Great Nephew turning one

Little Boy Blue had a full day. Gratefully it was a bit overcast. Look who is walking. Sweet baby walked with my niece (from an elder brother) and I. Grandma (my sister) really out did herself! Goodness what a fiesta. My BIL in the black left in photo is a great guy. Wonderful to be with.

These are my kids second cousins. The girl on the left is half sister by on mother and center child is half sister by a different mother. My great nephew of 7 year old is there half brother.  Gets muddy but a year before the father of my 1 year old and the 7 year old is same he passed away last year. Just days after baby blue was conceived.

Oh all please cover the girl in center please please. This child needs all the covering she can get. Many hope to make effort to gain guardianship for the mom is drugging and the moms third mate was just sent to prison again. She was mother to my 7 year old nephew, at Although a horrible end to a mans future a God send to this little girl. She is the sister to my 7 year old Great nephew. The two of them live a hell daily. It is so terrible. Pray for their mother also. If this young woman's life could turn if would be the greatest thing.

Dash loves babies. So does the whole of the young women. This is a different half brother to my nephew that is 7. We will call him d. . D is a great little kid who has suffered so much. All of these kids are.. It is a tragedy to behold I'll tell you.
This my sister when asked how many grand kids she has she said three and three extras as a bonus. Her daughter also has a one year old.
My goodness my knee was really swollen in the heat. YES heat! 101 today in a semi shaded park. Letting the mister spray me helped but my Beloved suffered the heat. He is not able to be in the sun and has to cover up including a brimmed hat. He was so toasted. This poor baby was too. Dousing him with cool water I tried to cool him. It was just too hot!

Kids had a ball! They love seeing the cousins. These are the only relatives they really ever have contact. And though to me they are all Great nephews and nieces it makes no matter. That is the effects of late life adoption, or child birth for that matter.

We came home to hot kids to shower, imagine the sand in my tubs. Steve mowed the lawn and I cleaned the chicken coop. We got together and did a bit of compost relocating. The garden will be seeded very soon.
Dove is getting so tall. Dash as well. The cousins have a terribly devoid life. Absent of security, abuse of mind spirit and body. It is a real killer I'll tell you my sister is shattered and goes far and above to keep the siblings in contact. The social set of folk many have relation or interaction with convicts of one form or another. Needless to say our attendance was for my sister, great nephew and the other children. A few of the other attendees were there likewise in support of my sister.

I am officially the mother of a teenager!

and I am blessed...
to be continued.

Happy 12th Birthday my gentle Dove

Dove was celebrated today
Not her actual birthday but as close as we could accomplish it and keep up with all the weekend events...
We four went to a morning movie (gotta love those matinee prices)
It was so fun!
Ice Age 3

Afterward we went for an errand to Target we had a half an hour to use up and napkins to get. She noticed the fourth of July napkins and I wanted to get her napkins that were special. They had run out of them so I got some blue napkins

Mc Donald's was next stop where we met up with Her Aunt (my sister) and the Grand Parents for a lunch. We were also thrilled to have my BILove join us after he had helped a friend fix a head light on a motorcycle. It was nice to all be together.

Steve and I dashed back to the house and the kids were in tow of the Elders.
So we made a few mad dash last efforts and wrapped the gifts.

She really enjoyed herself as well as all of us I believe.

gentle and thrilled with her cake

She was so happy with Dash's present and that just made him so happy.

We got a DVD of a Jonas Brother Concert and after the party we all sat together and watched it.
It was pretty good. The music was alright of course I grew on on rock and roll.

Dove received a purse from the Folks

A framed photo print of "Nick"

Auntie gave her a pillow that she was so very thrilled to have.
Auntie even concidered the Dash Man and gave him a Lego building toy to make. He had it finished and about 15 minutes he just sucks that sort of thing up like a sponge.
I thought that was so sweet of her to do.

Now the folks awaited the last moment and last gift and gave her a comforter.
This a VERY generous gift.
She was in Jonas heaven!
Oh these pre-teen years are so cute!

