A Year in Review

Another Year

Here we are at the end of 2011!! Where did the year go?? It has been said the older you get the faster the years go by...I,so, agree on this one!!

This must have been a busy year, as I can't remember what all took place!! I know we went to Hilton Head for a vacation, bought a time share, haven't used it since!! I know we made several trips to Williamsburg to visit my aunt and uncle and glad we did, since he passed away in May. I had an aunt to pass away in November. The older we get the more we face death in the face.

I am grateful for a year without a biopsy or a surgery!! I am not saying I didn't have doctors visits, tests, and lots of other things, but no cancer reports!! That makes for a great year!!

We made a trip back to Ohio this year, to attend a funeral of a dear friend, Hokie alumni, and, most importantly, brother in Christ. It was good to see our Ohio friends, spend some time with them, and remember why I miss them!!

As I look back at 2011 and forward to 2012, I am most thankful for God's continuing presence in my life. I pray I can serve Him more faithfully in the New Year..

So to all my "Ole Acquaintances", you will not be forgotten!! Pray all of you have a wonderful, blessed, and healthy New Year!!

Another Birthday

Well another birthday has come and gone..wheww..glad that is over!! No, really I am blessed with another birthday! Went to Montano's for lunch with Aaron and Donnie on Wed., lunch with Allison and Donnie on Thursday, then she and I went to a chick flick!! I had lots of birthday wishes on facebook, and email card, phone calls,birthday cards in the MAIL, so yes I am blessed..Cancer free for almost 20 months..Cake is from Roanoke Relay for Life....

Remodels

FALL

I cannot believe it has been since April that I have posted!! Well, maybe I can. Where does the time go???? Life just keeps on keeping on, I guess.
So, what has happened in the last 4 months. I doubt I can remember!! Back from vacation and on with life.

We(Donnie) have doing some changes in our house. We added granite counter tops and glass tile backsplash to our kitchen. Marble sinks and counters to our bedrooms, fresh paint in master bath and kitchen. I always think I like changes, but when they happen, will I have to get used to them!! I have decided it is about the finished projects for me, not the almost done ones!! However, I do like them!! :-)

I love fall of the year, it is my favorite!! The beautiful colors, the cooler weather, THANK GOODNESS, fresh apples, apple butter, soups, COLLEGE FOOTBALL, are some of the things I love!! I made crock pot apple butter last year, and really liked it. I hope to go back on Bent Mountain and get more apples this year and do it again. I also, froze some for frying apples too. This summer I made frozen strawberry jam, froze some peaches and blueberrie. We also enjoyed several blueberry and peach cobblers!! We had a few things planted in our nephews garden. So, I froze zucchini, yellow squash, and some okra a Sunday School class member shared. We had lots of delicious tomatoes, and Donnie's Aunt Katherine canned tomatoes for us! I am looking forward to some soup and chili this winter!! I made an old but delicious recipe of zucchini cornbread. I think that will be on a winter menu too. I really don't enjoy cooking, but I do love to use my crock pot!! For you facebook fans, there is a new page I liked called Crock Pot Girls, it has recipes on it and I have copied a couple and emailed to myself.

A year has past since my Dad died, and it seems like yesterday. Mom and I visited his grave yesterday and she had fixed a beautiful fall arrangement. We shed a few tears then we went shopping and out to lunch. Retail therapy at its best!! A new Kirklands opened and I picked up a couple of new things for my newly done rooms. I saw some other things I might have to go back and purchase!!

I am thankful for a healthy summer. All my semi and annual test have been done and all are great. Donnie has had carpal tunnel surgery on one hand and will have the other hand done in Sept. He did really well, I just think he tries a little too hard to do things he probably shouldn't be doing. I guess the test will be when he does his right hand.

Don't know if we will get another vacation in this year, but we are heading to Richmond for Travis', my nephew, wedding in Oct. Then we are spending a few days in the OUTER BANKS, if Irene has left us a place to stay!!!

So, that is the reason I don't blog much...life is boring and normal!! But I am so blessed!!

MONDAY

Donnie played golf. I stayed by the pool for a while..didn't want to get burned...out to dinner...best part of vacation!!!

SUNDAY MORNING

Having coffee on the balcony....note the Spanish Moss in the trees..NOT my favorite thing...

V A C A T I O N

Donnie and I are on Hilton Head Island in SC for the week. Looking forward to some rest!! Not that I don't rest at home..but you know..no cleaning, little cooking, little laundry and NO DOG!! That is what I am talking about...Lucy is staying at Pet Paradise...how bad can that be!! And she will be bathed, groomed and hopefully tired when we pick her up!! LOL

Hi Neva!! I know you are the only who looks at this now!! LOL!! Hope you are doing well and had a great time at Nita's and Jon's with Aubrey being home!! Love to all!!

Rain, rain, and more rain.

I think we might be in the rainy season in VA! We were cheated out of snow this winter and we need the moisture. However, we would also like to have some of this rain later in the spring, in the heat of summer, and all not in March. At least it isn't a cold rain. The temperature today is around 55 degrees. I like rainy days, IF I can stay home! You can't see the dust on the furniture, but the dog gets wet when she goes out, and that doesn't make me a happy person!! But tomorrow when the sunshines again, paw prints on the tile, dust on the furniture,it will all be seen again. So, I think I will just enjoy the rainy day, read some, watch some cooking shows, play on the computer, cook some fresh green beans and some pinto beans.

The sound of the rain is making me sleepy..and I am not a napper!!

Hope you have some sunshine moments in your day..I know I will!!

ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY

Tomorrow, February 26, will be one year since my last radiation treatment. So, I am celebrating one year as a breast cancer survivor! I still see a doctor every 3 months and have a mammogram every 6 months, but that is nothing. I am so thankful God has brought me so far in my 60 years of life. And I know He will never leave me! Praise Him!!

And for celebration I colored my hair! No one really noticed so it isn't so different I guess, but the gray is gone! So that is a good thing too..I think, unless I decide to let it grow out..hmmmm.

We are having beautiful spring weather now, but we are getting the March winds too! Wonder what April and May will bring??

The Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY
Outside my window... it is sunny, windy and 32 degrees
I am thinking...I wish I could remember how to do this!!!
I am thankful for...people who love me and support me
From the kitchen...probably going to make a meatloaf tonight.
I am wearing...jeans and a black top...I really need to go put on some socks!!
I am going...no where today...
I am reading...Catherine Coulters' KNOCK OUT
I am hearing...the TV...Donnie flipping through channels
Around the house...I have so many closets to clean out and clothes to give away!
One of my favorite things...my sister is coming to visit this weekend!!

New Year....

Well, here I sit again in front of my laptop, playing with my blog!! Some things never change! This year though already going by fast, seems at a slower pace. Since we never know what one day to the next might bring us, we need to appreciate every day as truly a gift from God. Life is precious and we need to enjoy the days, don't rush the seasons but enjoy every phase of our life. May your days be blessed!