The Pink Tractor

Sweet Week

2011-06-04T08:47:00.000-05:00

Catching up

2011-04-25T16:59:00.001-05:00

MY THREE KIDS ----

Dana has just fried up some Jalapeno Bacon

and her brothers are giving a "review".

It's bacon ! What could be bad about bacon, I ask you?

I've been "away" for awhile --

It's been 4 months !!!

So much has happened during that time.

Life has been super, super busy.

and...can I just be honest? .....a bit weird too

In those few months a lot has happened at our house ---

* we had a wonderful Christmas on New Year's weekend

* right after Christmas, William became unemployed and

is still applying and interviewing -- no job yet.

* Colin and Ronnie went on a mission trip to

Guatemala

*then they attended a week long class that taught them

how to drill low-cost water wells and their plan is to take

that knowledge to third world countries and teach villages

to drill wells

*Blake ran "The Cowtown" in Ft. Worth this year -- his

first race ever

POPS wrestled by son and Jigs.

I have a fun family!

The guys often "attack" each other.

Just for fun.

NOT Four Christmases style though --

Just craziness.

* Devin has spent hours at Dry Hollow fighting the prickly pear

and mesquite

* Dana is just about a month away from presenting us with

a grandson, William Barret Boles,

named William after both his grandfathers,

and William Barret after a hero of the Alamo,

William Barret Travis.

* my part-time-gone-full-time-job, just went

fuller-time

* my mother has been with us for about a week

and will be living with us for probably another

4 to 6 weeks.

She had an accident last Sunday involving

her house and her car.

Yep. It's pretty ugly.

She, however, was not hurt.

This past weekend, everyone came for Easter.

Sunday night, we girls were all ready for bed---

I looked around the living room and realized that

never, ever !!! had all of us -

my mother,

me,

my daughter,

my daughter-in-law,

my grandaughter

spent the night in the same house.....not ever !

It was quite fun and very sweet.

A 4 generation sleep-over.

* Oh, and I started couponing !!!

What fun!

Where's has that been all my life??? I wanna know.

I'm definitely NOT "extreme".

But I am saving a substantial amount every month.

Truly makes me feel like I'm contributing in a bigger way to the

well-being of our household.

Grand dog Jigs -- having a well-deserved rest. He is the best dog EVER!

So much more has

happened to us over these past few months.

It's pretty overwhelming when we think on it all.

Sooooo - we don't !

But honestly, it just sounds like whining when I say them out loud.

AND -- I am so not whining.......

Along with so much stress and

upheaval in our lives,

has also come

just Pure Joy !!!

I know that many of my prayers,

the very desires of my hearts,

are being aswered.

I truly feel like we are up above all the mess,

just skimming along,

under the protection of the Father.

We have experienced incredible blessings over these months.

Manna on the ground.

Enough for today.

We only have to pick it up,

be grateful for it,

and

trust God for the next day's supply.

POPS and Lily Kate enjoying a cool winter's day

LK trying out her new soccer ball and shin guards.

All in all --

2011 is off to a great start!

Gwynie Pie

...all is calm...

2010-12-21T19:32:00.000-06:00

People keep asking me
"Well, do you have all your Christmas gifts bought?"
and I say,
"actually ------we don't buy presents in our family."

Shock then registers on their face,
and I know they are trying to figure out
if I am totally pulling their leg
or
maybe we got ourselves mixed up with some
crazy cult!
For goodness sakes!

"What do you mean? You don't buy presents?"

THEN --- I explain ---
Five years ago our family decided that we were NOT going to
exchange gifts that year.

With three children in various stages of marriage,
jobs and college
and we ourselves feeling the money crunch,
it seemed like a good thing.
At least it would be a temporary-just-this-year
kind of thing.

We would all just "take a little break"
and resume as normal the next year.

Of course, what happened was ----
WE ALL LOVED IT !!!
And the next year decided --
just one more year.

Really. and truly.
Christmas that year was so low-key.
I didn't scramble around with a knot in the pit
of my stomach,
preparing for that one day.

None of us had to worry about trying to buy
something for someone (that they didn't need
nor want)

something that fits.
something that wows.
something that is just right wonderful.

None of that!

All we had to do -----was
decide what we were going to cook
and
what kinds of new traditions
we could start.

Then --- enjoy just being together.

We discovered what fun it was to do just that.
With no pressures of presents.
(Of course, we buy a couple of presents for Lily Kate
and all the future grands.
What kind of crazy, heartless barbarians did you think we were???
:)

We've also started looking for other ways to spend
money we would be spending on gifts.

Did you know, for instance,
that through
Samaritan's Purse
or
World Vision
you can literally purchase a flock of chickens,
a herd of milk goats,
a pond of fish,
a milk cow
or
dig part or all of a water well
for a needy family somewhere in the world?

How cool is that?!?!

Now --I don't, for one moment, think everyone should follow our lead
on this new "tradition".

This, after all, is what we believe
was needed in our family
in order to bring us back to the true
Reason for the Season.

It was such a shock to realize that we could say
"no thank you"
to all the gift buying and hubbub.

Who knows?
Next year may be the year we go back to gifts.

But for right now,
at our house --

"all is calm"

and we are looking forward to a
wonderful time with the family.

Whatever this week brings your way,
I hope you totally enjoy every single moment of it
and I pray you are
blessed beyond measure.

Gwynie Pie

...all around the house.....

2010-12-19T17:00:00.000-06:00

What a very busy time of the year!
It just seems like the days are whipping past...
way too fast.

I'm busy, just as many of you are with....
finishing with the decorating
(and since Christmas is in less than ONE week,
I need to either do it or forget it),
cleaning the house,
planning the menus.

I have only about 10 chapters of Ezekiel
and the book of Daniel
left to read and I will have
completed my goal of reading through the Bible this year.

Tomorrow through Friday
I think I'll skip over to the N.T.
and read the book of Luke prior to
Christmas.
I love the "Christmas Story"!

I have really enjoyed reading through the entire Bible in a year.
It has given some daily direction to my life....
both discipline, to just do it daily...
and
actual counsel
and guidance to my daily life.

I am way excited about some goals I am setting for 2011.
Can you believe it's the year Two Thousand and Eleven ???
That's just amazing to me!

I want to read through the Bible again in 2011,
just with a different version.

Also, at the urging of our kids, we bought
a book called....
"Operation World".

This book directs you in praying for the world--
country by country
so that over the course of one year
you end up praying for every single country
around the world!
Check it out on Amazon if you're interested.

So - praying for every country during 2011 is
another of my goals.

My husband and I would very much love to go to Guatemala
on a mission trip in September.

Honestly, that is going to require me to "get serious"!!!
about improving my physical condition.
I look in the mirror sometimes and wonder
"who is that woman?",
feeling so far from the energetic and much thinner and
in shape woman I used to be.

If you are lead to do so ----please pray for me,
as I embark on a more disciplined eating plan
and try to throw some physical exercise in there too.

It's not an easy thing to "find yourself", ya know?
or at least find who you know God intends you to become.

I find I'm waaaaay excited about the coming Christmas weekend.

I am looking forward --
to a shorter work week.

I am looking forward--
to Christmas Eve candlelight service on Friday night.

I am looking forward--
to spending some "quiet time" in front of the fireplace,
listening to some good Christmas music.

I am looking forward--
to watching
Elf,
It's a Wonderful Life,
Christmas Story,
Home Alone,
White Christmas
Christmas Vacation
:)

But...............
Most of all -----
I am looking forward--
to this week of anticipating
the celebration of the birth of The Savior.

I was reminded today at church ----

as we celebrate the birth of The Savior,
let's not forget that the reason He was born,
the reason He came to earth at all.....
was to save....us!

The King of Kings
came to earth as a baby in order
to die on a cross 33 years later....
for me.
and you.
To pay a debt we could never pay.

Because He loves us so!

Amazing love!

May your week be filled with excited
"looking forwards".

Gwynie Pie

Thankful

2010-12-02T18:26:00.001-06:00

November 1 -- I decided to accept a challenge
extended by my blog friend, Jennifer
at Smelling Coffee
(click on her blog over <----- there).
Jennifer loves her family and the Lord
and she always has an encouraging word.
I know you will love her.
It was her November 1 post that so
captured my attention.

Embracing the challenge,
I started a brand new journal with the intent
of writing down at least one
thing for which I was thankful
each day.

Here's what happened:

while looking for things to be thankful about,
I started to really see the many, many
previously overlooked, yet wonderful things
in my life.

I actually started seeing the smallest little things
that previously I would have blown right past.
But I started stopping to really look at my world
around me.

A deliberate and purposeful search for things
I am grateful for has truly opened my eyes
and it also has changed my prayers.

I've gone from
"thank you for the food I eat"
to really looking at the food I eat----
the color,
the texture,
the enjoyment of
it

~~~ a crunchy taco supreme and a big ol' DP
at Taco Bell
~~~or just the beautiful color and uniqueness
of a single perfect Clementine for lunch one day.

I have loved keeping this journal and don't plan to give it up.

In reading back over the past month of entries

(I wrote down #148 this morning).

I remember.

#17 ~~~ a perfect cotton harvest

#131 ~~~the BEST Thanksgiving EVER !

#65~~~ a warm and cozy place to call home

#54~~~ a pink and blue fluffy sunrise,
made just for me --
just
to make me smile
because it reminds me, at this early hour of this cool-ish Fall morning
that I am going to be "Pie" to another
little grandbaby
sometime in early June.
Yeaaaaaa!!!

Cool, huh?

Soooo - I've gone from
"Thank you Lord for the abundance of my life."
to
"Thank you Lord for this.....THIS blessing...
right here....right now."

In counting my many blessings I've been humming that
old hymn we used to sing all the time
but I haven't heard it in years
~~~

"Count your blessings, name them one by one;
Count your blessings, see what God has done;
Count your blessings, name them one by one;
Count your many blessings,
see what God has done."

Try it!
I bet you'll like it.

Gwynie Pie

Apple-pickin' Time in Texas

2010-11-13T16:13:00.000-06:00

Saturday -- William and I
took a little roadtrip to
Mason, Tx

Mason is a sweet small town in the Texas Hill Country --
an old German settlement with
beautiful, rolling hills.
big oak trees.
limestone and granite.
best bbq places EV-ER!
lots of deer and wildlife.

It's just pretty pretty.

So imagine how excited we were to find out there was also a
pick-your-own
apple orchard

We had never, ever picked our own apples.
Had no idea apple-pickin' could be done this close to home.
We found the orchard on the edge of town,
were given precise instructions on how to properly
pick an apple so as to not damage the bud for next year,
were each given a bucket and
turned loose to pick all the
Pink Ladys we wanted.
I think we picked about 12 pounds
at $1.50 a pound = tons of fun.

And........delicious apples.

This barn was built before the Civil War (1860) and has
been well-preserved through the years.
It has quite the history.
Also found out that in 1916
the Senior Prom was held in the barn --
it had the biggest "dance floor" in town.
And now
it houses the
Sonlight Apple Orchard
operation.

Very, very fun experience.
Looking forward to next August -October
when we will go pick apples again.

Gwynie Pie

Five Days of Fall

2010-11-02T18:09:00.000-05:00

So much to do....
So little time.

That's the story of my life this past week.
month.
oh really, who am I kidding.....
year.

And so, I'm
consolidating Days 3 - 5 of my
well-intentioned, but a little
side-tracked, "series".
Here goes~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I have only ONE rule about decorating
and here it is:

Always appeal to the five senses and
you can't go wrong.....
SIGHT(Day 1)
~~~ make it cute. if you love it, incorporate it,
it'll work.
SMELL(Day 2)
~~~ make it smell delicious.
and
TOUCH
~~~make everything "feel" cozy.

Winter always arrives. It does.
Always.

So in an effort to not be caught on that first crisp
morning, slinging things out of a closet to grab
a jacket only to find it still has some nasty spillage
left from last Spring and you intended to get back to
wash it, but got distracted because, after all .....it was Spring!
:)

uh yep, that's happened to me.

Now though, I try to anticipate these crazy things,
like season changes
and
be at least a bit prepared.

I had off a couple days from my job
last week and spent a lovely morning
getting jackets, coats, gloves and scarves
and all the bed coverings ready.
I pulled all the comfy quilts and fluffy blankets
out of the armoire
and ran them through a rinse,
then let them have a little outdoor time.

Ummmmmm--- they smelled great!
And layered on the beds they are so cozy and ready for the
cooler weather that is on its way.

Next ~~~
TASTE
Getting prepared for holiday cooking isn't all fun.
Sometimes its lots of work,
but the results ~~~
having a clean and organized pantry,
and a fresh fridge and freezer~~~
I love that part!

After giving the pantry shelves a good scrubbing,
I replaced the shelf paper with some colorful gift wrap
I found the other day at Hobby Lobby.
It has just brightened up the pantry and
encourages me to keep it in order.

Throw away everything that is out of date and
beyond it's shelf life.

Then I re-stock ----
There are a few items that are just staples
in my Fall pantry/freezer.

Knowing this, I look for coupons and
great deals and sales on these items
so I can both stock my pantry AND save $$$

popcorn
pecans
(which I buy in 5# bags and keep fresh in the freezer)
canned pumpkin, apples, cherries for pies
flour and fresh yeast
(cause someone is going to need to bake bread)
pie shells
(I buy the kind you just unroll. They come in
an 8-pack at Sam's)
fresh spices
half and half
(essential to hearty up soups and stews)

When I make soup I make double or triple and put
the extra in the freezer.

This past weekend Dana made some killer chicken and dumplings!!
I put 2 cartons in the freezer for a blustery day
when I don't have time to cook a warm meal.

We used 2 rotisserie chickens in the chicken and dumplings--
the bones go in a pot with water, celery, onions,
carrots and garlic and simmer for a couple hours.
Then strain and cool and freeze and
~~~Voila~~~
homemade, super cheap, chicken stock ---
the base of something yummy.

And HEARING ~~~
Anytime we have a party or people here,
we almost always have some soft(or loud)music playing
in the background.

And when I need a little extra "umpf" to
clean house, I usually listen
to some 1940's Big Band music
or maybe some 60's stuff
or even a little
get-up-and-move gospel
~~~~~
it never fails to inspire.

