The Granddaughters Room

The Baby's Room

This is the Granddaughters room and the Native American room is for the Grandsons

Another Tree

The Dining Room Tree

As the Clouds Roll By/ Skywatch Friday

Happy Skywatch Friday

Stubbed my little toe trying to get outside to take this from my front porch.

Click on it ...I think it was worth the pain.

Hey Mr. Turkey

From My Neighbor Tom The Turkey

Thanksgiving Humor

A man in Phoenix calls his son in New York the day before Thanksgiving and says,"I hate to ruin your day, but I have to tell you that your mother and I are divorcing; forty-five years of misery is enough."...."Pop, what are you talking about?" the son screams."We can't stand the sight of each other any longer," the father says. "We're sick of each other, and I'm sick of talking about this, so you call your sister in Chicago and tell her."....Frantic, the son calls his sister, who explodes on the phone. "Like hell they're getting divorced," she shouts, "I'll take care of this!"....She calls Phoenix immediately, and screams at her father, "You are NOT getting divorced. Don't do a single thing until I get there. I'm calling my brother back, and we'll both be there tomorrow. Until then, don't do a thing, DO YOU HEAR ME?" and hangs up.....The old man hangs up his phone and turns to his wife. "Okay," he says, "they're coming for Thanksgiving and paying their own way."

Bigger Bird

A lady was picking through the frozen turkeys at the grocery store, but couldn't find one big enough for her family.....She asked the stock boy, "Do these turkeys get any bigger?"The stock boy answered, "No ma'am, they're dead."

Turkey Tongue Twister
The two toed turkey towed twelve times ten talking turtles. How many talking turtles did the two toed turkey tow?

A Few Quotes

An optimist is a person who starts a new diet on Thanksgiving Day.~Irv Kupcinet

Thanksgiving dinners take eighteen hours to prepare. They are consumed in twelve minutes. Half-times take twelve minutes. This is not coincidence.~Erma Bombeck

I love Thanksgiving turkey... it's the only time in Los Angeles that you see natural breasts.~Arnold Schwarzenegger

On Thanksgiving Day we acknowledge our dependence.~William Jennings Bryan

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

It's a GIRL!!!!!!!

AUBREY RAINE WRIGHT

BORN 11- 25- 08

9:20 AM

7 LBS. 8 OZ.

19 3/4 LONG

This Blogger Is A GRANDMA!

I know she will wear out my camera very soon!

Native American Christmas

Because of my Native American roots on my mothers side, one of the bedrooms in my home is decorated with the Native American theme along with the Christmas Trees.
November is also Native American Heritage Month

Spanish Bean Soup

As a child growing up in Tampa Fl. "Spanish Bean Soup and a Cuban Sandwich" was a common meal throughout the community. In the 60's and 70's in school we had many Cuban foods on our lunch tray Spanish Bean Soup, Cuban sandwiches and my one favorite Arroz con Pollo (Chicken and Yellow Rice).The lunch room ladies made all of these so good!
Ybor City ,Tampa is also another place where you can find all of these awesome Cuban foods and also the cigar capital of the world

As the chill was in the air here in Alabama yesterday I thought Oh how nice would a bowl of Spanish Bean Soup .I cooked up a huge crock pot full and let it simmer all day.The house sure smelled good and at supper time it was even better when my son in law told my daughter, "Your Mom just come up with the best soup recipe yet." I had to tell him the origins of soup then asked me to write it down.

This is what I wrote and note I put in lay mans terms for him

1st step

I Large Crock pot

One Package of Chorizo Sausage (you can find this at Walmart in the meat case)

2 cups Cubed Smoked Ham (you can even use left over baked ham)

In a Large skillet on medium brown Chorizo Sausage then put in crock pot

Brown Smoked Ham also put in crock pot

2 nd step

Dice 1 Large Onion

Dice 1 Medium Green Pepper

2 TB. Olive Oil

3 chopped fine Garlic cloves

Add Green Pepper and Onions ingredients to the same skillet you had browned the meat and saute till onions become translucent.Then for about 1 1/2 min. put in the garlic.Do not let it get too dark then Add all to crock pot

3rd step

3 cans of garbanzo beans (do not drain liquid)

1TB.oregano

1 very small pinch Vigo saffron seasoning ( you might be able to find it cheaper in Mexican food store or Mexican section of the grocery store)

2 Bay Leaves

Salt and Pepper to taste

Five to six medium size potatoes cubed small

All this to crock pot

I add water almost to the top of the food line. Stir and cover.Let cook about 6 to 8 hours and stir on occasion.

