Day 15 - Another Day

This past week has been great. Not too hot and not too cold - just right. It makes sitting on the deck enjoyable. Sat. Cassidy decided that my fountain needed a couple of additions - one was a frog and the other a fish (not real of course). They do add to the looks. It seems like Monday always brings too much to do in too little time. It's almost like it multilpied over the weekend. Nothing exciting going on so I will close for today.

Day 14 - Events

These can be happy and sad ones. Events can be like changes; some we don't mind and some we do. I had planned on going to the car races in Medford Saturday but didn't get too. So Cassidy and I went and saw Toy Story 3 in 3D. It was even better because we saw it in digital 3D, which is better than regular 3D. It cost more to. Then I let Cassidy pick where we went for lunch. For me the event of racing had to be put on the back burner and replaced with something else. I wish I could have gone to the races but events change. Cassidy got to decorate her first cake, which we had a small piece after dinner last night. I have to bake my class cake today for Tuesday. I manage to do my arm up good yesterday when I tore it open on a stick that I didn't see. Looks like I been thru a war. My battle scars of yard work. Hauled lots of bark dust and makes all the changes of events to feel better. Had a great church service today so am ready for the rest of the week.

Day 13 - Goof Up

I was so busy in my back yard and with Cassidy that I missed doing one for Sat. - so Sat. day 13 is going to be "day off".

Day 12 - Hobbies

I am a person of several hobbies. I did do some scrapbooking. I need to get another album for book 4 of my pets. It is still relaxing and enjoyable. My outdoors likeing is my yard and working in it. I just spent this afternoon shoveling, hauling and spreading barkdust. I think I still have 99.99% of my 1 unit left to do. Of course, my newest one is cake decorating. I look at all the different things I can do and learn. I plan to take some special classes for sugar flowers and molding chocolate. Enough of that. Maybe someday, in my dreams,I will be able to make some extra money and sell some orders. That would be fun. Today is really short since I am a dull person.

Day 11 - Crazy Mixed-Up Day

Today has been a day from crazyville. Spent lots of time on the phone for some answers and all I got was "nothing". Looking forward to getting home to use my new "Air Climber" that I just got yesterday. It will take some getting use to but I really like it. Since it works on using air it doesn't sound like it would do very much but it does. They say when you first begin do it only 5 minutes at a time and I can tell you even that is hard. After only a couple of minutes I am panting. 500 steps on it burned 74 calories. Next Tuesday is my final for this series of cake decorating classes when we learn how to places flowers correctly and to do basket weave on it. I plan to make a butter cream poppy seed cake with a lemon filling. Plan to decorate it with daffodil's and lillie's. Will post a picture next week on how it turns out. Guess what - I have not missed a day of the challenage.

Day 10 - Kindness

The word kindness can have several meanings. Webster defines it as the quality of being kind; good will or a kind act; a favor. It is an inner feeling of warmth when you can offer help to someone who really needs it. It doesn't take lots of dollars and sometimes it only means listening. When there is a rejection hurt it can just mean a shoulder to cry on and not be judged or degraded for what has happened. Offering support or uplifting words can do a lot of tearing down walls and building up a spirit. Today has been that kind of day for me and I am glad that I have been given that opportunity. Today is short and sweet. Have a blessed day.

Day 9 - The Past

I was going through some old pictures looking for some for Tammy when I came across a page from my old autography book that my mom had written. When I read it it made me cry. It wasn't special but the words were special. It brought back memories of when she wrote it in my younger days. You don't realize how much you will miss someone until they are gone. I still think about calling her then I have to tell myself "I can't". I don't have any elderly (I won't use old) poems. I think my favorite poem is written by James Herriot which he also used as titles to some of his books. "All creatures great and small; All things bright and beautiful; All things wise and wonderful; The Lord God made them all". I think that says everything.

Day 8 - Cake Day

Here is the latest creation. My roses were not set enough so didn't get to put them on.
This is a single layer red velvet with coconut cream filling. I keep trying new combinations to see what goes together the best. Red velvet with raspberry is real good. Another good one is poppy seed lemon cake. My next big project will be a race car sculptured cake. That will be a challenge but still fun to try. I am having lots of fun trying new things. I hope to take some special classes or demos on making flowers and molding chocolate. The flower class will also work with accent painting to make them look real. It takes lots of practice and I need lots of that. I think I get my baking from my Mom. She was a great cook and could make anything. She would take something someone made and be able to figure out what ingrediations they used. I wish I could cook half as good as she did. I do spend time watching Cake Boss to get ideas from and to see how they do things. Enough from the beginner cake lady.

Day 7 My Day

I had Cassidy yesterday and she helped me in the yard. She spent the night and went to Sunday School this morning. I will be taking her home in a few minutes to spend the day with her dad. I had a wonderful service this morning on Jonah and, like him, how many times do I have to be hit in the head before I do what God wants me to. It makes me realize how blessed I am to have my family and friends around me. I know that God is always there for me and will never leave me and for that I am thankful. This afternoon will be spent doing nothing special but enjoying every minute of it. I will get the pictures taken today so Tammy can help me to post them tomorrow on Day 8 - Cake day. Be prepared. Have a great day and embrace your loved ones and thanks God for each and everyone of them.