However -----nothing is better..... to me, anyway, than
q u i e t
I think maybe I love silence so much because I
am an only child and quiet was our norm.

We didn't have the noise of lots of voices
nor
did my folks ever turn on a tv or radio
just for the "company".
We just enjoyed the peace and quiet.

I still today prefer the quiet.

I can think better that way.
and you know I love to think.

But ~~~~ also~~~~ better to hear.

Monday I dragged a rocking chair and a quilt,
along with my Bible and
my journal
out into our yard
in the middle of a bunch of purple flowers.
The monarch butterflys love stopping off on
their way to winter in Mexico
and I just sat in the middle of them
and rocked
and read
and was quiet.

It was a grand experience.
I can't wait til the next time I can "just be".
and
hear
the quiet.

Happy Fall to you all !

Gwynie Pie

Weekend........

2010-11-01T10:38:00.000-05:00

A perfectly wonderful Fall weekend!

~~~~~a little firewood gathering~~~~~
with good friends

~~~~~a little coloring time~~~~~
for Lily Kate
and
Wunky Toot

~~~~~a tea party for Jigsy~~~~~
He was soooo excited!

~~~~~
just a most wonderful
Fall
weekend.

Hope your weekend was wonderful as well.

Gwynie Pie

2010-10-26T10:04:00.000-05:00

Problems posting my pictures AGAIN !!!!!!!
In case you can't see the pics in the following post,
here they are.

IF you CAN see them, here they are.... :)

Anyone else have this problem?
If so - and you don't mind, e-mail me the
solution. Thanks !!!

Gwynie Pie

Bedroom #1 Redo

2010-10-25T19:56:00.003-05:00

My big, huge, 24-hr.

weekend project --

converting Office/Craft Room

into a Bedroom

was a great success.

The cute twin bed was given to me

by my "friend of many years"

(NOT old friend!)

and it is just perfect in this room.

It was one of two twin bed in Susan's room

when she was a girl.

I spent many fun times at Susan's house.

Two things stand out:

1. While playing in their attic (something I knew

nothing about),

I stepped wrong, off the beams,

and stuck my leg clear through the ceiling.

I was just hanging there, laughing and

totally embarassed.

I mean, really???

what do you say to people when you just

made a sizable hole in their living room ceiling?

and 2.

I remember once we made mud pies

and got just a tad bit carried away.....

we covered every bit of skin that stuck out of

our clothes with a thick coat of mud.

Then --- hosed off out in the yard.

OH and 3.

Susan's mom made THE best cream puffs

you ever laid lips on !!!

Oh. my. gracious.

yum

Anyway, thank you Susan --

I love it!

Meet "Dudley"

I got him at Christmas at Old Fort Concho

a couple of years ago.

It was love at first sight !

I had to have him!

I was so very glad he was almost within the budget.

He is sooooo sweet.

And he has been everywhere....

on the back porch surrounded by

old branding irons.

over the fireplace.

in the dining room holding Stetsons.

The stunning quilt was given to me by my

Mamaw,

about 25 years ago.

It was THE best Christmas present

I ever got from her.

She made it years before that

and just kept it until I was old enough

to appreciate it.

These two silhouettes are of Mamaw and Papaw.

Stamped on the bottom of each card:

Rock City, Tenn

That's all I know about them.

Aren't they cute?

And it looks just like them.

BLEDSOE RD

Hmmmmmmmmmm

this sign was

uhhhhhh

borrowed...

from the road

which was named after

my grandparents,

which is, I am sure

what motivated

someone???

to "borrow"

said sign.

It's black and white

and ever so cute,

yes?

Gwynie Pie

ROOM IN CRISIS

2010-10-22T15:18:00.000-05:00

Bedroom #1
is undergoing an
identity crisis.

First I packed up and moved all
the office items out
~~~~~
computer
office items
bill paying stuff
~~~~~
all moved to the other end of the
house to a cute little corner
of our bedroom.

Next ----
the craft stuff,
sewing paraphenalia,
and
booookoooooz
of what I refer to as
"miscellaneous"
all were taken away.

And all that left
#1
just sad
and
kinda,
sorta,
empty
and
without purpose.

BUT ------
"I have a plan."
words that make my
big, strong handsome man
tremble.
:)

And then.........
he always comes along with
the muscle
and
the toolbox
and
the expertise
and
the logic,
and
the sweet smile
and
turns my "plan"
into
reality.

What a sweet guy!

My "plan" is to have this room
completed by tomorrow afternoon.
It is now 3:10 p.m. cst
soooooo, I'm thinkin'
24 hours from now???

Okay, gotta jet.

I'll be back with pics.

Gwynie Pie

2010-10-19T10:28:00.000-05:00

NOW HEAR THIS----
Blogger makes me craaaaaaazy!

I spent 30 minutes doing pictures,
writing, re-writing,
fussing with everything
and THEN
it posts my words
without the pictures to go with it.....

I ask you,
what's a blog without
pictures???

Sooooooooooooooo
These are the pictures that go with the post
that follows.....
FIVE DAYS OF FALL -- Day 2

I don't have time to re-write the post to go with these pictures
and
I don't have the expertise to "fix" whatever is the problem.

I'm gonna have a great Fall day
anyway...

you do too!

Gwynie Pie

FIVE Days of FALL - Day 2

2010-10-19T10:07:00.000-05:00

Okay, well ---- we are NOT movin' right along with these FIVE days, are we?
That's because ----
I got a little (lot) distracted.
I've been busy doing
~~~~
and
not much blogging.

I had a "brilliant beyond brilliant idea"
(name that movie)

aren't they all?
ideas.
brilliant.
at least in theory.
and on paper.

Well, THIS idea was a winner!!
whew.............
I moved the office/craft room
out of #1 bedroom
(which has not ever been a bedroom)
and
we are making #1 into a real live
usable-by-guests bedroom.

It's gonna be so cute.
More on that as it happens.

The moving of my office from one end of the
house to the other was a bit of a task, though.
And it involved calling in the net provider
to move computer connection from one end of the
house to the other as well.

Then, William and I turned our room on end
moving pretty much every piece of furniture
and all its contents to somewhere else
in the house.

Fruit basket turnover style.

A horrific mess for about 2 days and
now...............
ahhhhhhhhhhhh

Super good.
Super fun.
Super cute.

When I get the curtains up later today,
I will definitely share.

Soooo, BACK to Day 2 of Fall ~~~~~

The house is decorated end to end
and top to bottom for
Fall ~~~
it just makes me smile
and sigh a happy sigh
when I walk through the house.

Don't cha just love it when your home
IS your "happy place"?

My next step is to make this
happy place
smell
delicious.

I made a trip to Bath and Body yesterday
for Fall fragrances in
Wallflowers
and
candles.
I only buy these items there when they
are on 1/2 price
so I can get twice !!!! as much
:)

Delicious scents warm up every room
in the house .......
Frosted Cranberry
Autumn
Creamy Pumpkin
Leaves
and right now I have
a Winter candle
burning on my desk that
I promise you has a hint of mesquite smoke
in it.
Deeeelishus!!!

Glade also makes some wonderful seasonal candles
that smell great.
AND
am I the last person on earth
to discover Mrs. Meyers ???

I bought the all-purpose spray
back in the spring
and use it for cleaning just about everything.

It just freshens up a room instantly.
All her products are natural
and safe to use in kids rooms
and kitchens.

The best way to make your home SMELL deliciously Fall-like
of course, is to bake something yummy.
Something involving apples and cinnamon
is always a crowd pleaser.

And nothing!!! is better than a pot of soup or stew
simmering on the stove
with a pan of cornbread
or
homemade French bread
in the oven.

This soup
was kind of a "end of summer"
put together soup
that turned out fantastic !!!

Saute a big onion
and several cloves of garlic,
rough chopped
in a good amount (1/4 cup) olive oil.

When the onion and garlic are translucent,
add sliced or diced
zuchinni (2-3)
and
yellow squash (2-3).
Cook until they start to get done.

This is where you need to add about a Tablespoon salt
and 1/2 Tablespoon pepper
I also added about 1/2 Tablespoon
crushed red pepper
but it was borderline HOT.
I will back it down on the red pepper next time.

Then add
a large can diced tomatoes,
a can of Ro-tel
and
chicken broth --
a good amount is needed here....
probably 2 qts at least.

After it is good and hot,
break into small pieces
a BIG handful of
fettucini or spaghetti
(any pasta will do here).

Simmer until pasta is done.

THEN -- and do not skip this step....
Add at least a cup of
half and half.

You will not be sorry....
trust me on this.....
I know my soups.

Sooooooo - here is bottomline ---
get some great comforting
scents going in your home today.

You are going to love it.
Even cleaning house is better
when great scents are going on.
Yes.
Really.

AND ~~~~~
Your husband and kids
will be delighted to step through the
door this afternoon
to a warm Fall welcome.

Gwynie Pie

FIVE Days of FALL --- Day 1

2010-10-11T17:06:00.001-05:00

There is just something so delightful about Fall.....
something refreshing and soothing.

Full of excitement as Fall arrives,
I know Winter will be close
behind and there is a
"get-ready-it's-a'comin'"
kind of feel in the air.

It's time to get buy and get my
house in order,
well-stocked and prepared
for Winter.

First things first -----
the house gets decorated for the season.
I use the same 3 tubs of decorations
year after year,
just arranged a little differently
each year.

Last week while browsing Walmart,
I found this beeeUtiful
ribbon.

I love the "Thankful" one best --
30 feet for $5.00
it's a real find.

Help me out --
~~~~~~~~~~~~
WHAT SHOULD I DO WITH THIS
GREAT RIBBON???

I have a few ideas but would
love to know how you would use it?
~~~~~~~~~~~~

Pumpkins, gourds, leaves and nuts ~~
both real and fake, find their place in my decor.

~~~a cute couple of Autumn angels with
leaves for wings
(you can find them through
Celebrating Home)
and a garland of
leaves and feathers draped
over an antique tablecloth.

The mantel clock always stands on the mantel ~~
no matter the season,
chiming out the hours and the halfs.

I just decorate around it.
This very clock stood on my grandparents
mantel -- always.
It's like the heartbeat of this house.

Simple, rustic burlap runs the middle of the long
dining table topped with a wooden
placemat, a funky Fall plate,
then my scripture cake stand
topped with a rusty cloche
that is filled with three perfect pears.

