The day after…

Thanksgiving.  It is a bright sunshiny day with the temp hovering around 16 degrees.  My  son was here for Thanksgiving so that was nice.  I ate too much which I always do.  I am still coughing some and still have a sore throat but I do feel better.

I didn’t go to any Black Friday or Thanksgiving sales.  I hate fighting the crowds as it is not worth the effort.  I may do some online shopping later today when I get rested up a bit.

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Nana Diana’s grandson is very ill and continues to need our prayers.

Have a great weekend.  Stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

The day before…

Thanksgiving.  I hope you are all prepared.  I am getting ready for turkey and dressing, mashed potatoes and gravy, etc.  I am feeling better each day.  Not much energy yet but I am getting there.

10 things I am thankful for on Thanksgiving Day 2013:

1. My faith in God, He holds my hand when I need it.
2. My family.
3. My friends including my blogging family who has held me up in prayer so many times this year when I really needed it.
4. I am thankful that I was eating at the Red Lobster in Peoria when the tornado struck.  If I had been home I would have been in the kitchen as it was nearing lunchtime.
5. Healthcare insurance.  I have used it so much this year.
6. Food on the table (too much sometimes)
7. A roof  over my head as many of my neighbors do not have a roof over their heads right now.
8. A bright sunshiny day.
9. My brain is still functioning properly.
10. And last but not least, I am thankful that I was born and raised in the United States of America.  I love my country!!

My kitchen window is still boarded up, inside and out so it is pretty dark in my kitchen.  I was told that my window should be installed in a couple of weeks. 

I hope you all have a Blessed Thanksgiving.  Stay safe and be happy!!

Love,

Beth

I just found out that Nana Diana's little grandson is very ill.  Please take a moment to pray for him.

Monday, Monday…

Yesterday morning my neighbor Deb took me to Urgent Care at the hospital.  I have started antibiotics and cough syrup and I am hoping to feel better by Thanksgiving.  Still woke up coughing at 3:30 AM but I am improving.

It is another gray November day.  It is chilly at 27 degrees and the wind is blowing nicely.  I am not planning to go out today.  Tomorrow I will bundle up and go to the grocery store.

I hope you all have a great week and nice Thanksgiving plans.

Beth

November 23, a very special day…

Today would have been my mom and dad’s 89th wedding anniversary!  I just found out from visiting one of my favorite bloggers  Nana Diana that today is also her son’s birthday.

This is how I remember my mom and dad.  This picture was taken in 1963.  They were not fancy people and my daddy never put on his suit unless it was for a wedding or a funeral.  My mom raised 8 kids (I was number 6) and it wasn’t easy for her at all.  I remember supper a lot of times as being bowls of milk and cornbread.  My dad was a truck driver and if times were good I remember Saturday lunch was a special treat.  Baloney and cheese sandwiches, strawberry pop and chocolate covered marshmallow cookies with raspberry filling.  To this day I love marshmallows and I always list it as my favorite candy.  I love those Nabisco chocolate pinwheel cookies too!

My dad was a very proud man.  He never took a handout from anyone so Christmas was always a lean time for us.  No one delivered a turkey or ham to our door because dad always said that he could provide for his family.  And he did the best that he could!  My mom tried to make homemade candy at Christmas time and would start making it a couple of months ahead of time.  She stored the candy in a 5 gallon can and we all knew not to touch it.  Below is a recipe from my recipe web site.

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Mom’s White Fudge

My mother used to start making candy about a month before Christmas. She would store the candy in a large can and keep it in a cool place. This was one of my favorites.

•3 cups sugar
•1 cup evaporated milk
•1 (7 ounce) jar marshmallow creme
•3/4 stick margarine
•1 (12 ounce) can angel flake coconut
•1 cup chopped nuts

Mix sugar, milk and margarine together and cook until mixture comes to a boil, stirring frequently. Boil for 5 minutes over medium heat stirring constantly. Remove from heat and stir in coconut and marshmallow creme, then add nuts. Stir until mixture starts to thicken. Pour into buttered pan. Cool before cutting. Makes about 2 pounds.