We all were still full of our lunch so cake and well wishes
She wanted the face of Nick

I let her light the candles as a right of passage
Now look at the agony!
Oh mom don't cut him...
It was then that it was pointed out that I forgot the 'e' on you're opps...

She did not eat her cake!
It was just too upsetting for her...
:)

After all was done and the guest departed we all sat together to watch the concert.

Half way through I fell asleep on the sofa only to awake as it was ending.
The fun had caught up with me...
Hahaha

So now I will rest this evening out.

I posted a tutorial photo post on a
Place To Create.

Home made fondant, it will get words another day...

Mom and Daughter time

Dear Mrs Annette
thank you so much for the gift card I spent it on a big book all about the jonas brothers and I bot some candy and I got a bakugan and I got a lip on Dr. Peper so thank you for the gift card and I had fun time with my mom.

Dove.

Thank you Annette

Some days it is so hot that a simple trip to the post is well not fun...
So When Annette asked me of the arrival of a card of kind words and a gift card of monetary value for dove I was really touched. I thought I might share my response and what Dove had to say too.


I'll put my shoes on and go check the mail box on the corner.
It is here I got back to Dove in bed...curious she over looked it sitting there on the table at first...then I told her I am Mrs. U., you are Miss U. then she got it and jumped up and down so excited! She asked if she could write to you...

she writes

thank you so much I love it so much I will tell you what I will get with it


Thank you for bringing such excitement and joy to my sweet daughter.
She is squealing with glee!

I hope your hand is doing alright tonight and not throbbing.
So sorry to hear about hand

Thank you sweetie!
How fun that was for me just now to see her so very happy and giddy.
She wants to go to the store tomorrow. She came back and asked pensively....I don't want to spend it on Boccogan mom is that alright? (that is the popular toy at the house right now) I said to her that it is her money to spend as she wishes.

REALLY!?

Yes it is yours....

*GLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *
to cute!

my heart is full from that sweet innocent beauty I just witnessed.
Loving you with a grateful heart!
Donetta
your friend

The hanging of the cieling pot rack.

Hello!
Seventeen days ago I was given this pot rack for my birthday.

How I have longed for this now for some 15? years or so.
Many years ago I had a dream for the type of pans the professionals use.

The handsome fellow was so fortunate to locate studs to screw directly into.
He sunk pilot holes and then it bite into wood sound on all four corners.
(so no one gets killed)

We found this rack for 50% off that night he and the kids took me to the Hobby Lobby store.
I love this rack!
Without the big discount I doubt I would have gotten it.
We had been talking about the need to do something for my back.

My pans are very heavy.
They are hard anodized aluminum.

I had learned about the best tool for the trade.
Early on in our marriage I researched it out.
We think of tools this way.
Save up for it buy it once...
So years into our marriage I had used those newlywed pans up they were spent.
During that time a very big fancy store closed down.
I had been watching for the closure and took a visit.

These pots and pans were obtained I think it was 75-80% off!
They are so awesome and think of it they are at this point at least 15 years old.
Over time I would find one at an outlet or at a TJ Max , Never have I had to pay full price though.
It is the desire of the God I love too bless me.
Yes I had to wait.
Time is a flash.
I did not suffer with out.

Well if you know me , you know that I make use of my kitchen tools!
Like every day pots and pans are working.
As you can tell I need to set to some steal wool and barkeepers friend.

My back has been a bother because I can no longer bend my right knee properly.
The shrinking of the lower lumbar space is not much help with that either.
It has been getting so hard to get down to retrieve the pans of late.
I wind up on my butt on the floor to get a pan out of the cupboard.
Then to get up ....
Well it isn't pretty :)
Humbling and at times embarrassing.

I feel wind set to sail for I truly have been discouraged by days end to pull a pan to cook with.

That night we got the corner brackets and the head scroll too.
This is in the fond memory of the old house we had for 16 years.