~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good:
blessed are those who
trust in Him!
They shall not lack any good thing!
Psalm 34:8; 34:10b
~~~~~~~~~~~~

And maybe my favorite spot in the whole house ~~
below my loved church window
(from the church where I grew up)
hangs a German house blessing.
The open Bible on the buffet was a
wedding present 38 years ago.
Open to Psalm 112

~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Blessed is the man who fears the LORD,
who finds great delight in His commands."
~~
a great foundation on which to build a home.

As Fall comes to your home,
slow down,
savor the days,
be thankful.

Gwynie Pie

2010-10-09T14:33:00.000-05:00

Hope you are having a lovely Fall Saturday.

I sure am.
I really don't know how the weather could be any more perfect !
It's about 80.
No clouds.
Bright sunshine.
Smells fantastic.

Sitting out on the screened in porch
and
listening to
the cotton gin as it churns out the finished bales
is such a soothing sound to my ears.
That sound just means Fall and Home to me.

Texas Aggies are
playing in Dallas Cowboy stadium
this afternoon
and will be beatin'
Arkansas --
lookin' forward to that.

Later today
my daughter-in-law's mom is flying in from NC
for a little visit.
It's been a long year since they have seen one another
and I think I'm almost as excited for them as they are.
Almost.
:)

They will be here tonight
and I'm making
a Fall meal ---
bbq sausage,
mashed potatoes,
steamed brocolli,
and
Sister Shubert's parkerhouse rolls.
Yum

Then worship tomorrow,
where I am sure we will,
yet again,
be challenged and inspired
to live radically.

I haven't told y'all about Radical yet,
have I?
Hooooooboy, challenging doesn't really
quite cover it.
It's good, good stuff.

I've been Fall cleaning
and
decorating
and
I'm going to be posting
"Five Days of Fall"
starting on Monday ---
all about living life
incorporating the five senses
in all that we do.

Hope you will check back on Monday !
(which is a holiday for me !!! Yipppppppeeeeeee!)
So, so excited about that !

Enjoy your Saturday Friends,

Gwynie Pie

2010-10-04T15:38:00.002-05:00

HEY !!!!!!

a rare event happened

at my house this morning................

I MADE up THE BED !!!!!!!! I probably shouldn't admit to this,

should I?

but..........I rarely make up the bed

before leaving for work

these days.

When I was a stay-at-home woman,

it was made up every day.

Without fail.

Just part of the routine.

And I do love the way the whole room

looks

when the bed is neat.

You know.........

the bed surface is about 80%

of the square footage of the average

bedroom.

Therefore..............

you make up the bed,

you instantly bring order to the

majority of the room

Now ----just tidy up the rest of the room

and I can check this off

my "to do" list.

I think that's pretty good

motivation for making up the bed

every

day.

In fact, I like it so much

I think I'll try it again tomorrow.

Gwynie Pie

2010-10-03T20:32:00.000-05:00

"Happy is the man who fears the LORD.
taking great delight
in His commandments.

His descendants will be powerful
in the land;
the generation of the upright
will be blessed.

Wealth and riches are in his house,
and his righteousness
endures forever.

Light shines in the darkness
for the upright.
He is gracious, compassionate,
and righteous.

Good will come to a man
who lends generously
and conducts his business fairly.
He will never be shaken.

The righteous will be remembered
forever.
He will not fear bad news;
his heart is confident,
trusting in the LORD.

His heart is assured;
he will not fear.

In the end he will look in triumph on his foes.

He distributes freely to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever.
His horn will be exalted in honor.

Psalm 112: 1 - 9

After worship, lunch, and nap this afternoon
the sky got cloudy, the temperature started
dropping into the low 60's !!!!
and we enjoyed sitting on the
screened back porch,
curled up under a quilt,
drinking coffee with French vanilla creamer
and listening to the gentle rain.

A near perfect Sunday afternoon.
I pray your Sunday was a blessed one as well.

Gwynie Pie

Blue and white all over

2010-10-02T12:19:00.000-05:00

It's that time of year again.

When our world turns
blue and white.

There is the occasional other color
on the landscape.....
maybe a red barn
or an orange cotton module cover.

The bright red,
yellow
or
green
of
a tractor
or
cotton stripper.

But mostly -----

it's just
blue and white all over.

Beautiful, breathtaking,
horizon to horizon
blue sky
over
a field of brilliant white.

I sure do love this land.

Gwynie Pie

Shades of R E D

2010-10-01T22:17:00.001-05:00

I adore nail polishes.

I regularly stop in the store just to admire the lovely colors.
I have a LOT of polish --- 38 bottles of it.

Just recently it was pointed out to me (again) that although I have a lot of bottles ---

"all of them are red"

WHAT????

Are NOT !!! Are not!

I have a ton of different colors.

And I can prove it ---

there is Cherries in the Snow

Double Decker Red

Smitten with Mittens

Cajun Shrimp

Frankly Scarlet

Ruby Red Stilettos..............just to name a few.

Well........okay................maybe they are all in the "red family", but
they are all so very different.

So I got thinking......maybe my kids are right about this.

I need to branch out a little. Try a new color. Something way different.

So browsing at CVS the other day, I spied a new "Fall" color and thought
"Why not?"

Ocean Breeze Blue.

Hey. That's the very name of the Krylon spray paint I've been splashing
throughout the house all summer.

I'm sure that is just a coincidence.

After I painted my toes, I held up my foot to show Pops.
"Do you think this color is too young for my 58 year old foot?"

"Nope. I like it. It's shiny."

Done.

Gwynie Pie

Autumn Quiz

2010-09-18T16:10:00.001-05:00

In reading through some fun blogs today, I found this little "quiz".

AUTUMN in my kitchen means ...........
soups, stews
breads
warmth
laughter -- Fun!

AUTUMN in my home brings..............
we bring in --- the wood for the fireplace
we bring out --- the throws and quilts
we bring on ---a little bit slower pace to life

I bring AUTUMN indoors by.................
decorating with as many natural elements as I can
They aren't always "real" but I like them to at
least look real. I love decorating with
gourds, pumpkins, squash,
nuts and leaves.

A few favorite AUTUMN activities are ...........
The Woodchopper's Ball (this scene is from last
year) and .....it's nearly that time again.
and
we love just being able to sit out of the back
porch without roasting......to drink a cup of coffee
and just take life a little easier......visit.....laugh
And
we play host to my family reunion at the end of
September -- next Sat. in fact......always fun!
.......I love those people !!!!

Two favorite AUTUMN recipes are..............
Skillet Cake

and

Pumpkin Penne
(I'll share both recipes in a coming post)

This AUTUMN I would like to........................
let's see????.............hmmmmm.............

Spend some quality time with my kids, their spouses and the grand.

I'd love !!!! to get to have 2 days off in a row so William and I could go to Fredericksburg during October. Never been. Been to Fredericksburg many, many times, just not ever in October. Love Fredericksburg and the Hill Country.

......and......oh yeah............Beat EVERYBODY!!!! Gig 'Em Aggies !!!

Gwynie Pie

Kitchen Revival

2010-09-15T21:48:00.002-05:00

Warming up the kitchen with *zero* dollars
and
minimal painting as well as minimal
effort ---

That was the goal.

One can of paint later --

"Alfalfa"
by Kilz at Walmart

and
a can of Krylon spray paint
"Blue Ocean Breeze"

a roll of red and white houndstooth
print wrapping paper from Hob-Lob

and
that's pretty much it as far as
new stuff goes.

This e-NOR-mous counter is probably my favorite piece of furniture
in the whole house.

It was used in the general store my grandparents ran in the 1930's thru 50's
here in Mereta.

The counter once had glass on this side to display various wares.
The storekeepers stood on the other side.

The top is so scratched up and dented and scraped --- how I wish it
could talk ----- the stories it could tell.

Gwynie Pie

2010-09-15T16:09:00.000-05:00

I have long wanted to put glass doors on my upper kitchen cabinets.

But that just seems like such an undertaking.

Especially when..............

what I REALLY want to do is paint the cabinets white.

But ----------------what I really, really, REALLY want ------------ knock out a wall

open up the kitchen to the dining room and living room.

That isn't going to be happening any time soon. Nor the painting of the cabinets.

my mother made me promise.

long story.

:)

Sooooo, in browsing through some of my favorite blogs,
I was inspired by
the story of a kitchen that could not be painted
because the landlord said "no" and
do you know what that clever renter did????

She completely covered every single part of her cabinets with white contact paper. It cost about $10.00
for the entire room. And it looks spectacular !!!!

So --- being inspired --- I just decided instead of painting the outside of the cabinets,
I would change up the inside of them. With wrapping paper.

Hobby Lobby has some of the most beautiful wrapping paper right now.

Paisleys, polka dots, damask, stripes and this beautiful houndstooth design.

I cut the strips to fit the back of the shelves, spray a little(lot) of adhesive on the back side of
the paper and press into place.

Oh yeah - I removed the doors entirely.

I LOVE the new look.

It just completes the bright, old-fashioned look I have going on.
Right now.

Stick around.....it'll change.

Liking it a lot!

("antique" cookbook collection)

Gwynie Pie

Fall is a comin' .....

2010-09-14T19:38:00.000-05:00

....................I'm just certain it is.

Doesn't exactly feel like it yet.

You know --- that fragrance in the morning air....

.....a little occasional breeze with a promise of
more cool where that came from.............

Not

here

yet.

That doesn't stop my Fall decorating desire from getting all
stirred up.

And so......I've moved some furniture around.

Warming up areas around the house.

Getting down all those boxes marked "FALL".

'Cause you just never know when you'll
wake up one morning ----------and there it is !!!!

I can not wait !!! How 'bout you????

Gwynie Pie

Clothesline Questions ??????????????

2010-09-09T19:42:00.003-05:00

What is it about clothes drying outside on a line

that is so very appealing to me?

Is it because it is such a rare thing these days

that the sight always catches my eye?

as well as my imagination............... And what is it about me hanging MY clothes on the line that

makes me feel like a total success?

.....like I've scaled Everest....

.....run and won a marathon.....

.....been crowned Queen --- of something?.....

There is just something so rejuvenating and stirring about it.

Do you feel that way too?

is it just me?

What?

I'm just full of questions today I guess.

Gwynie Pie

Mud on the Tires

2010-09-07T16:59:00.000-05:00

What???

You mean you don't let your 3 year old drive the Ranger?

....wearing nothin' but her underpants?

....with a Jigsy dog boy helping?
Blake, Colin, Ronnie, Pops and Lily Kate spent several
hours down at the ranch spraying (killing) mesquite trees
and clearing some of the land.

A little fishing was done. Very little.

Mostly just hot sweaty, dirty workin'.

The Ranger got stuck in the mud
and Ronnie and Colin had to push while
Pops drove it out.

They got a little mud on the tires.
....and themselves.
Muddy, but happy, peeps.

Gwynie Pie

2010-09-06T14:25:00.000-05:00

The Rosser/Boles
Wednesday through Monday
Labor Day
Extravaganza
is
over
Everyone left
at about 1:00 today,
headed back to their homes
and work weeks.

We had a fantastic time
with everyone here,
minus one :(

The food was good.
Oh man, was it good.

Biscuits
Killer green beans
Grilled chicken
Ribs - new recipe that is a Winner!!!
Pecan Tarts
Turtle Brownies
Cream Cheese Pound Cake

and THAT was just Saturday's menu.

We are sweeping, vacuuming and
doing a little laundry,
getting it all back together
and looking forward
to the next time everyone is here.....
which is 2 weeks and 2 days from now
when we host the
Green Reunion
and Lily Kate's 4th birthday !!!!!

Can't wait!!!

Gwynie Pie

and AFTER

2010-09-02T10:03:00.000-05:00

See previous post for the
few Befores of this room.

Dark and hot

This room was the "last frontier".
The very last room to get
painted
and prettied.

Only took me 8 1/2 years to get to it.

We are all liking the results.

Dainty Green paint by Kilz
Quilt -- found somewhere by GG, my mom.
The sweet throw pillowcases I found on a
flea market shopping spree --
they are embroidered with
"Mr"
and
"Mrs"
I just stuff the bottom half of the cases
with fluff,
then tied with pretty antique pink ribbons
and let the pretty part
flop over so it was what shows.

The cute little speaker on the bedside table
was rescued from a church re-do.
And the little leather "calendar"
on the Singer is one of my
Papaw's treasures.
So sweet.

Gwynie Pie

BEFORE

2010-09-02T09:50:00.002-05:00

Calm.....before the FUN!!!!!

2010-09-01T18:27:00.000-05:00

Standing here in the kitchen.

Serene

Clean

Calm

In just a few minutes.....
the weekend fun begins.

Blake, Dana and Lily Kate
Colin and Ronnie

are coming in tonight
for
Labor Day weekend.

Helping with prescribed burns tomorrow.

Pops cookin' up the ribs and chicken Friday.

Just hangin' Saturday, Sunday, Monday.

Ahhhhhhh
life is good!

Can't wait to see my little
redhead !!!

Gwynie Pie

It's a ...it's a.....What the heck is it???

2010-08-31T19:33:00.000-05:00

I LOVE this thing.

I don't know it's proper name,
but isn't it just so cute???

A piece of equipment used by grain farmers,
this is a hopper, a grain trailer....
there is an auger involved
and it is pulled into the field
where grain harvest is going on.

There -- the combine comes by and fills
it up and from there the
"spout" there on the side
shoots out the grain
into a truck that takes the grain
to the gin to be sold.

But------

don't you think it looks like a character
from Star Wars???

OR

Actually, when I spot these things out in fields
I always think of
giraffes !

All it would take is a can of brown spray paint
and a really, good dark night
and
voila ----

some lucky farmer could be pulling
a giraffe trailer to the gin.

Who's with me????

:)

Gwynie Pie

Sweet Tea Memories

2010-08-24T15:35:00.001-05:00

I will preface my post today by telling you that
yesterday
Pioneer Woman's post was
all about the
Mason jar ---
just the humble beauty of something so common,
so utilitarian and at the same time
so beautiful.

I am NOT a copycat.
Not.
:)

Last week however, I wrote my thoughts
about -- what do you know?
a Mason jar.

Which just goes to show something I've suspected
all along .....

Me & Ree ?
Like carrots and pea(s)

Sheeeeesh -- on with the story-

To see me through my work day at the post office I always
pack a little lunch - leftovers or a sandwich - a yogurt for breakfast.
And I always grab a cold bottle of Dr. Pepper.
It's my little treat for the day.

Well, last Saturday we were out of DP --- WHAT ???!!!???

There was, however, a gallon of Red Diamond sweet tea
(THE best sweet tea known to mankind outside of McAllister's restaurant).

So, I grabbed a quart Mason jar, scooped up some ice,
poured it full of sweet tea, screwed on the lid and headed off to work.

I set the jar on my desk and set about opening up the post office.
Later, when I sat down I noticed the "sweat" running down
the side of the jar of tea.

And...............
I sat there mesmerized as a vivid memory from my childhood
came to the front.

I am a Farmer's daughter.
The farmer's only daughter.
An only child, in fact.