OH SOOOOOOOO GOOD!!

*Note...As a little girl in Ybor City the music I have on today is what you heard. Now the city is reminiscent of a small Bourbon Street ,New Orleans with all types of sounds

I Have Been Tagged

Counting my blessings that I have been tagged by Suzanne in Colorado Click HERE to see her interesting blog. You will enjoy it.

The rules of this Meme are:

1. Link to the person who tagged you.

2. Post the rules on your blog.

3. Write six random things about yourself.

4. Tag six people at the end of your post and link to them.

5. Let each person know they’ve been tagged and leave a comment on their blog

6. Let the tagger know when your entry is up.

Some of the things about me you may, or may not know "Things that make me go "Yes!" will be my theme

1. At the end of a long day my bed with the feather tic and all the pillows.

2. Drama Free Weeks.

3. My house full of people on Friday Nights.

4. Finishing another painting.

5. A photo that makes me want to paint it ( I have seen so many on Skywatch Friday I just can't decide which one to do)

6.Family coming through my door with no drama!!!! YES!!!!

Now, are you ready? I'm tagging:

1. Sara at Fat,Frumpy and Fifty

2.Patty at Old Lady Lincoln

3. D at Tuscaloosa Daily Photo

4. Janet at Selma , Ala. Daily Photo

5.Denise at An English Girl Rambles

6. Babs at Ramsey Daily Photo

Giving Thanks / Skywatch Friday

Thanksgiving is just a few days away and as I sit under these beautiful trees I wonder ......perhaps the beauty of the trees played into the celebration of Thanksgiving?

I did a little Wikipedia Search and here is what I found.

Thanksgiving, or Thanksgiving Day, is a traditional North American holiday, which is a form of harvest festival. The date and whereabouts of the first Thanksgiving celebration is a topic of modest contention, though the earliest attested Thanksgiving celebration was on September 8 , 1565 in what is now Saint Augustine Florida Despite scholarly research to the contrary, the traditional "first Thanksgiving" is venerated as having occurred at the site of Plymouth Plantation, in 1621.
Today, Thanksgiving is celebrated on the second Monday of October in Canada and on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States.Thanksgiving dinner is done in the evening, usually as a gathering of friends and/or family. At this time you say all your thanks and wishes.

I see there is no mention of fall colors..hmmmmm

What are my own feelings on this ?I am sure that there was a conversation in small talk about this subject. "Oh! Look how pretty the leaves are this fine day!"

Happy Thanksgiving a little early

For More Skywatch Friday Click Here

We need a little Christmas!

A view of our front entrance hall fireplace.The mirror is the original one that has been here for over 100 years.Notice the waves in it? I have been told it is due to the heat over the years.

When I first started this blog a few months ago I took a photo of this mantel in black and white along with a story about a friend being born in this house 70 years ago.We keep in contact through e-mail and he comments there to me about my blog posts.If you are looking Mr. Billy? I am sure you have some Christmas stories that you can share here!

My Dad

Thinking of my Dad this morning . Miles separate us I can still hear him over the phone on his horn when Mom calls.Dad used to be lead trumpet player for big band leader Artie Shaw in the forties.At 86 dad is still playing with The Haywood Community Band in Waynesville N.C.

The photo above was taken with The Frog Level Philharmonic at Frog Level The Whole Bloomin' Thing, May 12, 2007.Thou the music was dixieland band I still love the Big Band sound.As a little girl I would be right with him at practices from South Bend Indiana to Tampa Florida .He was part of the musicians union and when ever a trumpet player was needed he would go.While tagging along with him I met some real interesting people.

