Working Outside and Other Stuff

Yesterday I finished cleaning at Nana and Papaw's. Yay!! I'm telling ya, I was completely exhausted. I left their house a little after 3PM (I think) and went to the bank and Walmart. Mark had told me the night before he needed two cheesecakes for a fund raiser at his work. I had to get the stuff to fix them.

On the way home, we stopped and changed the church sign.

It says, "Ignoring the truth doesn't change it."

By the time we got home, I didn't have much time to rest before I needed to start supper. I had a menu plan in my head and what I had planned to fix for supper had several steps. So, it wasn't an easy meal. I decided to go ahead and fix it anyway. I really had to push myself because I was soooo tired.

The recipe was Chicken Bacon Lo Mein. I usually fix it when I am with Andrew and Nikki because they love it.  I cooked a little over half a pound of bacon and set it to the side. Then I cooked diced chicken in the bacon greese. After removing the chicken, I added chopped broccoli, shredded carrots, onion wedges, a couple of minced garlic, and 1/4 tsp. of ginger. As that was cooking, I boiled a cup of water and dissolved chicken bouillon in it (1 Tbspn) (I use "Better Than Bouillon--I love it!) Then I added it to the veggies with 1/4 cup soy sauce.  After it cooked a bit, I returned the chicken to the skillet.  In the meantime, I cooked a pot of spaghetti. As everything was simmering, I crumbled the bacon.

After the spaghetti cooked, I drained it and mixed it with the chicken and veggies. I sprinkled the bacon on top.

It was so delicious!!!  

After supper I rested till 10PM. Then I washed dishes, made two cheesecakes (one cherry & one blueberry), and baked Ryan some cookies. He was needing something to snack on. I think I may have eaten a couple too. I honestly don't remember. I have the hardest time resisting anything sweet. When I am trying to eat better and loose weight, sometimes I tell God I am NOT going to eat something. (always has to do with sugar/dessert)  If I tell myself I am not going to eat something, I always fail. But if I tell God, I keep my word.  For instance, I told God today or last night that I was not going to eat anything after supper.  It is my worst time. It is not that I am hungry. I just want something sweet!!! Soooo, here I sit about to die because I am wanting something sweet. I am having no trouble resisting because I do not want to break my word to God.  If I make it several days without eating too much sugar, my cravings usually go away and I have no trouble......unless I give in and then it starts all over again.

This morning I slept till almost 9:30. WooHoo! I felt so good. I slowly woke and took my time getting up. I even read my Bible before I got out of bed. I usually always start my day on my knees thanking God for taking care of us during the night and His protection during the day...among a LOT of other things. :) 

I turned on the coffeemaker and fixed sausage and eggs mixed for Ryan and me. I always try to get plenty of protein for breakfast. I know Nikki is probably laughing as she reads this because she and Andrew think I am all about protein (it's true). I let Ryan sleep longer and I just relaxed for awhile. 

After awhile I got him up, and while he ate, I threw on some old clothes to work in the yard. After Ryan ate, he took a shower (yes, he did) and then we went out to work. We worked so hard and got so much accomplished. 

He mowed the yard while I cleaned out this messy landscaping bed.

I am not completely finished with it. I still have to lay landscaping cover and mulch in it. I will try to post a pic later. I weedeated the yard and the ditch. Ryan cleaned up the weeds and other plants I am replanting and dug up small trees in the ditch that I couldn't weedeat. He also blew the grass, etc. off the driveway. He wanted me to trim the bushes in the front, but it was too late. I was so tired. 

I went straight to the shower. I wanted to make sure I didn't have any poison ivy on me. I have the worst time with it. I was just able to sit down a few minutes before I started supper. Ryan went to take his second bath for the day. 

Later when I looked out at the yard, I was so happy to see how everything looked.

 If you look closely, you can see my flowers are blooming at the mailbox.