My mom always stayed at home and took care of her domain.
Taking good care of me and my Daddy was what she did.
That was her job.

A farmer's life is unlike that of any other profession.
First off -- it's all a gamble.
And dependent on so many outside forces.
It's dirty.
Hot.
Sweaty.

And at various times of the year --- it is relentless,
endless,
almost 24 hrs. a day.

I remember my Daddy beginning the day well before it was
first light. He'd be heading out the door going to his
"office" -- a green John Deere tractor -
to plow, disk, cultivate, plant and harvest.

A hearty breakfast before he left, then he'd be back
for a hearty lunch by 12 noon.
Lunch always consisted of something of substance -
a real stick-to-your-ribs meal --
roast or chicken or fried steak
with mashed potatoes and gravy,
vegetables out of the garden and always,
always there was a pot of pinto beans.
Oh and bread. I never saw my Daddy eat a meal
EVER
without bread and lots of it.
Good sweet iced tea to top everything off.

After lunch, my Dad would
rest for a few minutes. Then get up and go back to it.

During planting and harvesting when there is so
much field work to be done, my Dad would stay on the
tractor until dark or later.
So it would be long past suppertime when he would
get home --- starving!

So, about 4 in the afternoon my mother and I
would put together a little lunch to take to the field.

A sandwich or two would be put together --
vienna sausage smashed up with Miracle Whip and dill relish
was a favorite.

We'd wrap the sandwich up like a little present
in a sheet of wax paper
and put it in a paper sack
along with several, sometimes still warm,
cookies.

And then there was the iced tea.
Always sweet.
In a quart Mason jar.

Off we'd go to the field where he was working.
We'd watch for the plowed up evidence of where he had already
been and park at the end of the next row and wait.

Sometimes we would take books to read or
something to work on while we waited.

He would be there in a few minutes and
most times he would sit with us while he ate his lunch
and drank his tea.

Other times, exciting times,
the clouds would be gathering,
a front would be rolling in bringing the ever needed rain
and he would scramble back on the tractor,
tea and sandwich in hand
and just keep on plowing.

A race.

Farmer against weather.

Remembering this the other day
was such a sweet blessing to my soul.
And I just had to write it down.
And share it with you.

May your memories today be as sweet as the
tea in that simple Mason jar.

Gwynie Pie

Coffee Bag Lady, Part 2

2010-08-21T20:45:00.000-05:00

Several months ago I purchased
50 !!!!
burlap coffee bags
from our
local importer.

Had not a clue what I would do with them
but they were
cute,
they had printing on them,
and
they were burlap.

I'd figure it out................

Soooo, today ------ I figured it out.

My husband volunteered to spray paint
the old grocery store doors.

The color is Blue Ocean Breeze
by Krylon.
and I am lovin' this color.
It's just cool and refreshing to me---
so much so I've been through
5 cans and have another 1 in reserve
just in case.

It seems like
the hotter it gets here
and
it has been sooooo HOT !
the more I NEED
this cool Ocean Breeze
color in my home.

Cool Raspberry
and
Pistachio
and
Sunny Yellow
have also
made
appearances
here.

I'm on a roll......

Somebody stop me.

I think they turned out
pretty cute (and cool).
They sit in the master bedroom
hiding a little used closet door.

We finished painting Bedroom #2
and I'll be showing you
those pictures soon.

Gwynie Pie

Baking Bread

2010-08-19T17:08:00.000-05:00

Fellow bloggers are responsible
for the pictures you are about to see --

Here's how it went down ----
I was mindin' my own doggone business,
just browsing through some blogs I love
when what did I see???
Not once,
but TWICE on the very same day?

Gorgeous pictures of homemade bread.
So fresh and lovely.
I could almost smell it.
Twice it happened.

Once - I could've shaken it off and
thought how good it would taste and
*click*
been on my merry way.

But twice?
That was what pushed me over the edge.

THEN --

I'm flipping through a magazine
in Wal-mart yesterday and
there it was ---
a beautiful loaf of
French bread and
a super simple recipe.
Right there!

In My Face

I knew what I had to do, of course....
I whipped out a scrap of paper and pen
from my purse and
copied down that recipe,
marched myself over to the baking aisle
and came home and
made bread.

And yes! It tastes soooo good.

With a good amount of real butter.
And a big dollop of peach preserves.

Oh. Did you hear that?
I think I just heard angels singing............

Start to finish
was
3 hrs.
and most of that was "rise time".

So - here ya go........

2 packages yeast
3 Tablespoons sugar
2 1/2 cups very warm water

Place in a bowl, give it a stir.
Wait 5 minutes.
It will get kind of foamy and you know
your yeast is alive and working.

Then -
Add 2 Tablespoons olive oil
1 Tablespoon salt
and
gradually add
5 1/2 cups flour
until a soft dough forms

On a lightly floured surface
(to keep the dough from sticking)
knead the dough 5 mins.

Place in a clean oiled bowl,
set away from drafts,
and let it rise until double in size
or 45 minutes.

Spray a large jelly roll pan with oil
Sprinkle with cornmeal (just 3-4 Tablespoons)
and
place formed loaves on the pan.
I did 2 loaves, next time I'll try 4 smaller ones.

Put loaves on pan and set out of draft.
Let rise another 45 minutes
or until double in size.

IMPORTANT --
brush top with 2 egg whites
that have been slightly beaten
and cut slits on top of the bread
at intervals of every 3 inches.

Preheat oven to 400
Bake 20-25 minutes

Let cool
IF you can
Slice and ENJOY !!!

Go on now.
Try it!

You'll thank me!

Yum -

Gwynie Pie

My Colorful Crafting Corner

2010-08-16T17:29:00.000-05:00

I am still making my way through
the house-

drawer by drawer,
closet by closet,
room by room

Craft room
paint color is Jalapeno.
I thought I'd be tired of it by now.
No.
Still lovin' it.

This cabinet
was borrowed
(stolen)
from my daughter.
She can have it back anytime she wants it.

But until she does, want it, it stores
fabrics.

And this wall is a great place to
display
Lily Kate's very colorful
creations -
the Jalapeno wall is the perfect
backdrop.

Just wanted to show you my progress.
Still cleaning and painting on
Bedroom #2.

Our goal to be completely finished by
Thursday.
Good thing.
Since company's comin'
on Friday, I'd say
that's a really good goal.

Gotta run...............

Gwynie Pie

WEEKEND FUN

2010-08-14T22:57:00.004-05:00

Having a great time here in Ft. Worth with our kids.

Literally, we have 24 hours here with them

so we have to cram in lots of

visiting,

eating,

playing

into a very short few hours.

We ate ribs at Cousins BBQ for dinner

I intended to take a "before"......

uhhhhh

but we had made happy plates

before I even thought

about a picture

how about an "after"?

Not the same huh?

Then we went to the community pool for their subdivision
and had the best time
swimming and playing.

It was somewhere around 105 today
and the water felt great.

Lily Kate is quite the swimmer but
the most fun was going down the big slide.
I was amazed that she is so fearless.
Just 2 months ago, at the beginning
of summer, while taking
swim lessons,
she was NOT going to go off the
lowest diving board !!!
NO! NOT happening!

Now she is climbing the stairs
of this very high water chute
and coming down all by herself.
She looks so tiny.
Then she swims to the side,
climbs out,
does it all over again.

Over and over and over again.
Until................

They weren't very far into "Babe"
when she absolutely crashed.
Just worn out.

What a very, very fun day we have had.

Tomorrow we are visiting a church for early service

and then going to

Blue Mesa Grill for

brunch.

I'm certain I will have more to say about it all.

Hope your weekend is a time to just

breathe,

relax,

reflect

and

laugh.

Gwynie Pie

Bedroom #2 ReDo

2010-08-13T20:59:00.000-05:00

Well, after living here
for the past 8 and 1/2 years we are
finally
finally
painting Bedroom #2.

Don't know what has taken so long.

I mean, some rooms in this house have
actually been painted 3 times already.

This was my Mother and Daddy's room.
Maybe there is some weird psychological
strangeness going on here.
?
?
?

He has been gone 9 years later this month.
In some ways it seems like forever.
And then again, sometimes it feels like
it was just last week.
Time is a funny thing, huh.

Anyway....
it is definitely time to give this room
a fresh coat of paint.

Uh, correction.....a FIRST coat of paint.

I'm painting the trim Milk Sugar white
like throughout the rest of the house.
And the walls are just the very
lightest, coolest hint of green.

Let me also say,
KILZ paint --
I love you !!!!

No, I do.
Really I do.

I so vividly remember the painting fiasco
of last year ---
the Vanilla Cream
over
the
Red Lobster ---
ai yi yi !!!

Then I discovered paint
made out of KILZ base
and really --
it could make painting kind of fun.

I'll be back with some pictures
next week of the finished room.

I have company coming next weekend
so I can't put this off.
Gotta do it.

Gwynie Pie

Hey, Hey, Hey....It's Friday !!!

2010-08-13T15:43:00.000-05:00

And you KNOW what that means?

That's right !!!!

It's "clean out your purse"
and
"clean out your car"
Day

Huh?

Okay, it's also FRIDAY !!!!!!
There is that
(and not a moment too soon I say)

For real though
here is just a simple, quick tip to help you stay
organized and it will
quickly de-stress your life.
Well, it will de-stress at least one little part of your life.

I have done this for a long time now.
It's a habit.
Every Friday, I dump the contents of my purse
--pitch the trash
--remove the unnecessary
--keep and file or throw away
receipts
--gather loose change and
deposit in our change jar
You'd be surprised how much change can
accumulate before you know it.

I once heard a renowned money expert
say that she could tell you MUCH about a woman
and the state of her life
just by checking out two things --
her purse
and
her car.
Hmmmmm----now THAT'S something to
think about, huh?

I realized how true this was back then
and wanting to take charge of at least
one little piece of my life
AND
to get control over what I could control,
I began my Friday "habit".

Oh and this is muy importante --
take the folding money out of your wallet,
arrange it smallest to largest
and face it all the same direction.
That way, all the bills are
looking the same direction --
outward, watching for other money
and saying "hey, it's fun and very orderly
in here -- won't you come join us"

HA! Silly, I know.
But, I do believe
order attracts order
and money attracts money.
Try it and see what happens.
Couldn't hurt.

In the car, I just take that
empty Wal-mart sack....over there.....
stuck to the side of the Sonic cup....
yep, that one.
AndI load it up
with all the bits and pieces and scraps
and such that have accumulated
during the week.

Do it every Friday and
it is never a huge mess.

It really feels good to end the week
on a clean note.

Small steps.
It's just a purse and a car.
But keeping them in control
gives you GREAT POWER !!!

Now let's get out and sack up that trash.

Good Friday !

Gwynie Pie

One. Two. Three.

2010-08-11T16:18:00.000-05:00

After we moved to this house,
the house where I grew up,
and in an effort to distinguish between
the three bedrooms
down the hall,
we referred to the rooms
by who lived there last.

There was
Mother and Daddy's room,
my old bedroom,
and
the sewing room.

You see the problem, I'm sure........
we had many visitors here who had
NO idea which room was which.

So, then we tried calling them by their
color.

But----if you know me AT ALL,
you know that didn't work for long either.
Lobster room
became
Boston Brown room
became
Jalapeno Green room.

Sooooo, after living here
for several years, we started referring
to the rooms by number.
That proved confusing too, since
"is the 1st room on the right #1 or is it #3?"

Well, NOW we have fixed it.
Just like a motel.

We just put up numbers.

Should you come to visit,
you'll be given your Room #
and sent down the hall to settle in.

Don't worry.
It's a very short hall.

Oh please!!

Do come visit.

We looooooove company !!

Gwynie Pie

MMM MMMM Good

2010-08-04T15:57:00.001-05:00

Last night I whipped up this meal --

It was so quick and easy
but tasted
like an expensive
restaurant meal.

Chicken Fettucini Alfredo

1 pkg. -12 oz. fettucini
1 jar Bertolli brand alfredo sauce
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup grated parmesan
a little pepper

Cook fettucini in heavily salted water
according to package instructions.
Drain completely and while still hot
add sauce, cream, parmesan and
pepper.

Stir to coat the fettucini.

Serve with -----

a green salad with all the good stuff
and
a good crusty bread.

We are loving the Texas Toast brand
of Cheese Ciabatta.

It is fantastic!!
I sure hope you have it wherever you live -
soooooo goooooood

Notice the oh, so fine
white pasta serving bowl? It is from Celebrating Home collection.
My friend, Elaine, is a designer with Celebrating Home
and you can see more of their fun stuff over
at her blog.
Just look over to the left in my favorite blogs
and click on

Mamie's Hospitalitea Cottage
and give Elaine a visit.
You can view the catalog there.

I also used the new salad servers
I got at World Market a few months ago. Aren't they cute?

It's Wednesday.

Half way through another week -

I'm so amazed at how the individual days just creep by

but the weeks and months

are whipping past.

I'm still working along on those

cleaning/de-cluttering projects

around the house.

Gwynie Pie

2010-08-02T16:57:00.000-05:00

Happy Monday to you all !
I'm still at it.
Such great progress has been made
-------
just over the past 7 days

The pictures of the "results" of some of the
outward cleaning is
oh, so much more FUN
than
pictures of
the
"clean-up efforts"

Lemony, layered centerpiece
on the dining table.

Does anyone else L-O-V-E buttons like I do?

Especially various shades of white.

I'll be back with my next
de-cluttering update
in just a couple......

Bedroom #2 has been checked off the list of "to-do"

even (especially) the closet is orderly
and functional again.

NEXT-------------------
I'm gathering up every
blanket,
quilt,
sheet,
and
pillowcase.......

dumping them in the floor of the living room ---

and

stay or go????
THAT
is the
question.....

Later,

Gwynie Pie

2010-07-31T19:19:00.000-05:00

Just a few pictures from around
the house.

I've been re-arranging and decorating
as I go.

2010-07-31T15:43:00.001-05:00

When last I blogged (which would have been sooner,
but my internet has been down about as often as it's been up lately) --
I was saying how it is my goal to be
"crisply organized".

Since I made up the phrase, I'll give you my definition.

Crisply organized --
To be so organized and in control of my household
that 1). I could direct anyone else to easily find soap, scissors,
bandaids or blankets;
and 2). My husband could, in my absence, locate a pay stub,
car registration notice or a receipt.....AND be able
to tell what bill has or has not been taken of.

To be crisply organized is to be
deliberate and thoughtful about how we live
INside our home,
SO THAT
we can be free to live deliberately
and thoughtfully OUTside our home.

THIS is my goal.

Getting off work at 2:15 each day really has been
a wonderful thing.

I've been working each afternoon for

about 3hrs. and then he helps

me with the bigger stuff for anothe 2 hrs.

and

we still have time to work on our joint projects

like floating in the pool

and

catching up on Memphis Beat.

Now, I don't want you to have a false impression about
the level of upheaval in our home.
Company could walk in right this very moment
and they would be quite comfortable without me doing
