Valentine’s Day

I haven’t written anything in a few days…wow!

My Honey made it home this past weekend. He was supposed to be home Friday…but didn’t get in till after lunch on Saturday. At least, he made it home. I think this was the first time in 8 years that he was home for Valentines Day.

On Valentines Day, 8 years ago, He gave me my house. My house is nothing more than a doublewide trailer on an acre of land…but it’s ours and our home. When He gave me the house years ago…he told me not to expect anything for V-day in the years to come…. lol!

This year, I got a heart shaped box of chocolate. How sweet was that? A display of love that is simple but classic. I thoroughly enjoyed the box of chocolates…my diet didn’t though! I let Sassy pick a piece out of the box…wide eyed she looked at everyone (with out touching them). Finally after careful scrutiny, she chose the one she wanted. She bit into it and you could see her savor the bite…you know eyes closed in a world of pure decadence. Next thing you know she popped her eyes open and said that she did good. She wasn’t thinking for herself…but she did good on my part. She got the only strawberry crème in the whole box. My family knows that I absolutely despise the taste of anything strawberry…so she did real good!!  She was proud!

On Saturday, after my Honey got home…we hung out for a bit. I had a girl’s night out planned. One of my friends invited me to a “true romance” party. I had never been to one BUT I can honestly say I had fun…nothing like being in room full of women ranging in age from 20+ to 70 looking at “romance enhancement products”. Like I said, I had fun!

Sunday, we went and had pizza for our V-day dinner. We had an awesome day.

Looking back over the years, I know I fall in love with my Honey over and over…I know many people thought we would not make it this long but we have proved them wrong. The day my Honey met me, he said he was gonna marry me one day. I am still waiting but we have been friends for 17 yrs and together 10 out of those. That means a lot.

We have had our ups and downs over the years BUT we overcame all that…look at us now.

PS…I love you, Bob!!!

The puppy got a new home...

Well, the puppy I brought home the other day got a new home. I am kinda sad but I know she is in a good home. This morning a friend of mine texted me, saying his dog passed away sometime last night or early this morning. I told him that I had a puppy that needed a good home if he was interested in her. I told him I know that it is really soon after "Lil Girl" passed away BUT she would keep him company and all like "Lil Girl". He asked me all kind of questions about the puppy...I told him she was still a puppy, had puppy breath, and was as cute as could be. I sent him a pic of her and he said yes he wanted her. I told him that Sassy done named her...he asked "what? I said the puppy's name is "Kitty". He laughed and thought that was cute and said he would keep that her name since Sassy picked it. 

So, the pup named Kitty is home with her new human. He texted me telling me that he did like her and she was asleep on his lap. I know he will take good care of her and she has lots of acres to run. I am sure she will stay by my friend’s side all the time like “Lil Girl” did.

RIP “Lil Girl”

The Puppy..."

Today, when I went to get Sassy from the bus stop...I stopped to my friend Leann's house like I do every day. She was telling me about this puppy that came across her yard and decided it didn't wanna leave her porch. At first, I didn't see it. Then I did...OMG it is the cutest thing. Well, Leann didn't want another dog and wasn't sure what to do. Me being the sucker for animals that I am took it home. I am not sure if we are gonna keep it though. I told my honey about the puppy....we decided that we would make a decision about her when he got home this weekend. Sassy told him about the puppy....he tried explaining to her, on the phone,  there was a good chance we would look for a good home for her. A little while later, she was over petting the puppy and looked over at me and said that her daddy told her not to get to ATTRACTED to the puppy. All I could do was laugh and  mentioned to her that he probably said ATTACHED...She said "Maybe...but I can't get fall in love with her, in case we find her a home. Anyhow, we keep calling her Puppy. I feel bad for that and think she really needs a name...I have came up with two....the first one is Stella...like from the film "A Streetcar Named Desire". The other name I think would be cool is Kitty. I think it would be soooooo funny for us to holler for Kitty and a dog come runnin'. HERE KITTY KITTY!!!!! LMAO! My honey should be home Friday night or Saturday morning...we will decide then if she has home here...if we keep her we will choose a name then too.

Yesterdays post...

As I was writing about my childhood memories, it brought up a plenitude of other memories. Some good and some bad...some about family members that made their way to Heaven and some that are still alive today. I figure I would write about that here and there, so that I have those memories to pass on to Mimi and Sassy. I know that my life ain't one like those that are famous and have their life published in an autobiography...this is more or less like a memoir of simple girl growing up into who I am today....its my life. I want to write and describe these memories as like the reader can picture their self right there with me. You know a description like the chefs do on the cooking channel....where you really do not need smell-o-vision because you can already taste the finished perfectly executed concoction just by the way it was described and seeing it on TV. I want my kiddos to fully understand ME and why I do and say the things that I do.