"Angels"

This room is our front entrance hall.

The tree theme is "Angels" with many Victorian dolls throughout the room

MUCH MORE TO COME

Ten More Days!!

I had to get this next door neighbors pet on my blog today.
He was showing off by my back fence.

I think his name is Tom!

A little humor from David Letterman

(from David Letterman's Top Ten Lists)

10. Hundreds of volunteers have started to stack sandbags around you.

9. Doctor tells you your weight would be perfect for a man 17 feet tall.

8. You are responsible for a slight but measurable shift in the earth's axis.

7. Right this minute you're laughing up pie on the carpet.

6. You decide to take a little nap and wake up in mid-July.

5. World's fattest man sends you a telegram, warning you to "back off!"

4. CBS tells you to lose weight or else.

3. Getting off your couch requires help from the fire department.

2. Every escalator you step on immediately grinds to a halt.

1. You're sweatin' gravy.

Connie Francis

This is my latest portrait
"Connie Francis"
Last month I was asked to do this for Connie from her web designer.

Thank You Connie for the photo and autograph!

Any Day Now

We are going to be Grandparents any day now!

Praying for my daughter in law

I just pray that I can be to my grandchildren what my grandparents were to me...
Everything and More!!

I found some quotes that I think are great!

There's nothing like having a grandchild to restore faith to heredity. ~Doug Larsen

Perfect love sometimes does not come until the first grandchild. ~Welsh Proverb

The idea that no one is perfect is a view most commonly held by people with no grandchildren. ~Doug Larson

Truth be told, there's nothing better than being a grandparent. All our elders know this and it is evidenced by that twinkle in their eyes. Of course, they know more than they let on—life's secrets have come to them through time, experience, and patience. ~author unknown

"On the seventh day God rested. His grandchildren must have been out of town." ~ Gene Perret

Grandparents, like heroes, are as necessary to a child's growth as vitamins. ~Joyce Allston

My grandkids believe I'm the oldest thing in the world. And after two or three hours with them, I believe it, too. ~Gene Perret

Here Comes The Sun/Skywatch Friday

While on the phone at 6am I had to run out and take a photograph of this.

Here Comes The Sun!

What a great way to start a day!!!

Happy Skywatch Friday

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

The first room that I have started on is my Dining Room.The theme in the room is Oriental with golds, greens and Blue Willow china. This is the fireplace it shares one chimney with 2 other fireplaces.The other fireplaces are in the kitchen and front hall.

Ok .......... Back to decorating

Wine Art

While in Starkville Mississippi this past October I had to stop .The bottles caught my attention.As the morning sun was hitting these I could not resist this shot.

Oh ! How I Love Christmas!

I have ALWAYS loved decorating for Christmas.Some may think I go overboard but in the end it is all worth it. This is a shot of everything up in the attic to be brought down.

Each year that I have been married I have added a tree. I have made up in my mind this year that 25 trees in my home is the limit.Each tree has a different theme.The process takes me about three weeks to finish working at it each day.Not only are there trees but, Nutcracker's, Santa's, Angel's ......There are 5 fireplaces in my home and all decorated with ribbons, garland, candles.....
In days to come I will be posting the process that happens and hopefully I will be able to get this started tomorrow.I try to have all done for Thanksgiving due to the fact that there is so much to put up and I do like to look at all of it for awhile.

Happy Birthday Baby

"Reese's Peanut Butter Cake"

Cake

1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1/2 cup butter, softened
4 eggs 1 (18.25 ounce)
1 butter cake mix
2/3 cup water

Frosting
1 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup butter, softened
4 cups confectioners' sugar
1/3 cup heavy cream
1/2 tsp. vanilla

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease and flour two 9 inch round cake pans. Combine 1/2 cup peanut butter and 1/2 cup butter or margarine . Cream until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at time, mixing well after each one. Add cake mix alternately with the water. Stir until just combined. Pour batter into prepared pans.
Bake at 325 degrees F (165 degrees C) for 25 minutes or until cake tests done. Allow cakes to cool in pan for 10 minutes and then turn out onto a cooling rack to cool completely. Assemble and frost with Peanut Butter Frosting once cool.

