I had forgotten a funny that happened the last time Annabelle was over and thought I would add it here. Mommy was on the computer and didn't hear the cellphone ringing. She's usually the first to hear it, but this time we heard it. We told her it was ringing and by that time it had gone from its buzz to the ring-a-ling-a-line which meant it had been ringing for a while.
Everybody was searching frantically to find that darn phone. Not here, not there, where oh where is the phone? Little Annabelle pointed over to Granddaddy's chair and said, "In the diaper bag." Granddaddy denied sitting on the diaper bag even as we tried to remove him. The man can sit/sleep anywhere without it bothering him in the least. The story about the princess and the pea definitely wasn't written about him, even if he does consider himself the tough guy, the prince/king instead of a sweet tender little princess.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Everybody needs a good hug
This morning during our usual walk around the mall, my sister and I noticed the bookstore that had been slowly closing appeared to be reaching the end, so we walked in to check out what we couldn't live without.
Right in the front of the store I was greeted by a cute little teddy bear. I just knew this would be the teddy that would replace Annabelle's beloved teddy when he needed a good wash and drying. He can't be dried in the dryer because he's so very tender. It's difficult for her to be without Teddy when she goes out the door, or down for a nap or bedtime. I thought a substiute would be just what she needed. And this teddy was an adorable teddy. So for $2.00 I decided he needed to come home with me to become Annabelle's second loved teddy.
The school for special needs students usually comes into the mall several times a week and the kids browse around. It gives them a heads up on learning to live a life independently or semi-independently later in years. When she saw I had picked up one of the teddy bears, a young girl came over to me with her own teddy clutched closely to her chest. She struck up a conversation with me, wanting to know if I was going to get one, etc. and sharing with me that her own Grandmother had died the week before. She was very sad and kept hugging the little bear. She said she needed something to help her make it through missing her Grandmother and she expressed to me how much she had missed her Grandmother. She wanted to know if I was a grandmother and I told her that I was.
I left her at the front of the store, still clinging to the bear and continued around the store looking at different things. Then young girl walked over to a lady and asked if she had $1.12. She had just exactly half what she needed to buy her teddy to provide her the comfort she needed while helping her adjust to the loss of her own Grandmother. The lady pulled out her wallet and found the money to make up the difference for her teddy.
The young girl was so very excited to be able to purchase her own teddy. And all it took was a simple act of kindness, all from one stranger to another. And another Teddy got a new home and lots of loving from a special young woman.
As for my teddy bear for Annabelle...I gave her the bag to open and I was expecting her to be so excited over getting another teddy. Was I surprised by her reaction. I asked if she wanted to take it home with her and she shook her little head, No. This one just wasn't the one that fit comfortably in the arms of a 2 1/2 year old little girl. This one just couldn't be counted on to take good care of her paci like her real Teddy does. This one was more a show teddy. Annabelle's Teddy was more real. More raggedy. And he has just the right smells she feels most comfortable with.
Right in the front of the store I was greeted by a cute little teddy bear. I just knew this would be the teddy that would replace Annabelle's beloved teddy when he needed a good wash and drying. He can't be dried in the dryer because he's so very tender. It's difficult for her to be without Teddy when she goes out the door, or down for a nap or bedtime. I thought a substiute would be just what she needed. And this teddy was an adorable teddy. So for $2.00 I decided he needed to come home with me to become Annabelle's second loved teddy.
The school for special needs students usually comes into the mall several times a week and the kids browse around. It gives them a heads up on learning to live a life independently or semi-independently later in years. When she saw I had picked up one of the teddy bears, a young girl came over to me with her own teddy clutched closely to her chest. She struck up a conversation with me, wanting to know if I was going to get one, etc. and sharing with me that her own Grandmother had died the week before. She was very sad and kept hugging the little bear. She said she needed something to help her make it through missing her Grandmother and she expressed to me how much she had missed her Grandmother. She wanted to know if I was a grandmother and I told her that I was.
I left her at the front of the store, still clinging to the bear and continued around the store looking at different things. Then young girl walked over to a lady and asked if she had $1.12. She had just exactly half what she needed to buy her teddy to provide her the comfort she needed while helping her adjust to the loss of her own Grandmother. The lady pulled out her wallet and found the money to make up the difference for her teddy.
The young girl was so very excited to be able to purchase her own teddy. And all it took was a simple act of kindness, all from one stranger to another. And another Teddy got a new home and lots of loving from a special young woman.
As for my teddy bear for Annabelle...I gave her the bag to open and I was expecting her to be so excited over getting another teddy. Was I surprised by her reaction. I asked if she wanted to take it home with her and she shook her little head, No. This one just wasn't the one that fit comfortably in the arms of a 2 1/2 year old little girl. This one just couldn't be counted on to take good care of her paci like her real Teddy does. This one was more a show teddy. Annabelle's Teddy was more real. More raggedy. And he has just the right smells she feels most comfortable with.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Shake! Shake! Shake! Shake!...Shake your...
cookie. Today is Granddaddy's birthday. Happy Birthday, Granddaddy. What better way to celebrate his birthday than visiting the one grandchild who isn't busy with school or daycare? We are so blessed, indeed, to be able to spend these moments, days, etc. with her.
So, it was off to her house with plans to eat at Spaghetti Warehouse, my favorite place for Eggplant Parmesan. (My daughter suggested maybe next time we could split a meal. What? I don't split Eggplan Parmesan with anyone! I like having another meal out of it later. Get your own!)
We got to their house and found Annabelle and her Mommy baking cookies for Granddaddy's birthday. Oatmeal cookies...Grandmother B's (Mommy's Grandmother B's) scrumptious, long-time favorite oatmeal cookies. This recipe can't be beat for sure. Our very favorite recipe.
After the final batch of cookies came out of the oven we made our way over to Spaghetti Warehouse for our lunch and then after pouting for a while, we went on over to one of my very favorite stamp stores. It has a huge selection of the neatest rubber stamps and you had better hold onto your cash or charge card when you are in there.
