birthday wishes

For some reason I can't seem to come up with a bunch of things that I want for my birthday.  I usually keep a list of things that I wouldn't mind having but wouldn't normally buy for myself.  I put these things out there for my family to make it easier on them and give them plenty of time to gather things up.  I sound so... greedy?  But in our family, like it or not, birthdays happen!  A meal is shared, cake is eaten and presents are given.  There's a bunch of us so sometimes it seems like that's all we do but it never reduces the amount of family love and the quality time spent celebrating each one of us being here.  So family... here's what I wouldn't mind having incase you need some suggestions.

 

 

 

We use a set of steak knives in our home that Shaun had way before I came along.  They are dull and are the type that can't really be sharpened.  My favorite knives to use in the kitchen are Rada knives.  They are reasonably priced... pretty low actually... and are fantastic.  I would love a set of Rada Steak knives.  I'm pretty sure there is a vendor at the Nashville flea market each month but there's also a little hardware store in Millersville that sells Rada too. 

 

All of my nieces have and wear these pretty name necklaces and I think it's time Aunt Laurie had one too.  Only difference, not that I wouldn't take either one, is that I want gold colored instead of silver.  I hope it doesn't turn!

 

Oscar Mayer bacon is my absolute favorite!  What is not my favorite is the price of bacon.  Even Walmart has gone up to $5.88 for a pound.  Ridiculous.  Every once in a while I catch it on sale but not often enough and six bucks for a pound of deliciousness isn't always in the grocery budget.  Sams Club sells boxes of OM bacon in three pounds and the last time I checked it was about fourteen dollars which is dang near the price of two pounds at the grocery.  Problem is... I don't have a Sams card nor am I in Hendersonville very much.  I asked for bacon last Christmas and got some so I thought it was time to ask again!  Weird or not!

 

Who doesn't love the Golden Girls show???  I do and it's kind of hard to get from the library and it's one of those that I am not ready to give up after a week of having it rented and you can't hardly ever renew it because someone else always has it on their hold list.  I wouldn't mind having a season or two on hand to watch in the kitchen.  I find myself watching tv sitcoms that I own over and over again cause the antenna isn't hooked up to that tv so the little dvd player is all I've got.  I like it that way though.

 

Welp family... that's it!  Other than this cough going away... I'll take that too if anyone can whip me up a spell to rid me of it.  Tough luck on that one huh!

 

By the way this is my 800th post here on the blog.  That's a lot!  I reckon I've had a lot to say over the last few years!  Thanks for reading!



A Birthday Outing

My sister Mary Evelyn's birthday was the Friday before last and she, our Mom and I went on an outing to Clarksville.  We spent the morning and into the afternoon at Miss Lucille's which is a fantastic antique mall there.  Also my niece Lacey lives and goes to school in Clarksville so she met us and spent the day with us there.  Despite the cold and spitting snow and sleet we had a wonderful day with a yummy lunch there at the deli in Miss Lucille's followed by a tour of Lacey's new apartment and a stop and a couple of more shops.  What a wonderful way to spend a birthday!

 

This I bought.

The Birthday Girl!

Happy Birthday Dad!

Our family has a plethora of birthdays during the first months of the year and then again in the Fall.  We are always getting together! 

birthday wishes

In my family... we have a lot of birthdays!  For almost each one we all get together and have supper or at least cake and ice cream and we get and give gifts.  Sounds pretty normal huh?  I feel it is easier on everyone to let them know what I've had my eyes on in case they need ideas.  Plus there is always something that I wouldn't mind having that I wouldn't go out and buy for myself.  It is already going to be a spectacular day spent with the ladies in my family at the BellBuckle TN arts and crafts fair.  Of which I already have my list of look-fors AND cannot wait to get turnip greens and white beans from my favorite food vendor!  I secretly already know what I am going to wear... weather permitting.

So family... here it is!  My birthday wishlist for this year.  

