As the saying goes... "The way to a man's heart is through his stomach".... and I have to say... I totally believe this is absolutely true for most of the men I personally know. When you please their palate and their tummy, love will definitely bloom!
You may ask why I believe this to be true... and I would say... it is because I know I can reduce my own husband, who is typically a "Manly Man's Man", to a mushy gushy mess simply with a really delish meal. Let me elaborate on this. My husband Joe and I love to watch 'The Food Network' channel as well as 'The Travel' channel... and one of his particular favorite shows just happens to be Anthony Bourdain's "No Reservations".
Several nights ago he was watching an episode that was filmed in Naples Italy, where ragu was the main dish in the spotlight. For over a week after that episode aired and was viewed by him, he would not stop talking about how badly he wanted me to make him some ragu like he saw dished up in that show. I personally did not see this episode, so I could only go by how Joe described how it was made and the ingredients he told me was in it... and really... making spaghetti sauce is more of a 'method' than a 'recipe' of basic and standard ingredients. Anyone will tell you that they all have a treasured "Family Recipe" that has been handed down through the generations, and all will proclaim that their particular recipe is far better than anyone else's... kind of like how people are about their specific chili recipes! I mean... hello!!!... there have been cook-off's in every state and country each year for the Blue Ribbon winners of chili and/or spaghetti recipes! But I digress!... back to ragu night at our house.
Going only by Joe's description, I set out to make him a batch of ragu just to get some peace and quiet in this house! Mind you that he insisted the ragu HAD to cook slowly (or as he said... "it has to burble and gurgle ever soooo slowly over a two day period of time")... and it HAD to be served over penne pasta, and with crusty bread for sopping. I indeed cooked, or actually... 'let the sauce burble and gurgle ever soooo slowly for two days', and on the night I presented my beloved with this much anticipated, and much drooled over ragu... I hit a home run!!!!! He ate, he sopped, he ummed... and then he ate, sopped and ummmed again.... and yes by gum... he ate, he sopped and ummmed again for the third time. His belly was sooo bloated from all that pasta and ragu, but the grin on his face was priceless!
For the rest of that night you would have thought us a newly dating couple instead of an old married couple of 33 years!!! He cooed at me, he rubbed my back, he nuzzled my neck... and while I truly enjoyed all the romantic attention... I just couldn't believe that one pot of ragu could reduce him into such a mushy gushy mess like that! I would have to say he truly not only enjoyed every single bite, but he enjoyed all the time and love I put into making that pot of ragu for him.
He insisted that I freeze the left over ragu into two separate batches so that he could enjoy more ragu on nights when we were pressed for time and need a quickie dinner. But... only one batch remains frozen for a future meal... because tonight he is enjoying round two of ragu... here I must mention that it was only last night that we enjoyed the ragu for the first time, and even tho his belly was full to the rim of bursting with all the ragu he ate last night, he went to bed talking about how he would really like to have it again tonight. Now that is some pretty powerful ragu!!!! I made this batch of ragu more by method and guessing, than by having a recipe, so below I will include a basic recipe/method for anyone who would like to make a batch of their own ragu... note that all ingredients are guesstimations (I think I just made that word up and spell check doesn't like it!) and you are free to add and/or delete ingredients at your own preference and whim.
This is a very rustic, hearty, and earthy kind of spaghetti sauce, so ingredients should be sliced/diced to a thickness so that the vegetables will hold up during the long slow cooking process... that is... unless you want them to dissolve into the sauce for a less chunky sauce.
2-3 stalks of celery, thickly sliced
2-3 carrots, thickly sliced
1 - med-lg onion, roughly chopped
2-3 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
3-4 cups of red wine (beef stock may be substituted for the wine)
3-4 lg cans of diced tomatoes
1 small can of tomato paste
2-3 whole dried bay leaves
salt/pepper to taste
a pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)
1TBSP of sugar
Vegetable oil
*1-2 veal shanks
*4 beef short ribs
*1-2 pork shanks (NOT smoked)
*any kind of bone-in meat may be used... you are looking for bone in meats for richer flavoring of the sauce... the meat will literally fall off the bones and then you can either toss the bones out, or put them in a side dish for those who enjoy it can eat the melted marrow inside the bones.... as my husband likes to do. I bought family size pkgs of these meats and separated them into several single serving sizes and then froze them for use whenever needed.
** for an even heartier/earthier sauce you may want to add fresh mushrooms to the vegetable mixture and sweat them when you sweat the other vegetables.
Add 2 TBSP of oil to heavy stock pan and heat over medium heat... add celery, carrots, onions, and garlic... sweat the vegetables/garlic to release their flavors for about 3-5 minutes. Remove vegetables/garlic from the pan and set aside. Salt and pepper all sides of all the meats. Add another 2 TBSP of oil to pan and turn heat up to medium-high, and brown all meats on all sides. Brown meats in batchs... DO NOT over crowd the pan... remove all meats from pan and set aside.
Drain oil from pan, on high heat deglaze pan with the red wine/beef stock, or combination of both, then reduce heat to medium-high, and reduce liquid to 1 cup. Add the vegetables, meats, tomatoes, tomato paste and all seasonings in to reduced liquid... add more liquid to pan if needed... liquid should almost, but not quite cover the meat, bring to a boil, then reduce to a slight simmer, cover pot and let simmer for several hours. Turn heat off and let pan stand until cooled. Place pan in refrigerator over night. Next morning, bring pan out of refrigerator, skim fat off the top and discard... then let pot come to room temperature... then place on med-high heat and bring to a slight boil... reduce heat to a slow simmer and again let simmer for several hours.... the sauce should just slightly bubble... such as making a blurp, blurp, blurp sound and not a constant simmer. When ready to serve, cook the penne pasta and heat the bread... remove the meats from the sauce and place in a bowl and set aside, remove and discard all bones (unless the bone marrow is to be enjoyed), drain pasta and place in a deep bowl, add sauce to cover pasta and toss (amount of sauce to pasta is personal preference). In Naples the sauced pasta and sopping bread are eaten first, the meat served after by itself... however... the meats may be added directly to the pasta and sauce and eaten as a one meal dish... either way you serve it... just get ready to enjoy and sop until hearts content!
Even tho this dish should take two days to cook slowly (so that the richness of all the ingredients can meld into each other), it's actually quite easy... in fact it's as easy as the preparations for making a roast beef. After the veggies have been chopped and sweated, the meats have been browned, the pan deglazed and all the ingredients returned to the pot... the work is all done... just a peek at, and a stirring of the sauce every couple of hours is all the labor it takes there after.
Hopefully your beloveds tummy will be as happy as my husband Joe's tummy, and you will be well wooed for all your labor of love!
Bon Appetit!... or as we say down South... YUM YUM YUM... and DIG IN!!!
Friday, September 16, 2011
Monday, September 12, 2011
The State Fair... Then and Now
I have been going to the State Fair (the Kentucky State Fair for my first 30 years) for as far back as I can remember. Since then, I have been fortunate to visit many State Fairs in several States. There have been many times when I went to the same State Fair several times in the same year... as in... I went with my Grandparents and Cousins, then went again with my Mom, Dad and Brother, then again with my Boyfriend (who is now my husband!), then went again with Girlfriends from school, then went again with my Boyfriends Family. You would think that once was enough... but that just isn't true... because... you experience different things with each person or group you go with... and after all... the State Fair comes but once a year, and is only in town for a couple of weeks.
When I went with my Grandparents and Cousins... Grandpa would walk around and 'work the Fair', checking on his many employees... Grandpa was the owner and operator of a Security Police company, and the State Fair was just one of many sites that hired his company... so while Grandpa did his work thing, Grandma would take us youngsters straight to the Mid-way where she would begin a night full of spoiling us rotten... buying us anything and everything we wanted to eat from all the food venders, and packets of tickets for us to ride any ride we wanted... as many times as we wanted to ride it. Grandma herself did not partake in any of the rides... she would sit or stand near the ride holding all our stuff, smiling and waving and taking pure pleasure in our pleasure. However, Grandma did partake and enjoy in the eating ritual of greasy Fair food... such as corn dogs (her personal must have favorite), corn on the cob, funnel cakes, lemon shake-ups, cotton candy, caramel apples, italian sausages w/peppers and onions, elephant ears, soft serve ice cream, milk shakes... you name it, we ate it. Grandma would also give us all the quarters we needed or wanted to play the various 'Games of Chance'... and again... she would carry and hold all our big winnings while we played our games and continued to ride the rides. When I was a child, I never understood how Grandma said she had as much fun as us kids did, when she never even rode a single ride and insisted on being the pack mule... but now that I have had my own children, whom I have taken to the State Fair and/or to Amusement Parks, and have been the wallet and pack mule... I totally get it! Seeing the pure joy of your Children and Grandchildren is a totally priceless pleasure that just can not be described! Grandma... I'm trying to 'pay it forward' and pass on the joys of childhood you gave to all us kids! After my Grandpa was finished doing his rounds, and Grandma and us kids were finished doing our Mid-way thing... we would gather all together once again and do the rounds of the animal barns, and then go see the Rodeo Show and/or the Horse Show... another particular favorite of both my Grandparents.
When I went to the Fair with my Boyfriend (between the ages of 14 - 19)... we too went straight to the Mid-way... holding on to our wallets/purse tight that held our own hard earned cash or allowance. We were much pickier in rides and our food vending choices (usually sharing our food selections)... and usually we spent every single cent in our wallets/purse... but the experience was totally different from being with Grandma. We would choose the wildest, craziest, FASTEST rides, and the hidden tunnel rides in which we could grab a quick kiss session. We would hold hands and let everyone know... we were a real couple! HA to all you lasses who dared look at my Boyfriend.... he was mine!!!... and to all the fellas who may have looked my way in my short shorts... sorry... I'm with HIM!! Young love... sooo possessive... but just soo cute too!
