Eat Dessert First

Tuesday, on our anniversary,

William brought me a very fun gift --

He went by Sugar Daddy Desserts

(2411 College Hills Blvd in San Angelo)

and brought home The Round-up !!

This is basically a "sampler" plate

of all the wonderful, creamy, chocolatey

yummy desserts Sugar Daddy offers.

What fun !!This little state of Texas is filled with creamy goodness

and covered in white chocolate.
My very favorite of all his creations
are the ones with chipolte.
WOW!! What surprising flavor...chocolate
combined with heat !
As it should be, I say. These little babies are called Buckshot. One perfect mouthful
that just explodes with flavor --
seriously, these chocolates are meant to be
savored, not chomped !
The big chocolates in the corners --
William's favorites,
they are filled with caramel
and pecans.

Okay !! It's ALL good !
And aren't they just beautiful.
Almost too pretty to eat. Almost.

While at Sugar Daddy's,
William was given these very pretty
roses to bring home for
our special day.

They are made of wood!
Isn't that crazy?
I love that!


And HERE is the Greek pizza I made, from scratch
for our dinner.
It turned out so very good!
I've never made "from scratch"
pizza dough before.
This was really pretty easy, but
truly not exceptional enough
to be worth the effort again.
I'll probably just go with the little
pouches you add water with
and mix and go.

BUT --- the toppings....

THAT was pretty spectacular.

Super simple!

Just a matter of throwing stuff on top:

a jar of pizza sauce

browned ground lamb

2 cups grated mozarella

2 cups baby spinach leaves

1 cup cocktail tomatoes, slice in half

1 can black olives, sliced

1 + cup crumbled feta cheese

1 medium red onion, in rings

a handful fresh basil, torn and thrown on

Bake 30-35 minutes or until crust is to your liking

and the cheeses are all melty.

Soooo good!

Give it a try !

Gwynie Pie

Girlfriend Luncheon

I totally enjoyed preparing a little lunch today for a couple of girlfriends
that I never get to visit with, and their children.
School starts in just a matter of a few days---
therefore, the plate of cool summer flip-flops

AND the plate of cool lemon squares for the girlfriends.
YUMMMM !

The rest of the menu included chicken salad on baby croissants, Asian salad,
veggies, and chips along with apple tea.

The kids played and ran and swam. And we girlfriends just sat and visited...
ahhhh --- lovely !! I had a wonderful time !

Gwynie Pie

37th Anniversary

Today is our 37th wedding anniversary!

For dinner tonight, I made Greek pizza, from scratch,
in honor of the many pizzas (out of a box) that
William and I consumed during our dating years.

It turned out pretty great. I'll post the pictures and recipe
tomorrow.

After dinner, we were looking at our wedding pictures and
I decided I had to post at least a couple of the "less goofy" ones.
These were actually taken by a professional photographer....
Yikes! As I recall -- he might
have been a wee might tipsy.

Well, crummy pictures aside -- we have been so very blessed!
We realize it is only by the grace of God and his mercy that
we can say we are more in love today, with each other AND
with Him, than ever before. We give Him all the glory and
praise for everything He has given.

Gwynie Pie

Snapping out of it !