Its funny what makes a memory pop up...we take things for granted and forget so much.

My life has had its ups and downs...

Sometimes, I hear a phrase, word or song and it transports me back to my past...

Sometimes, when that happens, I catch myself chuckling a little or even feeling a teardrop fall....

Since, many of the photos from my childhood were lost over the years....all I can do is describe the things I remember to the fullest. 

I started my blog about a month or so ago with all intentions of writing on certain things...BUT I find myself just posting more randomness of my life...

 past, present and future...

So...until I get writers block or my undiagnosed A.D.D kicks in and I lose focus...

I plan on writing about my life...

The Yesterdays, the Today and  the Tomorrows... 

Memories and Folktales....

It never occurred to me that some of the stories I had heard as kid make my kids go "HUH" today...whether its just a phrase or a complete story. This evening, I got to thinking about it because of something I said to Sassy. There are a few things my mom would say to me and few stories my dad would tell, I often say and tell the same things to my kids....so I am fixin' to relate to ya'll some of it and what I found on the internet....


This evening while me and Sassy were eating supper, the sun was setting. The sky was a pale blue with LOTS of pink clouds. Sassy said, "Look how pretty!" I turned, looked and said (without thinking), "Oh Christkindl must be baking cookies!" Sassy said, "HUH?" just like she does every time I say that...

Here is why I said what I did...

My mom was born in Germany and came stateside in her 20's. Granted, she has been in the USA longer than she lived in Germany, she is still is 100% percent German. In my moms eyes, me and my sister are American's and needed to stick with American customs....although she did teach us a tad bit of the customs from her homeland (just not in detail). So, out of the blue some things come out of mouth with out thinking twice about it...here are some examples...


One of the stories, I grew up hearing was that when the sky was streaked with pink clouds Christkindl was baking cookies. I would always ask who was Chriskindl and why was he baking cookies...she would always just say "kinda like your Santa Claus but kinda not"...I guess that answer sufficed me cause I never delved deeper into it til tonight...I searched the internet for Christkindl....

Christkindl (Christ-like) was the replacement of gift giver instead of Saint Nicholas, because of Martin Luther and the Protestant Reformation back in the 1600's. Martin Luther thought that Saint Nicholas took away from the true meaning of Christmas, which was the birth of Jesus. Chriskindl was used more or less as a figure of the Christ Child messenger. Later, Sinterklass was added to help Christkindl. He would go door to door and looking in windows making sure that children were behaving and doing their chores....being naughty or nice. Children would leave their shoes on the doorstep....if they were nice, they would find nuts, candy and small toys in their shoes. If they were naughty they would get rocks and sticks. Hmmmm...that must be why I always get nuts in my stocking, as well as, fruit...and was threatened, that if I was not good I would get coal and switches....anyhow that is how I interpreted it!


The next "HUH?" I get is when I call one of my kids a "Struwwelpeter"... 


When I was a kid, my mom would call me and my sister a Struwwelpeter if our hair was really mussed up...or our appearance in general. I remember...me and my sister would mess up our hair by rubbing it and making it stick up...we would laugh and LAUGH and call each other a Struwwelpeter. To me that is a cool memory since my sister is mentally challenged and has cerebral palsy. It was fun....I do remember asking my mom what a struwwelpeter was...I don't think she ever answered me fully on it...she would just say "it's what you look like right now"...I guess I took it for granted and never really got he full definition. I just looked it up too. I just love the internet....


So, what is a Struwwelpeter, you ask?


Its a character from a story..."Der Struwwelpeter"... that was first publish in 1845 and written by Heinrich Hoffman. Apparently, Mr. Hoffman couldn't find any books that "taught" a child to behave....so he wrote one himself. An English version was translated in 1848. There are a few short stories in the book...


Here is the English translation about Struwwelpeter...

Der Struwwelpeter (Slovenly Peter)

Translation by MARK TWAIN

See this frowsy "cratur" — 

Pah! It's Struwwelpeter! 

On his fingers rusty, 

On his tow-head musty, 

Scissors seldom come; 

Let his talons grow a year, — 

Hardly ever combs his hair, — 

Do any loathe him? Some! 