When I went to the Fair with my Girlfriends (between the ages of 13 - 18)... now that was a different story all together! We would definitely dress for as much attention as we could get... usually short shorts, tank tops and sandals... we would bat our eyes, toss our hair, wiggle our hinnies, and outrageously flirt and giggle with any and every male we could get attention from. Why we thought this was fun... who knows... but I still see the same behavior now at the State Fairs from young lasses, as us young lasses did back then. Now that I am Ohhh so much older and wiser... and have raised three daughters of my own... who I know very well behaved the same way (much to my chagrin!) I see how completely 'see thru' we were, and that no one... well other than the young lads our own age... never took us seriously and were actually laughing at us after we passed by. Once.... a Girlfriend and I decided we would be 'interesting foreign girls', and thus made up our own language to speak to each other... one of us of course would be the 'interpreter' to everyone else.... again.... why we thought we were actually convincing... I have no clue... but we really thought we pulled it off and had a great time all the same! We rode only the rides with the cute workers, and rode nothing that would muss our hair out of place!
When I went to the Fair with my Mom, Dad and Brother... my parents would drag my Brother and I through all the exhibits, we would have to go peruse all the aisles of new fangled farm equipment, and through the mucky stinky animal barns before they would FINALLY take us to the Mid-way for just a 'couple' of rides and a corn dog. We both really actually enjoyed it all... with the exception of the gazing at the boring farm equipment, but... we were kids and the Fair was all about, and only about the Mid-way and the rides! And of course... you had to walk several steps behind or to the side of your parents... so that any friends you may see wouldn't think you were lame and with your parents. Of course all the way home my Brother and I would jabber on and on about how much fun we had all had together.
As an adult taking my own girls to the State Fair... I too tried to instill in them all the values the State Fair has to offer other than just the Mid-way and greasy foods. We would always go view the various art and photo exhibits, the quilts (seems to be everyone's favorite!), peruse through the animal barns, and of course you just have to go see all the HUGE home grown produce Blue Ribbon contestants to "WOW... and OMGOSH... I can't believe that such is such is soooo big"! I now completely understand why my parents made us see all the Fair had to offer before heading to the Mid-way... because A) they really wanted to enjoy the Fair too and see all the oddities that can be seen at any Fair, and B) because their funds were limited and you had to do the Mid-way last, because you didn't want to spend every cent you had in the first 15 minutes of being at the Fair. When we were raising our girls, Joe and I too had a limited income and had to stretch our 'extra State Fair money' between the three daughters and the expense of the greasy Fair food and the tickets needed for each ride as far as we could stretch it, and still give the girls a great time at the Fair.
So that brings me to this year's Fair experience at the Kansas State Fair with just Joe and I. We saw all the bright lights of the Mid-way... and that was all the Mid-way experience we were even remotely interested in.... ahhhh... how times do change!!! Joe and I were more interested in the greasy food venders and the people watching.... cheapest, funniest entertainment available anywhere! My favorite Fair food fare is now the corn on the cob..... OMGOSH.... AMAZING!!! Especially when you make sure they completely douse your cob in all that delish butter!!... we also gave our cob a generous sprinkling of cajun seasoning.... yum yum yum!!!! I would pay the $8 entrance fee to the Fair again... just to get my mouth on another corn on the cob! We ate italian sausage w/onions and peppers, a corn dog, a german sausage, a gyro, a lemon shake-up (Joe enjoyed corona's at the beer tent... which was the main place to people watch), chocolate peanut butter decadence ice cream, and a funnel cake. We heard there was sauerkraut pizza and red velvet funnel cakes... but we weren't able to locate either.... hummm maybe that's even another reason why we should return to the Fair!
Joe and I meandered through food alley, went into the main building to gaze upon the butter sculpture, went to the pig races... which... how hilarious was that!!!??? TOO freaking hilarious!!!... and sat in the beer tent to enjoy our favorite past time of people watching. We saw body piercings in the strangest of places, tatoos (large and small, black and in color), mullets, mohawks, rainbow colored hair, short shorts on those who should not be wearing short shorts, adorable babies and children, the most outrageous outfits imaginable... just to name a few interesting sites that walked past us. As Joe likes to say.... we were watching a slice of America right there at the Kansas State Fair. We enjoyed every minute and I do hope we are able to return for another visit before the Fair packs up and goes away for another year.... I know there is another ear of corn waiting for me to consume!
When I went with my Grandparents and Cousins... Grandpa would walk around and 'work the Fair', checking on his many employees... Grandpa was the owner and operator of a Security Police company, and the State Fair was just one of many sites that hired his company... so while Grandpa did his work thing, Grandma would take us youngsters straight to the Mid-way where she would begin a night full of spoiling us rotten... buying us anything and everything we wanted to eat from all the food venders, and packets of tickets for us to ride any ride we wanted... as many times as we wanted to ride it. Grandma herself did not partake in any of the rides... she would sit or stand near the ride holding all our stuff, smiling and waving and taking pure pleasure in our pleasure. However, Grandma did partake and enjoy in the eating ritual of greasy Fair food... such as corn dogs (her personal must have favorite), corn on the cob, funnel cakes, lemon shake-ups, cotton candy, caramel apples, italian sausages w/peppers and onions, elephant ears, soft serve ice cream, milk shakes... you name it, we ate it. Grandma would also give us all the quarters we needed or wanted to play the various 'Games of Chance'... and again... she would carry and hold all our big winnings while we played our games and continued to ride the rides. When I was a child, I never understood how Grandma said she had as much fun as us kids did, when she never even rode a single ride and insisted on being the pack mule... but now that I have had my own children, whom I have taken to the State Fair and/or to Amusement Parks, and have been the wallet and pack mule... I totally get it! Seeing the pure joy of your Children and Grandchildren is a totally priceless pleasure that just can not be described! Grandma... I'm trying to 'pay it forward' and pass on the joys of childhood you gave to all us kids! After my Grandpa was finished doing his rounds, and Grandma and us kids were finished doing our Mid-way thing... we would gather all together once again and do the rounds of the animal barns, and then go see the Rodeo Show and/or the Horse Show... another particular favorite of both my Grandparents.
When I went to the Fair with my Boyfriend (between the ages of 14 - 19)... we too went straight to the Mid-way... holding on to our wallets/purse tight that held our own hard earned cash or allowance. We were much pickier in rides and our food vending choices (usually sharing our food selections)... and usually we spent every single cent in our wallets/purse... but the experience was totally different from being with Grandma. We would choose the wildest, craziest, FASTEST rides, and the hidden tunnel rides in which we could grab a quick kiss session. We would hold hands and let everyone know... we were a real couple! HA to all you lasses who dared look at my Boyfriend.... he was mine!!!... and to all the fellas who may have looked my way in my short shorts... sorry... I'm with HIM!! Young love... sooo possessive... but just soo cute too!
When I went to the Fair with my Girlfriends (between the ages of 13 - 18)... now that was a different story all together! We would definitely dress for as much attention as we could get... usually short shorts, tank tops and sandals... we would bat our eyes, toss our hair, wiggle our hinnies, and outrageously flirt and giggle with any and every male we could get attention from. Why we thought this was fun... who knows... but I still see the same behavior now at the State Fairs from young lasses, as us young lasses did back then. Now that I am Ohhh so much older and wiser... and have raised three daughters of my own... who I know very well behaved the same way (much to my chagrin!) I see how completely 'see thru' we were, and that no one... well other than the young lads our own age... never took us seriously and were actually laughing at us after we passed by. Once.... a Girlfriend and I decided we would be 'interesting foreign girls', and thus made up our own language to speak to each other... one of us of course would be the 'interpreter' to everyone else.... again.... why we thought we were actually convincing... I have no clue... but we really thought we pulled it off and had a great time all the same! We rode only the rides with the cute workers, and rode nothing that would muss our hair out of place!
When I went to the Fair with my Mom, Dad and Brother... my parents would drag my Brother and I through all the exhibits, we would have to go peruse all the aisles of new fangled farm equipment, and through the mucky stinky animal barns before they would FINALLY take us to the Mid-way for just a 'couple' of rides and a corn dog. We both really actually enjoyed it all... with the exception of the gazing at the boring farm equipment, but... we were kids and the Fair was all about, and only about the Mid-way and the rides! And of course... you had to walk several steps behind or to the side of your parents... so that any friends you may see wouldn't think you were lame and with your parents. Of course all the way home my Brother and I would jabber on and on about how much fun we had all had together.
As an adult taking my own girls to the State Fair... I too tried to instill in them all the values the State Fair has to offer other than just the Mid-way and greasy foods. We would always go view the various art and photo exhibits, the quilts (seems to be everyone's favorite!), peruse through the animal barns, and of course you just have to go see all the HUGE home grown produce Blue Ribbon contestants to "WOW... and OMGOSH... I can't believe that such is such is soooo big"! I now completely understand why my parents made us see all the Fair had to offer before heading to the Mid-way... because A) they really wanted to enjoy the Fair too and see all the oddities that can be seen at any Fair, and B) because their funds were limited and you had to do the Mid-way last, because you didn't want to spend every cent you had in the first 15 minutes of being at the Fair. When we were raising our girls, Joe and I too had a limited income and had to stretch our 'extra State Fair money' between the three daughters and the expense of the greasy Fair food and the tickets needed for each ride as far as we could stretch it, and still give the girls a great time at the Fair.
So that brings me to this year's Fair experience at the Kansas State Fair with just Joe and I. We saw all the bright lights of the Mid-way... and that was all the Mid-way experience we were even remotely interested in.... ahhhh... how times do change!!! Joe and I were more interested in the greasy food venders and the people watching.... cheapest, funniest entertainment available anywhere! My favorite Fair food fare is now the corn on the cob..... OMGOSH.... AMAZING!!! Especially when you make sure they completely douse your cob in all that delish butter!!... we also gave our cob a generous sprinkling of cajun seasoning.... yum yum yum!!!! I would pay the $8 entrance fee to the Fair again... just to get my mouth on another corn on the cob! We ate italian sausage w/onions and peppers, a corn dog, a german sausage, a gyro, a lemon shake-up (Joe enjoyed corona's at the beer tent... which was the main place to people watch), chocolate peanut butter decadence ice cream, and a funnel cake. We heard there was sauerkraut pizza and red velvet funnel cakes... but we weren't able to locate either.... hummm maybe that's even another reason why we should return to the Fair!