I can not find a more resent picture this was when we first moved into it.
This was our second home.
We had been married 4 years by then. We lived there the longest I had ever lived in one place in my life.
We sold it when the casino was to move in my it.
It was the nicest house on the block when we sold it. A man from Russia bought it at first sight.
He later got a visit from me when we got Dash home from Russia.
I told Peter H. that this is why our heart was to sell, and that he helped to make it possible.
He wept.
It was so beat up at that time. Later we had those black iron brackets above the door way too.
Steve and I roofed that roof with our own hands. I looked like "Popeye the Sailor Man". One forearm got very built up from slinging that roofing hammer. Those times were so good. We love working together.

Living life to the top! Week end in review

I do not much remember Friday...
Dove and I took a trip to Costco and I found a new swim suit and got the cup cakes for her.

How can so much life fit into two days?
Cupcakes were purchased and we were all set to be off by 8:45 to the rink.
Of course like all party days a little stress was had, moments before the exit.
I keep forgetting to take my medications.
Then many hours later by ill effect we realize what is happening.
Of all things to forget!
I grabbed them and took them at the rink "thank goodness"!

Our party had been given favor to have a free lesson before the skate. Now I went to great efforts to accomplish this for the kids with timing and all.
I had to all but twist the arms to get them to participate.
Dash would not, he skates like a mad man run a muck. Gets him around the rink, in a very entertaining manner.
Dove finally joined in and showed good skills. I even donned a pair of skate.
There was a really nice guy that came over and kept an eye on me.
He said mam we have a class for the adults, I declined to stay with Dove.
He said "it is a much easier call"

Deciding to skip the hard parts, and being very sweaty from the really hard work it is to skate....well it was still very fun.
Noticing my Beloveds face strained sadly I realize it is very true that my days of skating put all who depend on me at great risk of losing my abilities.
I might just have been my last skate...boo

Dove has pink hair from an event at the elementary.
I have yet to be able to get that stuff of of her scalp!

Only three of the seven kids showed.
One of the little girls who was not invited saw to that...
She called here to invite herself!
I overheard and told Dove "No" that I had a budget and she had 10 kids only to attend and then kindly reiterated that to the kid on the phone.
You see I use speaker all the time when I am on the phone.
With a hearing problem this is the only way The tones and such are easy for me to make out.
So the family is accustom to answering the phone this way.
Worked out well because the kids calls can be monitored.
Well Dove was thrilled, she had told the girl no.
Mom, however took that off of her.
She thanked me.

After a long time of skate and games the booth time came about.
She then was called to the DJ booth and got to speak up on microphone and everyone said happy birthday to her.

The booth gleaned her 75 tickets, I was so relieved that she got something.
I thought she had nothing.

Then there was sponge bob.
The 4 kids foreground and a boy were in our attendance.
3 guests yet I still had to pay for 10:{
So that little twerp made an impact.
Too bad for her she is given no instruction by her parents.
Nor are those who are intimidated by her strong enough to withstand her.
Bad thing that kid is going to turn into.

Dove still had fun.
One of the two girls that came was acting center stage and more than once Dove whispered to me about it.

Kids will get attention when they can.
So this was a strange party.
My sweet freind D. came she and her boy are real treasures. I skated with and for the kids.
dove had begged me too.
So I missed time with D. that was awkward, but it was right that I skate with and for the birthday girl.

Dove was so happy.
It was a real nice time.

I had to leave 15 minutes before the end of the party.
Well I had to leave.

My girl friends invited me here.
Fancy

Oh my goodness...
Humbly I tell you of this outpouring of generosity and kindness.

My friends sat me at the head of the table...
The least of these amazing women...
These are dear dear friends of many years of sisterhood of the heart.
We are all captivating women who have understood who we are in Christ.
(Stacy and John Eldridge, Captivating a must read)
Our husbands all love God with passion.

We shared our updates on our present days.
Each live a marvelous work and a wonder.
All have uncommon lives.
Different in so many ways...it is those differences that we find growth.

I sat there amazed at how it felt to be so honored like that.
It was so ...well so humbling to be lifted up in you love and thoughtfulness.
Showered with gifts of words and of tangible treasures.
My heart overflowed.
Oh they are so beautiful thes women.

