Easter cuties or Spring cleaning?

While I should have been doing spring cleaning, I couldn't resist making these little lamb thingies that I saw in a magazine. They turned out pretty good. Hmmm...I wonder if I can find another crazy project to keep me from cleaning house? I'll get it done, I'll get it done...heck spring isn't over until June 21st!
This is my cast iron lamb cake mold that I use every Easter. I wanted to see how the little lambs will look next to the cake when I finally get to bake it next weekend. Awwww...I think they will look very cute!
On a totally different note, Jordan picked up his new car on Friday. So I guess our carpooling has come to an end and I now get to return to walking the 1/4 mile from the employee lot to the hospital every day. I don't mind the walk (I need it!) but I did enjoy the drive in with Jack and the ride home with Jord where we could have nice quick little talks about life...quick is the operative word..Jordan is a man of few words! Nice wheels!Truth be known what I really liked was when I was running late, getting dropped off at the door saved me from punching in late!

Things to do on a sunny day

The weather was pretty stinking nice this past weekend and I tried to use my time wisely in doing a few needed chores. I have to admit to all the world that I like to clean carpets...I should do it for a living! I cleaned the carpet in the dining room and opened all the windows to let in the nice warm breeze. Being so inspired I decided the lower half of the walls needed a little paint touch up. I ended up repainting the whole lower half. It looks much better and all the nicks and scuffs are gone. Hmmm....the ceiling in here needs a paint job too but the weather has turned wet and cold so I think I'll wait a bit longer. Besides, I hate paining ceilings!
Donna and I took an nice little walk on Sunday since the weather was so nice...Geez I have a big head!
This is what I have to show for all my hard work Saturday afternoon. I raked out the front planting area and cleaned up some flower beds...I even wore gloves. That just goes to show you how tender I really am! (Sweet too I might add!)
As you can see,Eddy was really concerned about my sore thumb..no don't get up Ed, just keep lying there in front of the fridge so no one can get by...hey, I need ice for this blister, get out!

Love ya Sista!

It's great to have a Sister...especially if it's one like mine. I didn't appreciate all the greatness of having one when she was the one with straight bangs...I had the wavy hair that wouldn't allow for such style, such elegance...not without looking like a doofuss...Thank goodness God invented blow drying hair devices...I was never able to have bangs like my Sister, but I did get to have the flipped up style Midge is modeling here. But hey, today is her birthday. I really should be thanking Mom for going through the birth cycle to give me someone to torture for a few years. But I have to thank Midge for turning out to be the best Sister/friend ever! Hope this beautiful sunny spring day is a super one for you. Love ya Kiddo! Happy Birthday! P.S...Jack thinks you're the greatest Sister-in-Law/friend and also wishes you a happy BDAY!

Old Friends and 1 New Friend

Welcome back old friends! No matter how deep the snow, every March these dudes come "springing" up through the dirt! These past few weeks we've had wonderfully warm, sunny days and all the crocuses and little tiny daffodils are blooming. Hope they enjoy this nice weekend coming up because the weatherman is calling for some snow on Monday. I knew we wouldn't be able to go through the month of March without a few flakes coming to the Pines...snow flakes that is!

Let's welcome this new friend. This little fella came by the other day to visit. His name is Porter and he's an American Bulldog. He belongs to Phil, Amanda, and the girls. He's going to end up weighing about 120lbs. I wish I was going to weigh 120lbs some day! I'm sure he'll hit that weight long before I ever will. Welcome my new Granddog!

Forward Time...Backward Time

Why do we need to change the time? Spring forward...Fall back...silly I say! I was just getting used to it being light in the morning, now it's back to dark. I know that's only for a bit, but hey, can't we just leave it one way or the other? I do like the light later in the day, but right now I can't get into my garden so what good is it to be lighter at night? I want to dig in the dirt...plant something...(I know peas are suppose to go in but I don't plant those)I really just want to plant some flowers for a little color out there. The truth is I really hate going around and changing the clocks again. Ok, so it's my car clock I hate changing. I never remember how it works. I have to get the manual out and then I think "this is so dumb..can't we keep the time the same all year?" Ok, enough whining. Here's what I'm talking about: COLOR!!