I stepped out of the dressing room, trying to quickly locate William so he could look and then I could dart back in and take this shirt off and try on the next item. I was only trying it on because he wanted me to. That and I absolutely loved it the minute I saw it hanging there. So, I figured “why not? I’m just trying it on for a couple of seconds.”
When I located him in the store and he saw me, his eyes just lit up and he said, “Baby, you look darlin’”.
Yes, he actually said that word “darlin’”. I know. I know.
Then I smiled lamely and said “ Well, but, you know….I mean, really…I can’t wear this…. I mean, for real now, this shirt doesn’t have any, you know… sleeves. It’s sleeveless. You know I can not show my upper arms in public. Oh but this top is soooo cute. I love it! (big sigh) Wish I could wear a shirt like this, but I can’t. So there. Moving on.” I head back into the dressing room.
He says “Yeah, well…we’re going to get it.”
Sharp intake of breath. “But, but, but….really….don’t you think….I mean, really…..now I do not want to be spending money on something I am never going to wear….really! Can‘t do it.”
“Well, we’re buying it. You can wear it. Or not. But you look really, really cute.”
As I stepped back into the dressing room, I was overwhelmed by an Oh. My. Gosh. Of the greatest magnitude. I was suddenly struck by the realization of all the many, many, many times in the past when I have allowed what I think other people MAY think stop me from doing something I really truly would like to do.
And I suddenly could see very clearly how many years I have wasted trying to please people I don’t even care about OR respect OR will ever see again for that matter. It made me sad. Very sad. And I might have just broken down and cried and eventually William might have had to get that nice saleslady to unlock the dressing room door so he could haul my butt out to the car and take my crying self home.
What happened instead of that very embarrassing scenario was this: I became very aware that I was, at that very exact moment, standing there in that dressing room, being given another chance. A chance to do some of those things I’ve never ever done before because “what would “they” think?”
I also was very convicted and ashamed of the fact that I have often put more importance on others opinions than on the opinion of the one human being I love and trust most on this whole entire earth --- the opinion of my husband.
I was overcome with embarassment because here I am griping about my out-of-shape upper arms and I’ve never once in all my years of fussing, looked at all the fantastic things my arms can do. I cook and clean and decorate, all things I love to do. I comfort and hug and hold babies, also things I totally enjoy. And I’m strong. I carry things and open jars and do hard work when necessary. My arms allow me to do all these things. They’re really pretty great.
I’m not even going to ask you if you do anything so silly as what I’ve just been describing. It just seems to be part of our human affliction as women that we listen to that voice that leads us to dissatisfaction with ourselves, the one that encourages us to compare ourselves to other women, the voice that would love to discourage us enough to convince us to just sit on the sidelines and watch our life go past.
What would happen if we just stopped listening to that voice? Just determine that you will not say or think another negative, derogatory thing about yourself. Then start taking captive every thought and head it off before it ever makes its way to your lips. Don’t say anything about yourself that God would not agree with. Wow! That pretty much takes care of all the yuck stuff !
I’m pretty sure we’d all be so much healthier -- physically, mentally and spiritually. And we would be such a positive role model to our own daughters, granddaughters and younger women who are looking to us to show them how to live well in this world.
Sooooo ----- I’m telling you all of this because something monumental is happening today. I am going out to lunch with some friends today. In a public restaurant. AND I’m wearing my cute new sleeveless top. It’s true! I’m going to go, visit with girlfriends, enjoy a meal, laugh a lot, maybe cry a little, catch up after the long, hot summer and then -- as we say goodbye, I’m going to give them a hug. With my 57 year old, not as tight as they used to be arms. And I’m going to have a spectacular day !
And I hope your day is spectacular as well.
Gwynie Pie
　
　
　

Mmmmm -- Cool

I felt it !!! This morning when I stepped out onto the back porch at 7-something I could feel just the barest hint

of Fall in the air.

Not full-blown, time to get out the Fall decor yet.

But, the air has changed a bit -- there is a slight coolness

that tell's me Summer is drawing to a close.

I'm always sad at the end of Summer -

cause I'm a Summer kind of girl

and I love it so.

But, ahhhh Fall -- delicious smells,

falling leaves, back-to-school,

family holidays, football --

I love Fall too !

And because I am in

such a Fall kind of mood today, I wanted to share

these Fall vignettes to get you in

Fall kind of mood too.

These are from last year -- I won't decorate for Fall

until after Labor Day.

Then it'll be full-tilt decorating

and of course,

I'll take pictures.

I decorated the dining table

first and then when I realized that as pretty as it was and as much as I loved it

there --- there was no room for the really important stuff ---

like FOOD !

Sooooo- I moved it all over to the buffet.

I love all those rich, warm colors.

I especially love the family picture

in the middle of it all 'cause

that is what life is all about --

whatever season it happens to be.

And now -- back to reality.

It's going to be about 100 here today.

That wonderful, cool Fall feeling will be gone

by 9:00.

And I'm planning on spending the last few afternoons

of Summer in the pool, soaking up the sun.

Hope you are having a spectacular Monday!