I found a card that had been made and was on display. Hmmm, wonder where that stamp is. It has great potential! I took it to the cash register and asked where I could find the stamp. The female owner looked at the card and said, "Well, it's made up of, let me see...one, two, three, four, five, six (and maybe she said seven) different stamps. I can show you the ones that were used." I might add the stamps ranged in price from as little as $4.50 up to $9.50 or more. I think the cheapest one was $4.50. And it was tiny! (So, if you get a handmade card from me, just be very thankful because there is much more than lots of time in making it. It's pretty expensive, too! So, just enjoy anything you get from me. I try, really, I do.)
The owner volunteered to show us the method used for making the card, which I lapped up immediately. She made it seem so simple and pretty. Did it in no time at all. I looked through the stamps trying to decide which ones I really couldn't live without so I could make a decent looking card. I already had some that I thought might work, so I eliminated those. Still, I managed to walk away (Wait, that sounds like I stole them. I didn't. I definitely paid for them...dearly.)with I think five really cute stamps I can't find locally. Oh, I definitely found more than that. She showed us another card she had done and framed, which peaked my interest, but after mentally tallying up the price I decided to make that my next purchase.
When my daughter and I returned to the car, Annabelle said, "Can I see the stamps, Grandmomma?" Her Mommy was so surprised. She said, "How did you know there were stamps in that bag?" Well, I guess she knows her Grandmomma and knows she can't turn down a cute stamp!
By this time it was beginning to be the "witching hour", as my best friend would say. But since it is officially a holiday today, traffic moved on and we went to Annabelle's house for some good old cookies!
We were standing in the kitchen, enjoying our cookies, and I, completely subconsciously took a bite of my cookie, held it over the sink and shook it to keep the crumbs from dropping onto the floor. I looked down and saw that sweet little face looking at me. I didn't think anything about it very much and she walks over to the sink and puts her cookie over the sink. I thought she was going to drop it into the water so I started to correct her before she lost her cookie to the dirty water in the sink. Then I realized she was trying to shake her cookie crumbs into the sink just like she had seen her Grandmomma do! Now how sweet is that? And scary! She did it several more times.
It made me think of seeing people driving down the road with their cigarettes hanging over the slightly rolled down window, careful not to let the smoke come back into their car. They will share it with anyone driving alongside of them, but can't stand it in their car.
And I wonder just how much our children are influenced by seeing just such outside happenings that we have no control whatsoever over. Very sad. Makes me want to tell them what I think of their rudeness. But I can't because somehow they have the "right" to pollute my air while driving alongside me.
That really wasn't where I had intended the blog to go because I know I can't stop that, but I do know I and others close to us have to be careful what we do because those little eyes are watching our ever move. E.v.e.r.y m.o.v.e! As I said before, scary!
It was a great day. I ended it by pulling out my beautiful stamps, held them in my hands, admiring each perfect etch, and then I pulled out my paper, ink, brushes and used one of them to satisfy my creative (or lack of) abilities and pretended I could do the technique just as well as the stamp store owner.
Oh the joys of an expensive hobby. But, as the stampers creed says, "It's cheaper than therapy!" I'm not sure about that, but it does satisfy something. Sometimes I remember what my youngest niece said one day when we were talking about our stamping addiction. She said she thought it was because she didn't get to color as much during her childhood and she was making up for it now. I'm with her. I didn't have access to my own crayons when I was younger. I only had school issued ones and we had to leave them at school. There's just not enough time during the school day to express your feelings and you can't do it at home when you don't own your own box of crayons.
Wipe the tears from your eyes, now because now I can buy my own crayons. I can buy my own colored pencils by the hundreds,from every company, in every color, my own boxes of water colored pencils or crayons, more stamps than will ever be touched by ink, and any other means of expressing myself I desire. And I do...just because I can.
When I'm on a buying spree my daughter always mutters under her breath, "There she goes again, spending my inheritance." I hate to burst her bubble by telling her there will be no inheritance, even if I didn't have such an addiction. Maybe she can put all my fun stuff on e-bay when I'm dead. She may have a small inheritance there. Just wait until I'm dead and gone. I'm having way too much fun. Talentless or not.
And Happy Birthday, Granddaddy! I sure hope you enjoy your birthday present. You know, the stamps I bought today? They bought you a little freedom from me while I'm playing!
Let's see...I have a birthday coming up in about two weeks. Maybe I'll plan to eat at Spaghetti Warehouse again and then make another trip over to...Shhh! don't tell Granddaddy! I might be able to pick up a few more of those cute stamps for my, I mean, an added birthday present for him!
Hey, I'm doing my best to help stimulate this economy! It really needs it and I think I can contribute quite nicely to it!
So, it was off to her house with plans to eat at Spaghetti Warehouse, my favorite place for Eggplant Parmesan. (My daughter suggested maybe next time we could split a meal. What? I don't split Eggplan Parmesan with anyone! I like having another meal out of it later. Get your own!)
We got to their house and found Annabelle and her Mommy baking cookies for Granddaddy's birthday. Oatmeal cookies...Grandmother B's (Mommy's Grandmother B's) scrumptious, long-time favorite oatmeal cookies. This recipe can't be beat for sure. Our very favorite recipe.
After the final batch of cookies came out of the oven we made our way over to Spaghetti Warehouse for our lunch and then after pouting for a while, we went on over to one of my very favorite stamp stores. It has a huge selection of the neatest rubber stamps and you had better hold onto your cash or charge card when you are in there.
I found a card that had been made and was on display. Hmmm, wonder where that stamp is. It has great potential! I took it to the cash register and asked where I could find the stamp. The female owner looked at the card and said, "Well, it's made up of, let me see...one, two, three, four, five, six (and maybe she said seven) different stamps. I can show you the ones that were used." I might add the stamps ranged in price from as little as $4.50 up to $9.50 or more. I think the cheapest one was $4.50. And it was tiny! (So, if you get a handmade card from me, just be very thankful because there is much more than lots of time in making it. It's pretty expensive, too! So, just enjoy anything you get from me. I try, really, I do.)
