Tallest Sand Castle in Virginia Beach....

Scroll down to see three more pictures of the tallest sand castle. This fascinated me because of all the detail work. Note how small the people look. Think of what will happen when it rains......all that work to be washed away, but it was beautiful while it lasted.

I'm Back From The Beach.....

I'm home from Virginia Beach. We had a marvelous time. The weather was perfect. (7o to 75 degrees) I saw on the news about all the rain Tn and KY were getting and it didn't rain one drop on us. The parade was wonderful, but anyone that has ever had anything to do with Shriners know how they go the limit on everything! The parade lasted almost three hours. It was like Macy's Day parade in New York City. We had a good view from our second floor balcony. The sand castle on the beach is what fascinated me more than anything I saw. It was huge. Everything was so detailed. The faces looked real. I have been trying to post pictures and Blogger won't let me. I will try again later.

Going to Va. Beach.....

My son is a Shriner. This week-end is a Shriner's Convention in Virginia Beach. He will be in the parade. Bill and I are going and Ryan (my grandson) is going with us. So, I'm getting everything together so we can leave Thursday Morning bright and early. Will be back Sunday..... I'm excited to be going away for a few days. Ryan is excited along with me. He has never been on a "vacation" without his Mom and Dad. Look for my post when I return!!!!

My Car......

I took my car this morning to have the brakes checked. It seems they had been "grabbing". That's the only way I know to describe it. I was prepared to leave it and my son was coming to pick me up. Well, the man took me right in and had my car up on the rack before I could say Jack Rabbit. He came back out in about five minutes and said there was nothing wrong with the brakes. They looked like new. The air suspension switch in my trunk was off. All he had to do was turn it back on. How lucky can that be? I was prepared to pay about two hundred for new brakes. I asked him how much I owed him and he said nothing. Now how honest is that? He could have pretended to fix my brakes and I would have never known the difference. I handed him a twenty for being honest! It's good to know there are some of them left on this earth.

I don't know what it is about me, but everytime somebody looses something, they think I know where it is or can find it. Last night at 12 o'clock midnight, my dear son came into my room and said he couldn't find his glasses. He had been looking for over an hour. He had been reading in bed, so they couldn't be far. He had all the covers off his bed and I shook them all again and looked under his pillows and behind and under the bed. I was about to give up myself when I thought to raise up the mattress and the box springs. Well, at first I didn't see anything, and then I saw them. They were lodged between the board and the side of the bed. You know the railings that you lay across for the box springs to rest on. Right at the end of the board is where I found them. It took me forever to go back to sleep. And then here is the rest of the story..... Today , Bill, my DH drove the lawn mower up into the back yard to get some apples. I thought he had been gone a long time and I started out the back door to go find him. He met me at the back porch and said he had lost his glasses. I thought to myself, here we go again. He was sitting on the mower underneath the tree and had a limb pulled down and the limb let go and grabbed his glasses off his face. He had been looking for an hour to no avail. Well, I started looking and about the time I was going to give up, I saw them in the leaves under the lawn mower. They were right between the wheels. Its a thousand wonders he didn't run over them. I hope nobody else looses anything today. I'm really tired of looking!!!!

Remembering.....

In memory of the people who died and blessings for the families left behind, I hung my flag out this morning.

Sunday....1:40 PM

I deleted the picture, but I'm still here ...I was trying to get it into my profile and it tells me there are illegal characters. How do I know which ones are illegal? LOL I hope its not talking about me!!!!! I'm cooking a chicken for our meal tonight. Think I will make some dumplings to go with it. It's a beautiful day here in Northeast TN.....just enjoying the sunshine and being lazy!

Patsy, this one is for you......

What do you think this Rooster is saying to his "girls'? Write a caption. I think he is saying, "O.K. girls, since I'm King of the Roost, let me go first".

The Price of Gas Today in Bristol Today....