Gwynie Pie

Framed

As you may remember from past posts, I love picture frames !
Not pictures....just the frames.
There is something so appealing to me about the frame -
some are beautifully ornate and some are very simple --
I just love them !
I've been doing some rearranging of my picture frame collection.
The sage green wall is the Before - in the living room.
The pictures of After is the newly painted dining room wall.
William's mom had the enormous frame, with picture, hanging in her home.
The frame is gorgeous
and has taken a prominent spot on our wall.

Does anyone else share my love of old and
empty frames? Such a quirky collection, huh?

Happy Friday !!

Gwynie Pie

Okay, today by special request, I am sharing pictures of our hall bathroom.
The color of the walls is Oatmeal -- Lowe's cheapest brand. That is what I ask for when
I order a paint color. I find the little color paint chip I like and then ask for the "house brand"
in the cheapest form possible. Saves a TON of $$$ ---plus, I change paint long before
any crazy 5, 10, 15 yr. warranty would ever kick in, ya know what I mean....:)

The shower curtain is actually not a shower curtain at all since there isn't a shower behind that curtain.
Are ya keepin' up? Adding color, texture and interest, it was "born" to be a flat sheet - Ralph Lauren.
And I'm pretty sure I pinched it from my daughter's things a long time ago. I'm toying with the idea
of changing to something else ??? I just haven't settled on the something. I just love this look so much.

A collection of old family handmirrors hang in the corner by the light switch. A little "blast from the past".

And HERE is the crowning touch!
My husband and son Devin put this ripple tin ceiling up , at great risk of life and limb.
Well, maybe that's a little exaggeration. Their lives were never in danger.
Their limbs.....well, maybe..... cutting sheets of tin with a hand held shears
was an experience, for sure. There are easier ways, I'm sure.
Hindsight is great, huh?

The tin came off an old barn at the ranch -- we knocked the dirt off
and up it went.
Then they trimmed it around the ceiling with
pieces of old barn wood.
The ceiling just complements the rest of the room
and
so many people have commented on it
and loved it as well.

That's it !
A tour of my "powder room".

Happy Wednesday everyone !

Gwynie Pie

Mama's Got A Brand New Bag

Old Bag
Brand NEW Bag !!!

and -----bottom of brand new bag !

If there is one thing I absolutely HATE ----
it is driving through the countryside
and seeing grocery store sacks
"decorating" the landscape.

So, I'm a big, big fan of "green" bags.
As soon as they came to our HEB,
I jumped on the bandwagon....
bought 10 of them.
(WHEN is the last time I bought enough
groceries to fill up TEN bags???I ask you???---uh, never!)
But I'm really good at jumping on a bandwagon !!!

I consistently was leaving them at home.
THEN I put them in the car, but I would be in the truck.
THEN I got the bags into the correct vehicle,
but would leave them right there,
in the backseat,
while I shopped.

NOW however --- I think I have sufficient
motivation to actually
use my "green" bags faithfully.
Now that my "green" bags are
MAROON

You gotta love it !!
Well, you don't gotta love it ---
but IF you don't love it,
I don't wanna hear it!!!

Awwwww- just kiddin' with you !

Have a great Monday y'all !!
:)

Gwynie Pie

Wonderful Weekend

We have had such an enjoyable weekend !

The past several weeks

have been very busy and difficult and

somewhat stressful

and

we really needed the kind of weekend

this one has been.

Colin and Ronnie came to spend the weekend

and since we have had quite a lot of rain

and our grass, that normally is totally deprived of moisture

this time of year has been growing like craaaaaaazy ----

they both got pulled into our Saturday yardwork.

They pitched in and mowed and ran the weedeaters

And that was all after Colin and William set fire

to the big, big pile of tree limbs in the field,

that was just beyond the windmill.

I wanted a picture of that, but really -----

this all happened too very terribly early !!!

Sorry - no picture.

I'm not even sure the camera would work

at that hour on a Saturday morning

:)

Chips and Dips at The Grill --
The kids wanted to take us out to eat Saturday night
and they had never been to The Grill,
a new funky and fun restaurant
in San Angelo.

