Looking up

A couple of days ago I started my day earlier than usual.  I ran outside for something and glanced up.  I was surprised to still see the moon, but took a second to look at it and enjoy the view.  Wow!  That simple statement could be a metaphor for so many things in life.

So enjoy this pic, I took the time to run inside and grab my camera, taken from my front porch.  And remember, always take the time to look up from your everyday life and enjoy the view! : )

Blessings, Beth Ann (full moon is in upper left hand corner of pic)

Cat Party

Well here they are, the long awaited birthday pictures of B's cat, Tina.  We had the party on Friday and it was very well attended, even though the birthday girl didn't want to be found or participate.  B eventually found her, dragged her in and did eat her cake.  The  whole time letting us know she was under duress.

Here is B making the cake out of Fancy Feast, and using my biscuit cutters.

Here is the finished product, hard food sprinkles and all! LOL

This is the best pic we got of the reluctant birthday girl.  Happy 2nd. b-day Tina.

Here are the cat nip party favors that B made the guests.  Big hit.

This is Bubbles, our paraplegic cat.  She was a party animal : )

And here is the new rescue kitten, 8 week old Nala.  In this pic she already looks 110% better than before.

There were 4 cat guests and 4 teenage guests in all.  The girls had chocolate ice cream that B bought with her own money that she earned doing yard work for a friend.  I deem this a success on many levels and am actually considering giving home school credit on this.  There were many lessons learned and the follow through and execution were well done.  A true blessing to all of us who know B.

Blessings, Beth Ann

Still here and still knitting

It's been a while since I blogged last.  Not much happening here, yet I'm always busy!  LOL  I guess the usual day to day stuff for a family of six keeps me that way.  Between family, home school, church, camping and crafts, I don't idle much : )  We are going on our last camping trip of the year, next week, to celebrate middle dd b-day.  It was her idea and since we are putting off our annul trip to S.C. until March, why not!  The weather here has been in the mid to high 90's for the past week, so should still be great for camping.  I can't believe that my B will be 14 and is a high schooler.   Seems like yesterday . . .

Today though she is planning a b-day party for her cat Tina, who is two.  Actually it seems longer, living with that white she devil/Siamese!  Anyway, B sat up late last night making cat nip party favors to hand out to all the other kitties/guests and is making a cake out of Fancy Feast.  Can we say spoiled?  B even knitted her cat a new swanky collar!  I will post some pic's of this soon.  And speaking of knitting . . .

My new project comes from this book, Charmed Knits, it should read.  We found this book at the library and son Z picked out a scarf.  

It is a striped scarf, knit in the round.  Making it a very thick scarf indeed.  The scarf/tube will have 19 stripes and the ends will be closed with matching tassels. 

These are the colors Z picked, royal blue and bronze.  I am now on stripe 9, so half way there!

Upcoming projects are socks.  Yes, trying it again and hopefully the dogs will not eat this pair!  Also, I will finely cast on for that pair of knitted cargo pants I have been eyeballing for six months now.  Not mention seasonal projects such as baby booties and such.  Will keep you posted ~

Blessings, Beth Ann

Return to sender

                                                             This is going back - >

For some reason I can not get the stupid software to work on my computer again.  It did once, but not now.  We made an awesome volcano in school yesterday and I took pic's to share.  I wanted everyone to see the groovy red lava run out, sigh.  Guess they are lost now as the stupid thing kept reading error and what not.  I don't have the time or money to mess with this thing.  It was a bit small for me and my poor eyes anyway (think they make a viewing screen in large easy to see style).  I also noticed it was $5 cheaper this month, hmmmmmmm.  Anyway, with my durango now needing repair, I am returning this and saving my money for a new camera that I like better and is easier to use!

