Takes me back to my childhood

Growing up, we always had a huge garden. I remember it being a lot of work and having lots of veggies. Mom canned everything and we would eat it all year long. We always had a cellar full of canned goods that Mom put up(that is what you call canning veggies "puttin up").

Tonight I asked Mom about canning tomatoes because ours at home are canning tomatoes and they are gonna all be ready at once. So she starts telling me the steps to do and she comes to one part where she says "You get your thang and put them in and then put them back on to boil.

I ask her "what thang?

So she gets out this strainer type thing out of her cabinet.

I said " Oh yea mom we all have a thang like that just laying around at home"

Cracked me up. She can't give a recipe either b/c its a little of this and a little of that.....

The picture below is Mom's garden this year. This is the first garden she has had in several years. Which I love because we get fresh veggies everytime we visit.

Tammy Lou was there to so Mom told us we would go pick a mess of green beans (a mess is enough for a meal or 2) . Being there with Mom and my sister brought back lots of memories from my childhood. We spent a lot of time in the garden each year. Sometimes not so much work. My Daddy only whipped me 3 times in my life and I only remember 2 of them. One was in the garden with a potato vine, because I was being lazy and had just sat down in the row when I was supposed to be picking up potatoes. Some might think that was horrible that he would do that or even that we had to work in the garden. It wasn't like that we were doing child labor. I probably spent more time sitting in the middle of the rows. I wasn't made to do much as a child except help in the garden and mow the lawn sometimes.

So tonight was fun being there with Tammy Lou and Mom working in the garden and then snapping beans.

Isn't it funny when you grow up how your views change, how you value things so differently. I am grateful for the food she is growing, that I get to bring home to feed my family. Grateful for the time spent picking beans together, just like old times

Sharing the joy with our kids Coco and my nephew Jake. They didn't stay around long. The fun wore off pretty fast for them. Just like when I was a kid.

Coco and I came home and cut open our 3rd watermelon of the week. We bought one at Wally world on Saturday and then we got home and found 2 on our front porch. Our friends brought them back for us from Missouri while they were on the way home from vacation. Good ole summer time!

Glad I stopped today to pick some beans and share some melon with my family. Makes me want more days like this. I think they are there each day, it is just taking the time to recognize them.

Blessings

Pam

Sleepover

Friday nite we had Coco's birthday sleepover. She had 4 friends come over for the evening.

They swam for a couple of hours.

Scott made a fire and we roasted hotdogs and marshmallows. Only 1 burn from the metal stakes we had.

We came in about 9:30 to prepare for bed and a movie. That took awhile b/c they all had tons of energy.

Finally got them down and High School Musical 2 on. I was back and forth from our bedroom to the living room trying to get them to calm down. By this time it was after 11pm.

At 1am Coco and Sunny came to get me b/c they were scared. So here I go to the couch at 1 in the morning. I was so exhausted. We all got to sleep and I woke up at 5:30 and went back to my bed.

Scott and I woke up at 7:30. I got up went into Coco's room and 4 little girls were laying across the bed watching a movie. Coco was in the living room snuggled in the sleeping bag asleep. She had gotten up and put a movie on for her friends and she went back to sleep.

I asked all the moms to pick them up by 10am and they were all gone by 10:15.

Gwendolyn lives down the street so Coco walked her home around 10:30. I watched them take off down the street, all the while thinking how much Coco is growing up. One day it will be a boy walking off with my little girl. :(

I just want to put a book on her head to make her stop growing.

The poor girl was so tired all day. We had to be at a family dinner at 1pm and she was asleep in the chair while we were getting ready. Then she slept in the car on the way there. We went to Target after lunch and again she slept in the car on the way. Every time we got in the car that day she went to sleep.

It is tiring to party all night long! Poor baby girl! The photo below is the morning after.

Blessings

Pam

OLD BUZZARD

This is what was sitting at my desk when I walked in on Friday. A very big ugly buzzard. In the bad was Eucerin Anti Wrinkle creams. Later in the day I had this BLACK arrangement delivered. It was supposed to be a gag but it was beautiful. I am going to get some silk flowers (not black) and reproduce it for my home. It had roses, carnations, hydrangeas, daisys and the big ones I think are some sort of daisy. I loved how they used the sticks.