They hail him "Modern Satyre — 

Disgusting Struwwelpeter." 

Like I mentioned, this is a few short stories...Here is the link to a copy of the book online with illustrations...

click here----> "Der Struwwelpeter" . 

One of my favorite stories or folklore, I heard when I was a kid was told by my dad...and I have told my kids this too...whenever we travel...

The story of Falling Rock...

I remember living in Las Vegas and traveling by car to western NC by car. It was such a LONG trip.....really it was!! Three days in a car SUCKED! 

My dad would tell us the same story on every trip...It would start out as a history lesson in Oklahoma...about the Cherokee and the Trail of Tears. Then as we got closer to the Smoky Mountains....he would tell us the following...

Many, many, MANY moons ago....

There was an indian maiden that was in love with a young brave, he was in love with her too...along with another young brave. The maidens father was the Chief of the tribe. Since, both of the braves were in love with her...the father, in all fairness to both of the braves, devised a plan on how to pick the BEST suitable brave to marry his daughter. He said that the braves were to go on a hunt...and whoever brought back the most would marry his daughter. The braves left to go hunt. The first brave back was the one the maiden didn't love...he brought a substantial amount back. The chief was pleased...the maiden told her father to wait and see if the other brave would come back with more. Days went by...weeks went by....eventually years went by...the maiden was determined to wait for her love...she wanted her brave to come home to her...desperate for him to come home, she posted signs along the highways asking for help in finding her long lost love, Falling Rock. So, to this day you still see the signs...Watch for Falling Rock!!!!

That is the condensed version of how my dad would tell it...he would always have this cheesy grin on as he told the story and go into it with great detail. He kept our attention with it each and every time he told it. My kids, like me back in the day, giggle every time they see a "Falling Rock" sign. 

disclaimer...all of the images (but one) on this post were googled...I forgot to get the details to whom they belong to...i do apologize for not being able to give credit to those they belong to.

Tea Party

Yesterday, Sassy asked me if we could have a tea party...

I had to much to do, so I told her we would have one today.

She got her tea party stuff out...

it stays in the original packaging to keep from being broke. 

This is the tea set she received from a friend of ours for Christmas.

She got one of her old baby blankets out for a table cloth...

She set everything out on the coffee table...

We then had some fun in the kitchen for out not so traditional tea party.

I had in the freezer some of those $1.00 cheese pizzas...

I got 2 out and we added some pineapples and ham and a lot of extra mozzarella....we even made some peanut butter cookies (refrigerated cookie dough kind)....

The pizzas smelled YUMMY!!!!!!!!!

So did the cookies!!!!!

I cut the pizzas up into little itty bitty pizza slices...

She served us on the little bitty plates...

We had milk instead of tea...

We chatted and laughed....

We held our pinkies up with class! 

Sassy said that was the BEST tea party ever!!!

I must admit...I AGREE!!!!

where to go????

I just finished our taxes this afternoon....

WOOOOOOHHHHOOOOOO

So, after we pay off some bills...we actually have a little extra to frivolously spend...

YAY!!!!!

We have decided to take a mini vacation, since the last vacation we have been on was to New Orleans a few months before Hurricane Katrina hit with such devastation. 

With my honey being a trucker, he has seen every state in the USA. So our choices are quite limited. 

MY suggestion was to drive down to Disneyworld on a Friday and then hit the park on Saturday and Drive home on Sunday....

We had also thought about going to Destin, Fla...

My honey and I really need some R&R so that really don't suit us either...

After us discussing what we really wanted...we feel we just want something were we can chillax...

Somewhere that has beautiful scenery...

with some kind of attractions.

We have decided to go to Helen, GA.

Wikipedia (not my favorite source of info but described it the best) had the following description...

Formerly a logging town that was in decline, the city resurrected itself by becoming a replica of a Bavarian alpine town, in the Appalachian mountains instead of the Alps. This design is mandated through zoning, so that the classic south-German style is present on every building.

Choosing this destination is right up our alley...

I know I will never go to Germany to see my heritage, although, I am so fascinated by it.

I listened to my moms stories about her homeland and I'm curious. This destination with the Bavarian culture is as close as I will get to actually going to visit anything to do with my heritage. I want Sassy to see the culture of her heritage too. I hope when she gets old enough to be on her own, she can travel far and wide. This is a small step toward her lifetime of travels. My German heritage is only half of me...the other half of me is Appalachian. How much better than this mini vacation get? One place that has my German side and my hillbilly side wrapped up in one....that is sooooo cool. 