I just could't help myself

Because 99% of the snow has melted...because spring is almost here...because I love the Easter season...because the hospital had a sale in the lobby and 2 other employees bought one...yes, I succumbed to peer pressure...because I knew it would bug Eddy...Well, see for yourself:

Triflely Good

Some time ago I promised our Missionaries a Greek dinner. I went all out and made a ton of some of my Greek favs...I planned and cooked and made ready some delish dishes. What I didn't plan on was the flu. It attacked and I was down for the count. I'm hardly ever sick and that was the first round of some horrible stuff that lasted for ever! Well, I had to cancel on them and this weekend I tried to make up for it just a little. I made some Greek chicken/ala yaya...Chicken breasts stuffed with spinach, garlic, and of course feta cheese. It's wrapped in bacon and baked in the oven.It turned out very yummy even though this pic doesn't do it justice. Served with rice and a nice Greek salad and some other things, it was a good dinner. For dessert I made a trifle...or a stack of a bunch of things in a glass bowl! It was yummo too...One thing for sure, you can feed anyone, especially missionaries, on a Sunday when they have fasted for 24hrs. anything and it will be a hit!
This trifle turned out super...It's made with a wonderful lemon pudding (one of Jack's favs) that has a long story attached to it..fresh blueberries and frozen raspberries, pound cake and homemade whip cream (with some coolwhip thrown in!)One of these days I'll relate the lemon pudding saga!
The snow really is melting here at the Pines, even though it doesn't look it in this pic. We had some friends come passing by...can you see more than one?? Spring is truly in the air!

Get Your Motor Running...Head out on the Highway

I got out of work a bit early today and Jack and I decided to do a few errands before lunch. I'm sure where you live traffic can get crazy on Friday as everyone is trying to get a head start on the weekend...Well, we're no different. The day was sunny and beautiful and we were trying to enjoy the ride, but the road just gets jammed up. Don't you just hate traffic?
The only thing you can do is put the pedal to the metal and get past the road hogs...Hey buddy, who has the most horse power now?! Well, maybe you do..show off.
When the stress of all that crazy traffic is too much, it's time to stop for some lunch at a fav hangout...like the A&W Rootbeer Stand. MMMMM...coney dogs, fried shrooms and yummy fried pickles and of course a mug of icy cold rootbeer...Yep a great way to start the weekend!

I Did It

I finally made a goal and kept it. It was one that I think I made subconciously long before I made it a "for sure" goal. In fact, my siblings made a similar goal and I think it was subconcious too. My Dad passed away when he was 56. A very young age as I see it now. As I got closer to that age I thought it would be nice if I made it passed that. My older brother actually decided to get a good health check-up at 56 and found out he had the early stages of prostate cancer. It was treated and he's been cancer free for 5yrs now. My other older brother had a kidney transplant around the age of 56 and he's doing very well now also. I'm sure my younger siblings will be thinking along the same lines in a few years. So thankfully I've been very healthy this past year up until January when this dang bronchitis decided to attack and then it attacked again this past week. I thought I would be a goner for sure! But lo and behold, antibiotics helped again and I made it to age 57. I plan on making it past that too, but who knows? For now I'm grateful for my health, my family, my friends and all the blessings that I really don't deserve. As for the adversity that must come my way, I'm grateful for those challenges that makes me who I am and help me stretch to be better. I think my birthday wish is for a good year for all...good health, stronger faith in God, and happiness in what ever situation finds us. Happy Birthday to me!

A Not Boring Thursday Night

Phil and Amanda had to run some errands last night and the girls stayed with us for a few hours of cooking, eating and fun.Alexis and I decided we would make some cookies for her and Addy to take home. She was a very big help and didn't even spill any flour all over, like I usually do! So we made the kind she wanted:Oh baby, yep, that is the most important ingredient..Chocolate chips!
What a pro!
Mmmmm, the sweet reward, licking the beater!
While Lex and I were making cookies, Addy was happily munching on her dinner, and was just having a good old time..unitl I turned around and saw the real reason for her delight...
So this is why you were so happy, and laughing! Eddy, you are a sneaky guy. Don't worry, I took the fork away and replaced it with a nondoggy one.