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My mom never knew a stranger and would give a hug to anyone who came in our door.  Also offer refreshments of whatever we might have.  I miss you mom and daddy!  Happy Anniversary!!

Today I have a sore throat to go with the congestion.  If I don’t feel better on Monday I will see if I can get in to see the nurse practitioner or I will go to Urgent Care here at the hospital.

I hope today is good for us all.  Stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

 

Good Morning Everyone…

It is a great day to be alive and aren’t you  glad we both are?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It's_a_Great_Day_to_Be_Alive

I have picked up a cold somewhere but other than that I am happy to be back in what I call home again.  The insurance adjuster is checking all buildings on Saturday so perhaps I will get my window replaced soon.  I have one more picture to show you how the Good Lord looked out for me on Sunday.  And then no more pictures as they are depressing.

There is a driveway that separates me from my friend Barb’s home.   You can see what is imbedded in her roof.  She has definitely been displaced.  This happened right over her kitchen area.

I am sitting here drinking a cup of Celestial Seasonings Honey Vanilla Chamomile tea with a big shot of real honey in it trying to nip this germ I have picked up.  It is raining and is supposed to grow colder this morning and change all over to snow.

I want to thank you all for your kind thoughts and prayers for my neighbors and for me during this trying time.  A special thanks to my family for taking me in and giving me a port in the storm even though they were without electricity too.  Spending Monday night in a nice hotel was quite an experience.

Big semis have been loading debris from the damaged houses for the last 2 days.  For White Angel what happened here in Pekin IL was a tornado.  There were 21 tornadoes that hit various parts of Illinois  last Sunday.  This particular one was hit and miss all over the north part of Pekin which is where I live.  It picked up velocity as it moved through several cities until it reached Washington IL which is about 20 miles from here.  There it  caused extreme widespread devastation.

 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/18/washington-tornado-photos_n_4296752.html

Have a good weekend.  Stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

I am a 3 month survivor…

My scan and lab appeared to be normal!!  Thank you God!

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Stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

 

Just an update…

I am back in my home, my window is boarded up until the insurance adjuster has been here.

Across the street from me.

Next door to  my fourplex.

I am back in my home with my window boarded up.  More later as I am still cleaning up glass shards.  Some were even in my recliner in the living room.

Thanks for all prayers.

Beth

I'm ok

Just a line to say I am ok, much devastation around me and two deaths in Washington IL,  My kitchen window was blown out, roofs. And houses demolished all right in my area.  I feel so fortunate.  I am at hotel in east peoria right  now.  Whenever I can go home I will hav pics to post.  Love you all,  thanks fo all prayers.

Dreary gray November day…

here in the heart of Central Illinois.  The temperature is 39 degrees with a light wind.  All kinds of bad things predicted for the weather tomorrow and Sunday.  Maybe a tornado and most likely thunderstorms.  I hate this iffy weather.  I t messes with my

SAD :

Seasonal affective disorder

Consult a doctor if you have a medical concern.

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that occurs at a certain time of the year, usually in the winter.

Causes - Symptoms - Tests - Treatment – Prognosis

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/seasonal-affective-disorder/DS00195

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Last Saturday I went to the annual Craft Christmas show at the United Methodist Church.  What a surprise.  There were no egg noodles and only 2 tiny little angel food cakes.  I did find a nice lady to visit with and purchase some Avon things from.

She told me her name and gave me permission to use her photo but my old mind has forgotten it.  Sorry dear lady if you are reading this and sorry it took me so long to get this in my blog.  Wait, I think her first name is Pat.  I hope that is true.  There were lots of nice crafts there.  I don’t have room in my place for more crafts although I do enjoy them.

I have to go now.  Have a wonderful weekend.  Stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

 

Another beautiful great, great niece…

My nephew mike sent me new pictures of his new grandbaby and a new pic of sweet Lizzie.  Thanks Mike.  And congratulations to my great niece Stacy and her significant other for their new little sweetheart, Harper Diana.

