Silence Is Golden

We kept our grandsons this weekend while their parents went to Eureka Springs, Ark. for their anniversary.  Boys and puppies make for a wild time especially when one of those boys is three years old. I had to keep my eye on both the three year old and the puppy. The noise level was high and Rowdy spent most of the weekend under my bed.  He's an old dog afterall. I'm tired but thankful for the time I had with all of them.  Today I shall relax and relish the quiet time.  Silence is golden.

Bringing Spring Inside

Saw this silk flower arrangement with "how to" instructions in one of my magazines I get each month and just had to put it together.  I thought it would look pretty on the dinningroom table. It's still a few weeks until spring outside so I brought spring inside our home with this arrangement.

It called for three peonies on the front side and I added two more for the back side, 7 calla lilies, 7 tulips and 11 ranunculus.  I had to substitute roses for the ranunculus since I couldn't find any. It also called for berzelia berries to use as fill ins and I can't find those either.  Had to use what I had.  It doesn't look exactly like the magazine arrangement but I think it turned out just as pretty. 

This is another silk flower arrangement I made a few years ago.  Tulips, hyacinth, and daffodills are the main flowers in this one. I have it sitting on the halltree seat as you come in the front door.  I have another silk flower arrangement and a new spring wreath for the front door I want to put together but will do that in a few weeks.  Hopefully, by then, Hobby Lobby will have more of a variety of silk flowers I can choose from.


Christine

Rowdy Says

 

This is the only safe place in the house from that little pip-squeak!  He won't leave my tail alone.  I am not a toy!

Never Say Never

This time last year I was still adjusting to having my dad's dog Rowdy living with us and I never thought in a million years I'd have another dog, much less a puppy.  And I have always said that I wouldn't have another puppy because the last puppy we had chewed up everything I held dear. But, alas, I have eaten my words. As they say, never say never.  I have grown to love Rowdy and have gotten quite attached to him and for the last few months have considered getting another dog. I'd talk myself out of it and then get the urge again.  I never mentioned this urge to my husband and sprang it on him only last week.  Lucky for me my husband is a dog lover, although he wouldn't admit it.  Also, he usually agrees to anything I want within reason.

I've had friends make comments like, "Christine, what were you thinking," to "This doesn't sound like the Christine I know," when finding out I have another dog, especially a puppy.  I can't honestly answer those questions. But for whatever posessed me to get another dog I have to live with it now. So far I'm having a good time with it, even though I have had to listen to alot of whinning and crying at night when he's in his crate.  It got so bad last night that I put his crate in our bedroom walk-in closet and shut the door (with a nightlight) and finally ended up on the livingroom sofa to get some sleep.  Hubby is sleeping in another bedroom until Rocky adjust to his crate.  Rocky also had a diet of goat's milk and rice up until now.  He snubs the dry puppy food I bought and hasn't eaten much. Talked to the vet about that this morning and he told me to go buy goat's milk and add it to Science Diet puppy food with a consistancy of oatmeal.  So far he's doing great with the potty training. I know this will take time and I'm patient.  He also follows me everywhere I go so I have to be careful not to step on him.  Right now he's asleep at my feet.  Any helpful hints to raising a puppy would be appreciated.

Christine

Busy Week Plus A New Addition

This week has been a busy one for me and hubby. Things that we weren't able to do while snowed in those two weeks had to get done. Doctor appointments, haircuts, birthday parties and a quick trip out of town to pick up the new addition to our family.

Meet Rocky.  He's a 9 week old Morkie. Half Yorkie and half Maltese.  They are called designer dogs or hybrids.  Isn't he cute?  On the ride home he up-chucked three times. Thankfully, I had thought to take a towel with me. The lady I bought him from had just fed him before we picked him up which in afterthought wasn't a good idea.  He had probably never ridden in a car before and was nervous to boot.  Rowdy has pretty much left Rocky alone but keeps his eyes on him. I wish I could read Rowdy's mind. 

I've been wanting another dog for some time now but didn't know what kind.  Came across this breed on the internet and thought this one would be a good companion dog for Rowdy.  So far, so good.  I have decited to crate train Rocky and he spent his frist night in it last night.  He whined and cried for about an hour and then settled down and slept all night, much to my relief. In fact, I woke him up this morning to go out and potty. 

