July SIZZLES right along!

Time for a new thread! We came from here:
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1316421/

We went to a friend's house last Saturday to watch a fireworks display which the town of Theodosia put on over "our" part of Bull Shoals Lake. It was pretty but not very long. I guess they didn't collect enough money for a large fireworks show. They depend on donations to enable them to buy the fireworks.

Here are a couple of pics which I took but I was having to shoot through tree branches. The photos of the fireworks didn't turn out too well. The sunset was more spectacular.
Happy 4th of July everyone!

Happy Fourth to you too Marilyn!

I LOVE AMERICA !! We have our problems, but I sure do want to stay here and live here, no where else in the whole wide world

I agree! We have a wonderful country! We are so blessed to be able to live here.

Clint and Justin get here on the 4th! Have lots I need to get done. I picked a gallon of blackberries and a gallon of blueberries this morning. We have a funeral to go to tomorrow that is going to take a big part of the day. Richard's 87 year old cousin died. He was close to her and I also know her daughter and family. They're going to have a brief graveside service for family at noon. Then have lunch for the family before the memorial service at 1:30. We need to be at all of it and it's in Pine Bluff which is an hour away. The kids don't get in until 5:30 pm on the 4th so I'll just have to get up early and get with it on the 4th.

Thanks Marilyn for the new thread!!! God sure is good to give us such a beautiful sunset that it beat out the firework pictures hands down!!!

I have to agree Sandra that there is no place like America and I want to say a big HAPPY BIRTHDAY to her and Happy 4th to all our dear friends!!!

Charlotte, I get tired just listening to everything you have going!!! I know you will enjoy the boys!! What do you have on the agenda for them this trip?

Charlotte, I know you will enjoy the twins' visit!

Al and I will have 3 teens visiting from the 17th through the 23rd. My grandson Zachary, 13, will be here and also the son and step-daughter of Michelle Finney (My "daughter"--Michelle #2-not my biological daughter--just my daughter because we love each other) (I know it's confusing LOL): Connor Fitzpatrick, 14,and Samantha Finney, 15. We plan to take them to Silver Dollar City one day and also will go zip-lining but maybe not the same day as SDC. Another day we may go through the wild animal park just north of Springfield. It is a drive-through park but you can also get out and pet some of the smaller animals--at least that is what the TV ads show. We will also take them to the lake. They can ski or ride behind the boat on one of those big rubber boat toys. I just hope the weather isn't as hot as you-know-what. :D
The good thing about Silver Dollar City is that there are plenty of shows and shops where you can be inside and stay cool. Al and I will probably do that while the kids do their thing on all the rides. LOL We may also go to one of my favorite places: Rockbridge Trout Resort. The Finney/Fitzpatrick clan was there with us back in April when they came up for a week-end. Zachary has never been there. The food is great and so is the scenery.
There is lots to do up here in these Ozark Mountains if you have the funds to take advantage of it all. ;)
I think I may have posted this photo before but I'll refresh your memories--LOL
This is the Finney/Fitzpatrick clan with us at Rockbridge in April. We took part in the dignified exercise of balancing spoons on our noses :D

We would love for you to join the AR gals at their summer luncheon...
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1323292/

Marilyn I know you will enjoy all your teenagers but you get by easy! In our family we all do the same thing. No sitting in the air conditioning while the kids play. They expect me to be right along with them and would be very disappointed if I didn't join in with them. That's just how they've been raised. When they go somewhere as a family everyone does the same thing. So it's made for some interesting experiences! I've been on rides I'm sure I would have never been on without them but it turned out fun! Rode go karts so many times one night I had bugs plastered all over my face and hair but it was actually fun! The kids got a real kick out of the bugs stuck on me!! Richard and I went through one of those drive through zoos/parks and we really enjoyed it. The one we went to was in Missouri but north of Eureka Springs (just over the Missouri border).

Not sure what all we will do this time. I think they actually need some time to rest and to work on a very important essay. They are going to be on the go all summer. I think they only have about 5 days they will be at home. They are going to 3 camps, to Mexico on a mission trip and to Hawaii on vacation in addition to time with me. They haven't been out of school but a couple of weeks. They didn't get out until the 14th of June. They do go back a little later than kids do around here.