The owner volunteered to show us the method used for making the card, which I lapped up immediately. She made it seem so simple and pretty. Did it in no time at all. I looked through the stamps trying to decide which ones I really couldn't live without so I could make a decent looking card. I already had some that I thought might work, so I eliminated those. Still, I managed to walk away (Wait, that sounds like I stole them. I didn't. I definitely paid for them...dearly.)with I think five really cute stamps I can't find locally. Oh, I definitely found more than that. She showed us another card she had done and framed, which peaked my interest, but after mentally tallying up the price I decided to make that my next purchase.
When my daughter and I returned to the car, Annabelle said, "Can I see the stamps, Grandmomma?" Her Mommy was so surprised. She said, "How did you know there were stamps in that bag?" Well, I guess she knows her Grandmomma and knows she can't turn down a cute stamp!
By this time it was beginning to be the "witching hour", as my best friend would say. But since it is officially a holiday today, traffic moved on and we went to Annabelle's house for some good old cookies!
We were standing in the kitchen, enjoying our cookies, and I, completely subconsciously took a bite of my cookie, held it over the sink and shook it to keep the crumbs from dropping onto the floor. I looked down and saw that sweet little face looking at me. I didn't think anything about it very much and she walks over to the sink and puts her cookie over the sink. I thought she was going to drop it into the water so I started to correct her before she lost her cookie to the dirty water in the sink. Then I realized she was trying to shake her cookie crumbs into the sink just like she had seen her Grandmomma do! Now how sweet is that? And scary! She did it several more times.
It made me think of seeing people driving down the road with their cigarettes hanging over the slightly rolled down window, careful not to let the smoke come back into their car. They will share it with anyone driving alongside of them, but can't stand it in their car.
And I wonder just how much our children are influenced by seeing just such outside happenings that we have no control whatsoever over. Very sad. Makes me want to tell them what I think of their rudeness. But I can't because somehow they have the "right" to pollute my air while driving alongside me.
That really wasn't where I had intended the blog to go because I know I can't stop that, but I do know I and others close to us have to be careful what we do because those little eyes are watching our ever move. E.v.e.r.y m.o.v.e! As I said before, scary!
It was a great day. I ended it by pulling out my beautiful stamps, held them in my hands, admiring each perfect etch, and then I pulled out my paper, ink, brushes and used one of them to satisfy my creative (or lack of) abilities and pretended I could do the technique just as well as the stamp store owner.
Oh the joys of an expensive hobby. But, as the stampers creed says, "It's cheaper than therapy!" I'm not sure about that, but it does satisfy something. Sometimes I remember what my youngest niece said one day when we were talking about our stamping addiction. She said she thought it was because she didn't get to color as much during her childhood and she was making up for it now. I'm with her. I didn't have access to my own crayons when I was younger. I only had school issued ones and we had to leave them at school. There's just not enough time during the school day to express your feelings and you can't do it at home when you don't own your own box of crayons.
Wipe the tears from your eyes, now because now I can buy my own crayons. I can buy my own colored pencils by the hundreds,from every company, in every color, my own boxes of water colored pencils or crayons, more stamps than will ever be touched by ink, and any other means of expressing myself I desire. And I do...just because I can.
When I'm on a buying spree my daughter always mutters under her breath, "There she goes again, spending my inheritance." I hate to burst her bubble by telling her there will be no inheritance, even if I didn't have such an addiction. Maybe she can put all my fun stuff on e-bay when I'm dead. She may have a small inheritance there. Just wait until I'm dead and gone. I'm having way too much fun. Talentless or not.
And Happy Birthday, Granddaddy! I sure hope you enjoy your birthday present. You know, the stamps I bought today? They bought you a little freedom from me while I'm playing!
Let's see...I have a birthday coming up in about two weeks. Maybe I'll plan to eat at Spaghetti Warehouse again and then make another trip over to...Shhh! don't tell Granddaddy! I might be able to pick up a few more of those cute stamps for my, I mean, an added birthday present for him!
Hey, I'm doing my best to help stimulate this economy! It really needs it and I think I can contribute quite nicely to it!
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Our day included...
a picnic on the floor of the family room starring Pizza Hut pizza made of pepperoni, mushrooms and pineapple. Yum! Annabelle came to visit this morning while Mommy went about her day doing other things. So, at lunchtime Annabelle and I decided we needed to celebrate this very cold, windy day, not outside in the sunshine but inside having a picnic in the middle of our kitchen toys. Granddaddy brought the pizza back in and we were in business.
It's always fun to approach our food from a different view and since it was so very cold today and supposed to be tomorrow, the picnic was just what we needed to brighten our day.
After a picnic of pizza, applesauce and yellow cheese (because Annabelle thought Granddaddy was eating some) I mentioned maybe we could eat donuts afterwards. The donut idea was suggested before she finished eating, so that may have influenced why she was "done" in a very short time and ready to move on to the donuts.
We had some coupons left from Christmas for free donuts, so after persuading Granddaddy to "let's go get donuts! Now!" we headed out to Krispy Kreme donuts with three coupons in Annabelle's hand. She was in charge of the coupons. But earlier we played the game of matching the gift cards on her coupon strip and mine. She's very good at matching those up with no problem and points out what's on each one.
Mommy had made me change her pretty little shirt with her name on it into something else while she ate pizza so that meant she had to change back into her pretty shirt before we could go get donuts.
After I pulled her top off and right before I put on her shirt she looked at me and said, "I nekked, Grandmomma!" Then her Granddaddy walked in and that didn't make her happy. She told him the same thing and turned toward me and tried to hide from him so he couldn't see her. Granddaddy thought I was telling her that she was naked and he was afraid she wouldn't want him to see her and he would have a problem if she was left along when he had to take her potty. I assured him I hadn't encouraged that. That came from her own little mouth and mind. Could she possibly be becoming a bit modest at this early age?
Did I say it's windy? Yep, it is. Almost blew our heads off. But we made it inside the donut shop very quickly and picked out our very favorite choice of donuts. Granddaddy chose a cream filled one, Annabelle picked a nice plump one filled with pretty multi-colored sprinkles. Grandmother wanted a simple chocolate covered cake donut.It reminded her of earlier days when she worked and every morning was filled with chocolate-covered cake donuts and a Dr. Pepper. Yeah, I know, really healthy, huh? But if you have to work you may as well start the day with a fun breakfast.