Blessings, Beth Ann

Lets try again

Well I have been crabbing this week over money again, as usual.  I ended up with only $50 for this weeks groceries and I was not happy.  But you know what?  It turned out fine, not great, but fine.  I think we have gotten into some lazy habits over the summer and we need to re-group so to say.  I think I need to go back to cash only for grocery shopping, and make it $75 a week.  It will still be tight, but oldest son kicks in with pet food and such from his check.  So it works out.  I think I will also give up driving into the 'boro and over to Kroger.  I will save a ton on gas and this is also a must since I need front end work on my Durango.  Hubby said I can't leave town until it is fixed, which at the earliest will be at the end of the month.  I think I can get pretty much everything from our local grocer and the Dollar General Market.  The $GM is a huge blessing and their food selection as well as paper goods have fair prices.  Any location without the market add-on just doesn't know what it's missing out on.  Anyway, the local grocer has a pic-5 sale every week.  Basically you pick 5 different dinner items, such as chicken, beef and assorted other items, for $19.99.  So $20 a week for 5 lunch or dinner entree's is a good deal.  We are looking at about $40 of my $75 and my lunch and dinner is pretty much taken care of.  I only need now worry about some veggies and paper products.  Sounds good in theory, lets see if I can make this work better than I have been.  I really take being a good steward of my husbands money seriously.

Tonight for dinner I made roast in the crock pot (on sale at the local grocer).  I heated up some green beans and also added some rice to the cooker after the roast was done.  I kept the roast warm in the oven and stirred the rice into the beef juice, turned it to high, covered it and cooked for 30 minutes or so.  It was sooooooooooo excellent.  I said it was just like rice=r=roni and my hubby said no, it was better! Aweeeee LOL  Just wanted to pass that rice tip on to you all who slow cook.

Blessings, Beth Ann

Slow day

It has been a blessedly slow week, so why do I feel overwhelemed a great deal of the time when I stop to reflect on bills and grocery shopping?  Hmmmm, think I just answered my own question - LOL

I wanted to share this pic of middle dd holding the baby salamandar she found yesterday.  B has never been a fru-fru girl, more like a tom-boy and she was pretty excited by this discovery.  She was cleaning up under the back deck and found this critter under some old newspaper (which the puppies enjoy playing in).  Pic was taken on my phone, as I just couldn't seem to find any AAA for my camera to save my life.

That's it, all I got.  Maybe tomorrow I will share my newest knitting project with ya all : )

Blessings, Beth Ann

Fooling around

Here I am back in the saddle again.  Took a small break and a long holiday week-end, camping with friends.  We had more fun than should be legal : )  Any who . . . When we got back I received an early b-day gift from hubby.  Yea, he was surprised too - LOL  I got this nifty little camera from my Avon lady.

So I have been playing around with it and seeing if I liked it better than my other one (notice red color - me like red).  I do believe the picture quality is better, what do you think?

Here is our old cat Pumpkin and my old doxie, Howard, sharing the sun on the sofa.

I wasn't going to include this pic, just seems indecent, but I thought Mary Pearl (one of the two pups we have left - hey 2 out of 9 ain't bad) just looked adorable and Levi is sleeping behind her.

Here is a better shot of Howard snoozing in the sun.

And a closer look at Pumpkin Kitty.  So what do you think?  Clearer pix's?  I think so too.  I will probably end up keeping the camera, even though I am still getting the hang of the soft wear and all that jazz.

Blessings, Beth Ann

Not done yet!

You all remember my crazy squash vine?  The one that over took my son's window?

See how the vine is trailing sinusly twoards the left?

That would be my bathroom window it is heading for!  I just took this pic from inside my bathroom!

See it streatching into the window as the rest of the plant continues to climb and bloom.

Look at the top, see how it is climbing the roof line over my bedroom window, crazy!  It is the talk of the neighborhood - LOL

The tomatoes aren't doing to bad either!

Four of our seven tomato plants are still going strong.

See the red beauty playing peek - a- boo? 

The garden is a truely wonderus thing and God is good to bless us so, Beth Ann