For supper I fixed a chicken taco mixture that we ate with tortilla strips. I cooked rice with a little bit of the taco seasoning pkg. Then I cooked chicken that I had diced. I added the rest of the taco seasoning, 1 can of mild rotel, and 1 can of pinto beans. After it was boiling, I added chopped velveeta (a little over a cup). When it melted and the rice was done, I mixed them all together. I put it in a bowl, put sour cream on top, and stuck tortilla strips in the side.

It is sooo good too. I got this recipe from Mary's recipe blog. Except I added a can of Rotel instead of the one cup of salsa the recipe called for. I was out of salsa and didn't want to run to the store.

I am trying to blog about my meals because sometimes I draw a blank on what to fix. Maybe I can look back on the blog and get some ideas.  Monday night I fixed chicken stir fry (I didn't take a pic), and Friday night I fixed homemade pizza's.

I needed more pepperoni on there, didn't I? Ha! Everything I fix is gluten free except on rare occasions when I get something that I am not aware has gluten in it. The other day I got some terryaki sauce for stir fry and it had gluten in it. I ate it anyway. 

Ok, now for the good stuff.  This is pics, texts and things Nikki has told me over the phone today.

Mason has finally learned to pucker for a kiss.

It is so adorably cute. I am going to miss the way he did before, tho'. Wonder if Nikki has a pic?? I will post if she does.

Yesterday Haley and Mason were so sweet and loving to each other. Last night they watched Bubble Guppies before they went to bed.

Isn't that so sweet?!!! Nikki said they fought all day today. LOL That is just the way it is with brothers and sisters. :)

Nikki and the babies spent the weekend with her parents. She sent me this cute picture of Mason wearing Papaw's shoes.

I love his smile!

They went out to eat at a restaurant that had rocking chairs in front.

Haley has this little box that she keeps notes in. Today she read every one of the notes to Nikki.

One said, "I love you and I love to sing for you."

Another one said, "I think I will color and then me and you will hold hands."

Then, "Daddy I really want you to be at my house."

And, "I know Daddy will come and stay at my house and he will spend the day with me someday."

And last, "I love you Daddy."

It just melted my heart to read these (texts). She is my little sweetheart.

Tonight on the phone Nikki was telling me she and Haley were cleaning Haley's room. After a while Haley put her little hands up and said, "I am done!!"  It was the exact imitation of Nikki. LOLOL 

Nikki told me other cute stuff but I am too tired to remember. I love hearing about my babies!

Ok, I am off to wash dishes and get to bed. I really want something to eat but I. will. resist!!! Hope you all have a safe night and blessed day tomorrow. Till next time....

Happy Birthday Dad!

At the end of the last post I wrote that I wouldn't be posting while working at Nana and Papaw's, but I had to post about Dad's birthday. Tomorrow, June 20, 2014, Dad will be 88 years old. Today Mary took Matt, Ryan, Jess, and Liz down to see him.  I couldn't go, of course, because I was cleaning Nana's house. Jess sent me the sweetest picture of Papaw with his cupcakes/candles.

Ryan and I had gone down to see Papaw Monday and I had fixed supper for him. I also gave him a meatloaf to freeze and eat another day. Papaw sat in the kitchen, and we talked the whole time I was cooking and washing the dishes. 

Even tho' he is feeble and doesn't get around as he used to, I think he does pretty well.  He sits out on the porch a lot. It gets really lonely now that Mom is gone and we don't spend the day there. Someone in the family stops by every day (I think) to get his mail and paper for him. He is not steady enough to walk down the driveway hill to get them.   Happy Birthday Dad!! 

In other news.....The business putting in our new heat pump was supposed to come Tuesay morning to check for size, etc. Ryan was going to talk to the guy because he is a lot more technical minded than me and could understand him. I barely slept that night, so I told Ryan to wake me when the guy left and I would get ready to go to Nana's to work. It was after 10:30AM when he left. By the time I got ready and got to Nana and Papaw's it would be 12PM. I decided to just wait till Wednesday.

Tuesday night I found out I needed to be home Wednesday morning because the company putting in our new heat pump was bringing us a big portable air conditioner. Woot!!! The guy said they would not be able to install the new one till next week and they loan these out (for free) till they get the new one in. How awesome is that?!!