The cheese dip is the consistency of pimento cheese,
except instead of mayo and pimentos, this has some
wonderfully, heavenly something???? holding it all
together and some other great stuff chopped up in it
and OH My Sweet Nellie ---- it is sooooooo good !!!It's THIS
good !!!!

No -- it's THIS good !

This is what I ordered --

the New Mexico burger with fries

Deeee-licious !!

It has grilled pablano peppers and a "special" sauce

along with all the usual burger stuff.

William had bbq chicken, mashed potatoes and

sauteed spinach.

Colin had enchiladas,

Ronnie has fish tacos

And we all had a great time !

Good Eats !!!!

Fun Times !!!!

Hoping your weekend was great !!!

Gwynie Pie

Friday Night Dinner

After eating quick meals and salads and eating out more than

a few times in the last several days,

I decided it was time to cook again.

FRIDAY NIGHT MENU

Kung Pao Country Ribs

Asian Coleslaw

Green Salad

Baked Potatoes

Cantaloupe Slices

Devil's Food Chocolate Cookies

Made into

Ice Cream Sandwiches

with some

Blue Belle Homemade Vanilla

KUNG PAO RIBS

5 lbs. country style pork ribs -- I used the boneless kind

2 packets Kung Pao seasoning

1 largest can of crushed, diced tomatoes

In pan with about 3 Tablespoons canola oil, sear the ribs for about 3-4 mins. on each side.

Layer ribs into crock pot. Sprinkle seasoning over, then pour can of tomatoes over all.

Cook on high for about 1 hour, then turn to low for the next 7 hours.

The tomatoes and seasoning makes a delicious marinade/gravy that would be good over rice.

ASIAN COLESLAW

1 bag broccoli coleslaw

2 packages Ramen noodles - Oriental seasoning

1 cup sunflower seeds, unsalted

1 cup slivered almonds, unsalted

3/4 cup canola or veggie oil

1/4 cup white vinegar - rice wine vinegar works nicely too

1/3 cup sugar

Both packets of seasoning from the noodles

Literally throw it all in a mixing bowl and mix it up.

DEVIL'S FOOD COOKIES

1 devil's food cake mix

1 1/2 cups white or milk chocolate chips

1/2 cup vegetable or canola oil

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

powdered sugar

Mix all ingredients except powdered sugar. Roll into balls, flatten a bit on a Pam sprayed pan. Bake for 8-12 mins. at 375. When cooled a bit, dust with powdered sugar.

Oh, yes --- these work super good with Blue Belle Homemade Vanilla if you want to make ice cream sandwiches.

BAKED POTATOES

I know everyone has their favorite method for baking potatoes. I usually microwave them.

Tonight, I did it Alton Brown's (Food Network star) way and I gotta say ---- WOW!! soooo gooooood!!!

After scrubbing the potatoes, dry thoroughly with paper towel, then oil them with

vegetable/canola oil. Roll each potato in coarse grain salt. I love Kosher salt because it has a flaky texture and works very well for this. Then - with a knife, poke 2 or 3 small holes in the top side of the potato.

I then placed the potatoes in a 9 by 13 pan and into a 375 oven for almost 2 hrs. (or until you can pierce easily with a knife or fork)

Well, that's it for Friday night food fest at the Rosser's.

Bon Apetite ~

Gwynie Pie

Tired ! But not too tired for Chokit.....

I'll get back to "normal" posting very soon....I'm missing it much.

Until then ....

Here's a little cute for you.....

That brown gooey??? Never fear ---- it's chocolate.

Lily Kate was sooooo exhausted --

she was literally in mid-bite of a Reese's when

sleep overtook her

and

she dropped like a rock

right where she stood.

Look at her little toes -- she was even in mid-step
when she just couldn't go anymore.

What a darlin' !!

Gwynie Pie

Loving the rain !

This is the "welcome" verse at the front door

of our house.

A few weeks ago I selected this verse,

thinking more about

"the storehouse of His bounty"

part of the verse,

and the abundance of my life

and how the LORD

has blessed us,

than the

"send rain on your land"

part of the verse.

