Weekend in our neck of the woods....

Literally.....

We spent a lot of the weekend at some property we have that I'll just call the Bayou.  There is no bayou actually on our property, but I don't like the name of the little community so that's what I choose to call it and I'm sure there is a bayou somewhere in the vicinity.

Since tax season is looming, the Superhero went to work for a little while Saturday morning, then we rode up to the bayou property and did some target shooting. 

 Now before you get all gun issues on me....my husband has been a hunter all his life and treats guns with safety and respect.  All our boys are hunters and although I don't hunt, he's teaching me to handle a gun safely.  

Note......I put this picture on facebook and my granddaughter tagged herself and put this caption....."my Nana is way cooler than your Nana".....can you see the grin on my face?

I must confess that I was not shooting this gun, this was just a fun pose.  When we shoot, we wear ear protection and have two hands on the gun.  I do have a concealed weapons permit and when I decide exactly which gun I can handle, I will be carrying at times.  Not this gun......this is way too much gun for me.  

We had so much fun that.......

We went back Sunday afternoon!

But first, we went to Sunday school and church.  We have a really wonderful Sunday school class.....we're doing a series entitled "From Dust to Glory".....starting at Genesis and going through the Bible and it's fascinating.  I'm learning so much about the history of the Bible that I probably should have known, but didn't, or maybe forgot.

If you've been following my blog long, you may remember that the Superhero and I grew up in the church we go to now, but didn't really know each other.  We were married in this church and spent several years there until we left to go to another church which quickly became our church home.  We came back wounded and very weary and for the past couple of years, I have not been really happy there for a number of reasons.  Sunday, we were greeters and standing at that door with my older brother right outside, more family inside along with people I have known since childhood and others I've only known since we've been back, every. single. person. (even visitors) seemed genuinely happy to see us.  I suddenly realized I was home.  A wonderful peace (oh, you know that kind that passes all human understanding) came over me and I just realized that I was finally ready to be happy in church again. 

Later in the day, after a visit with my mama, we headed to pick up friends and went back to the Bayou......I'm liking the sound of that more and more.....to shoot some more.  Only this time around....

 I shot this!  O.K. I only shot it twice because truthfully it is very heavy.  So I sat the rest of this session out.

The sun began to set and was gorgeous.

When it was too dark to safely shoot, we headed back to the barn for snacks before heading home.  It was really fun and I got home in time to watch Downton Abbey!

I finally finished watching the first two seasons and am caught up in the third season.  I especially liked the night they did a special on the castle where they film.  It's a great place and even though it seems like a wonderful place to live, I remind myself that it was the turn of the century and there were few modern conveniences.  No, I'm glad that I live in this era most of the time......oh, and I wouldn't have lived in a castle even if I had lived in that one and if I had, I probably would have been the scullery maid!  Whew....dodged that bullet.

I had planned for this to be a Monday post, but it is Tuesday now.  The days just all run together.  Have a wonderful rest of your week!

Friday in the south...

It's Friday and time once again for the fragments of our brains to be poured out for the all to see.  

Join Mrs. 4444 for Friday Fragments.

For a few years, my calendar was filled with doctor appointments for my mama and we laughed that doctor visits were the social life of older people.  She doesn't go out often any longer, so guess who has a new social life going to doctor's of her own......that's right ME.  I had four doctor or test appointments this week.  FOUR days out of the week were filled with doctors or medical technicians. 

I had an MRI and they give me scrubs to wear.  When I put on the bottoms, I laughed out loud because they were so huge.  The technician explained that they took the average weight of people they see when they are ordering.  That means a heck of a lot of people need to lose weight.   
The technician then asked if I had any jewelry and I held up my bare hands and pointed to my bare ears and said no......she then gestured up and down my body and said any not visible with clothes on? NO, NO and NO.  That would be my child.  I do have tattooed eyeliner and she warned me that if my eyes started heating up to let her know.  Then she had to wait for me to stop shaking with laughter as I envisioned my head exploding!  

As a result of these social events, I've ended up with this pretty accessory. 

Now don't be jealous, I can hook you up with the nice people who will sell you one of these babies!  But be aware, it's not comfortable and it's really bulky under your jeans!  

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For some strange reason, last night I had a spurt of energy and decided to clean out junk drawers.  Of course, the real reason was that I was looking for a baby card that I've needed to mail for two weeks.  In the process I came across several emails from one of my sons that I wish I had thrown away years ago, which led to some hurtful memories that I could have done without.  Sigh.....BUT, a lot of junk was purged and guess where I found the card?  You guessed it, the last place I looked!  But in the process I found that we have enough batteries to keep us going for years.  I  think everybody has a junk drawer, but I have junk drawers as in every drawer in the house.  