Yoga Blocks (or WalMart)

Yoga Blanket

Porch Hammock

Insect Display Box

On a Clear Day dvd

Book: Artisan Bread in Five Minutes A Day

Book: Happy Herbivore Abroad

Graham Struesel Cake

I generally get assigned to make birthday cakes for the parties in my family and I love to do so!  This past week, my sister Marty celebrated her birthday on Thursday so we all got together on Sunday for a wonderful Mom-made lasagna with bread and salad followed by cake and ice cream!  What a lovely way yo spend a Sunday afternoon laughing with family, celebrating our sister's birthday and eating Laurie-made cake.  This year the birthday girl wanted our Aunt Sabine's Graham Struesel Cake which is like a coffee cake with a topping of brown sugar, graham cracker crumbs, cinnamon and butter followed by a simple powdered sugar glaze.  It turned out to be wonderfully delicious accompanied by ice cream.  I am regretting not stealing a piece to bring home.  I truly hope you give this recipe a try.  It is very easy and scrumptious.  

weekend shots

 Morning sun on Sunday morning peeking around the back porch.

A birthday girl and my niece Jess.

My favorite picture of the day.  Very giggly and natural.

his birthday

i love my man.  he knows what he likes.  which makes gift giving pretty easy.  he wears through his overalls and scratched up his favorite sunglasses at a pretty rapid rate.  so keeping him stocked up on his favorite things is my job when it comes to our homey holidays.  here's what my plans are for his birthday this year.  a couple of regulars and a couple of new things he won't be expecting. 

 

 

 

Wrangler work shirts, furniture dolly from harbor freight, Harley Davidson safety sunglasses, Liberty overalls from overall warehouse dot com, camo lined pants from uniqlo, his favorite supper.

 

Happy Birthday My Love!



40 things about me

Well, I turn 40 years old tomorrow and thought I would share 40 things about myself that you may know or may not have known.  Some of them fun facts, some of them just facts.  Thanks for entertaining me!

 

1. I cannot resist buying clearance plants no matter how bad they look.
2. I am a bag lady.  I most likely have at least two bags of something where ever I go.
3. I am registered voter.
4. I don't know my blood type.
5. I am the fourth of four girls in my family.
6. I am a horrible test taker.
7. I wish on stars and rock stacks.
8. I want to write a book.
9. I have seen quite a few spirits in my lifetime.
10. The National Anthem makes me cry every time when it says "that our flag was still there."
11. I would not like to go back in age... just to the "no responsibilities" part.
12. I adore crepes with lemon curd and blueberries with powdered sugar on top.
13. I have a fear of undercooked chicken that makes me quiver.
14. I hate the smell of dirty hair.
15. I have a four leaf clover tattoo that I got when I was 29.
16. I would like my own secret garden.
17. I despise vacuuming.
18. I love the smell of tobacco.
19. I do not like meat loaf or chicken pot pie. (luckily neither does Shaun)
20. I am a serious night time teeth clincher and grinder.
21. The fact that I cannot have children hurts me more than anything in life.
22. I have rainy day jeans that I feel can predict the weather.
23. I love being self employed.
24. There's something about our creek and woods that rejuvenates me.
25. I miss Sipsey and Pepper like there's no tomorrow.
26. I wish I had moved out on my own before I got married the first time.
27. I have green eyes that brighten big time when I cry.
28. I rode my bike down a neighbor's driveway and went in the ditch to avoid being run over by a car and didn't tell anyone when I was 9.
29. I am a finder of feathers.
30. I can turn a cartwheel to the left or the right.
31. I badly want to find more arrowheads.
32. Knowing the sun is shining above the clouds has gotten me through rainy days.
33. I feel whatever body wash I use will affect my day.  (and what bra)
34. My first three toes are the same length.
35. The sound of a dog crunching a tiny potato chip cracks me up... every time.
36. I used to enjoy running.
37. I remember birthdays of kids I went to school with.
38. I emotionally attach myself to things that I grow and nurture.
39. I wish I was more sympathetic.
40. I truly enjoy being the age that I am and feel I have earned every year!

 

 

I hope I didn't bore you too much.  I have been jotting things down for this list since my sister showed me a blog post of a gal who did this when she turned 40.  I only got to 20 until today and feel I could have gone on and on. 

 



Flashback: My Thirties

As some of you may already know, my birthday is this month and I will be the big four oh.

I was browsing through my pictures on my pc today and thought I would share a few pics from my thirties.  Oh My I only hope I have as much fun in my forties!  My life changed so much in just a ten year span. 

 

 

There are tons of pictures I could have chosen.  I just randomly picked these.  Some with nieces, friends, sisters, my Shaun... in Florida, in Texas, our cruise, our farm, parties.

Fun stuff.