Day 6 Nothing Special

Today Jessie suggested embarrasing moments. My only problem with that is that I would need a lot of pages to write all of them; and yet maybe no room is needed-since I try to forget them. I just came from a special class on how to make fondant and gum paste from scratch. It seems that this day and age everyone is in such a hurry they don't make anything that doesn't come from a box or is for the microwave. I have so much fun taking my cake decorating classes that one of these days I will post my first cake I did for class and then as I have improved. I still have one course left to take which will be decorading with the fondant. Today's post is kind of a nothing special but yet everyday is special when you can look forward to it. I did just that this morning when I go up. First I had my class then I am going to make a practice cake using everything I have learned so far in my classes. It should really look like a sight. My biggest challenage is getting my roses to look like they are alive and fresh. So far mine look sick and ready for the garbage. One of these days I will have it done right. Keep your fingers crossed for me. I always say that everyday can be a learning experience and we are never too old to learn. I am a living example of that. Smile and enjoy today.

Day 5 New Beginnings

Every spring-summer there are new beginnings. Warm weather starts new life pushing its sprout thru the ground to welcome the sunshine. Trees begin to show tiny green buds which in time will produce shade for birds and people to enjoy. It is very interesting to watch a plant sprout and slowly get taller and start to open up. Creation is a mystery that only God could create with His loving hands. Every tree is different -just like people. When you drive down Kuebler and really look at the trees you can find branches, leaves, color and height all vary from one to the next. My sadness in people is that too many don't have love or respect for nature (animals or plants) that were created for us to enjoy. We don't think about the fact that someday they will be gone. They are not an endless supply. Watching a butterfly spread its wings and soar is amazing. The colors that each have and the designs are as different as night and day. I have a tree in my back yard that when evening comes it closes it leaves as if to go to sleep and then opens them at daylight. It welcomes me with another day and seem to say "give thanks and enjoy it". Seeing the fuzzy new ducklings waddle behind their mom is a reason to laugh out loud. Look for something good in every day and tell youself each morning that "I will have a good day" and believe it---it will happen.

Day 4 Reflections

There are may kinds of reflections, good and bad, and they come in may ways. Our complex minds can take us any place we want to go either real or imaginary. I was watching a squirrel scamper around in my back yard and it brought back memories of how active my kids were when they were younger and always on the go. I find the most enjoyable time is setting on my deck and listening to the water bubbling in the pond and just watching the breeze blow thru the branches on the trees. Add to that some soft music and it can transform any day into a day of wonder. Reflecting back on things that I did when mom was still here can bring laughter and tears of joy. Thinking of how proud I think she is of what I have done in and with my life bring peace and contentment. I don't like to reflect on the bad except to remind myself that they were learning experiences. Yesterday when I posted my pictures make me reflect on the past and what it meant to me. As I mentioned, I still have "Scottie" and can look at it and my mind travels back in time to what him and I have gone through and how I use to dress him up in my doll clothes. As I was going through some old photos, they were like turning on a light switch as to what the past holds in my heart. I can recall many memories and someday my children, grandkids and great grandkids will be able to reflect on their past and enjoy what they are able to feel and re-live in their memories. Time will keep things changing and so it makes it important for us to spend quiet time just reflecting on the past because once it is gone - it is gone.....

Day 3 Yesteryear Memories

Memories of yesteryear. This is my brother our dog and something I still have to this day. The white stuffed dog is "Scottie". I received him on my 1st birthday and now he is very worn and falling apart but still holds lots of memories for me. His age is "old" but just as needed today as then.

This is the memory of a first purchase of my pride and joy car. It cost me a whole $150. Not a bad price compared to todays cars. Back then in 1962 I was allowed to own a car when I could pay for it, insure it and maintain it. It took lots of work and getting around by bus to save enough to be permitted to buy it. I was living at home and paying rent of $50 a month. You can bet that is was not new but I didn't care - I fell in love with it the first time I saw it. My step-dad went with me to check out cars and he was picky but I have to admit he liked this one and agreeded that I could buy it. That was a "big" wad of cash that I gave them to pay for it. It was every cent I had saved. The best part was that it was mine and I earned it. I can remember that it got lots of TLC and treated with kid gloves. I don't think you ever forget your first car or any other first.

Day 2

This starts day 2 of my change to see how interesting I can be. My days start pretty much the same everyday - cat kisses and a dog seeking his fair share of my attention. Tonight will be my class on cake decorating working with fondant and gum paste. I have a new machine that cuts gum paste designs for cake. I am looking forward to using my skills to make special cakes from birthday's to weddings. Casssidy has decided that for her 13th birthday she wants me to make her cake to look like our race car. That will be a challenge but also fun. At least I have until April to get a little more practice before then. I got the thrill of watching 4 squirrels romp and jump around in my back yard this morning. They went from tree to tree and then chaseing each other across the yard. I wish I could have been able to get a picture of them but as soon as I opened the door they would run away. Maybe one of these days I will be able to catch a good shot. They enjoy the fact that I got my yard mowed. I enjoy listening to my wind chimes and hearing the breeze in the trees and watching the squirrels play. I also saw my first Red Brested Robin in my yard this morning looking for worms. A sure sign that summer is knocking of the door. Enough for today - time to go to work (darn). Stay tuned for the next chapter of the exciting life of Barbara.

This grandma is taking Jessie upon her challenage to blog everyday. I am not too good at this new technology stuff but will learn something new. I spent Saturday working on mowing my back yard of the foot high weeds. I enjoy working in my yard and so aches and all I don't mind when I see the results. I plan to do more to make my yard look better and less work to take of it. The nice day was perfect to get my deck ready for summer and hang my wind chimes. The breeze was co-operative and with the gentle breeze it make lots of soothing sounds with the chimes. I even got my fountain filled and bubbling like it should. Put these together make a relaxing time for lunch outside. I went to early church on Sunday and then went to check out a couple of tent trailers for sale. I want to be able to do more camping this summer and since my dog (Judas) is a bed hog I thought about something besides the back of my van.