HOWEVER ----

as always in this dry part of the world,----

we've been praying for rain !

We'll take it, whenever it comes....and

PRAISE THE LORD

for it !!

Soooo, how cool is it that He has blessed

us with such wonderful

refreshing

rains !!!

Everything that is supposed to be green --- IS !!!

For West Texas in August,

that's saying a whole lot !

I LOVE IT !!!

What a GREAT God we have !

Gotta go mow ---

:)

Gwynie Pie

Blessings !!!

As I shared in a previous post ---

my mother-in-law Elizabeth

had surgery to remove a brain hematoma

on July 15.

The surgery was successful.

However, she was very frail and

other health issues arose

and

she passed from this life to

Real Life

one week later on July 22.

As we have gone through all the things you do

when someone dies ---

making calls to family members to let them know,

putting together the plans for the funeral,

feeding the multitudes,

sleeping some of the multitudes,

smiling, laughing, crying ---

we know this: we are blessed!!!

and then

blessed some more!

We have been surrounded by friends, family,

church family, community

and lifted up and carried through

the entire past 2 weeks.

How awesome to have, not one or two people,

but literally dozens and dozens of people,

write, e-mail, call

and tell us what a grand lady Elizabeth was

and

what she meant to each of them every time

they were around her.

We have heard some sweet, sweet stories

of how they all remember her.

She taught Sunday school,

led women's classes,

taught VBS,

was a faithful choir member,

(with a beautiful alto voice),

she was a lifetime PTA member,

room mother for literally decades,

and active in everything

that happened in her community,

wherever that happened to be at

the time.

Amazing!

It's so strange to see your parents through

the eyes of others.

And that's especially true when you

see them through the eyes of those

who knew them when they were

much, much younger.

It's been quite sweet to get a glimpse of

the person Elizabeth was waaaaay

before any of us knew her.

I spent a lot of my early years

of knowing Elizabeth

kind of grieving

because she wasn't the kind of mother-in-law

I had always wanted.

I wanted someone who would call me just to visit,

ask me to go

shopping with her,

or to get a pedicure together.

Someone who would go to

"girl's night out"

with me. Or maybe to a movie.

A"let's do lunch"

kind of mother-in-law.

None of those things ever happened.

She was not that kind of woman.

And after several years, I gave up on that

"dream"

That just was not Elizabeth.

Thankfully --- many, many years ago I discovered

something absolutely phenomenally, wonderfully,

tremendously

BETTER

that Elizabeth had given me.

A way better gift

than doing any of those things together.

I discovered that she gave me

THE BEST

she had to give....

she raised a son,

took him to church,

laid a foundation of faith in him,

prayed for him faithfully

and then

handed him off to me !!!,

a silly and not so wise girl,

(at the age of 20)

and

Trusted in the LORD

to direct our paths.

Elizabeth gave to me

a loving husband,

a fantastic father to our kids,

a warrior,

a mighty man of God !

William Rosser

is who he is today

because of the kind of faithful

mother Elizabeth was to him.

For THAT and so much more !!!

I love her and I pay tribute to her..

Her children arise and call her blessed;

her husband also, and he praises her:

"Many women do noble things,

but you surpass them all."

Charm is deceptive, and

beauty is fleeting;

but a woman who fears the LORD
is to be praised.

Give her the reward she has earned,

and let her works bring her praise

at the city gate.

Proverbs 31:28-31

Gwyn

Friday Decorating

Yesterday was super hot, as most every day has been lately.

But, yesterday was unique in that it was the first day in several

when I was here at the house all alone and with

nowhere to be, nothing else to do....ahhhhhh

Soooo --- I decorated !

Honestly, a day of decorating, moving things around,

cleaning as I go -- that's almost like a

Spa Day for me !!

I LOVE IT !!!!

Here are some of the little vignettes around

the house after I got through ---

MMMMM ----- a stack of vintage tablecloths and

old faded flour sacks

Just waiting to be used for a picnic or on the table out on

the porch.