To Make Peanut Butter Frosting: Combine 1 cup peanut butter, and 1/2 cup butter or margarine cream and 1'2 tsp. vanilla together until light and fluffy. Add the confectioner's sugar. Mix in enough Heavy cream to make the frosting of a spreading consistency. Apply to cool cake. I also chop some Reeses between layers.

*note.. make your frosting smooth.Make sure you add more heavy cream to make it thin enough..... I added some more

Also use REAL butter..Oh Yummmm

ROLL TIDE ROLL!

SEC West Champions For The First Time Since 1999!

Saban led the top-ranked Crimson Tide to a thrilling 27-21 overtime.

The Crimson Tide wrapped up a spot in the Southeastern Conference championship game, a stunningly quick accomplishment even for a coach of Saban's renown. He took over a proud program that had been mired in mediocrity, and needed only two years to bring it back to the prominence it held under Bear Bryant.

Alabama (10-0)

Country Road / Skywatch Friday

On a country road in North Dallas County, Plantersville Alabama.

Most locals around here call it the "panhandle"

The stillness of the woods could have captured me all day.
I think next time I will take a picnic lunch .
If my son had been with me he would have his fishing pole in his hand.

Happy Skywatch Friday

It's a Bird,... It's a Plane....

IT'S A BUTTERFLY

This little guy was the subject that used on the base of my butterfly.

The Butterfly Project in Selma Alabama
We had fun that day playing make-believe.
"Hey darlin, act like that butterfly is flying over your head"

Kathy Cash Tittle

Kathleen (Kathy) Cash Tittle
born April 16, 1956

to J.R. Cash (Johnny Cash) & Vivian Liberto Cash Distin

Kathy has a website that she gives you a glimpse into the life of being a "Cash".
She shares photo's, memories & family with readers and forum members.

The forum has become a second home to many people on the web including myself with many topics to choose from soup to nuts as the saying goes.

Kathy and I have been virtual friends for over five years now and met this past Oct.The new age pen pal's in a way.I can not describe the person she is in one word so here it goes....

Caring, Loving, Humble,Opinionated,Gives great Guidance, A shoulder to cry on, All the wonderful attributes that a Daughter,Wife, Mother, Grandmother ,Sister and friend can be. I know I have missed more but I am sure that someone else can think of a few more.

Below is the first part to Kathy's bio and other chapters follow.Once you get started you can't put it down.She is an awesome writer and look forward to reading more of her story and other things she has in mind .So sit back and enjoy the read

