wonderful stores.  The town was booming

back then with oil production and cattle ranchers.  This was the town that

Ree lives not too far from.  Now Ree never shopped here when she was young,

she lived in a much bigger town east of this one.  With golf courses.  But actually

this little town had a very nice golf course too.  I would imagine that MM's 

mother shopped in these little stores though, just like we did.  I couldn't wait

for Saturdays to come around and we could go to shop.  There was a J.C. Penneys,

C.R. Anthony's, TG&Y, (kinda like a Target back then) Montgomery Ward, (I think

this was mostly a catalog place but it always made me think of tires!) and lastly this

wonderful new store called Mod'o'Days.  It was so cool and modern.  I was pre-teen

and finally found some clothes that fit me.  They actually had sizes like 1, 3, 5, etc.

I always had trouble finding small enough sizes.  Most clothes in J. C. Penneys were

labeled S, M, L.  I had to still shop in the children's department to find a fit.  Mod'o'Days

had the new modern styles of California.  Some things seemed a little outrageous for

Oklahoma but it was a fun store.  I found clothes that fit (size 1 back then was a little big

for me, finally they came out with 0's).  I found style!  So great.  Another wonderful

part of this trip was going to the drugstore and getting Dr. Pepper's and ice cream.

This was a time when streets were safe and life was much slower paced.  We had

the time of our lives in this small town.  I still love it.  Memories are good!

Java Junebug

Lee Ann Womack I hope you dance

Lovely message.

Snackalicious Super Snacks

Ready for the snacks?  Join all enthusiasts for the game.

This dip is one I've been asked many times to bring to school for

my kids.

FESTIVE TEXAS DIP

Put everything in layers on large round platter.  

1st layer) 1 large can bean dip, spread 1/2 inch thick.

2nd layer) 2 avocadoes mashed up with 1 tblsp. lemon juice

1-1/2 tblsp. mayo, 1/2 tsp. garlic powder, 1/2 tsp. onion salt.

3rd layer) 1 pint sour cream.

4th layer) 1 small jar picante sauce.

5th layer) 2 bunches green onions, chopped.

6th layer) 1 can black olives, chopped.

7th layer) 2 medium tomatoes, chopped.

8th layer) 1 pound cheddar cheese, grated.

Chill before serving and eat with Mexican style chips

or corn chips.

Here is another simple recipe:

HAM AND CREAM CHEESE ROLL-UPS

16 oz. ham slices

8 oz. Philadelphia cream cheese, softened

bunch green onion stems

Spread ham slices with cream cheese; place onion stems in center;

Roll up tightly and place in freezer for about 30 minutes.

Cut each rolled-up ham slice in about 1/2-inch slices.

And just for a refreshing different kind of drink:

SPARKLING RASPBERRY TEA

2 cups cold brewed tea

2 cups chilled raspberry or cranberry-raspberry juice

2 cups chilled sparkling water

Raspberries, lime slices or lemon slices, if desired

Fresh mint leaves, if desired

Mix tea, juice and sparkling water.  Serve over ice.

Garnish with raspberries and mint.

Martha Stewart Body + Soul Challenge

I am taking the Martha Stewart Body+Soul Challenge.  It started January 23, 2008, but it's not too late for anyone to get started.  They are just now getting going with exercise and food tips.  You can comment on their blog and get responses back from Dr. Brent and the fitness expert and others.  I need something to motivate me to eat healthier and exercise.  I am looking for a gym near me to participate in aerobics and weights.  I have to get out of the house and pay money to make myself work at exercise.  There is a Fitness For Her about 20 miles away and another gym 20 miles in another town too.  I hate to drive that far but I need to get out to get started.  The school has built a new gymnasium and are allowing people to use it for a couple of hours a morning to walk.  I may try that out too.  I have a treadmill and stairstepper at home, lots of weights and dvd's on pilates, ballet, and aerobics.  I think if I can get back in shape, then I can stay at home and do the rest once more.  I need to do this.  Yes!