If only they could talk --- the stories they would tell......

of picnics, and lunches taken out to the fields and

dinners with the family

Just some of my plate obsession, ---- I meant to say, collection

My grandmother collected a plate from every state she

ever visited -- I have added to the collection

by way of flea market and antique store finds --

That's TEXAS on top

I love dishes -- plates especially

New countertop arrangement


The soffit area above the kitchen cabinets.
I LOVE bowls too !



Above the sink
Collection of cookie cutters--
most of them old from my grandmothers
houses


Fish Bait styrofoam cup -- one of my prized
possessions.
I was so blessed to get to travel to Baton Rouge in the week
after Hurricane Katrina to
help feed people.
There was a huge stack of these bait containers
(used to hold worms and dirt)
that we used as coffee cups.

I just loved it so much --
I brought it home and
have kept in a prominent place
in my kitchen since.
It reminds me of the sweet people
I met there
AND the sweet people
I got to work with.

My kitchen blackboard
with a favorite verse --

After the crazy and challenging week we had

it just seemed appropriate.

Gwynie Pie

Perfect or Excellent

Hey, did you ever get something just stuck in your head?....can't get loose from it?....it just almost haunts you?

I mean, really -- from every direction and from all sorts of completely unrelated sources the same topic, same subject keeps coming at you??

That happens to me pretty often. I know God is teaching me all the time. Sometimes I listen easily and "get it". And sometimes it takes many, many more "attempts" to get me to pay attention and hear His words.

I finally have to just STOP and get still and ask,

"OK, Lord, you are trying to teach me something here?? (deep breath - exhale) Then, I will listen. Teach me what You want me to know."

Well, as we are studying in our ladies bible study Discerning the Voice of God, God can and does communicate with us in a variety of ways. He can and will get His message across to us however and whatever it takes.

Soooo - the thing that I am just stuck on is this : Perfection versus Excellence.

Specifically, in my job as a Home Engineer ....to what level do I aspire?

I have known women who aim for Perfection -- in all areas, nothing else is acceptable. Even the closets and cupboards are "perfect". Every area of the house, yard, car, kids, husband and life is piffy perfect, thank you very much !!! Things seem a little "plastic" if you know what I mean, but it looks great !!!!

I actually "did time" for a while in my life aiming for and running after this Perfection. Got really tired running. Didn't get there. Got nothing for my efforts except a boat load of frustration. I abandoned that pursuit and went on to --------

Looking' Good . This style is when everything looks good to the occasional eye but don't go diggin' anywhere in the house, closet, car, kids, husband or life. That's where the "messes" will appear. Looks good on the surface though....lookin' good. Just don't go nosin' around cause ---- whoooo---eeee --- things are a jumble. I spent a lot of years pursuing looking good and being scared to death that someone would look deeper and I would be exposed as a fraud -- in my house, closet, car, kids, husband and life !! I briefly experienced the

Hey Leave Me Alone homemaker syndrome. Everything -- absolutely every thing is a wreck -- all facets of life are in various states of falling down and coming apart. She seems somewhat upset by this but at the same time, fairly clueless as to how to fix. Therefore, she's on the defensive much of the time. And angry. And depressed. And feeling like a failure. And cries a LOT. A LOT !!! in her bathrobe while sitting on the sofa eating and watching trash on tv. In between crying fits. Sheesh -- so glad I managed to pull out of THAT time in life. Disgusting even to myself, I knew I couldn't stay there, didn't want to stay there, but had to find my way out.

Then there is the Good Enough homemaker. A swipe at cleaning here and there but if crumbs fall to the floor -- oh well. Dog will get them. (even when there isn't a dog) The same gravy stain that was accidentally slung on the wall at Thanksgiving dinner 4 years ago is still there. Any household cleaning job is attempted and quickly abandoned before truly finished with the attitude of "what do you expect from me??? I'm doing all I can do ". Been there as well.

I think these are just a few of the phases we might go through as homemakers

And I truly believe the LORD calls each of us to Excellence. He already knows we can't be perfect while we're living here in our earth suits. Sometimes --- it takes us a while to learn that we can't be perfect.

BUT -- we CAN be excellent. That is certainly my goal -- to be an excellent homemaker. To excel at my job. I hope to visit this subject every week or so.