I think the gas companies uses physiology on us. After you get used to paying almost 3.00 a gal....then when it comes down to 2.47....you think it is cheap. Today, I was really happy to fill 'er up. That's the same feeling I had when it was .16 cents a gal. Can anyone else remember that? It was sometime in the fifties.

Bristol Regional Medical Center...

Here's a picture of just one small corner of our hospital in Bristol Tn. My husband had to go for a check-up and I just happened to have my camera with me. It is a wonderful hospital. They have some equipment that no other hospitals have in the eastern U>S>...One being the cyber knife. I'm not sure exactly how it works, but I think they can detect tumors and operate long before they would have found them otherwise. Maybe the nurses that read this will know a lot more than me!

My Cold Water Pickles.....

This is my favorite pickle and they are soooooo easy to make. You want to use about a medium cucumber. Wash the cucumbers and pack as many as you can in a gallon jar. Place 3 TBS. pickling spice, 3 TBS alum, 3 TBS salt on top. Cover with vinegar. Close and let sit for three months. Drain pickles....Slice and put back into jar with 3 or 4 cups of sugar. Place in refrigerator and when the sugar is melted they are ready to eat. I usually shake mine a time or two. They will make their own juice. GOOD!!!!!

What Happened To Me Sunday.....

See this shelf? It fell off the wall. I told my grandson last week..."That shelf is going to fall one of these day". I didn't know it would be so soon. My husband collects hot sauces. I knew the shelf was getting heavy and I knew the screws that were holding it weren't big enough! Only four bottles broke, but what a mess.... wish I had made a picture while they were on the floor. It looked like somebody had been shot in my kitchen. Now the screws are bigger and they go all the way through the shelf far into the wall. Don't have a hankerin' to clean that up again......

Clematis Virginiana or Sweet Autumn Clematis....Close Up....

Annie, Thanks, I looked at your blog site, and yours is the same as mine.....Clematis Virginiana . I'm happy to know the name. Someone else said it was also called Sweet Autumn Clematis.

The "Big Apple"...and it isn't New York City....

This is a wolf river apple. It is one that was left on my tree after the big limbs broke. I cooked this one apple and we ate apple sauce for three days. These are good for making apple butter. Yummy!!!!!

Update on Water Problem.....

The Septic Tank People came Saturday and opened up the drain pipe going into my tank. It is now flowing like a river....PTL..... They are coming back today to install a "T" on the end of that drain in belief it will help the toilet tissuee to dissolve. I have no clue as to whether it will or not. It doesn't really make sense to me . It seems to me if you put something over the end of that drain, it would make it even harder to drain. And then I wonder if it happens again...will they be able to get the snake up in there to open it up? I'm not an expert on the matter. I am just trusting they are doing the best thing. This gets to be a nuisance after a time.

It's a good morning here in TN. The rain is slowly coming down, making a fine morning for reading or taking another nap. I walked out into the rain and made the above picture of a climitus on my back fence. It doesn't look the same as other climitus' I have seen. The lady who gave it to me said it was a climitus. It seems I have seen it growing along sides of the road. It isn't honey suckle......but I like it....whatever it be!!!!!

Water Problems.....

I'm still pumping water this morning. My septic tank is not taking the water. The field lines shouldn't be full and we just had the tank pumped out last year. It seems to go down until I wash a load of clothes. I wish the drainage from my washing machine didn't go into the septic tank but that's the way it is. My dear son is going to dig down and take the lid off the tank and run a snake up in the drain pipe. That's what the septic tank people did one time about five years ago when I had the same problem.....cost me three hundred dollars....so Gary is going to try to do it this time. Three hundred dollars doesn't come easy. That brings me to another subject. I don't know if any of you are on the Medicare Part D plan that our president or somebody came up with. The plan was supposed to be so good and we weren't going to have to pay a tremendous amount for a medicine. Well, that's not true. I'm paying more now than I ever have in all my life. We are in the "gap or the do-nut hole"....where after the insurance pays for so much medicine, you pay 100% out of your pocket.....until you get up to a certain point.....we lack 2,300.00 being to the point where they will pay 95%. We will not get there this year. At the first of each year the plan starts over. I think the only people it really helped are the low income people. I know my Mother-in-law gets all of her prescriptions for two dollars each and there's no "do-nut" hole. I think that is wonderful, but "they" shouldn't make it so hard on us middle class people that has worked their fingers to the bone all their life....and end up having to take care of every one else. My husband take 19 prescriptions Ukkkk!!!!! I live at the drug store. The other day I went to get ONE filled and it was 187.00 for 30 pills. Now there's something wrong with that!!!! I tell the girls at the Pharmacy.... I am writing a song and it's called..."Shall we Gather at the Pharmacy"......The Over Priced ....Over Priced Pharmacy". They laugh.....it's not their fault! Well, I'm going back to check on my water.....Stay Happy....that's what I'm trying to do!!!!!