The weather has been beautiful this last week with temps in the 70's.  I think we'll be spending a lot of time out on the screened in porch with "our boys".  Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.

Christine

Rowdy Says

Mama, come quick.  I'm getting flowers!

Oh, ... they're for you.

Postnote:  Rowdy didn't get flowers, but he did get a chewy toy from his sweetheart.

Love Is In The Air

                                          Happy Valentine's Day blogland friends.

                                                Christine

Skin So Soft

First of all, this is not a commercial AND I  don't sell Avon.  Just a raving review for this amazing body and hand lotion.  My husband and I have suffered with dry skin all winter and have tried everything out there on the market with no luck.  A young mother at our church started selling Avon recently and I ask for a catalog.  Looking through it I spotted the Skin So Soft products.  I had heard that this was great for dry skin.  I ordered three different products from this line.  Skin So Soft Mineral Gems Diamond Blush Gelled Body Oil, which I use after I shower and then I apply the Skin So Soft Mineral Gems Diamond Body Lotion over that and I ordered my husband the original Skin So Soft Body Lotion.  I am here to tell you that this product WORKS. Within a week of use I no longer suffer from dry skin.  This is awesome stuff. I highly recommend it if you are having the same problem with dry skin and nothing seems to work for you. 

Christine

Stir Crazy

Our two grandsons, ages 3 and 7, have been spending the last few days with us since both their parents work and school is closed due to so much snow and bad roads.  There is no peace and quiet around here while they are here unless they are napping.  They are at the ages where there is sibling rivary 24/7 when they are together. Add an old man to the mix and people get a little cranky after a little while together. Nana is the referee between all three of them! The weather is just too cold for them to go outside and they are tired of being cooped up in the house. I've exhausted all resources to entertain them.  I love my grandchildren but I will be glad when school starts up again, hopefully by next Monday.  There a alot of parents out there that are hoping the same thing according to facebook.

On another note, I received a package in the mail yesterday from Vintage Christine a fellow blogger that I follow.  I am now an official member of her dad's fan club.  She also enclosed a cute valentine gift with the club membership card.  Thanks Christine. 

Isn't he a handsome gentleman.

Heard on the weather report this evening that next week Oklahoma is going to have 70 degree temperatures.  I am so glad we will see sunshine and warmer temperatures and look forward to life as usual. I have found that I couldn't live in a region where it snows all winter long. 

Have a great weekend.

Christine

Snow, Shovel...Repeat

Snow, Shovel...Repeat, was the headline in our local newspaper this morning. Another round of snow is coming down as I write this.  Prediction is six to eight more inches of this white stuff before it ends at noon today.  So...it looks like we will be shoveling the sidewalk and driveway again tomorrow. By this weekend it should be gone because the temps are going to be in the sixties by next Monday.  That's Oklahoma weather for you!

The front porch and sidewalk.

The street in front of our house.

The red winged blackbirds, grackles and starlings are once again hogging all the birdseed at my birdfeeder.  Once all the birdseed is gone then they will leave and then the doves, cardinals and titmouse will try to get what they think might be left.  I know that birds are birds and I shouldn't care which birds feed from my feeders but I wish I could get rid of these blackbirds that hog all the feed.  I've banged on pots and pans trying to scare them but they just come back.  Guess I'll just have to quit feeding them or give in.  Hope everyone is having a good week.

Christine

               

Rowdy Says

When there is a ball involved, then I'm just one of the boys.

Postnote:  These pictures were taken when the temperatures were almost 70 degrees a few days before the big snowstorm.

Winter

Recently I found a magazine at our local book store called, life:beautiful, faith for your journey, and I love it. It is a magazine for women full of articles, interviews, crafts, recipes and has beautiful pictures. 

The following paragraph is something I read in the magazine and wanted to share with my readers.

To some, winter is a bleak season.  They turn their coats against the chill and let the grey skies rule their emotions.  But there are signs of God's love everywhere - even in the depths of winter.  Snow is a reminder that one day we will be cloaked with robes of white.  The heavy branches of a leafless tree are not so different form the tree that is at the root of our forgiveness.  And the incredible beauty the stars in the heavens awakens us to the truth of 1 John 4:8, "He who does not love does not know God, for God is love."