I am going to get them to move a couple of pieces of furniture for me while they are here. I bought a chest several months ago that I really like. I said I was going to leave it in the booths for a while and then if it hadn't sold bring it home. Also have to take something from before I can bring it home. It's still there and I've finally decided what I'm going to trade out so I'm going to get them to do it for me!

Happy July 4th everyone! Hope everyone has a blessed day! Jessi and I will be busying getting our 'to do' list checked off and the rest of the bags packed. So far, we only have one large suitcase packed with all our food items, food we are taking to the mission, and things for the kids that we are taking. So, we still have clothes, bedding, essentials to pack.

I am sure it will take me a while to catch up on the threads when we get back. We have added international texting and can send out 50 texts - can receive unlimited so feel free to text me. I was SOOOO looking forward to this trip and getting away from the stress but it looks like it is trying to follow me. I found out late yesterday afternoon that my boss's boss who works in corp at LR - and the VP that is his boss is coming to the plant for a meeting on Monday at 3. That raises a huge red flag about them possibly planning to close the plant - but them coming at 3 makes me really nervous because quitting time is 4 (at least for most of the guys). Also, Steve (my boss's boss) has been gone for the past 2 weeks - last week to the national meeting, and this week on vacation with his family, so for him to schedule a visit on his first day back in the office is even more scary..... not to mention they RARELY come down at all. I am trying hard to remain calm and going to try to enjoy my trip - since it is out of my control.... but it is hard not to worry!!

Charlotte and Marilyn hope ya'll enjoy your company!

Hope everyone has a great next 2 weeks! The weather down there is going to be similar to the morning temps we have been having this week - which is great!!

Genna

Garlic chick
Traditional chicken----both are bought at Wal-mar already cooked
Craisins 1 pound
1 tall and 1 small mandrian oranges
Drained and chopped
Celery
1-1/2 cup pecans
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
Mayonnaise 
3 cloves of garlic

I have been a forgetful person again, this is the notes I made on Kathy Ann's chicken salad she served us in June. I told Marilyn I woul post it, so here it is. Tos makes a huge amount as it uses the meat from 2 whole chickens, the oranges are -drained and chopped, the celery is chopped

Sorry I've been missing for years. And thank you to those that caught up with me on FB

Sandra, that recipe sounds delicious.

Just got to share this with my old MidSouth buddies!
Look what's growing in Pineville, Louisiana. Not only famous for its mental facilities, but patriotism rings true there too!! Happy Fourth everyone.

Hi, there, Jaye! Glad to have you back with us! Don't stay away so long this time around! :)

Charlotte, Al and I will be going ziplining with the kids but neither of us care to ride the rides at Silver Dollar City--I've done it all before in previous years when the gkids were younger and could not go by themselves and I don't like getting splashed with all that water on the water rides. You stay wet the entire rest of the day. It doesn't bother the kids but I prefer to stay dry. LOL The only ride I would not take part in would be the roller coaster--I have never liked ferris wheels and roller coasters, no matter my age. They are old enough now that they can do all that without an adult, thank goodness! :)

Sandra: thanks for the recipe!

Genna: when are you and Jessi leaving? I know you all will have a great trip and a fruitful one! I hope everything turns out okay with the visit by the bosses!
You ladies have a blessed and happy 4th!

This message was edited Jul 4, 2013 9:39 AM

Genna enjoy your trip!

Marilyn I don't like being wet either. I just keep a cheap poncho in my purse and it keeps you very dry and lets you enjoy the ride. It's fun being there with them and sharing the experience! Makes memories. My son never liked roller coasters growing up. When he and Kristi were engaged we were all at Six Flags and she wanted to ride the HUGE roller coaster and he didn't want to tell her he didn't want to. So he put her with some stranger and told her he needed to ride with me! It was because he didn't want her to see how terrified he was but he decided he was going to do. He's been on many roller coaster rides since then! LOL

You all will enjoy the zipline. It's fun!

Hi Jaye!

Getting ready to make a fresh blackberry cobbler and chocolate chip cookies.

So good to see 'faithful' MidSoutherners here!! It's like coming home!!
Hi there Marilyn.. Charlotte!

Hi Jaye, bought time you came home to mid south. I fear that FB is going to be the death of Dave's, but who knows ??? Worked outside today until just a bit ago and now have to shower and go for a funeral home visit, our pastor's Mom passed. She used to be my boss at one factory I worked, she was only 74, but had been in bad health for the last several years. It was not unexpected.