The tea was so touchingly precious.
It fealt like I was recieving all of those teas that my heart wished to offer others and often did.
It was those days when some of you came and spontaneously we shared a cup adn a cookie form my oven.

I received the luxury of a 4 course meal.
A bowl of fruit
soup
salad
deserts.

I think we tried 4 teas with the pot always warmed.
I never even lifted a finger to do it.
Sorry if it sounds weird , but that just was so amazing.
I want to do it now for others here more.
I want to treat all of you readers to a tea.
A time where you feel as I felt yesterday.
Lifted up.
Taken to the head of the table.
Like some matriarch I sat with all of you loving on me.
I am honored to be called your friend .
You have lifted me.
I am refreshed...

I had a surprise that another good friend showed, to join our circle.
It had been some time that we had gone without being together.

I loved this arbor!

Look at all this generosity and kindness!
They would not let me pay for my lunch.
We have never splurged like that before.
I teared up over that little angel and shovel.
Funny how some things just touch your heart so deep.
One of the gifts is a little Hummel tea set.
I had given Dove mine.
I thought well she is a little girl grown now up, I felt I had to show her I had confidence in her to take care of it.
Now I have one just for me again.
It has a baby and a sunflower on the pot and plates.
TOO CUTE!
See the little bag of sead, well you bake a bird feeder cake!
and the note pads say...
"Who loves a garden , Still his eaden keeps"
pretty image of a younger me, with sunflowers.
Funny thing getting older, all those years of noticing flows...
Now I see how really pretty I was as a young woman.

When I pulled up to the house there was an
AIR CONDITIONING REPAIR
truck out front!

ua oh!

The ac needed to have the coil cleaned and when steve touched it
I sprung a leak!
Our dear friend , who just started to work with my darling had lost his ac unit on Friday.
He was good friends with a fellow is who is renowned locally for industrial ac.
Well we got a referral to HINKLE AC
They were there at the house in 10 minutes and 15 minutes later the ac was fixed and recharged.
$300. to do so and we were up and running.
Provision...




Sunday Morning...

Darling on the mill...
"what you up to say I"

To his reply
"I'm making something for you"

I hurried to go get dressed and such.. to sweep up while he worked.
By the time I returned he had done the sweep of (borax against the ants)
He was almost done.
You'll have to go over to a place to create to see it.
I'll get it posted tomorrow.

Mothers day for my MILove
We were absent due to the wrist thing...
So I set together a basket of produce from our garden.
He had a nice afternoon there and had a lovely supper of fresh fruit salad.
Hot dogs too...
Well she is so sweet she gave ma a great book on serger projects.
Then the lovely fabric gift she gave will be perfect for some cloth napkins to go with the new place mats.
Summer is here and this time of year my sewing is a big focus of the days ahead.
She made me some more knitted dish clothes that I will turn into another hot pad.
I just love those, if you spill it turns into a dishcloth in an instant.

We gifted the kids with the movie
"Bolt" this week end.
I found a $5 off coupon for it at Costco (good until 5 /28?)

They wanted to see what is was all about for the dogs to hang their heads out of the car window...
:)

Funny!
They really loved it!
It was just too hot to lose the ac in the car
104* here mid afternoon.

My goodness...

Look at that...
Plus all those letters and pictures from the children at the school.
It is like my cup is so full, and still.
Like if I bumped it, it would slosh over the brim...
Thank you all.
Oh I forgot there is a really cool rustic bird house to set out that came from the fallen oaks in Conneticut, my sister gave me. I'll try to get a picture of it and the cool book and fabric given to me today.
My cup over flows!
I am so loved.
I remember as a kid how much I used to pray to be loved.
It is a holy thing.
I take none of your love for granted.