Joe and I meandered through food alley, went into the main building to gaze upon the butter sculpture, went to the pig races... which... how hilarious was that!!!??? TOO freaking hilarious!!!... and sat in the beer tent to enjoy our favorite past time of people watching. We saw body piercings in the strangest of places, tatoos (large and small, black and in color), mullets, mohawks, rainbow colored hair, short shorts on those who should not be wearing short shorts, adorable babies and children, the most outrageous outfits imaginable... just to name a few interesting sites that walked past us. As Joe likes to say.... we were watching a slice of America right there at the Kansas State Fair. We enjoyed every minute and I do hope we are able to return for another visit before the Fair packs up and goes away for another year.... I know there is another ear of corn waiting for me to consume!
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Labor Day 2011
I drug my feet.... I screamed at the top of my lungs... NO! NO! NO!!.... but.... the last HOO RAH of Summer... aka... Labor Day... came and went all the same! You just can't stop time from continuing to march onward! However... those of us who live in Kansas enjoyed a spectacular clear sunny day with temps in the 80's.
My husband Joe and I joined some family friends at the pool at noon... where we enjoyed hamburgers, ice cream, popcorn, beverages, lots of sunshine, got in our last laps and splish splashing pool time, and bade 'goodbye til next Summer' to all our other friends. We were blessed and lucky to have such a gorgeous day together... especially since I hear our family and friends back east in Kentucky, Tennessee, and Ohio did not fare as well and had cool/cold temps with dreary rain all weekend.
Our sun-fried crispy little group left the pool at 6:00 p.m. to go home, shower and change, and later meet back up together at "Ken's Pizza" for dinner... which is just the BESTEST pizza EVER!!! We ate pizza, pasta, and salad, we laughed and giggled, and talked about all the fun times we had had together this past Summer... then we all trudged and shuffled to our separate cars, our heads hung low, and our lips drooping, to go home and actually bring an end to the last HOO RAH of Summer to get ready for work and school the next day. The last 4 day Holiday weekend of Summer had come to it's end!
Here in Kansas our temperatures remain in the 80's and 90's this week and next... the nights and mornings are Fall-ishly cool, but the days are still sunny, warm and beautiful... but no matter... it still feels like Fall. Whether I go into a grocery store, a department store, or a craft store.... all I see is pumpkins, Halloween costumes and decorations... and YES!!!!!... even Christmas decorations!!! Which makes me say.... WHAT!!!!!!!... there is just something sooooo wrong in seeing decorated Christmas trees in stores in Sept!!!!!
The Kansas State Fair arrives here in Hutchinson Kansas tomorrow.... WOO HOO!!!!.... I'm really looking forward to that. Then next weekend Joe and I are going to our first Fall Arts and Crafts show of the season... and so thus stealthily and quietly Fall approaches with it's pumpkins, gourds, scare crows, caramel apples, apple cider and hot chocolate! I'm still not ready to bid adieu to Summer... but... Fall is coming right on schedule, just like it does every year.
Once Fall has arrived... I do enjoy the season... begrudgingly!... but I do enjoy it's specialness... and then my pouty pants whine begins again... when Winter begins to show up! No offense to Winter... but the older I get, the more I just DO NOT LIKE WINTER... even though I LOVE the Holidays... I just HATE the cold, and all the clothing layers needed, and heavy coats! ICK ICK ICK!!! I'm like a bear and try my best to hibernate through as much of Winter as possible, waiting for the first signs of Spring... when along with my Winter clothes, I put away my pouty pants whine and bring out my smile of blissfulness that the warm sunny days have returned once again!
Hello Fall, and to Fall Festivals, Football season, Pumpkin Patches, Fire pits and roasted marshmallows, Trick or Treating, Chili season, and to all the rest of what the Fall season brings with it!
My husband Joe and I joined some family friends at the pool at noon... where we enjoyed hamburgers, ice cream, popcorn, beverages, lots of sunshine, got in our last laps and splish splashing pool time, and bade 'goodbye til next Summer' to all our other friends. We were blessed and lucky to have such a gorgeous day together... especially since I hear our family and friends back east in Kentucky, Tennessee, and Ohio did not fare as well and had cool/cold temps with dreary rain all weekend.
Our sun-fried crispy little group left the pool at 6:00 p.m. to go home, shower and change, and later meet back up together at "Ken's Pizza" for dinner... which is just the BESTEST pizza EVER!!! We ate pizza, pasta, and salad, we laughed and giggled, and talked about all the fun times we had had together this past Summer... then we all trudged and shuffled to our separate cars, our heads hung low, and our lips drooping, to go home and actually bring an end to the last HOO RAH of Summer to get ready for work and school the next day. The last 4 day Holiday weekend of Summer had come to it's end!
Here in Kansas our temperatures remain in the 80's and 90's this week and next... the nights and mornings are Fall-ishly cool, but the days are still sunny, warm and beautiful... but no matter... it still feels like Fall. Whether I go into a grocery store, a department store, or a craft store.... all I see is pumpkins, Halloween costumes and decorations... and YES!!!!!... even Christmas decorations!!! Which makes me say.... WHAT!!!!!!!... there is just something sooooo wrong in seeing decorated Christmas trees in stores in Sept!!!!!
The Kansas State Fair arrives here in Hutchinson Kansas tomorrow.... WOO HOO!!!!.... I'm really looking forward to that. Then next weekend Joe and I are going to our first Fall Arts and Crafts show of the season... and so thus stealthily and quietly Fall approaches with it's pumpkins, gourds, scare crows, caramel apples, apple cider and hot chocolate! I'm still not ready to bid adieu to Summer... but... Fall is coming right on schedule, just like it does every year.
Once Fall has arrived... I do enjoy the season... begrudgingly!... but I do enjoy it's specialness... and then my pouty pants whine begins again... when Winter begins to show up! No offense to Winter... but the older I get, the more I just DO NOT LIKE WINTER... even though I LOVE the Holidays... I just HATE the cold, and all the clothing layers needed, and heavy coats! ICK ICK ICK!!! I'm like a bear and try my best to hibernate through as much of Winter as possible, waiting for the first signs of Spring... when along with my Winter clothes, I put away my pouty pants whine and bring out my smile of blissfulness that the warm sunny days have returned once again!
Hello Fall, and to Fall Festivals, Football season, Pumpkin Patches, Fire pits and roasted marshmallows, Trick or Treating, Chili season, and to all the rest of what the Fall season brings with it!
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Celebrating Another Birthday!
Today is my 53rd Birthday (GEESH.... can't believe I just shared that... but... it is what it is... and another year older is ALWAYS a good thing, and the direction I want to keep heading in!)... and I must say... a HUGE THANK YOU to everyone who made my day special with all your Happy Birthday wishes via email, FB, texts, and phone calls!! It was indeed a VERY special day! (Dad.... I got your email.... Sorry I wasn't able to get your call.... but I KNOW you ALWAYS think of me on my special day... HUGS Victoria!!!!)
This Birthday is just a tweener year Birthday... that's the years in between the BIG celebrations... such as, 1st Birthdays (the first of anything is always special!)... 13th Birthdays (entrance into the teen years)... 18th Birthdays (usually graduation year and legally allowed to vote)... 21st Birthdays (one of the really BIG Birthdays as you enter into official and legal adulthood)... 25th Birthdays (celebrating 1st quarter of a century)... 30th Birthdays (the beginning of celebrating entrance into new decades)... 40th Birthdays (another decade passes)... 50th Birthdays (BIGGER than 21... marking a half century... the entrance into 'middle age'... usually involves a "Surprise Birthday Party")... 60th Birthdays (another decade passes)... 70th Birthdays (another decade passes)... 75th Birthdays (celebrating 3/4 of a century)... 80th Birthdays (another decade passes... fewer Birthdays are expected to come your way at this point)... 90th Birthdays (another decade passes... unbelievably!!!)... and then... if you are really lucky and blessed 100th Birthdays (celebrating the rare century of Birthday's... not that you will remember the party or celebration of this Birthday... but it's the BIGGEST one of all!!) So... this year was just another tweener year... it was a long distance Birthday and yet I am sooo moved and touched by all those who went out of their way to remember me today, and reached out to tell me so! I kinda like the quieter tweener years because, there is less expectation and pressure of everyone knowing it is a year that needs to be celebrated, and I love the unexpected joy and surprise of those who make it special all the same!
I am indeed quite Blessed to have lots of family and very close friends who are in my life, and who let me know I am loved! I received LOTS of Happy Mail this week, as well as, was taken out to lunch and a movie by a dear friend, received balloons, a cookbook from my Dad, a necklace and candle from a friend, sweet treats, a new dress from my eldest Daughter/Fiance, and a new watch from my sweet Husband, who also took me out to our favorite Bistro for dinner... pretty good loot if you ask me... and especially for just a 'tweener' year! I blew out candles, made wishes, laughed, shared in lots of memories of the past with loved ones, and just had a really good day!
I don't mind getting older, and have never minded sharing what my true age is. I mentally feel much younger than I actually am... yet my body tends to argue with me on that! : ) I hope to be one of those special few who get the BIG century celebration as I turn 100! I want my old wrinkly, toothless, sweet face to be on the Smucker's jelly jar on the Today Show! But.... DON'T make me wear a silly hat!!!! I have younger family members who have promised to have my back on that one and prevent anyone from placing a silly hat on my head! I don't mind having my walker or wheelchair (if I am in the need of either) decorated with balloons and/or streamers... but NO HAT ON MY HEAD! I just don't like that little piece of elastic under my chin... have never liked it, even when I was a child.