Jaye that chicken salad was so good, everyone loved it, the only thing to make it better would be to leave the chicken out--lol ! I think I will try it with some ham, I don't love chicken, the rest of my family does and I can eat it but it is not a favorite with me. I had passed it up and everyone started talking about how good it was. I think I ate some both days we were there. Of course everything Kathy Ann cooks is so good, she is an excellent cook ! Those strawberry lemonade cookies were the best !

Marilyn, we leave tomorrow..... well, today now! I am way behind and MUST get to bed to get some sleep! We have to be in Fordyce, about 30 min down the road by 7:30, and we will fly out of LR just before 11. Then we will be Charlotte NC until about 5 I believe.. Then we are off! :)

Hi Jaye...... seems like I remember your name when I first joined DG - but my memory is horrible!

Hope everyone has a great start to their July. We will return late on the night of July 14. A little nervous, but very excited about the trip! Hope we accomplish great things for the Kingdom!

Genna

Morning ladies!
Gosh.. I feel so bad now. Didn't mean to desert any friends, moreover the group I started with when I first joined DG. I have atrociously attention deficit disorder, and before I am hooked to fast speed.. the slow net limited my windows to just one!
You're right Sandra, FB has made it so easy for one to stay on one page and get you connected to so many different interests!! It's just not FB.. the 'other' building as well.

Hey Genna! Yes, I do remember you, but we didn't interact much. Think during the time when I was active, you were busy taking care of more pressing issues. Good to see you and have a safe trip. See.. here I come.. and there Genna goes again!! Lol!!

Ziplining?? Marilyn, I'm afraid I had to scratch that off my bucket list!! Oh wait.. one doesn't need a cane nor a wheelchair when zipping across that line right? Hmmm... maybe there's a chance.
Congratulations by the way, on your new chapter in your life. So happy for you.

Sandra, I'm going to share that recipe with abbisgranma (Marion). That lady loves anything with cranberries in it.
I had tasted a similar salad at a DG 'sistahs' gathering in Ohio. It was store bought, and I had wanted a 'reliable' recipe since then.

Had a nice 4th of July dinner at Cracker Barrel's. Wanted to grill steaks and the works, but Kel insisted on starting a new tradition. Hey if new traditions mean I don't have to cook, I ain't arguing!!!!
What has changed in my life since I last 'chat' here.

GOD hasn't!! He's still in me! LSU is still my team!! I see Jeri smiling there!

Since my mobility is limited, I don't do as much gardening as I used to, and lately, I am learning to follow the moon!
Can't take chances when it comes to plants survival, especially after I killed so many!
Caught up on sewing and am very active in quilt blocks exchange on the sewing thread.

Have a great day ladies, I intend to do a few transplantings before the rains start. IT's been raining lately so much so that I think I spotted some mosquitoes rowing away in their leaf pirogues!

Jaye I didn't realize you had mobility problems now, is it caused by your diabetes? I am with you on not cooking, I don't like to cook in the summer, I usually so because of Jerry's Mom. She lives next door now and Jerry and I see to it she has supper every night. She does Cheerios for breakfast and she snacks the rest of the time, or eats the leftovers from supper. She can't stand long enough to cook and uses her walker all time now.

Jerry and I have a shopping day planned today, nothing exciting, going to a mobile home parts place to check on some things to fix our bathroom. We are going to have to have the floor replaced and I want a new tub when we do! Do it all at one time, the a SAMs run. It is hard for me to do shopping when Eli is home, I am out of lots of stuff !!

I'm with you on the not cooking!!! We eat out almost every night. It's about as cheap as cooking. Richard doesn't drive anymore and that's his only time out every day so he looks forward to eating out.
I always make the grandkids chocolate chip cookies and I managed to mess them up yesterday! Got to make a new batch in a few minutes. The dough was not looking right and then when I cooked them they sure didn't look right! I thought I must have forgotten to add my second cup of flour so I added more flour to the dough I had left. Then I got to looking at the measuring cups I had out and realized what I had done wrong. I had put a cup and a half of both brown and white sugar instead of 3/4 cup of each!!!! Turned out like crinkles! My mind was obviously a thousand miles away!

The boys got in at 5:30 and I had a Honeybaked ham for them and made corn on the cob, deviled eggs, rolls, tomatoes and mac and cheese. Then we went downtown for the fireworks. We got there early so we could get a parking place and a place to sit. The fireworks were great this year but it went on and on and on!!! They shot fireworks for 45 minutes! Then we had to fight the traffic to get home. They were exhausted when we got home. They went straight to bed!!!