While we were waiting for the lady to pack up our donuts, Annabelle and I made our way around the side of the donut shop so she could watch them making donuts. Much to my surprise we couldn't watch them make the donuts anymore. They almost always have the hot donuts sign flashing at this shop, and they were icing a pile of donuts, but we couldn't see them as they dropped the dough, etc. like we used to be able to. Big disappointment. I was so looking forward to letting her watch the donuts being made. Wonder if they still make them the old way at the original donut shop in midtown.
She enjoyed herself without seeing the whole process. We pulled out the donuts, pulled out a chair, and jumped into the middle of those three donuts. Annabelle doesn't eat a whole anything dessert wise unless it's maybe cake. She eats a few bites and then she moves on. While we were eating she noticed a balloon. I turned to find one of the workers making her way over to bring a bright red ballon and a Krispy Kreme hat for Annabelle. Talk about making a little girl happy. The worker tied the balloon onto her sleeve coat and put the hat on her head. She was in heaven.
Since she didn't finish her donut we took it home minus about three small bites she's taken from it.
She managed to get into and back out of the car at our house without losing her balloon. As a matter of fact it was still attached to her coat sleeve when she finally went to the back to take her nap. I'm seriously doubting that plays out into a nap. More like it did the other night. I can hear her talking to herself, reading her books, and talking about Grandmomma.
Much to my sorrow we left the camera behind. What was I thinking? This was her first trip to the donut shop with us and we missed some really cute pictures. When will I ever learn?
I knew it couldn't last! I've heard the voice change from her room and upon opening the door I knew what it meant! Yep, she did her usual. She left me a present to open and enjoy. Mommy you missed another one. She tried to talk me into believing she had already had her nap. She said she had already been "shhh, shhh", but I knew better. I've been spying on her from the front. Now she's fussing. We'll see who wins this one. I won't bet good money because I'm pretty confident who will win.
It's always fun to approach our food from a different view and since it was so very cold today and supposed to be tomorrow, the picnic was just what we needed to brighten our day.
After a picnic of pizza, applesauce and yellow cheese (because Annabelle thought Granddaddy was eating some) I mentioned maybe we could eat donuts afterwards. The donut idea was suggested before she finished eating, so that may have influenced why she was "done" in a very short time and ready to move on to the donuts.
We had some coupons left from Christmas for free donuts, so after persuading Granddaddy to "let's go get donuts! Now!" we headed out to Krispy Kreme donuts with three coupons in Annabelle's hand. She was in charge of the coupons. But earlier we played the game of matching the gift cards on her coupon strip and mine. She's very good at matching those up with no problem and points out what's on each one.
Mommy had made me change her pretty little shirt with her name on it into something else while she ate pizza so that meant she had to change back into her pretty shirt before we could go get donuts.
After I pulled her top off and right before I put on her shirt she looked at me and said, "I nekked, Grandmomma!" Then her Granddaddy walked in and that didn't make her happy. She told him the same thing and turned toward me and tried to hide from him so he couldn't see her. Granddaddy thought I was telling her that she was naked and he was afraid she wouldn't want him to see her and he would have a problem if she was left along when he had to take her potty. I assured him I hadn't encouraged that. That came from her own little mouth and mind. Could she possibly be becoming a bit modest at this early age?
Did I say it's windy? Yep, it is. Almost blew our heads off. But we made it inside the donut shop very quickly and picked out our very favorite choice of donuts. Granddaddy chose a cream filled one, Annabelle picked a nice plump one filled with pretty multi-colored sprinkles. Grandmother wanted a simple chocolate covered cake donut.It reminded her of earlier days when she worked and every morning was filled with chocolate-covered cake donuts and a Dr. Pepper. Yeah, I know, really healthy, huh? But if you have to work you may as well start the day with a fun breakfast.
While we were waiting for the lady to pack up our donuts, Annabelle and I made our way around the side of the donut shop so she could watch them making donuts. Much to my surprise we couldn't watch them make the donuts anymore. They almost always have the hot donuts sign flashing at this shop, and they were icing a pile of donuts, but we couldn't see them as they dropped the dough, etc. like we used to be able to. Big disappointment. I was so looking forward to letting her watch the donuts being made. Wonder if they still make them the old way at the original donut shop in midtown.
She enjoyed herself without seeing the whole process. We pulled out the donuts, pulled out a chair, and jumped into the middle of those three donuts. Annabelle doesn't eat a whole anything dessert wise unless it's maybe cake. She eats a few bites and then she moves on. While we were eating she noticed a balloon. I turned to find one of the workers making her way over to bring a bright red ballon and a Krispy Kreme hat for Annabelle. Talk about making a little girl happy. The worker tied the balloon onto her sleeve coat and put the hat on her head. She was in heaven.
Since she didn't finish her donut we took it home minus about three small bites she's taken from it.
She managed to get into and back out of the car at our house without losing her balloon. As a matter of fact it was still attached to her coat sleeve when she finally went to the back to take her nap. I'm seriously doubting that plays out into a nap. More like it did the other night. I can hear her talking to herself, reading her books, and talking about Grandmomma.
Much to my sorrow we left the camera behind. What was I thinking? This was her first trip to the donut shop with us and we missed some really cute pictures. When will I ever learn?
I knew it couldn't last! I've heard the voice change from her room and upon opening the door I knew what it meant! Yep, she did her usual. She left me a present to open and enjoy. Mommy you missed another one. She tried to talk me into believing she had already had her nap. She said she had already been "shhh, shhh", but I knew better. I've been spying on her from the front. Now she's fussing. We'll see who wins this one. I won't bet good money because I'm pretty confident who will win.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
They watch your every move...
Even when you are not expecting it, that special little person in your life will come up with something that proves they are watching your every move. Just the other day I noticed Annabelle carefully take a paper towel, fold it in her own way and try to wrap it around her cup. It's something I've done forever because I hate to feel the coldness of the ice from the cup, or the condensation for that matter.