Harper Diana, my newest great, great niece

and sweet little Lizzie who is doing well

Aren’t they adorable?  They live in Wisconsin which is too far for me to hold them.  I would love to see them in person.  Hint to grandpa and grandma!  Thank you for the pics grandpa Mike.

You all stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

How hot will your eternity be?

I love reading church signs.  Over the years I have seen some really great ones.  The drop box for mail is located by the Liberty Baptist Church.  This morning while using the drop box I noticed this sign.  I thought YES, there is a message there!

I won’t be on the computer much this morning as I have another doctor appointment.  Then one week later on the 19th I am having lab done and a CT scan.  I am praying for good results!  I will see the Cancer Center oncologist on the 21st for the results.  I am also praying with all of my heart that I will be able to post that I am a 3 month cancer survivor!  I appreciate all of your kind thoughts and prayers.  And prayers also for all of those battling cancer now and for cancer survivors everywhere.

I will be back to visit you all later today.  In the meantime, stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

 

Stay safe and be happy…

In my over 8 years of blogging I have closed almost every one of my blogs  with the words ‘stay safe and be happy.’  My younger readers probably don’t even know who Red Skelton was.  He used these very words many times in his radio and  television shows although he would close his shows with the words ‘Goodnight and may God Bless.’

http://www.redskelton.com/television.html

I am always remembering Mr. Skelton as I am typing those words.  Although he was a comedian he had a very serious side to him.  No reason for my mentioning this, I just wanted to.

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Today is Veteran’s Day and I have already done a tribute for our veterans in a post a couple of days ago.  I am remembering my oldest brother who is gone now.  He was a radio operator and was right in the middle of the ground action during his tours in Viet Nam.  He survived to come home and later died from botched stomach surgery over 10 years ago.  My Jim  I have mentioned before was a Korean War veteran.  If you scroll down my blog you will see a picture of Jim in Korea.  We will not forget the sacrifices made by our veterans and all the members of the military.

And, don’t forget to stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

Fifty Thousand Names Carved in the Wall..

I am so very grateful to our Veterans and all of the men and women in the military.  My husband was a Korean Veteran and all 3 of my brothers were in the military.  Two of my brothers served multiple tours in Viet Nam during the war period.  Only one of my brothers is still living.  My hat is off to my brother Bill.  I salute you and all of our veterans.  May God Bless and keep you all safe in His care!

Stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

Update for Gabriel…

Tiffany and Brian were able to take little Gabriel home from the hospital last night.  They asked me to thank all of my blogging friends for  the prayers for Gabriel.  They feel so blessed to finally be able to take their little guy home with them.  THANKS!!  I will keep you all updated with further news.  I am asking for a new picture to post.

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It is so sunny and beautiful here this morning.  It was 24 degrees when I got up  at 6:30 and has warmed up to 33 degrees now.  There is a big heavy frost on everything, especially on my car.  When the sun has burned the frost off my car I have to run a couple of errands.  I scraped frost yesterday morning.  I had forgotten for awhile how much I miss my big 2 car garage from home.  If my car wasn’t so old I would have an automatic starter put on it so I could start the car from the house.  My car is a 2002 with only 86,000 miles on it.  Maybe I will do it anyway.  I think I will call the Buick dealer to find out what it would cost.

I have purchased a spiral sliced ham for Thanksgiving.  As it looks right now I probably will be eating it alone.  LOL  That is OK.  I am a pretty good cook and have fixed dozens of Thanksgiving meals in my lifetime.  So I will fix the works.  Probably not pumpkin pie as it is not one of my favorite pies.  Gotta have that green bean casserole though as I love that.  Also mandarin orange salad.  What are your Thanksgiving plans?

Have a good weekend.  Stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

Prayer request for Gabriel…

I received a call a few minutes ago from my niece in West Virginia.  She is asking for prayers on behalf of her friend Tiffany’s new baby, tiny Gabriel.  He is 3 weeks old and is not doing well.  Our blogging family knows that prayer can move mountains.  It would be appreciated so much if you all would take a minute to share a kind thought or a prayer for Gabriel.  Thank you!