They want to go to the crystal mines. Depends on what time they get up as to whether or not we go today.

Sandra I bet it is hard to do any shopping with Eli! I remember taking the boys with me to the grocery store one time when they were real small. I told them when we left I would never take them with me again! They say GOOD! They stayed with me but I sure couldn't concentrate on what I was trying to buy with 3 small kids!

We had a nice 4th also and went to a new place called Bar Louie. It's a restaurant. Food was good but kinda pricey. Jim left out this AM so it was also a goodbye dinner for him.

Smiles from ear to ear Jaye!!! LOL!!! So glad you found your way back to us!!! I follow your activity on FB. Sounds like all of Yall have reached the point that I was at 16 yrs ago when Ashley was born. NO COOKING is a good thing!!!

I've always gone everywhere with kids...actually, I still do!!! When my kids were young everyone said I looked like a mother duck with all the ducklings following me through each task. I always did my errands before whatever they wanted to do and if they didn't behave then we went home and they didn't get to do what they wanted. I think that may have occurred only once!!!

Had an appointment at the Apple store for Ashley's phone to be repaired and upon leaving the shopping center almost got in a wreck when a woman ran a stop sign. After that my brakes felt spongy and just got back from leaving it at the Chevy dealer. The GMC dealership was just next door and I went and looked at a new vehicle. I really like the Terrain. Jim said I have to get either black or white to match the motorhome. I can do that!! LOL!! I'll let you know how that goes.

Have fun Genna but be prepared to see sights that you can't even imagine. The utter poverty breaks my heart and I end up crying myself to sleep at night when we make a trip like that. Our group at church leaves this week for Ecuador. I couldn't make it but we sent money.

Charlotte & Marilyn have fun with the grands this week. I know that Yall won't leave one stone unturned!!!

On my phone but wanted to tell any if u looking to upgrade phones about the deal I got yesterday . Went to radio shack has iPhones on sale... I was able to get the 5 for 149, and they paid me 150 for my old iPhone 4 !! I wax shocked. Just thought some of y'all might want to check into it before the sale is over. We r in Charlotte about to eat lunch! Just forgot to tell y'all about that last night

Jeri I haven't been on a mission but I know there is terrible poverty that we just don't think about. Years ago when Jeff was in high school we drove to CA and went on down to San Diego and across to Tijuana. It was a very different experience but going home I decided I wanted to cross over into a regular town in Mexico - not a tourist place. Wanted to see what it really looked like. I have never forgotten what I saw. Not at all what I was expecting. The little town we went to had dirt streets. There were small hungry looking children in tattered clothes selling some kind of pornographic newspaper. It was just horrible!!! Unfortunately we have a lot in our own country that we don't see. My grandsons have been going on missions for a number of years. They were not allowed to go to Mexico until they turned 16 (church wouldn't allow it). But before that they went for several years to an Indian reservation in Arizona. They did basically the same thing there that they do in Mexico. Have bible classes at night and built houses in the day time.

Had my grandsons help me move some furniture this afternoon! I exchanged a piece I had at the antique mall for one I had at home. Justin got his frog legs he's been wanting to try for lunch and I'm going to feed them a steak dinner tonight at our favorite place to have a steak. The Riverfront Steak House.

Charlotte, take me to the mines with you ! I have always wanted to do something like that. If I didn't find anything worth money, I could still find pretty rocks to put in my flower beds!
I don't have a choice about cooking, we are 8 miles out from Ripley and they have McDonalds, subway, pizza and Mexican--one little Chinese buffet, but pretty good, there is a little place right down the road that is open Thurs-Sat, but they closed for this week end. We got the freezer refilled with meat and veggies at SAMs today so that makes it a lot easier.

I texted Genna about 5 p.m. She replied that they had just boarded their plane and would be leaving in a few minutes. It is a 9 hour, 40 minute flight so they will be in the air until the wee hours. They are very excited to be going on this mission trip!

Jeri, you are so right about the poverty in those places! When we moved my daughter and her husband to Mexico in 1999 (they were missionaries for a year down there), I was not prepared for what I saw. It literally made me sick and I spent my first day down there in bed! After that, I was okay but it was quite an experience. By the way, Al and I have a GMC Terrain and we love it!