Surprise, Surprise

I just had to tell 'ya about this treadmill...that's what this is bytheway...(the dust has been removed by the nonuser)I replaced it with another piece of equipment that I'm sure will also not make me thin, but I never give up hope that if I buy it, it will work. I guess you need to use it to make it work, but anyway here's the story. I get a call from Sears saying my 5yr warranty will expire Feb.26th and did I want to renew. No I say, but since I didn't know I had a 5yr warranty, could someone come out and check it because I'm giving it to one of my kids and it has an annoying squeak. Sure...so the repair guy comes, checks out the nook and crannies and says "It's broke"...now for the punchline: "You get a new one". A new one??? Are you kidding me?? I never have good luck like that. Not only a new one, but one worth up to (not over) $900.00. So I'll pick out a pretty one Craig and Amy and I'm trying to get it delivered to you up north. P.S: Should I purchase a 5yr warranty???Hmmm
This is the treadmill replacement: The eliptical, better for my knees and also a wonderful towel rack!

What could it be?

We have no windows in the operating room. The cafeteria has windows, but I don't very often eat down there. So knowing what's outside is a mystery. It's dark when I arrive and sometimes dark when I leave. But today I left an hour early..I was blinded by something really weird...something I haven't seen since before Ground hog day...Jack was waiting for me in the parking lot to give me a ride home and I had to stumble around until I found the biggest vehicle I could touch...his van/aka the "snake"( that's another blog for another day) Could that be what I think it is??? Dare I say it?? The Sun?? Holy cow! It was beautiful. It was melting all the heavy snow off my roof, porch, cement, unfortunately not the deck...it sits in the shade after noon. Jack and I sat outside on patio chairs and soaked up the sun. I tried to pretend I was sitting on a beach and the sound of dripping icesickles was the ocean. That really didn't work, but it was glorious non the less!
This makes me want to sing:"Blue Skies..nothing but blue skys!!"
Ahhh...I just want to keep looking up!

Weekend of Cheap Love

Every Feb. we have the annual "cheap nite out/chili cook off" at the Church. It's cheap entertainment and food and the chili selections are usually interesting. I actually won second place for the spicest chili..that means you could eat it without burning your mouth off! Not first place, but I hey, I'll take it. We spent Saturday doing some cheap events too. We went to a home and garden show in Ashland. It was pretty good for out little town and we had a fun morning with our friends Greg and Gayle. Then we headed off to Jack's office for some cleanup and then out for a chinese lunch. So were does the love come in? Well, I spent the weekend doing simple things that I love, with my sweetheart that I love so what more could a girl ask for??

Here are some members setting up the tables that hold all the social food and chili. Looks like all the church social setups!
Typical church social fare..not a green, healthy food in site! I mean seriously, now that I see it a few days later it really looks bad!
The skits were all goofy and cheesy like this one by the Relief Society. A candy shop with no candy...except for the suckers holding up the counter. Hahaha
Awww, the High Priest group singing for their talent. I could make a snide remark about old dudes and such, but I'll be good and keep my comments to myself.
Come on Jack, don't look so sad...you know we had a fun time at the home and garden show! I showed you all the things I want for our home and garden!
Here's Jack's dream machine. It has everything a country boy could want except a dog sitting next to him...where's Eddy when we need him?
Since Valentines day landed on Sunday this year we didn't go out for dinner,instead I made some skillet ribeye steaks for my Honey. I usually grill my steaks but I haven't shoveled the grill out yet. (I'm still hoping for a thaw to do that!)
Mmmm...yummy cheesy braided Italian loaf that is easy make and looks so nice!
Monday's can be boring...and here's a good example of being desperate for some blogging material. We heat with wood here at the Pines and this is a familiar picture..unloading the wood that heats the house that heats the occupants that live in the house that Jack bought...poetic don't you think?
If you're like us and have a gazillion feet of snow, miles of pointy, drippy icesickels, and pale, no tan skin, take heart. Spring is here! How do I know? Didn't the groundhog see his shadow and head for the hole?? Are the Robins out singing in the pine trees?? Nooooo....But the Spring Oreos are in the stores! Yep, it's Spring alright! So smile, enjoy some Oreos and milk and don't look outside for atleast 5 weeks.