R.I.P

I like to think my

sister is now in heaven

with my momma and daddy

laughing

talking

hugging.

Knowing all the sadness, pain, illness and suffering

is over.

Keeping watch on the rest of

us.

Spring

Spring came early, well we never really had a winter

Daffodils, Bradford Pears, Phlox and other things blooming

It brought tornadoes again, too.

Thankfully no one in the Chattanooga area was killed. My heart goes out

to everyone else who were hit by the storms.

A bit of spring

Debt Free at last

Four years (and 2 months) ago

I found myself in credit card Hell.

I went to an agency sponsered by the government

and worked out a plan.

Some creditors reduced their interests rates

(one going as low as 2%).

February 10 I made my

LAST

Payment to pay it all off.

What a great feeling.

Now I want to go to the beach

Trip paid for by cash only.

Yesterday I decided we rely way too much on pre-packaged foods.

So I decided once a week (at least) I have to make something

instead of buying.

Oatmeal raisin cookies.

Ymmmmmm.

Nothing fancy, just the recipe from under the lid

of a container of Quaker Oats.

Thank you all for dropping by.

Our latest stuffie creation.

Making stuffies is one of Olivia's favorite activities

when she is here.

She designs-I have to come up with a pattern

and do the stitching.

The tree is down now,

Christmas decos are all packed away,

took me 2 days to do all that.

Thank you to everyone who has come by and left a comment.

Your visits and comments are very welcome.

My White Christmas

Not happening like last year.

But I did have some White Christmas (tea) in a cup.

Merry Christmas blogger friends.

Treasures from my mom

My mom knew I was the one in the family that I would keep the "tresures"

and keep the family history alive.

Today I put up my mom's little first Christmas tree,

my grandmother kept for many years.

These are my mom's baby shoes that were bronzed and made

into a lamp.

I haven't plugged it in, not sure if it works.

The man in uniform is my grandfather during World War II

My grandfather used to go to the desert and collect rocks

which he cut and polished.

He made jewelry with some.

My Christmas cactus is blooming.  I really like this bit of

natural decorating.

My tree is decorated. I seem to be so behind on everything this

year.