As I read through the latest FB status messages... I noticed that a favorite cousin gave birth to her daughter this afternoon... I feel honored to share my birth date with Miss Avery!!! Congratulations to Sandy, Nicole and Jeff and the safe arrival of their sweet bundle of joy!
Thanks again to all of you!!! Wishing you all a safe and happy Labor Day weekend!
This Birthday is just a tweener year Birthday... that's the years in between the BIG celebrations... such as, 1st Birthdays (the first of anything is always special!)... 13th Birthdays (entrance into the teen years)... 18th Birthdays (usually graduation year and legally allowed to vote)... 21st Birthdays (one of the really BIG Birthdays as you enter into official and legal adulthood)... 25th Birthdays (celebrating 1st quarter of a century)... 30th Birthdays (the beginning of celebrating entrance into new decades)... 40th Birthdays (another decade passes)... 50th Birthdays (BIGGER than 21... marking a half century... the entrance into 'middle age'... usually involves a "Surprise Birthday Party")... 60th Birthdays (another decade passes)... 70th Birthdays (another decade passes)... 75th Birthdays (celebrating 3/4 of a century)... 80th Birthdays (another decade passes... fewer Birthdays are expected to come your way at this point)... 90th Birthdays (another decade passes... unbelievably!!!)... and then... if you are really lucky and blessed 100th Birthdays (celebrating the rare century of Birthday's... not that you will remember the party or celebration of this Birthday... but it's the BIGGEST one of all!!) So... this year was just another tweener year... it was a long distance Birthday and yet I am sooo moved and touched by all those who went out of their way to remember me today, and reached out to tell me so! I kinda like the quieter tweener years because, there is less expectation and pressure of everyone knowing it is a year that needs to be celebrated, and I love the unexpected joy and surprise of those who make it special all the same!
I am indeed quite Blessed to have lots of family and very close friends who are in my life, and who let me know I am loved! I received LOTS of Happy Mail this week, as well as, was taken out to lunch and a movie by a dear friend, received balloons, a cookbook from my Dad, a necklace and candle from a friend, sweet treats, a new dress from my eldest Daughter/Fiance, and a new watch from my sweet Husband, who also took me out to our favorite Bistro for dinner... pretty good loot if you ask me... and especially for just a 'tweener' year! I blew out candles, made wishes, laughed, shared in lots of memories of the past with loved ones, and just had a really good day!
I don't mind getting older, and have never minded sharing what my true age is. I mentally feel much younger than I actually am... yet my body tends to argue with me on that! : ) I hope to be one of those special few who get the BIG century celebration as I turn 100! I want my old wrinkly, toothless, sweet face to be on the Smucker's jelly jar on the Today Show! But.... DON'T make me wear a silly hat!!!! I have younger family members who have promised to have my back on that one and prevent anyone from placing a silly hat on my head! I don't mind having my walker or wheelchair (if I am in the need of either) decorated with balloons and/or streamers... but NO HAT ON MY HEAD! I just don't like that little piece of elastic under my chin... have never liked it, even when I was a child.
As I read through the latest FB status messages... I noticed that a favorite cousin gave birth to her daughter this afternoon... I feel honored to share my birth date with Miss Avery!!! Congratulations to Sandy, Nicole and Jeff and the safe arrival of their sweet bundle of joy!
Thanks again to all of you!!! Wishing you all a safe and happy Labor Day weekend!
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Before I even begin explaining and blogging about "Pinterest".... I must do my "Lost In Space" imitation of the robot... including with my arms waving and flailing in earnest as I shout... (Yes... I'm aware this shows my age!)..... WARNING!!! WARNING!!! WARNING!!!... the website I'm about to blog about can be VERY ADDICTIVE!!!! So you now have the choice to stop reading and decide that you don't want to become an addicted Pinterest person.... or.... you can curiously keep reading and see what the heck I'm talking about.
Pinterest.... This is a website "pinterest.com" that basically is a common HUGE, never ending bulletin board, where internet users all over the world find 'interesting' things from other websites all over the internet, and 'pin' these interests/findings on to this common main bulletin board.... THUS.... "Pinterest" literally means.... "pinning interests".
What?.... you may ask are the interesting things people pin on this common board? Well..... for instance... you will find recipes for all sorts of dishes, pastries, desserts, etc., decorating ideas, fashion, photo's of amazing nature scenes, quotes, recommendations for books to read, craft ideas and instructions, DYI ideas and instructions, clever new products available, clever tips for cleaning and organizing.... you name it, you can find it on pinterest.com. The website changes literally by the minute because people all over the world are constantly pinning on this board.
You have two options of perusing this website... you can A) just go to the web address and peruse the main board as long as you like... or B) you can select the button on the top of the page "request invite". Anyone, at any time, can go to the web address and enjoy... but if you request an invite (your invite can take any where from a few minutes to a week or two.... don't take it personally if it takes a couple weeks... this web site is VERY busy). Once you have your invitation to join, you can then set up your own personal account.... IT'S FREE!!!!!.... no personal info is required.... you just basically need an email address and a password.... that's it!!!! After setting up your own account/page... you can then 'repin' interesting things you find on Pinterest and make your own bulletin boards for your own personal use, and for others to follow as well.
Why would you want your own bulletin board when you can just go to the website any time and peruse without the bother of having to set up your own page? The answer to that question is... because the main board changes literally by the minute... what you saw/found on a visit to the website on an earlier visit, may no longer be easy to find on your next visit... but if you have your own board, and you have repined your interest to your board, you can easily access the info any time you want. If you haven't set up your own page, you can't 'save' any pins you saw and liked on earlier visits.
This has been a wonderful diversion this summer when there has been NOTHING to watch on tv other than reruns. At night when I have nothing else to do, I sit at my computer and go to the Pinterest website and enjoy finding wonderful items of interest at my finger tips... I can get lost in this website for hours! I find myself seeing something on this website and thinking... "WOW!!! That's really cool".... or.... "Hmmmmm I should try that!!".... or.... "I need to share this with so and so"..... etc.
This website allows you to share the interesting things you find with friends on Facebook, by simply clicking on the interest, highlighting the web address, clicking on your 'Edit' button, clicking on 'Copy', then clicking on your "File" button, clicking on 'New Window', and clicking on Facebook.... then I click on the friend I want to share it with, then just go to my 'Edit' button and clicking on 'Paste'. This may sound complicated.... but really it is just a few computer keyboard clicks. You can also look for friends/family who have accounts on this website and see what they find interesting, you can follow their boards, and/or they can follow yours. It's just a BIG HUGE board of sharing fun and interesting things with others!
I challenge you to give this website a look-see.... you might find yourself amazed at the things others have posted to this website. If nothing else, you can at least have the knowledge of what others are talking about when they speak about 'Pinterest'. I personally find it quite fascinating... and yes... addicting! It's a very lazy way of perusing the internet/web by viewing what other internet/web users have searched and discovered the hard way!
P.S. I have 37 boards I have created on my personal page... thus proving my warning of addiction! : )
Pinterest.... This is a website "pinterest.com" that basically is a common HUGE, never ending bulletin board, where internet users all over the world find 'interesting' things from other websites all over the internet, and 'pin' these interests/findings on to this common main bulletin board.... THUS.... "Pinterest" literally means.... "pinning interests".
What?.... you may ask are the interesting things people pin on this common board? Well..... for instance... you will find recipes for all sorts of dishes, pastries, desserts, etc., decorating ideas, fashion, photo's of amazing nature scenes, quotes, recommendations for books to read, craft ideas and instructions, DYI ideas and instructions, clever new products available, clever tips for cleaning and organizing.... you name it, you can find it on pinterest.com. The website changes literally by the minute because people all over the world are constantly pinning on this board.
You have two options of perusing this website... you can A) just go to the web address and peruse the main board as long as you like... or B) you can select the button on the top of the page "request invite". Anyone, at any time, can go to the web address and enjoy... but if you request an invite (your invite can take any where from a few minutes to a week or two.... don't take it personally if it takes a couple weeks... this web site is VERY busy). Once you have your invitation to join, you can then set up your own personal account.... IT'S FREE!!!!!.... no personal info is required.... you just basically need an email address and a password.... that's it!!!! After setting up your own account/page... you can then 'repin' interesting things you find on Pinterest and make your own bulletin boards for your own personal use, and for others to follow as well.
Why would you want your own bulletin board when you can just go to the website any time and peruse without the bother of having to set up your own page? The answer to that question is... because the main board changes literally by the minute... what you saw/found on a visit to the website on an earlier visit, may no longer be easy to find on your next visit... but if you have your own board, and you have repined your interest to your board, you can easily access the info any time you want. If you haven't set up your own page, you can't 'save' any pins you saw and liked on earlier visits.
This has been a wonderful diversion this summer when there has been NOTHING to watch on tv other than reruns. At night when I have nothing else to do, I sit at my computer and go to the Pinterest website and enjoy finding wonderful items of interest at my finger tips... I can get lost in this website for hours! I find myself seeing something on this website and thinking... "WOW!!! That's really cool".... or.... "Hmmmmm I should try that!!".... or.... "I need to share this with so and so"..... etc.
This website allows you to share the interesting things you find with friends on Facebook, by simply clicking on the interest, highlighting the web address, clicking on your 'Edit' button, clicking on 'Copy', then clicking on your "File" button, clicking on 'New Window', and clicking on Facebook.... then I click on the friend I want to share it with, then just go to my 'Edit' button and clicking on 'Paste'. This may sound complicated.... but really it is just a few computer keyboard clicks. You can also look for friends/family who have accounts on this website and see what they find interesting, you can follow their boards, and/or they can follow yours. It's just a BIG HUGE board of sharing fun and interesting things with others!