Jaye, so sorry to hear about your mobility limitations. Big hugs to you! I am glad you have found an outlet in quilting. You will have to post some photos for us. Quilting is something I have never done but have always wanted to do--maybe one of these years. LOL Thanks for your congrats on my "new chapter in life". Most of the girls here have met my new hubby. His name is Al. He has diabetes, too, and has had it for 20 years but so far it hasn't limited his activity, thank goodness! I watch what he eats more carefully than he does and I fuss at him when he eats too many sweets or overdoes it on the carbs. LOL His diet has changed since we married--fewer carbs, more veggies. :D

About eating out--I'm all for it, too! However, since I married Al, I have cooked more than I have in years. He requires 3 meals a day, otherwise he starts getting "shaky" due to his blood sugar. I actually hate standing over a hot stove but I try to prepare quick and easy meals and yet meals that are nutricious. We eat a lot of steamed and raw veggies, sliced tomatoes, etc. We eat very little beef, mostly chicken or fish or sometimes pork. Al didn't get a deer last fall but when we have deer meat available, we eat that. We do eat out 2 or 3 times a week, though. There are few restaurants nearby but we do have one that is down by the marina which is about 5 miles from here. The name of it is "Cookie's" (the owner's last name is Cook). They have good food and the food and the service is consistent. It's one of those places "where everyone knows your name". :)

Charlotte, glad Justin got his froglegs. You didn't say how he liked them! :D He is welcome to them, in my opinion. LOL I just cannot bring myself to eat them! I am sure Richard enjoys getting out of the house to go eat every day. Buddy had to depend on me, too, for transportation although he was able to take walks around the neighborhood by himself.

When I married Amanda's Dad, I was 15. I finally found a job washing dishes at a motel with a restaurant, I got paid .50 an hour !
You all know how frogs and I don't get along, one day I was in the kitchen alone, the cook had left as soon as lunch was pretty much over and the night cook had not made it in as of yet. The waitress came back with an order and she told me to go ahead and get it out of the freezer that the cook should be there any second. It was frog legs! I made it pretty well until for some reason they fell out of the bag and I had to pick them up! I was shaking all over when Roosevelt came in, I had told him a few days before how scared I was of frogs. He cooked them and sent them out and I was still running the lunch stuff through the dishwasher. All of a sudden it hit me the bones would be coming back soon. In those day they had a 5 gallon bucket that I was to put all meat and bone scrap into and someone would pick it up and feed it to their dogs. Roosevelt was reading the paper or something as it was a dead time and he saw me taking a fork and raising up the top plate in the bus pan very slowly. He could have laughed his head off but he was so sweet. he took over cleaning out the plates until the frog leg bones came back and cleaned them off into the bucket ! He was a black man and he was older with grayling hair, he had been the cook at night there for years some of the customers would ask if he was cooking before they would even take a seat. I am sure he has passed away by now but I have never forgotten how sweet he was to me that day. I am much better now, if I see a frog I can walk around it without a big deal but if the frog jumps before I see it in front of me that flips the switch. I don't like seafood and needless to say I have never tried frog legs !

Sandra your list of restaurants made me remember a few years ago when I took my youngest daughter to Pella Iowa with me, she was about 17 and I went for a work meeting. We were in Walmart and asked the checker what restaurants they had. She gushed 'Oh gosh we have tons of stuff. We have McDonalds, Dairy Queen, Taco Tico and something else that I have forgotten now' We left the store and my daughter said 'Wow she thinks that's a LOT of restaurants' we laughed till it hurt. Little did she know that we have that many restaurants on one corner in LR. They seriously had no Burger King no Wendy's no sit down restaurants except Mom and Pop ones on main street and a steak place waaaaay out in the boonies on the lake. It was a super cool town though even without all the eating out places.

It is all in what you get used to I'm sure and we both ended up being sad when we left there and went to the Mall of America where they have every kind of food in the world:)

You need to come up some weekend Sandra and we'll just do the crystal mine. I'm glad the kids enjoy going because I really enjoy it also and it gives me someone to go with!! I just finished packing up our digging supplies. We're headed out in the morning. The small crystals you can wire wrap and make jewelry. But I love the pretty rocks! I have a bunch of them scattered around in my flower beds.

