Sweet Valentine's Surpise

  Afternoon Sweet Friends,

So what's going on in your

world today??  Something

good or something sweet,

hope so......

I wasn't really gonna post today,

but then.............My World got

Sweeter than Sweet!

I got this in the mail...............

And what do we have here!!

I was a winner!!

In a giveaway last week.....

from

 Sue over @ I need Mom.

 Saa- weet!  

A nice cookbook full of goodies to

 make.................for family and friends.

Pretty White bow!

The Box even has our initial on it......

But the initials not ours, it is for Tate's Bake Shop

in south Hampton, New York.

UMMM,   Bake shop you say.......

then let's see what is inside.........

Oh My and Yum o Yum!

My favorite cookie..........chocolate chip

Here they are on a plate just before

hubby and I dove in.......

They came at the perfect time.....just

 as we were finishing our lunch.

and boy,  was he lucky he worked at

home today!  lol

Here they are next to her cook book.  Look just 

as yummy, and they have the aroma of freshed

 baked cookies when you open the cellophane,

and they taste just as good as they smell, 

 they  really are so delicious..............I had to

beat myself off not to eat more...........

 She adds a touch of caramel to them,  and

 they are light and crispy................

Just the way I love them.

I can tell you if you buy something from Tate's

bakery,  I dare say,  I don't think you would be

disappointed in any way.........

Thank You Sue, for offering this wonderful

giveaway,  just in time for Valentine's Day.

I am loving it................

and truly enjoying and appreciating it very

much......................

You should go over and visit Sue's blog if

you have never met her before,  she is a

lovely lady, full of great information that

 she passes on to us, and lovely tablescapes 

and vignettes that she does as well.

Just click Here to go see her!

 also a Big Thank You to

Tate's Bakery and owner,Kathleen King.

Love your book and your wonderful cookies.

They really are amazing...........

Keep up the great work hon.

Here is a link to Tate's bake shop

if you would like to check it out.

Just click Here!

Thanks for stopping in and sharing in

my Joy and Fun................wish I could

email all of you a cookie......

Have a Sweet Day!!

I sure am.......lol

Inspirational Video about a young boy! So Sweet!

Happy Monday Sweet Friends, Hope you had a good weekend,  and if you  are in cold country,  hope you are keeping  warm and are not without power. We have a mostly productive weekend,with a lil fun  thrown in.......hubby wound up working late Friday  night as they are under pressure at work,  so Friday was not too fun.............Sat. was somewhat rest- ful but mostly productive,  we have been cleaning  out files and stuff like that,  stuff that has needed to be done for awhile,  so it is fun to see it go,  but work too!  Sunday was a fun and restful day, pretty much our typical day, with a few changes thrown  in the mix.  Nothing too exciting, just a smoothie instead of yomii and some takeout from a restaurant we rarely have gone to..... Ruby Tuesday's,  we had  a gift card, so decided to try them again.  Always just nice to do something different.  ya know! Someone sent me this wonderful video last week, and just knew I wanted to show it to yall,  it is very sweet, this young man has a wonderful heart, you might want to get your hanky.....it sure made me cry.................lol

This is beyond inspiring!

Conner & Cayden

Sports Kids of the Year*

(This is not a sports story.)

http://www.sonnyradio.com/conner-cayden.html

Just Click on the Link above!

Hope you enjoyed this wonderful 

true story......they truly are sportsmen

of the year.

Thanks for coming by,

be sure and say Hello,  love hearing

from ya!!

Blessings for a Great Week!

Welcome to Thankful Thursday - February 7, 2013

Greetings Sweet Friends,

How has your week been?

Fun? Sad? maybe even a lil mad,

Productive?  Busy? helpful? 

thankful? peaceful? Joyful? 

Compassionate? heartfelt?

Have to say my week has been a mixed bag 

of all of these emotions.  It has been a busy

week, but a good week.  Started a Blissful 

White Wed. post but never got to finish it, 

so will just save it for next week. lol

Will sort of clue you in during my Thankful

Thursday post today.

#1

I am thankful 

for the fun and joyful time we had with

our kids over the weekend,  We saw 

Scott and Megan on Friday night, and 

Dee and Jerry on Sunday afternoon and

evening for the super bowl.  Dee and I

gabbed and ate, the guys watched the

football...............works for us!!  lol

#2

I am thankful

for Megan and Scott are all ready for 

their wee one,  the room is pretty much

finished,  a lil bit of wall art to do yet,

but if she went to the hospital today

she would be well prepared for the home-

coming with the baby.  They even have 

the car seat in the car!! So that is a real

 blessing and I am sure one less thing

 to be concerned for Mom & Dad to be.