I remembered an event at the baby shower last week.
I was asked to go get lemon aide and then learned my sister had a plan to follow and so I followed her plan instead of leaving to get the juice. It was a surprise party and I had hidden the car a half a block away already. Well I thought about that comment from anonymous , how she saw me as selfish. My view was following the hostess wishes. We maid lemon aid without a reamer, I just used an ice cream scoop. More than one way to skin a cat. :
)
I thought of how we can see each other through the eyes of our interpretations of the event. Not really knowing how or what is the thought process going on in another head.
Think of it.

It really rang true of that passage of thinking the best of one another.

A tid bit of an understanding in one of those flash point moments during introspection.
Just made me stop and think.

Well tomorrow I need to get this truck on an add.
Look at this engine. They really made it look nice.

Well it is 12:30 adn the tylenol will take effect now and let this hampster sleep.
My body was resting , but my mind was just on the wheel.
I love you all so much.
Your comments are so appriciated.
Your lives are so beautiful and each little event your speak of tneder and dear to me.

May all of you have a beautiful day.

I have a field trip to the State Capital then the mineral musium and then onto the park at days end...
Oh ear plugs on a school buss....a must!

I'll catch you up a bit...

Good afternoon folks.
Today is a full day now lulled by a few sweet hours of rest. I'll need to get up to do some chores ,but for now my bones are wherry. Cleaning that garage took a lot of strength so I am looking forward to gaining it back.
The kids had ortho appointments this morning then I had the joy of listening to two kids read aloud to me at the elementary.
Moms In touch met early today due to a short school day for the kids.
Two of the three of us are dealing this week with a death. My dear friend just put her Mother to rest not knowing her souls final result.
I returned home 20 minutes before the school bus.

The children had a issue with words of violence and anger.
Dash has a very angry friend around him at school.

I saw an action during prayer and followed through.

My kids Uncle gave them a beautiful wooden Japanese fighting sword.
I called them to sit around the chair I sat in.
Holding the sword I pretended to slash at the air.
I told them of the swords effect.
Pretending to wield it at friend and/ or at foe.
Telling them about the effect that cutting down your own will leave your without defense.
How even cutting down others you still miss the real enemy.
That our enemy is not the people wielding swords at us. They are just swinging at anything trying to defend them self right or wrong they may be
I told them the word of God is a sword.
Then I had them hold their tongues. They then were once again told how it too is a sword.
They can protect/defend themselves, but they are not to cut others or slice them back out of revenge or attack. It is not alright to come home and slice us apart with the frustration of being swung at all day.
They got the point.
Dove gave a fit for the beginning, then by the end came to me and thanked me for the lesson.
Oh God is good. Gave me the wisdom, showed me the picture to walk into.

So it is yet early.

On the week end we had Dash's party...

We transformed this into...
This
and this...
During the party a wonderful little girl had me even playing hop scotch. It was a bit awkward but so dear of her.
Of course there were presents.
After the pinyata was wacked hard and cracked open by Dove first blow, then knocked off the toop by the second kid I just tore it open and tossed up the cand to the glee of the kids.
The treat bags were collected and in them I placed a few little treats of sports things.
The cake had a good "bite" out of it...
The red lemon aide pot was full and kept the thirsty kids satisfied and many left overs too.

All the kids were up the tree for the group shot.
It was a wonderful time with my friend Deb.
She stayed and helped out a lot.
She is such a good hearted woman.
I am so fortunate to be friends with her. Our husbands are friends too.
The kids are so fond of each other.

Steve closed the party down because I had to get Dove to her engagement.
I am so glad we were late...
The Parent let 8 8-9 year old girls walk to a park from the apartment complex they live in. That is a busy long walk on and off a majer road.
A road that if the short cut is taken can eaily endanger them.
I was stunned!
No I am not going to leave my kid at the park. So I took the other mom back to the apartment and told her nope I dont think so...
I told her I would be willing to take my daughter over there in my car. I asked her for a head count of kids to get back and she did not even really know for sure.
I am not liking this...
Not my way.
So these beautiful girls were left un attended at a huge park where there are many people milling about. Numbers can not help a kid, except perhaps to give a description after the fact.
The two girls front right were on lent fast. I learned a bit from Annett about it. I was proud of the kids for they denied themselves soda.