I was asking the boys about their mission trip tonight. They really rough it while they are there. The local people cook for them and as they said they are very poor and don't have a lot of food. They feed them rice, beans and tortillas. But they said they are so tired at night it really doesn't matter what they eat! They take a sleeping bag and sleep in it. Glad they are doing it. It really teaches them a lot about people.

Another reason I like to eat out is we each eat totally different food! Richard likes beef (chicken fried steak, hamburgers, etc.) I eat chicken and fish and lots of veggies. I can hardly get a veggie down him. He has terrible eating habits but at this stage of the game there is no hope in changing him!! A lot of places know us by name too because we are there so often!! LOL

Justin liked his frog legs. I also had them. They taste a lot like chicken and the meat looks a lot like chicken just smaller. I've eaten them a lot before. They are very healthy eaters and he ordered his sauteed so I decided to get mine sauteed also. I do like them better fried. When they fry them they put a very light batter on them and then just pan fry. In other words not a heavy bread coating like some places do shrimp. In addition to being healthy eaters they are very adventurous eaters!

My son is in Brazil now (think he goes home this weekend) and he said it was a really long flight and he also flew overnight going down. But he said where he has been is very beautiful. - just like other places I've been in Mexico. He posted some pictures and it is beautiful! Huge cities right on the beach (he's been in Rio and San Pauleo). My guess is that Genna is going inland. That was one of the things I didn't like about Jamaica - so much poverty and so many drugs. The drugs were so bad I couldn't feel that bad about the poverty!!

We did a cross post Karen! You are so right! That's one thing I love about where I live. We have so many choices of places to eat within just 5 to 10 minutes. Almost everything I need to do (doctors, bank, grocery, etc is 5 to 10 minutes away). It is what you get used to!!

Karen, we don't have a Burger King or Wendy's either, there is one of each in New Albany--30 miles away!
We ate at Ryan's in Tupelo today and Jerry was the one that wanted to go there, he was badly disappointed as it was lunch and there was no steak or pulled pork on the buffet. I guess he has probably never eaten there at lunch--LOL !

Charlotte, I might just do that sometime. There is much poverty in the Philippines too. One of the churches that our church gives to there the pastor has 3 small girls. He spent a year in the US getting churches to give to them and when the jobs first started getting scarce a lot of the churches just stopped paying what they had promised as they didn't have enough income coming in. At the time it was brought before the church the pastor and wife and all 3 small girls were going through trash for stuff to sell to the recycling plant. The family only ate a bowl of rice at all three meals every day and put everything else toward keeping their church open.
We are so blessed here, we have our poor here, but we also have some social programs and food banks to help out in time of need. There is no help of any kind there. Our pastor and one of our deacons went there to a church that our church funded. I think it was 7,000 for a completed building ( at that time ). The pastor of that church took him up on a mountain to meet this family, he said the little girls all worked just as Mom and Dad did.

Our church is very large. We support a lot of missionaries. We have severl families from our church in rownda. Our pastors go down and check on things. We also support a group of young Rwandan men while they go to college in Little Rock. Have people in lots of other places. Have some local in town missions also. We have a free medical clinic. It is open on certain nights and some days. It is staffed by doctors from our church. They volunteer their time. Also have a dental clinic that operates the way.

That is great Charlotte, can yo imagine such things in the countries we were talking about? Like I have said before, I love the USA !
Our church has an average of 50 that attends regularly, many more on the book, but I think we have 4 foreign missionaries and we just gave money to start a church in Rosepine LA back last year. We have good offerings for as few people as we have and not really any high income folks either.

Sandra our little town has so many good cooks(that is excluding me) that restaurants never could make it here until after we became a city in 2005. Now we have 5 different pizza, mexican & chinese restaurants and just shortly Mike Anderson's is opening a seafood restaurants next to the catholic church. I can't wait!!! The advantage to living in Central is that I'm not more than 5 miles from 3 or 4 different towns that do have restaurants.

I got the new car. It's silver. LOL!!! Jim said I did that just to upset him. But I told him he had chrome on the motorhome and silver matches chrome so he's OK with that. I got a demo with 6000 miles on it and saved $6000.00 by doing that and then I had $3773.00 bonus cash on my credit card so I ended up getting it for a little over $21000.00. Jim said I did good considering it listed for over $30000.00 so he does approve. All those years of working in dealerships paid off being able to handle the salesmen like that. Poor dear didn't know what happened to him and he didn't make anything on the back end b/c I got it for 4 yrs at 0% interest.