Me and the old buzzard. I brought it home and put it under the covers on my pillow to scare Scott when he got in bed. Probably not a picture I want him to have in our bed.... LOL

Thursday I went to mom's to pickup Coco and she made me dinner. My request was liver and onions. Yum Yum! I know i am probably alone in my love for liver. You don't know what you are missing. She also made me a lemon pie. Very good stuff.

This is my bestest friend Karen from Oklahoma. She came over for my party on Sunday. She is so amazing. We both came to know the Lord around the same time and we both are so grateful for his saving grace. We ran around together all the time when we were both single and have lots of funny memories. She married several years before me so we haven't gotten to spend alot of time together. She and her husband Ken had a dairy farm up until recently so that kept her really busy. Hopefully we can get together more since she is working more normal hours. thanks buddy for coming to see me!

I have been busy all week preparing to have a house full of little girls. We had Coco's sleepover last night so I will tell ya'll about that later.

We are off to visit with family in town from California. More later.

Blessings

Pam

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!

Surprise !

Scott and my family surprised me Sunday with a 40th birthday party. I kinda knew about the date but I didn't know about all the details.

Here are some photos of the day!

These are the signs they had put on the trees leading up to moms house.
The gift table with photos of me through the years. Notice the big 80's hair in the back photo.

Me and the Shelby Lynne cake. Scott really listens to me when I make comments about wanting something. Shelby Lynnes in Springdale make the most beautiful cakes.

Mom also ordered a triple chocolate from Harps.

My friends from high school. Thanks Pam, Travis and Michelle. I loved seeing you guys after all these years.

Coco and I opening presents. Scott got me a Canon Digital Rebel. Love it. He also got me photography classes so that I can learn how to use it!

I wanted a photo with everyone but several people had already left. This is aunts, cousins, sister, nephews and of course me, Scott and Coco.

On our way home we went to Acambaro's for dinner!
The best birthday ever. I have the most loving and caring husband. He worked so hard to make it a special day for me and it was. I love you Scott.

Thank you to mom and Tammy for all the work they put into it to.

If 40 is going to be this fun, I should have done it sooner! ha ha

Blessings,

Pam

Amazing Title Goes Here

I think I got sick from the funnel cake at the fair last night.

I woke up nasty sick this morning.

Don't eat the funnel cakes at small wimpy fairs! They probably used old ingredients! Yuck

Coco and I were talking about my upset tummy and I remembered that almost every morning during the last school year. She would complain about her tummy hurting.

So I asked her why she hasn't complained about her tummy all summer.

She gets this sneaky little grin and tells me now that we are talking about it her tummy is hurting right here and points to her side.

Yea right.

She will have to think of a new excuse this year.

She's a con! But a con that I love very much.

Update on Stacy. She took the nuclear pill and is at home now. She is feeling pretty good and won't see real results for 4-6 weeks but, She had to leave her girls with Grandma for a week so she is really missing them. I don't think she has been away from the little one overnight since she was born almost a year ago. That is going to be hard for her, so please pray for peace and comfort for her and patience for Grandma.

Blessings,
Pam

Blessings,
Pam

Small Town Fun

The big fair is in town!

All 7 rides and 4 games!

Oh but Coco loves it!

They even crown a queen!

Oh I kid. The first time we went after moving here from a bigger city. We really made fun of these people, You call this a Fair?

But we have come to love this small town with its itty bitty fair!


This was the cutest carousel I ever saw. It had a giraffe and even a rooster! I loved the rooster.

Coco's favorite thing to do! I call it a rip off. $3.00 to slide down one time! Highway robbery!

The fun of this was watching her almost whacking some guy in the head with her feet! It wouldn't really be funny if she hit him but they should have moved the fence back!

Prayer request!

My cousin Stacy is having the nuclear treatment tomorrow for the Graves disease. Please pray that all goes well and that she will be ok.

Blessings,

Pam

Nicknames

Do ya'll have a nickname from your childhood?



Mine is Punk. My daddy always called me "Punk er Dunk" and my sister is really the only one that ever calls me that but she has shortened it to Punk!



While at mom's on the 4th, I walked into the house and my cousin Brian says hey and tells me he almost called me punk. This made me laugh.



So we talked about nicknames we had as kids.



Brian- Brian Allen

His brother Don - GOOB (LOL) sorry Don but I love it. I don't know where it came from but that is what we called him growing up. If you are reading this Don , I love you even when you were GOOB!