#3

I am thankful

for the joy of getting to wash and see

all their new baby clothes, as Megan,

bless her heart, is suppose to be on the

sofa with her feet propped up once she

gets home from work,  as she is having

trouble with her feet swelling. Don't know

why really, because her weight gain is

perfect, she is all baby,  and usually that

 happens when ladies gain a whole lot of

 weight.  It was nice to be able to help

in a tangible way.

#4

I am thankful

for a number of opportunities this week

to help a family out who is losing a dear

loved one, and reaffirming what they

already know about death and heaven.

#5

I am thankful

to have had the blessing of sitting with

a sweet teenage girl who was about to

lose her beloved grandmother in the middle

of the night.  We talked and cried and tried

to prepare for the worst,  and it came at

about 6 a.m. - it was the worst for she

and her Mom,  but the best God had for

the Grandmother, as she suffering with

the pain from cancer.

#6

I am so thankful

for what Jesus did for us on the cross,  and

how he provided eternal life for those who

just believe and accept what He did for them.

What a hope and blessing we have in our lives

because of that.  It is never goodbye forever

when a loved one dies,  it is only so long until

we meet again.  Truly a Priceless Gift!

John 3:16 in action

#7

I am thankful

for God's grace in these sort of situations and 

how he gives us the love, words to say, and the

 tears and hugs to comfort.

#8

I am thankful

for God's answers to prayers and how he can

protect us in ways that are actually quite humorous.

I have a relative in my life, that did some really

how shall I say it, selfish, deceitful and hurtful 
things when my Mom died over 7 years ago. 
Truly they were devastating to me, as I never 
saw this coming, and it took me months to even
 grasp what had happened, I was in such disbelief 
about it all. I think mainly because I felt so crushed 
that my relationship to this person meant so little 
to her VS things.........
 Some of you probably have a similiar

story as I think most families unfortunately, seem

to have a person like that.  Anyway, I have for-

given her in my heart but truly have no desire

for relationship with her as I feel no trust in her

whatsoever,  but I also want no harm or bad

things to come to her either,  just am hoping

and praying for a change in her heart.  She has

called  about 6 or so times over the years now,

and every time it is because she wants some-

thing........so knowing that does not really

make me gleeful to call her,  if you get my

drift.  She called again this week and I felt
 like I would rather be beat than call her, lol, 
 but hubby and I decided I should return the 
call because who knows, maybe there could

 be a change of heart.  There is no change of

 heart however,  but the Lord is amazing!

Before I call her I always pray first and tell

the Lord....I want to do whatever you want

me to do,  but I am not sure what that is,

so I am praying you give me the words, and

that you help me to say what you want me

to say.  The last 2 times she has called, we

spend a long time just doing casual chit chat

and then she starts to talk about all the things

that she is having to put out money for, and

on and on it goes, and I think well Lord, I

know the reason for the call is coming soon,

and then all of a sudden the phone just goes

dead...........it happened the last time too,

and I tried twice to call her back,  but couldn't

get through then thought maybe this was God's

way of helping me, and you know the exact
 same thing happened again this time, it is 
like he lets her spend an hour or more laying 
all the pretend niceties and poor me ground 
work and then right when she gets to the point
 of asking the phone goes dead, and funny cause
 she never calls me back, so makes me think it
 goes dead on her end too.

I know some people are probably thinking

it is just a coincidence,  but I truly don't,

I feel it was my heavenly Father looking

out for me,  and it makes me smile, for

the bible says he is our protector and an

ever present help in time of need, and I
truly need help dealing with folks like that
cause I just don't understand how someone
can get to be up in their 70's and care
so little about their relationships.

Shocking really!

#9

I am thankful

that no one was killed in a childcare bus

accident with an SUV right around the

corner from me about an hour or so ago.

There were 28 children and none had

to go to the hospital,  a few bumps and

bruises is all, but the bus driver did have

 some neck injuries. The one person driving

the SUV had some bad leg injuries but

the passenger was not hurt.

#10

I am thankful

it is looking like we are gonna get some

rain,  we could sure use some as it has

been quite awhile.

#11
I am thankful
that my hubby just found my blog roll, it
has been lost for a while and I have not
been able to visit anyone who doesn't come
by to visit me first, so if you haven't heard
from me in a while,  that is the reason.
So happy about that!!  My Hero!! 

I am gonna stop here for now,  and get

this posted,  and if I think of something

else I will come back and add it.

Hope you have a really Great  Friday and Weekend, 

 can't believe we are almost to the weekend again 

and 

Valentines day is just one week away!! Whoa

Guess I better start making some plans. lol

Thanks for coming by and be sure to say Hi,

Welcome to Thankful Thursday - January 31, 2013

Give thanks to the Lord,
for he is good:
his love endures forever.
Psalm 119:29


Greetings Sweet friends,

Hope you have had a good 
week thus far.