The Five People You Meet in Heaven....

I bought this book last week and finished it today. It was really kinda weird. I couldn't keep up with if Eddie was alive or dead... Eddie is a grizzled war veteran who feels trapped in the toil of his father before him, fixing rides at a seaside amusement park. As the park has changed over the years....so, too has Eddie changed. His days are a dull routine of work, loneliness and regret.
Then on his 83rd birthday, Eddie dies in a tragic accident, trying to save a little girl from a falling cart. He awakens in the afterlife and learns that Heaven is a place where your earthly life is explained to you by five people who were in it. Was his life a heroic or a devastating failure???? The answer comes from the most unlikely of sources It is as magical and inspirational as a glimplse of Heaven itself.

Race Week-End in Bristol.....

Wall to wall campers and wall to wall people.

Bristol Comes To Life....

Here's a shot of the Bristol Motor Speedway. One hundred sixty five thousand people in one spot. We drove down by the race track today to show our grandson what Bristol looks like when it comes to life. Me....I'd rather be on top of the mountain!!!!!

Grape Doily.....

This doily symbolizes the autum harvest with a decorative ring of grapes. I finished it yesterday.....after a trying few days, It felt good to sit, relax and crochet!

Close Up of Grape Doily.....

What Happened To Me This Morning.....

I wish I had made a picture of it.......no I don't either...... When I came downstairs....that's where my computer is..... I stepped off the steps into water!!!!!! My lower level was flooded!!!!! I have a commode that if you don't raise the handle UP when you flush....it keeps running. It is in my son's bathroom....so I think it was HIM who left it running.....but that's beside the point. My lower level was flooded. We have a shop vac, and I got it to going and I called my son. He came back home and helped me suck up the water. You talk about a CLEAN floor....now I have it. I didn't know it was so dirty behind my computer desk. That's one way of getting the cob webs out....being forced to do it LOL. I WILL fix my commode.....I think that is easier than mopping up water..... and who knows...who will be the next one to forget to raise the handle?????!!!!

Sewing Machine......

This is in another corner of my bedroom. I found this at a yard sale. It's like the one my Mother sewed on for many years.

Wreath on my wall....

This is the last two pictures of my bedroom. (Unless I send one after I get my floor down) LOL

Before Picture of Lounge Chair....

This is while I was still working. I had all the movie and books piled in this chair.....what a mess.

After Picture....Lounge Chair

You can't tell this is a lounge chair, but this is where i read and crochet while my husband watches TV. One wall in my bedroom is brick because the room was added onto the house. I would like to paint it white....maybe someday1

Gone For The Day.....

I'm off to Knoxville, TN. for the day. My grandson is sick, and I am going to stay with him while his Mom works. Hope everyone has a good day and I will be back tomorrow.

After Picture....

This is the "movie corner" of my bedroom.....I don't like a TV in the bedroom, but Bill does. I still don't have my curtains back on the windows, but I am progressing slowly. The blue carpet has to come up very soon! The statues on top of my dresser came from El Salvador.

BEFORE Picture.....