Wednesday morning I got up, showered and got ready. The guy called around 9:30 and said he would be here within the hour. Before he got here, Andrew texted he was coming up to do something about his new car insurance. After the guy left and we were cooling down a bit, Andrew came. It was perfect timing. :)

I really enjoyed Andrew being here. We don't get to see him much. And truthfully, when the babies are around, most of my attention is on them. :) Even though he didn't stay long, I enjoyed every minute of it.  

Ryan played the guitar for Andrew. Andrew thought Ryan was playing great. Then, Andrew played for us. I wish I could have video taped it. He is a little rusty, but it sounded so good.

He was playing with Ryan's metal slide.

When it was time for him to leave, I felt so sad. He hugged me, and I said, "I want you all to move up here."  He said, "no, when Dad retires, you all are moving down there with us." You know, we would probably move down there and then he would get transfered right back up here. I just want us to be close to each other.  I am truly thankful that I am able to see them as much as I do. Andrew was offered a position in Nashville, TN and Memphis, TN.  I think he turned them down.  So see, it could be much worse.

As he was leaving, I took a pic of him and his new car.

I love how pretty his car is. Nikki has the best car tho'. I have never riden in a more comfortable car than Nikki's. The seats are so plush. I love it.  My heart always aches with saddness when they are driving off.

So guess what. I didn't go to Nana's yesterday either. Mary texted me after Andrew left and talked to me about bringing Ryan over to spend the night. Matt was having Ryan over as part of his birthday celebration. 

When I took Ryan, Mary wanted me to come inside to see how Jess decorated for Matt's birthday. Oh my!!! It was awesome.  Around the birthday poster and around the room, she had so many pictures of Matt when he was younger.

Isn't that soooo cool?!!! I loved it!! The memories in those pictures....ahhhhhhh. I saw pictures of Granny and Matt.  I tried to take a pic of them.

Makes me teary eyed.

There were also some pics of Papaw and Matt.

Look at that cute, chunky baby.  Awwww

And here is Matt today (that I swiped from Jess's facebook page).

I am so thankful he and Ryan are close cousins.

This morning I was actually able to make it to Nana and Papaw's to clean. I got so much accomplished today. It is a huge house and takes several days to finish.  After I left, I went to get Ryan at Matt's. We came home to a cool house. Yay!!!  It was too cool really. We covered in blankets because we were afraid if we turned it down it would get hot.

For supper I fixed skillet rice.  It is just onion and garlic browned with ground beef. Then I add worchestershire sauce. I fix rice with worchestershire sauce in the water. Then I mix it all together. It is really good. I also had peas to go with it.

You know how I love Nikki sending me sweet pictures of the babies? Well, the other day she sent me this.

And today she sent me this pic of Mason. He was bouncing on the couch and fell asleep.

Ahhh I just want to hold him. <3

She also sent me a pic of the baby birds on their front porch.

It's hard to see, but it is up on that ledge next to the nest. Haley calls them her birdie friends and tells them hi and bye evey time they come and go. And Mason says "hi birdie".  Well, today they were learning to fly and one almost fell on Haley's head. It started flying right at the last minute. lol

Ok, now I am off to wash dishes and get to bed. I have been washing the dishes every night, drying them, and putting them away. Yay!! I had been just leaving them in the drainer, but it looks so much better putting them away.

I pray you all have a blessed night and day tomorrow. Till next time.....

Walking the Trail at Norris

Yesterday was Father's Day. Mark ordered a CD he was very exicted about, and Ryan and I grilled hamburgers for him after church. Andrew sent me a picture of one of his Father's Day gifts.

I don't know how well you can see the poster, but it says "we (heart) Dad".  Haley made the picture frame. How cool is that?!!! Andrew said Haley was so excited about giving it to him. :) He said she told him "Happy Father's Day" over and over that day. How sweet!!!

Our church services were cancelled for Sunday night for everyone to spend time with their families. Later that evening, Martha texted and wanted to know if Ryan and I would go with them to Norris to walk the trail. We went and had the best time.