Our week was very uneventful from Monday until 
yesterday and wow, seems like the floodgates have
 opened up, so it has been a bit overwhelming 
since yesterday,  Too many saga's for one day.........
But as you will read we think one got solved,  maybe
even 2, not sure yet, everytime I think it is done, it rears
it's ugly lil head again.  Then we are helping my SIL
 with one she is in, as well,  and have another friend
 who is dealing with a heart wrenching situation as well. 
 Was feeling drained earlier but realized it was time to 
kick back in the ole recliner and have a  long talk  with
 my sweet friend, Jesus,  He always has a calming
 affect on me.......................

So on with my Thankful list................
I have been making it all throughout the day,
and just come back and put in the greeting
and a little about the day or week.  Makes
it easier that way.

#1

I am thankful

for a wonderful statistic we recieved this week,

from Food for the Hungry.  We support a child,

and I say that to say this......in the passed year,

they have helped over 2.5 million people find

a pathway out of poverty. That just made my

heart sing,  and really just struck me, about 
how much gets done when each person 
or family just does what they can.............
amazing results!!

#2

I am thankful

for Megan and Dee's friend, Heather who so

 graciously wanted to open her home to have the

 shower for Megan and also that she allowed us to

 help with it.  Also thankful that it all turned out so

 nicely, and that they have so many nice things for 

the sweet baby girl that is coming soon.

#3

I am thankful

for a new salad I discovered on someones 

blog,  it is called "Black Bean Salad"  and it

is quite tasty.

#4

I am thankful
that our friend Becky's (Over at Timewashed)
daughter had her new baby yesterday, and that
 everything went well.  Another Beautiful lil girl. 
  Just last week her other daughter had a lil girl too.
So they are flowing over with grandies............lol

#5
I am thankful
for blueberry bliss Rooibos tea my daughter 
gave me for Christmas last year.  It is such a
delicious tea, cause sometimes I just get tired
of coffee and want something else,  and it is
a great change of pace.


#6
I am thankful
that we are gonna get to go over to Scott
and Megans on Friday to see the babies room, 
as they have done a lot more since we saw it last,
  and also want to see all the goodies she got at
the shower.  Not the same as seeing them
from the distance...............lol


#7
I am thankful
we are gonna have a fun Super Bowl party
with Dee and Jerry on Sunday.  She and I
like the food and fellowship part and the
guys can enjoy the football part,  course,
we will probably watch some of it.
Too bad,  Tim Tebow isn't playing cause I
 would definitely want to watch then.


#8
I am thankful
that social security makes you fill out your
paperwork early or we would not have known
about hubbies status I told you about yesterday.
Plus we might have been ready for him to retire
and have a big mess on our hands.

#9
I am thankful
that it looks like the problem might be worked out
 according to what the Social Security rep. said,  but it
 isn't showing up online yet..........

He was getting no where until he asked the question
So does it mean that my citizenship expired when my
passport did??  and she said, that is a very good
question??  So she went to her supervisor and she
said they could take that, so she put it in the
computer and she said, We're good!
It took it.....................


#10
I am thankful
that the Lord hears our prayers and cries for
help,  and goes before and prepares the way.



#11
I am thankful
for a recipe I learned a while back from
Sonny over at 155 Dream lane, it is roasted
green beans, and you can use canned or frozen
green beans. I used the canned and it has been a
 life saver many times now when I run out of fresh
 veggies or can't figure out what to do.  I always
keep green beans on hand now, and it is a delicious
way to make them too.  We are having them tonight
can you tell.............I am trying to make what I have
rather than run to the store,  so I had pasta, sauce
and green beans............yummy!! 
 Not mixed together tho......at least not till it hits
your stomach!!  lol

#12
I am thankful
for fruit, especially bananas, strawberries and
peaches...........they are my favorite,  and I am
out of them right now..........and wishing I had 
gone to the store today............lol  Course, I do
have apples and oranges,  they just aren't my
favorites unless they are in a salad.  course,
I forgot I have honey crisp apples, and I do
like to eat those by themselves........
who hoo I am going after an apple now.


See ya later!

Have a great Friday and Weekend,

Love, Hugs, and Happy 
  U.S. Citizen Blessings,

Nellie

Winter Mantle

Howdy Sweet Folks,

How is your week going so far??

Well, I hope!

Mine has been good,  uneventful for the most part,

but sometimes uneventful is very good!!  lol

We are having very warm temps in the 80's again.