The other reason, we chose this place is because my Honey grew up in Germany. He was an Army brat and his dad was stationed there. He talks about his life in Germany and I know he would like to visit again. This gives him a taste of Germany only stateside.

I researched places to stay...there are many cabins nestled in the woods just minutes from Helen, GA. 

There are many attractions around that area and photographic opportunities.

One of the attractions, I want to visit is the Cabbage Patch Doll Babyland Hospital. 

Cheesy...yeah I know.....

But I think Sassy will have a blast there since she is only 8...

Oh goodness... I am excited.

Oh and the other cool thing is...I will have my new DSLR camera by the time we get to go....

Oh I can't wait to take photos...

and that means Sassy can use the point and shoot...

I love looking a photos from her point of view!

The Sound of Freedom...

The Sound of Freedom comes late at night, during the day and the wee hours of the morning....

I am proud that we have a military....

I am proud that I am a military brat....

I am proud of the friends and family that are in the military...

I am proud to say I am family and friends that have fought in the wars...

Whether or not, I believe in reason of the war, I am proud that they are defending my freedoms.

BUT the Sounds of Freedom have been overwhelming the past few days...

You might be wondering how I know the sounds of Freedom?  I hear the soldiers stationed at Fort Benning, GA training.... 

You would think, I would be used to it by now. 

The past few days, the helicopters and artillery have been soooooooooooo loud.

We are being awoken at night by it...

My windows shake and rattle....

The booms are so loud at times that I 'bout jump out of my skin....much louder than a sonic boom....and more frequent than a sonic boom!

My dogs keep barking at the noise....

the neighbors dogs are barking all night long because of it...

I moved to Georgia in 2001...

I live about 35-40 miles from Ft. Benning...

The post is home to the United States Army Infantry School as well as the Army's airborne (parachuting) school. 

My moms, first husband was stationed here, before he was killed in Vietnam. 

RIP Sgt. Richard Bishop

 CO, 2ND BN, 8TH CAVALRY, 1ST CAV DIV, USARV
Army of the United States
August 03, 1938 to October 01, 1966

Fort Benning was where my mom met my dad...

He was stationed here...he fought 2 tours in Vietnam and received a Purple heart...and then later on went to the Air Force, where he worked on jets like the F-111 and the F-16. 

My Honey's dad was stationed here before he retired...

He fought in Vietnam and Desert Storm. He has battle scars and a Purple Heart.

He was a Bradley instructor....

He was also an Army recruiter...

This is my home...although I really wish it would be quiet and my sleep would not be interrupted...

I AM PROUD OF THE MILITARY and ALL THAT THEY DO!

My sleepless nights because of the noise is a small price to pay considering all the lives that have been lost over the years due to wars...I know those casualties and their families would much rather endure the noise instead of the outcome they received. I feel sooooo selfish whining about the noise....and must remind myself of the noise that soldiers hear while deployed to a foreign land is far worse. The noise keeps it real, that there really is a war going on and that my freedom is being defended! 

God bless those SOLDIERS that are fighting in the lands far away! 

God bless those families that have lost their loved ones!

My BFF's...

I have more than one BFF but love them all the same....each have different personalities and help me in so many different ways.....

Today, I got to spent the day with my BFF Tika...

She is awesome and always lifts me up....

She is beautiful...

She is caring...

She is one of a kind...

And best of all she is my best friend!

I am thankful that God put her in my life!

TIKA, I LOVE YA GIRL!!!

Dreary day in the trailerhood....

Its soooooo dreary outside today......its gray and a misting rain. 

we need some color...

LIKE A PRETTY BLUE SKY!!!

Days like this are sucky because I have no motivation to anything.

I have held the sofa down most of the day....TV is actually quite boring today.

I did manage to make my bed and vacuum...

I cannot wait for spring to get here....the green grass, blooming flowers and SUNSHINE with warm temperatures. 

I am thankful I live in the south where we don't get a lot of nasty cold weather and usually have mild temps...I really don't think I could deal with SNOW and it being super cold everyday. 

Shoot, we really don't even need heavy winter jackets here. My daughter has one that her grandma in Wisconsin sent to her for the days that its extremely cold. Those heavy jackets are hard to find down here. 

I haven't even figured out what to fix for dinner this evening...thats how unmotivated I am. 

Looks like Chef Boyardee is gonna be my friend this evening.

Super easy and the TV commercial claims it has vegetables in it....