The mom and the neighbor came home with me to have me string a necklace that the neighbor treasured. It was about to break apart.
I restrung it and afixed a clasp to it.
They left and at 8:30 p.m. My day was almost done.
Sunday morning I slept in.

Steve and I had a date on Sunday mid day.
We went to a Bluegrass concert. Cherryholmes was the band and they sang from a gospel bent.
It was a wonderful time. A childrens bluegrass band opened for them. I really enjoyed the old gospel blue grass songs. The time with Steve was so refreshing.
We had our retiernment first sorta.
Now we get very precious time alone.
Funny we thought "how cool it would be for the kids to get to see this."

It was garage for Monday and Tuesday, today...well a meal yet to make and a kitchen to clean.
Then rest. Rest...
I have been a bit ill to the bowel for two days now and so my body wants me to slow down.
I may have to go make sure I am not fighting off a UTI.
Rest...Cranberry juice...did I mention rest...........

Cherryholmes Concert today in Chandler AZ

Cherryholmes hot link check out their sight good tunes!
I am getting excited to go now! We had never heard of this band before. I know we have made a real good choice. We were able to get very good tickets close to the front. This is the first concert I have been to in so many years.


My Beloved Husband and I are going to a concert to celebrate our anniversary early. We could find nothing to attend on the 20th so we choose to go to this. It is a bluegrass group. Yep, I LOVE!!!!!!good bluegrass music.
A date with my man!!!!Oh this is going to be so nice.
Dash had a great Bday thanks to all of you sweet well wishers.

It has been a long hard couple of weeks, but the sun is shining in many ways. I so appreciate all of your kindness. I have been learning a lot about being prepared for tragedy even though no on really can expect that of our selves. Keeping on the peace is a real important part of it. My sandel literally broke and I tripped a bit on this experience. I thought it proper who the timely the shoe breaking at the tongue....It was a nice pair of Merrels. The never break! Yet they did as did I. Under a pressure of stress it can and does happen. Funny thing about a shoe breaking at the tongue, you can not really fix it. That is the stress point. Just like the stress points of our lives it is in the tongue that the breaks can never really be fixed. You know it is the tongue that is a vital part of peace. Yet it is attached to the whole. The stress that effects the whole comes out on the tongue.

So A vital lesson learned. Without knowledge we perish so learning from my mistakes is a good thing.

I will need to just toss those shoes , even if I do try to glue them they will be week at the tongu, never really trust worthy. Just for show. So it is that I will have to toss out the error of mine own tongue and go one. Not wanting to live just for show. No sence in show, pride comes before a fall. I do not desire a fall of course.

I will now simply tend to my own affairs and tasks and duties. I have a wonderful role as wife, mother and friend. Although the forgetting is a problem and the stress stuff. I am not willing to lay down to it.

Yesterday at the park a wonderful woman who I know both professionally and a bit personally. Attended my sons birthday party. She mentioned last years birthday party for Dash I had no recall of knowing her before this year. I was amazed , a bit concerned about her being hurt by my seaming distance. Yet I knew it was not my heart toward her and that It is just the way it is going to be. One day perhaps I may have her to coffee and explain. I have to become at peace that what I may appear to be is not who I am and to many I will never get the chance to explain that. that, I have to let go. I will not become worse , that is a joy. It is not dementia that is a huge relief. My kids just have a weird mom. Well so do most :) in one way or another. HAHAHA

Sports theme Birthday cake

The ball is two 8 inch rounds one trimmed flat and the other over filled on purpose to then trim round after it cooled. The filling in between the layers is Lemon tofu pudding.

Using a basket tip wide flat I laid frosting then after laying it, I smoothed it out using and oiled long blade. The oiling kept the frosting from sticking to the blade.
Set the black lines with a number 7 round tip.

Frosted the football with a long blade and edged up to the basket ball with care.
Used a basket weave tip wide on reverse for a smooth line.
The string on the football is a narrow basket tip on reverse.
Lettering in done black with a number three and the highlight with a number 2 tip.

Happy Birthday son!