I'm painting my bedroom today. It is paneling and I have filled the cracks a while back. My paint is called Dessert Dusk. When I get it finished I will post the after picture. I won't promise how many days (or weeks) that will be. LOL I hope I haven't bite off more than I can chew. I can remember when I used to come in from working eight hours on a job and paint a room.....but not any more. I am definitely in a slower mode these days.

Have you Ever Seen a Melted Spatula?????

Well, Now you have seen a melted spatula.....Hee...Hee. I think it looks like a work of art!!!! This morning after I made my husbands breakfast, I didn't feel the best in the world, so I went back to bed for a few minutes while he read the paper. Today is his birthday and I am thinking of buying him a new skillet and a new spatula!

A Good Day in East Tennessee....

My husband celebrated his seventh birthday today. Here he is sampling his cake with our daughter and our two grandsons. I made pork barbecue, a big salad and of course cake and ice cream. After we ate, my daugher and grandsons and me piled into my bed room for a good little nap. Lisa says there is nothing like laying on your Mom's bed. It takes me back to when she was a little girl. I love it. After that we picked up apples and raided my garden. She went home with a trunk full. It's always good to see them come home.

My Trip To the Grocery Store.....

My Mother-in-law is 94. Her sister lives with her ...she is 87. I go to the grocery store for them...and anywhere else I need to go for them. Well, this morning it was the grocery store. The 87 year old wanted to go with me. Have you ever spent three hours in a grocery store with someone that never goes anywhere? She thought she was shopping in New York City......(Bless her Heart) When we finally finished, I got hold of the cart and pushed it out to my car. Here I go to load the mountain of groceries in my car. She said, "Clara, that doesn't look like all of my groceries". I assured her it was. Well, after I get them all in the house, my husband and I leave. We stopped to eat a hot dog and was sitting there eating and my cell phone rang. It was the 87 year old. She said, "Clara, I don't have my potatoes or my onions. or my butter or my bread". I told her I would go back to the store to see if I could find them. Low and behold, there they sat. The next time I hear her say, "Clara, I don't think I have all of my groceries, I will listen....LOL

Hornet's Nest....

This hornet's nest is in my back yard, but WAY in my back yard. It's not like right at my back door....(Thank Goodness). The only thing you have to be REAL careful when you mow. (Everytime, I pray they are "friendly" hornets.... It is fairly high from the ground in a pear tree. My daughter wants it to go in her classroom when the hornets die down or go away,,,,whatever they do. Her school emblem is "The Hornets".

I'm proud....two pictures in a row!!!!

Well, I was practicing and didn't really think these pictures would go, but I finally got TWO to go in a row. The next time, I will try three. As you can tell, the 1st picture is our anniversary cake and the second one is my daughter and my brother's daughter. I think they look alike. For some reason, the pictures look blurry. They are clear before I send them to my blog.

Something Funny!!!

I wouldn't tell this to just anybody.....(that's a laugh, since I'm putting it on the internet) This morning, I had to go to the drug store for my Mother-in-law. It must have been to early for me to be functioning properly. I pulled on my clothes and rushed out the door. I thought several people looked at me funny. When I arrived at the drug store, the pharmacist (a lady) said "Mrs M-------, did you know you have your shirt on wrong side out"? I guess that is the reason my Mother-in-law asked me if I had on a new shirt. It probably looked like a different shirt since it was on the wrong side....LOL Oh Well, I guess that was better than rushing out the door without a shirt at all!!!!! I WILL seek help if I ever do that...LOL

How would you like to stay in this position for a week? This is my friend Carolyn. She had surgery on her right eye for a Macular Hole. She had to stay face down for a week. She even had a funny contrapution to sleep on so that her face would be in the down position. She called the chair Trigger. She has now put Trigger out to pasture and is up walking around and doing great. I am glad!

Computers and Power Surges.....

Don't let anyone ever tell you that a power surge will not SAP your hard drive... I had a power surge protector but it must not have been strong enough. I had to have everything inside my computer rebuilt. "OUCH" But anyway I am back up and running. It feels good!!!!!