very much at all.

Living room is tidy, vacuumed, smells good.
Dining table is clean with a nice centerpiece.
Kitchen has cleared surfaces and even the fridge isn't too bad.

The disorganized parts are all very well hidden --
in drawers,
behind doors,
under beds.

So this clean-up effort involves digging down deep --
cleaning,
purging,
pitching.

I've been dragging around here
for months now -- really taking this "working" thing hard.
I have truly been exhausted physically.

But spiritually -- I've been draggin' as well.

When you are draggin' spiritually - you just need a revival.
Nothing else will do.

Other things may jazz you up for a while,
but unless the changes are deep in my soul,
it ends up being just a flurry of activity
producing short-term results,
not the
TRUE
change
I
so
crave.

Two things have happened to me spiritually
over the past 3 weeks
that have been so impactful
and so from the LORD
that I am
motivated
to
get it together.
STOP whining.
and grumbling.
and
L-I-V-E

I know none of the above
tells you anything about my "battle with the paper".

Suffice it to say ---

I WON!!!!!!!!!

Really though, here's what I did -----

I gathered up ALL the paper in our house.
Yes, ALL.

It was quite a pile.

Then, I started going through it piece by piece.
Everything unnecessary was
either shredded or burned.

Everything else
I organized in folders
which were labeled
and are now stored in 2 plastic files
and several bankers boxes.

You can get really pretty bankers boxes
now at Wal-mart
and I bought 4 of those for
my office shelves where I want "pretty".

The not so pretty ones are under the
desk behind the cute black and white gingham
curtain.

The desktop is organized with
pretty black and white
folders --
Bills,
Tax info
House projects
Ranch work list

I also have implemented a little system
involving notebooks,
but this post is too, too long already
soooooooo...............

later.

I have to say here -- every day after work, William has
pitched in and helped.
He knows what a spiritual battle
this is for me and
has been so supportive.

I am in NO WAY finished......

I have much more to tackle.
Stay tuned ...................

Gwynie Pie

Help! Blub, blub, blub..............

2010-07-26T18:04:00.002-05:00

Okay. This is it.
I'm declaring war.
Clutter and disorganization
are the enemies.

I've just let things slip lately.
And I've used the excuse that it's because I've gone to work.

This weekend though, I felt something
shift in my thinking.
Honestly, I'm just tired of feeling
swept under by things I can very well control.

See I have long believed the enemy would just as soon
see us consumed and shut down by our clutter and inefficiency
as he would to see us shut down by sexual sin,
gossip, hatred or any other sin.
One is just as effective as another
IF it takes us out of living our lives to the fullest.

I am a "cleanie" by nature. And also by nurture.
My mother and her mother were both cleanies.
Or at least, they were very, very good at cleaning, organizing and
taking care of a home.
And, thank you Lord, they passed it on to me.

I fully realize not everyone is born a "cleanie" and not
every girl grows up with a mom who can or will
teach her how to clean.

So, if you are one who did not have a "cleanie" for a mom,

I would be honored if you'd come along with me

on this little adventure.

Okay, so ---- back to conquering clutter.
I have begun the fight.
It is much easier and a lot more "fun" to begin
cleaning house by clearing off the tabletop
and straightening up the coffeetable in the living room.

Those things are immediately visible
and it is definitely instant gratification.
However, I spend my energies doing that
and STILL there are those things hidden in a drawer
or behind a closet or even "oh sweet Nellie,
what is that under the bed?"

It is so very easy to just walk on by, leave it alone
and have a don't wake up the sleeping bear
kind of attitude.

It has been said, and rightly so
Freedom is NOT free.

And personal individual freedoms are important
just as other freedoms we may pursue on a larger, even national scale.
Difference is --
Personal freedom is going to cost you
Personally !!!

So, I am embarking on a little journey
to get
FREE
in all areas of my life.

And I'm beginning with the inmost part of
my home....the guts of the house,
so to speak.

And-------
I'm beginning with the biggest area of
disorganization
and
clutter
that I have to deal with ---

PAPER !

Dealing with the paper --

That's an area where I can quite literally just cram
everything in a big ol box,
put a lid on it
and call it good.

Oh the bills get paid --
just not with any kind of ease.

So, here is my goal --

I am endeavoring to "set my house RIGHT side up"
over the next few days/weeks/however long it takes.

I desire to become
"crisply organized"
in every area --
EVEN under the beds.

I will be back later this week with an update on my own
journey and I'll have some ideas and "how-tos" as well.

Oh by the way,
the pictures are NOT of how we live on a daily basis.

I ask William to help me last night and we dragged
out every piece of paper in this house.

It's all spread out in the bedroom floor
and is a work in progress.
I'll be letting you know how this goes.

Until then ---
as William Wallace would say

"FREEEEEEEEDOM!!!!!"

Gwynie Pie

The Eagles

2010-06-30T15:38:00.000-05:00

I've really been slacking when it comes to
blogging. I find I'm too busy taking care of the necessary things and
don't ever get around to doing the fun things.

One of those FUN things
I DID get around to was this ---

Last Saturday daughter Dana and I went to see

THE Eagles !!!!

Not the "bald" Eagles as Lily Kate has been calling them for a long time now.
We think maybe she got a trip to the zoo where she saw bald eagles
a bit mixed up with the Eagles her Pops and Pie listen to
and so -- for us, they will forever be
The Bald Eagles ------------
She asked for us to put The Bald Eagles in the cd
player when we are on the road.
And you can't fool her either.
We've tried to branch out and play someone
else. Nope. That girl knows her bald Eagles.

This concert was.....well.....I've been looking
for the right words ever since. And I'm not finding
words to tell you just how much fun this was.
Or how great the concert was.

I just kept saying "This is so fun!"

Inside I was squealing. A Lot. And often.
But a mature woman of my age
shouldn't squeal. Out loud. So I kept that to myself.

We travelled from downtown Fort Worth to downtown
Dallas
on the train, which was a great and fun experience
in and of itself.
We will definitely be doing that again.

It was smooth, fairly cool, very crowded
and very cosmospolitan. Now there's a word
we folks in west Texas don't use often -
cosmopolitan.

Our stop was literally across the street
from American Airlines Center.
Our seats were great !!! As you can see by
the picture.

Such FUN!!!!

The Eagles played from almost 8 until almost midnight
with only a short intermission which Glenn Frey said was so that
we could all rest.

He started off the concert, after they thrilled me by
singing Seven Bridges Road,
by welcoming us to
"the Assisted Living Tour".

Those guys are all my age or older and
the tight harmony they are known
for is just as it's always been --
phenonmenal !

This may have been my first Eagles concert,
but it will not be my last.
I'm going again next time they are
close and taking people with me.

Just get ready friends!

Gwynie Pie

First of 10 New Posts

2010-06-03T17:29:00.002-05:00

I am so missing posting on a regular basis.

I miss reading all my favorite blogs as well.

Today, I had a few extra minutes when

I got home from work (which I'm doing every

single day now) and I still had some

energy :)

sooooo....

what follows is about 9 more posts

to "catch-up" on all the

happenings around

the Rosser house.

Just thought I'd warn any of you

brave readers out there.....

it just keeps on goin'

Gwynie Pie

The Boles Family

2010-06-03T17:08:00.000-05:00

While home this weekend
Dana, Blake and Lily Kate,
with Ronnie as photographer,
did a very spur of the moment
photo session.

Fun pictures!!!!

Gwynie Pie

Summertime and the livin' is easy

2010-06-03T17:01:00.001-05:00

Ice cream freezers crankin' up delicious
vanilla, strawberry cheesecake and Mexican chocolate --
WOW! So good!

From now through about mid-September, maybe even early October---
this will be a constant on the backporch clothesline.
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh

We three gals stopped
in at Wal-mart over the weekend because....
well........it's a weekend, a holiday, all kinds of craziness
breaks out in a Wal-mart on weekends. And especially holiday
weekends.
And we couldn't miss the action, right?

They had fresh cherries for a ridiculously low
price.
We all three bought a huge bag,
pooled our resources
and everyone ate to their heart's delight.

Look at the cute tin beverage
dispenser I found at.......you know I'm gonna say it.....Wal-mart.
It holds 3 gallons which is just the
amount of iced tea this family consumes
on a typical summer day.

I bought 2 of them. One sweet, one not.

Gwynie Pie

Around the house.......

2010-06-03T16:48:00.000-05:00

Summer arrangement in bathroom.

New color in the kitchen "alfalfa".
Replaces "lobster".
I'm lovin' it. Waaaaaay brighter than my usual m.o.

Out on the porch.

Parade !!!!

2010-06-03T16:38:00.000-05:00

Early morning pre-parade prep--
Pops takes Blake a cup of coffee
and then the parade can begin.

Here's a good shot of some of our
little town. That's the baseball field just across
the street from our front yard.
And beyond that in the distance are
the grain silos. Shiny towers, I think
is what Lily Kate calls them.

When they are coming to Mereta,
she knows they are almost there
when she can see the shiny towers
in the distance.
Of course, every little town around here
has "shiny towers" so it can
be a little confusing. And frustrating
for a 3 year old.

Well......it wasn't a very long
parade. Only 1 float.

They won!

Gwynie Pie

2010-06-03T16:28:00.000-05:00

2010-06-03T16:22:00.000-05:00

LOTS of this went on over the Memorial Day weekend!

Swim to the ladder.
Repeat.

Gwynie Pie

The Tractor

2010-06-03T16:16:00.000-05:00

Memorial Day Saturday William, Colin and Blake set out to go get "the little tractor".
Tractor has been off visiting and it was time to get her back home.

As soon as it was unloaded guess who
??? bolted right out the door and made a beeline .......
Jigsy

He jumped up on the seat and just sat there.
He watched the horse grazing.
And surveyed what little action was going on in town.
Nothing! would convince him to get off that tractor seat.

Doesn't he look like he is just coming
in from plowing the "back 40"?

Funny, funny dog boy.

Gwynie Pie

Keep Calm and Carry On

2010-06-03T16:03:00.001-05:00

The night of the party ( 3 weekends ago),
we were hit by an incredible storm. Just as everyone arrived, the bottom fell out.
Claps of thunder.
Buckets of rain.
And I'm pretty sure at one point,
lightning struck in our back yard.
THAT will get your attention.

We all kept our "party" attitudes though
and decided to

...........and we did......Carry On.

Gwynie Pie

Totally random Friday .......

2010-05-14T09:53:00.000-05:00

Welcome to Totally Random Friday....
where there is sooooo much to say
and soooo little time to say it...

About a week ago, while eating some lo mein noodles for lunch,
I swallowed the tine off one of these "premium" (i.e.- NOT flimsy stuff) forks.
Yes, accidently. I never even knew it until I looked down and the tine
was gone......down the hatch.
First, I panicked, then I worried.
Now --- pretty sure everything is "okay".
Weirder than weird, huh?

Just a day before that, the car opener/starter on my truck broke.
Turns out not a big deal -- I just have to reach under the dash
and flip a switch each time I start the truck and I'm good to go.
But, until we learned this little trick --- it was a BIG deal.

Then the same day, as my Prince was riding to my rescue,
his car started to severely overheat and had to go to the
car hospital for a scan.
Turns out -- easy fix.

The day before all this action, I lost a filling.
Back side of front tooth.
I've had this filling for 10 years, almost to the day.
And the one before that, I had for 10 years,
almost to the day.
I'm kind of attached to them.
AND -- my dentist 10 years ago,
sweet Dr. Ilene Rees, has
now specialized in orthodontics
and ..............waaaaaaaaaaaah
I have to find someone new.
Is there anything more gut-wrenching
than going to a new dentist???????

Well, probably.....but today.....I don't know
what that would be.......
very bad, yep, yep, very bad.

Oh, I have a big party happening
in a mere 8 hours. And this is just a sample of my house.
Not panicking. Not panicking. Not panicking.

THIS is THE best smellin', deliciously yummy
fragrance ev-er! Yes, it is! I love it so much!

How good is it? Well, it is almost, just almost, as good as
Coppertone. And you know how I feel about
Coppertone.

I am on Day 4 of 9 days off from my job.
I am loving being at home again.
I am in my element. Ahhhhhh.
This is what I love, ya know?

Tomorrow, I am going all by myself on a little road trip for a few days.
Lily Kate is getting a new house (along with her Mama and Daddy).
Yes, they are leaving their sweet log cabin on the lake
for a home in the 'burbs.
A great house in a great neighborhood.

Soooo excited for them.

I'm going to spend the next few days helping pack up and
throw away.
Dana's motto is
"If it doesn't bless your house,
out it goes."
It's a great motto if you want to adopt it
for your own Spring cleaning adventures.

I'm so looking forward to the little "vacation"
and spending time with their family.

Right now though.....
I gotta go get cracka-lackin'

Parrrrrrrrty!

Gwynie Pie

2010-05-11T12:54:00.000-05:00

When you are being overtaken by the gray, as I was -- I decided I had exactly two options.

Option 1 -- cut my hair super short and let it grow in my natural color - gray.
So not gonna happen. I just don't look "right" with my hair pixie-like.
Probably cause I am soooo not a pixie, huh?
OR

Option 2 -- fool my gray hair into thinking it's really just the"high-lights".

I have NO problem with gray hair.
And if I could have figured out how to "get there" gracefully, I'd let it go gray in a second.

But honestly, there was nothing graceful about where my hair was going.

So, Saturday, Ronnie and I spent the better part of the afternoon

watching fun tv --- some fun wedding dress shows
and
The Real Housewives of New Jersey.
Oh mercy!

........while, Ronnie transformed me into a
strawberry blonde.

I like it!

Thanks Ronnie XOXO

Gwynie Pie

2010-05-11T12:09:00.000-05:00

Well.......they didn't work the whole weekend.

Guys just want to have fun.

How to climb a tree

2010-05-11T11:55:00.000-05:00

So much has happened over the past 6 weeks since I last posted.
Nothing bad. Just stuff. Life. Work.
Also, I just needed the break to "think".
About stuff. Life. Work.
To kind of reassess.
And to re-prioritize.

I can so easily get life all out of kelter.

Over the weekend, Ronnie, Colin and Jigs were here.

We had a fun weekend.
They helped us do some clean-up and
spruce-up to get ready
for a party this Friday.

The guys grilled for Mother's Day lunch and did yard stuff
while
Ronnie and I spent the better part of Sat. afternoon
watching mindless, but fun tv
while she worked on my hair.

We missed the rest of our family
being here for the weekend.
And so.....since Lily Kate didn't get to see this for herself......
here is Jigsy boy climbing the big tree in our
backyard.

Crazy, silly, fun Jigsy boy.
He's the King of all the world !!!!!!!

And all is fine. Until he wants down.
Then he has to have help.
What a dog !

Hope your weekend was fun-filled and fabulous,

Gwynie Pie

2010-04-06T14:50:00.000-05:00

