Saturday

It's "St. Patricks Day" weekend....

So many of us like to think were a bit Irish during this time of year and I can honestly say I'm half Irish.  I'd like to introduce you to my grandparents, my moms mother and father.  We kids called him "Daddy Tom" because our father was away with the Coast Guard most of the time and Daddy Tom stepped in a lot when we needed a father figure.  The photo is of
"Thomas Patrick Murray" and his wife "Cora"
my grandmother, dated 1919.  Daddy Tom served in the USCG and retired after 30 years of service.
Today I cooked my "Corned Beef and Cabbage" in honor of this wonderful couple.
I have cooked this cut of beef each year (even though I don't eat meat) because it's the only way I have left to honor them.  If you notice I put a green apple into the water along with the usual spices and veggies, while the meat is cooking.  It was their way and the meat takes on the most wonderful flavor by doing so.


I'd like to wish everyone a wonderful 
"St. Patricks Day" and may your life be filled with the 
"Luck of the Irish"

(((Hugs)))

Linking this post to
Sunny Simple Sunday 


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Friday

Easter on my mind and a very special welcome...

Easter is just around the corner and this grandma has to look ahead.  Not knowing if my new grandbaby will be born before March 31st leaves me with "Should I send something with the boys Easter baskets or not"... I chose to send a little something, just in case.
As it turned out my little grandson was born a bit early, on the 10th of March  and what a sweetie he is. 
This grandma can't wait to kiss those little chubby cheeks.

I found this sweet Easter duck with a cross stitch fabric bib and I simply added a sweet saying."Grandma Heart Me"





 I had a bouquet of Spring Tulips sent to my daughter to  welcome  her new baby.   The vase was covered with my new grandsons photo and a few words of congratulations.  Gina said it was very sweet and will make a wonderful keepsake for the babies room.
I know it was a simple clear plastic printing put on the glass but I can't wait to see it in person.. nice idea!  It was as easy as uploading the photo and printing the words. Isn't  technology  wonderful these days.
 Our family is over joyed with the babies arrival and his brothers, well they are over the moon.  You can imagine how such small boys know there is a new sibling coming but in their minds they just can't know how wonderful it will be until they hold him for the first time.
 Wishing my girl and her husband a "BIG Congratulations" on the birth of their new Son.
The boys now have a new member of the team. They may have to wait till next summer to get him out in the back yard with them but just think how much fun it will be to teach him to run and play outside with their Dad.

I'll be joining 
Frugal Friday 
Tickled Pink 
Show and Tell Friday 
What to do Weekends 
BFF Open House 
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday 
Make it Pretty Monday 
Spring Thing Blog Hop 
We Did It Wednesday 
Thinking about Thursday 

x0x0x

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Sunday

A day full of emotions, both happy and sad..

This day started with the great news of my girl going in the hospital to have her 4th baby.  At this moment she is only 6 centimeters and I'd expect her to go on a few more hours..  The family and I are on pins and needles and expect to hear of the birth soon.  This baby will be 'news worthy' as no one knows the sex of this child.. but we will once it enters the world. 
I was inspired to get out and be with Mother Nature.
I've spoken of my daughter and her husband before and they wanted this child to be a surprise, being they have three small boys! 

 Then we received a phone call that Mr. N's mom passed away just a few hours ago.  We all have rejoiced at her strong self and life... My mom-in-law turned 101 years old this past November.  She was the mother-in-law everyone wished they had. Loving and just a nice person and the best part, she liked me. 
After Mr. N. and I talked about all this and not knowing what to do with myself during the rest of the afternoon I went out back, pulled weeds and planted some new flowers that were just waiting for me to get them in the ground. Somehow doing this cleared my poor mind.  Amazing how mother nature can do that and bring you down (or is it up?) to her level.
 I must have been out in the garden for several hours when Mr. N. called out to me "Come in the house and rest a while"... he always worries when I'm out there too long. The above photo is the area that I did not get to.. so many weeds need pulling before I can put in the new flowers. 
Tomorrow?
  I think he was worried that I'd fall out in the warm sunshine we had today... it's not hot, just in the lower 70's and feels so good.
I was mentally grieving for my dear mom-in-law although I know I should not have been.. she lived a good life.  But I was also in the hospital (my mind) helping my girl go through labor.  
Ok, the next few days I need to make plans.  Go to Illinois for a funeral or go to OKC to meet my new grandbaby?
I feel like Scarlet O'Hara

 I'll think about it tomorrow.   

"RIP Mom Helen" 

 * * * * * * *
It's been just two hours since I've written this post and I'd like you all to welcome my new grandson to the world.
"Henry David"

I have to smile because I know his brothers all wanted a new boy in the family.  The football team needs him!  
Both Mom and Baby are doing great.  It's a good day after all!

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday 
Be Inspired 
Wow Us Wednesday 
Outdoor Wednesday 
 Fertilizer Friday

x0x0x
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Friday

A yard sale $5.00 lamp redone, and family ashes....

 Was nice to find this stock lamp (you must have seen this in every store in town).  I have two lamps that are starting to have switch troubles and although I love to buy nice lamps these two were used in spaces that did not require fancy dancy lamps...  For $5.00 I grabbed it.




 Luck was on my side and I was able to plug the lamp in at the home of the yard sale and found out it works really well. But, the gold was not my cup of tea.  Looking in my stock pile of spray paint I found a nice pewter color, one for metal and all sorts of finishes. 

