birthday

Today I turned 54 years old. I had a really nice birthday with my family, well, part of my family, my grandchildren and their parents, my children. I received phone calls, cards, face book messages, and post on my wall, and emails and text messages. It is amazing how many ways a person can get in touch with you if they wish to do so.
I am very tired tonight. It was a long day. I am glad God gave me the last two years of extra time with my family.

Take care . . .

Diane

Pears and fall

I found a recipe for a ginger pear cake that sounds yummy and reminded me of my brother's pear tree that was heavy laden with fruit. Just Sunday my bro had advised me that I may have as many as I want because he wasn't going to use the pears. I will be canning pears, making pear preserves, and baking pear cake. I will let you know how this turns out in a later post.
This is the last day of September. The temperatures are going down at night and not as high during the day. I hope to keep the house warm by cooking extra and not having to use a heater until November.
Until next month. . .
take care

Diane

Autumn

Autumn is here, the tree leaves have started changing color. Several local civic groups have been having festivals. The fairs are on their way next. I doubt that I will have the energy to go to the state fair, as I haven't in several years. I have been to one festival, though stayed only a short time. Wasn't to much of a drive to get to "Flatwoods Festival"didn't make it to Silk Hope "Old Fashioned Farmers' Day". Julie has won tickets to "Hart's Pumpkin Festival", hopefully, I will be able to take her, if not her mom will after work.
I love the autumn atmosphere. The heat and humidity takes a cool break. Outdoors becomes nice for walks with the grandkids.
I love to cook soup and stews and not worry about heating up the kitchen. I can bake to my hearts' content delicious goodies for my sweet grandchildren.
I am so blessed to be here on this great planet Earth to enjoy nature's beauty and bounty and with the best people I know, my family.

Thanks kids,
Love,
Diane

A New Grandbaby

September 1, 2010 was the date of the birth of my newest grandbaby. I now have 8 grandkids. I am so very blessed to be alive to be able to be a part of their lives.
I was looking after the 5 at their home while their mother, my daughter, went to the birth center, as a regular checkup date to discover she was 8cm dialated when she arrived at @ 9am. Willow Eve Poe arrive @ 6pm. Baby and mother and all the family are doing very well.

Blessings,

Diane

Last of August, tomorrow September

Wow! This month went by fast! I really do not know where it went. I have been anxiously waiting the arrival of new grandbaby. Due date of 24Aug2010 has come and gone. She will get her on her very own birthday, no doubt.
Lily will be eight on Friday and would like a new pair of shoes, size 2 1/2. That's where I am headed, to the shoe store.

Later,

Diane

Rain Finally!

Last night we finally got a good rain. Maybe the small garden that I have will now be able to grow and produce. Tomatoes and peppers have been shrinking in the heat.
Mama always said if you start watering them, you have to keep on watering them all summer. They start to depend on it and their root system doesn't go as deep as if you do not water and then the root system is deep and your tomatoes will continue until frost. A very small seed can grow to such a huge plant or tree. This never ceases to amaze me. Nature does most of the planting for you. You may gather the bounty if you forage at the right time of year.

Simple Life

I love the Down-to-Earth blog and forum. Rhonda Jean has had some very helpful postings, she is a very cool lady. She lives in an area of Australia where she can garden most all year. I guess if a person has a greenhouse or an atrium they can garden all year anywhere they live.
I have always loved the four seasons, but, I've been thinking a little less heat in summer and a little less cold in winter would even things out. Maybe I would really like a change to an even year climate of just right temperature and just right rainfall.
Meanwhile, I live my simple life where my roots are and take each day as it comes and am thankful for the pleasure of simple things. The beauty of the sunrise and the sunset can never be overemphasized. The hugs from grandchildren and expressions in their faces whenever we get together, it truly is amazing. I know I am blessed. In August Gretel's baby girl is to be born and I get to look after all the other children while she is busy. Her children are so well mannered and helpful looking after each other, it is great fun for me to visit and read them books and tell them tales of long ago. They make me feel so loved.
Yes I have a simple life filled with simple pleasures that I would not trade for all the riches in the world. I AM BLESSED.

Diane

Summertime and the living is easy

It is so hot here in NC now. Summer soltice is 21Jun2010. My central AC went bye-bye 28Feb2010 along with the central heat. I am saving up for a window unit. Meanwhile, I have box fans in 3 windows, which help at night. By 2pm the heat is unbearable again.
I had a scare with no water earlier this week and spent several days bringing water in gallon jugs for drinking and 3 1/2 gallon buckets with lids for flushing. I was so relieved when today TJ stuck his head in my room to tell me I have water again.
Didn't have to have a new pump after all.
The wild blackberries are getting ripe. Hopefully, Julie and I will pick enough for a cobbler and extra to freeze.
Mama always canned 1/2 gallon jars of blackberry juice when I was a child. Now that was a delicious treat and used for medicinal purposes. Mama was a hard working woman. She put up food for winter as long as I can remember. Some of that work was relieved when she purchased a chest deep freeze because that was easier than canning, of course, certain things she still canned, like tomatoes, ketchup, and juice. Never a day goes by that I don't miss my parents.