Recently on a blog I was reading he asked each reader to vote on their favorite season. I voted for fall and then I got to thinking that I should have voted for all four seasons.  Each season is a gift of love from God. He created the seasons for a reason and each season shows his intellegent creativity.  So instead of complaining of all the snow we have been having and the "cabin fever" I have been experiencing, I have decided to sit back and enjoy the "down time" with my husband and thank God for each day he gives me with him.  I don't take anything for granted and know that Gods leads me to the things he knows are best for me and things that I will enjoy.  This faith led me to this beautiful magazine that gives me inspiration to seek His will. I also realize that by experiencing winter it gives me new joy when spring arrives.

                                                   Christine

Out and About

We are getting more snow today. In fact, it looks like another five inches on top of the ten inches we received Tuesday. More is predicted this Sunday and next Wednesday a larger front is coming in with more snow. We just don't get this much snow in Oklahoma so we aren't prepared for it. Case in point:  The picture below is of our neighborhood streets. Can you find it?

When we finally got out of the house today, since last Monday I might add, we came upon someone digging the snow out from under his car tires. This is a common sight in the neighborhood.  It's not much better on the main streets that lead to major shopping centers.

We were on the way to buy groceries when we passed the local liquor store and we noticed how busy it was. In Oklahoma you can't buy wine in our grocery stores and only light beer.

The glass plant where our youngest son works.

When we got home we had the driveway and sidewalks cleared for a whopping $70. We felt with more snow coming it would be a good idea not to let it build up to high or we'd never be able to get out. These guys were going door to door.

My lady by the front porch.

                                             My pet owl.

I filled up both bird feeders and within an hour all the feed was gone. Red Winged Blackbirds were hogging all of it from my cardinals and chickadees. By the way, our grocery stores are out of everything. Trucks carrying food staples like meat, milk, eggs, butter, fresh fruit and veggies are not able to get in. They are stuck out on the interstates because of all the snow. And who knows when school will start back up. Saw a sign on facebook that showed the state of Oklahoma with the words "Oklahoma Closed".  That about sums it up.

Christine

Rowdy Says

                                      Do I have to go out there?

Snow Pictures

The blowing snow yesterday left our screened-in deck looking like this.

Our shed in the backyard.

The deck.

Our front yard.

The house across the street.

A view of the neighborhood.

These pictures were all taken yesterday. The sun finally came out around five in the afternoon and the snow moved out and went north. Total snow fall for us was 8 inches but Tulsa got 12 and then numbers went up as the snow went north. There are a lot of snow drifts caused by the windy conditions so it is very hard to get out of our own driveways. Today I haven't seen anyone out and about. No school, no newspapers and no mail delivery. Temps are -2 degrees so this stuff will be around for awhile. That's ok. I've got internet, books to read and rented movies to watch. My hubby has his sports channels. Life is good.

Christine

Snow Storm

A huge snow storm has hit most of Oklahoma. During the night we could hear freezing sleet falling and then the snow hit around four this morning. It is suppose to snow all day . It snows every winter but not this much in Oklahoma. Ususally, we get three to four inches at a time when it does snow. Predictions with this storm is around 10 inches in Muskogee and more as you travel north. This storm is breaking all records around here. The wind is blowing at about 35 miles an hour so we have a lot of drifts piling up.

Snow drift on our front porch.

The birds are feeding at the birdfeeders in our backyard. These are the blackbirds that fly by the thousands over our house every morning. A few of them have stopped to feed before they fly on north to their destination. They will fly back this way on their way to roost somewhere south of us around five this evening. Hopefully, these blackbirds will fly away soon so the smaller birds can feed.

Yesterday when the news was all about the coming snow storm we rented three movies and went to the bookstore and grocery store. As long as we have electricity then I'll be happy. We'll have plenty to entertain ourselves. Being retired has it's perks. We don't have to worry about getting out in this and going to work. Hope the weather where you are is better than what we are experiencing.

Christine