 Before painting I used blue tape to cover off the areas I didn't want the paint to adhear to then got to work with the spray.  This was a nice sunny day but the wind was blowing pretty hard and it took me some time to get the paint to cover properly.
 There, so much better.  I also recovered the shade with a bit of burlap fabric.  Once I finished the shade I remembered that I did not take any photos so you all will just have to see the finished product.  
It works perfectly don't you think?

I have the 'new' lamp sitting on an out of the way dresser.  I call it my shrine to my Mom and Brother.  I keep their ashes where I can stop by and give them a shake from time to time.. I know, some of you may find this odd but it makes me feel better when I have something to say and share with them.


I always wonder how many people have the ashes of a loved one in sight, and  do as I do?
Funny thing, my brothers ashes were put into this Middle Eastern fragrance bottle some 26 years ago and I always wondered what he thought about being in such a girlie container.  Mom has the pleasure of a nice Wedgewood china covered dish. (big smile here).
It just makes me feel good and I don't find it odd at all because I sure miss them!
x0x0x 

I'll be joining these links
Be Inspired 
What to do Weekend 
We Did It Wednesday 


 




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Wednesday

Women with strength, power and the ability to bring down the rough....

There are a few women we know in our family that are 
"My Hero's"  
Really?

When things get tough these two step in and just do the job.  The woman above is an Alaskan State Trooper and she deals with all sorts of large rough men.  I find it amusing how she will confront guys 4 ft taller than herself and bring them down when they are full of liquor or just being mean and after subduing them she pulls out her "Pink" handcuffs and totally humiliates them by making them wear her bracelet as she totes them off to the slammer.
That my dear ladies is "Power"

 Then there is another woman who has worked with her K-9 in the Alaskan Mountains and the borders of Arizona confronting the rough and the strong.  I'm happy to say this one is my personal friend.
More "Power" here!

 My thoughts are if we women could take on their "attitude" no man or woman could hurt us. 
Oh the "Power" of a good attitude about ourselves will go a long way to helping us stay safe from the elusive harm that may be lingering around the corner.
Stay safe ladies and always be "Powerful" in your mind and bodies. 

I'm joining Jenny Matlocks

x0x0x
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Tuesday

Rushing Spring just a bit with seeds....


 When walking downstairs this morning I was shivering.  It's been a chilly few months here in the Tampa Bay area, not at all normal for us. This is beach country after all!
   While turning on the oven to warm the kitchen then clicking on the fireplace (we do have central heat but who uses that) 
I heard on the news "It's going to 72' this afternoon"  
That was my q to get a few pots of seeds growing.
 I already have several large pots with established herbs and greens out in the back yard but I use loads of parsley in cooking and wanted to have as many new plants as I could grow.. so they along with other herbs were seeded then put out on the deck railing waiting for the sun to sprout them.
While I was at it I put in different flower seeds to scatter around in the flower beds.  It takes about 7 to 10 days for the seeds to sprout in pots then another two or so weeks till I'm able to put into the garden.   Mid April is my goal to get these little plants transplanted.

While surfing the net this morning I found this really cute garden wall art on Pinterest  and I have some old fan blades in the store room. Guess what I'm going to make? 
  This dragonfly will look amazing on the side wall of the house. I already have an old fence post for the body, now all I need is the spray paint.  
Now tell me, this is not the cutest thing you have ever seen! 
  (sorry to whoever posted the dragonfly photo on pinterest, I have no url to credit back)



I'm linking this post to


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Letting your child soar is not easy but when you do....


 I woke this morning to this photo and all I could do was let the tears fall down my cheeks.
It's the first formal photo my boy has had done in quite a while.
What's a mom to do but let her heart swell with pride.

I can see his sisters smiling and saying 
"It's still dorkey Tommy"

This is how I remember you, as a little boy with such far off dreams. I spent a lot of time trying to clip those wings to keep you on the ground, then you grew into a man and I had to let go and let you soar.

"Bravo Zulu Tommy"



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Saturday

What to do with loads of left over yarn....


First, check out the 6 Days of Spring Link Party

After almost a year of knitting and crocheting different projects the knitting basket is loaded with leftovers.  What to do with it all besides donating them is an issue I go through all the time.  This year I thought to use them up by making another afghan.  Not sure who will be the one to get it but it turned out rather large and not bad looking.
I must have had a least 12 different colors and textures but I put them all together in large squares anyway.
Once each square was completed I simply stitched them together.
 I had a full skein of a nice blue for the around design. 
For once I did not run out of a color.

And an added bonus, little crochet flowers to use up some white I know I'd  never use.
Will be a nice sofa throw on a cold winter night.
Might just send it on up to Alaska. I know a couple that might just enjoy it.

Today was rather chilly here in the Tampa Bay area.. my outdoor thermometer is saying 42' at 2:00pm in the afternoon... not normal for us.  My friend in Georgia said this morning, "It's Snowing".. maybe she could use a nice warm afghan? 
Hmmm...?  Who will get the Afghan?

"Stay warm all"



at 6 comments:

Thursday

Hibiscus are blooming in all their glory


 Our weather on the Gulf coast, here in South Florida has been so perfect this past week the flowers on my  Hibiscus plant bloomed.   Like most of you, "I'm so ready for Spring"

"Have a wonderful weekend everyone"
Happy March!

I'm sharing this Sunny post with

l


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