It was kind of amusing to think that she had been watching me so closely. You just never know what they'll do next.
On the way home the other night her Mommy called and told me that Annabelle had let out a big screech several times and when she asked her what she was doing, she told her that's what Grandmomma says. Indeed, I had been trying to tell her that when she pulls all of her toys out Grandmomma couldn't stand it and she would raise her hands and say, "Ah-eeee!" Then I would ask her what Grandmomma says, and in her sweet, soft voice she would say, "Ah-eee." Not with as much energy as I had told her, but apparently on the way home she let out quite a racket in the back seat of the car.
It was kind of amusing to think that she had been watching me so closely. You just never know what they'll do next.
On the way home the other night her Mommy called and told me that Annabelle had let out a big screech several times and when she asked her what she was doing, she told her that's what Grandmomma says. Indeed, I had been trying to tell her that when she pulls all of her toys out Grandmomma couldn't stand it and she would raise her hands and say, "Ah-eeee!" Then I would ask her what Grandmomma says, and in her sweet, soft voice she would say, "Ah-eee." Not with as much energy as I had told her, but apparently on the way home she let out quite a racket in the back seat of the car.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
P'bater Basher
I have been on a major hunt for a potato masher for Annabelle to use in her new kitchen Santa brought her for Christmas. Either everybody wants any potato mashers that might be available in Goodwill Stores or they are really using them at their own homes, because I have had a very hard time finding a used one. I really didn't want to spend $3.50 for a new one; a buck is about the highest I want to go. Yeah, I know, for all the gas we spent trying to get a used one we could have bought a brand new one! But I'm all about adventure.
My idea for getting one for Annabelle came to me after I got a Christmas Card from my little Amish friend in Ohio. I, and a friend of mine, have been penpals with her since she was around 12 years old. She married a couple of years ago and now has a sweet little girl of her own named Emily.
In my Christmas letter from her she mentioned that Emily was interested in helping her mommy cook and do all the domestic duties around the house, much like Annabelle does. She was born in May after Annabelle was born in October. Santa Claus was going to bring Emily her very own potato masher and a couple of other cooking utensils so she could help Mommy. Just a simple, practical gift for little Emily. How much happier would our kids be if we lived the simpler life where they could be creative instead of all the electronic things we bombard them with? I don't see that happening because I'm guilty myself of wanted my grandkids to have fun things to play with, too. But I do wonder sometimes.
When you think of Emily's potato masher your first vision would probably be a child's potato masher and other kid sized utensils, boxed in their own little box, but knowing the Amish like we've come to know them, I knew it had to be the real, adult-sized potato masher. Mommy probably was needing one herself so she used that for an excuse, I'm guessing, but little Emily would get her chance to play with her very own potato masher and Mommy could borrow it occasionally. Thus came the bright idea for me to get Annabelle one once I found out Santa was bringing her a kitchen.
On one of my trips to a Goodwill store, a man and woman from another country came over where I was looking for the potato masher. He had picked up an omelet pan and showed it to her. I couldn't understand either one of them until she said, "potato masher". What? Someone else wants my potato masher? Oh, please let me find it first. But neither one of us was lucky enough to find it that day.
This past Saturday was the Grand opening of the new Salvation Army store close by. I thought I would venture into the new store. What a joke! Everybody in the county had the same idea I did. I really only wanted the potato masher!
I wormed my way back to the section of the store in hopes I would find one. There on the wall was my envied potato masher and it looked like it was in great condition. It wasn't wobbly like one or two I had seen before at Goodwill. I excused myself while I plowed through to grab my potato masher.
All went well...until I realized the people I had just excused myself from were standing in line will carts filled with merchandise to be checked out. You've got to be kidding. No way. This was at the very back of the store and it snaked from there to the front of the store. Being a little familiar with long lines I gave it a conservative estimate of no less than 1 hour and maybe even a couple or more hours before check out and owning that potato masher for my sweet little girl.
I thought perhaps I would do a quick look through the store and I held onto that potato masher just in case I decided to lose all my senses and stand in line with the other nuts...just for that potato masher.
I had gotten almost to the middle of the line and one of the voluteers asked people in the line if anybody had cash only. Nobody was a taker, so I saw my chance. I moved forward and said, "Me, I have cash only!" He directed me to the other line with only a couple of customers in it. I lost all interest in anything else in that store. I just wanted to get out of there. So, I jumped into the line he had designated, offered my .99 plus tax and got the heck out of there. But not before the sweet little lady in front of me spotted my potato masher. I had to tell her the story behind me getting it. She said, "I need that potato masher! I've been looking for one. Do you know how hard it is to find one nowadays? I don't think anybody uses those things anymore!" Tell me about it,lady. Nobody knows how hard it is to find one. Lady, I would have caved and let you have it if it hadn't been something for Sweet Annabelle! But she's my baby and my loyalty's to her.
Today was the first time we got to see her since I got it, and as she was leaving tonight I handed it to her. That sweet little face lit up like a Christmas Tree. A simple little .99 potato masher (plus hours looking and at least $25.00 worth of gas,)made her a happy little girl. I could have spent a hundred dollars and she wouldn't have been happier.
And as they were leaving to go home tonight, Granddaddy asked her to let him see it. She gave him that horrified, disgusted look that only Annabelle can give and she said, "NO!, MY P'bater Basher!" She had absolutely no intention of letting her Granddaddy take her P'bater Basher. He could go get his own! Sorry Granddaddy, she had no way of knowing you were right there with me all those miles we drove trying to find it for her, but I was glad she was so proud of it.
Sweet Annabelle, you really have no idea how much I tried to fulfill my promise to you to get you a potato masher for your kitchen. I hope you will enjoy using it.
And to those people who no longer need a potato masher in their house and dropped that one into the Salvation Army bag, let me say, "Thank you so much for making two people very happy. Maybe I should say three people including Annabelle's Granddaddy, I just hope you never realize how much you really need one in the future because you will have a very hard time finding one. And, by the way, I'm sure you never used it when you had it because it's in excellent condition. Your loss is Annabelle's gain."