Part I
I have been on the planet almost 52 years, and am just now starting to figure things out. I was very lucky to be born in the "coolest city" in the USA at the time. 1956 in Memphis Tennessee, "home of the blues and the beginning of Rockabilly" music.
I remember a little about living in a small duplex, listening to my Daddy and his friends playing music on the porch in the hot summer. I remember sleeping with all the windows open because we couldn't buy that new thing called "cold air conditioners".
I assumed everyone's daddy knew people like Rick Nelson, Carl Perkins, and all the other music people. I remember thinking, "I'm sleepy, I wish they'd stop playing instruments and go back to playing cards".
I remember Daddy going to get a big bag of Krystals and bringing them home for a fun "take out dinner". (they were $0.05 a piece then, so a dollar gave us left overs for the next day.)
I remember thinking my Mom's name was "Honey Baby" and other people besides Daddy would call her Viv for a nickname. It sounded funny to me.
I remember Daddy playing with Mama's long black hair and picking her up all the time. I thought everyone's parents held hands and hugged and kissed all the time. I also thought my Mama had the sweetest laugh, and she always laughed more when Daddy was home.
I remember Daddy always putting a little reel to reel player in front of us asking us to tell him a story or sing him a song. He always called me Kathleen. (I never knew "Kathy" was a nickname until I started school.)
I was lucky to be born to two excellent and artistic people. I'm the second child in a family of four girls. I grew up around my paternal grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and loved it.
My Mom taught me manners, the value of belief and faith in a Higher Power, how to take pride in yourself, respect your elders, be a "southern lady" and embrace gardening, flowers, and your artistic power. If you didn't address adults with a "yes Ma'am" or a "No Sir", you were automatically in trouble.
My Mother was also protective, strict and the only disciplinarian in our house. She wouldn't tolerate lying, and if she caught us in a fib we got in twice the trouble we would have if we'd just told the truth and confessed. She let us know that God didn't approve, and she disapproved of it more than He did.
We went to Church every Sunday and unless you had a fever or were really sick, there were no excuses for missing our spot on the front pew.
Daddy loved to toss us into bed at bedtime. it was a nightly ritual and made going to bed fun. We each got our turn on his back. He jumped around and counted to ten. On ten, we'd get tossed onto the bed. Of course, he had to replay it several times with each of us before he got to leave the room, but he giggled as much as we did. He'd tuck us in, kiss us and say, "Night babies, Daddy sure does love you."
Sometimes we'd sing "Hush, Little Baby" or "Pick a Bale of Cotton" acting out all the the parts together. Mama always came in at the end to kiss us and say our prayers with us. Sweet memories.
My Grandma and Grandpa Cash, and most of my Aunts, Uncles and cousins on Daddy's side all lived pretty close. We usually got together on Sunday afternoons and had outdoor picnics at someone's house. If Grandpa felt really close to someone, he'd grant them one of his nicknames (mine was "bugeyes"). I loved my Grandparents. My Grandma always called me "Kath-a-leen". Those picnics and get togethers were so much fun and never complete unless there was a lot of fried chicken and always a huge watermelon or two. My best friends were my sisters and cousins. It was always that way.
The adults would play cards, and have ice fights. Mama was always so tiny, so dad would always manage to get a lot of ice down the back of her shirt and chase her around until he caught her. Then it always ended the same. He picked her up like she was a child, planted a big kiss on her, and carried her around for a while. Mama was shy, so she'd turn 20 shades of red and get embarrassed, but I could tell she loved every minute of it.
Wow...I've barely covered the first 4 years of my life. I promise the rest won't be so wordy and long. Stay tuned for part two.....

For more of Kathy's Bio click HERE

VOTE

Just a little bit of my family history from the book

"Deep Roots II"
Genealogy Of The Sipple Families From 1610-1989

Waitman Sipple mentioned Election day to be the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November
(page5)

I wonder what he would say about early voting?

I had to put on Ray Charles this morning. I just love this song as you can see last month my Butterfly had a segment of this song

VOTE!

Grandma's Chicken and Dumplin's

Grandma made the BEST Chicken and Dumplin's so I thought I would share the recipe.

From Grandma's Hands

For stew:

1 large Cookin Pot
1 whole Chicken
1 large Onion chopped
2 ribs of Celery chopped
2 Carrots chopped
1TB. Parsley
Salt
Pepper
1 tsp. Garlic Powder
2 Bullion Cubes

Enough water to cover the top of everything in the pot.

Let boil till chicken is done then take of of stock pot.
Let cool, debone and add meat back to stock.
Dumplin's:

2 cups sifted of all-purpose flour
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking powder
1 cup of the broth from the pot

Kneed till it becomes stiff .Flour your cutting board and roll out your dough till it is about 1/4 inch thick and cut into squares.

Drop dumplin's in a low boiling pot and cover.Do not stir for 15 minutes.. Stir a little and it should be almost done.

~~~~~~~~~
God Bless You Grandma

Baby It's Cold Outsde

Baby It's Cold Outside

Crisp fall morning peeking out my window to see frost on the ground.

Mom would say put on some socks and keep your feet warm.

Starting a pot of Chicken and Dumplin's and a fresh Pecan Pie

Now...... let me grab one of my quilts find a few good movies and snuggle on the couch today!