Gabriel, the pride and joy of Tiffany and Brian

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I am up early this morning, before 6 AM.  I have no idea why as it is pouring down rain for the second day in a row.  I have exercised and had my bowl of cheerios with a banana and a glass of cranberry juice so I am good to go.  Not much incentive to clean when it is pouring down rain.  Maintenance is to be here today or tomorrow to change my furnace filter and the battery in the smoke alarm/carbon monoxide detector.  I will have to watch them like a hawk to make sure they wipe their feet when they come in.  LOL

I saw my cardiologist (aka Dr. God) yesterday morning.  He was actually pretty nice and spoke to me as if I were an adult and not a child.  One thing that really irritates me about him is that he always asks me if I realize that I will end up with a pacemaker and then he follows up by saying ‘not now though.’  I just wish he would wait until it actually is necessary to remind me.

I hope we all have a good day.  Stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow…

This was taken from a Dear Abby column many years ago and I have posted it on my blog several times.  I don’t know who the author is.  I found a copy of it as I was going through my big recipe notebook.  I tend to be a worrier and I have to really reign myself in.  Needless to say one of the verses in the Bible that comforts me the most is Matthew 6-34, from the King James version of the Bible.

Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for

the morrow shall take thought for the things of

itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

 

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Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

 

There are two days in every week that we should not worry about, two days that should be kept free of fear and apprehension.  One is YESTERDAY, with its mistakes and blunders, its aches and pains.  Yesterday has passed, forever beyond our control.  All of the money in the world cannot bring back yesterday.  We cannot undo a single act we performed.  Nor can we erase a single word we have said…yesterday is gone! 

 

The other day we shouldn’t worry about is TOMORROW with its impossible adversaries, its burdens, its hopeful promise and poor performance.  Tomorrow  is beyond our control.  Tomorrow’s sun will rise either in splendor or behind a mask of clouds…but it will rise.  And, until it does, we have no stake in tomorrow, for it is yet unborn.

 

This leaves only one day…TODAY.  Any person can fight the battles of just one day.  It is not the experience of today that drives people mad…it is the remorse or bitterness for something which happened yesterday, and the dread of what tomorrow may bring.  Let us, therefore, live one day at a time!

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Stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

A nice surprise…

when I turned over the bowl the fudge came in to find that it was a Mary Ann Baker collectible ‘Holly Bowl’  listed on eBay and Etsy for $15.

Vintage Holly Bowl - Otagiri Japan made by Mary Ann Baker

 

http://www.etsy.com/listing/121561463/vintage-holly-bowl-otagiri-japan?ref=market

I felt almost like I should return the bowl to the hospital.  My sister talked me out of that notion.  The bowl is beautiful and in perfect condition.  I will fill it with miniature Christmas balls next month.  Right now I have Halloween candy bars in it since I didn’t have one single trick or treater.

I hope you all have a great week.  Stay safe and be happy!

Beth

Remember that tree…

that I took a photo of the first of each month last year (2012)?  During the thunderstorm we had a couple of nights ago one of the big branches came down.  I do think now that the cemetery will have to do something about the tree in the spring.  Any bad storms this winter will surely cause more branches to come down.

My daughter took me to the hospital Christmas Craft Show this morning.  There was a lot of great things there.  I have no room here for more Christmas decorations.  I did buy some beautiful note cards and a lovely Christmas bowl with at least a half pound of fudge in it for $5 which was a terrific  buy.  The fudge is really good too.  I love the verse on the notecards.  I hope you will be able to read it  The cards were reasonably priced at $8.50. 

Yesterday was a do nothing day as my eyes were dilated from the exam at the ophthalmologist.   My eyes were blurry all day and so no reading or watching TV or being on the computer much.  I am looking at surgery next year.  After the last few months that news is minor so I am not going to even think about that.

I hope you all have a lovely peaceful weekend.  Stay safe and be happy!!

Beth