Easter Sunday morning
Colin, Ronnie and Jigsy-boy

Colin and Devin

The Boles -- Blake, Lily Kate and Dana

2010-04-06T14:44:00.000-05:00

2010-04-06T13:54:00.000-05:00

Just a few pictures from Easter weekend.
Cupcakes made by Dana and
decorated by Pie and Lily Kate.

I had grand plans for this centerpiece with very specific placement
of the yellows and pinks.

Then -- Lily Kate wanted to help stick the flowers in the foam--so this is
her arrangement.

I figured I could always re-arrange them after she went to bed
so they would be just perfect for the table on Sunday.

After she went to bed, however, I looked at the centerpiece
and realized just how perfect it was already....
and I left them exactly the way she fixed them.

I love it!
It makes me happy!

And here's Jigsy-boy after
he was assaulted with cascarones. We went through several dozens
and confetti was dropping off everyone the rest of the day.

Very fun !!!

It's finally here

2010-03-31T09:52:00.000-05:00

Wonderful, beautiful Springtime
I am loving the way Spring is springing this year.
But then, I am always pretty crazy about this time of year.

A Sunday afternoon drive around the ranch
shows the "hope" that is in the beginning of every Spring.

"All things made new."

Around here, there are two sure signs that winter
is over --- the mesquite trees leaf out and the scissor-tales show up.

We saw our first scissor-tale yesterday
and the mesquites are just popping out.

I am praying that your week is a blessed one.
This week - between Palm Sunday and Resurrection Sunday --
my very favorite week of the entire year.

The sacrifice that was made for me (and you) is
breath-takingly amazing.
I don't ever want to take it for granted
or speed past it.
I just want to take it all in.

I read Luke yesterday and will read
John today,
followed by Matthew and Mark
later this week.

I don't think I have ever just sat and read the entire
book of Luke at one time like that.
Such a powerful experience.
One that I would recommend.

I am also working on dressing up the house for
the weekend - all the kids are coming home.
And Pops is dressing up the yard and porches.

I'll be back later in the week with my new Spring-y
home and porch decor pictures.

Happy Wednesday all !

Gwynie Pie

Until further notice.........

2010-03-17T10:08:00.003-05:00

Gotta show you my super,duper, fantastic, awesome

birthday gift.......

My family got it for me. TOTAL Surprise !!

I'm studying my manual, playing with the settings,

taking a few pictures.....and I LOVE IT !!!

Thank you, thank you, thank you my sweet family!Last Friday night we went out to dinner with two couples who are some of

our dearest friends --- yet over the past few months/years

we've spent less and less time with them as life

has become busier and crazier for us all.

How DOES that happen???

Anyway, had a delicious dinner at The Wharf,

complete with birthday cheesecake -

soooo good!, then went to one of their homes

for coffee and dessert and visiting.

This sweet little "stash" of fun was given

me by my friends.

Little did Mendi know that I was about to re-do my kitchen

with a 1940's, old-fashioned feel.

The cute towels fit in perfectly.

And Jill gave me the Hobby Lobby card.

Always the right color, size and fit.

Love it! Thanks friends.

We all need to just STOP and smell the...........
a little more often. Just kickin' back and visiting was the best.

My mother always gives each of us $$$$ for birthdays.
That way we can use it for what we need or something
we've really been wanting.

Weeeellllllll -
I've really been wanting my pre-pregnancy waistline
back, but I'm told they don't sell those in stores,
else we'd ALL have one.
Sooooo looks like I'm gonna have to work for it.
With one of these ---
The Abcircle (as seen on TV) is really a very fun
workout. Once I tried it, I was hooked.
AND that's saying something.
I am not easily impressed with forms of exercise.
Found it at Bed, Bath and Beyond
of all places.

Also - found this.....sitting there at Ross
the very last one of it's kind
just waiting patiently for me to find
it, love it and take it home with me.

Funny enough, William and I have been talking a lot lately
about this very sentiment. We don't want to just
celebrate the big occasions of life, but also
celebrate the everyday ones.

This sentiment pretty much summed it all up.
It's become our new motto.
Our words to live by.

"Until further notice,
Celebrate
Everything !!!!"

Gwynie Pie

2010-03-10T10:53:00.000-06:00

A few of my favorite things...

2010-03-10T10:44:00.000-06:00

Ingredients for a Wonderful Birthday Weekend ---

Bubble wrap which was wrapped around THE most fantastic birthday present EVER!!!! More about that later......

The bubble wrap alone provided tons of fun.

Biggest fish ever caught by Lily Kate. She's holding up a worm. She didn't want to hold the fish. Well, of course..........duh..........worms are so much
less??? gross than a fish???? eeeewwwww

OKAY, let me explain this very, very sweeeeeet picture.
It's my birthday! Soooo, I go by Halfmann's to get MY very favorite pie -- chocolate cream.

Hey, I'm gonna share.

Also pick up a few crescents and a couple cream cheese brownies.
Just for good measure, ya know.

My mother sends home a huge box of sweet rolls, donuts and various
pastries from the bakery.

And we end up with chockit pie PLUS a ton (no pun intended) of other bakery
fun!

Notice the fresh fruit. We're not ALL bad.

Lily Kate and Pops taking Lady Bird out for a spin around the pen.

Just a few of my favorite things from the weekend.
Gwynie Pie

2010-03-10T10:16:00.000-06:00

Oh LOOK !!! It's the lawn boy.

Naaaaaahhhhhhh........Not really. just kidding with ya.

We don't have a lawn boy. But then...you knew that.

AND that is NOT our yard.

I woke up this a.m. to the wonderful sounds of this tractor mowing the ballfield across the street in front of our house. It's a little community park that is maintained by the county. The workers were here in force weedeating, mowing and grooming the whole place.

It looks so good after they have been here. AND it smells fantastic !!!!

Freshly mowed grass........one of the best smells of summer.

Makes me want to go find my bottle of Coppertone.....another on the "best smells of summer" list.

I truly LOVE hearing the sound of a lawnmower though. It tells me ONE of my favorite times of year is here !!!

Spring! Followed by another favorite time of year.........SUMMER!!!!

Now ---- THIS ----- is our yard.

Lots of end of winter green out there.

It'll be tackled on Saturday. Wonder if a nice plate of cookies could bribe the man on the tractor to drive across the street
to "turn around" in my front yard????? hmmmmmm.................... Happy Spring everyone...........

Gwynie Pie

Snow Pictures

2010-02-23T10:13:00.000-06:00

Just wanted to add a few more snow pictures since we have this so seldom.

Well -- seldom until this year. I heard the guys on The Weather Channel calling Texas "the new snow belt".

Crazy, I tell ya.

Snow Day

2010-02-23T09:55:00.000-06:00

When we opened the front door this morning -- THIS is what greeted us.

Looking out our front door onto the ballfield.

Wonderful! William is home today - he is giving the Lenten sermon tomorrow so he's busy finishing that.

I made a mean skillet of migas for breakfast -- possibly my favorite breakfast food. Yum! It was soooo good!'

Chicken Tortellini Soup for lunch today. We're going to try a new, super quick and easy biscuit recipe. I'll let you know how that turns out.

Happy Snow Day to us!

And happy Tuesday to you all!

Gwynie Pie

Happy Valentine's Day

2010-02-13T19:54:00.000-06:00

I have wanted to make a candy Valentine's card
for William for a couple years
and time always just gets away from me
BUT
This year I did it!

I had to go to several stores -- Dollar Tree, a couple of conveniences stores, Walgreen's -- and finally came up with the candy I needed to "write" my story.

Here's what it says:

Baby - when we met 48 years ago we were just a couple of NERDS.
As time went by we became the THREE MUSKETEERS, minus 1.
Then we were blessed with 3 wonderful SUGAR BABIES!
and now we have a sweet (picture of grandaughter)and life is
GOOD AND PLENTY of room for more!
Sure -- it wasn't all SNICKERS and CHUCKLES.
We had some hard times and felt the CRUNCH.
But...the Lord always gave us EXTRA grace, EXTRA love, EXTRA forgiveness.
Why I wouldn't take 100,000 GRAND for what we have.
Not even ONE MILLION DOLLARS!! I SKOR-ed big when I got you!
And ya know what? We are still a couple of HOT TAMALES and
you are still my BIG HUNK.
I love you forever. g

I just attached the candy bars and gum to poster board with duct tape.

The hard part was spacing everything out so it would all fit on the page.

I had so much fun hunting down just the right candy and putting this all together.
AND William absolutely loved it.

Have a wonderful Valentine's Day y'all.
Love ya,

Gwynie Pie

Ladybird and Friends

2010-02-10T09:25:00.001-06:00

Blue, clear sky.

Wonderful, mild winter weather.

Great friends.

Good Sunday dinner comfort food.

A cooperative horse.

Happy kids.

What a GREAT day!!!

Ahhhh ~~~

Gwynie Pie

I have taken an "accidental" break from blogging for the past few weeks.

As I've mentioned, I have a part-time job now. Only --- I've been working

3+ days a week -- more than I had anticipated.

That's a good thing because it has

forced me to learn the job.

BUT -- it's taken a LOT out of me.

I've been so tired. Getting up at 5:30 each day,

trying to learn a very precise job

(lots of rules - no room for flub-ups).

And just the routine of getting everything

ready for the next day the night before

has been a challenge.

5:30 is NOT the time to be stumbling

around trying to decide what to wear

or what to take for lunch :)

Also -- there is much discouragement

to deal with.

I know I'm a smart woman,

with the ability to learn.

However.......

I have not exactly been

affirmed in this knowledge.

I end most days feeling defeated.

Embarassed.

With a gnawing in the pit of my stomach.

That "what did I do wrong today?" feeling.

Everyday brings something new --

and just when I thought I had learned

what I needed to get through the day.

Learning something new is just a challenge.

To anyone.

At any age.

At any season of life.

I've been frustrated with myself.

Cried many tears the past few weeks.

I just want this job to be a little easier

and clearer than it has been.

And I don't want to let anyone down --

not my employer.

not my family.

not my husband.

not myself.

I'm very humbled by the fact that

I'm just not very good at this.

This working out of the home.

I never have been very good at it.

And THAT'S the truth!

I'm good at many things.

Really good at some things.

Excellent at a few.

And that has always been OK with me.

I've just concentrated on those areas where

I am excellent.

And quite honestly --

those places where I DO excel .....

those are the "places of my heart"

those are THE most important to me.

My home.

My family.

My husband.

My God.

Sooooo --

I am frustrated.

embarassed.

discouraged.

AND I'm in complete and total admiration

of all those women who would

waaaaaay rather be at home

BUT

who go out into the big world

every day, to jobs

they may or may not love.

For so many, it is simply a matter

of having to work - financially speaking

- and not a matter of choice at all.

Well there you have it.

I've confessed my "secret".

Say a prayer for me, please?

I know this is about a whole lot more

than "just" a job.

There's much more going on here.

I just want to hang on

and answer the question

"What?"

Gwynie Pie

What if.....?

2010-01-24T21:49:00.002-06:00

I've been thinking.....

What if....the next time I catch a glimpse of my face in the mirror.....
I say something kind to my reflection?

What if....when I see my familiar image, I look for something positive
instead of zero-ing in on the blemish, the wrinkle, the negative?

What if....when I finish brushing my teeth or
washing my face or
fixing my hair.....................what if instead of travelling down
the old familiar
"oh my good gosh, what has happened
to me (sob)?" road

What if.......................I just SMILED instead?
Wouldn't my reflection just SMILE right back at me?

And what if I said to myself---------- "Self, you are beautiful."

I'm just wondering. How would that change my day?
How would that affect my interaction with others?
How much more confident would I be to go out into the
world and BE?

I once heard a wise woman (my pastor's wife Cindy) say
"Don't ever say anything about yourself that God Himself wouldn't agree with."

That has stuck with me for a long time now. I haven't lived that way always (at all).
But ---- I know she was totally on the mark with her words.

So.....what if.....
we ALL said to ourselves ONLY what the LORD says about us.

He thinks we are beautiful.
He says we are fearfully and wonderfully made.
He Himself put us together just exactly as He wanted --- beautifully.

What if.....we believed it? and then ----

What if.....we live like we believe it? and then----

What would change in each of our worlds? and then---

What would change in the great BIG world?????

I sooooo want to find out! Do you?

Think about it ----

Gwynie Pie

Too busy! Too busy?

2010-01-20T09:08:00.003-06:00

Is anyone else out there feeling like I've been feeling lately?

I've really been struggling.....

trying to keep up with everything

and yet...

not really wanting to do anything!

The JOY of life is dulled,

and the energy is drained,

and life has begun to feel like that movie

"Groundhog Day".

Do you know what I mean????

I have, for some months now,

felt all burnt out, empty,

lifeless.

And waaaaaay too consumed

with the Emergencies---

all the while I have let the

Important

fall to the wayside.

I have known exactly what the problem was --

because

I've walked this way before.

It's simple really.

I have "forgotten my first love".

I've become so busy

that I pushed my pursuit of the LORD

and his words

and spending time with Him --

I've pushed it right to, not the bottom,

of my list of "need to do"

BUT no longer at the top of my list

of "must do".

Knowing

confessing

repenting

changing course....

it should be the easiest thing in the world.

Why do I resist so?

In a word - Pride.

I always think I know better.

Until of course it's proven

that I do not

and

will not. ever.

And how He pursues me when I go off the rails....

it is quite amazing.

The sermon series at church has been

First Things First.

WOW!

Profound.

The first book I picked up

(of my 26 book goal for 2010)

The Magnificent Obsession

by Anne Graham Lotz.

Oh. My. Goodness.

Every word is as if it was written just for me

and for just this time of my life.

And every other thing I've listened to,

read, watched ---

has had the same message.

You'd think it was a conspiracy of some sort.

And of course, it IS.

The Word tells us that He desires to

spend time with us,

and that He will never allow us,

who know Him, to

slide backwards.....

He will always, always, always

pursue us

and bring us back.

He loves us.

How wonderful

amazing

glorious

comforting.

How are you doing on this 20th of January, 2010?

Gwynie Pie

Random thoughts on a very cold day

2010-01-07T13:04:00.000-06:00

Every post deserves a picture, so as not to be boring, so here's my post picture for today.
Imagine me sitting right here
as close to this wonderful fire as I can get.

Ahhhhh -- that's nice. And yet, I'm still sooooo cold - brrrrr.
High today is below freezing, wind blowing. Low tonight somewhere around 12 !!!

HEY - I have a job. Yes, I'm going to work. Outside the home. I am the new postmaster relief
for one of the nearby small town post offices.
The opportunity to interview for the job just kind of came to me.