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It's been a hard week for some family members and I'm praying.....

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Here in the south, it's 71 degrees today!  I know some of you really like the cold and snow, but I like to be able to go outside and not have to wear four layers of clothes!  

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One of my blog friends, Debi did a post recently on time and how we spend it......she challenged us to think of three things we would take with us if we were stranded on an island and those things couldn't be people or media.  I'm terrible at that kind of stuff, but came up with these three (although anone who knows me, knows I could never choose just three things to take anywhere).  
My Bible, photographs and a pad with a pencil attached to write my thoughts.  Whew!  Notice there was not one piece of clothing?  I guess you wouldn't need much on a deserted island.  

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Well, mine is certainly not the most interesting post you'll read today and I wish I would get busy and post more often, but anyhow.......have a wonderful weekend and remember to smile at everyone you meet!!

Friday, Friday....You get here too quickly...

This post didn't start out as my Friday Fragments post, but I didn't get back to it until today so there you go.  

Friday Fragments is hosted by Mrs. 4444 and is the place where we dump all the left overs from our brains.

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A home is a very personal place that reflects the people who live their lives there.  I want my home to be comfortable, warm and inviting.  From the kitchen to the bedrooms and the backyard beyond, when we have visitors, I want them to feel like our home is their home. Of course, it would be nice if they would wait to visit until I've got the place all neat and tidy.  But then, we would never have visitors would we?

Today, I got a new chair at T. J. Maxx** .... I get nothing for using their name**  NOTHING...and I really think it completes our living room.

For some time, I've been looking for a small chair to go in this corner of the room and when I spotted this one, I just knew it was the one.  Small and not super expensive, it fit the bill perfectly and the bonus is that it is also a recliner!  Just give me a place to put my feet up and I'm happy.  

The little side table was one I got at an antique store a few years ago and love it, but it was sort of hidden away and never noticed, so it found a new home by the chair.  The little lampshade just happened to match which was another bonus!

What kinds of things do you add in your home that makes it feel complete?

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I got a new car!!!  Oh, yes, I'm a little excited that we have retired the covered wagon, although this car is much smarter than I am and so makes driving a challenge until I take the time to learn how to work all the gadgets.  That would require reading the book and I have never been one to read instructions.  One of my many faults! Thankfully, I know where the accelerator and brake are so I'm good to go!

The Superhero and I know that we are very blessed.  

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It has certainly been a week of ups and downs here in our little neck of the world, both weather wise and other wise.  We went from flip flops and no jackets to socks, scarves, gloves and coats!  Ah, Florida!

My oldest is off the rails again which is one of the downs and always a heartache for me.  I daily pray God would remove addiction from his life and turn him towards the right path.  And I do not lose hope, even though I sometimes feel hopeless.  If we live by our feelings, we will never have hope so I try hard not to let feelings reign for too long before turning back to HOPE also spelled JESUS.  

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Rent or buy Won't Back Down and watch it tonight.  You won't be sorry, this was one of the best movies I've seen!  

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I leave you with this.....

Now faith is the assurance of things, hope for, the conviction of things not seen......Hebrews 11:1

Keep the faith!

Friday......

Pour out the leftovers from your brain along with Mrs. 4444 in Friday Fragments!

A funny thing happened on the way to my facebook status this week.....my cousin's daughter posted that she had a carseat that they needed to retire because it was expiring and was asking if anyone knew what she could do with the carseat.  O.K. I'm from the era of NO carseats so my sister and I joined in light heartedly and I commented the following....

I drove nursing my 35 year old!  If I had ever been stopped, I would have simply held the baby out the window and asked the officer if he'd like to try driving with a screaming baby.

The next commenter said this....."not to judge or anything, but 35 is a bit old to be nursing.  That sounds more dangerous than texting while driving!"

  I laughed harder than I have in a long time!  Of course I meant when I nursed my 35 year old back in the days of his babyhood!  :)  She then put "sorry, I could not resist!"  Don't you love to laugh??

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I took my MIL to spend the weekend with our DIL and two youngest grands while our son was hunting for the weekend.  MIL hadn't seen her newest great grandson and was delighted to tag along.  We had lots of fun playing with Charley and holding John Daniel.  The following pictures depict Charley in action.

I'd say he is.....

The picture of.....

perpetual.....

motion!

He has one gear......run.

John Daniel is a bit slower, but easier to hold, although in no time, he'll be running too.

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The Superhero inherited his parent's old wind up record player and we have tons of records that just sit in a closet which I think is a shame!  I was taking down my Christmas plates and a lightbulb went off in my head.  That so seldom happens that I try to take notice and decided to use some of the records instead of plates.  Be honest and tell me if you think it's totally crazy.