I challenge you to give this website a look-see.... you might find yourself amazed at the things others have posted to this website. If nothing else, you can at least have the knowledge of what others are talking about when they speak about 'Pinterest'. I personally find it quite fascinating... and yes... addicting! It's a very lazy way of perusing the internet/web by viewing what other internet/web users have searched and discovered the hard way!
P.S. I have 37 boards I have created on my personal page... thus proving my warning of addiction! : )
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Just Little Things
These are some of my favorite things!
1. Laughing so hard, no noise comes out, so I sit there clapping like a retarded seal
2. Hearing a new song and instantly loving it
3. Knowing all the words to a song
4. When the last item in the store is just my size
5. The feeling after a really good movie
6. Listening to Grandparents tell stories
7. The smell of popcorn in a movie theater
8. Getting mail
9. The feeling of relief after finding something I lost
10. Waking up and realizing the bad dream I had isn't real
11. The look on the Groom's face as he watches his Bride walk up the aisle on their big day
12. Contagious laughter
13. A full pantry or fridge after grocery shopping
14. Finally remembering the word on the tip of my tongue
15. Reading my old diaries and journals
16. The look of freshly vacuumed carpet
17. Turning on the TV just in time
18. Falling asleep on the couch and waking up with a blanket on me
19. Wearing new clothes for the first time
20. Being told I made someone's day
21. When other families treat me like a member
22. Tearing out a piece of perforated paper perfectly
23. When the stoplight turns green right before I brake
24. Jumping into a pool on a hot day
25. Untouched snow
26. Sleeping on clean sheets... preferably dried in the sun
27. Finding money in my pocket
28. The sound of the ocean
29. The smell of fresh laundry
30. Feeling the warmth of the sun on my skin
31. Being home alone, blasting music, singing loudly, and dancing crazily
32. Sleeping in my own bed after being away
33. Finding out something was cheaper than I thought it was
34. Getting the perfect parking spot
35. Holding a baby in my arms
36. Realizing it's Friday
37. When my on-line order arrives
38. Dresses with pockets
39. Lazy Saturday afternoons
40. Getting my hair washed at the salon
41. Finding joy everyday
42. When someone's laugh is better than the joke
43. When no one notices what I do until I don't do it
44. Letting the sunshine in
45. Thinking outside the box
46. Friends who give me total freedom to be myself
47. When something seems impossible until it's done
48. Being home where I can look and feel ugly and enjoy it
49. Making wishes on eyelashes, wishbones, dandelions, shooting stars, pennies, 11:11 and birthday candles
50. Knowing I can't say Happiness without saying "penis"
51. Killing them with kindness
52. Starting each day with a grateful heart
53. A cup of hot tea
54. Hearing song lyrics that totally apply to my current situation
55. Sitting on the corner of AWESOME and BOMBDIGGITY
56. Reading a book and getting absolutely, and undeniably attached to the characters to the point that I laugh and cry with them, and physically miss them when I finish the book
57. Laughing out loud at something that happened in the book I'm reading
58. When someone comes running to hug me
59. Seeing and hearing a baby laugh
60. Clever puns
61. Waking up and realizing I have more time to sleep
62. Laughing until my stomach hurts
63. Pretty skies
64. Looking through old photographs
65. Good dreams
66. Getting the piece of chocolate I wanted out of an assortment box
67. Revisiting favorite childhood places
68. Coming home
69. Clear starry nights
70. Holding hands
71. Moon gazing
72. When someone tells me I look nice
73. The feeling of accomplishment after exercising
74. Friday Night Date Nights
75. Evening strolls with my husband
76. Crossing things off my "to do list"
77. Being a Hostess and entertaining others in my home
78. Burning candles in my house, so that it always smells nice
79. The fresh clean feeling after a shower/bath
80. When having to go to plan B works out much better than the original plan A
1. Laughing so hard, no noise comes out, so I sit there clapping like a retarded seal
2. Hearing a new song and instantly loving it
3. Knowing all the words to a song
4. When the last item in the store is just my size
5. The feeling after a really good movie
6. Listening to Grandparents tell stories
7. The smell of popcorn in a movie theater
8. Getting mail
9. The feeling of relief after finding something I lost
10. Waking up and realizing the bad dream I had isn't real
11. The look on the Groom's face as he watches his Bride walk up the aisle on their big day
12. Contagious laughter
13. A full pantry or fridge after grocery shopping
14. Finally remembering the word on the tip of my tongue
15. Reading my old diaries and journals
16. The look of freshly vacuumed carpet
17. Turning on the TV just in time
18. Falling asleep on the couch and waking up with a blanket on me
19. Wearing new clothes for the first time
20. Being told I made someone's day
21. When other families treat me like a member
22. Tearing out a piece of perforated paper perfectly
23. When the stoplight turns green right before I brake
24. Jumping into a pool on a hot day
25. Untouched snow
26. Sleeping on clean sheets... preferably dried in the sun
27. Finding money in my pocket
28. The sound of the ocean
29. The smell of fresh laundry
30. Feeling the warmth of the sun on my skin
31. Being home alone, blasting music, singing loudly, and dancing crazily
32. Sleeping in my own bed after being away
33. Finding out something was cheaper than I thought it was
34. Getting the perfect parking spot
35. Holding a baby in my arms
36. Realizing it's Friday
37. When my on-line order arrives
38. Dresses with pockets
39. Lazy Saturday afternoons
40. Getting my hair washed at the salon
41. Finding joy everyday
42. When someone's laugh is better than the joke
43. When no one notices what I do until I don't do it
44. Letting the sunshine in
45. Thinking outside the box
46. Friends who give me total freedom to be myself
47. When something seems impossible until it's done
48. Being home where I can look and feel ugly and enjoy it
49. Making wishes on eyelashes, wishbones, dandelions, shooting stars, pennies, 11:11 and birthday candles
50. Knowing I can't say Happiness without saying "penis"
51. Killing them with kindness
52. Starting each day with a grateful heart
53. A cup of hot tea
54. Hearing song lyrics that totally apply to my current situation
55. Sitting on the corner of AWESOME and BOMBDIGGITY
56. Reading a book and getting absolutely, and undeniably attached to the characters to the point that I laugh and cry with them, and physically miss them when I finish the book
57. Laughing out loud at something that happened in the book I'm reading
58. When someone comes running to hug me
59. Seeing and hearing a baby laugh
60. Clever puns
61. Waking up and realizing I have more time to sleep
62. Laughing until my stomach hurts
63. Pretty skies
64. Looking through old photographs
65. Good dreams
66. Getting the piece of chocolate I wanted out of an assortment box
67. Revisiting favorite childhood places
68. Coming home
69. Clear starry nights
70. Holding hands
71. Moon gazing
72. When someone tells me I look nice
73. The feeling of accomplishment after exercising
74. Friday Night Date Nights
75. Evening strolls with my husband
76. Crossing things off my "to do list"
77. Being a Hostess and entertaining others in my home
78. Burning candles in my house, so that it always smells nice
79. The fresh clean feeling after a shower/bath
80. When having to go to plan B works out much better than the original plan A
Friday, August 26, 2011
Happy Mail Via Blog
After being miffed and out of sorts all day long yesterday over not getting a single scrap of mail in my mailbox... and then thinking about how Happy Mail really does make me sooooo Happy... and having sooo many wonderful people in my life I have truly intended to send Happy Mail to for some time... but I don't actually have the time to sit and write them all in person... I have decided to dedicate this blog to writing to all those who are, and have been in my heart, and thoughts, and deserve some unexpected Happy Mail. Some of the people actually read and follow my blog... others don't... and for those who don't... I'm hoping their messages will be delivered by word of mouth (or printed off) by those who do read it.
To Nancy (My Cousin)
My first note goes to you because you ALWAYS send the most thoughtful Happy Mails to me at unexpected times, and you too know the joys of finding Happy Mail in your own mailbox!
I hope you and the family have had a wonderful summer with lots of time on the lake! I hope Clay and Abby are settled back in school and have teachers they like, and kids in their classes who they hoped to spend the school year with. You have AWESOME children!!! And.... they are so darn cute too!
I miss you like crazy and wish I had had the opportunity to see you and the family this summer. It's tough living so far from home now and not being able to drive in for the day like I used to for at least one summer family cookout... but hopefully in the future I will have that opportunity again.
Sending you and the family BIG HUGE HUGS!!! and hope all is well your way!
Love V
To Amber and Ben (My Daughter #1 & her Fiance)
THANK YOU SOOOOO MUCH for hostessing all of us last week while I was in town! You both are soooo gracious in sharing everything you have!!! It was a whirlwind week for sure... but such a wonderful time too!! LOVED LOVED LOVED getting to be a part of all the excitement and wedding planning we were able to get accomplished while I was there! I really appreciate all you did for all of us during my visit. I especially really enjoyed all the sitting on the back porch chatting times, and our night time walks with the puppies. Ben, we are VERY blessed to officially add you to our family tree!! Looking forward to seeing you both again on my next visit to town in October... already counting down the days! THANK YOU both bunches again!!!!
LOVE and HUGS, Momma G
To Jessica and Winston (My Daughter #2 & Husband)
I'm soooo glad you were able to camp out with us at Amber's the week I was in town... seemed just like old times when we were all together under one roof! I know it was hectic with your work schedule while I was there... but I'm glad I got to see you as much as possible and spend all that time with my sweet adorable Grandbaby Liam! Sorry I didn't get to see you Winston... but... I get to see you soon in a couple of weeks!!! WOO HOO!!! Dad and I are sooooo looking forward to your visit when you all drive out here to Kansas. Jessica already knows why we just love it here Winston, and we can't wait to show you our sweet town too. Our pool will still be open, and the weather will still be HOT HOT HOT!!!! YAY!!!!! Momma G will be cooking up lots of wonderful meals... so be sure to bring your fat comfy pants... HA HA HA!!! We are counting down the days until your visit!! Sooooo excited!!!! Have a safe trip driving out and we will see you soon!