There are so many areas in Homemaking that can be looked at with Excellence as our goal.

AND I would love to get your input and discussion on the topic.

Please tell me IF this interests you.

What are the struggles you are having in carrying out your job as a homemaker?

Is time management your problem

Is it lack of skills

No example from mom or other skilled

person in your life?

Bad attitude? -- got the "I don't want-tos"?

We can work on those together and all come up higher in our pursuit of excellence.

I truly hope you will join in.

Love you all,

Gwynie Pie

UPDATE ON ELIZABETH

It's been 24 hours since surgery was completed. The Dr. was very
optimistic and encouraging. The brain bleed had stopped on its own before the surgery began which meant the surgery did not have to be so invasive and therefore, a bit less risky.

Elizabeth was alert and knew people immediately upon arriving in ICU, a great sign. Of course, she was woozy, sleepy, thirsty and kept trying to be sneaky and slip HER watch off of her daughter's wrist.
She had given the watch to Elaine the night before to keep for her
and after I thought about it....I don't think I've EVER seen Elizabeth when she didn't have her watch on. I'm sure she feels just not right
without it....like I do when I forget my wedding ring. Of course, she still had in IV and tubes and couldn't wear it and didn't need it. But that didn't stop her in her "medically induced" state of fuzziness.....

Anyway, it got to be pretty funny there in the ICU with Elizabeth trying to weasel the watch off Elaine. Pretty cute !!

She is having another CT scan today and that will tell a lot of how successful the surgery was and what her recovery will look like from here.

Thank you so much for all your prayers !!! Much love to each of you!


God is good, All the time
All the time, God is good !

Gwynie Pie

PRAYER REQUEST

Hey friends !

Our family has a very urgent need

for prayer for

William's mom.

Her name is Elizabeth, or as we call her

Grammy...

Grammy had a fall in the night about a month ago

and hit her head. She was checked out and

all appeared to be okay. A follow-up dr. appointment

revealed she had 2 hematomas in her brain

(brain bleeds) probably caused

by this fall.

Yesterday, at a follow-up CAT scan

a new fresh and very large

hematoma was revealed.

She is scheduled for surgery in the early a.m.

tomorrow (Weds)

in order to reduce the pressure it is

causing on her brain and all

her functions.

They are waiting until then because

she regularly takes blood thinners

and surgery can't be done until

she is less vulnerable in this area.

She is in a very critical condition.

Just wanted you all to know about this

and thank you so much

for all your love and prayers.

Moochas Smoochas,

Gwynie Pie

Best Sandwich EVER

This is the secret ingredient

in seriously THE BEST sandwich EVER !!

or

at least til the NEXT Best sandwich comes along.

I am a fan of a good sandwich -- and picky-er about my

sandwich fixin's than any other food I eat.

For instance ---- IF I'm having freshly baked ham in a

sandwich, then I want white bread with Miracle Whip

and nothing else -- no tomatoes, no lettuce, no cheese -- nothing!

A grilled cheese sandwich just screams for white bread.

IF I'm having pastrami, then I gotta have good, hearty

Jewish rye bread...ummmm...so good!

Cajun roast beef sandwiches are best on

bollilos with a good spicy mustard and lettuce.

Now a sliced turkey sandwich can be made on any

kind of sliced bread, but must have

jellied cranberry sauce instead

of mayo or mustard -- I love that!

I do know a good sandwich, let me tell you.

So when I say this one is the BEST EVER

(til the NEXT best comes along)

believe me !!!

Spread two slices of any kind of bread -- but good

hearty grainy bread is best -- with

about 2 Tablespoons each of

pineapple cream cheese.

Layer on very thinly sliced ham --

I bought Tyson brand Black Forest ham

and it is superb.

Then layer on thinly sliced tomatoes, cucumbers,

red onions, romaine, spinach -- just load it up

with everything you love.

I made mine with just romaine and cucumbers and

it was delicious !!

I made the same thing for dinner Thursday using

large tortillas instead of bread

and I added

tomatoes.

It was a big hit !!

What's your favorite sandwich????

Just curious....

it might be my NEXT best sandwich

EVER !!!!

Gwynie Pie