So little girl of my little girl, you better take care of your p'bater basher. You may need it someday when you're married. You will have your very own antique potato masher. I have a feeling those things are going out of style along with old-fashioned store bought potatoes. Don't let your Daddy throw it back into Goodwill, no matter how hard he tries. You just pull it out, again and again and again, if you have to. Maybe even sleep with it, if you have to! You protect your precious p'bater basher.
My idea for getting one for Annabelle came to me after I got a Christmas Card from my little Amish friend in Ohio. I, and a friend of mine, have been penpals with her since she was around 12 years old. She married a couple of years ago and now has a sweet little girl of her own named Emily.
In my Christmas letter from her she mentioned that Emily was interested in helping her mommy cook and do all the domestic duties around the house, much like Annabelle does. She was born in May after Annabelle was born in October. Santa Claus was going to bring Emily her very own potato masher and a couple of other cooking utensils so she could help Mommy. Just a simple, practical gift for little Emily. How much happier would our kids be if we lived the simpler life where they could be creative instead of all the electronic things we bombard them with? I don't see that happening because I'm guilty myself of wanted my grandkids to have fun things to play with, too. But I do wonder sometimes.
When you think of Emily's potato masher your first vision would probably be a child's potato masher and other kid sized utensils, boxed in their own little box, but knowing the Amish like we've come to know them, I knew it had to be the real, adult-sized potato masher. Mommy probably was needing one herself so she used that for an excuse, I'm guessing, but little Emily would get her chance to play with her very own potato masher and Mommy could borrow it occasionally. Thus came the bright idea for me to get Annabelle one once I found out Santa was bringing her a kitchen.
On one of my trips to a Goodwill store, a man and woman from another country came over where I was looking for the potato masher. He had picked up an omelet pan and showed it to her. I couldn't understand either one of them until she said, "potato masher". What? Someone else wants my potato masher? Oh, please let me find it first. But neither one of us was lucky enough to find it that day.
This past Saturday was the Grand opening of the new Salvation Army store close by. I thought I would venture into the new store. What a joke! Everybody in the county had the same idea I did. I really only wanted the potato masher!
I wormed my way back to the section of the store in hopes I would find one. There on the wall was my envied potato masher and it looked like it was in great condition. It wasn't wobbly like one or two I had seen before at Goodwill. I excused myself while I plowed through to grab my potato masher.
All went well...until I realized the people I had just excused myself from were standing in line will carts filled with merchandise to be checked out. You've got to be kidding. No way. This was at the very back of the store and it snaked from there to the front of the store. Being a little familiar with long lines I gave it a conservative estimate of no less than 1 hour and maybe even a couple or more hours before check out and owning that potato masher for my sweet little girl.
I thought perhaps I would do a quick look through the store and I held onto that potato masher just in case I decided to lose all my senses and stand in line with the other nuts...just for that potato masher.
I had gotten almost to the middle of the line and one of the voluteers asked people in the line if anybody had cash only. Nobody was a taker, so I saw my chance. I moved forward and said, "Me, I have cash only!" He directed me to the other line with only a couple of customers in it. I lost all interest in anything else in that store. I just wanted to get out of there. So, I jumped into the line he had designated, offered my .99 plus tax and got the heck out of there. But not before the sweet little lady in front of me spotted my potato masher. I had to tell her the story behind me getting it. She said, "I need that potato masher! I've been looking for one. Do you know how hard it is to find one nowadays? I don't think anybody uses those things anymore!" Tell me about it,lady. Nobody knows how hard it is to find one. Lady, I would have caved and let you have it if it hadn't been something for Sweet Annabelle! But she's my baby and my loyalty's to her.
Today was the first time we got to see her since I got it, and as she was leaving tonight I handed it to her. That sweet little face lit up like a Christmas Tree. A simple little .99 potato masher (plus hours looking and at least $25.00 worth of gas,)made her a happy little girl. I could have spent a hundred dollars and she wouldn't have been happier.
And as they were leaving to go home tonight, Granddaddy asked her to let him see it. She gave him that horrified, disgusted look that only Annabelle can give and she said, "NO!, MY P'bater Basher!" She had absolutely no intention of letting her Granddaddy take her P'bater Basher. He could go get his own! Sorry Granddaddy, she had no way of knowing you were right there with me all those miles we drove trying to find it for her, but I was glad she was so proud of it.
Sweet Annabelle, you really have no idea how much I tried to fulfill my promise to you to get you a potato masher for your kitchen. I hope you will enjoy using it.
And to those people who no longer need a potato masher in their house and dropped that one into the Salvation Army bag, let me say, "Thank you so much for making two people very happy. Maybe I should say three people including Annabelle's Granddaddy, I just hope you never realize how much you really need one in the future because you will have a very hard time finding one. And, by the way, I'm sure you never used it when you had it because it's in excellent condition. Your loss is Annabelle's gain."
So little girl of my little girl, you better take care of your p'bater basher. You may need it someday when you're married. You will have your very own antique potato masher. I have a feeling those things are going out of style along with old-fashioned store bought potatoes. Don't let your Daddy throw it back into Goodwill, no matter how hard he tries. You just pull it out, again and again and again, if you have to. Maybe even sleep with it, if you have to! You protect your precious p'bater basher.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Happy New Year
Yesterday I told my daughter I would not be cooking lunch/dinner for New Years Day, today. Her first reaction was of total shock. How could I be doing this to her? Not cook New Years dinner. That was totally unacceptable and then she began to realize I really did mean it. I wasn't cooking dinner today, period.
Then she had to get into gear and figure out what she needed for her dinner. How could she possibly cook her own turnip/collard greens and how could I, as her mother, let her and her family down. They would surely not have any more at all this coming year.
I explained she had a perfectly good pressure cooker I had given her for Christmas just last year and she just put them into the pressure cook, add a few chicken bouillon cubes, a buch of water, a bit of sugar and cook that stuff for a good hour.
I also informed her that Bush made a pretty tasty black-eyed pea in a can if she didn't want to spend her entire day in the kitchen. As for the pickled peaches, she had my recipe. I could help walk her through any problems she might have, but I was NOT going to cook New Years dinner.