LOVE and HUGS, Momma G
To Lauren and Kevin (Daughter #3 & Husband)
I'm soooo glad you were able to come camp out with us at Amber's the week I was in town, especially since you are about to return to work and wouldn't get the chance to come camp out with us if you were already working. I'm so glad too that I was able to come see your new apartment and spend the night with you. Kevin you are sooo darn cute I can't stand it!!! Glad I was able to see you, even for the short time we were together. I'm sooo glad you were able to enjoy a much needed and well deserved special date night together while I was in town. GG just LOVED LOVED LOVED getting to babysit her Grandbabies!!! Henry and Liam are sooo sweet and adorable and I just LOVE how they respond to each other... they are bestest friends already! Hope the transition back to work goes well for you and Henry enjoys his daycare! I miss you all like crazy, but... I will see you again in October when I head back to town for another visit! Counting down the days til I get to see you all again! Wishing you LOTS and LOTS of LUCK with your new job! YOU GO GIRL!!
LOVE and HUGS, Momma G
To Mom and Caywood (My Mom & Step Dad)
THANK YOU both sooooo much for the Birthday cookout you had for all of us August/September Birthdays! I'm soooo glad I was able to celebrate all our Birthdays with everyone this year!!! Everything was sooo DELISH and we all had such a great time getting to visit with everyone. My girls (and I) think you are just the cutest thing ever!!!, and we really appreciate all you do for us and all your thoughtfulness! It was sooooo good to be home again! I am sooo fortunate and blessed to have such a WONDERFUL Mom as you, and I hope I'm just like you as a Mom to my own daughters, and a Grandmother just like Grandma G to my Grandbabies! Caywood... you are such a blessing to our family and we deeply appreciate the love and care you give to our Mom!!! I will be back in October and look forward to getting big ole HUGS from you and getting to visit with you again! THANK YOU BUNCHES again for all you do!!!
LOVE and HUGS, V
To Mom and Pop (My In-laws)
THANK YOU sooooo much for the Grandmother plaque you gave me for my Birthday! I LOVE IT, and it is sitting proudly on my shelf! I'm sooo glad that we (me, Amber, Lauren, and Henry) were able to join you at Lynn's Cafe for the Birthday celebration while we were in town. It was soooo good to get to see everyone! Angie is sooo darn cute I can't stand it! We are soooo excited for when her baby arrives! Sorry we had to literally eat and run, but we were sooo grateful we were able to spend the little time we had with you! I'll be back in town in October for Angie's shower and I look forward to visiting with everyone again. CYA soon!!!
LOVE and HUGS, V
To Aunt Edie and Uncle Hobert (My Maternal Aunt/Uncle)
Just wanted to let you know you are in my thoughts and prayers and hoping you both are healing and recovering from your surgeries! Wish I could have seen you while I was in town... I miss you both bunches! With your new knee's and hip... I'll have to refer to you as my bionic Aunt/Uncle! HA HA HA!!! Seriously, I hope you both are doing well and recovering completely! I will be back in town in October and hopefully I will get a chance to visit with you then! Until then... you remain in my thoughts and prayers!
LOVE and HUGS, V
To Mike and Karen (My Brother and Wife)
CONGRATULATIONS Grandpa and Nana K!!! I know how excited you are to welcome your first Grandchild into the world next April!! Nothing in the world can match the joys of Grandparenthood... no matter how well you prepare for it... it is a joy that has to be experienced to be understood! We are soooo excited for you and can't wait to get our hands on the new nugget when it arrives! It was sooo good to see you and celebrate our Birthdays together while I was in town! I hope the boys are settled in and enjoying the new school year and have their friends in their classes. I'll be back in October and hopefully we can get together again then!
LOVE and HUGS, V
To Daddio (My Dad... aka My Hunk)
Just wanted to give you a shout out and say hello! I think of you often and hope you will be able to come for a visit sometime soon. I just know you would love our place here nestled in the woods and the Kansas weather... and of course... you know I'll cook you up some really good grub to make your belly absolutely delighted... even mac and cheese from scratch!!! Hope all is well your way... I think of you often and wish I could see you more!
LOVE and HUGS!!!, Victoria
To Linda and Bob (Joe's Sister & Husband)
Was soooo good to see you and celebrate our Birthday's together! We are soooo glad we were able to join you at Lynn's... sorry to literally eat and run... but... soooo happy we were able to join in. That was such a fun time being together! Angie is sooooo darn adorable!!! She is going to be the sweetest Lil Momma!!! I know your excitement grows by the day looking forward to meeting your new Granddaughter, and she will be here before we know it! HECK.... look at Henry and Liam.... GEESH... they are 6 and 5 months old ALREADY!!!! Looking forward to and counting down the days til my next visit in October when I come in for Angie's shower! CYA soon!
HUGS, V
To Steve and Tami (Joe's Brother and Wife)
It was soooo good to see you all for the short visit we had at Lynn's! I sure do miss ya'll!!! Hope all is well and Ben is settled back in to school and enjoying Senior year! WOW!!! Can't believe your baby is a Senior!!! Wished we could have seen the boys too, but I know how busy their schedules are with work! I'm glad you got to enjoy Henry for a bit.... isn't he such a lil sweetheart... sorry you missed Liam... he too is such a cutie patootie... but then.... I could be biased... me being GG and all! LOL LOL I can't wait to see you again in October when I come back to town for Angie's shower! Isn't she just soooo darn cute!!! She is going to be the sweetest Lil Momma! Babies and Weddings... OH MY!!! Our cup runneth over with LOVE!!! CYA soon!
HUGS, V
To Robin (A Dear Friend)
Just wanted to let you know you are in my thoughts and prayers and I hope your recovery is going well. I wish we lived closer together so I could come visit, bring you some very healing homemade chicken noodle soup, and help with your care! I know you are sooo blessed to have such a wonderful family by your side to help you through your recovery! Miss ya bunches and keeping you in my thoughts and prayers!
HUGS, V
To Lynn (A Dear Friend)
Just wanted to let you know you continue to be in my heart, thoughts, and prayers! I know you still miss Don dearly, and I hope your Dad is doing well with his treatments. I know you must be overjoyed with your new Grandson's arrival! What a much needed blessing you needed in your life! I know you are surrounded with lots of family and friends to help you through this difficult time, I just wish I lived closer so that I too could be one of them. Thinking of you often!
HUGS, V
To Aunt Joan (Joe's Paternal Aunt)
Just wanted to let you know I think of you often and you remain in my thoughts and prayers! I hope your rehab and recovery from your surgeries is going well... Sue keeps me posted on how your progress is going! I'm sooo sorry you are having to go through this and wish I could be there to give you a big ole HUG!!! You are, and always have been such a sweetie, and I'm sooo grateful and blessed to be a part of this family! Sending you lots of GET WELL wishes!
LOVE and HUGS, V
To Aunt Claudia (Joe's Maternal Aunt)
Hey! How are you doing? Wanted to THANK YOU once again for hostessing breakfast/brunch for the clan when we were in town! Everyone was sooooo happy to be able to enjoy your DELISH meatball hoagies! You are sooo sweet and thoughtful and we really appreciate all you do! I'm soooo glad we were able to be there to celebrate Nan's 95th Birthday with the family and get to visit with everyone! It was a wonderful trip (once we got there of course... HA HA HA!!!), but much too short! Hope to see you again soon and THANK YOU again for all you did for us!
LOVE and HUGS! V
To Seesta (My Dear Friend Kay)
How are you doing? Have you had a good summer? I know you have been traveling alot and that is always such fun! I CAN'T WAIT for our trip to Amsterdam together in a few weeks!! WOO HOO!!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE when we travel abroad together and I LOVE seeing Steve and Joe relax and have such fun together!! Looking forward to "The Chair" and "The Cat" (inside joke!) again... both which make me laugh soooo hard I pee my pants and makes my belly hurt!!! AHHHH the memories!!! Counting down the days!!! I soooo miss living close to you and Steve and all our Friday Night Date Nights! I hope you all get to come out for another visit again soon!!!! That was such a fun fun fun few days! Our pool is still open and the weather is still HOT HOT HOT!!! Miss ya'll BUNCHES!!!! But.... we will CYA soon!!! YAY!!
HUGS, V
To Tara (A Dear Friend)
Hey Miss HOT-TEA!!! How is the leg?? Hope you are healing and recovering and not suffering much pain! I know it is such a bummer to be laid up... especially in the summertime! We need to catch up with a phone chat soon.... if we can stop playing phone tag that is! LOL LOL Looking forward to September when all our fav shows return and we can dis about "The Biggest Loser" again! I'm soooo happy being back into a regular pilates routine again... and I LOVE LOVE LOVE my new instructor! She is such a sweetie... and even tho I pay for an hour's session... we usually work out for 1 1/2 - 2 hours... or until we have done everything she had planned for me to do. I think I have found a new really dear friend too.... what a bonus! I can already feel the difference in my body... but then... you know NOTHING makes me feel better than pilates! I'm also trying to start jogging... and by jogging... I mean... baby step shuffling, barley lifting my knee kinda of jogging... not the long leg, knee high jogging/running. I am such a wuss... I HATE running... but I know it is good for me and I need the aerobic activity. Figure I will 'baby step jog' until the weather turns foul, and then I will return to my X-Box Dance Central aerobic activity. I like the extra bonus of learning actual step moves and having a blast doing it while getting my aerobic activity in! I set my i-phone timer on an hour... and find myself shocked at how quickly the time has flown when the buzzer goes off... and then I usually keep dancing for another 1/2 hour just because I haven't finished learning whatever particular dance I was doing. I'm also spending as much time as I possibly can in the pool doing laps while the weather is still HOT... I'm already missing summer... even tho we still officially have another month of it... and blessedly here in Kansas we probably have more like 2 more months of the HOT weather!!! YAY!!!!! But once school starts, the atmosphere seems to change and it just doesn't feel like summer any more, no matter what the weather is. However... you can count on my to squeeze very possible moment left outta summer that I can! I'm already kicking my heels at the very thought of Fall approaching!!! WHAA WHAA WHAA!!! LOL Hope to talk with you soon!