There was several people out fishing and walking the trail, but we walked a lot with no one around. I do not like it to be totally secluded, so it was perfect for me. It was so nice walking by the water.

I look awful in that picture, so I made it as small as possible!!! If I ever needed incentive to lose weight, that picture is it!!

While they guys were walking they passed football.

Some of these pictures were blurry, but they are memories.  Martha and I talked and talked and talked. :) It was sooo enjoyable.

We saw so much storm damage.

We saw lots of interesting things on the trail.

We also saw a thick metal zipline across the water.  I wish I had taken a picture of the two story outhouse we saw...JUST KIDDING. We saw this small building that was two stories and had a small door at the top (not the bottom). It looked like an outhouse, but of course it wasn't.  The building was actually made of concrete and had measurements on the outside. I'm sure it had something to do with measuring the water in earlier days. You can imagine the fun we had making jokes about it. lol

We crossed a couple of bridges.

The trail was wide and great to walk on. There were a few runners, a few dog walkers, and some older people we passed. 

Sometimes the trail would lead down to the water. There was a cloudy mist over the water and it was beautiful!

There was a cool breeze by the water that would cool us off.  Close to the end of the trail, there were bathrooms. Yay!!!!  There was a field by the bathrooms, and Kevin, Jared, Ryan, and me passed ball. Ok, I only caught a couple, but it was fun.

That is Kevin and Jared passing ball.

We only walked a little further to Weir's Dam (not sure the spelling).  It is a dam in the middle of the lake past the big dam. I don't know how to explain it. It is like metal grates on top of rocks across the water. The water spills over the side but goes right down in the rocks. You can walk on the grates. We went down the ladder to walk on the dam.

To the right of that picture you can see where the water spills over the side.

The water was so cold. I really wanted a drink, but of course, I didn't get one. On the other side, there were big pipes where the water flowed out.

There were people standing toward the middle fishing. When we left, we had to climb back up the ladder.

We walked on down to the water. Martha and I stayed on the concrete while the guys went down to the water. 

They were skipping rocks across the water.

It was a beautiful scene!!

Going back was quicker because it was on the upper side of the loop and not in much woods. Kevin said it was two miles total that we walked. I couldn't believe I made it so well. The only problem I had was my feet ached. For the past couple of months I have been having problems with reumatoid arthritis. My hands and feet swell and hurt really bad. Sometimes I feel like I can hardly walk, but I push myself.  After we got back to the car and I could rest my feet, they were fine.

It was dusk when we got back. The deer were starting to come out. I think we probably saw ten as we were walking, and I don't know how many we saw driving out of the park. Martha had meant to bring apples to feed them. 

We went back to Martha and Kevin's and Ryan played the guitar for them.  They talked about maybe Jared and Ryan doing a duet in church sometime.  We didn't stay long because it was late.  

Ryan and I went home to a hot house. Our heat pump went out on Saturday.  Ryan bought an air conditioner for his room, so it was the only cool room in the house. Actually at night time it isn't so bad.  Today I baked cookies, fixed tea, fixed spaghetti for supper, and ironed Mark a couple of shirts before Mark got home. I tried to get the hot things over with. I also vacuumed the house and folded clothes. I went straight to take a bath after and even had to cool off in Ryan's room after my bath. I am sitting here sweating right now. I am really suprised and thankful, tho', that we have made it as well as we have.  Hopefully by the end of the week, we will have a new unit. Oh yeah, our compressor went out and we had to pay $97.00 just for a guy to tell us that.  

Ok, I am off to bed. I am supposed to clean at Nana's tomorrow after the guy comes to look at our unit to decide what size we need. We called another business to put in a new one.  

Oh, I just about forgot.  This afternoon Nikki sent me the sweetest video of Haley feeding Mason at a restaurant.  She is such a good little mommy.  

I am hoping soon to do a post of all the pictures Nikki has sent me. I also have some good ones of Haley when she spent the night with us. I probably won't post any more this week because working at Nana's wipes me out of energy.  Plus the heat drains any energy I have left. 

I pray you all have a wonderful, safe night and day tomorrow.  Till next time....