A Good Book To Read.....

Can't Wait to Get to Heaven....By: Fannie Flagg ...Combining southern warmth with unabashed emotion and side-splitting hilarity, Fannie Flagg takes readers back to Elmwood Springs, Missouri, where the most unlikely and surprising experiences of a high-spirited old woman inspire a town to ponder the age-old question. Why are we here? As this comedy-mystery unfolds, those near and dear to Elner each discover something wonderful, and so will you.... A story as sweet and refreshing as iced tea on a summer day, with a little extra kick thrown in.

Flowers and Boat Motor

This is a flower bed at my back porch. Nevermind the boatmotor and the lawn mower wheel. Someone ask me the other day what the yellow flower is called. I couldn't think of the name and I told them it was Dylantin. That is a medicine!!! I thought of it later....It is Lantana. Oh Well....A Senior Moment!

Veggies and Toes.....

I picked these from my garden this morning. My tomatoes have done exceptionally well. I placed the bowl in the floor to make the picture.......Nevermind the TOES!!!!

Five Generations!

This is on my husbands side of the family. His Mother in front, her daughter in the blue..(Bill's sister), then her daughter kathy, then kathy's daughter and her two children. Five Generations!!

Our 50th Anniversary Party.

Here we are. It looks as if the baloons are coming out of our head....The celebration was very nice. My daughter put together with Power Point....pictures of our life together. They consisted of pictures from the time we were born ...up to now. She tried to get a picture in there of all the places we had ever been. Last year I visited three place I had never been to before. That was New York, Nags Head, and The Keys in Florida. Everyone seemed to really enjoy veiwing the pictures. My husband doesn't look very happy in this picture, but he enjoyed it as much as me.

Cooling off!!!!!

LUCAS.....

Staying COOL!!!!!!

This is Ryan and Lucas after picking apples yesterday. It was 92 degrees and is going to be the same today. I kinda will be glad to see snow!!!!

Broken Apple Tree....

My Wolf River Apple Tree broke due to the weight of the apples. I have "The Boys " here with me this week and we spent all morning picking the apples. They are not near as big as they shoud be, but they are still huge. I have given apples to everyone today. Next to the apple tree you can see the edge of my cucumber patch. I have made three gallons of cold pack pickles already. Busy time....but a wonderful time!!!!!

My Footprint in the Sand.....

I haven't made many pictures since I came from the beach. I wanted to post something today and I came across this picture. When I look at it, I can just feel the cool, cool water washing upon my feet, and hear the sound of the mighty waves. Don't laugh.....maybe tomorrow, I will find another picture to post.....

Guess what I did today?????

I picked blackberries at my daughter Lisa's house. She took me into her back fields on the four wheeler, and I have never seen so many berries. We picked a gallon in no time. I came home and put them in the freezer for cobblers this winter. Yummy!!!!!

My Treasure.....

Gee, I look just like my Mother in this picture....God rest her soul. I can see her now picking blackberries......That is probably the reason I like to pick them....it reminds me of her!!!

The bride and groom

This is the bride and groom saying their vows.

Bride on tybee Island

We saw a wedding on the beach at Tybee Island. It was so pretty. Everyone on the beach came....just like they were invited..... and everyone was making their picture.

Sea Food at The Crab Shack~~~~

If you like seafood....doesn't this make your mouth water? This is just one of the trays we ate from at The Crab Shack.

Eating at The Crab Shack

This is me and my DH, Bill. We are eating at The Crab Shack. That was the neatest place. You eat outside and the atmosphere was great. Of course we ate sea food, and I wiah you could see what a table full of food we had in front of us. It was yummy. I would drive there again just for the food!

Beach Bums Return Home!!!!

Hello Everyone, We returned home last night from Tybee Island, GA. It was a wonderful week. My DH did great after being under treatment for thirty five days. As soon as time permits, I will post some pictures.