I have to agree that we are so blessed to be born in the USA. What upsets me the most about some of the countries that Jim & I have visited in and witnessed this poverty is the obscene riches the country had and yet the people so poor.

I think it's not just us eating out but it has become the trend. People just don't seem to cook like we did years ago. I have done my share of cooking believe me!! Richard's daughter and family eat out a lot also. She said she went to the grocery store and bought stuff for one meal for the 3 of them and when she checked out she said "really" we could have gone out to eat for the same amount of money! Look at how the recipes have changed. I was looking up a recipe for blackberry cobbler the other day. I use a Southern Living cookbook a lot. I have two versions of the same cookbook. One written 30 years or more ago and the same revised cookbook that is probably 10 years old. The recipe in the old version was totally from scratch. The recipe in the new version called for refrigerated pie crust dough. Lot fewer ingredients and lot less time involved but cost more to make.

That was a good deal on your car Jeri. The next time I trade cars I've decided I'm going to get a SUV and also get one that has a few miles on it. I have always bought brand new cars. But I've decided they depreciate so fast I need to take advantage of the better prices. That also seems to be the trend now days! Other people I know that have always bought brand new cars have started buying low mileage cars. Yep your years of working in a dealership payed off!

I agree with you Jeri. Lots of countries just don't take care of their own people. The countries have tons of money and huge cities with thriving businesses but don't do anything to take care of their own people.

Congrats on the new ride, Jeri ! I saw a picture on FB, poor Jim, he just can't do a thing with you! He and Jerry need to cry on each others shoulders--LOL !

Yes and my tender heart just breaks for the children. I figure the adults can or should take care of themselves but the children are usually the ones to suffer the most. They have the opportunity for a free education in some of the countries but the parents won't let the kids go to school b/c they send them to the town square to beg from tourist and the parents sit home and collect the money. I saw babies with their hands chopped off for stealing bread to eat. The country has a very low crime rate due to this type of punishment but then the children are marked for life. I know that we have much poverty here also but our worst case doesn't compare to what I've seen in other countries. Thank God we were born in America and able to take advantage of all that this great country has!!!

Here no body wants to eat the same thing and when I cook they always want something else added. Just easier to eat out. Besides the extra time needed to complete whole meals, I just don't have!!!

Thanks Sandra!!! Yall know that Ashley is getting the HHR when it comes out of the shop for the master cylinder. She wants it painted neon green and zebra seat covers and steering wheel. I guess now we need to convert that learner's permit for the real deal. LOL!!! Watch out world!!!

You tell Al, that I know the Lord gave him a good woman, Marilyn!!!
I restarted quilting when I grew restless from not being able to do much outside. Some would call me a fabric hoarder. Can't attempt to put together anything bigger than a kiddy quilt with my machine! You can't imagine how far the quilting world has come to compared to the 80s! I was cutting with scissors, used plastic templates, and now there are rotary cutters and acrylic rulers!! Anytime you wish to start Marilyn, I'll be happy to help.

Yes Sandra. My mobility is due to the diabetic neuropathy in my feet. Through the years, I have been told that my pancreas isn't producing much, hence the dependency on insulin increase. Plenty of diabetics have adverse effects from this. One is weight gain. I'm practically a vegetarian, will only eat fish for meat protein, avoid starches especially potatoes and rice, and still I can't be as svelte as Jeri here!!!

Congrats on the new ride, Jeri! Gosh.. time flew.. and Ashley's a lady now and driving a HHR!! Wow!!! Can you adopt me Jeri??? I'm potty trained!! Lol!

My current church is very small. 50 members. It's supposed to be a missionary baptist, but not supporting any missionaries at all. Can't argue with the church leaders when the church is led to help out the local community's wayward youths and the elderlies. Guess charity does begin at home.

The old church in Louisiana is another missionary baptist, and do support international missionaries from India and the Phillippines. It can do so as it has 300 members. It also support missionaries doing work in the inner city of Philadelphia.
I remember one year, there was this missioner who came down with a raggedy old car from a Yankee state, and the church surprised him with a new dependable car. God's will be done, right?
Got him weeping when he saw it, and a check for $30,000! God provides, our preacher said!

Yes, there are so many 3rd world countries that need help with spreading His word. Sad the chasm between the rich and poor is so wide! All stems from corruption and lack of equal opportunities for education.
I am glad that my birth country, Singapore, has wonderful Christian ministries that are self sufficient.
Bless you all for wanting to help the poor Christians.