I'm a big believer in walking through an open door until it closes, sooooo -- now I have
a job, a very part-time job.

NOW that I have this job ---- I'm finding all sorts of projects I want to do here
at the house ---- and no time to do them of course .....cause I have a job. Ain't it the way?

I find that the absence of the Christmas decorations is SHOCKING to my system!
I love it for about a day.
Then I'm thinking "wonder what would look good right there?" and
am busy scouring through the closets and storage areas for something interesting
to go in that empty space.

Big football game tonight -- Texas vs. Alabama.
Being a true-maroon, die hard Texas A&M fan....
I don't have a dog in the fight. Don't care who wins. However ----
we will fix an enormous Sam's pepperoni pizza and
enjoy watching the game anyway.
Any excuse for a party.

Got my hair cut yesterday. An event for sure. I do that so rarely that it is quite the event
when it does happen.
AND something even more rare ---- I LOVE IT !!! Really, even the acid-test of looking
in the mirror first thing this morning???? Still love it. I'm thinking of calling the young
lady who cut it just to tell her that I love it.
I'll get a picture posted soon.
Truly - an amazing event.
Tell all your friends -- Gwyn Rosser got a haircut she loves. News at 10.

Well that's NOT all the "random thoughts" I can come up with, but I gotta go make a bed,
wash a dish, scrub a shower. Talk to y'all later.

Gwynie Pie

A 3-Yr. old's View of Christmas

2009-12-30T11:23:00.000-06:00

We let Lily Kate loose with the camera Christmas Day.

She just wandered through the house snapping pictures that she found interesting.

They make me smile.

Hope you all had a wonderful, blessed Christmas. Ours was so good. All the kids were here for several days.

We ate really well. Watched Christmas movies. Visited and caught up with each other's lives.
Went to Christmas Eve service together. Laughed. A lot.

God is so good.

I pray your New Year is bright. What are your plans for New Year's Eve?? And....

What are your plans and goals for 2010?? It's a whole new year comin'.

A clean slate.

The possibilities are without limit.

I find that sooooo exciting. What about you?

Gwynie Pie

Snow - the kind you eat !

2009-12-22T12:30:00.000-06:00

The kids will start coming in tomorrow evening. We are planning a wonderful 3, 4, 5 days together.

All of the meals are planned. But so far - NO baking has been done. None.

I need to get on it, I guess.

I did make a batch of "Snow" the other night. I was so hungry for something sweet. I saw it on someone's blog, it looked simple. It was delicious.

Popcorn, not buttered -- several cups
Melted white chocolate or white almond bark
1 cup pecans
1 cup craisins

Put popcorn, pecans and craisins on sheet pan. Drizzle white chocolate over everything. Let it set up completely. Keep in sealed carton or bag.

DEE - lish - us !!!
Try it -------

Gwynie Pie

Picnic

2009-12-19T16:37:00.002-06:00

It has been a near perfect Saturday.

We slept late. 9:00!

And then sat by the fireplace, drank coffee with peppermint mocha creamer - mmmmm - and I made French toast with
powdered sugar and maple syrup for breakfast.

William worked burning off some dead weeds in the horse pen and repairing a porch screen door. I did dishes, made the bed and washed a couple loads of clothes.

Then this afternoon I threw a little picnic in a bag, made up 2 quarts of iced
tea - one sweet, one unsweet - betcha can't guess which one is mine :) '

William was easily convinced to take a break from the the screen repairing
and we drove down to the ranch.

We grabbed a grapevine wreath and a big red bow to tie on the main gate
for a "Merry Christmas" greeting to all who pass by.

Beautiful blue Texas sky. Only the sound of an occasional bird singing or fish jumping.

Lovely. Peaceful. Calm.

Thank you LORD for all our many blessings.

A whole day spent together.....definitely one of His blessings on us today.

Gwynie Pie

By the back door

2009-12-18T11:07:00.000-06:00

At the back door of the house, I hung my Santa apron and hat.

And right below it in the corner....evidence that Santa decided to just take off his boots and
get comfy.

We're hoping this doesn't cause Lily Kate any distress. She's not a big fan of "Ho,ho,ho", as
she refers to Santa. She's already told her mama that he can leave presents on the porch,
but CAN NOT come in the house.

When I told Dana about the Santa clothes by the back door, she said "uh oh. Lily Kate may
decide that not only is Santa IN the house....but he's naked."

The back porch tree is another mesquite branch, set in an old bucket and strung
with white lights. It looks very festive at night.

Right as you walk in from the back door ---- the coffee/spiced tea/hot chocolate bar
and the peppermint tree.

Grab a cup and let's go sit by the fire,

Gwynie Pie

Welcome

2009-12-17T08:41:00.000-06:00

Every year we "harvest" a couple of West Texas Christmas trees (bare mesquite trees). In years past, before we went artificial because of allergies to most real trees, our main tree in the living room would be one of these beauties. Usually spray painted white. And then decorated with tons of white lights and ornaments -- looks really nice.

This year we have one at the front door -- it sits in an old metal milk can wrapped with burlap. And then that all sits in my mother's old metal wagon.

I've had the scripture snowman sign for years. It always gets a special place.

Lovely old garden gate, given me by a sweet friend. Don't you love it?

Double grapevine wreath with a few real evergreen branches wired on and a big natural burlap bow.

As is my "habit", I can't leave well enough alone.

So I "tweaked" the mantle just a bit and added two huge white serving platters. It added just that right something ????

Of course, the roaring fire pretty much says it all

"Welcome. Come on in here. Sit. What would you like to drink?
Coffee with eggnog creamer? or a cup of Sugar Cookie hot tea?
ummmmm --- okay, let's visit......................"

Gwynie Pie

A tree in every room

2009-12-16T08:47:00.000-06:00

My Christmas decorating philosophy is this -- I don't want "over the top" decorating all over the place, in every nook and cranny and corner. But, when someone steps into a room I want them to know that it's Christmas. Therefore ........a tree in every room.

One guest bedroom has a simple lighted tree. The brand-new, yet old-looking little sign was purchased at Cheapo Depot for $2. It says "Season of Joy".

The folk Santa was made by William, probably 30 or more years ago, out of a 2 by 6 chunk of wood.

Lily Kate's little table all set for having a tea party with the teddy bears.
Adornments decorate the little tree, each one telling about a part of Christ's life, who He is, why He came to earth.
And our main tree in the living room. I used old pictures, along with our traditional ornaments -- one of the silver bells the "little angels" rang as my daughter walked down the aisle,
first ballet slippers,
my tiara from high school days,
an antique bookmark with the ten commandments, from my grandmother's Bible,
mine and William's first Christmas stockings, homemade by a mom or grandmom,
special glass ornaments from my grandparents tree,
there is even a cute little plastic cowboy hat bowl that was Williams when he was
a little guy -- it's so cute!,

at the top -- the cake topper from our wedding....two white doves inside a white heart.

I used yards of burlap this year. Everywhere. On the trees. Under the trees. I hope to finish the burlap stockings by Christmas. If not -- there's always next year.

Sooooo -- that's the tour of trees, part1. I think I showed you our bedroom tree a couple days ago. Then there's the peppermint tree in the kitchen. And the trees on the porches.

Oh, I'll be back later with those.

We are totally decked out and dolled up and enjoying every moment of this season.

Enjoy your CHRISTmas season day. Okay?

Gwynie Pie

.....and it goes on....

2009-12-16T00:07:00.000-06:00

The armoire --- laden with evergreen boughs and twinkly white lights.

St. Francis and the basket of songbooks.

It's Never Too Late to Live Happily Ever After,

Gwynie Pie

Decorating continues......

2009-12-15T09:46:00.000-06:00

On top of the tv armoire -- my favorite little stone angel sits watch. I made the red "This House Believes" sign a couple years ago. It moves around the house and is almost always on display. This house believes --- in Jesus.

Old!!! red toolbox lined with a scrap of burlap holds our collection of children's Christmas books. Some are mine, some are my kids. That Christmas Stories book was given as a gift to William's great-grandmother in 1903. So sweet.
The Santa is from my childhood -- he always stood on my folks mantle with his hand in a candy dish. I'm not a big Santa fan, ya know? but I do love him.

Stack of family bibles. Some are quite ancient. The nativity we've had since we were first married.
Part of the collection of Santa and Christmas pictures through the years. That black and white one is me and my Daddy, my first Christmas.

The house is looking like Christmas now. I'm ready to sit back, drink some hot tea and enjoy the season.

Enjoy!

Gwynie Pie

Christmas Decorating

2009-12-14T10:28:00.000-06:00

Just wanted to show you some of what I've been up to lately.

Starting with the bedroom --

I used the colors in the comforter and pillows and pulled those
into the Christmas decorations for the room -- muted turquoise and chocolate brown.

The glass bottle in the Eiffel Tower shape was found years ago in a Bryan junk shop. It originally was a bottle of French dressing. Isn't that cute?
Cost a whole 25 cents. And I just love its uniqueness.

The set of books was found at the College Station Friends of Library sale for a couple dollars. I love the colors, especially of the title labels.

When all the decorating is finished, there are always areas I want to leave up for a while, even after Christmas.

This is one of those areas. I just love the textures and colors in this room so much.

It may all just stay "as is" for a good long while.

I'll be back later with the rest of the house.

Happy decorating,

Gwynie Pie

Wild Olive Tees

2009-12-11T09:54:00.002-06:00

"Get your verse on"

That's the attitude over at Wild Olive Tees. I just found this store/blog and although I haven't ordered---yet ---I just love the spirit of these gals.

Check them out at http://www.wildolivetees.com . Or just click on their "Rejoice" button
over on the right side of this blog.

Cutest tees ever! And with a message.

Gwynie Pie

SNOW !!!!!

2009-12-10T08:02:00.000-06:00

It snowed. Yes, it did.

And it was absolutely beautiful.

A winter wonderland.

For almost 6 hours. And then.......as quickly as it came, it was gone.

These pictures were taken at 6 a.m. as I was leaving for my recent 7-day job. I worked last week and part of this at the county elections office processing voters in early voting for a mayoral race run-off. Had a great time. Learned a LOT!!! Hung with some fun people and made new friends. Saw a lot of old friends. It was a good experience.

But can I just say --- I was absolutely exhausted. Daily. Of course the pace of the day was so different from my usual. We were busy almost non-stop. And meeting the public requires a happy face and sweet spirit and the ability to just let stuff "roll off" without comment. Takes a LOT of energy.

I have such respect for you gals who juggle it ALL - husband, kids, home, work - and do such a good job with it ALL. My hat is off to you!

I don't know that I could get in the groove -- guess I could. Glad I don't have to right now.

My house is a total wreck.

We ate fast food (or worse) the whole time.

My husband had to go searching for clean underwear. And found some. Stuffed in a laundry basket. Washed over a week ago.

Bed unmade. Bathrooms unscrubbed. Morning coffee cups crowding onto the countertop. Floors -- well, you get the picture.

Blog unattended. E-mails unanswered. Bills unpaid.

So, so glad to be home again.

SO glad in fact, that I am happily, joyously even, cleaning my house -- every nook and cranny. AND finishing the Christmas decorating.

I'll be posting Christmas pictures and some fun projects very soon.

But hey, enough about me ---- what are YOU doing? Tell me what fun holiday projects you have going ....

Love ya,

Gwynie Pie

Bless

2009-11-27T13:04:00.001-06:00

Blessed beyond measure.

Blessed to be a blessing.

Bless this home and all who enter here.

Bless.
In decorating the house for Christmas I'm always torn.

Do I just decorate every nook and cranny and go completely over the top?
As I have some years.

OR do I low-key the entire thing. Go pseudo minimalist.

I never know until I get into it. And I'm usually not done decorating
until the day before or sometimes the day of Christmas.

BUT -- I do see a "theme" emerging.

Bless.

And I know that is my desire. To bless.

To bless my husband. To bless my family. To bless others. To bless His Holy Name....in ALL that I do.

So keeping that as my goal ---- here we go ---------

I'm looking forward to a wonderful month of Christmas planning, decorating and enjoying.

May your Christmas be exceedingly Blessed.

Gwynie Pie

Dreaming of a White Christmas

2009-11-25T09:00:00.000-06:00

Cotton harvest is almost done.

Huge, mostly green, tractors with cotton strippers on board have roared through the fields, pulling the cotton off the stalks and depositing the bolls into a giant
basket.

The basket is then dumped into an enormous iron "loaf pan" that sits at the end of
the rows. You think I'm makin' this up???
There this loaf pan squeezes the cotton into a module -- a giant loaf of cotton.

Next.....a big truck comes lumbering into the field and by some means of magic, loads the loaf of cotton into the truck and carries it to the cotton gin.

There the loaf disappears into the gin and moments later---- all very mysterious..... it reappears at the other end in small bales of shiny white cotton all in a row.

The bales go away on a big truck. Next time we see them, they are hanging on the rack in a store, looking all cute and colorful and sporting a price tag totally not in line with what the farmer got paid for his part in planting, tending and harvesting said cotton.

And there you have it. For being a farmer's daughter, I sure don't have a very good grasp of the technological aspects of the process,huh?. You may have noticed that?

I may not know "the how". But, I do know this -- my Daddy loved it. I love it too. It's harvest. It's Fall. It's home. Mmmmmmmm

Even the roaring of the cotton gin, now round the clock, until all the "loafs" are baled......comforting, familiar, home.

Gwynie Pie

She followed me home. Can I keep her?

2009-11-20T08:32:00.000-06:00

A few Sundays ago we became first time EVER horse owners.

I won't go into the crazy circumstances that brought this about.

And I won't tell you how not happy I was about this turn of events.

I WILL, however, tell you ------ she was without a name. Can you imagine?

A Horse With No Name ????? (wow -- flashback)

Lily Kate promptly named her Ladybird.

Ladybird was bony and hungry and her spirits were sagging. You can see her ribs. Her mane was tangled. Her eyes were matted. She had not been cared for, much less loved.

And NOW 4 weeks later, she is getting her groove back.

She is quite happy to see us when we arrive back home.....she comes over to the fence and nickers at us. Probably because of the delicious apples and carrots and sweet feed we give her. BUT, I prefer to think that she knows us. She loves us.

She is a wonderfully sweet horse.

I'm glad she followed him home.

Happy Trails ~~~

Gwynie Pie

DREAMS 2009 -- revisited

2009-11-11T11:08:00.001-06:00