Tammy (my sis)- I don't think she had a name growing up but she is now Tammy Lou! I had some names for her but they weren't very nice. I was a mean kid! Sorry Tammy Lou, you know I love you.



Some others in our family-

Tonya- Scooter

Schonda- Shon Shon

Kevin- Cotton top

Leslie- Tiensy

Preston- Bub



And Cocomama was born because my daughter wanted a nickname from me and we decided Coco was the name for her.



Her daddy has always called her Fred!



I am sure their are more but I can't think of any!

We Spent the Day with

these girls. Stacy, Rylie and Raegan.

Miss Rylie the princess

Stacy and Rylie eating at Mama Z's

Raegan having her crackers. Look at those beautiful eyes

When we left them, this is where the princess had perched herself!

Coco and I went with the girls above to OOPS. We had a great time. Oops has everything. I bought a new fancy light fixture for Coco's room. I have to paint it and will show you once that is done.

I could have spent a fortune in there. Everything is so cheap. I bought a picture frame, dress up shoes for Rylie, a lion in a cage for Coco, and I can't remember what else.

Our plans were to take them to eat at McDonalds and go to the park in Tontitown. When I saw Mama Z's I started getting the craving for Tontitown spaghetti. Oh and it was yummy. The girls were getting tired so we decided against the park.

We were supposed to go to a fireworks show at Scott's cousins but I am being a sissy. I stayed home while Scott took Coco.

I expect them home any minute because it is raining. I told them there is a 60% chance of rain, but he went anyway.

I have to get going on my Sunday school lesson.

Blessings,

Pam

TA DAAAAAAAAA

The swag I made for Coco's room!

I got this idea from the Nester. She makes awesome swags!

So thank you Nester for the idea.

Her room is teal, hot pink and zebra print. I would show you a picture of it but we just had a tornado hit.

Maybe I can make her clean it up so she can show it on the blog.

I painted a "C" to go on it.

And this little cross. I found it 30% off at Hobby Lobby yesterday!

Have a fabulous weekend!

Blessings

Pam

Here We Go Again

Girl Scout meetings are starting again. Our area is undergoing some major changes. Service units are merging all over the place. Instead of Noark Girl Scout Council we are now Girl Scouts-Diamonds of the Ozarks, Delta and Piney Woods.

That is a mouthful!

They obviously didn't ask my opinion on the name!

Our service unit was merged with 3 others so we are much bigger. I think that is going to be a good thing. Hopefully more opportunities for the girls.

I love being a leader, I just wish all the parents took it more seriously! We can only do so much with 3-4 hours a month!

If you have a girl in Girl Scouts please take the time to get involved with her leader and volunteer to help out. It would mean the world to her leaders and co-leaders.

On a different note. Did any of you hear about the guy that is suing Zondervan and Thomas Nelson Publishing. He is homosexual and blames them for printing in the bible that homosexuality is a sin. And that has caused the world to reject him and his choices.

What is the world coming to? Don't answer I know!

I told Scott about it and first thing he says is "It'll never happen". I want to believe that but then I think about 1 women's actions taking prayer out of our schools. I get so passionate about fighting things like this but then I don't know what to do. Of course I pray but what can I do here on earth to make a difference? Oh, it just gets me all riled up.

I have been working on a cool project that I will show you tomorrow. It is something I copied off the Nester.

Time for bed!
Blessings
Pam

Random

These are some pictures from 4th of July. Coco in the tutu I made for her. Isn't the red,white and blue cute!This is my cousin in law (?) Nancy wearing the tutu. She is so tiny. I hear my mama put it on too! They both need to gain some weight. I'm just sayin, you shouldn't be able to wear little girl clothes in your 40's & 50's! Yes Nancy is not 12!

I love this girl. My cousin Brian met her in Seattle and some how talked her into moving back to Arkansas after they were married. She even says "Ya'll" now. I am so proud of her. :)

This is our Mamie (Scott's grandmother) with Coco watching the fireworks. She is still looking great at 93 years of age. Love her

Not much going on around her lately. Coco has been going to VBS at the Methodist church with a friend. Scott and I seem to be in a rut because we haven't done a thing except lay around for 2 evenings.

I need some perk me up juice or something. I just have no energy, no get up an go.

Oh my gosh I almost forgot! I realized today that chocolate is giving me the migraines and headaches. While I was doing the weight watchers thing, I cut out most sugars and definitely the chocolate. Well yesterday I bought this big bar of Dove chocolate with blueberries. I ate it all between yesterday afternoon and this afternoon.