I put some close ups of the plates so you can see the songs and singers!  We have tons of these records.....most in good shape.  But I don't believe we'll be playing them if I have to stand and wind the player!!  Click on the pictures if you're old enough to remember these oldies to bring back memories!

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This was a sad week for the blog world with the loss of Leontien, a young blogger who lost her battle with cancer.  She was strong and courageous and will be missed!

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That's it for me!  I have more I'm sure, but I'm brain drained at the moment and in sore need of catching up with the housework, yardwork, washing....does it ever end???

Have a great weekend all!

I'm Great!

No bragging here folks, it's just that I'm suddenly a great grandmother!  I became a grandmother at forty and was indignant at first until I realized my own MIL became a grandmother at thirty seven and I'm sure she may have felt a wee bit indignant!  

After getting a new grandson at Thanksgiving, we got a great grandson on New Year's Day!

Welcome to the world Liam Bentley!  New Year's Eve was a long, long day for Devin, the mama!  She was induced at 5 a.m. and Liam made his grand entrance at 1:57 a.m. the next morning.  Liam's a big boy weighing in at 8 lbs. 5 ozs. and 21 1/2 inches long!

My DIL, Mimi,  granddaughter Devin with Liam and my son David, Papa.  Tired, but happy folks!

Mimi and Papa

Little Liam dressed and ready to venture out into the world on his way home!

Rest assured there will be more pictures to come in the near future!  

The night was long waiting to hear news of Liam's birth......longer for them I'm sure.....and I drifted off to sleep multiple times with my ipad on my lap, waking to check on the progress.  I was relieved to know when he was finally born!

Little Liam was the first baby born in the new year for his county and here is a link to the newspaper story.......So 2013 was off and running!

Granddaughter Devin and family live a long way north of us, but we hope to see Liam before too much time passes!

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In other news, it looks like I won't be posting regularly because I just never seem to get the chance to sit down at the computer!  I am going to try, but just check in every so often would you?

So Long 2012..........here we go 2013!

Each year we say goodbye to the year before and hello to the new year.  So 2012, you've held blessings and hurts which are now memories and realities.  2013, you've got your work cut out for you!  

This year we lost two aunts and an uncle.....leaving my mama the last of all the siblings on her side of the family, and with only two sisters in law left on daddy's side.   Some days I'm not sure mama takes that all in, but then again, that has to be a hard reality.

There were things that changed and things that stayed the same.  There was love, laughter and sorrow.  We celebrated another anniversary and thanked God for this lasting love.  We celebrated birthdays and anniversaries of loved ones.  

Had a new grandson at Thanksgiving and waited expectantly for our first great grandson who waited until the wee hours of this new year to join us, but more about that little one later.

We took a few small trips, lived through another tax season and being sick a couple of times, but nothing serious.  

I think we actually went to the theater to see a movie twice this year.  Don't laugh, that's a record for the two of us.  

Survived, at least we hope so, an election year and were highly disappointed in the results.  But it will certainly keep our prayer life active.

I turned 60  in 2012.  Now, I've decided that I can do things I've never done before and say it's old age.  Like I bought my very first pair of knee high boots!  The Superhero asked if I was getting a horse next.  Get it?  He's so funny!

We both lost a lot of weight this year.  If you read my face book statuses, you know we are walking at 5:30 a.m. in the mornings.  It's horrible......until you're back home and the fact that you're done with exercise for the day hits you, then it's o.k.  

We didn't spend near enough time with our grandchildren.  If they're so eager to pass laws, why don't they pass a law that grandchildren have to live close to their grandparents???  

I carry a concealed weapons permit but not a gun.  I will carry a gun if I feel I need to, so beware those who intend harm.  I'm so sorry that some maniacs use guns to kill people.  I'm sorry that they use any weapon at all to kill.  

I went to painting classes in 2012.  I now am the proud owner of two paintings and will sell them for any amount.  You know you want them, so make me an offer!  Just joking.

In 2013, I hope to accomplish new things.  
I want to take photography lessons and really understand how to use my camera.  It's currently dumb luck if I get good pictures.  

I want to read the Bible through again.  

I hope to love more and do more to show that love.  

I hope to see all my children happy.  
And my grandchildren.  
I hope my granddaughter's boyfriend doesn't break her heart.....I had to throw that one in because I'm still not sure my heart is ready for her to have a boyfriend.  

O.K. those are just a few of the things I have absolutely no control over but that's how I feel about that!

This year I want to see Him more clearly, follow Him more nearly, love Him more dearly....day by day.  I know those are song lyrics, but I couldn't tell you the name of the song or the person or persons who recorded that song.  But it's my prayer for the new year.  

Happy New Year to all of you, my dear blog friends!  You are all the best!