HUGS, V
To Katie Girl! (A Dear Friend)
I'm sooo glad we were able to have lunch together with Momma Pat and Theresa! That was such a fun fun day!!! And now that you are back in town, we have to get together again and definitely play Dance Central!! WORK IT GURL, WORK IT!! LOL LOL I hope you are feeling better after your migraine and that your knee doctor appointment went well. Let's do a girls day again soon... lunch and maybe even a movie too! I know Theresa is working part-time, so maybe she can join us too. I'm even up for a day in Wichita for a girls day if you want. Thinking about you and hoping you feel better soon and looking forward to getting together again soon too! LOVE YA GURL!
HUGS, V
To Mary (A Dear Friend)
Hey Girlfriend! Just wanted to give you a shout out and let you know I think of you often... especially knowing you are going through an adjustment period after having taken your baby off to college. Good thing is... she is just a short ride away and able to come home, or you can visit her anytime you or she needs. But... I very well know how hard it is when your baby leaves the nest and the quiet surrounds your days and nights. It's hard to think they have turned into these adult women off on their own, but also good that they are strong independent young women about to begin life all on their own, and on their own terms. I knew Sarah would do well at college, and it's so nice her sweetheart is there with her too. When you have some free time, I would love it if you could come out for a visit. You would love this sweet little town of Hutch... it's little and simple like Smyrna... only MUCH better! And as quiet of a town as it is.... I'm certain you and I can find some kind of trouble to stir up!!! LOL LOL Thinking of you bunches!
LOVE V
To Aunt Rita and Uncle Jim (Joe's Paternal Aunt/Uncle)
HAPPY 50th ANNIVERSARY!!! Sounds like you had an AWESOME celebration party! Sooo sorry I missed it and sure wish I could have been there to celebrate with you.... you are such a WONDERFUL couple!!! You two are sooo cute and sweet together and set such an example for all of us to follow in. Mom said you were talking about making another trip out here to Kansas... I highly encourage you to do so, and hope you can make it again soon. That was such a fun time!!! We really enjoyed every day of your visit and I know Mom and Pop would love to come out again too. Just let me know if/when you can and we will put it in our calendar! Wishing you 50 more years of Happily Wedded Bliss!!! LOVE'S YA BOTH BUNCHES!!
HUGS, V
P.S. I now have non-slip tub mats!!!
To Judy and Darrell (Dear Friends)
Thank you for keeping us posted with your treatments and progress... you remain in our hearts, thoughts, and prayers!! Soooo glad to hear that you are getting good results back and your numbers are doing better. And what a blessing it has been to hear you haven't had to have the liquids from your abdomen drained in over a month!! WOO HOO!!!! Continuing to pray that your progress keeps improving with each Dr. visit.!!! Thinking of you both often! Hey my Birthday Buddy Darrel... our Birthday date is quickly approaching... maybe we can all get together for a dinner to celebrate... AND... the fair is just a couple weeks away and we need to get together and grab some greasy fair food!!! Sending you LOTS of GET WELL wishes!
HUGS, V
I hope you all receive your Happy Mail via this blog! I could keep writing Happy Mail all day... but... alas this blog is already too long and I must sign off and go attend to my chores. There are sooo many more of you who I have, and keep in my heart, thoughts and prayers!! Wishing all a good day, good health, and much happiness!
P.S. I DID get my mail today... right on schedule at 11:00 p.m. sharp... and in it was a package I had been anticipating receiving! YAY!!! My world is right side up again!
To Nancy (My Cousin)
My first note goes to you because you ALWAYS send the most thoughtful Happy Mails to me at unexpected times, and you too know the joys of finding Happy Mail in your own mailbox!
I hope you and the family have had a wonderful summer with lots of time on the lake! I hope Clay and Abby are settled back in school and have teachers they like, and kids in their classes who they hoped to spend the school year with. You have AWESOME children!!! And.... they are so darn cute too!
I miss you like crazy and wish I had had the opportunity to see you and the family this summer. It's tough living so far from home now and not being able to drive in for the day like I used to for at least one summer family cookout... but hopefully in the future I will have that opportunity again.
Sending you and the family BIG HUGE HUGS!!! and hope all is well your way!
Love V
To Amber and Ben (My Daughter #1 & her Fiance)
THANK YOU SOOOOO MUCH for hostessing all of us last week while I was in town! You both are soooo gracious in sharing everything you have!!! It was a whirlwind week for sure... but such a wonderful time too!! LOVED LOVED LOVED getting to be a part of all the excitement and wedding planning we were able to get accomplished while I was there! I really appreciate all you did for all of us during my visit. I especially really enjoyed all the sitting on the back porch chatting times, and our night time walks with the puppies. Ben, we are VERY blessed to officially add you to our family tree!! Looking forward to seeing you both again on my next visit to town in October... already counting down the days! THANK YOU both bunches again!!!!
LOVE and HUGS, Momma G
To Jessica and Winston (My Daughter #2 & Husband)
I'm soooo glad you were able to camp out with us at Amber's the week I was in town... seemed just like old times when we were all together under one roof! I know it was hectic with your work schedule while I was there... but I'm glad I got to see you as much as possible and spend all that time with my sweet adorable Grandbaby Liam! Sorry I didn't get to see you Winston... but... I get to see you soon in a couple of weeks!!! WOO HOO!!! Dad and I are sooooo looking forward to your visit when you all drive out here to Kansas. Jessica already knows why we just love it here Winston, and we can't wait to show you our sweet town too. Our pool will still be open, and the weather will still be HOT HOT HOT!!!! YAY!!!!! Momma G will be cooking up lots of wonderful meals... so be sure to bring your fat comfy pants... HA HA HA!!! We are counting down the days until your visit!! Sooooo excited!!!! Have a safe trip driving out and we will see you soon!
LOVE and HUGS, Momma G
To Lauren and Kevin (Daughter #3 & Husband)
I'm soooo glad you were able to come camp out with us at Amber's the week I was in town, especially since you are about to return to work and wouldn't get the chance to come camp out with us if you were already working. I'm so glad too that I was able to come see your new apartment and spend the night with you. Kevin you are sooo darn cute I can't stand it!!! Glad I was able to see you, even for the short time we were together. I'm sooo glad you were able to enjoy a much needed and well deserved special date night together while I was in town. GG just LOVED LOVED LOVED getting to babysit her Grandbabies!!! Henry and Liam are sooo sweet and adorable and I just LOVE how they respond to each other... they are bestest friends already! Hope the transition back to work goes well for you and Henry enjoys his daycare! I miss you all like crazy, but... I will see you again in October when I head back to town for another visit! Counting down the days til I get to see you all again! Wishing you LOTS and LOTS of LUCK with your new job! YOU GO GIRL!!
LOVE and HUGS, Momma G
To Mom and Caywood (My Mom & Step Dad)
THANK YOU both sooooo much for the Birthday cookout you had for all of us August/September Birthdays! I'm soooo glad I was able to celebrate all our Birthdays with everyone this year!!! Everything was sooo DELISH and we all had such a great time getting to visit with everyone. My girls (and I) think you are just the cutest thing ever!!!, and we really appreciate all you do for us and all your thoughtfulness! It was sooooo good to be home again! I am sooo fortunate and blessed to have such a WONDERFUL Mom as you, and I hope I'm just like you as a Mom to my own daughters, and a Grandmother just like Grandma G to my Grandbabies! Caywood... you are such a blessing to our family and we deeply appreciate the love and care you give to our Mom!!! I will be back in October and look forward to getting big ole HUGS from you and getting to visit with you again! THANK YOU BUNCHES again for all you do!!!
LOVE and HUGS, V
To Mom and Pop (My In-laws)
THANK YOU sooooo much for the Grandmother plaque you gave me for my Birthday! I LOVE IT, and it is sitting proudly on my shelf! I'm sooo glad that we (me, Amber, Lauren, and Henry) were able to join you at Lynn's Cafe for the Birthday celebration while we were in town. It was soooo good to get to see everyone! Angie is sooo darn cute I can't stand it! We are soooo excited for when her baby arrives! Sorry we had to literally eat and run, but we were sooo grateful we were able to spend the little time we had with you! I'll be back in town in October for Angie's shower and I look forward to visiting with everyone again. CYA soon!!!
LOVE and HUGS, V
To Aunt Edie and Uncle Hobert (My Maternal Aunt/Uncle)
Just wanted to let you know you are in my thoughts and prayers and hoping you both are healing and recovering from your surgeries! Wish I could have seen you while I was in town... I miss you both bunches! With your new knee's and hip... I'll have to refer to you as my bionic Aunt/Uncle! HA HA HA!!! Seriously, I hope you both are doing well and recovering completely! I will be back in town in October and hopefully I will get a chance to visit with you then! Until then... you remain in my thoughts and prayers!
LOVE and HUGS, V
To Mike and Karen (My Brother and Wife)
CONGRATULATIONS Grandpa and Nana K!!! I know how excited you are to welcome your first Grandchild into the world next April!! Nothing in the world can match the joys of Grandparenthood... no matter how well you prepare for it... it is a joy that has to be experienced to be understood! We are soooo excited for you and can't wait to get our hands on the new nugget when it arrives! It was sooo good to see you and celebrate our Birthdays together while I was in town! I hope the boys are settled in and enjoying the new school year and have their friends in their classes. I'll be back in October and hopefully we can get together again then!
LOVE and HUGS, V
To Daddio (My Dad... aka My Hunk)
Just wanted to give you a shout out and say hello! I think of you often and hope you will be able to come for a visit sometime soon. I just know you would love our place here nestled in the woods and the Kansas weather... and of course... you know I'll cook you up some really good grub to make your belly absolutely delighted... even mac and cheese from scratch!!! Hope all is well your way... I think of you often and wish I could see you more!