Yesterday I came home with a migraine coming on. Today after eating more of the Dove bar I started getting another headache.

I had read somewhere that this is a consistent cause of migraines. I am sad.

I am glad to know what is causing it but CHOCOLATE! How am I going to deal with a life without chocolate? I mean I don't eat it all the time but there are days that I NEED a fix. Oh it is a terrible thing. Don't you all feel sorry for me :(

Until tomorrow!

Blessings

Pam

Movie Review

Coco and I went to see Kit Kittredge tonight. This was a great movie.

Abigail Breslin is so talented.

This is a good movie for children and adults.

We have had a quiet day. I stayed home from church this morning. I have had a upset tummy for over a week now. I think it is the penicillin shot that I got for the strep. It has been 10 days now so I hope it goes away soon.

I feel like I did when I was pregnant. No I can't be pregnant. Physically impossible. I had a hysterectomy 1 year ago on July 2nd.

So I laid around all day until about 6 when we decided to go into the movies. While on the way this man was looking at us and pointing at our car so I pulled over and my tire was going flat. I called Scott and he came into town to trade cars with me. I put air in it at the station while we were waiting on him and it is still up. I guess it is a slow leak, hope I don't wake up to it completely flat tomorrow.

Did anyone watch Design Star tonight. Their challenge was doing a room for Sara Evans. I really wanted to see that. It doesn't replay until 1am tonight so I am going to try to find it online.

Have a wonderful week

Blessings,
Pam

Fun Day

We have had a fun filled day. Coco and I slept in til almost 8am. Poor hubby had to work today.

We got up and watched Good Morning America and lazed around.

I made creamy coleslaw to take to Mom's. I didn't use the bagged slaw either. I got out the salad master and shredded my own.

It was pretty yummy if I do say so myself.

On the way to mom's we were listening to the radio and I was jammin out. Here is how the conversation went with Coco.

Me: jammin out with my hands in the air.

Coco: I will never make it as a teenager with you around.

Me: Why? Because I will embarrass you?

Coco: Yes (with a eye roll I'm sure)

Me: Laughter Laughter

Can you believe that child! And she is only 8 years old.

Funny girl!

I had told her there probably wouldn't be any other kids at Mimi's b/c her cousins had went camping and it was mostly Mimi's friends.

We pulled into the drive and there were a lot of cars. Coco says " there is bound to be a kid with all those cars" Lots of laughter again. Sorry baby no kids.

We stayed until almost six and then went to the inlaws to meet Scott.

We visited with everyone for awhile and then started doing the fireworks with Coco and Jack.

Their neighbors were having a big party and started doing some big fireworks so we piled into the truck and like a bunch of rednecks we went and parked on the road to watch their show.
They had some really big ones.

A great day off.

I want to give out a big THANK YOU to all the men and women that fight for our freedom each and everyday!

Night Night
Blessings,
Pam

HAPPY BIRTHDAY USA

Have a safe and happy celebration today!

Snap Crackle Pop

This is what I am hearing tonight.

Lots of fireworks being set off.

I went to Hobby Lobby to get some 4th of July gifts for my secret sister and my mom. Tammy don't tell her. I am taking her something for hosting the cookout.

While I was there I picked up the supplies to make this for Coco's sleepover that we will be having in a couple of weeks. We waited so that her bff would be in town. I think this will be a really easy project. I found it on the Family Fun Magazine website.

I only have 1 more work day this week YEAH! The mortgage business is so slow. I am thankful that I still have a job but it is really boring to set there for 8 hours with little to do. Luckily my boss is very laid back. Tomorrow I will be cutting out the templates for the chair cover and reading the latest Creating keepsakes mag I received in the mail today.

Pop Pop Pop, there they go again. I hope I get to sleep . I thought it was illegal to do this in town!

I will let you know how the chair cover goes.

Latest Project

This is the latest craft I have picked up.

I made the post it note holder and clipboard for our neighbors daughter Haley. I missed her birthday in May so I hope she likes these for her dorm room.

I need to get back to scrapbooking. I am now 2 years behind on my books.

I am at the point that I don't even know where to start.

I also want to get some sewing done. I have been inspired by all the crafty blogs I have found. Now that things have slowed down for a couple of months maybe I can spend time on my wants.

What is your favorite craft projects?

Have a fabulous Wednesday!

Blessings,
Pam