Diane

Flag Day /aka/ TJ's Birthday

June 14,1979, 11:19pm, TJ Price was born. "He's beautiful." was my first sentence to describe the hot little 9lb, 22" baby placed in my lap. My first son. A ray of sunshine forever in my eyes.
Here's looking at you, kid!

Love, mama

playlist gone

You may have noticed the playlist is gone. A music background if desired is cool, but, I do not wish to have it forced upon anyone. . . and I do appreciate the feedback from my followers.
Continue to enjoy the beautiful warm and very welcome spring with all its glory.

Diane

April

Two grandchildren had birthdays in March, one more in April, and two daughters have April birthdays. Easter and Spring, with a beach trip thrown in for good measure, and don't forget another visit to Duke University Medical Clinic and scheduling more tests. This is life. . . we make the best of it. . . and be glad we have the opportunity to continue.

Diane

March change the clock

Thank you for your patience and grace!
This winter's cold and wet season has gotten the best of me. First the high power bills and still cold house, and now, furnace quit completely on 28Feb2010. The pain in my hips and other joints has been so intense that I haven't done much. The heating pads that normally would be of some relief have been of no value. I am using space heaters in the house and hopefully the bill will not be as bad.
My projects have been put on hold.
I do have good news. I am to be grandma again in August to a baby girl. I am so happy. That will even things out with 4 girls and 4 boys.

Diane

THANKS GUYS!

My son, Josh, recently plugged a screw hole in my tire without addiing air, so I went to the Downtown Automotive and Rick was able to add the air and check the pressure to insure safety and with no charge I might add.
I had meant to bake a snack for the guys at Christmas,but, heard they were swamped
with all manners of baked treats at that time. Now is a great time to bake a batch of muffins and fudge cookies for these outstanding friends and of course, Josh, too.

February Sewathon Continues

Sewing plans and ideas are expanding, as I have been sewing for just family members, have recently received requests for items from non-family and, of course, I am happy to help others. I love the combination of fabrics and designs to create something unique and useful.
Photos to follow . . .

Having so much fun . . . .

Diane

READY FOR SPRING SEWING - OKAY -

After spending several years collecting vast fabric stash, and not having time to sew, then the illness which left me with no strength to even sit and sew, finally I have energy and desire to sew. I am so excited. I did sew the clown costume last Halloween for my grandchild, Julie last October. I made a few Christmas presents, little things. Now am ready for an all out sew-a-thon.
Aprons galore are on my list for both daughters and grandchildren and 18" dolls get an apron to match grandchild's. Lily and Rose have requested white muslin petticoats and Easter dresses.
Shopping totes to replace plastic grocery bags are going to be so cool to make with a pocket for
cell phone and wallet.
I will try to post photos asap. I would like to create a step-by-step picture guide to help my readers who may like to make similar items.
OK
Diane

Square Cupcakes! OK!!!

OK!!! ihave a new square cupcake pan that I will be using tomorrow. The plan is to make banana, cranberry, nut squares. The original recipe is for a loaf, but, I figure to shorten the baking time accordingly. I hope this works.
Aldi's had great prices on dried fruit this week. Trader Joe's has the best selection, but, we'll stop by there on the way back from the Duke Medical Clinic next time I have an appointment.
I hope to have good news from the cancer doctors.
I have been looking for a great pie crust recipe. I have found three to try. I will only use the glass pie pans. The list of pie requests is getting longer from the grandchildren. I bet they will be great pie tasters for me.

Have fun! Be happy!

Diane

2010 - What will you bring?

We have past the middle of January, received the electric bill, was disgusted it was so high. We have had a lot of very cold days and nights and I have electric heat. I am home all day every day. I was sick over 10 days with a seasonal cold and had to keep the house warm. Hopefully, February will not be so cold. I can only hope.
One daughter heats with wood and the other with lp gas and their electric bills were in the $70.00 range, while mine $463.00.
I need alot of weatherization updates on my house. An agency was supposed to help last year, but, had untrustworthy employees who took advantage of my health situation and stole from me when they had been sent to help me. I do believe this agency may have been helping low income elderly persons in the two county area with similar helping themselves to persons items that would be discovered missing later after these men had left with the elderly being taken advantage of again.
I saw these men rumaging through items that had nothing to do with the HVAC as they were supposedly checking and when I did report to their superiors, I was told that if I reported this to the sheriff's office, this agency would be unable to follow through and assist me with my home
improvements to make my home energy efficient.
I did report the theft to the sheriff's office and I have reported this situation to the social service department that had recommended this agency. Meanwhile, I have outrageous power bills to pay.

NEW YEAR 2010

I am very glad to announce, Happy New Year to all my family and friends.
Instead of making new year's resolutions, I have decided to make weekly and monthly lists of projects that I can cross out once accomplished. I am glad to say my frame of mind is better and my thinking skills are coming back gradually. I have been working cross-word puzzles to help get my brain power back. I must say it is still very frustrating to have the wrong words blurt out, when I am thinking the right words, or the words get twisted together to form new non-words.
It could be worse. I am getting better. I am able to type and think at the same time.
Life is a blessing and I am glad to still have mine.

Much love to all my kids, grandkids, family, and friends. . . .

Diane