Last January, when I wrote my very first (technically my second) blog ever...I bared my soul and actually stated my Dreams for the year.

At the time I remember thinking -- THIS may be your craziest hour, Gwyn....you are gonna have to answer for this later at the end of the year.

And sure enough.........................here I am................answering...............

Here we are 6 weeks away from the last day of this year and I figured it was time to face the music and revisit those goals. Time to reassess.

And time to start thinking about the new goals for 2010.

Bad news is -- I have not accomplished ALL of my goals for the year. Not even half of them. Oh heck, who am I kiddin' -- not even a fourth of them.

Good news is -- hmmmm.....I'm thinking.........

I must admit that to fall short of a goal is a great disappointment to me.
My tendency is to feel like a failure. The original point of writing down my goals, however, was to keep them out there in front of me, knowing that is a very effective way to actually achieve goals. Write them down. Read them every day. AHHHH HA!!!!

Here's the TRUTH --- I have NOT kept those goals out there in front of me. I have not read them every day. I have
pretty much ignored them, all the while knowing they were still there....just mocking me.

I have not lost a significant amount of weight. I am not in good enough shape to do the Jingle Bell Run in Fort Worth in 4 weeks.
I still haven't had the guitar out of the case ......ALL YEAR LONG! Still can't back a trailer. Didn't float a river or kayak one this past summer.

Have not ridden a horse. Although we do now own a horse, so I guess I'm just sneakin' up on that goal. HOWEVER ---
riding a horse is closely tied to that first goal I didn't reach this year (the one about losing weight).

Here's what I HAVE ACCOMPLISHED from the "Dreams" post -----

I have done two meaty Bible studies. And I have read much of my Bible, with the goal of reading it through this year. This goal WILL BE accomplished by Dec. 31. It WILL!!!

I'm also reading through the Bible in 2010. Again. This has been one of the most exciting, profound, challenging, frustrating, satisfying things I've ever done.

All in all - now that I've written this down -- I guess I really should feel like a failure. But, I don't. I just feel more challenged to keep going. To keep setting goals. To keep desiring to be better, do more, achieve more. To keep reaching.

I'm re-thinking many of those goals (not achieved) from this year. Praying. I really want to desire the things for myself that the LORD desires for me. In praying and thinking about this, I believe this is a goal for 2010 :

I am setting a goal to read 20 books during the year. Not the fluffy mysterys that I can devour in a day. But 20 books with a lot heft to them -- a lot a weight and significance.

I'm listing them over on the sidebar so they are "In My Face" all year long. I'm very excited about this goal. I need to stretch my mind. To challenge my thinking. To fill my mind with good, challenging things.

What about you??? Are you a reader? Do you NEED to be a reader? I invite you to share my list of books. We can read together and then discuss. :) Think about it..............

Gwynie Pie

2009-11-11T10:32:00.000-06:00

Sweet Giveaway

2009-11-10T20:24:00.003-06:00

Just learned of a super fun giveaway at Peanut Petunia http://www.peanutpetunia.blogspot.com .

Go over and check it out.

Gwynie Pie

And so, it begins .........

2009-11-10T08:40:00.000-06:00

It's that time of the year when I go from comfortably busy, slow even, to full-tilt flat-out runnin' for all I'm worth.

I bet that happens to you too. It's the sign of the season, I guess. The pace picks up. And the tendency is, for me at least, to have an attitude of "let's just get it done" so things can slow down and get back to normal.

Of course, in the process of thinking that way, I typically miss out on a lot of fun. And satisfaction. And joy of the season.

This year, however, I have made a promise to myself....and now I'm making it to you (you can hold me accountable)...

I WILL totally enjoy every single bit of the next few weeks.

In the midst of the craziness and busyness of the season, I AM going to experience every last minute of it all !!!

This coming Saturday is the first party of the season -- a MOPS potluck. Followed by an 80th birthday celebration for William's Aunt Irma. We're ordering the fried chicken, but I'm cooking the sides for about 25 at the family dinner. And helping decorate the tables. I woke up this morning at 3-something thinking about those table decorations. Went back to sleep, but apparently my sub-conscious worked on it til 7, cause I woke up and had it all thought out in my mind. I could see the tables decorated and WOW did they look great!

The following day is the Agape Feast. This is a wonderful time of celebrating what the LORD has done in our church and in each of our lives over the past year. It's a time to remember. I have volunteered to recruit a team of decorators to help make the tables pretty - all 80 of them ! My kind of fun !

Then Thanksgiving Day our family is breaking with tradition and staying home, instead of joining William's family at his uncle's ranch. We will have my mother and the kids that can be here, come for dinner, then the Cowboys game, followed by the Aggies game. I'm really looking forward to cooking the meal and having our family gathered together. Later that weekend, the house will be full of kids and friends as we celebrate Dana's birthday with another family meal. Yes, we celebrate with food. Yes, I know!

In another week, we are traveling to visit Dana and her family where I get to build gingerbread houses with Lily Kate. And maybe walk the Jingle Bell Run in Fort Worth. Maybe. I might just watch. :)

A couple weeks later -- we are hosting William's work staff Christmas party.

And that just gets us into early December.

I am so looking forward to every bit of this holiday season. I truly am. I don't want to miss a thing. I just want to soak it all up. And when January rolls in, I want to be able to look back and remember and know I lived it ALL to the fullest.

What does your holiday calendar look like? What are you planning? How are you coping?

Smiles and hugs to you all today ---------

Gwynie Pie

White Pumpkin

2009-11-06T08:24:00.000-06:00

I am so in love with this white pumpkin.

As many of you know, I went on a search around town for a white pumpkin because I had seen the most wonderful project that involved using a regular round paper doily and brown craft paint.

You cut a hole out in the middle of the doily and it becomes a template for stenciling a beautiful lacy collar on the top of the pumpkin. Just lay the doily over the top and with a paint sponge, dab the color on filling in the holes of the doily. Absolutely breath-taking. I loved the look.

However........after an thorough search for the white pumpkin ---- I realized none of them were as pretty as I wanted them to be --- I'm picky that way.

The white pumpkins were really more greenish. And bumpy and bruised. AND they cost twice as much as your basic orange pumpkin.

Soooooo - I decided to just make my own. Found this big beauty at a farm stand for FREE !!!! Then, using painters tape, I taped off the stem. Got out my can of Harvest White spray paint and in just moments, I had a very beautiful white pumpkin.

THEN, I decided it was just too pretty to mess with. So the doily and paint craft project will just have to wait til another day.

As Thanksgiving draws near, I may get tired of the white pumpkin look and see what else I can do.

Right now, I'm just loving it sitting right here on my big dining table, in the middle of my New York leaves, perched on top of my "Oh taste and see that the LORD is good" cakestand.

It really doesn't take much to dazzle me. 'Cause every time I walk past and notice this pumpkin, I smile. Simple. Beauty.

Dana and Lily Kate coming for the weekend and will be here in just a few hours. And then we're all off to the ranch country south of here to visit Colin and Ronnie. I have much to do before they arrive, so I'd better get crack-a-lackin'.

Have a beautiful day everyone ! Blessings on your weekend.

Gwynie Pie

Woodchopper's Ball

2009-11-02T11:09:00.000-06:00

Woodchopper's Ball 2009

It was a great Saturday for our annual Woodchopper's Ball -- food, fun and fellowship. And oh yeah --firewood.

Dress for "the Ball" is always casual -- Lumberjack Chic.

Every year for 6 or 7 years now we have hosted this unusual party.

We invite folks who live in the city, with only "store-bought" firewood
available to them, to come out to the ranch and harvest as much firewood
as they want.

Our day begins early with all the last minute prep work -- and most importantly, making a 40 cup urn of coffee and several gallons of iced tea. THAT'S really the most important part of the morning.

About 9:30-10:00 everyone start arriving, driving trucks and pulling trailers, wearing gloves and wielding chainsaws.

The Woodchoppers then leave our house in a caravan and travel to our ranch, where they chop wood for the next 2 or 3 hours.

Meanwhile, most of the womenfolk and small children stay at the house, visiting, drinking coffee and warming up the noon meal.

Our menu is always the same -- everyone brings a CrockPot of soup or stew, dessert, chips and dips, breads.

This year we had THE most delicious soups ever !!! Cheeseburger soup, Southwest Chicken Chowder, Baked Potato Soup, Beef Stew, Chili, Mushroom Barley soup ---- oh my goodness. So good!

We eat lunch when the woodchopper's return and then we clear off the long dining table and spend the afternoon playing Train or Chicken Foot, football and basketball in the back yard or just chillin' in front of the tv watching the football games.

William and I had a blast! It is a lot of work getting ready for it and cleaning up after. But, we have the time of our lives. Truly a sweet time for us. It was a great time of just having fun with our friends.

Can't wait til January when we'll have "Woodstock II". And then maybe in the early spring -- "Log Jam" ?

:)
Gwynie Pie

I WON !!!

2009-11-02T09:57:00.005-06:00

WOW!

I won!!!!

I am beyond elated to have won the sweet giveaway

over at

Heather Bullard

click below to visit her at

http://www.heatherbullard.typepad.com

I have long read her blog and am always inspired by the things

going on over there.

Anyway, I am thrilled about the cute little ticking pillow I won.

I have the perfect spot for it

and will show you how cute it is

soon.

In the meantime, visit Heather and see it there.

Gwynie Pie

Sweeeet Giveaway

2009-10-30T09:20:00.003-05:00

Hey Pink Tractor Friends ----

Just wanted to let you know about a sweeeeet giveaway over at a
beautiful fellow blogger's place....Prairie Flower Farm Blog.

Get over there by clicking on the cute "button" over right above
my "Blogs I Frequent" section. Comment on her blog and tell her
Gwynie Pie at The Pink Tractor sent you.

Fun stuff !

Gwynie Pie

JIGS

2009-10-30T08:46:00.000-05:00

Isn't he cute, dressed warm in his little hoodie?

Jigsy boy got here last night, full of energy and ready to party!!! It's gonna be a great weekend.

Our 6th annual Woodchopper's Ball will be held on Saturday.

"Friends, Fun, Firewood"

We should have t-shirts and caps made for the event.

More about the Ball next week -- I'll try to remember to take a few pictures too.

ALSO -- we here in Texas get to "fall back" this weekend and we get back that hour they took from us in the spring. I know it's just messing with my mind but I promise I will feel sooooo much better.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Gwynie Pie

THIS made me LOL

2009-10-27T08:58:00.003-05:00

Saturday the Aggies of Texas A&M played

Texas Tech University --

in some circles this is a rivalry of grandest proportions...

as evidenced by this ---------When William came home from work yesterday and told me about this

funny sight, I got him to literally run to take a picture.

The gin was running and we knew it would be gone

quickly -- disappearing inside the gin

and coming out on the other end in little bales of cotton.

Soooo, he had to move fast !

THIS is our kind of Autumn pictures, I guess.

No beautiful red and golden leaves here.

No lovely landscape turning colors.

For us -- a cotton module sitting on the gin yard

sporting a "Gig 'Em" for everyone to "enjoy"....

That's our idea of a great Autumn picture.

And if you are an Aggie family,

as we are --

Then it's also your idea of a real fun time !!!!!

Gwynie Pie

2009-10-21T11:32:00.000-05:00

I managed to spend yesterday with limited technological intrusion. In other words, I checked Facebook and e-mail less often and didn't turn on the tv. I didn't even get many phone calls.

I spent some quality time and quantity time yesterday just being quiet. Being still. Being thoughtful. Being thankful.

It was a great day !

Of course when I take the time to "be still" and listen....I hear. And not everything that I hear is easy to take. But ---- everything I hear is necessary for growing me into the person the LORD desires me to become.

Sometimes, I think ---- I have sooooo far to go to "get there". Then other times, I look back to who I used to be and realize just how good God is. And just how much He loves. And just how much He delights in me. In you too.

Growing up just isn't easy.

Gwynie Pie

Ahhhh -- the quiet

2009-10-20T08:27:00.003-05:00

I spent all day yesterday being a helpmeet.

Isn't that a sweet, old-fashioned word?

I really love it when I get the chance to help my husband

do something he really needs help doing.

He is a very competent man -- not "needy",

so sometimes it's tough finding something I can do

that will benefit him.

But -- today he and his co-workers will be having

a planning retreat and he is in charge of the food.

Ah ha!

That's an area where I can definitely help....

We decided on a sandwich smorgasborg,

made the list, and

I then ran around all day yesterday

gathering up all the ingredients for

the meal today,

assembling trays of goodies,

and baking the desserts.

Much satisfaction comes from accomplishing a task

with excellence.

Not perfection, just a job well done.

And early this morning

after we ran around loading everything,

"don't forget the croissants, they're on the dining table".

After my final instructions on assembling the

strawberry shortcut cake

After checking and double-checking

--- as William drove off with the car laden down with

all manner of tasty treats,

I realize how very much I am longing for the quiet.

And with the quiet -- the voice of God.

So, after several days of noisey and busy,

I'm just going to be quiet and still today

and

listen..........

Gorgeous New York Leaves

2009-10-17T17:35:00.000-05:00

Colin and Ronnie returned Wednesday from their week and a half long trip to see her family in North Carolina and New York state.

They brought us back a big ziploc of THE most brilliant, breathtakingly beautiful leaves that they gathered.

Their trip included going to Ronnie's hometown, which is in the Adirondack area of New York and a trip over to Vermont for apple picking and sightseeing. They had a great time.

I just wanted to share the leaves with those of you who, like myself, don't see the trees actually turn colors. Here --- they just get cold one night and turn loose.

:)
Gwynie Pie

Colors of Autumn

2009-10-13T08:45:00.001-05:00

I just love the colors of Autumn !

The cute little pumpkin "leaves" are
actually the cut-out pieces from the
pumpkin topiary I made a few posts
ago.

They work well as placecards, but I
really love them just kind of thrown
into the Fall mix.

And the sweet Autumn banner is a
"happy" (a little gift for no reason at all)
given me by friend Elaine.

Check out her blog Grace-Works.

Good Tuesday to you all --- Gwynie Pie