Waving to Karen!!

We're also in the business of rescuing cats!! Think last count it's 28!! Spayed and neutered. I know.. I'm wearing the crown of the crazy cat lady!
Quite the polar opposite of what I used to do in Louisiana. Back then, it was dogs!! ROFL!!
When I die, I told Kel to inscribe on my tombstone "Love Jesus, she took care of His creatures!"

Charlotte and Karen: the businesses I miss most are Hobby Lobby, Kohl's and Dress Barn. There is a Hobby Lobby in Springfield 2 hours from me and a Kohl's and Dress Barn in Branson which is about an hour and 15 minutes. We do our shopping mainly in Mountain Home which is about 45 minutes away. There are lots of different restaurants there but no Hobby Lobby, Kohl's or Dress Barn. There are several other dress shops though and a Shoe Sensation where I can get my Clark's shoes. We do our major grocery shopping in Mountain Home and are over there at least once a week so I am not deprived. LOL It just takes a little longer to get there. :D

Sandra, I did not know you were squeamish about frogs. Frogs and toads don't bother me, but I just can't bring myself to eat frog's legs. I have tasted them in the distant past and they are the consistency of fried chicken but taste "fishy". :(

Good deal on the car, Jeri! I saw the photo of it on Facebook, too. You are going to love it!

Jaye, I will give Al your message. :) When I first married him and he started introducing me to his friends, without exception every one of them told me: "Al's a good man." That made me feel good about him but one day we were in a restaurant and one more person said to me, "You are getting a good man!" I said, "I know, and he is getting a good woman!" ROFL somebody had to stick up for me and since none of them knew me, I did it for myself! Ha, ha! I moved into his home and his community and became a member of his church (Methodist--I was raised a Methodist but consider myself to be more or less non-denominational nowadays). The people here have been very gracious and welcoming to me and I feel "at home" up here in southern Missouri. :)
I applaud you rescuing the kitties, Jaye. We always had at least one cat when I was growing up and a dog or two. That was in the days before leash laws and dogs were allowed to run free in the neighborhood. Our dogs and cats always seemed to get along, though.

Our church is small, too, about 75 to 100 attending every week. We do a lot of outreach here locally and also through the larger mission outreaches worldwide through the Methodist Church. I am in the process of becoming a "Lay Servant" which means that after I complete the basic courses I will be "approved" to be a lay speaker in our church whenever the preacher is unable to be in the pulpit. We already have 2 or 3 other lay servants in our church so in case there is a need, we will have several who can fill in for the preacher.

Hey Jaye waving right back at ya!! I guess you were on here before my time but welcome back anyway.

I hate to think about the day I can't garden any more (really I just hate to think about not being able to buy stuff from the Lowe's clearance rack) but I'm sure when the day comes I'll find some other hobby to keep me busy.

Hope you guys are having a great weekend.

Boy, where is everyone??? I suppose everyone is busy with summer activities and some of us also have relatives visiting.

I just had a text from Genna. She says to tell everyone "hello" from her. She says they have been walking everyday in the slums inviting lots of kids to VBS and adults to services. They will be having church again tonight at 7:30 p.m. and are hoping to have some new faces there tonight. Ya'll keep them on your prayer lists, please.

I spent 3 1/2 hours this morning helping another lady clean out the flower beds at our church. We got a lot accomplished but still have more to do and are going to go back on Monday. It was so hot that we were both wringing wet when we quit working at 11:30 a.m. We decided not to push our luck by working any longer in the heat. I jokingly told her we picked the hottest day of the year so far to start this project!!! :D We were in the shade most of the time due to a big tree being nearby. I have been relaxing in the a/c ever since I got home. Al went down to Subway and got us a sandwich for lunch. :)

Marilyn, please don't get too hot, it is miserable here, still 84 degrees. I took Eli out early this morning and got some watering started. He had 4 shots yesterday, one in each arm and leg. After about an hour he started fussing and I touched him and realized he had some fever, so we came inside. I was in and out while he napped moving the hose. I took him back out to cut the water off and we weren't even out there 10 minutes, usually he will cry when you take him in after a short time, but he didn't today--I went back out about 5:30 and finished watering, for today.

Thanks for letting us hear from Genna, did she say if it is hot there?