Then feeling a bit sorry for her Daddy, she suggested we come over to eat with them.
"No, thank you, I am planning on staying in the house for the entire day tomorrow. My present to myself. My New Years Resolution, so to speak. No cooking on today's New Year's day.
She continued to try to make me feel guilty by calling me every five mintues from the grocery store. And I might add, she was taking precious Grandmomma time away from her sweet baby girl, but she didn't seem to mind. I think she was thinking maybe I would change my mind if she kept being a nuisance. But I did not. I did not intend to cook New Year's Day 2009.
I went to bed with a perfectly clear conscious. I would enjoy myself fully, alone with only Granddaddy and me to do our own thing. I had already planned to pull out my frozen pittance of collard greens/turnip greens, whichever it was. I could open a can of peas and Granddaddy and I would be dining in elegance if I added a side dish of Candied Tomatoes. No excess cooking or cleaning up. It was a done deal.
This morning I got up and thought since I'm not cooking a big meal today I will make a recipe I had seen on the internet earlier for Sausage/Gravy with Biscuits. I've tried to make this before but I just didn't have the recipe I wanted. This one appeared to be the winner so I made it for breakfast. I want to tell you that was a delicious/scrumptious/wonderful recipe without a lot of trouble. I will definitely be trying it again someday. It isn't something you need to eat every day but it's certainly good for occasional breakfasts.
Then my perfect day began to unravel, so to speak. My sister called and wanted to go walk. It's been a good two or three weeks since we've been able to walk due to my brother-in-law having some medical problems and us keeping a grandbaby to help her sick mommy out, or so Mommy could go in to work, etc., etc.
Then the guilt began to pile on. Maybe we should get back to walking again, so just as I was getting ready to tell her we would walk, caller-id showed my son was trying to call us. I told her I would have to call her back. My son was calling to invite us over tonight to eat our usual New Year's fare. I'm sure he wondered why I was trying hard to stifle a good laugh that was building up inside me. He had no idea I had committed myself to a day at home alone, no cooking, etc.
I accepted the invitation and decided I would also tell my sister we would walk.
And, he was inviting his sister and brother-in-law over, also.
Then while we were walking I decided I might better call my daughter-in-law and let her know I was alright with cooking and bringing the collard/turnip greens. She welcomed the chance not to have to cook those greens. Nobody seems to want to cook greens. They talk an hour but other than that, frozen one are no problem. Once they are adjusted you need not worry about them if you have enough water in them.
Well, since I'm tooking the greens, I might as well cook the candied tomatoes. I'll just surprise them with another sidedish that I would keep a secret until I pulled it out to heat it up. These were the thought that were running through my mind.
After walking I started the collards and worked on the candied tomatoes. It really wasn't that much of a problem. I didn't have a lot of clean up to do and since I wasn't cooking the whole meal, I wasn't as tired as I would have been had I done it al myself.
Earlier I had talked to my daughter and she gets a nasty attitude with me. Why did I say I would go to her brother's house but not to theirs for New Years? Oh, get over it, won't you? Well, her baby's daddy wasn't too happy with me either, but I'm sure that isn't the first or last time that will happen!
We all made it over to their house at the approximate alloted time in time to watch my son smoke up the house with his cooking of the country ham. It's a miracle the fire department didn't make a run by to make sure everything was alright, it was sooo smoky. All windows and doors were raised and opened to help eliminate some of the smoke.
I have a hunch I know what daughter-in-law will be getting for Christmas next year. A new pan to replace the one I'm sure he's ruined to the set of the expensive ones he gave her last Christmas. I think sometimes men just do things like that to get "fired" from the household chores!
Everybody seemed to like the candied tomatoes. I suspect it was because they served a general purpose of covering up the taste of the collard greens as they were consumed by those grumbling, unappreciative children of mine. I think I can make a pretty mean pot of collard/turnips greens if I do say so myself. Someday they'll appreciate it.
For now they are so intimidated by the idea that they had better eat their greens or black-eyed peas or stand the risk of having bad luck and/or no money for the coming year. I'm not willing to take a chance on it, myself. I want to insure that I will have at least some money even if I have to eat the greens and peas, but then again, as I said, I like them and since I grew up on them it's not that hard for me. But just because they can, they continue to grumble, year after year after year. Even my son who has never, ever been a picky eater can't seem to cultivate a taste for them.
My daughter on the other hand, has seemed to acquire a bit more of a taste for them.
It turned out to be quite an enjoyable evening. Nobody was overly stressed out by having to prepare huge amounts of food, the kids had more than ample room to play, which would have been a different story had they met at my house, and just in general everything was great.
The boys enjoyed visiting with their only little girl cousin and she was in heaven with the room full of little boy toys to play with. She blended right in. Where or where has my little lace gone?
If I dared make plans for myself again, it might be that tomorrow I will stay inside all day, no cooking, no cleaning, just enjoying a quiet day semi-alone to catch up on some much needed sleep. We'll see.
I've already fallen asleep while trying to type this. Who knows what I said above that wasn't really true! But I'm not reading it over again before I publish it.
It looks like I've already broken my first and only resolution by going out and by cooking. I don't think I want to even try to make anymore if I can't at least keep simple resolutions.
Nah, we all enjoyed that broken resolution.
And, little Sophie, the newest little granddaughter puppy has gained five whole ounces this week. She's getting there.
My daughter missed the best photo of the night. Annabelle and Sophie were standing at the glass door looking out. Annabelle with her little face pushed up to the window and little Sophie so tiny with her little front paws stretched out onto one of the lower window panes standing by her new found buddy. It was a winning photo for sure, but two-year olds and puppies move at flash speeds and wait for no one, so I was the only one who was able to capture it in my mind. How precious it was. A shared moment, for sure.
Good night and a very happy and prosperous New Year.
Then she had to get into gear and figure out what she needed for her dinner. How could she possibly cook her own turnip/collard greens and how could I, as her mother, let her and her family down. They would surely not have any more at all this coming year.
I explained she had a perfectly good pressure cooker I had given her for Christmas just last year and she just put them into the pressure cook, add a few chicken bouillon cubes, a buch of water, a bit of sugar and cook that stuff for a good hour.