Keep trying to go out and sit in the sun, but we have

so much cloud cover that just about the time I get

out there, the sun goes in............our lovely blue

skies look like cotton ball heaven!!  lol

Can't believe we are almost out of January, and

wondering if we are gonna get anymore cold weather.

Bet if I decorated for spring..... early, we would!  lol

That is what has happened in the past, so I quite

doing it early........

oh, did I say it had been uneventful and that un-
eventful was sometimes very good.....I was right,
cause now it is eventful..........Get This!!

Hubby is nearing that golden age of Social 
Security and even tho he isn't retiring yet you still
 have to do the paperwork,  well, most people do
 theirs online, and he tried but it flagged him cause 
he was born out of the country,  as his dad was in
 the Navy and stationed out of the country.  So he
had to go to the Social Security office today to
take his birth certificate,  and they said, it was
unacceptable,  it is what he has used his whole
life to get passports and drivers liscense and
whatever else you need it for................he also
took his passport, no, can't take that because
it has expired, well even tho, it is expired he
had to be a citizen to get it in the first place,
Duhhhhhhhhhhh!!
Now my hubby served 4 years during the Viet
 Nam era in the Air Force, he also had a secret
clearance with the military and again not too
many years ago for a job where he worked.
Needless to say that he has been paying into
social security all these 40 some odd years.,
and I haven't even gotten to the best part yet,
since he lost his social security card they
had him feel out paperwork to get it , and 
when they went to do it they said they couldn't
give him one, because he is not classified
 as a U.S. Citizen!   We are in disbelief!!

Nevertheless, we are not going to panick
over this yet, anyway! cause a rep. from the Social 
Security office is suppose to call him or he them, if 
they don't call in a few days.  So guess we will see
what they have to say and what they suggest......
Our next step, if need be, will be our congressman!

My hubby asked him facetiously, so are they gonna
 continue to take money out of my pay check for 
S.S. then, and the guy said I know, this doesn't 
make any sense,  your are right,  it makes
absolutely no sense..........for heavens sake all
you have to do is check his social security #
against his pay records for all the places he
worked, and how in the world does one get
a secret  security clearance without being
a U.S. citizen, cause they really check you
out good....................
anyway, we would happily accept any prayer
you send our way.  Will keep you posted!!
This turned out to be way longer than it
was suppose to,  but just had to share our
lil saga over here.  lol


Thought I would show you our Winter Mantle

today since it is the centerpiece of our 
family room.................

This was a new find from Ross some weeks back,

and a great deal as well.  It has one of those

fake candles that lights up, but we love how it

looks all lit up on the mantle.

This is the right side of the mantle. I love brass 

and I have had these brass fruit plates for over

42 years,  they were a wedding present, and I

still love them as much as the day I got them.

Added some books and a cream pitcher and 

a wooden pear and that finished it off...........

Until,  I found this at Sears for $6.00, so since I was
 returning something from Christmas that didn't fit
right, she was one of my replacements.

and the same day I found this lil Blue and White
porcelain ball for $1.69 at the Christmas store.
Isn't it pretty!  Imagine a whole bowl full of those.

I used a candle jar lid as a holder.

Here is the whole new vignette on the right side!

Here it is in colored pencil!

Never thought about how nice this would look with

our new lantern, since it has the same design.

Here is an overview.  Our ceiling vault in this room,  so the

 fireplace also vaults upward as well,  so that is why I have 

 this taller piece on the opposite side.  It balances the

mantle very well.

Decided to make a lil sign on cardstock,  it was intended

for the coffee table, but liked it better here!  Liked the

pop of white................

This is the left side again...............love this planter
with the tulips,  my son sent it to me years ago 
when he was in college for my birthday and it 
had real red tulips in it, so decided to carry on 
the memory with some faux  red tulips.  It also
helps hide the cord from the picture lamp.

Same pic, just done in a posterized affect!

The whole left side,  which I decided to change 
again, once I did the other side.

Absolutely love this picture,  and the pic of the pic......lol
I have told hubby  for years this setting is what my home
 in Heaven is gonna be like............lol

And.... No,  it isn't a Thomas Kincaide,  only a Thomas 
Kincaide look alike poster, I had it foam cored, and then
 I put in a really nice frame that used to house an oil
painting. which already had an art light on it.

 Here is the new changes to the left side.  Really it was
I just added the wooden pear of there and lit the candles.

Same pic with a palette knife affect.


Well, there you have it folks, 
 the centerpiece of our family room.

Thanks for stopping by,

am linking up with the style
sisters so come check it out.
Just click Here!

Also linking up to Marty over at
 a walk thru life. come on over
and see more fun tabletops.
Just click here!

Have a Sweet Day!

Hugs, and 
Pretty Mantle Blessings,
Nellie