LOVE and HUGS!!!, Victoria
To Linda and Bob (Joe's Sister & Husband)
Was soooo good to see you and celebrate our Birthday's together! We are soooo glad we were able to join you at Lynn's... sorry to literally eat and run... but... soooo happy we were able to join in. That was such a fun time being together! Angie is sooooo darn adorable!!! She is going to be the sweetest Lil Momma!!! I know your excitement grows by the day looking forward to meeting your new Granddaughter, and she will be here before we know it! HECK.... look at Henry and Liam.... GEESH... they are 6 and 5 months old ALREADY!!!! Looking forward to and counting down the days til my next visit in October when I come in for Angie's shower! CYA soon!
HUGS, V
To Steve and Tami (Joe's Brother and Wife)
It was soooo good to see you all for the short visit we had at Lynn's! I sure do miss ya'll!!! Hope all is well and Ben is settled back in to school and enjoying Senior year! WOW!!! Can't believe your baby is a Senior!!! Wished we could have seen the boys too, but I know how busy their schedules are with work! I'm glad you got to enjoy Henry for a bit.... isn't he such a lil sweetheart... sorry you missed Liam... he too is such a cutie patootie... but then.... I could be biased... me being GG and all! LOL LOL I can't wait to see you again in October when I come back to town for Angie's shower! Isn't she just soooo darn cute!!! She is going to be the sweetest Lil Momma! Babies and Weddings... OH MY!!! Our cup runneth over with LOVE!!! CYA soon!
HUGS, V
To Robin (A Dear Friend)
Just wanted to let you know you are in my thoughts and prayers and I hope your recovery is going well. I wish we lived closer together so I could come visit, bring you some very healing homemade chicken noodle soup, and help with your care! I know you are sooo blessed to have such a wonderful family by your side to help you through your recovery! Miss ya bunches and keeping you in my thoughts and prayers!
HUGS, V
To Lynn (A Dear Friend)
Just wanted to let you know you continue to be in my heart, thoughts, and prayers! I know you still miss Don dearly, and I hope your Dad is doing well with his treatments. I know you must be overjoyed with your new Grandson's arrival! What a much needed blessing you needed in your life! I know you are surrounded with lots of family and friends to help you through this difficult time, I just wish I lived closer so that I too could be one of them. Thinking of you often!
HUGS, V
To Aunt Joan (Joe's Paternal Aunt)
Just wanted to let you know I think of you often and you remain in my thoughts and prayers! I hope your rehab and recovery from your surgeries is going well... Sue keeps me posted on how your progress is going! I'm sooo sorry you are having to go through this and wish I could be there to give you a big ole HUG!!! You are, and always have been such a sweetie, and I'm sooo grateful and blessed to be a part of this family! Sending you lots of GET WELL wishes!
LOVE and HUGS, V
To Aunt Claudia (Joe's Maternal Aunt)
Hey! How are you doing? Wanted to THANK YOU once again for hostessing breakfast/brunch for the clan when we were in town! Everyone was sooooo happy to be able to enjoy your DELISH meatball hoagies! You are sooo sweet and thoughtful and we really appreciate all you do! I'm soooo glad we were able to be there to celebrate Nan's 95th Birthday with the family and get to visit with everyone! It was a wonderful trip (once we got there of course... HA HA HA!!!), but much too short! Hope to see you again soon and THANK YOU again for all you did for us!
LOVE and HUGS! V
To Seesta (My Dear Friend Kay)
How are you doing? Have you had a good summer? I know you have been traveling alot and that is always such fun! I CAN'T WAIT for our trip to Amsterdam together in a few weeks!! WOO HOO!!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE when we travel abroad together and I LOVE seeing Steve and Joe relax and have such fun together!! Looking forward to "The Chair" and "The Cat" (inside joke!) again... both which make me laugh soooo hard I pee my pants and makes my belly hurt!!! AHHHH the memories!!! Counting down the days!!! I soooo miss living close to you and Steve and all our Friday Night Date Nights! I hope you all get to come out for another visit again soon!!!! That was such a fun fun fun few days! Our pool is still open and the weather is still HOT HOT HOT!!! Miss ya'll BUNCHES!!!! But.... we will CYA soon!!! YAY!!
HUGS, V
To Tara (A Dear Friend)
Hey Miss HOT-TEA!!! How is the leg?? Hope you are healing and recovering and not suffering much pain! I know it is such a bummer to be laid up... especially in the summertime! We need to catch up with a phone chat soon.... if we can stop playing phone tag that is! LOL LOL Looking forward to September when all our fav shows return and we can dis about "The Biggest Loser" again! I'm soooo happy being back into a regular pilates routine again... and I LOVE LOVE LOVE my new instructor! She is such a sweetie... and even tho I pay for an hour's session... we usually work out for 1 1/2 - 2 hours... or until we have done everything she had planned for me to do. I think I have found a new really dear friend too.... what a bonus! I can already feel the difference in my body... but then... you know NOTHING makes me feel better than pilates! I'm also trying to start jogging... and by jogging... I mean... baby step shuffling, barley lifting my knee kinda of jogging... not the long leg, knee high jogging/running. I am such a wuss... I HATE running... but I know it is good for me and I need the aerobic activity. Figure I will 'baby step jog' until the weather turns foul, and then I will return to my X-Box Dance Central aerobic activity. I like the extra bonus of learning actual step moves and having a blast doing it while getting my aerobic activity in! I set my i-phone timer on an hour... and find myself shocked at how quickly the time has flown when the buzzer goes off... and then I usually keep dancing for another 1/2 hour just because I haven't finished learning whatever particular dance I was doing. I'm also spending as much time as I possibly can in the pool doing laps while the weather is still HOT... I'm already missing summer... even tho we still officially have another month of it... and blessedly here in Kansas we probably have more like 2 more months of the HOT weather!!! YAY!!!!! But once school starts, the atmosphere seems to change and it just doesn't feel like summer any more, no matter what the weather is. However... you can count on my to squeeze very possible moment left outta summer that I can! I'm already kicking my heels at the very thought of Fall approaching!!! WHAA WHAA WHAA!!! LOL Hope to talk with you soon!
HUGS, V
To Katie Girl! (A Dear Friend)
I'm sooo glad we were able to have lunch together with Momma Pat and Theresa! That was such a fun fun day!!! And now that you are back in town, we have to get together again and definitely play Dance Central!! WORK IT GURL, WORK IT!! LOL LOL I hope you are feeling better after your migraine and that your knee doctor appointment went well. Let's do a girls day again soon... lunch and maybe even a movie too! I know Theresa is working part-time, so maybe she can join us too. I'm even up for a day in Wichita for a girls day if you want. Thinking about you and hoping you feel better soon and looking forward to getting together again soon too! LOVE YA GURL!
HUGS, V
To Mary (A Dear Friend)
Hey Girlfriend! Just wanted to give you a shout out and let you know I think of you often... especially knowing you are going through an adjustment period after having taken your baby off to college. Good thing is... she is just a short ride away and able to come home, or you can visit her anytime you or she needs. But... I very well know how hard it is when your baby leaves the nest and the quiet surrounds your days and nights. It's hard to think they have turned into these adult women off on their own, but also good that they are strong independent young women about to begin life all on their own, and on their own terms. I knew Sarah would do well at college, and it's so nice her sweetheart is there with her too. When you have some free time, I would love it if you could come out for a visit. You would love this sweet little town of Hutch... it's little and simple like Smyrna... only MUCH better! And as quiet of a town as it is.... I'm certain you and I can find some kind of trouble to stir up!!! LOL LOL Thinking of you bunches!
LOVE V
To Aunt Rita and Uncle Jim (Joe's Paternal Aunt/Uncle)
HAPPY 50th ANNIVERSARY!!! Sounds like you had an AWESOME celebration party! Sooo sorry I missed it and sure wish I could have been there to celebrate with you.... you are such a WONDERFUL couple!!! You two are sooo cute and sweet together and set such an example for all of us to follow in. Mom said you were talking about making another trip out here to Kansas... I highly encourage you to do so, and hope you can make it again soon. That was such a fun time!!! We really enjoyed every day of your visit and I know Mom and Pop would love to come out again too. Just let me know if/when you can and we will put it in our calendar! Wishing you 50 more years of Happily Wedded Bliss!!! LOVE'S YA BOTH BUNCHES!!
HUGS, V
P.S. I now have non-slip tub mats!!!
To Judy and Darrell (Dear Friends)
Thank you for keeping us posted with your treatments and progress... you remain in our hearts, thoughts, and prayers!! Soooo glad to hear that you are getting good results back and your numbers are doing better. And what a blessing it has been to hear you haven't had to have the liquids from your abdomen drained in over a month!! WOO HOO!!!! Continuing to pray that your progress keeps improving with each Dr. visit.!!! Thinking of you both often! Hey my Birthday Buddy Darrel... our Birthday date is quickly approaching... maybe we can all get together for a dinner to celebrate... AND... the fair is just a couple weeks away and we need to get together and grab some greasy fair food!!! Sending you LOTS of GET WELL wishes!
HUGS, V
I hope you all receive your Happy Mail via this blog! I could keep writing Happy Mail all day... but... alas this blog is already too long and I must sign off and go attend to my chores. There are sooo many more of you who I have, and keep in my heart, thoughts and prayers!! Wishing all a good day, good health, and much happiness!
P.S. I DID get my mail today... right on schedule at 11:00 p.m. sharp... and in it was a package I had been anticipating receiving! YAY!!! My world is right side up again!
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About Me
- Vickie G
- I am a short little lady with a passion for cooking and pilates. I have been married for 31 years to my high school sweetheart (my soulmate and love of my life!!!) and we have 3 amazing daughters. I am 50 years old and love living life with as much zest as possible.