I also informed her that Bush made a pretty tasty black-eyed pea in a can if she didn't want to spend her entire day in the kitchen. As for the pickled peaches, she had my recipe. I could help walk her through any problems she might have, but I was NOT going to cook New Years dinner.
Then feeling a bit sorry for her Daddy, she suggested we come over to eat with them.
"No, thank you, I am planning on staying in the house for the entire day tomorrow. My present to myself. My New Years Resolution, so to speak. No cooking on today's New Year's day.
She continued to try to make me feel guilty by calling me every five mintues from the grocery store. And I might add, she was taking precious Grandmomma time away from her sweet baby girl, but she didn't seem to mind. I think she was thinking maybe I would change my mind if she kept being a nuisance. But I did not. I did not intend to cook New Year's Day 2009.
I went to bed with a perfectly clear conscious. I would enjoy myself fully, alone with only Granddaddy and me to do our own thing. I had already planned to pull out my frozen pittance of collard greens/turnip greens, whichever it was. I could open a can of peas and Granddaddy and I would be dining in elegance if I added a side dish of Candied Tomatoes. No excess cooking or cleaning up. It was a done deal.
This morning I got up and thought since I'm not cooking a big meal today I will make a recipe I had seen on the internet earlier for Sausage/Gravy with Biscuits. I've tried to make this before but I just didn't have the recipe I wanted. This one appeared to be the winner so I made it for breakfast. I want to tell you that was a delicious/scrumptious/wonderful recipe without a lot of trouble. I will definitely be trying it again someday. It isn't something you need to eat every day but it's certainly good for occasional breakfasts.
Then my perfect day began to unravel, so to speak. My sister called and wanted to go walk. It's been a good two or three weeks since we've been able to walk due to my brother-in-law having some medical problems and us keeping a grandbaby to help her sick mommy out, or so Mommy could go in to work, etc., etc.
Then the guilt began to pile on. Maybe we should get back to walking again, so just as I was getting ready to tell her we would walk, caller-id showed my son was trying to call us. I told her I would have to call her back. My son was calling to invite us over tonight to eat our usual New Year's fare. I'm sure he wondered why I was trying hard to stifle a good laugh that was building up inside me. He had no idea I had committed myself to a day at home alone, no cooking, etc.
I accepted the invitation and decided I would also tell my sister we would walk.
And, he was inviting his sister and brother-in-law over, also.
Then while we were walking I decided I might better call my daughter-in-law and let her know I was alright with cooking and bringing the collard/turnip greens. She welcomed the chance not to have to cook those greens. Nobody seems to want to cook greens. They talk an hour but other than that, frozen one are no problem. Once they are adjusted you need not worry about them if you have enough water in them.
Well, since I'm tooking the greens, I might as well cook the candied tomatoes. I'll just surprise them with another sidedish that I would keep a secret until I pulled it out to heat it up. These were the thought that were running through my mind.
After walking I started the collards and worked on the candied tomatoes. It really wasn't that much of a problem. I didn't have a lot of clean up to do and since I wasn't cooking the whole meal, I wasn't as tired as I would have been had I done it al myself.
Earlier I had talked to my daughter and she gets a nasty attitude with me. Why did I say I would go to her brother's house but not to theirs for New Years? Oh, get over it, won't you? Well, her baby's daddy wasn't too happy with me either, but I'm sure that isn't the first or last time that will happen!
We all made it over to their house at the approximate alloted time in time to watch my son smoke up the house with his cooking of the country ham. It's a miracle the fire department didn't make a run by to make sure everything was alright, it was sooo smoky. All windows and doors were raised and opened to help eliminate some of the smoke.
I have a hunch I know what daughter-in-law will be getting for Christmas next year. A new pan to replace the one I'm sure he's ruined to the set of the expensive ones he gave her last Christmas. I think sometimes men just do things like that to get "fired" from the household chores!
Everybody seemed to like the candied tomatoes. I suspect it was because they served a general purpose of covering up the taste of the collard greens as they were consumed by those grumbling, unappreciative children of mine. I think I can make a pretty mean pot of collard/turnips greens if I do say so myself. Someday they'll appreciate it.
For now they are so intimidated by the idea that they had better eat their greens or black-eyed peas or stand the risk of having bad luck and/or no money for the coming year. I'm not willing to take a chance on it, myself. I want to insure that I will have at least some money even if I have to eat the greens and peas, but then again, as I said, I like them and since I grew up on them it's not that hard for me. But just because they can, they continue to grumble, year after year after year. Even my son who has never, ever been a picky eater can't seem to cultivate a taste for them.
My daughter on the other hand, has seemed to acquire a bit more of a taste for them.
It turned out to be quite an enjoyable evening. Nobody was overly stressed out by having to prepare huge amounts of food, the kids had more than ample room to play, which would have been a different story had they met at my house, and just in general everything was great.
The boys enjoyed visiting with their only little girl cousin and she was in heaven with the room full of little boy toys to play with. She blended right in. Where or where has my little lace gone?
If I dared make plans for myself again, it might be that tomorrow I will stay inside all day, no cooking, no cleaning, just enjoying a quiet day semi-alone to catch up on some much needed sleep. We'll see.
I've already fallen asleep while trying to type this. Who knows what I said above that wasn't really true! But I'm not reading it over again before I publish it.
It looks like I've already broken my first and only resolution by going out and by cooking. I don't think I want to even try to make anymore if I can't at least keep simple resolutions.
Nah, we all enjoyed that broken resolution.
And, little Sophie, the newest little granddaughter puppy has gained five whole ounces this week. She's getting there.
My daughter missed the best photo of the night. Annabelle and Sophie were standing at the glass door looking out. Annabelle with her little face pushed up to the window and little Sophie so tiny with her little front paws stretched out onto one of the lower window panes standing by her new found buddy. It was a winning photo for sure, but two-year olds and puppies move at flash speeds and wait for no one, so I was the only one who was able to capture it in my mind. How precious it was. A shared moment, for sure.
Good night and a very happy and prosperous New Year.
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